I understand.......but do I really?

Many times while facing crises in our lives, people often say, "I understand." They are well meaning and often do feel terrible for what we are facing, but the truth of it is that unless you have been through what I have been through, you don't really understand.

There is the mother who has lost a child and people say, "I understand."
There is period of time when you are in a depressed state and when you try to explain to others, they say, "I understand."

I was one of those people that would say 'I understand' when someone was going through a rough period. I felt bad for what was happening and needed to offer some kind of encouragement, so, "I understand" seemed to be the most appropriate thing to say.

These were the kind of thoughts that flooded my mind early this morning. Do I really understand even when I do say I understand?

Hebrews 2:18 tells me, "because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, HE is able to help those who are being tempted."

That is a God who understands. He Himself has faced what we are facing now, temptations, tests, trials, you name it and He knows what it is like. He has faced loneliness, He has faced ridicule, He has faced insults, He has faced desertion, His own Father turned His back on Him when the sins of the whole world rested on Him. He is a God who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities.

What qualifies me to say 'I understand ?' Have I ever lost a child ? No. Have I ever been diagnosed with depression, apart from a few depressing days sometimes ?' No.

What qualifies me?

The word says Jesus shared in our humanity. Read Hebrews 2 and note what it says, Surely it is not the angels He helps, but Abraham descendants. For this reason He had to be made like His brothers and sisters in every way that HE might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God.

He qualifies in every way. He understands the highs and the lows. He can be trusted with our cares and our worries.

When you experience death, He understands.
When you experience sickness, He understands.
When you experience betrayal, He understands.
When you experience a broken heart, He understands.

Whatever your experience today, He understands.

I needed to read Hebrews 2 today to remember that it's not just lip service, God does understand. He understands my frustrations sometimes as a wife and mother. He understands my frustrations sometimes as a caregiver. He understands my frustrations sometimes as a sister and a daughter. He understands my frustrations sometimes as believer in my house of worship.
He understands my frustrations and struggles sometimes with this writing process.

I am guilty for sometimes carrying around my frustrations and then letting them weigh me down. Lord thank You for that reminder that you care and you truly understand.


Blessings,
Vickie

Word Filled Wednesday

My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times. Psalm 119:20

This verse so describes exactly the way I feel. My heart and my soul, my whole being is just consumed with longing for the word of God. I have a desire to know God's word like I never have before. I feel as though I could spend every waking hour just reading and studying God's word.

I have seen such a change in my life through the word of God. It has become a mirror for me and I now know myself better than I ever did before. My faith has become stronger and I am a bolder person because the word is at work in me.

God promised that if we search for Him we would find Him. He truly honors and keeps His word. I was a reader for years with my head, but God through His Holy Spirit has led me into deeper study and now I am reading with my heart and He is revealing Himself in ways unimaginable.

My heart's delight truly is in the law of the Lord and He is opening my eyes so that I can see the wonderful things He has there. His statutes have become my counselors when I seek direction and have become my hope in my time of need.

My encouragement to you today is to approach God's word with new zeal. God is anxious to meet with you. He takes the righteous into His confidence. He wants to share things with you. Make studying the word a priority, meditate on it, keep His commands with you always, and through the Holy Spirit God will make you wiser than your enemies. He will give you more insight than any of your teachers and more understanding than your elders. These are not my words they are His words......Psalms 119:97-100

A reminder to all of us today that we shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Let God's word be the fuel for everything we say and everything we write.

Lord thank you for your word that continues to be a light to our path and a lamp to our feet. Preserve our lives according to your word. In Jesus name.


For more Word-filled Wednesday post visit Amy here.

Blessings,
Vickie

Zealous for God

Zealous...........(According to Meriam Webster Online Dictionary) filled with or characterized by zeal: marked by fervent partisanship for a person, a cause, or an ideal.

Zeal.......(According to Meriam Webster Online Dictionary) eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something......Other words used......fervor and passion.


