A Verse to Chew On

Life has gotten in the way a bit...that ever happen to you? 

You start the New Year off with a fresh start...inspiration...and a list of things you wish to accomplish or try.

Then something happens.  Sometimes it's a big something...sometimes just a series of little somethings.  The somethings might be good or bad or a concoction of both...but before you know it your best laid plans have been pushed to the side as you have been sidetracked or become slave to the tyranny of the urgent.

Does that sound dramatic or simply true? 

I didn't have a host of endeavors lined out for the new year.  One thing I did want to aim for was being more consistent in blogging...I haven't quite hit the target on that one.  Good news is, I can start again wherever I may find myself! :)

And so I find myself at the beginning of a new week and that means it's time for a new Verse to Chew On!

 

YOU keep track of all my sorrows.  YOU have collected all my tears in Your bottle.

This I know: GOD is on my side!

Psalm 56:8,9

(emphasis added)

 

 



Sometimes those somethings can not only sidetrack us from the best laid plans for our year...life...career...family...health, they can make us sad...bring sorrow...produce tears.  Have you ever had those somethings pop up in your life, uninvited, unannounced, unwelcomed?  Rhetorical question.  Of course each and every one of us have.  That's what comes of life lived in a fallen world.

This verse brings me comfort and hope, peace and joy.  It reminds me that God sees me...when I feel invisible...or abandoned.  It reminds me that the tears I shed are valuable to Him because I am.  I may never know, this side of heaven, why a certain something(s) decided to make an appearance in my life.  And when these somethings come to visit I rarely know when they plan to leave.  But this I do know, God is on my side!

And He is on your side too.

I love these antique bottles pictured above.  Each one is unique.  Each one is a work of art.  In my imagination (this is not a concept that you can find chapter and verse for) God houses each one of our tears (metaphorically) in a bottle as unique and beautiful as these.  God sees us a valuable...He is not only the Lifter of our heads when sorrows come, He is the Lover of our souls when tears are the only suitable expression of our heartache and frustrations, anger and fear.

God loves you. God loves me.  He is on your side.  He is on my side.  Circumstances may not magically disappear, but God (I love those two words together) is with you...with me.  We can trust that He will never leave us. He is forever faithful.  He has a plan.  He can redeem even the messiest of somethings.  He can take those unwanted sorrows and uncontained tears, bottle them up and turn them into something beautiful.

 

 

We just need to trust in Jesus...pour out our sorrows and tears to Him...keep our eyes fixed on Him and not the circumstance...invite Him to change us even more than inviting Him to change the somethings...He is on our side!

 

I hope this week's Verse finds you happy and healthy...maybe this piece of the Bible is one that you can tuck away for a rainy day.

 

If, however, it comes to you in the midst of one of those somethings chew on this:  Your something may have surprised you, but it didn't take God off guard.  The Bible tells us that Jesus is acquainted firsthand with our sorrows - find comfort in the fact that He knows.  Invite the Holy Spirit to turn your heart's cry into tears of joy as you proclaim by faith that God is on your side!

 

Praying for you,

~Michelle...ApronGirl

A Verse to Chew On...for the New Year!

Each week I try to give us a little bite of Scripture...a little Taste so that we can See that the Lord is Good...a little something for us to Chew On ~mull over, memorize, apply~ to our day and week.

Today I'm going to give you a Verse to Chew On for this week that can be your theme verse for this New Year if you'd like!

As the end of one year and the beginning of another approaches I like to carve out some quiet time with the Lord and be deliberate about asking Him for a word for the New Year.

By word I mean literally 'a word' and also a bit of 'His Word' for me to hold on to.  This year I had two words (jackpot!) begin to roll over and over again in my heart...& then they seemed to pop up everywhere!  I heard them on the radio, saw them in magazines, and caught glimpses of them even in department stores.  My words for this year are Glory & Grace!  I am so excited about studying those out over the next twelve months...asking Jesus why He laid them on my heart...being surprised by new definitions and revelations of familiar parts of my vocabulary. 

You just might be thinking I'm on a bunny trail with my 'words'...I'm not.  Those two words are also in the slice of His Word that God served up for me for 2013...our Verse To Chew On...

"For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory.  No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly." Psalm 84:11 KJV

 

As you Chew on this Verse here are a few things to think on...little bits and pieces from my Study Bible Notes, Commentaries and Bible Dictionaries.

 

Sun = God gives the Light of life, He Enlightens us, Enlivens, Directs & Guides us.  He Warms us.

 

Shield = God is our Protector...providing Protection and Security.

 

Grace = God's Favor & Fruit in our lives, Kindness & Beauty, that which is Pleasant & Precious. It's the Goodwill of God towards us...and His Good Work in us.

 

Glory = Honor given to us by God as His Adopted Children and the Recipients of His Inheritance...it is weighty (in a good sense...we don't want to loose this in the New Year) and His Splendor Revealed To us and Through us.

 

No Good Thing does He Withhold = this is a Comprehensive Promise of Infinite Wisdom.  God will withhold what He sees as not good for us but will grant the good in His perfect timing for those who prefer Him and His Worship to everything that the earth/world system can produce.

