Silver Miner 4 God

Has Moved to a New Web Address!

Click the following link

www.patriciamwilloughby.com 

 

God's Message Back

Thank Me for Your Problems

& 

Learn to Relate to Others in My Love

Philippians 4:6; Matthew 11:28-29; 2 Corinthians 12:9 Amp

In reading my Jesus Calling yesterday and today, I am told that I am to be thankful for my problems and to bring my difficulties to Him and ask Him to help me with them. I am reminded that my focus is to be on Him and not my difficulties. The act of thankfulness changes the focus from the negative and to Him. Lord God, I am so glad that I can turn to you. Thank you for my difficulties.

He spoke to my heart and helped me to realize that with His Love, I am to love others most especially when they are not so pretty because He loves me when I am not at my best too. I understand that my love for others is inadequate and I will not love sufficiently. Dear God, forgive me for trying to love others by my power. Surround me in Your love so that out of it I can love others as You love me.

God's loving kindness and His mercy are more than enough and always available regardless of the situation. Yet, I seem to forget this more often than I like to admit. It takes an uncomfortable moment or situation to bring this to light so this is a perfect moment to say thank you, Lord, for reminding me that Your grace is truly sufficient.

Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.] 

 John 14:27

Count It All Joy When You Face Various Trials.

Really?

James 1:2-3

My Conversation with God

I am not sure about this, God. Let me get this right. You want me to count it as joy when I meet trials of various kinds. This remains a mystery to me. I don't think it means to be happy about the trials but to be joyful in that the trials serve a purpose, right? Forgive me when I forget to count it as joy and I whine about it instead. Reading a bit further, I see that the trials that I face aim to perfect my faith to be complete and lacking nothing. Lord, help me to see things in a different light and come to understand Your mercy and grace. After all, Your word tells me that You discipline those You love. You also tell me that pruning is necessary. I must admit that I am not so welcoming of the pruning, however, knowing You more I know that You can be trusted. It is well with my soul when I surrender to Your good, pleasing, and perfect will. Lord God, hear my plea that I will do my best to consider it joy as trials come my way. Alleluia, Amen.

Sweet Serenity

How is it Achieved?

Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr

  

I am sure that most people are familiar with the first part of this prayer.

God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.

But how many know that there is more to it. The second part is where serenity is truly sought.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
If I surrender to His Will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him
Forever and ever in the next.
Amen.

It is in asking God to help me live one day at a time and one moment at a time. God helps me to be in the present not dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. Accepting hardships as a pathway to peace, now this is another matter. God helps me to understand that the struggles that I go through serve a purpose. No it is not fun or easy but God has a purpose and a plan for me. 

 

Taking , as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is. Jesus did after all tell us that there will be trouble. Yet, He has overcome the world. Now comes trust. To trust in Jesus that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will. By my surrender to His will, I will be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy in the next. Again, there is no greater joy than knowing Jesus.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, may others come to know You more so that they, too, can know serenity. Amen.

Trusting in Jesus

What Does This Look Like?

Trust in the Lord forever, 

for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

Isaiah 26:4

 

I had a dear friend ask me how does one know if he/she is trusting in the Lord. I told her that I would have to explore that some, so I turned to my Bible dictionary and trust means to have confidence in. To trust in the Lord is to place one's confidence in Him that He is there with you whatever comes your way; having confidence that He will comfort you when you are hurting, give you the strength to stand or the words to say. It is also having confidence that He will keep His promises to never leave nor forsake you. It is taking Him at His word. 

 

No, we are not promised a rose garden. Jesus said that there will be trouble but to take heart He has overcome the world. The joy of the Lord is our strength. This joy comes from knowing Him intimately and knowing that this world is not our home. Yet, while we are here we are to love and serve Him and let His light shine in us that others can come to know Him, too. There is no greater joy than knowing Him.

David trusted God to give him the kingdom long before it happened. Noah trusted God when God told him to build the ark and time and again when Noah sent the dove out. Peter trusted Jesus when Peter first stepped out of the boat but when he took his eyes off of Jesus he began to sink. Thus, when I take my eyes off of Jesus, I, too, will fall to the pitfalls of this life.

