How Great Thou Art.....

Sometimes and many times, I am overwhelmed with all that the Lord has made.  My adrenalin flows just thinking about how mighty God is and my chest is tight with emotion.  I love the Hymn, "HOW GREAT THOU ART".  God has made every good thing on the earth.  I am humble and thank him for all his works.
 
Psalm 147:5  "Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.

Mocking Bird       ©Kerrie O'Hearn Marquart

Deut: 10:17  "For the Lord your God is God of Gods, and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe."

  His greatness is beyond measure. This beautiful scene is what I see of God's works on daily walks...

   Take Time to reflect on God's greatness.  I received a little prayer card in the mail many years ago from Salesian Missions and use it as a marker in my bible.  This is what it says:

   TAKE TIME

Take time to think, it is the source of power.

Take time to play, it is the secret of perpetual youth.

Take time to read, it is the foundation of wisdom.

Take time to pray, it is the greatest power on earth.

Take time to love and be loved, it is a God-given privilege.

Take time to be friendly, It is the road to happiness.

Take time to laugh, it is the music of the soul

Take time to give, it is too short a day to be selfish.

Take time to work, It is the price of success.

Take time to do charity, it is the key to heaven. 

How would you describe God's greatness?  Making lists of things we are thankful for is not only fun but brings to light the things of God's world that we delight in every day.                    

Kerrie with brother Joe
1947

   From the time I was a little girl, I always knew there was a God, someone Greater in power than all the earth.  I do not remember anyone telling me about God when I was 4 and 5 yrs. old, I just knew it.  I clearly remember praying to ask God's help in family situations.  I love the greatness of the Lord and it fills my heart with Joy in all situations for "when I am weak, that is when I am strong" in the Lord.

Kerrie 2010  with Juvenile Hawk

Last year a friend came to visit who is a licensed raptor trainer.  He asked if I wanted to hold the hawk.  Though somewhat apprehensive, I dearly wanted to connect with God's beautiful creature!  So I put on the glove and there he perched on my hand.  What a thrill.  I stepped out in faith knowing God would protect me and what I received was the joy of holding this beautiful wild creature.  Don't miss out on opportunities of any kind for God is with you in all things good and there is nothing that you and HE cannot handle today or any day. 

Thank you for visiting today and I hope you will take a blessing away with you today. I love your comments and visits! Come again soon and take time to enjoy all the greatness of the Lord! Sing from your heart right along with the video on the right of this post. Blessings and love to you all.

My Christian heart to yours...

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD...

The 23rd Psalm was written by David, the shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.    A higher power is at work in our lives.  The Lord knows our needs and will provide.  "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures,"  He takes us to a quiet place away from the cares of this world.  "He leadeth me beside the still waters; he restoreth my soul."   I love this verse.  We are led to a place of serenity where we can "regroup" our thoughts and lives.  We can be restored by the calmness and the filling of our hearts with Love for our creator.    "He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his namesake."  God is guiding us in the path that he would have us go.  He does not let us free to follow our own desires that may not be for our good.  Just like a lamb who has gone astray and fallen down in a hollow.  The Shepherd's crook was a tool to hook around the lamb's neck to retrieve him and bring him back to the Shepherd.  When we try to go it on our own, we get into trouble and then Our Father the Good Shepherd has to sometimes by force bring us back to safety for our own sake.

  

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me."

  God is our eternal shepherd, never leaving us alone, not even in the shadow of death.  He never forsakes us even when we stray from the path.  He will seek out every one of his "sheep" because he cares for us as no one else can.  He shows His great love by His constant vigil.

"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou annointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over."  God is with us even in the midst of our enemies, those that would wish us ill or tempt us to stray from the safe path that He has provided.  In David's day, anointing the head with oil was a courtesy and a show of love as it kept lice from infesting one's hair.  Just as washing of the feet was also a sign of willful servitude to a guest, a sign of love and caring.  Wearing sandals on dusty roads surely made it necessary.  The Lord is so generous with His love and caring that our hearts are filled to overflowing with His presence even when we are all alone.

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

With God on our side, how can we fail?  When you have nothing else, you have the savior.  When you are totally alone, God is still there with you.  Sometimes he uses the rod and the staff to keep us on the straight and narrow, to keep us in harmony with him.  When we sin, we have fallen out of harmony with God and just like with music, when we are out of harmony, our lives are like a "sour" note. 

What can you do then to stay in harmony with the Father and Son?  You can read the Bible, pray, invite Jesus into your heart.  You will be filled with joy as we only can be when it is filled with the Savior!

♥KERRIE♥
My Christian Heart to yours....

Does God Hear Your Prayers?

An Age old question for sure!  YES, God does Answer prayers!

   Sometimes, He answers in a small way, sometimes he answers in a big way and sometimes he is silent...but it does not mean that He is not listening, or that He is not answering your petitions and pleas.

Reference: Genesis 16:1-16 Abraham and Sarah's maid, Hagar, cried out to the Lord and the Lord heard her cries and answered her.  Hagar returned to what seemed an impossible situation but God promised to bless her in this situation.  She trusted and obeyed.

 

   God has been hearing and answering pleas from the beginning of time.  Why should he not find you and answer your prayers wherever you are?  As we said last time, sometimes the answer is "no"  but that is because God sees beyond your immediate misery or pain and you must have faith that he is still leading you in the right path.

Ref: Genesis 41:16  Joseph has been sold into slavery by his brothers and the Pharaoh has heard that Joseph can interpret dreams.  When he calls upon Joseph to do this, Joseph answers, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer."

Exodus 3:7- 10 "I have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters; I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them..."  vs 9 "And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me..."  Yes, God hears all prayers!