 

To Those Who Walk Uprightly = that is Those whose Faith is Genuine - living a Life that Aims at doing God's Will.  Living in His Light, the Faithful enjoy Good Things only to the degree in which they express the Life of the Upright.

 

So ask yourself the questions I'll be asking myself this week and through out the year...How does it make me feel to know the God who is all that a sun & shield represents?  How does it feel to be blessed by all that is His Grace & Glory?  What is my response to that?  A desire to walk uprightly...to ask Jesus to show me how to do that...to empower me to walk more like Him in this New Year that He's blessed me with!

 

Please let me know here or on the Facebook link if this verse resonates with you...and if you got your own word(s) from HIM and/or a serving of His Word for 2013...I would love to hear what He's saying to you!

 

Happy New Year!

Michelle...ApronGirl

 

 

A Verse to Chew On

Here's this week's little devotional.  The verse I felt the Lord leading me to pen on 3x5 cards for my girls this week fits perfectly with the season we are in so I thought I would share it here too.

It's like God's little gift to us this week...

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Romans 15:13

And it's my prayer for each of us.  The Christmas Season is, in it's purest form, a time of hope and peace and joy...a time for us to focus on and connect with God in a profound and intimate way.

But it seems like there are 'forces' at work against the desire to celebrate and reflect on beauty of our Savior's birth.  Sometimes those 'forces' can be the glitz of the holiday season and trying to keep up with the buying, baking and busyness.  Sometimes the 'forces' are painful struggles we may be going through...like financial or relational challenges.  Annoying problems like appliances on the fritz or cars that need work or finals that need to be studied for can sidetrack us from the Hope, Joy and Peace that believing in Jesus affords us.

For just a moment or two why don't we pour our self another cup of coffee or brew a pot of tea and Chew on this Verse.  While we quiet our physical self's let's make the effort to quiet our souls before the Lord as well.

First take a moment to identify any thing that may make you feel Hope-less...is there something standing in your way of feeling the Joy of the Lord...are you void of Peace and experiencing anxiety about something?

Now that we have identified what may be standing in the way of us experiencing the Hope and Peace and Joy of this season let's focus on God!  This verse tells us that He is the God of Hope and that He can fill us with Joy and Peace.  The God of this universe, the Creator of all things seen and unseen is not limited by the circumstances of our life.  In the midst of the busyness or challenges or heartaches He can still fill us with His Hope and Joy and Peace by the power of His Holy Spirit.  The same Holy Spirit that came upon Mary making that Virgin Birth possible...the same Holy Spirit that later raised Jesus from the dead...is the same Holy Spirit who has the power to invade our souls, our circumstances with the Hope and Joy and Peace that Jesus came to bless us with.

Believing in the goodness of Jesus and the greatness of God gives me that abounding hope regardless or how things look or feel.  In choosing hope and joy and peace I am not ignoring the reality of the stuff of life that tries to creep in...it just means that I am focusing my attention on the Lord instead...realizing that He is bigger than any distracting 'force' in my life...and that true hope and joy and peace is found in the Gift of Jesus and not in my circumstance and surroundings.

As we choose to believe in Him and to believe Him we can see His Joy and Hope and Peace fleshed out in us...and through us to others...that's my prayer for us this week!

Serving Him and you,
Michelle...ApronGirl

A Verse to Chew On

Every school week, for almost three years now, I give my teenage daughters a little mini-meal...just one a week.  It's the same little food serving, more or less, every time.  They don't get it during the summer...but I usually serve it up for Christmas and Easter break.

You are probably thinking,"A mom who serves her daughters just one mini-meal a week, and the same kind of thing over and over, is no Martha Stewart or Pioneer Woman!"






Well, if you were thinking that you are right.  I am no TV Hostess with the Most-est or Super-Cook-Oklahoma-Ranch-Wife-Blogger.  But my girls aren't starving either.  The little mini-meal that I serve up for them is a Bible Verse that I print out on a 3x5 card and give to them every Monday...or Tuesday depending on what kind of week I had :/...but never ever on a Wednesday :).

This 3x5 card is a little mini-devotional for them.  Along with the Verse (I pray and ask the Lord to provide one tailored to their week) I usually write something for them to Chew On...little thought provokers to help them apply that portion of scripture to their lives. 

As important as it is for moms to provide physical nourishment for their kids, it's just as important that they provide something spiritually nutritional as well.  My girls are old enough now to own their own relationships with Jesus...and they do.  Both start every morning with their own devotional time...they have seen the importance of making sure that they feed themselves regularly.  But as a mom I get great joy out of spending time with the Lord asking Him to help me be His waitress, so to speak, serving up that little mini-meal that He prepares for them.  It's always fun to see where He leads me in scripture for them...and it's fun to write the cards and send them with a little note (Emily's gets 'sent' to the kitchen counter for her to find in the morning...Jessica's to her PO Box on campus for her to discover on her way to or from the Dex {cafeteria}).  It's also fun to hear occasionally that the verse was just what they needed...something to give them hope and/or encouragement.

I have been much more faithful with this old-school version of A Verse To Chew On over the past couple of years than I have been with my blog version devotional.  I am hoping to be just as consistent here now as I have with my girls.  In order to kick start this weekly post I have combined the two.  Our verse here is the same one written on my girls 3x5 cards this week.

"Nothing, you see, is impossible with God!"