Yesterday I unexpectedly visited a church and the sermon was based on Revelation 3:14-16. This passage of scripture was written to the church at Laodicea, a very lukewarm church. God said to the church there, "I know your deeds, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were either one or the other! So because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

I've read this and heard it read many times, but when I read it again yesterday, I got very concerned that God said "I wish you were either hot or cold, but not lukewarm." When I think of the times that I have served God in a lukewarm way. The times I went to church and I praised God if I felt like it, or if they sang a song I liked. The church I went to for the first 10 years of my christian life had more than one worship leader, so if I didn't care too much for one style, I didn't do much singing or for that matter, not much praising either. Oh what a tragedy! Oh what a merciful God to spare me.

God is a serious and a jealous God. He says if we don't give our all to Him He will vomit us out of His mouth. Many of us have favorite cold drinks and on the other hand many of us like some good hot tea. But can you think of your reaction when you think your tea is hot and it turns out to be lukewarm? I know for me I always feel like spitting it out right away. God says at least if you are cold I know where you stand. Being lukewarm is like flip-flopping with God.

He wants all of us. We are encouraged so many times in the word to serve God with all of our heart, our mind and our soul.

Romans 12:11 says, "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord."

1 Corinthians 15:58, "Therefore my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer.

King David said in 1 Chronicles 28:9 - "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever."

This is an invitation to all of us to give God every area, every part of our beings. Don't let us serve Him according to our feelings. Don't let us only be excited when our circumstances are good. He deserves all of our praise all of the time.

Many times my heart has looked away from God because things in my life weren't the best, but He always remained faithful. Today is a new day, it's a fresh day. I re-dedicate my life to God, to give Him my best always.


Oh God search my heart today. Wherever there are areas that I haven't given over to You, I release them now. Father I recommit myself to relentlessly pursue the things of God. I want to serve you with joy and with fervor. I wholeheartedly give myself over to You. Thank You Lord for accepting me this day and for forgiving me for the times I have been indifferent to You.
In Jesus name.

Blessings,
Vickie

A Praise Break

My soul, my spirit, my whole being feels right now like just praising God. I had another post for today from my devotions this morning, but while I was getting ready to write, instead, I just had this overwhelming desire to forget everything else and stop and give God praise........so I am taking a praise break right now and I hope you too will stop for a minute or two and join in with me.

I will exalt You, my God the King; I will praise Your name for ever and ever, Every day I will praise You and extol Your name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends Your works to another; they tell of Your mighty acts. They speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty - and I will meditate on Your wonderful works. They tell of the power of Your awesome works - and I will proclaim Your great deeds.

They celebrate Your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of Your righteousness. The Lord is gracious and compassionate , slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made. All Your works praise You, Lord; Your faithful people extol You. They tell of Your kingdom and speak of Your might, so that all people may know of Your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of Your kingdom.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does.
Psalm 145: 1-13



My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise His holy name for ever and ever.
Psalm 145:21


Hallelujah, God is worthy to be praised, Oh what an awesome God He is.

Have a blessed day everyone,
Give God some praise
Vickie

Changing season.......Changing Weather

For the last couple of days the weather here in New England has been really changing. As we all know, the fall season opened some weeks ago and along with it came the expected: leaves changing color, leaves blowing all around, plus some cooler temperatures.

I woke up this morning and felt the same way I did yesterday, very cold. The temperatures were in the lower 30's yesterday morning and I think this morning it was just about the same. I stayed in bed for a while wishing I didn't have to get up. It honestly felt like it was winter, but the harsh reality of it is that it's still fall and winter hasn't even come yet. The last few weeks were pretty nice, give and take one or two cool days, and I think the recent temperatures came as a shock to me because of that.

Thinking about the seasons caused me to think about the seasons of life. Sometimes the seasons of our lives change, but the weather doesn't change right away and it deceives us so that we are not fully prepared. The temperatures started to change Sunday night, but I didn't realize it and so when I went out I wasn't adequately dressed.

Sometimes we're in the season of tests and trials, a time when God is probably shaping or molding us for something ahead. Because the weather doesn't change or it changes gradually we are not adequately prepared. We may put on our helmet of salvation but neglect to put on the breastplate of righteousness. Most of the time we do recognize that something different is going on but might dismiss it not acknowledging that we're under attack. It is so important to remember that the enemy of our soul is like a roaring lion, he prowls around seeking whom he may devour.

