You will never walk alone....

A storm is raging off the coast...Hurricane Irene is wreaking havoc from Florida to Maine.   Fear not for God is with you.

Raindrops on my camera lens looking out of my den window

Isaiah 41:10  Fear not, for I am with you.  Do not be dismayed.   I am your God.  I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

Psalm 112:7,8 He does not fear bad news, nor live in dread of what may happen.  For he is settled in his mind that Jehovah will take care of him.  That is why he is not afraid, but can calmly face his foes.

Remember that whether the storms of life are hurricanes, tornadoes, or storms that rage within our souls and hearts, you will never walk alone as long as you have God and His Son by your side.  Are you struggling with an inner storm?  All of us struggle at some time in our lives with illness, loss, frustration over work or a relationship.  All the worry that takes your time is better spent in TRUSTING the Lord for guidance and to give you inner peace no matter what your situation.  I see little miracles everyday in my own life--they are there, you just have to look for them.  And thank Jesus and the Father when they occur!
Hebrews 10:36 You need to keep on patiently doing God.s will if you want him to do for all that he has promised.

Isaiah 26:3,4  He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord!  Trust in the Lord God always, for in the Lord Jehovah is your everlasting strength.

God uses people as his instrument in times of storms and technology keeps us abreast of the path of a hurricane and how to prepare for it so we may safely bear whatever comes our way in life.  Heed all precautions for your area with this storm.  Heed all of God's word for the personal storms that come into your life so you may come away unscathed but enlightened.  God is the original technology and none could serve us better to guide us through the storms of life.

Morning has broken...

And life goes on as if nothing happened and while the wind still rages, the light has dawned and God's beautiful creatures came by two to bless the morning...

They were fishing as usual, What a sight to grace the day!

A little Prayer for you ...

     ©Kerrie O'Hearn Marquart

I am turning to God as I so often do

And saying a prayer for all of you

You who are facing the storms of life,

To keep you  safe and free from strife

So you may glorify God with your Thanks.

♥KERRIE♥

My Christian heart to yours....

When we are depressed...

When we are depressed:

Psalm 40:1-3  " I waited patiently for God to help me; then He listened and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out from the bog and the mire and set my feet on a hard, firm path and steadied me as I walked along.  He has given me a new song to sing, of praises to our God."

Psalm 34:17, 19  "Yes, the Lord hears the good man when he calls to him for help, and saves him out of all his troubles... The good man does not escape all troubles, he has them, too.  But the Lord helps him in each and every one."

It is true that when we are depressed sometimes we only see the dark side of every circumstance.  But just as surely as day follows night and the darkness, God will pull us up out of despair and save us from our own misery.  Attitude has a lot to do with how we handle life's wrenches that always seem to throw themselves into our works!  But God is the hot line that is available 24/7!

All you need to do is invite Jesus into your heart and tell him your needs.  Ask Him to send the comforter to buffer your blows when things have you down and out.

The way you choose to react to circumstances can make all the difference.   Yesterday when my husband and I got the bad news that his kidneys are failing seriously because of the Multiple Myeloma cancer and from chemo treatments, our first reaction was blackness of despair.  But we still have each other and the Lord.  So we will have the ultrasound on Monday to see what the next step is and we are hoping it is not dialysis.  But if it is, there is nothing that we cannot face together and with God. 

My husband still makes me laugh despite his fear and dread of what is coming for him.  We both pray daily and not just for ourselves but we pray to Jesus, "and for all those who need you, Lord, Amen"

One of the best things you can do for depression is get out of the house even if it is for a ten minute walk.  When you are out in the open air and sunshine, you return home with a different perspective, not in just your view of life, but in your attitude.  Tell yourself to smile when you see friends so they do not avoid you because you are a "gloomy Gus".  Reading the Bible and other books helps a great deal, also.  Read the Bible to bring you closer to the Lord and understanding and read books for entertainment and to lift you out of your circumstance and into fantasy that is entertaining as well as therapeutic.  I just finished reading two books about King Edward the III of England.  One was written by a historian and one was written by the King himself.  Even Kings can be unhappy. 

If you able, get a pet.  Having to care for some one or some thing other than your self will take the concentration off of you and your troubles.  Petting a dog or a cat can actually lower your blood pressure.  Our human tendency is to make ourselves the center of our world when it should be the Lord and what we can do for others, not what can everyone do for me.

Isaiah 26:3,4 "The Lord will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in Him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord!  Trust in the Lord God always, for in the Lord Jehovah is your everlasting strength."  Have you had an over-dose of YOU?  Take the cure, Jesus.