Luke 1:37 The Message

Short and to the point this week...and from the Christmas Story - very appropriate don't you think?

As you chew on this verse take the time to look at the thing in your life that seems impossible.

* For Mary the impossible thing was how she, an unmarried virgin, could be the mother of the "Son of the Most High".

* For the college girls I know maybe the impossible is surviving finals this week...no joke!

* For some of us it may be trying to find Joy this Holiday Season in the midst of a family fractured by sickness, divorce or even death.

*Maybe it's not quite that tragic for others of us, but just as impossible as we try to figure out our financial situation or balance our busy schedules to meet the needs of those counting on us.

Whatever your impossible thing might be take courage like Mary did from the truth of the fact that God is bigger than our thing. The Angel Gabriel told Mary...and I believe is speaking directly to us as well...that 'no-thing' or nothing is impossible with God. Take a minute now to let Him know what your impossible situation is...and thank Him, by faith, reminding yourself of His great Faithfulness and Love for you.  Your situation may not miraculously change....or it may...but surely your view of your impossible thing will change when viewed through the reality of the Hope we have in the Greatness of our God.

Serving Him and you,
~Michelle...ApronGirl

A Verse to Chew On

Good Monday morning to you!

Today I will keep our Verse to Chew On post short and sweet. :)

No eye has seen,

No ear has heard, and

No mind has imagined

what God has prepared

for those who love Him.

I Corinthians 2:9 NLT

The passage of scripture that contains this verse is subtitled, in my ESV Bible, as Wisdom from the Spirit.

The wisdom spoken of here is an understanding of the significance of Christ's death...the message of the cross.  Who can really make sense of Jesus' substitution apart from the revelation of the Holy Spirit?!

The message of the cross goes beyond a change of ultimate destination for us and includes the work of salvation in the here and now as well!

If you are a Jesus follower the message goes like this...God created me...He paid the price for my sins through Jesus...I will live with Him forever...in addition - He has plans and purposes for me now that I can't see, hear or imagine!

Seeing, Hearing and Imagining are senses associated with our physical bodies and minds...these two facets of our being are completely limited by our human-ness.

This verse says that this God prepared stuff is for those who love Him.  Love is an action word!  It consists of, but is not limited to, seeking God through prayer and the Word, obeying Him and desiring to please Him about all else!

When we take action like this...love God in these ways...our spirit man which was recreated when we accepted Christ as Savior - sealed with and filled by the Holy Spirit, will receive wisdom that will guide us, lead us, mold us, reveal to us, empower us, provide for us to live out what God has prepared and provided for us through salvation this side of heaven!

That is something that I don't want to miss!  Often times my mind and my body are much more engaged than my spirit...and I believe this limits my ability to really hear from God and experience all that He has prepared for me.  I don't want to live with the regret of missing all that Jesus has afforded me.

So for a while I am 'fasting' some things that my body demands at times and some things that often occupy my soul (mind) in order to create more time and space for the Lord to speak to me and a deeper-sharper sense of my spirit who is in fellowship with the Holy Spirit so that I can hear from and be led by HIM!

As you chew on this verse during the week won't you ask the Lord 1) to reveal to you what He has prepared for you...2) if there is any 'fasting' that you need to do to be more sensitive to the voice of His Spirit?

Serving Him and you,
~Michelle...ApronGirl

A Verse to Chew On

I hope that this Monday morning finds you on an Easter high...not from a sugar overdose on jelly-beans and chocolate bunnies...but from the Hope and Joy and Peace that comes from a celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ!

Our physical tummies may being feeling the effects of the feasting that accompanied yesterday...like "I'm still full!"..."what were you thinking?!?"...."I may need a detox!"...

But our spiritual tummies can never have too much...we can feast and feast on the Word of God and not have to worry about any negative side effects!  In fact the more we 'eat' the more strong and fit we become...gotta love that !

So here is this week's Verse to Chew On...

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

As you chew on this verse...

*Remember God gives hope even in the most hopeless of situations...
*We can be filled with joy and peace when we chose to trust in Him...
*We can actually overflow with hope (that means enough for us and an abundance to bless others) by the power of His Spirit!

Take the time to overlay this verse on your life...is there a specific circumstance that comes to mind that you need the hope, joy and peace that only God can give?  Pray this verse over that situation declaring your trust in the Lord despite how things may look and feel...ask God to fill you with the power of His Holy Spirit...praise Him for the fact that the same Resurrection Power that raised Christ from the dead is still real, alive and active and can bring resurrection to even the most hopeless of situations in your life!

Serving Him and you,
~Michelle...ApronGirl

A Verse to Chew On

Yesterday was Palm Sunday...which marks, for me, one of the most significant weeks in the calendar year.  This week is a time that I, as a Jesus girl, can take time to think about...really think about...all that the Lord went through, over 2000 years ago, on my account.

Sure, what Jesus endured on the Cross...and all that went with that (beatings, public humiliation)...was for everyone on the face of this planet...past, present and future...but it was for me...because of me.

I think it's important to take time this week and remember...prayerfully...praise-fully...all that the Lord suffered for MY sins.  It's so easy, in my human nature, to fast forward from Palm Sunday to the joy of Easter Morning...the celebration of the Resurrection and all the blessings afforded to me because of that.  But to truly appreciate the Victory I think contemplation of the Agony is required.