I can remember a time in my life when the season changed and my family was under serious attack. It was so subtle at first that I didn't do much about it. I prayed a bit and I spoke the word over the situation, but time and time again I dismissed it as just 'going through something'. Boy was I shocked one day to wake up to some cold cold temperatures in my home. My husband and I were fighting constantly and my kids were starting to develop attitudes.
Fall was gone and winter had moved into my home, but the trail of fall temperatures deceived me into wearing my spiritual fall sweater even though it was winter. I knew we couldn't go on like before and it was time to put on the whole armor of God. It was winter, we needed our coats. It wasn't just time to pray, it was time to pray and fast. It wasn't jus time to read the word, it was time to read and confess the word.

1 Peter 5:8 & 9 says "Be alert and of sober mind, your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.......(TNIV)

Don't let the cool season deceive you like it did me before. Be alert, be vigilant, get your ears attuned to the devices of the enemy. Know that even as God has plans to prosper you the enemy has plans to destroy your soul. He doesn't give up. Get prepared. Dress yourself in God's word. Let it be a garland to grace your head as you protect your mind from assault. Let it be a chain to adorn your neck as you watch over your thoughts. Secure your feet by walking in the integrity of God's word. Keep a guard on your heart for out of it comes the issues of life.


Thank you Jesus for your word today. Thank you for opening the eyes of my heart and my understanding to see the season of life I am in. Thank you Lord for providing me with all that I need as I continue to fight the good fight of faith. In Jesus name, Amen.


Blessings,
Vickie

Probing the Proverbs.........Introduction

This is the first part of a series I want to do on the Proverbs, a book that has totally changed my way of thinking, my approach to life and has given me great insight into making godly decisions.

These are thoughts and revelations from God as I read the book of Proverbs. I hope they will bless and challenge you to bring your thinking in line with God's word. I have found that using God's formula has lead to better quality of life for me and my family.

Proverbs have been placed by God as sayings that we can relate to in the natural to reveal a spiritual truth. Because they are obscurely expressed we need the Holy Spirit to give us deeper insight into the true revealed meaning. A first glance at a proverb or a parable seldom gives the real meaning.

They have been written that people may receive skilful and Godly wisdom, discernment, understand, insight, and the discipline of wise-thinking instruction in wise dealings. Proverbs 1:2

The **simple person** will learn prudence, good management of his life, so he doesn't operate in extremes, but have some balance. Proverbs 1:4

To those who are already wise, the wisdom of God causes them to increase in learning.
The one with understanding will acquire skill and listen to good and sound counsel so he will know the right way to go. Proverbs 1:5


**The Hebrew word for simple, generally denotes one without moral direction and inclined to evil.** (Note from TNIV)
Proverbs 1:22 How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?


There are many categories of subjects revealed in the Proverbs......personal relationships, business relationships, marriage, emotional issues, as well as many treasures of wisdom(the principle thing). We also find all kinds of people in the proverbs.....the wise, the lazy (sluggard), the fool, the strange woman, the proud....if we look long enough and hard enough we could all probably find ourselves somewhere in there.

Proverbs can truthfully be called the Wisdom Book. I believe the key verse (just my belief :) is 1:7"the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom(true knowledge)"

The fear of the Lord is the foremost (essential) key that opens the door to skilful and Godly wisdom. Wisdom is not a trophy placed somewhere with a certain race to run or a set of goals to reach. Having wisdom is having Christ. Paul says in 1Cor. 1:24, “Jesus Christ is the wisdom of God.”
Wisdom without Jesus is mere knowledge. To embrace Jesus is to embrace the wisdom of God. God has placed everything we need in Jesus. He is our wisdom, our understanding, our instruction. (He is the Life, the Truth and the Way. John 14:6)

Some final thoughts for this introduction

Benefits of finding the wisdom of God

For those who find the wisdom needed to follow God, HE has victory in store for you. He is a shield. He guards and protects you on your way, your path, your course. (Proverbs 2:7,8)

Wisdom protects and saves you from the trap of sexual immorality.(2:16)

It leads you to desire the company of good and upright people, and cause you to dis-associate yourself from those who practice evil. (1:10)

Wisdom is a sure and direct path to receiving God’s promised blessings.If we heed God's call, follow his instruction......then, He promises, "I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. 1:23


My soul's desire is to serve the Lord in spirit and in truth. I am tired of half-heartedly serving God. I am tired of going ahead with my life and then asking God to follow along. I am tired of making decisions and then asking God to bless them. The Lord gives wisdom and from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding(2:6) I want God to take me in His confidence (3:32). I simply want my life, my ways, my thoughts, my decisions, all that I do to reflect Christ.


