Category Archives: God’s Promises

Nov8

I Didn’t Understand Its Value…

Posted on November 8, 2013 by sagescenery

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We’re talking about…

My husband’s prized…

Signed Baseball!

That he’s had since he was a kid!

From the 1957 World Series Yankees!!

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/ws/yr1957ws.shtml

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/postseason/mlb_ws_recaps.jsp?feature=1957

With 28 signatures…

Including…

Manager-Casey Stengel,

Mickey Mantle, Elston Howard, Phil Rizzuto, Yogi Berra, Moose Skowron, Bobby Richardson, Hank Bauer, and the other teammates;

Plus Joe DiMaggio who was in the dug out with my husband (who was 10 years old at the time) and his Dad.

My husband’s dad knew them from the Newark league…

Before they played with the Newark Bears…

Which at the time was the Triple A Yankee minor league!!

They were watching the Yankees at batting practice…

Hank Bauer got in the dug out and said to everyone…

“Sign the ball for the kid!”

The Yankees lost that game to Warren Spahn…

But my husband really cherished that ball!

He says it’s worth about $4,000-$5,000!

Well…

When our sweet little boy was around two years old, perhaps…

I remember he and I were at home, while my husband was at work…

I was trying to wrap Christmas presents…

My rambunctious, little guy was no help at all!!

Sooooooo…

Wanting to distract him…

So I could get this job done…

I grabbed this treasured ball of my husband’s…

And gave it to the child to play with!!!!!

I know…

If you’re a baseball fan…

Or even a collector of anything…

You’re horrified!!!

It’s beyond belief!

I know!!!

But, not being a guy…

Or a very sports-minded girl at all…

I just didn’t know its value!!

Soooo…

In walks hubby…

Who is horrified as he sees his two year old…

Gumming Mickey Mantle’s signature!!

He looks at me, “Are you Crazy???”

“What?” I say!

He grabs it…

And stomps out of the room…

Well…

We’re still together after 36 years…

But, I haven’t seen that baseball since!

“Where is it???”

I ask, as I’m writing this…

“Where you can’t get at it!”

He replies!

Wise move!!

Our son is 23 now…

And we may have grandchildren someday…

Who need to be distracted, too!

Ha!

Lord…

You’re seated above…

Enthroned in the Father’s love…

Destined to die…

Poured out for all mankind…

God’s only Son…

Perfect and spotless One…

You never sinned…

But suffered as if You did…

All authority…

Every victory is Yours…

Savior…

Worthy of honor and glory…

Worthy of all our praise…

You Overcame!!

Jesus…

Awesome in power forever…

Awesome!

And great is Your Name…

You Overcame!

Power in hand…

Speaking the Father’s plan…

You’re sending us out…

Light in this broken land…

We will overcome…

By the blood of the Lamb…

And the word of our testimony…

Everyone overcome!!

Because You Overcame!

Savior…

I see and understand your value…

You’re worthy of all our praise!

John 16:33

“I have told you these things,

so that in Me you may have peace.

In this world you will have trouble.

But take heart!

I have overcome the world.”

Revelation 12:11

“Our people defeated Satan

because of the blood of the Lamb

and the message of God.

They were willing

to give up their lives.”

Amen!

Recognize His Value!

Rejoice!!!

He has Overcome!!

Nov8

Sweet Holy Spirit!

Posted on November 8, 2013 by sagescenery

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Acts 2:1-4

“When the day of Pentecost came,

they were all together in one place.

Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from Heaven

and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire

that separated and came to rest on each of them.

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit

and began to speak in other tongues

as the Spirit enabled them.”

Romans 8:2-6

“…because through Christ Jesus

the law of the Spirit who gives life has set youfree

from the law of sin and death.

For what the law was powerless to do

because it was weakened by the flesh,

God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh

to be a sin offering.

And so He condemned sin in the flesh,

in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us,

who do not live according to the flesh

but according to the Spirit.”

Romans 8:9

“You, however,

are not in the realm of the flesh

but are in the realm of the Spirit,

if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.

And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,

they do not belong to Christ.”

Interview with Joel Parisen: Newworldson

What has God been teaching you lately?