This week I will be making time and space to do just that.  Part of that process will be meditating on this Verse to Chew On...

For God made Christ, Who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT

As I chew on this I will replace "our" & "we" with "my" & "I"...it's so much more personal that way, don't you think?

I will also take the time to reflect on how the truth of this makes me feel...contemplate how it should affect the way that I act.

I will ask the Lord to show me if there is any sin of mine that He died for that I am still holding onto...nursing...toying with.  And if there is something revealed to me (I'm almost postive, sadly, that there will be something), I will purpose to lay it at the foot of the Cross.

I will spend time thanking God for loving me so much, even in my flawed and sinful state, to offer up His very best...His VERY OWN...on my behalf.  I will take time to tell Jesus 'Thank You' for caring enough to withstand every lash of the whip...every mocking word...every rejection and betrayal...every nail...the crown of thorns...the pierced side...for me.  And I believe I will weep tears of sorrow, thanksgiving and  ultimately joy.

Will you join me?

Serving Him and you,
~Michelle...ApronGirl

A Verse to Chew On

On this rainy morning in the North-West...my cozy home is good...coffee is good...having my younger daughter at home on spring break is good...and the Word of God is good!

In whatever way this morning greets you, here is A Verse to Chew On...

Ah Lord GOD! It is You who have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for You.

Jeremiah 32:17

*How does this reminder of God's awesome power affect you?

*What do you have in your life that is too hard for you but not too hard for God?

*Are you trusting Him with that?

*Is it easier for you to trust Him with the 'big' things in life or with the 'small' everyday challenges?

Chew on this verse and let it feed the area of your heart and mind that may be troubled with something 'too hard'...then spend time building your faith up to trust the Lord with it by praising and thanking Him that there is nothing 'too hard' for Him!

What relief, joy, hope and peace is brought by reminding ourselves that indeed nothing is too hard for GOD.

Serving Him and you,
~Michelle...ApronGirl

A Verse to Chew On

This morning finds me a bit under the weather...and a bit behind on prep for my blog.  In God's good and gracious way He has provided us a Verse To Chew On in spite of my situation.  This verse came to my email in-box this morning as the header on a note from my dear friend Rebecca.

He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right.  By His wounds we are healed.

1 Peter 2:24 NLT

Given the fact that we are in the weeks preceding Easter I thought this would be just perfect for us to chew on!

As you spend time with this verse substitute the plural pronouns with singular personal pronouns...read it aloud that way.  Does this verse have a more intimate and profound effect on you by making that simple little change?

Think about how this verse affects who you are today...and who you will be in the tomorrows to come as you apply the truth of it to your life.

Now take this verse and turn it into a prayer of thanksgiving...for what Jesus chose to do on your behalf...for the grace of the Father...for the difference this truth has on your life.

A short blog entry I know...but I really don't thing I need to add anything to the magnitude of this scripture.

Stop by later this week for Life is Beautifully Messy - Part 2.

Serving Him and you,
~Michelle...ApronGirl

A Verse to Chew On

Since I am a "wee bit o'Irish" and this week holds St. Patrick's Day in it's line-up, I thought I would give us A Verse to Chew On that would be a great reminder that we don't need to catch a little leprechaun or find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow to have all our desires met!

No, we have something much more tangible and defiantly more reliable to put our hope and trust in...

Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD, trust Him and He will act.

Psalm 37:4-5

This was the first 'grown-up' verse that I studied and memorized and applied to my life.  By 'grown-up' I mean it wasn't one of those required Sunday School verses of my childhood like John 3:16 & Psalm 23.  Those are powerful verses and should be planted in one's heart and studied and applied.  But they were fed to me.  This verse I found all on my own [with direct help from the Holy Spirit of course :) ] when I was just about the same age that my first born is now...it spoke to me (probably the first time in my life that had happened) and I had to learn more about it...what did it mean and how should I apply it to my life?

Some of the questions I asked myself then...and I think we should ask our selves now as we chew on it are...

~Do you think this verse means that God will give us everything that we want?
~How do you think the Lord defines the 'desires of your heart'?
~What do you think it means to 'delight yourself in the Lord"?
~What part(s) of your life to you need to 'commit' to God that you haven't?...is there any area that you aren't trusting Him with?
~How does it make you feel to know that if you keep the conditions of this verse, (delight, commit, trust), that God promises to act on your behalf with your best interest in mind?

As you chew on this verse over the week take time to look up some of the key words...you don't have to have Vine's Expository Dictionary of Bible Words at your disposal, Webster's will be just fine...and see if the definitions of some common words make a difference in how you relate to this portion of scripture.

Praying that your week will be filled with many wonderful Jesus moments! :)

Serving Him and you,
~Michelle

A Verse to Chew On

Good grief...a lot of life has been happening lately...and very little blogging - obviously!  But I couldn't let today go by without a quick post at least! :)

On this day when we celebrate LOVE I just have to say Thank You. 

"Thank You God that we Love because You first Loved us!"



"We love because He first loved us" 1 John 4:19 ESV

As you chew on this verse with me, won't you send the Lord a Valentine prayer of thanks for all the ways He has been faithful to show His love to you?!

