"7" Minutes Alone with God

Self-worth based on this world’s standards is always in danger of being devalued.                       ** * * * ** We cannot be persons of refuge until our own person is sheltered in the Savior of Refuge.                      ** * * * ** Changed lifestyles begin with changed attitudes.                      ** * * * ** When God doesn’t show you a path out of the valley, trust Him to show you a way through it.                     ** * * * ** Lord, remind us often that Your ministry which attracted millions was always a matter of One-on-one.                     ** * * * ** Help your neighbor with a ready hand and a short memory; no one likes to feel beholden.             ...

I thank You every day, Dear Lord, for the good things that You give: for family, friends, my home, my health, and another day to live. But what I seldom thank You for are the things I would not choose; the things by which You’re making me a person You can use. The times when everything seems black, and much too hard to bear; when no one seems to understand, or show me that they care. When I’ve been hurt, or been misused, or been misunderstood; when bad things loomed so largely that I could not see the good. When dreams have failed, and goals weren’t met, and losses were sustained; when truths proved false, and trust betrayed, and pride was deeply pained These things I seldom thank You for, and yet, Dear Lord, it’s true, it’s when I’m at my weakest that I give it all to You, And then You give me all Your power, Your strength and peace of mind, which doing things in my own way I simply could not find. So may I, Lord, in the days ahead be thankful every...

I thank You, God, that though You’re great, You take the time to see to all the hurts and inner needs of one so small as me. You have a way, a perfect plan, to make me feel complete, if I will bring my life, my will and lay them at Your feet. It is not for Your sake I need to bow surrendered there, but for my own that I may have the things You want to share. The peace, the love, the inner sense of satisfying wealth, to make the life I live worthwhile, to others and myself. Thank You for the problems, too, and the hard times that I face, for if it were not for the hurting, I might fail to see Your grace. Thank You for the answers and solutions You provide,  and even for the waiting that dissolves my harmful pride. Glenda Collins Inman

God has promised to supply all our need, but He made no such promise concerning our greed.                     ** * * * ** If we want God’s power, we have to follow His plan.                   ** * * * ** Lord, when I face a task, help me to see not my weakness, but rather, Your strength.                  ** * * * ** The true nature of a person,  like the color of autumn leaves, is revealed by adverse circumstances.                 ** * * * * Thank You, Lord, for Your great love which I cannot understand; Help me love You more each day, until at Your throne I stand.                ** * * * ** You decide, Lord, for You know best, when I need work and when I need rest. Help me accept whichever You give, knowing they're needed for the lif...

A Six-Room House walk worthy of the calling with which you were called (Ephesians 4:1) In recent blogs, we have looked at our 2-fold beings --  the outer (physical) body and the inner (spiritual) nature.  We have also looked at the picture of Jesus standing, knocking on the door of the heart, seeking admission to bring forgiveness of sin and new life to the inner being. Today I’d like to address what happens in the outer portion after the spiritual has been reborn. There are some who, not being able to grasp the concept of eternal security of salvation, would contend that if a person cannot lose their salvation by what they do, then it would be okay to sin all you want to.  In reality, because salvation changes what my dad always referred to as our want to, believers no longer find enjoyment in sinful activities, but being human, sin more than we want to. Now that we have explored the dealings of the inner being, let’s take a look at the outer portion of ours...

                   Food for Thought Morning Prayer Here is my day, Lord, as I have it planned; now I am placing it all in Your hand; if You choose to change it, add more or delay, please help me stay flexible to do it Your way.                             Amen                              ** * * * ** Our Morning Walk Lord, silence my thoughts that drown out Your voice, as we walk through the garden together. Slow my pace so I don’t run ahead, and miss the blossoms You’d like me to gather.                           ** * * * ** It is not the quantity of years, but rather the quality of the days, that measure the length of one’s life.                     ...