Thank You Jesus for hearing the cry of our hearts. Thank you for revealing Yourself through Your Word. You promised that if we seek You, we would find You. Thank you for letting yourself be found. Change us by the power in Your word that we would reflect You and only You, in Jesus name. Amen


Blessings,
Vickie

Probing the Proverbs

Over a year ago I started to take a good look at my life and was very very dissatisfied. I had been thinking for a while that God was not really answering my prayers, that some people that I had looked to for help failed and I wondered where was my life going. I wondered why my life wasn't as productive as it should be since the word alluded to the fact that life was supposed to have some kind of meaning.

In reflecting I found that I was actually to blame for my state in life at that present time. I found that my life then was a result of the choices I had made a while back. My finances weren't doing well, my family life was ok, nothing outstanding, my ministry was so-so, and God showed me that many of the choices I made often were not very wise choices. I really took a long hard look and I stopped and really listened to God when He spoke those things to my heart.

After God revealed to me that many of my life choices were made without much wisdom, I was led to study the book of Proverbs. Now I knew many verses from Proverbs and could quote them pretty easily. However I started this study with new enlightenment from the Holy Spirit. I was actually studying the book for the first time as opposed to just reading it. Time and time again when I didn't put aside time for the word, I would use the Proverbs as a daily read since it has 31 chapters.

This time however was different and with guidance and new understanding through The Spirit of Truth, my thought patterns and subsequently my life has been revolutionized. My biggest discovery in the study of the Proverbs was that it's not just wisdom as I often thought, but that it is godly wisdom. Huge difference. That's what I needed then and still need every day to follow after God.

My spirit is being drawn again and again to look into the Proverbs. I want to share some of what God revealed to me while I studied then and any new insights I gain as I walk through this wise book again. I hope you will come along with me and share what you have learnt or what might come to the surface even as you read some of the post. I hope to post on this series which I will call, "Probing the Proverbs" as often as possible and want to thank you for digging deeper into God's word with me.

I hope to post an introduction to the book sometime later today or at least over the weekend.

Blessings,
Vickie

Word Filled Wednesday.

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4: 7 & 8

These verses are so challenging to me. I was almost shocked to hear Paul say, "train yourself to be godly." That means I have to purpose to find out what pleases God and get to it. I have to invest time in christian growth, be determined in carving out time for prayer, bible study and devotions, not hoping to find some time for these very important things.

Physical training is good because it profits the body which is just for here, but the word says godliness is even better because it has value for all things, both here and for eternity. It profits both the body and the spirit. A greater investment in the things of God has eternal rewards.

Lord, thank you for highlighting these verses today to my heart. Help me dear God to rearrange my priorities so that as I put You first and make seeking Your kingdom my most important job, then everything else will fall into place. Lord help me wherever I fall short. Anything I have put in your place I ask you to remove it and come reign on the throne of my heart. In Jesus name, Amen.


Blessings,
Vickie

He's Alive!

I thought I would give an update on my son as many of you have been faithful to pray for him and our family during his time of hospitalization. Also many of you have been asking about his recovery.

Today was exactly two weeks he came home from the hospital and also the first time we went back out to church. He stayed home one full week and a day recovering nicely and went back out to school last Tuesday.
We got up this morning and after a few initial struggles, got ready for church and made it there early, with lots of time to spare.
It was great to see him all dressed and ready for church and I kept saying, "thank you Jesus."
I was allowed to share our testimony of how God brought us through this dark hour and was grateful to know that many people were blessed and encouraged as I spoke of God's faithfulness.

We sang a song that said, "Hallelujah! Jesus is alive! Death has lost it's victory and the grave has been denied. Jesus lives forever. He's alive!! He's Alive!!

I know without a shadow of a doubt, my son is alive because Jesus is alive!!

I am so glad to know that Jesus keeps His word. He promises never to leave us or forsake us. He truly is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Blessings,
Vickie

Behind Those Eyes

Is it hard for you to admit your vulnerabilities to others? To God?