He does love you...and I do too :).

Serving Him and you,
~Michelle...ApronGirl



A Verse to Chew On for the New Year

I just love a New Year...don't you?

They come with brand new calendars! :)

It's not that there is anything magical about the start of a whole new calendar...the pictures may be pretty but the squares that the 365 days are assigned to sit in are blank...anything can happen...and usually does.

A New Year, represented by these prestine wall hung time measuring devices, is an opportunity for a brand new beginning...and if you are anything like me, you can use a new beginning on a pretty regular basis.

It's human nature and it's been that way since the garden...Adam and Eve got a new address and a fresh start after they messed up...mankind got to start over after the flood...and thankfully for me God's mercies are new every morning!

But there is something very special for me about the start of a New Year...it's a time for reflection.  Each and every year of my life has been made up of the good and the bad...some years the good out weighed the bad and other years the good just seemed to be more like a condiment than the main course. 

Good or Bad, as I reflect over this past year...and others in my lifetime...GOD has always, ALWAYS, been faithful to ME!  I may not have signed up willingly for what some years dished out but by GOD'S GRACE I am a better me for having walked through it all with HIM.

So as 2011 faded out and 2012 loomed fresh I count the blessing of the year passing and look hopefully into the one dawning...hoping that some of the tough times will be a season past and that what I've learned from those will bring hope into the new that can be shared with others.

The Lord, in His grace led me to the verse I am about to share with you.  I claimed it for myself as it lept from the page when I read it...shared it with a valued friend when I felt the Lord nudge that it was for her too...and made a New Year's Eve devotional from it for my family as I felt led to let my husband and the girls in on what the Spirit had been whispering to my heart for days.

Now I am going to share it with you...because I'm nice like that :)...you decide if it's for you for this New Year.

Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old histroy.  Be alert, be present.  I'm about to do something brand-new.  It's bursting out!  Don't you see it?  There it is. I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands. 

Isaiah 43:18-19 The Message

These are the questions I asked myself...

     *What from the past do I need to let go to not miss the present and move on into the future?

     *Why do I need to be alert and present?

     *Am I excited about the prospect of something brand-new or does the thought of change scare me?

     *Do I have any idea what the new thing may be?

     *What does it mean that God is making a road in the desert and rivers in the badlands?

That's a lot to chew on for the beginning of this New Year...I really can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for us all!

Serving Him and You,

~Michelle...ApronGirl

A Verse to Chew On for Christmas

Hi there!  I hope this post finds you doing well and enjoying this Special Season!

We are in the final countdown phase now aren't we!?!  Are your...

Lights Strung... 



...and Stockings Hung?

Cookies Baked...

... and Gifts Bought?

If you are among those with a checked-off check list then brew a cup of something warm and yummy and spend a few minutes relaxing...



If you are in my camp with a host of stuff yet to be done then skip the yummy and opt to sip on something with immune boosters included cuz we have work to do! :)



But what ever situation best describes you I hope you can take a moment or two to Chew on this Verse...

"...and they bowed down and worshiped HIM.  Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts."

Matthew 2:11 NIV

For those of you intimately acquainted with the Real Christmas Story you know that the 'they' referred to here are the Magi...commonly referred to as the Three Kings...

Truth be told...we don't know how many Kings or Wise Men showed up.


What we do know about this band of travelers is that...

* they journeyed a long distance to see  the "king of the Jews"

* they found Jesus by following a star

* they sought Him to worship Him

* they gave Jesus 3 gifts

There are so many rich bites in this part of the Christmas Story and so many interesting facts regarding this band of men...how they knew to follow the star...when they actually found Jesus...but we just don't have the time for all of that right now.

What I do want to focus on is that they presented Jesus with Gifts as part of their worship...and we should too...it is His Birthday after all! :)

For years now my family and I have made giving Jesus a gift at Christmas a priority. 

We begin to pray over Thanksgiving weekend asking the Lord to tell us what He would like for His Christmas present...when we feel confident that we know what His wish list is we write it down on a piece of paper...then we place it in our own special box under the tree...

On Christmas morning these are the 1st gifts opened...we share our gifts with each other...placing our focus on the true meaning of Christmas...and responding in like in a small way to the Ultimate Christmas Gift from our Father - JESUS!

Our gifts are usually a year long commitment of some sort ranging from...praying for unsaved friends to taking better care of the body He has given us to being in charge of bringing food to the church food pantry each week to doing better at obeying mommy and daddy the first time they ask.

The gifts vary year by year and family member by family member but the heart of the process remains the same...to acknowledge that this Holiday really is about Jesus and to draw closer to Him through this Season and walk with Him more closely through out the coming year.

I know we only have 6 days left until we celebrate His birthday and we may have countless things left on our to-do lists but we have plenty of time to seek Him for what He wants this year and wrap that up and place in under the tree and at the top of our heart!

Serving Him and you,
~Michelle...ApronGirl

A Verse to Chew On

It seems like just a minute ago it was Thanksgiving...and now we have just 17 days until Christmas!  My how time flies when you are trying to keep up with life!

