Faithful

“I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as the Lord.”
Hosea 2:20, NLT

While studying I came to this verse. I have thought about it all day. Thought about how it applies to me and to current world situations. I even just considered the word Faithful.

Faithful Defined is….
Adhering firmly and devotedly, as to a person, cause, or idea; loyal.
Having or full of faith.
Worthy of trust or belief; reliable.

I find it amazing that in this verse God is saying that He will be Faithful to US. It seems a little backwards doesn’t it? Are you faithful to God? If so, How do you show it?

I took the verse and in my mind erased the word Lord. I started to think about other people that could go in that sentence.

“I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as your ________.”
a) Boss
b) Pastor
c) Police
d) Child’s teacher
You get the picture.
Really none of those truly fit in that sentence.

As an example, when was the last time you heard a boss say that he has Loyal/Faithful employees. I have heard this quite a few times. “Boy, Sure hate to see Jim retire he has always been so faithful and loyal to the company.”

When was the last time you have heard an employee say “Man I love my job! My Boss is so faithful to me.”

I find it really amazing to try and understand that God is FAITHFUL to ME! He is the Boss, the Top Dog, the Controller of all things. Yet he states that he will make us His and be Faithful to us. I love this promise that he has given us.

“I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as the Lord.”
-Hosea 2:20

Thursday Thought

I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless.
For if keeping the law could make us right with God,
then there was no need for Christ to Die.
-Galatians 2:21

Everyday I am blessed by His grace.
I have done nothing to deserve it.
I try not to take it for granted.
I am humbled that He takes the time to comfort me.
I am grateful that He has opened the line of communication between Hope and I.
I am amazed at the work He is doing in both of us.
Thank You Lord for the gift of Jesus.
I am sorry for the PAIN my sin has caused others including you.

I Have a Mentor

I have a Mentor. She lives 1,803 miles away. This makes it a little hard to get together for coffee but I know she is there if I need her.

My Mentor is a Wife, Mom, a Mimi (grandma) and a friend to many. I don’t think she realizes how much she has helped me become a more godly woman, better mother and wife and more tolerant of things I have no control over. She is Beautiful, Strong, Fun and Smart. I met her in person last August. I stayed in her home, which gave me an incredible opportunity to observe, question and follow her around.

I posted earlier in the week about some stuff that we are going through with our daughter and text messaging. While I was with my friend last August she took me to a Christian store, “The Mardels”. She showed me a book she was going to start studying with her boys. Eyes Wide Open-Avoiding the Heartbreak of Emotional Promiscuity Every night Hope and I have been reading a chapter and discussing it, in-line with scripture. This book has really touched my heart and reminded me how fragile a teenagers heart really is. I don’t really know of too many things that bring teenage girls closer to their mothers but this book is doing it for us.

My Mentor is Robin Meadows. The above photo is of Robin with Dirk her husband. Their Blog is Many Meadows. I know alot of you already know her but for those of you that don’t go visit her blog.

Robin, thank you so much for your guidance, leadership, friendship, prayer and most of all your love. God has truly blessed me with you.

Endurance

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.” - Romans 5:3, NLT

ENDURANCE is the ability to withstand hardship or adversity ; especially : the ability to sustain a prolonged stressful effort or activity.

For many of us, life is hard right now. The economy is not good. The job market is almost non existent depending what state you are in and your profession. Housing is in a crisis. People are losing their jobs, homes, and ability to take care of themselves financially. Even if your family is secure. You know people that are hurting and struggling through this time.

How we choose to handle these hardships is a direct reflection on our faith and hope. In my house we have not been spared by the economic downturn. But as I sit here tonight I see where a positive attitude has made this time a time of family, love and opportunity to grow closer. I have for years told people around me to find the positive. Where I have not been as diligent at looking for the positive in this last week, my husband has been on the smiley face band wagon. What a huge blessing he is to me and our family right now.

The “Two Listeners” saying of the day was:
Spend time with me.
Your mind will be free of worry,
New opportunities will arise,
Guidance will come.

I am praying for the energy and mindset to rejoice during these trials, develop amazing endurance and receive new opportunities and guidance.

I can’t wait to see what happens next.
How are you Enduring? Rejoicing? Receiving?

Just Checking In

‘I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD,
HOW HAPPY I’VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHERS FRIENDSHIP
AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. I DON’T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY,
BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY..
SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME CHECKING IN TODAY.’

This is part of one of those forwarded emails that we all get.  I think that I have received it two or three times before.  I keep running into people that ask me how, when and how long they need to pray for.  

I didn’t get the memo that required us to be on our knees for 45 minutes and pray from 6 am to 6:45 am, then to revisit the prayer position at 11:40m to noon to ”remind ” God of your earlier prayers,  Just in case your earlier devotionals or everything you have prayed for so far will be forgotten.  At bed time you will need to revisit for a minimum of 1 hour to repent for your sins and remind God of your prayers.  If any of you received this memo can I receive a copy of it?  Please!

 I admit in my human fleshy self…The above prayer to me is beautiful.  I think it is a great place to start. Add more when you are comfortable.  Praying to God is just a conversation with someone that loves you more than anybody else could ever imagine.  Don’t let words intimidate you.  Check in with him at least once a day.