This is the challenge question asked in the book study done at Lelia's blog.
The book being studied is called "Behind Those Eyes", by Lisa Whittle.

To say that it's been hard for me would be an understatement. This has been such an issue for me over the years. I have never wanted anyone to see the real me. It gave me nightmares to think that others could know I made a mistake or that I failed. Throughout my life I have always appeared to be doing okay, always appeared to be in control of things. When some of my friends confessed they had issues in certain areas I would counsel them, I would encourage them, never letting on that sometimes those very issues haunted me.

On many occasions my husband would say he doesn't understand how it is that I seem to have walls up all the time. I never understood where it all came from, but I know I pretended to be someone who I wasn't for a very long time.

Just the thought of being vulnerable to another person was always too much to bear. Many times I really wanted to open up to some of my friends about how I felt inside but after a while I would convince myself that it wasn't really necessary and that I would be ok.

There was a time during our marriage that I felt like nothing was going right and in a weak moment I opened up to a friend. I could not sleep at all that night, all I thought about was that I had showed my friend a different side of me. I felt like I would die, honestly. My friend was surprised of course because I had never let on that anything in my marriage bothered me.

On the other hand I wasn't too open with God either and I realised that's why it took me so long to get help and to get healed from some of my emotional issues.

I praise God today with the help of the Holy Spirit and with constant study of His word, God is helping me to be more open with my husband, my children, my family and my friends. After reading one of Joyce Meyer's book I saw the damage I was doing to myself and my relationships and that put me on the path to healing.

God has been so faithful that as I open up more to Him, He is showing me more of Himself and has been using me to help those around me heal.

It was not an easy place to be and it took a lot to maintain that hard wall, when many times I just wanted to break down and cry. I bless God for removing my heart of stone and giving me a heart of flesh.

Thank you Jesus.


Blessings,
Vickie

I've been tagged!!

My beautiful cyber-sister in the Lord, Debra tagged me. So here are 7 random things about me.

1. I am originally from the beautiful Caribbean island of Barbados, now living in cold New England, USA.
2. I loved writing poetry as a young girl, but somehow (without explanation) lost that love until late in my adult years.
3. After rediscovering my love of writing poetry, I wrote a couple dozen poems in a few months, and published them in a book called, "A Celebration of Praise."
4. As a child I loved going to fairs just to get a hot dog. Didn't care about anything else, just wanted a hot dog. They tasted different :)
5.I have a great sense of humor. When I get a good joke, I laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh ......you get the picture:):):):)
6.I could sleep for 24 hours if given the chance.
7.Before I was married I always wanted to have 3 boys, absolutely no girls, now married for 19 years with 1 girl whom I could never imagine my life without, and 1 boy who makes it feel like I have 3........I wonder was I crazy or something?

I hope this helps in knowing me a little bit better, and I believe the rule of the game is to tag 7 people so I will try. If you have been tagged already, that's ok and my apologies.

• Terri @ Terri Tiffany Inspirational
• Tracy @ Seed Thoughts
• Yolanda @Higher Grounds
• Amy @ The 160 Acre Woods
• Kelly @ I'll be back
• Teri @ A View From the Mountain Top
• Holly @All The Days Of My Life

Blessings to all.
Vickie

Word Filled Wednesday.

When I said, "My foot is slipping," your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.
Psalm 94:18 & 19

I absolutely love these verses. They give me such assurance that whenever I feel like I am slipping or a I think I can't make it, God is with me. When my heart gets heavy with the cares of life, in turning to Him, I enjoy great consolation.

My prayer today is that all who read these verses will know that God is there for you whatever it is that you are facing.

You can find more Word-filled Wednesday posts right here.



Blessings,
Vickie

A Call to Prayer

I attended a prayer conference over the weekend that really challenged me to go deeper in prayer. It was well attended and even though I like women's conferences and such I am happy that it was a prayer conference. It did not disappoint. The call for more prayer,more intense prayer, renewed praying and to start praying if you don't was sounded loud and clear. It was a 3day conference and even though I was only able to attend one day it was worth it all.

Prayer is necessary for the believer. There is no way around it. It is our communication and His communion.