I knew that it had been a while since my last blog entry (at first my absence was purposeful...necessary to complete preparation for a speaking engagement that I had) but I had no idea that it had been well over two weeks!  Good grief...this is what happens when I get out of what little routine I have left these days! :)

If you think my absence from the blog world was bad, you should have seen my house before my whirlwind cleaning this morning (please don't look upstairs quite yet)!!  What a mess it was!...and when my environment is a mess then I feel cluttered.

Now that the lower portion of my home is tidy and the halls are somewhat decked for the season I have a sense of much needed calm and mental clarity...but unfortunately not much time for a decent post (my cupboards are about as bare as Old Mother Hubbard's).

I did want to take a quick minute to jot just a thought or two though and give you A Verse to Chew On.

So that in everything they may be an ornament...to the teaching...about God our Savior.

Titus 2:10 Amplified

A good word for this Holiday Season...don't ya think!?! :)

Girls when we are busy with the hustle and bustle of preparing our homes for this Christmas let us remember that our calling goes beyond the baking of the gingerbread men, the getting of gifts and the tinseling of the tree.  We are called to be an ornament.  Just like the ornaments we hang draw the attention to the trees we place in our homes so our lives, character and conduct should draw the attention of those around us to the true meaning of Christmas...which is Christ! 

Remember that the Christmas Tree in our homes would really mean nothing if we don't look ahead in historical time to the Tree at Calvary! Is that confusing...sound almost like an oxy-moron?  I mean look ahead from the Baby in a manger at Christmas to the Savior on the Cross at Easter...not trying to rush holidays like the Retailers...just trying to illustrate a point! :)

So as we clean our homes in preparation for the Holiday let us ask the Lord to give us a clean heart and pure mind...and as we decorate for the Season let us ask the Lord to use us as His ornament to draw people to Jesus and bless them as we celebrate His birthday!

Serving Him and you,
~Michelle...ApronGirl

A Verse to Chew On

As my mother used to say when I was little, "I have a hundred and one things to do and not forever and a day to do them in!"...wasn't sure what in the world that meant when I was 8 years old...at 48 I am totally feelin' it! :-)

In spite of my extremely busy day and my hangover* [a hangover not due to imbibing lest you question my integrity - but a hangover from trying to keep up with my teenage daughters this weekend ;-)] I just couldn't let today go by without posting a  verse for us to chew on this week.

I found the address of this portion of scripture on a post-it note (my life is on post-it notes at this point) on my cluttered desk this morning as I was trying to sort through and make some sense of my day.  It was in my handwriting but I had no recollection of when or why I jotted it down.  So I plugged it into my laptop on Bible Resources and had it pop-up in several translations.

The one that really jumped out at me and even created a visual image in my mind's eye [see below] was out of The Message and actually encompassed 3 verses instead of the usual 1 that I like to camp on.  When you read it I think you will see why...

So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when Jesus arrives.  Don't lazily step back into those old groves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing.  You didn't know any better then; you do now.  As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness.  God said, "I am holy; you be holy."

1 Peter 1:13-16

Did this image pop into your head as well?  When I thought of this image of a determined looking woman with her sleeves rolled up I didn't realize that it contained this perfect 'speech-bubble' caption as well.  This portion of scripture is a mouth full to chew on...it's a warning, challenge and encouragement that may seem too much for us...and if we are trying to flesh in out in our mere human abilities we will fall short.  But we can do it if we seek the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives!

The more busy we are the more likely we are to become lazy or rather complacent in our spiritual lives...and this can lead us on a path to a destination we really don't want to reach.  Perhaps that is why I came across the post-it note this morning.  As I zip through my busy life, trying to get done those 101 things I mentioned before, I need to make sure that I am not just rolling up my sleeves to get those jobs done, but that I need to roll up my spiritual sleeves first and foremost so that my life really counts and is 'shaped by God'.

I would love to hear what you get out of our verses as you chew on them today! :-)

Serving Him and you,
~Michelle...ApronGirl

A Verse to Chew On

Today it's back to the basics with our devotional verse for the week...it's kind of like spiritual meat and potatoes...unless you are a vegan :)

This verse, when you really chew on it, proves to be the cure all for whatever ails you...financial woes, relationship struggles, the propensity towards sin, medical crisis...any fear - any frustration.  This verse puts our attention on the One who is forever faithful to us...Who has it all in the palm of His hand...Who never sleeps on the job or is taken by surprise.

Jesus replied, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind"

Matthew 22:37 NLT

So what does it mean to love the Lord your God with...
     *all your heart?
     *all your soul?
     *all your mind?

Is there one of these areas that is weaker than the others in your love walk with the Lord?  How do we grow in our love for Him?...maybe by getting to know Him better.

As we chew on this verse together, why don't we make it our determined purpose - with the help of the Holy Spirit - to grow in these areas...I think it's  probably pretty important because Jesus told us we 'must'. :)

Serving Him and you,

~Michelle...ApronGirl

A Verse to Chew On

Because I have writing to do today for an upcoming event that I will be speaking at, our verse will be short and sweet.

Every Monday morning, for a little over a year now, I give each of my girls a Verse to Chew On for that week.  I write it on a 3x5 card with a couple of thought provoking questions or interesting comments (at least I think they're interesting) on the reverse side.  This year the Joyster receives hers a day late in her college mail box (some college kids get baked goods to snack on, mine gets a card with a verse), Lopey usually has hers waiting on the kitchen counter (appropriate place to do your Bible chewing I say)...here is what I shared with them today.