One of my favorite verses is in James is chapter 1 verse 5 where it tells me that God does not find fault in me when I ask for wisdom, therefore, I do not believe that God will find fault in me if I ask for Him to help me trust Him more. One of my many favorite hymns puts it together so well is Trust and Obey. The link has the lyrics to this simply beautiful hymn.

⁷ “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
    whose trust is the Lord.
⁸ He is like a tree planted by water,
    that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
    for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
    for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8

There is Power in the Name of Jesus!

Though the World Would Shut Jesus Out.

He Prevails!

The Triumphal Entry 

Luke 19:28-40

As Jesus entered Jerusalem on what we have come to call Palm Sunday, people then were crying out, 

"Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory to the highest!" 

The Pharisees, religious leaders of the time, told Jesus to rebuke his disciples but Jesus answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the very rocks cry out." 

Today, there are those who would have the name of Jesus censored from television. Yet, His name prevails thanks to a number of strong Christian artist who refuse to be silenced. Here is a link, Jesus' Name Be Lifted Up, to view the artist and their astounding performances.  

Try as they may to keep Him out, the name of Jesus will prevail. To God be the glory!

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. ¹⁷ For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17

Just for Fun!

Using Songs & Hymn

 Titles to Express

My Faith!

Song links are in red, songs in blue.

HYMNS

I Know Whom I have Believed and It is Well with My Soul. 

Be Though My Vision, oh, Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise! 

My Faith Has Found a Resting Place and I will forever sing O Worship the King. O Love that Wilt Not Let Me Go is found in the O Deep, Deep Love of Jesus.

Mercy Me Songs

Dear Younger Me,

I have a New Lease on Life. Jesus has made me Flawless and Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. It is not Wishful Thinking to believe that God will Finish What He Started. I say Welcome to the New and I will Shake because God has done a great thing in me.

Different Artist

People Need the Lord and I need to tell them My Story. Through prayer and study of God's word, I am Learning to be the Light.  In John 8:12, Jesus tells me that He is the light of the world, therefore He is My Lighthouse.

King & Country

My prayer: Dear God, help me to Fix My Eyes on You. You sent Your son, Jesus, to be the Proof of Your Love. When I am down and I feel that I can't go on, I turn to Your Shoulders to gain the strength to continue. Amen!

God Makes All Things New!

I am not the same!

Revelation 21:5

Looking back to where I was a year ago thanks to my journal, I can honestly say that I am not the same person now. Last year, I was ready to forsake family but God was faithful and changed my heart. He used special people in my life to help me process things clearly and encourage me to love my sister. I could not have imagined then what rewards my obedience would bring. I now have a better relationship with my mom and my sister. The most awesome blessing came on August 10th last year. God blessed my sister with a beautiful and extra special baby girl. I so much want to be a part of her life as well as my sister's.

With God's help, I strive to communicate better with my mom and sister. I recently made an amends to my sister for having missed the baby shower. God enables me to love and care for my mom following her recent surgery even when I am not at my best. His grace truly is sufficient (Romans 12:9). Time and time again, God has shown me that He can supply all my need. Yet, I am the fickle one that can so easily forget that He is all that I need and thus fret or complain.

Yeah God! He keeps His promises.

Challenge: When has God shown you that His grace is sufficient?

There is none holy like the Lord:
    for there is none besides you;
    there is no rock like our God. 

1 Samuel 2:2 ESV 

God is My Fortress!

Worship Him for He is Our Fortress!

Psalm 18:2; 2 Samuel 22:2-3

As I read the scriptures listed, there are a number of songs that come to my mind that sing of God as our fortress and He is our deliverer. One of my treasured hymns comes to the forefront, A Mighty Fortress is Our God, written by Martin Luther. This hymn is one of the most recognized and loved hymns. 