Joel: “How to not be a lip-service Christian. How to talk less and to let my life be my message, which is incredibly hard to do. How to not say one thing and be doing another. Some people struggle with surrender and trusting that God has a plan; that part’s been easy for me. My problem is knowing that in my partnership with Him, I have work to do too. It’s not all sit back and enjoy the ride.”

http://jesusfreakhideout.com/interviews/Newworldson2008.asp

Behind the Song:
“We were coming to the end of a full day in the studio when I decided to sit down at the piano to unwind. I just started playing these chords when Mark came over and said, ‘We’re recording that tomorrow.’ And that was that. I wrote my lyrics and Josh wrote his right on the spot.

It’s a prayer.

They’re words we needed to hear.”

– Joel Parisien (Newworldson)

http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/lyrics/new/track.asp?track_id=9396

Pride weighing you down?

Choking your heart?

Chained up and bound?

Pride is your prison…

But Grace is your key!

Pray…

“Sweet Holy Spirit!

Come rescue me!

Spirit, Spirit, I submit to You now

Spirit, Spirit

I surrender

Spirit

Sweet Holy Spirit!”

Are you drowning?

Hopeless and lost at sea?

I was!

But, Lord You threw me a line…

Brought me back to Your shore…

Now, I can feel the light from Your lighthouse…

Shining down on me…

Yes, I can!

Worry???

Oh, what can I say?

I’ve worried so much…

I forget how to pray…

Well, I’m down on my knees…

And this is coming from my soul…

Sweet Holy Spirit…

Come make me whole!!

Let this be your prayer, too!!

Luke 11:13

“If you then,

though you are evil,

know how to give good gifts to your children,

how much more will your Father in Heaven

give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Now That’s Sweet!!!!

Amen!

Nov6

Ready? Or Not??

Posted on November 6, 2013 by sagescenery

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Luke 12:39-40

“But understand this:

If the owner of the house

had known at what hour the thief was coming,

he would not have let his house be broken into.

You also must be ready,

because the Son of Man

will come at an hour

when you do not expect Him.”

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

“For the Lord Himself will come down from Heaven,

with a loud command,

with the voice of the archangel

and with the trumpet call of God,

and the dead in Christ will rise first.

After that,

we who are still alive and are left

will be caught up together with them in the clouds

to meet the Lord in the air.

And so we will be with the Lord forever.”

Don’t try to cover your “Shine!”

Or try to stay “In the lines!”

Don’t hide!

No!

Don’t take your light…

And try to fit it in a box!

Be confident in Who you belong to!!

Ready or not!

Here you go!

Showing the world where the Light comes from!

Whether they’re ready or not…

This is who you are!

You can’t hide it…

Take it all over the world!

To the young, to the old, every boy and girl…

Ready or not, here you go!

Show the world where the love is!

Never sell out!

Loving out loud is what it’s all about!

Give everything to see the lost get found!

Refuse to keep this buried deep inside…

It’s time to let your little light shine!

No point hiding it…

It’s everything You are…

The source of all your hope…

The reason why you stand…

Be somebody real!

No holding back!

Show them how you feel…

Love is more than a word…

Put it into action…

Hiding it is absurd!

Make sure everyone’s heard…

Everyone needs to be ready!!!

Show them where the love is!!

And where your Light comes from!!

John 8:12

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said,

“I am the Light of the world.

Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness,

but will have the Light of life.”

Ephesians 5:8

“For you were once darkness,

but now you are Light in the Lord.

Live as children of Light…”

Nov5

The Harvest Is Plentiful…Go…I Am Sending You!

Posted on November 5, 2013 by sagescenery

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Luke 10:1-24

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others

and sent them two by two ahead of Him

to every town and place where He was about to go.

He told them, “The harvest is plentiful,

but the workers are few.

Ask the Lord of the harvest,

therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.

Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.

Do not take a purse or bag or sandals;

and do not greet anyone on the road.

“When you enter a house, first say,

‘Peace to this house.’

If someone who promotes peace is there,

your peace will rest on them;

if not, it will return to you.

Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you,

for the worker deserves his wages.

Do not move around from house to house.

“When you enter a town and are welcomed,

eat what is offered to you.

Heal the sick who are there and tell them,

‘The Kingdom of God has come near to you.’

But when you enter a town and are not welcomed,

go into its streets and say,

‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you.

Yet be sure of this:

The Kingdom of God has come near.’

I tell you,

it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom

than for that town.

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!

For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon,

they would have repented long ago,

sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.

And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens?

No, you will go down to Hades.