Base your happiness on your hope in Christ.  When trials come endure them patiently: steadfastly maintain the habit of prayer.  Romans 12:12 Phillips

Here are the questions from the back of their cards...

1)  Who are we to base our happiness in?
2)  How are we to react to trails?

3)  What habit are we to maintain?...What does it mean to be 'steadfast'?

If we practice what this verse 'preaches' how do you think it will affect this day...this week?

As you take time to chew on this verse, in addition to my girls questions, why don't you insert the Webster's definitions of the following words for a fuller flavor.

Happiness = contentment or pleasure

The "Habit of Prayer" - hehe

Hope = desire with expectation of fulfillment
Trials = source of great annoyance; test use or experimental effort (hmm maybe that annoyance can result in something useful?)
Endure = last, tolerate

Patiently = without complaint

Steadfastly =  faithful or determined

Habit = usual behavior...addiction (in this case it would be good to be addicted - don't you think?)

Prayer = earnest request, addressing God

You might even want to write your own Amplified Version of this verse by rewriting it adding in all of these definitions.

I hope this Verse To Chew On is an encouragement to you this week! :)

Serving Him and you,

~Michelle...ApronGirl

A Verse to Chew On

Sister~Friends I must apologize in advance for this blog post.  Today is not only the standard 'laundry day' in my house but I also need to add on 'various errands' and 'mowing the yards' to the To-Do List today...along with all the other everyday chores.

Anyhow, this post may seem a little off the top of my head in form today but please know that in content it is from the bottom of my heart.

So lets get to it...

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort which we ourselves are comforted by God.        

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV

That verse is a lot to chew on...partially because it's two verses instead of just one...partially because it's so meaty...we could really spend a few days chewing on various aspects of it...but I can hear my grass growing and my dryer buzzing so I'm just going to bite off one little chunk of it today.  Of course, it goes without saying...but I'll state the obvious...you can spend as much time with this portion of Scripture as you want and savour all that it has to offer. :)

The part I want to chew on is the one that challenges us to comfort others.  I am so thankful for the fact that God, as our Father, comforts us in our afflictions...but I also love the fact that He doesn't just heal us up for our own good but so we can be His healing representative as well...sharing His comfort to others that hurt!

Before we start talking about comforting others I think we should think about how God comforts us...since it's that same comfort we are to offer others.  Well, let's see, God comforts me...*through the counsel and encouragement of His Word,*by the presence of His Spirit,*through others who offer a listening ear, practical help and companionship...can you think of other ways?

Some hurt because of the gospel [this is the experience Paul was referring to]...we don't see this happen much in our American culture...at least not to the degree that it does in some countries or in Biblical times...but it still happens.  There are missionaries and native believers in various parts of the world that could receive godly comfort from you in their pursuits through your prayers or financial support.  If this pricks your heart find a way to help through either your church's missions board or through a para-church missionary organization.

Some are hurting, to a different degree, because of the gospel here locally.  Some may not come from a Christian family and endure criticism for their faith...other's may be judged in the workplace...or ostracized on the college campus for being a follower of Jesus.  Do you know someone like that?  How could you bring comfort to them?

There are other 'afflictions' that we see commonly in our culture...older people who are lonely or in need of help with chores who might be comforted by a visit [with or without a plate of cookies :)] or help with raking their leaves...young singles and college students can suffer from loneliness and being homesick as well and would be greatly comforted by being invited for a Sunday dinner with your family...how about single moms who would find comfort in you volunteering to watch their kids for an afternoon or evening so they could have two minutes to themselves to relax or get something done that needs doing?...what about the person with a scary medical diagnosis that would find comfort in your prayers or presence at at doctor's appointment or a meal delivered to his/her home?  What about sending an email or an old-fashioned card to someone 'just because' - there is great comfort that comes from knowing that someone took the time to let you know they care about you.  Or send a verse by text or snail-mail or carrier pigeon to someone the Lord lays on your heart.

The list can go on and on...I'm sure that you can think of ways to comfort that I don't have time to mention or wouldn't even think of.  I have experienced God direct comfort and godly inspired comfort time and time again through out various 'afflictions'.  Sometimes it's been really hard to be on the receiving end...but it has always been a blessing and just what I needed at that time.  When people have made the effort to be the hands and feet of Jesus to me it hasn't always changed my circumstance or situation but it has infused me with God's presence and brought me comfort beyond words!

As you and I chew on this verse I'm going to challenge us to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and follow through with someone He lays on our heart or opens our eyes to before the weekend.  I would love to hear how God uses to to 'comfort those who are in any affliction'!

Serving Him and you,
~Michelle...ApronGirl

A Verse to Chew On

The fog is lifting...the roof is dripping [outside - frost don't ya know]...looks to be another beautiful autumn day in the North-west!

The perfect day to brew a cup of coffee...or tea...or hot chocolate...or spiced cider :) and sit down for a minute between loads of laundry [doesn't everyone do theirs on Monday?] and chew on a portion of Scripture!

I think Laundry Day might be the perfect day for A Verse to Chew On.  The 'chewing' metaphor works great on a plethora of levels but spending time in the Word has some laundry connotations as well.  For me, not only does Scripture feed my spirit, but it irons out the wrinkles of life as well.