The second definition of fortress is any place of exceptional security; stronghold. Therefore, God is our place of  exceptional security; our stronghold. In the hymn, God is our bulwark never failing. Bulwark is defined as any person or thing giving strong support or encouragement in time of need, danger, or doubt.  

In the second verse of this hymn, Jesus is called the Lord Sabaoth meaning He is the Lord of armies. Jesus is the power that will defeat our mortal enemy for his doom is sure. God's kingdom is forever. This is why I love to worship God through singing the fore mentioned hymn for He alone is my fortress and bulwark; no matter what the enemy throws at me, God is the winner and has defeated him through His Son, Jesus.

God has brought me through a lot of difficult times in my life and has brought about reconciliation in relationships with my family. To God be all praise and glory forevermore.

How has God been your fortress or bulwark? Give Him the glory!

He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. 

Psalm 62:2 

Worship Him A New!

With Hymns!

"We Praise You and Acknowledge You, O God!"

Author, Stephen P. Starke

There is something majestic, beautiful, and worshipful about traditional hymns. In churches today, there seems to a push to leave hymns behind and move toward contemporary praise songs. I wish that this was not the case. I am blessed that where I chose to worship the Lord has a blend of both hymns and today's praise music. I have made the hymn above a link to video with music and lyrics to this wonderful hymn that I have been learning at my church. 

 

What is key in the songs we sing is the message. What are the words telling us? Are they pointing praises to God and of Jesus and Him crucified and raised again to life for our salvation? Do the words bring Him honor and glory? Or do they makes us happy with a catchy tune yet void of any true meaning? 

 

In the aforementioned hymn, it is in the last line of verses 1-3 that strike my heart. Verse 1, "O holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth; Your majesty and glory fill the heavens and the earth." 

Verse 2, "O all-majestic Father,Your True and only Son, and Holy Spirit, Comforter - forever Three in One." 

Verse 3, Then by Your resurrection You won for us reprieve -  You opened heaven's kingdom to all who would believe.

 

This hymn is a versification of the Te Deum laudamus done by Stephen P. Starke in 1999.  It was published in 2006. The tune is from Gustav Holst’s The Planets, specifically the movement “Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity.”  The tune is from a section in the middle of the movement.  Both text and tune combine to create a majestic hymn that confesses so much about our God and especially what He has done for us by sending Christ to redeem the world. (I found this information from another link discussing this hymn.)

 

I truly hope that hymns do not become a thing of the past. There are a number of songs on Christian radio that inspire me yet there is something about hymns that call my heart to worship God in spirit and in truth.

I would like to encourage you to explore your hymn book and find one that moves you to worship God in spirit and in truth.

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

Revelation 5:13b

Following Christ's Example

All By The Grace of God!

 Romans 15:5-6; Colossians 3:13

With God's amazing grace and the power of His Holy Spirit, I can make every effort to walk in His example. I must die to self and allow Jesus to increase in me in order to follow in His footsteps. The rewards are great not only here but also in heaven. The more I follow in His steps the more I become accustomed to doing so. I am happy with myself and my spirit is light. All is for His glory. He makes it all possible and often I am stupefied as to how God does it. His word tells me that He has the means to transform me and that I live for Christ and because of Him. This is the mystery found in Christ. 

 

How it is that people would choose to live without Him is beyond me. Studying Revelation this year has shown me that God has it all figured out. He is waiting, oh so, patiently so that all may come to the saving knowledge of His son, Jesus. Yet, there will come a time when the waiting is over and God will bring about His judgement and remove sin. It is my responsibility to speak for Him and to testify to the Word of God. Following Christ's example, to do the Father's will. To live for Christ is gain. With the help of God, I can bear with my fellow Christians and forgive as He has forgiven me.

 

Challenge: Whose example are you following?

 

 

My Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, forgive me, my Lord, for I am weak and I often chose the easy way. You alone have the power to bring about true change in me and to give me the desire to follow Your example. Give me a boldness to testify to Your glory. Amen.

The Mind of Christ?

It Is at Cross Purpose to 

That of the World.