♥KERRIE♥
My Christian heart to yours...

When you are agitated...

According to Webster's dictionary: Agitation: to stir up or move to violence, disturb, excite, keep in motion, shake up; trouble.

1Peter 5:7 "Let him have all your worries and cares for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you."

This is how the Male Mute Swan looks when agitated.  He is chasing Canadian Geese out of his territory. (the pond in back of our home) He puffs up, assuming a full of fight posture, head down, plowing the water ahead of him at high speed.  So opposing did he look that about 15 geese took to shore and ran from him!

John 14:27  "I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart!  The peace I give isn't fragile like the peace the world gives.  So don't be troubled or afraid."

Phil 4:6,7 "  Don't worry about anything, instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs and don't forget to thank him for his answers.  If you do this you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.  His peace will keep your thoughts and hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus."

Peace be with you, and also with you....

  This is how peace looks.  Our cat Isabella trusts her Master, my hubby, so much that she can sleep on him in this relaxed position and is holding his hand with her paw...

   Our heavenly Father is like that.  He will give you peace like you have never before known if you reach out for His hand.  There is so much to agitate us in today's world.  We are bombarded with TV, Media, cell phones, I-pods, ad infinitum.  Our minds are never at rest.  Agitation keeps us from sleeping at times, changes our disposition and robs us of our joy.

   When you experience agitation, take a mini time-out, pray "my Jesus I need you, my Jesus come to me."  I remember when I heard John F. Kennedy had been shot, that was the first time I repeated this little prayer, over and over.  God will meet you wherever you are.  He will calm and comfort you and enfold you with His love and protection.  The Lord loves to be needed by His children.

  Do you feel agitated and out of sorts with a flurry of things going on around you at work or at home?  Try taking the mini time-out and pray any prayer you are comfortable with.  Take a deep breath, let your body fill with the Lord's presence and find peace.

Myrtle Beach State Park

Peace be with you, and also with you...

Thank you so much for visiting and com again soon, wishing you a blessed day!

My Christian heart to yours...

    

Forgiveness

Do you need to forgive someone or do you want forgiveness from someone?  Sometimes, we have done something to a family member or a friend that we did not intend to hurt or harm them but none the less, it did.  Sometimes family or friends can hurt us deeply, sometimes intentionally, sometimes unwittingly.  It is hard to forgive someone and even harder to forgive yourself.

The Bible addresses this on many levels.  In Matthew 18:15,16,21 Jesus tells us, "If a brother sins against you, go to him privately and confront him with his fault.  If he listens and confesses it, you have won back a brother.  But if not, then take one or two others with you and go back to him again, proving everything you say by these witnesses.   21: "Then Peter came to him and asked, "Sir, how often should I forgive a brother who sins against me?  Seven times?" 22: "No," Jesus replied, "seventy times seven!" 

  But if someone continues to sin against you, it eats you up inside if you do not forgive, it is always there within your heart placing a stone between you and the person and you and your heavenly father, who does not want you to hold hatred in your heart or are unforgiving.  So if there is no resolution after many attempts at reconciliation, love your enemies and pray for them but separate them from yourself if they are causing you to have these feelings in your heart or you feel they are causing you to sin because of it. 

Forgiving the squirrel for taking the bird house over
to escape the rain....

Luke 17:1-4  "There will always be temptations to sin," Jesus said one day to his disciples, "but woe to the man who does the tempting.  If he were thrown into the sea with a huge rock tied to his neck,  he would be far better off than facing the punishment in store for those who harm these little children's souls.  I am warning you!  Rebuke your brother if he sins, and forgive him if he is sorry.  Even if he wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, forgive him."

It is hard to forgive, I know and you have heard me say before that the reason we pray for our enemies is because what God has in store for them is much worse than you could ever wish them! 

Ephesians 4:31-32  "Stop being mean, bad-tempered and angry.  Quarreling, harsh words, and dislike of others should have no place in your lives.  Instead, be kind to each other , tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ."

The message is clear, forgiveness is necessary for your spiritual health.  When we attain spiritual health, we feel good health in our earthly bodies as well.  You can begin by asking God to forgive your ill feelings for this or that person.  Then at least make an attempt to make things right between you.  Remember, God is with you through all of this and together there is nothing you cannot do with His help.

This post was created as a result of a good friend asking me to do one on forgiveness.  I hope this has been a blessing to you dear friend.  If you have a request, just ask in comments and I will do my best to provide an answer.  Have a blessed and forgiving day!

♥KERRIE♥

My Christian heart to yours...

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!