So, before the dryer buzzes and another load needs to be flipped, let's get to it...

"Faithful is He who calls you and He will also bring it to pass"

1 Thessalonians 5:24 NASB

This is just a little smidgen of the Word but it covers so much if you think about it.  Paul, in his closing statement in his first letter to the Thessalonians, gives them [and us] such a powerful reminder of a couple of different things.

     1.  God is Faithful!  If we've been a Jesus follower for any amount of time we probably know this one...but today, on this Monday, knee deep in laundry, or Cheerios, or smack dab in the middle of an office cubicle or classroom...with Lord only knows [and He surely does] what this week holds for us [good, bad, beautiful or ugly] do we know down deep in our heart that Faithful is He?  Chew on those three words for a minute..

     2.  He who calls you...think about it...the Creator of the universe calls you!  God calls to humankind universally and corporately but He calls you individually, personally, intimately...wow!  You may be feeling lonely, invisible, overwhelmed, used, frustrated, under appreciated, disposable but the Almighty God sees you...knows you...calls you!  That is a great Monday morning kick-off in my humble opinion!  God calls you to relationship with Him...calls you to living a life that lets Jesus shine through you [see vs. 22,23]...calls you to His plans and purposes.  What is He calling you to today?...

     3.  He will also bring it to pass...that 'thing' God is calling you to - He will get it done!  Seem too good to be true?  Well, it isn't.  If God calls then He equips and He makes sure it happens.  All it requires on our part is cooperation and dependence.  If we carry the stress of the 'thing' and try to flesh it out on our own then we are up the creek so to speak.  We may get the 'thing' done on our own, but we will miss the purpose of the 'thing' all together.  Most 'things' that the Lord calls us to are a catalyst to draw us into deeper relationship with Him.

Well there goes the familiar buzz of the dryer.  As I get ready to move laundry day on into the ironing phase won't you join me in allowing this verse to help iron out the wrinkles of your life?  What 'thing' is God calling you to?...walk out a tough spot in your marriage...keep consistent in parenting through the trying twos or teens...do your best work in the office or classroom...wait for His mate for you...step into a ministry opportunity that takes you out of your comfort zone?  Get that 'thing' in the forefront of your thinking...now over lay it with the facts that God is faithful to you in whatever it is and if you choose to depend on Him He will ultimately get it done through you!  

Does that make you more willing to walk it out?  It does me!  Shoot it even gives me the gumption [old fashioned word to go with the old fashioned picture above :)] to leave the beautiful autumn view out of my office window and head downstairs to the laundry room...and that's sayin' something! 

Coming later this week...Inventory Your Kitchen Cabinet.

Serving Him and you,

~Michelle...ApronGirl 

A Verse to Chew On

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning.  Great is Your faithfulness"

Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV

A September Sunrise - Boise, Id

When my 2nd born was just a toddler I would sing to her at bedtime.  Her most requested song was Great is My Fitfulness.  Not familiar with that one?  You probably know it as Great is Thy Faithfulness...the old hymn written by Thomas A. Chisolm.

I just loved the name that Lopey had for it though...quite fitting for a darling blue eyed, blond haired girl smack dab in the middle of her trying two's who tended to fight bedtime with every fiber of her being.  When you think about it that title is pretty accurate for all of us in the human species, at one time or another. I'm just sayin'.

It's so easy to find my self in a fit...maybe not the lie on the floor and cry till I get my way fit...but a fit none the less.  Thoughts of  "it's not fair" or "why me" would fall into this category...as would 'fear of' or 'anger toward' things not in my control.  The hymn which is based on our verse is such a good antidote to those fits.

I'm pretty sure that the composer of the hymn would agree.  You see Mr. Chisolm had a few things to pitch a fit about himself.  The first part of his adult life was plagued by health so fragile that he spent most of his time confined to bed.  When he wasn't flat on his back he was working odd jobs like crazy to make ends meet...I'm sure those life conditions could illicit a response of "it's not fair...why me".  He very well might have made those statements.

Somewhere along his 94 year life span though Thomas A. Chilsom came in contact with truth of Lamentations 3:22-23 and the person of Jesus. At some point he discovered for himself that God's mercy and love for us is not only constant, but it's as new and fresh as each morning...and that He is faithful to us...even when we are not faithful to Him...even when the tuff-stuff of life would point to the contrary.

So, chew on this...how would thinking on the truths of our verse change your attitude now?  Do you have a life situation that overwhelms you more than God's love and faithfulness does?  As you chew on Lamentations 3:22-23 say it out loud...like you mean it...it's true!  Your life situation may be true and difficult, but as bad or frustrating as it may be it is only temporal.  By saying that please understand that I am not making light of anything you may be going through.  I am simply trying to put an eternal perspective on it...God is forever faithful, His love to you is steadfast and His mercies not only are without an expiration date - they are new as every sunrise!

As you chew on this verse take time to read over the lyrics they inspired...let the Lord's Word and His presence calm any 'fit' that might be raging inside of you...and remind yourself (we all need to from time to time) that Great is His faithfulness toward you!

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Refrain:
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassion's, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Refrain

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Refrain

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Serving Him and you,

~Michelle...ApronGirl