There are so many places in the bible where we are encouraged, commanded or invited to pray. Jesus Himself showed us by example the many times He separated from the crowd and went to meet with the Father. He gave us a model of prayer to follow so that we would know how to go about it(Matt. 6:9-15).

Prayer was Paul's lifeline and we see it so many times in his letters to the church. There was no way he could know the mind and heart of Christ like he did without a lot of prayer. When we open our mouths in prayer God opens His heart to us.

Paul encourages us to pray at all times, in all circumstances, for this is God's will for us in Christ Jesus. One of our greatest desires is to know the will of God. Praying at all times is God's will for us.

Again in Phil. 4:6 we are told to bring our requests, our petitions, our cares and our concerns to God in prayer.

We are the branches and Jesus is the vine. We cannot survive without Him, prayer keeps us attached to Him, our source, our supply.

2 Chro. 30:27 says "The priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, His holy dwelling place."

Is God hearing you, are your prayers reaching heaven? The only way God can hear is when we pray. He knows our hearts but He wants to hear our voices.

Many times we wish for God to do something about our situations, but we never actually go in prayer to Him. We hope in our hearts that He would meet our needs, that He would open new doors, but we don't take the time to stop and actually talk to Him.

How will our families come to Christ, unless we pray.
How will our marriages improve, unless we pray.
How will our gifts and talents be used for God, unless we pray.
How will our children grow in Him, unless we pray.
How will be more effective in our witness unless we pray.
How will we overcome the things we come up against and the strongholds in our lives, unless we pray.

Do the heavens know your voice? Or are you a stranger in prayer-land? Can you think of how long it has actually been since you talked to God?

An old favorite hymn of the church says,

"What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear,
What a privilege it is to carry,
EVERYTHING TO GOD IN PRAYER."

Pray without ceasing, pray continually: forget feelings and just pray. God waits.

I want to touch the heart of God. I want God's spotlight turned in my direction. I want the heavens to know my voice, I want my voice to reach the heart of heaven.

This is my heart's desire.

Hear my cry, O God, attend unto my prayer, from the ends of the earth, I cry unto to thee, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61

Blessings,
Vickie

Lord, thank You

I thought I would share one of my poems today.

I wrote this poem some time ago when facing a trial. I started to look at my life wondering why I was going through some stuff over and over again.

Then I saw how God was shaping and forming me by my tests.

I started to see that since I didn't learn the lesson before, because He really wanted me to get it, He allowed me to face it again.

I cried when I wrote it and all I could say was 'Lord, thank You."

I hope and pray it blesses someone today, that you would look at what you are facing with new eyes. I pray someone who read this today would mount up with wings as eagles. Get above your circumstances, look down on them and see the work that God is doing in you.

Lord, thank You

Lord, thank You for my trials,
My tears, Lord, and my pain,
For they're the only reasons,
That so much I have gained.

Lord, thank You for every heartache,
And for each crushing blow,
That forced me to look deep inside,
And help me, Lord, to grow.

Lord, thank You for every midnight,
When darkness stretched so long,
Then the precious name of Jesus,
Became my one and only song.

Lord, thank You, for each promise,
You gave me through it all,
Your love became my cushion,
And a soft place I could fall.

Lord, thank you

©Vickie Thomas

Blessings,
Vickie

Word Filled Wednesday.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothed yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:12 & 14

These were some verses I meditated on sometime last week while my son slept in his hospital bed.

I felt the word saying, dress yourself with warm clothing of kindness and compassion. Wear humility like a badge of honor. Adorn yourself with gentleness and patience. Let them be like magnets drawing others to you and most of all to your Lord.

Showing kindness to someone sometimes or being patient once in a while is not wearing it. We deal with people based on how they look, how they speak, their position or status in life. When we are actually clothed with the fruits of the Spirit, we can be kind and compassionate to anyone because it becomes who we are as opposed to putting them on and taking them off as it suits the circumstances.

Verse 14 says put on love, for love binds all these virtues together in perfect unity. It's useless trying to be kind when we don't have love. It's futile working on being patient when we don't have love.

Let love be your belt to keep them all in place.
Let love be your sash announcing your walk with Christ, over your clothing of compassion and kindness.

Wear the Word, for it becomes you when you Love is your designer.

For more Word-filled Wednesday posts visit here.

Blessings,
Vickie