“Whoever listens to you listens to Me;

whoever rejects you rejects Me;

but whoever rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”

The seventy-two returned with joy and said,

“Lord,

even the demons submit to us in Your Name.”

He replied,

“I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven.

I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions

and to overcome all the power of the enemy;

nothing will harm you.

However,

do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you,

but rejoice that your names are written in Heaven.”

At that time Jesus,

full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said,

“I praise you, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth,

because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned,

and revealed them to little children.

Yes, Father,

for this is what You were pleased to do.

“All things have been committed to Me by My Father.

No one knows who the Son is except the Father,

and no one knows who the Father is except the Son

and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.”

Then He turned to His disciples and said privately,

“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.

For I tell you that many prophets and kings

wanted to see what you see

but did not see it,

and to hear what you hear

but did not hear it.”

Believers…

We have authority from God…

To see more lightning…

And less fog!

Go!

And do likewise!

So you can return with joy!!!

Rejoice!

That your name is written in Heaven!!!!

See the plentiful harvest?

Go now!!

He’s sending you!!

Amen!

Oct18

“Marked By Our Past…Transformed By Love!”

Posted on October 18, 2013 by sagescenery

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“We are a small group of people humbled by the love of Jesus,”

Read the entire Denison Forum Cultural Commentary on Truth and Culture,

Tattooed Jesus: Blasphemy or Blessing?

http://www.denisonforum.org/cultural-commentary/856-tattooed-jesus-blasphemy-or-blessing#jesus-tattoo-video

To form your own opinion!!!

Saved!!!

Accepted

Free

Loved

Trusting

Holiness

Joy

Redeemed

Set Free

Purpose

Cherished

Brave

Humble

Peace

Confident

Child of the One True God!!!!

No longer…

Outcast

Addicted

Jealous

Fearful

Sin

Hurt

Mistake

Scarred

Worthless

Invisible

Coward

Self-Righteous

Strife

Depressed

Lost!!!!!!

1 Peter 2:21-25

“To this you were called,

because Christ suffered for you,

leaving you an example,

that you should follow in His steps.

^‘He committed no sin,

and no deceit was found in His mouth.^‘

When they hurled their insults at Him,

He did not retaliate;

when He suffered,

He made no threats.

Instead,

He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.

‘He Himself bore our sins’

in His body on the Cross,

so that we might die to sins

and live for righteousness;

‘by His wounds you have been healed.”

For ‘you were like sheep going astray,^‘

but now you have returned to the

Shepherd and Overseer

of your souls.”

Isaiah 53:5

“But He was pierced for our transgressions,

He was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was on Him,

and by His wounds we are healed.”

1 Peter 1:18-19

“For you know that it was not with perishable things

such as silver or gold

that you were redeemed from the empty way of life

handed down to you from your ancestors,

but with the precious blood of Christ,

a lamb without blemish or defect.”

1 Peter 3:18

“For Christ also suffered once for sins,

the righteous for the unrighteous,

to bring you to God.

He was put to death in the body

but made alive in the Spirit.”

Thank you, Jesus…

For taking the marks of my past on Your body…

And transforming me…

With Your amazing love!!

I’m humbled!!!

Amen!

Oct7

Where Does Jesus Live??? He Lives In Me!! Oh, Yeah!!!

Posted on October 7, 2013 by sagescenery

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Who Is This Who Lives In Me???

Exodus 3:14

“God said to Moses,

‘I am who I am.^‘

This is what you are to say to the Israelites:

‘I am has sent me to you.’”

John 17:22-23

“I have given them the glory that You gave Me,

that they may be One as We are One—

I in them

and You in Me—

so that they may be brought to complete unity.

Then the world will know that You sent Me

and have loved them

even as You have loved Me.”

Amen!

I’ve been the one to shake with fear
And wonder if You’re even here
I’ve been the one to doubt Your love
I’ve told myself You’re not enough

I’ve been the one to try and say
I’ll overcome by my own strength
I’ve been the one to fall apart
And start to question who You are

You’re the One who conquers giants
You’re the One who calls out kings
You shut the mouths of lions
You tell the dead to breathe
You’re the One who walks through fire
You take the orphan’s hand
You are the One Messiah
You are I AM
You are I AM

I’ve been the one held down in chains
Beneath the weight of all my shame
I’ve been the one to believe
That where I am, You cannot reach

The veil is torn
And now I live
With the Spirit inside
The same One
The very same One
Who brought the Son back to life!
Hallelujah, He lives in me!