Philippians 2:5; Proverbs 22:4

First and foremost is humility. Humility is being neither arrogant nor self-righteous. Romans 12:3 states that one is not to think too highly of one's self but to think soberly. I have to admit that I struggle with being humble. It is in my selfish nature to want to promote myself. Yet, when I have chosen to think less of myself and put other interests before my own, I have been blessed and God has rewarded me. One the other hand when I try to promote myself, I take a fall and my pride is dealt a blow. This is an ongoing battle within myself. 

Proverbs 22:4  tells me that the reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life. This is contradictory to what the world promotes. The world calls me to promote myself and my interests before that of others. This only leads to loneliness and pride. 

The key to living a life with the mind of Christ is to look to Christ as my example and prayer. In Ephesians 3:19-21, I find that God is more than able to do all that I ask according to the power at work within me for His glory. It is when I forget this that I fall short and become self focused. God is after all able to supply all my needs but I must come to Him in complete trust, God confidence, and ask knowing that He will hear and answer my prayers. This is an ongoing relationship between me and my Lord Jesus. 

My Challenge to you is where is your mind focused?

My Prayer: Dear Father in Heaven, forgive me for putting my focus on myself and not on You. Grant me the desire to seek to follow your example and think less of myself and more on You and the interests of others. You alone are able to do this and ore than I can possible ask. Amen.

Newsflash! Joy is Found in Serving Others!

This is No Lie!

Yet it is my struggle to keep

 The right frame of mind,

That of Christ.

Philippians 2:1-8 MSG

My mother recently had surgery and is in a neck brace for 8 weeks. She is in need of my time and assistance. I have given of my time and abilities willing amid my busy schedule and when I have not been at my best, yet, God has come through and given me strength. With His help, I will continue to do so. I have also given of my time to my sister who is a mother for the first time. She needed me to come and assist with my niece while she did some baby-proofing. I do not say this to brag but to give examples of how God has called me to serve my family.

Giving of myself, when it would be so easy to find an excuse not to, has been a joy. In doing so, I have been Jesus with skin on to my extended family. I have been tired and some of my own family needs have had to be set aside but God reminds me that I am to put myself aside, not be obsessed with getting my advantage, and I am to forget myself long enough to lend a helping hand. This is what Jesus did for me and for all of us. He had equal status with God but did not cling to the advantages of that status. He became human and stayed human living a selfless life even unto death on the cross.

I like how 2 Philippians 2:1-4 in the Message reads,

If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

The struggle comes when I am tired or I find myself wanting time for myself. Yet, it is Christ in me that leads me to give of my time and by doing so I show that I love my family. Without Him, I know that I would be greedy with my time and be resentful of what I do give. God's grace is sufficient to meet all my needs. 

My Prayer: Father God in heaven, You make all things possible. Thank You for giving me strength to serve my family. Forgive me when I am self serving. Give me a willing heart and help me to meet all my needs as well as those of others. By Your grace, Amen. 

Good Friday to All

My Song is Love Unknown

Here is a link to my favorite hymn for this time of the year.

 My Song is Love Unknown

May you this day remember the price that was paid for your sin. 

Alas and did my Savior bleed for you and for me.  One more song for you.

Here is love, vast as the Ocean 

Until Sunday morning when we can rejoice over the empty tomb, God be with you as you reflect upon this past week and weekend.

My Prayer: Dear God in heaven, how vast and measureless is Your great love for me. May the world know what You did for them and come to the saving grace found in Christ. Amen

A Heart That God Desires

Profound Respect for God;

Understanding Fully that He is God;

Responsive to His Touch

God desires a heart that fears Him which will lead me to worship Him with an awe-filled reverence and profound respect. A heart that desires to keep all His commandments so that it may go well with me and with my children forever (Deuteronomy 5:29). This is the type of heart that I desire in me to worship Him with all of me.

God desires to give me a heart to know Him, understanding fully that He is Lord; I will be His and He will be my God. I will return to Him with my whole heart (Jeremiah 24:7). I know that this is why David was a man after God's own heart for though he sinned, he always returned to God with his whole heart. I, too, want to be a woman after God's own heart. When I fall short, I pray that I will return to God with my whole heart.

