Author: margiwintermute

Isaiah 43:20-21 I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.

This word in Isaiah 43:21 was given to Glory back in 1984 when we became a people – a people of praise coming together to celebrate and worship the Lord together. This verse gave us our first name, God’s People of Praise Community. You see we wanted to be more than just a Sunday church. We wanted this to be our life together, to share His goodness and to grow together as family! And so, we decided to call ourselves a Community – a community of believers who wanted to experience more of God and the life He provides.

God’s People of Praise Community took us far – we were enjoying life with the Father and with each other. Along the way, however, many who came and received from us would decide to leave and find a church because that is what we are told to do. We then realized how important it was for this Community to become a church and so we did – Glory Christian Fellowship in the year 2000. We are still God’s people of praise for that is what He made us, a people to praise Him. And our new name, Glory came out of the name God’s People of Praise Community. Pastor Dave had noticed that by writing the name a certain way you would find the letters GLORY.

We will always be God’s people, a people of Praise, and we will always come together as family. We have learned from His Word He is calling all believers into this family!

So let us come boldly to the throne of grace with confidence. Hebrews 4:16

Most of us do not pray what I would call bold prayers. Yes, there are a few like, “Please God, I need help.” All too often though, our prayers are not bold. As a matter of fact, I would call them small and timid. Many times, I have found myself, saying, “Father, if you would please. It sounds like I do not want to bother Him with my life.

So this week, I have started a list of prayers for this 2020.
1. My first prayer is a list of people I know not saved. These are precious people and some of them are loving, and very giving people – just not believers. In fact, one couple will tell you they are atheists and love to argue this point. But I’m believing God for the very right words for their heart to hear and receive.
2. I am asking the Lord for growth, refreshment and renewal at Glory. In fact, I am believing for Revival here – right here in our own backyard. Will you believe with me?
3. I have special people on a prayer list who need great healing – a miracle in fact. One is Carl-Fredrick, our Swedish children’s son who was in a terrible accident and has brain damage. I’m believing he will come through 100% healed!
4. My Bible went missing at church about 3 weeks ago and I’m believing for its safe return.
These are just a few of my bold prayers for this new decade. What about yours? Remember, God is the answer to what your heart cries out for. He can and wants to act on our behalf. And, miracles have never been a problem with our Heavenly Father! Remember: Come Boldly to the throne of grace and see Him move mountains!

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. Galatians 5:22,23

I awake at 5am. The house is still and quiet. The sun has yet to rise and so I can sit with my coffee and pray. But soon the day will begin with a sunrise and many choices to make. And so, I seek the Lord and His Holy Spirit to help me make those right choices. So, my day will begin with the love of God – and I will walk in that love. I will find ways today to love my family and the friends He has given me.

And from there I will choose joy – the joy of the Lord after all is all the strength I need to make it throughout this day. I choose peace – a peace that brings hope and life and fulfillment. I will be patient with those around me and give as much kindness as I can.

I choose the goodness of God for His goodness will surround and bring testimony of true life. I choose faithfulness – I will be there always for my family, especially my children and grandchildren and husband. I will keep promises I have made and will send hope to the hopeless.

And I will choose self-control – a self-control only the Holy Spirit can bring forth. I will forever use Him to help me make those right decisions and will not fail to carry them out. And every one of these decisions are only made possible because of the goodness and love and faithfulness and kindness of the Lord and His Holy Spirit.

And so, I choose Him – I choose Christ – for He has given me a new life to live – and a love to share this new dawn!

Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, it will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38

Have you ever felt guilty for having so much in this world? I sometimes do I must admit. We live in a nice home, drive a nice car and have more than enough nice clothes to wear. Did you catch the word nice here? Everything I have is more than nice! We always have food on the table and something to share. And this is just a very small percentage of what God has given our family!

Yes, I know God is faithful. And I also know that I am to give and keep on giving. And this has me wondering – Lord, do I give enough? My heart aches for people – for children who do not have decent clothing to wear or the school supplies they need. I ache for parents who struggle to keep food on the table and cannot buy gifts at Christmas or birthdays for their children.

But again, God is faithful. And He will direct my heart to clear out those stuffed closets. He will stir my heart to give what I can and should be giving. I am grateful for everything I have and for such a faithful God. And I am thankful that He fills my heart with compassion and a spirit of generosity for His people.

Yet, there are those days my heart still aches for others, but I know God will use what He has given our family for His good and the good of His people! It calls me to continue giving. To Him be the Glory!

Isaiah 7:9. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.

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Lately, I have been asking myself, where am I now?  How have I grown and have I learned the lessons God has given me?  Is my faith as strong as it should be and am I standing strong and courageous in my faith?

But at that very moment, I knew I should be in the Word and prayer. So, I opened my Bible and this verse stood out so very clear! “finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report, if there is anything excellent or praiseworthy, think on these things.”

And so, the Lord Himself was telling me I had a choice. My choice was righteousness, and honor and doing and sharing only truth, (or I could use the blame game). And then my heart again smiled! I knew it would be okay with the Lord and all concerned. I would think truth, I would think honor and what was right.

We will all face mornings like this. Life will not always give us easy choices. But God’s word will teach, and help us follow Him and His Holy Spirit! It can be hard and sometimes even messy, but God will always show us the way. For He tells us: I Am the way, the truth, the life!