Last Friday my hubby could not have chemo as his labs were so low and pneumonia was suspected in his left lung.  After an X-ray and the weekend of praying and pumping protein rich foods and drink into him, his labs had improved considerably today and the lung X-ray was negative for pneumonia!  God answered prayers!  He did not answer with a BIG answer, such as a cure for Multiple Myeloma, but we know that this answer is the best one he has for us right now and we have total faith that he is guiding us and this situation in the way that it should go.  We thank him wholeheartedly!  God is so good!

Why do we read the Old Testament?  Because many of life's struggles are handled there just as when you seek out your own family roots, seek out the Old Testament roots to see how we got to the Birth of Jesus, our savior.  God always provides the answer in His own timing and way.

"I am the way, the truth and the light." copyright,GOD!

And God said "NO"

And God Said No

I asked God to take away my pride. And God said "No". He said it was not for him to take away, but for me to give up.

I asked God to make a handicapped child whole. And God said "No". He said her spirit was whole, her body was only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience. And God said "No". He said patience is a by-product of tribulations. It isn't granted, it is earned.

I asked God to give me happiness. And God said "No". He said he gives me blessings, happiness is up to me.

I asked God to spare me pain. And God said "No". He said suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow. And God said "No". He said I must grow on my own.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. And God said "No". He said I will give you life, that you may enjoy all things.

I ask God to help me love others, as much as he loves me. And God said, Ah, finally you have the idea.

Author Unknown.

God does not always answer No, but if he does he has a reason and because he has something better in store for us than what we think is right for us.  If we only could learn to Lean on Jesus and remain there...

 

LEARNING TO LEAN
Writer John Stallings

Chorus
I’m learning to lean, learning to lean,
Learning to lean on Jesus.
Finding more power than I’d ever dreamed,
I’m learning to lean on Jesus.
The joy I can’t explain fills my heart,
Since the day I made Jesus my King;
His blessed Holy Spirit is leading my way,
He’s teaching and I’m learning to lean.
Chorus
I’m learning to lean, learning to lean,
Learning to lean on Jesus.
Finding more power than I’d ever dreamed,
I’m learning to lean on Jesus.
There's glorious vict'ry each day now for me,
Since I found His peace so serene;
He helps me with each task, if only I'll ask;
Ev'ry day now I'm learning to lean.
Chorus
I’m learning to lean, learning to lean,
Learning to lean on Jesus.
Finding more power than I’d ever dreamed,
I’m learning to lean on Jesus.

Sometimes we find it hardest to pray when times are the hardest.  Just remember that there is nothing that is going to happen to you today that you and God can't handle.  Thanks for visiting and please leave a comment.

 

You Lift Me Up...

This is the most comforting song I have ever heard in modern composing.  I tear up whenever I hear it. It is sung by Josh Groban and you can play it in the link of my sidebar on the right by clicking on the arrow on the left side of the video screen. The underlining in verses are what spoke so much to me...

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence, Until you come and sit awhile with me.
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas; I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

There is no life - no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

You raise me up... To more than I can be.

Thank you so much for visiting today and I hope you will visit all of my blogs.  The listing is in the side bar.  God Bless and love, come again soon.

My Christian heart to yours...

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Freedom is...

I hope everyone is having a safe 4th of JULY weekend!  Remember to pray for all of the soldiers and all of the military that keep our country free.
   It is said that the Truth shall set you free.  God is truth.  Jesus gave us our freedom from loss of eternal life.  We should thank Him perpetually for all he has suffered and taken our place for the sins of the world.
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."John 8:31-32
   "Like millions of Americans this week, minds are on the Fourth of July holiday and what it represents: our freedom as a nation. This freedom is a precious thing, bought with the sweat, toil and blood of countless Americans who initially fought to obtain it (Revolutionary War), as well as those who have fought to secure it in the centuries since that fateful day in 1776.
   Gratitude without measure wells up in my heart when I consider the brave men and women of the American military who, this Fourth of July, will be fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan to combat the tyranny of terrorism. These soldiers stand in the train of valiant warriors who fought in the Revolutionary War, Civil War, two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam and the first Gulf War. Each of these conflicts—while unique in themselves—shared the common goal of protecting American freedom. Today's battles are no different.
   But even as I prize my freedom as an American, I am moved to consider a greater freedom—my freedom in Christ. It is the freedom that comes with being a disciple of Jesus Christ. "If you abide in my word," our Lord declares, "you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32).
This statement was shocking to Jesus' audience. These proud men thought they already had all the freedom they needed by virtue of being "offspring of Abraham" (8:33). Jesus proceeds to point them beyond any national, social or religious freedom they might enjoy to the freedom that comes through His person and work: "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin … So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (8:34,36). Contrary to what Jesus' listeners thought, they were in bondage to sin and subject to the tyranny of it.
Commenting on this passage of Scripture Leon Morris writes, "People do not always, or even usually, realize that they are in bondage. They tend to rest in some fancied position of privilege, national, social or religious. So these Jews, proud of their religion, did not even know their need to be free."
Even as Christians we can fall prey to the temptation to trust in other things for our freedom from the tyranny of sin: status, money, good works, associations, etc. But the true disciple finds freedom in Christ and Christ alone.
What am I trusting in today?
The Fourth of July is a wonderful time to consider our freedom—as Americans and as Christians. Our national freedom is precious, but our freedom in Christ is of infinite worth."
The above is quoted from Crosswalk.com, a 4th message by pastor Pohlman and I felt it was such a good message for the 4th of July that I wanted to share it with all of you.  I have omitted a hymn verse by Wesley.
  I hope you enjoyed today's message and look forward to your visits.  Hubby is doing a little better and starts chemo again on Tuesday the 5th.  Thank you for all of your prayers and well wishes.

Take it and pass it on!

♥KERRIE♥

My Christian heart to yours....