You are the One Messiah
You are I AM
Hallelujah, He lives in me!
You are I AM
Hallelujah, He lives in me!

Who Are We When He Lives In Us???

We’re children of the very same One who…

Conquers giants!

Calls out Kings!

Shuts the mouths of lions!

Tells the dead to breathe!

Walks through fire!

Takes the orphan’s hand!

Is the One Messiah!

Is the great…

I AM!!!

Romans 8:9

“You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh

but are in the realm of the Spirit,

if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.

And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,

they do not belong to Christ.”

Galatians 2:20

“I have been crucified with Christ

and I no longer live,

but Christ lives in me.

The life I now live in the body,

I live by faith in the Son of God,

who loved me

and gave Himself for me.”

Colossians 1:27

“To them God has chosen

to make known among the Gentiles

the glorious riches of this mystery,

which is Christ in you,

the hope of glory.”

1 John 5:11-12

^“And this is the testimony:

God has given us eternal life,

and this life is in his Son.

Whoever has the Son has life;

whoever does not have the Son of God

does not have life.”

1 John 4:4

“You, dear children,

are from God

and have overcome them,

because the One who is in you

is greater

than the one who is in the world.”

Oh, Yeah!!!

That’s the One in me!!!

Oct5

Lord, What Am I Missing??? Give Me Your Eyes!!

Posted on October 5, 2013 by sagescenery

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(This beautiful sunrise photo-by my friend, Marian!)

What’s Wrong With Seeing With My Own Eyes ???

Isaiah 5:21

“Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes

and clever in their own sight.”

Proverbs 23:26

“My son, give Me your heart

and let your eyes delight in My ways,”

What Does God See Through His Eyes???

Job 28:24

“…for He views the ends of the earth

and sees everything under the heavens.”

Job 34:21

“His eyes are on the ways of mortals;

He sees their every step.”

Psalm 33:13-15

“From Heaven the Lord looks down

and sees all mankind;

from His dwelling place He watches

all who live on earth—

He who forms the hearts of all,

who considers everything they do.”

Matthew 6:4-6

“…so that your giving may be in secret.

Then your Father,

who sees what is done in secret,

will reward you.”

2 Chronicles 16:9

“For the eyes of the Lord

range throughout the earth

to strengthen those whose hearts

are fully committed to Him…”

How Does God See Us Through His Eyes???

Zechariah 2:8

“For this is what the Lord Almighty says:

‘After the Glorious One has sent me

against the nations that have plundered you—

for whoever touches you touches the apple of His eye—'”

Psalm 33:18

“But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him,

on those whose hope is in His unfailing love,”

Mark 8:18

“Do you have eyes but fail to see,

and ears but fail to hear?

And don’t you remember?”

Matthew 6: 22-23

“The eye is the lamp of the body.

If your eyes are healthy,

your whole body will be full of light.

But if your eyes are unhealthy,

your whole body will be full of darkness.

If then the light within you is darkness,

how great is that darkness!”

Looked down from a broken sky
Traced out by the city lights
My world from a mile high
Best seat in the house tonight

Touched down on the cold black tar
Hold on for the sudden stop
Breathe in the familiar shock
Of confusion and chaos

All those people going somewhere
Why have I never cared?

Give me Your eyes for just one second
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me Your love for humanity

Give me Your arms for the broken-hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me Your eyes so I can see

Step out on a busy street
See a girl and our eyes meet
Does her best to smile at me
To hide what’s underneath

There’s a man just to her right
Black suit and a bright red tie
Too ashamed to tell his wife
He’s out of work, he’s buying time

All those people going somewhere
Why have I never cared?

Give me Your eyes for just one second
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me Your love for humanity

Give me Your arms for the broken-hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me Your eyes so I can see

I’ve been there a million times
A couple of million eyes just moving passed me by
I swear I never thought that I was wrong

Well, I want a second glance
So give me a second chance
To see the way You see the people all alone

What Does It Mean To Have God’s Eyes???

Matthew 7:1-5

“Do not judge,

or you too will be judged.

For in the same way you judge others,

you will be judged,

and with the measure you use,

it will be measured to you.

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye

and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

How can you say to your brother,

‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’

when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?

You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye,

and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Psalm 19:8

“The precepts of the Lord are right,

giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are radiant,

giving light to the eyes.”

