I received this beautiful bouquet on Monday from a group of friends. It brought joy to my heart all week as I looked at it on my desk and smelled the delightful fragrance of the blossoms. I also got cards and fb well wishes from my friends and family. I felt loved - another gift I'm grateful for.
Speaking of life...I had an appointment at a funeral parlor on Tuesday to begin discussions about funeral arrangements for Andy and me. I confess that after I left, I was feeling a bit low. Although I know we're all terminal, it can be disconcerting to think about and actually plan your funeral. I was also not happy about how much it was going to cost. I've been advised that it's prudent to pay your funeral expenses now to help in the spend down of your assets to qualify you for Medi-caid.
Thinking of writing a check for thousands of dollars got me on the worry track again. But God is so good and is helping me to realize where my mind is going. He brought me back on track before I spent too many empty moments on future scenarios. I was reading Proverbs 2 and 3 on Wednesday morning when I came to the verses that the Lord gives wisdom and from his mouth come knowledge and discernment (Proverbs 2:6). I asked the Lord right then and there for that wisdom and to lead me in the right direction when it comes to spending money. After all, it's His money, not mine or Andy's. It is given to us to be stewards of, and I do want to be a good steward of his money and not spend it foolishly or needlessly.
Then later in chapter 3, I read these verses (25, 26): "Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared."
Have no fear! This was such a comfort to me...the Lord will be my confidence (not how much money I have left over)!
I read some amazing portions in my devotional reading this week. I'm continuing to read Spurgeon's Morning and Evening every day. I also read all of Nancy Guthrie's Hearing Jesus Speak into Your Sorrow this week.
Here are some gems I wrote down from this week's reading:
"Our disappointments reveal that we don't value the eternal promises of God as much as we want him to fix what we see as our most significant problems. We think that our physical life is of ultimate importance. We have a hard time grasping the significance and reality of the life to come." (Hearing Jesus Speak..., page 37)
"Trials make room for consolation. We are 'happiest' in our trials because then we have the closest dealings with God." "Out of the depths, I cry to you, O Lord" (Psalm 130:1). (Morning and Evening)
"Our prayers tend to be inconsistent, self-centered and energized more by a desire to get what we want from God than to enter into what He wants. But there is One who prays for us whose prayers are never insincere and misguided. His prayers are earnest to the core. He is the only truly righteous person who ever lived. So certainly the earnest prayers of this righteous person have great power and produce wonderful results." (Hearing Jesus Speak..., page 62)
"He who made no mistakes in balancing the clouds and meting out the heavens, commits no errors in measuring out the ingredients which compose the medicine of souls." (Spurgeon, quoted in Hearing Jesus Speak..., page 83)
"When we are weakened by the loss in our lives and Christ's power moves in, making us content when we don't have what we need, joyful in the midst of great sadness, and at rest in the midst of chaos, GOD IS GLORIFIED." (Hearing Jesus Speak...,page 116)
"Contentment is one of the flowers of heaven. It must be cultivated. It will not grow in us by nature. The new nature alone can produce it, and even then we must carefully and watchfully maintain and cultivate the grace that God has sown in us...Am I a diligent pupil in the College of Contentment?" (Spurgeon, Morning and Evening)
Did you notice the recurring theme...contentment? When we take our eyes off Jesus and focus on our circumstances, we will inevitably become disillusioned, despondent and discouraged.
We are enjoying incredible weather right in the middle of February. And I was able to take advantage of it by hiking with a friend yesterday. We went to Rancocas State Park again - it's one of my favorites. We enjoyed blue water, blue sky and all on the blue blaze trail.
We enjoy so many blessings because of being children of God. I heard a song - new to me - by Selah: I Got Saved.
There is a river of gladness
That pours from Emmanuel's veins
This sinner was plunged beneath the flood
And got saved
Since then I walk in forgiveness
All of my guilt was erased
The chains of the past
Are broken at last
I got saved
Oh, I got saved
I'm undone by the mercy of Jesus
I'm undone by the goodness of the Lord
I'm restored and made right
He got a hold of my life
I've got Jesus
How could I want more
I've received nothing but goodness
I've tested and tasted Your grace
I was so lost
'Til I fell at the cross
And got saved
Oh, I got saved
I'm undone by the mercy of Jesus
I'm undone by the goodness of the Lord
I'm restored and made right
He got a hold of my life
I've got Jesus
How could I want more
The love of God
Gave me His pardon
The love of God
Won't let me stay the same
The love of God
Pulls me up higher
His will is stronger
That's why I got saved
I'm undone by the mercy of Jesus
I'm undone by the goodness of the Lord
I'm restored and made right
He got a hold of my life
I've got Jesus
How could I want more
I'm undone by the mercy of Jesus
I'm undone by the goodness of the Lord
I'm restored and made right
He got a hold of my life
I've got Jesus
How could I want more
I've got Jesus
How could I want more
I've got Jesus
How could I want more
"I Got Saved" written Jennie Riddle, Corey Voss & @crystalyates for the upcoming Selah 2017 album.
If I've got Jesus...how could I want more? I have all that I need in Him. "I've received nothing but goodness, I've tested and tasted His grace." "I was so lost till I fell at the cross." He lavishes his grace, mercy and love on me continually.
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