Old Testament and New Testament

Greetings dear and precious sisters-in-Christ, The last day of November and I pray that each day there was something in your life to be thankful for and also grateful for. And also I hope that there have been days that you have been able to exercise the "learning to lean in to...". I also hope that your Thanksgiving day was very blessed and now that we are soon approaching the season of anticipation of the birth of Jesus I wanted to highlight two verses today. Each verse is the beginning found in the Old Testament, Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." and in the New Testament, Matthew 1:1, "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." All the stories and all of the books and all of the rumors and all of the myths and all of the assorted rhetoric about the beginnings of the earth and the birth of Jesus Christ have to be aligned with these two scriptures because when Truth enters in all else pales in comparison. I had a situation this past week that brought to light the real story behind my parents coming to live in the state of Montana. Yes, over the years stories were told about this and that and people would add to it but I was able to find among my mother's papers a story she had written about her and dad coming to live here. And it was such a delight to read her account of the actual event. It was exciting and at the same time eye-opening that this is the real story and now I know and there is no need to listen to others because this came from my mom who lived it! Let us pray - Abba Father, thank You for Your written word, thank You for the Holy Spirit. Lord Your written word speaks to our hearts! Lord I pray for each dear and precious sister-in-Christ that as she walks through this day that a stirring in her heart would be Your whispers telling her that she is deeply loved and intimately known by You and that she is richly blessed with so many promises and until her final breath You are with her. In Jesus Name, Amen. Still learning to lean in,

LyndiaSue

Psalm 89:5-8 Grateful for His Faithfulness

Greetings dear and precious sisters-in-Christ, This being the day before Thanksgiving and keeping with the theme of learning to lean in I looked up the definition of grateful and thankful. Grateful: feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness; welcome and Thankful: pleased and relieved. This year I would have to say I am more grateful than thankful! In reading the scriptures, Psalm 89:5-8,"Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones? For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD, a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him? O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O LORD, with your faithfulness all around you?" Yes, grateful for His Faithfulness. This month thus far has had its challenges and with those challenges He has covered me with His Presence. Yes, I know that He is ever present and ever knowing but especially this month He wakes me up in the middle of the night and I can hear His whispers that He is present. Him and I speak in silence for a while and then I drift back to sleep. Yes, I am grateful for His Faithfulness for without His faithfulness where would I be. As you spend time with family and friends or maybe it is by yourself on Thanksgiving day may His Presence surround you in a special way and may you be grateful for who He is. My prayer for you - O Most Holy and Faithful Abba Father, we are so grateful for Your Faithfulness which is all around You. Lord, I pray for each dear and precious sister-in-Christ that as she celebrates with family and friends or even celebrates by herself that Your Presence would surround her and she would begin to sing praises to Your Holy Name! In Jesus Name, Amen. Have a Blessed Thanksgiving,

LyndiaSue

A Deep Down Happiness That Satisfies

Greetings dear and precious sisters-in-Christ, Entering my room this morning and discovered that my favorite plant - yes I do have favorites - was in need of being watered. Not only was the soil dry to the touch but one of the stalks was drooping, I had to take action fast! So off to the kitchen sink for some much needed water. The plant is called, "Zebra Plant" and the leaf design makes me happy. Do not know exactly why? And it is just enough that it makes me happy. Are their things in your life that just make you happy? And if you were to try and analyze, overthink, examine, etc. a logical reason doesn't seem to manifest itself. I am learning to lean in on how to embrace that which makes me happy. A deep down happiness that satisfies! Yes, it can be a memory that you think about often, it can be a tangible object, it can be a taste or smell or any number of reasons for it so why not embrace it. There are more than one verses that have that "deep down happiness that satisfies" whenever I read them. Isaiah 64:4, Psalm 119:105, Romans 8:28, John 3:16-17, Galatians 5:22-23, Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1-5. These verses seem to resonate and weave themselves through my heart, soul and body. In order to revive my withering Zebra plant I had to water the top but I also had to add some much needed water in the bowl so that the soaking could begin to get "deep down" and the tips of the roots would not have to wait for the water to drip down. And that is the way the Lord gives us the soaking that is needed so that we have the Joy of the Lord which is our strength. When I am holding on He soaks me with Isaiah 64:4; when I am confused He soaks me with Psalm 119:105, when I am not understanding He soaks me with Romans 8:28, when I am questioning my life He soaks me with John 3:16-17, when I am focusing on the situation He soaks me with Galations 5:22-23, when I am out of control He soaks me with Genesis 1:1 and finally when I am aimlessly seeking for what is truth He soaks me with John 1:1-5. Yes, our Sovereign Lord is our "deep down happiness that satisfies from the top to the bottom and all the in between places and in the smallest and finest of details He revives, renews, restores and is so much more than we can ever imagine. Let us pray - Abba Father, how magnificent is Your Presence and Your Peace and Your Provision. Thank You O LORD that All we are and All we have and All of this life and into the eternity You are the one who satisfies, the one who gives us that deep down happiness. LORD I pray for each dear and precious sister-in-Christ be soaked in Your Love and Joy and Hope today. In Jesus Name, Amen. Being Soaked by the WORD,

LyndiaSue

Learning To Lean In - The Month of November

Greetings dear and precious sisters-in-Christ, Do you ever consider just how rich your life is? This being the month of November where "giving thanks" is the phrase that is spoken out more often. By that I mean organizations, food banks, donation centers, etc. are more pronounced in the month of November. I do not have a problem with that at all! The awareness of it needs to be expressed consistently for there are so many in need of... . Since 2009 I have dedicated the month of November to writing a novel. It is called NaNoWriMo and it is a site dedicated to writers. The goal is to write 50,000 words during the month of November! All except for 2 years I have been able to complete the goal and usually surpass the 50,000 words required. And this year is no exception. In particular I am learning to lean in by listening, observing, and giving attention to the small details of my days. Yes, the small details like yesterday while visiting mom in the nursing home, a simple thing like taking a walk in the hallways and mom's friend asked to join us. Yes, mom has a friend! How rich is my mom that her days in the nursing home and with advanced dementia she has a friend. The richness of having a friend, and how long that friend has been or the extent that your friend is involved in your life and vice versa doesn't matter for it is a richness that cannot be explained. As I type this I am reminded of a hymn from several years back, titled, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" Verses: 1. What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Ev'ry-thing to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Ev'rything to God in prayer! 2. Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble any where? We should never be discouraged Take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness Take it to the Lord in prayer. 3. Are we weak and heavy laden, Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge Take it to the Lord in prayer. Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer, In His arms He'll take and shield thee - Thou wilt find a solace there. Let us pray - Abba Father, thank You for friendships, thank You for all the riches you supply us with. Praise to thee oh Lord for always and in all ways being a Friend! I pray for each dear and precious sister-in-Christ that she learn to lean in and in the small details witness Your richness and beauty and faithfulness to her and surround her with Your Presence giving her a Joy and Peace that overwhelms and completes her. In Jesus Name, Amen. Leaning In,

LyndiaSue