The Pruning Effect

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." (Isaiah 26:3)

Have spent the majority of today feeling the effects of God's pruning and the truth of the matter is that it hurts! However, whether He chooses to ever restore this friendship or not is up to Him, because He is my FIRST PRIORITY!
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Prayer for Today

Lord,

Please make my heart COMPLETELY Yours! Show me how to want to want YOU more than anyone or anything else in my life ... No matter the cost.

I am a sinner in need of a Savior, now and always!
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On Prayer

"It is comparatively easy to wait upon God; but to wait upon Him ONLY-- to feel, so far as our strength, happiness, and usefulness are concerned, as if all creatures and second causes were annihilated, and we were alone in the universe with God, is, I suspect, a difficult and rare attainment. At least, I am sure it is one at which I am very far from having made. In proportion as we make this attainment we shall find everything easy, for we shall become, emphatically, men of prayer; and we may say of prayer as Solomon says of money, that it answereth all things."

~ Edward Payson

(from the book "Purpose in Prayer" by E.M. Bounds)

Thought for Today

Thinking that life is so much more than I will ever understand this side of Heaven!

Food for Today

"My son . . . acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with whole-hearted devotion and a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts."
(1 Ch. 28:9 NIV)

"We will never be men and women after God's own heart with half-hearted devotion."
(Beth Moore)

O Father in Heaven, please help me to always be a woman after your own heart, completely devoted to you, no matter what the circumstances!
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Praise You in This Storm

Dreamweaver,
May you be able to praise Him in this storm … no matter what!
♥ sm


Praise You in This Storm

I was sure by now
That You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say “Amen,” and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

And I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can’t find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

And I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I lift my eyes until the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

I lift my eyes until the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

And I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

© 2005 Casting Crowns

As I was listening to this song by Casting Crowns the other day, it made me think about how much easier it is for me to trust God with my own life and trials than it is to trust Him with the lives of those I love! I am so sorry, Lord, please forgive me …

“Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, The help of my countenance, and my God” (Psalm 43:5).
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P.S. You can listen to Praise You in This Storm here!

Meditations

Meditating on Psalm 51 today . . .

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment." (Ps. 51:1-4)

There is nothing more humbling to discover -- and more importantly, accept -- how deceitful my heart truly is . . .

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" (Jer. 17:9)

Even now, as I struggle with this, the pain in my heart is more than I can bear, as I wish I could just wiggle my nose like Samantha in “Bewitched” and bring this particular struggle to an end.

"Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit." (Ps. 51:9-12)

So grateful that He is still willing to allow me to enter into His most glorious presence . . .

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, o God, you will not despise." (Ps. 51:17)

Forgive me, Lord, for grieving You so much . . .
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