Matthew 13:13-16

“This is why I speak to them in parables:

‘Though seeing, they do not see;

though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;    
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

For this people’s heart has become calloused;   
they hardly hear with their ears,    
and they have closed their eyes.

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,    
hear with their ears,    
understand with their hearts

and turn, and I would heal them.’

But blessed are your eyes because they see

and your ears because they hear.”

When You Pray…

“Lord, Give Me Your Eyes!!”

Be Prepared To See What You’re Missing…

To Really See What God Sees!!

Are You Ready???

“Yes, Lord…

I don’t want to see…

With my eyes…

They see nothing beyond myself in the mirror…

With my heart…

It feels nothing beyond my own little safe world…

My arms…

They touch nothing for eternity…

And only reach for pleasures in this life…

I NEED…

Your Eyes, Lord…

They see lost and hurting people everywhere…

Direct me to them…

So I can minister through Your Holy Spirit!

Your Heart, Lord…

Which feels deep love for everyone of Your children…

So I can learn to love like You do!

Your Arms, Lord…

That reach around the world…

Embracing all humanity…

With your magnificent and abundant love…

For eternity!

Use me, Lord…

To see, love, and reach!!”

Amen!

Oct2

Speak Up! God Can’t Bare Your Silence!!

Posted on October 2, 2013 by sagescenery

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Come Closer!!

You’re Too Far Away!!

Break your silence!

Talk to God…

About what you’re experiencing…

Let His Holy Spirit guide you through your life…

When you feel far from Him…

Whisper His Name!

Find a quiet place…

Away from the noise of this world…

Where you can be alone with God!

Speak Up!

Speak to Jesus in Love-tones!

Reach Out!

To have a relationship with Him!

Prepare to receive His Love!

It flows eternally from the Cross!

Seek His Face!

Then, listen!

Hear His Voice!

He’ll hear yours!

He’s delighted that you opened your heart…

To His Presence!

Take His Hand!

He’s already bridged the distance!

By running to you!

By sending His Son to die for you…

Go the distance!

He came to hear you cry out for Him!

He wants to commune with you!

“His eyes search to and fro throughout the earth…

Looking for one whose heart is seeking Him…” (2 Chronicles 16:9)

Genesis 28:15

“I Am with you

and will watch over you wherever you go,

and I will bring you back to this land.

I will not leave you

until I have done what I have promised you.”

And when you meet Him???

Ahhhh..

JOY!!!

Mutual JOY!!

(Read Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

April 4th Devotional-Pg. 99

and April 8th-Pg.103)

“God shows His love

in spanning the canyon between mankind and Himself

with the humble cross.”

-Shawn Craig –

Phillips, Craig & Dean

You could’ve waited…

But You couldn’t stand the distance…

You wouldn’t bare the silence anymore

Love broke the fall…

Bridged across to reach us…

You opened Heaven’s door…

‘Cause You couldn’t stand the distance!

You saw the love I needed…

You ran to where I was waiting…

Your love crossed the canyon between us…

You came to save me!

In Your mercy…

You ran to me…

Your forgiveness embraced me…

It called me by name…

Hallelujah!

You couldn’t stand the distance…

1 John 4:19

“We love because He first loved us.”

1 John 4:10

“This is love:

not that we loved God,

but that He loved us

and sent His Son

as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

Genesis 5:1

“…When God created mankind,

He made them in the likeness of God.”

Leviticus 26:12

“I will walk among you

and be your God,

and you will be My people.”

Revelation 3:20

“Here I am!

I stand at the door and knock.

If anyone hears My Voice and opens the door,

I will come in and eat with that person,

and they with Me.”

John 15:14-15

“You are My friends

if you do what I command.

I no longer call you servants,

because a servant does not know his master’s business.

Instead, I have called you friends,

for everything that I learned from My Father

I have made known to you.”

Ephesians 2:13

“But now in Christ Jesus

you who once were far away

have been brought near

by the blood of Christ.”

God could never stand the distance between us…

Or my silence…

And when I no longer could stand it either…

He sent Jesus to bridge the gap…

And we connected!

Amen!

Sep29

The Fields Are White…

Posted on September 29, 2013 by sagescenery

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What a breathtaking view from where I’m sitting!

Matthew 13:38

“The field is the world,

and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom.

The weeds are the people of the evil one,”

Let me get a closer look!!