For we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,  to those who are called according to His purpose   (Romans 8:28) Several years before my dad died, I mentioned that Romans 8:28 had become something of a life motto for me.  I was surprised when he replied that it was also his father’s favorite verse and that he often quoted it when things went wrong.  When a piece of machinery broke or something else unfavorable happened, granddad would say to his sons, “Well, boys, this is just one of the “all things.” It seems to come pretty naturally for us to thank God for the positive things that come along in life, but how often do we express our gratitude for the negative ones, especially when they assault us unexpectedly, and it seems there is no rhyme or reason for their happening? Now, before I come off sounding like a Pollyanna who breezes through life with a “praise God anyway”, let me explain myself.  It isn’t that we want those ...

He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust   (Psalm 103:14) Did you hear about the young pastor who received the same telephone call every week?  Early Monday mornings his phone would ring and a deep mellow voice at the other end would say, “Hello.  This is God.  I just called to tell you that today you have my permission to fail.” The caller wasn’t God, of course, but an older pastor who was aware of the unrealistic demands his young colleague made on himself, and was reminding him that God does not expect His children to be perfect. We know from Scripture that this is true, but does God actually condone failure?  The question intrigued me, and as I began to search His Word, I was surprised to find much evidence that in some matters, God does grant us permission to fail.  Here are a few of the ones I found: God grants us … …permission to fail to have all the answers : Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own...

Patriotism is the small lump in the back of your throat as you watch Old Glory being hoisted slowly up a flagpole, and the unexplained quickening deep inside as she catches the breeze and unfurls her gleaming colors for all to see. Patriotism is the justifiable anger you feel when you hear dissenters, young and old, ridiculing, criticizing and attempting to tear down the basic ideals which have sustained our country since its birth. Patriotism is having the courage to speak out against evil and corruption in our government even if it means standing alone, and seeking reforms in such a manner so as to destroy the undesirable without damaging the governmental structure itself. Patriotism is the realization that America can only be as strong as her weakest citizen, and in the light of that knowledge, do everything possible to uphold her legal, as well as her moral code, provide food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless, safety for the unborn, and dignity for the aged and inf...

We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10) I’m sometimes asked when and how I started writing poetry.  Ever since I can remember, I have made up rhymes to express my feelings.  But it wasn’t until my junior year of high school when an English teacher taught us how to write English Verse, that I learned how to put my thoughts into repeating rhythm and rhyme patterns, unlocking the ability I had unknowingly desired .  Since then I have written hundreds of poems using a personalized form of English Verse. My dad used to say that nothing is hard if you know how.  Although that didn’t always make sense in my younger days, I have found it to be true.  Though there are exceptions to the rule — for instance I never was able to master the piano in spite of lessons and practice — it is true of writing English Verse. In past years, I conducted week long workshops, tea...

Kindness is love expressed in gentle little acts.                        ** *** ** To be alone with God is never to be alone.                       ** * * * ** Forgiveness become a natural response in the heart that is tenderized by kindness.                       ** * * * ** There are no regrets when God is in control.                      ** * * * ** The whole world is thirsty for kindness, but too often we refuse to give them the  few drops it would take to quench their thirst.                      ** * * * ** If we refuse to speak to every person who holds an opinion different from our own, our world will be a silent tomb.                ...

Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age        (Matthew 28:20) Lord, I really am afraid of heights; it makes my knees grow weak to even think of standing high upon a mountain peak. I can’t conceive why men would wish, or even how they’d dare, to scale up to a mountaintop, just because it’s there. Yet, in my daily walk with You, the opposite is true; it seems I always tend to seek a high and lofty view. And when I’m in a valley low, I feel that it is wrong; that I’d be on the mountaintop, if only I were strong. Lord, teach me that it’s quite alright, when bowed beneath some load, to find my path is leading down a lonely valley road. For You have charted out my life; You’ve planned each passing mile, Help me to trade my fear for trust; my fretting for a smile. Sometimes You’ll lead me up the slopes, to share a lofty view; but whether there or down below, help me to trust in You. Glenda Collins Inman