God has given me a new heart and put a new spirit within me. He has taken my heart of stone and given me a heart of flesh, that is responsive to His touch, that I may walk in His statutes and keep His commandments and obey them (Ezekiel 11:19-20). Therefore, He has made me new and given me a heart that desires to serve, love, and worship Him. When I find myself in a foul mood, I need to return to Him and ask Him to renew a steadfast spirit within me.

God alone has the power to change any heart. What is the condition of your heart today?

My Prayer: Lord God, You alone have the power to change my heart and the heart of any man or woman. Forgive me, Lord, when I stray or when my heart is a heart of stone. Renew a steadfast spirit within me. Amen.

A Time is Coming!

When True Worshipers Will

Worship the Father

In Spirit & In Truth!

Last Saturday, I had the honor of participating in a Passion play. It started off with the Samaritan woman at the well. I particularly like the passage of John chapter 4 where Jesus is talking to her about worship (4:19-24). He tells her that a time is coming when God will be worshiped neither on the mountain nor in Jerusalem. True worshipers will worship God in spirit and in truth.The Amplified Version emphasizes that in spirit is from the heart, the inner self. I think of it as heartfelt worship for who He is, what He has done, and what He is yet to do. It is not going to matter too much about form but more as a matter of the heart. God knows my heart, therefore, He knows when I worship Him in spirit and in truth.

One of the greatest weapons that Satan has is our battle over how others choose to worship. It is a driving wedge in congregations and church organizations. Who am I to judge how another chooses to worship as long as they are worshiping in truth according to God's word? Jesus came to testify to the truth. He is the truth, the way, and the life. If people want to use praise music and raise their hands then they should be allowed that freedom. God wants our hearts to be filled with His praise and thanksgiving. Do not allow Satan to rob us of our true worship and the glory that it brings God. I need to focus on the condition of my heart and not be concerned over someone else. I can only pray for them. I cannot persuade them. I choose not to condemn someone if they want traditional hymns and liturgy. It may be right for them but for me my heart sings for God with both traditional hymns and contemporary praise music.

One of my favorite phrase is, "The heart of the matter is a matter of the heart." It is what is in my heart when I go to worship that is important. Humility is admitting to myself that in the face of God I am worthless but because of Christ I live. Therefore, I ask God to search my heart, to test me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me. Lead me, Lord in the everlasting way (Psalm 139:23-24). 

How is your worship? Have you found yourself to be critical of how someone else chooses to worship God? 

I leave you with Psalm 139:1-3;

O Lord, you have searched me [thoroughly] and have known me.
² 
You know when I sit down and when I rise up [my entire life, everything I do];
You understand my thought from afar.
³ 
You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
And You are intimately acquainted with all my ways.

 

God is Sovereign; In Control

In Light of Today's Political Environment

This Remains True & Always Will Be!

 Sovereign  means supreme; preeminent; indisputable. It also means greatest in degree; utmost or extreme. Therefore, God is supreme; preeminent; indisputable; greatest in degree and utmost. He is above all of the current affairs of man. I am reminded of Daniel 2:20b-22;

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
    to whom belong wisdom and might.
²¹ He changes times and seasons;
    He removes kings and sets up kings; 

He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;
²² He reveals deep and hidden things;
    He knows what is in the darkness,
    and the light dwells with Him."

God alone knows the outcome of our elections and He has a purpose in it. I may not like the choices set before me but as a believer it is my duty, privilege, and honor to cast my vote. God knows my future and I know that this is not my home. At the appointed time, I will go to be with Him in heaven but for now, I am giving a task to be His ambassador to take forth the message of reconciliation. His grace is enough for me.

My Prayer: Dear Sovereign Lord, You have the power to remove kings and set up kings. You are in control and I am to trust You in whatever comes my way. You alone know what the future holds and I am to be secure in that knowledge. Forgive me Father when I question You. I ask for wisdom to understand what is taking place. Amen.