John 4:35

“Say not ye,

There are yet four months,

and then cometh harvest?

behold, I say unto you,

Lift up your eyes,

and look on the fields;

for they are white already to harvest.”

Luke 10:2

“He told them,

‘The harvest is plentiful,

but the workers are few.

Ask the Lord of the harvest,

therefore,

to send out workers into His harvest field.'”

The fields are white!!!

John 4:36-38

“Even now the one who reaps

draws a wage

and harvests a crop for eternal life,

so that the sower and the reaper

may be glad together.

Thus the saying

‘One sows and another reaps’

is true.

I sent you to reap what you have not worked for.

Others have done the hard work,

and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

Lord, let me see what You see in the fields of the world!

Let me be as hungry as birds after a rainfall!

To see Your Kingdom come!

Exodus 23:16

“Celebrate the Festival of Harvest

with the first fruits of the crops

you sow in your field.

Celebrate the Festival of Ingathering

at the end of the year,

when you gather in your crops from the field.”

Psalm 126:6

“Those who go out weeping,

carrying seed to sow,

will return with songs of joy,

carrying sheaves with them.”

John 12:32

“And I,

when I am lifted up

from the earth,

will draw all people to myself.”

Amen!

Sep28

Window Shopping????

Posted on September 28, 2013 by sagescenery

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While window shopping in Old Naples over the summer….

This was by-far my favorite window!!!

The Frog…

So dapper!

So welcoming!

“Come on in!”

He beckoned…

Wind In The Willows – Beth Boutique, 793 5th Ave., Naples, FL 34102, (239) 643-0663

I adored the bright, whimsical colors and patterns…

I wanted to:

Try on the fashionable clothing,…

Read the Dare To Be Whacky book,…

Buy the beautiful hand-painted furniture …

Walk on the gorgeous carpet…

And, of course…

Cuddle with the perfectly groomed stuffed cat!

Suddenly, I saw the cute little cat move!!

I was mesmerized!

It’s alive!!

It’s breathing!

It’s not one of the mannequins, after all!

It’s not a prop…

It’s not just a display in the window!

It’s real!!

I took so many photos of that beautiful cat…

From every angle…

While I watched it roaming around in that shop window…

No longer thinking about the other items…

The non-living items…

I focused only on the cat!!

I couldn’t get enough of it’s precious face…

It’s awesome lion-like tail…

It’s fluffy, white fur…

It’s four fuzzy feet!!

And then the cat was gone!

The display was still nice…

But without the live cat in it …

It was now just an ordinary…

Empty-of-life…

Shop window!

Not all gods are alike!

Do you want to:

Try them on for size?

Read about them?

Buy into their theology?

Walk with them through life?

Cuddle with them in the time of need?

Find the God that’s Alive!

The One who Lives and Breathes!

I Have!

I can forget about non-essential items…

Non-living items…

And focus only on Jesus!!

I can’t get enough of His Precious Face…

The awesome strength of the Lion of Judah…

His Pure, White Robe of Righteousness…

His nail-scarred hands and feet!!

Not all religions are alike…

Is it alive?

Is it breathing?

Is it dead?

Is it just a display?

Is it real??

Not all churches are alike…

Some are so welcoming!

Putting on a “dapper” front…

“Come on in!”

They beckon…

But, has God left the building????

Remember, while window shopping…

Nothing’s the same without Him!!

Acts 17:28

“‘In Him we live

and move

and have our being;’

as even some of your own poets have said,

‘For we are indeed His offspring.’”

1 John 5:12

“Whoever has the Son has life;

whoever does not have the Son of God

does not have life.”

Revelation 1:18

“I am the Living One;

I was dead,

and now look,

I am alive for ever and ever!

And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

1 Peter 6:6

“For this is the reason the Gospel was preached

even to those who are now dead,

so that they might be judged according to human standards

in regard to the body,

but live according to God in regard to the spirit.”

Hebrews 4:12

“For the Word of God

is alive and active.

Sharper than any double-edged sword,

it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit,

joints and marrow;

it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Acts 1:11

“’Men of Galilee,’

they said,

‘why do you stand here looking into the sky?

This same Jesus,

who has been taken from you into Heaven,

will come back in the same way

you have seen Him go into Heaven.”

Amen!

godssceneryandpromises

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Category Archives: God’s Promises

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Window Shopping????