Why Didn't You Ask Me?

Yesterday my daughter was packing her clothes to spend a few days with my mom. When I got home from work, she showed me a pair of Bermudas that had a few spots of paint on them. She asked it if would be okay to still wear them, which I replied that it would. She then said she had been worried about them all day. I replied to her that she should have just asked me - one of the many times I talked to her through the day.


As soon as I made that statement to her, I felt quickened by the Spirit. I felt God say the same thing to me – “Why didn’t you just ask Me?”

The scripture came to my mind “Call on Me and I will answer…"

Jeremiah 33:3 (New King James Version)
3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

I like how The Message says it:
Jeremiah 33:3 (The Message)
2-3"This is God's Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God: 'Call to me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.'

I thought of times when I run here and there looking for answers, for direction or I worry and become anxious. All along I have Someone I can call on who has everything I will ever need.

What about you? Is God asking you “Why didn’t you ask Me?”

Let’s turn to Him for answers that we need.

Let’s pray. Father, I think you for speaking to my heart yesterday and reminding me that I have You to turn to. You know the things that go through my mind, the questions that I have, the direction that I seek. So I come to You with all this and I ask You for answers, for direction. I thank You in advance for providing for me. Bless those reading this and help them with the questions they have and the direction they need. I thank You and give You all praise, for there is none like You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Blessings,

My Provider

Genesis 22:13-14 (New Living Translation)

13 Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14 Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the LORD will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”


This morning at work I was talking to a guy who was sharing about his cell phone problems. He said something (I thought) profound “ when I called my provider they said this…”

My ears perked up and that statement got me to thinking about my Provider, God. You see, this guy was calling his cell phone provider to get answers for his phone problem, which he got the answers he needed. We have a Provider that we can go to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 12 months a year, year after year. There is no contract. We have unlimited access to our Provider. You see, the cell phone company, has very limited resources and help. But God has unlimited resources!

If you are having financial problems, go to your Provider.
If you are having questions and need answers, go to your Provider.
If you are having car issues, go to your Provider.
Whatever you need, go to your Provider.

This guy called his cell phone provider expecting to get answers. Questions. Do we go to our Provider? If we do, do we go expecting to get answers? If not, then why do we expect more from everyone, everything else but God?

My air conditioner has been out in my car. Yes, I feel like I melt. My husband has been out of town and will be home tomorrow. Next week he is going to look at it. I am going to go to my Provider asking that He help my husband figure out what is wrong and that it will not be costly to fix.

What about you? What do you need from your Provider today? Let’s go to Him with the expectation of getting answers!

Let’s pray. Father, thank You that You are my Jehovah-Jireh, my Provider. I come to You today with the expectation of receiving answers. I ask that You help Terry figure out what is wrong with my car air conditioner and that it will not be costly at all to fix. I thank You in advance for Your provision! Now I ask that You help those reading this, that You will show Yourself to be their Provider in whatever they have need of. Thank You Father for being our Provider! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Blessings,

He Is Your Praise!

God has done great and awesome wonders for each of us!  Let us give Him praise!  For there is none like our God!

Blessings,

The Lord's Strength

I started a series the other week on the various types of strength that we see throughout the Bible.  The first week I talked about Abraham needing strength to believe for the promise.  Last week I experienced vertigo for the first time in my life and was not able to post the second part of strength - strength to lead with Moses and Joshua.  (I hope to do that soon.)  This week I am still recovering from vertigo - thankful that the dizziness is all gone and now I just have a bit of wobbliness.  (Is that a word?) 

Anyways, "strength" is still very much part of my thoughts these days.  We all need it desperately, whether it is physically or spiritually.  I have needed it these past two weeks physically and the Lord is helping me daily.

I want to remind you that no matter what you are facing - be it physically or spiritually - that you can do so in our God!  He has all that you need daily or even minute by minute.  Psalms 71:16 says "I will go in the strength of the Lord God".  When I say that, I am saying that I have made up my mind and am not turning back.  I WILL GO!  It doesn't matter what I will face.  It doesn't matter what I will come against.  For I know that it is not my own strength that is taking me forward, but the strength of my God.

Let's pray.  Father, I thank You for the physical strength that You are helping me.  And I thank You for the spiritual strength that I so desperately need.  I pray for the person reading this that You will bless them today with Your strength to face things or come against things.  Thank You Father for all that You do!  We love You and praise You!  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

For more powerful Word Filled Wednesdays visit the Internet Cafe.






Blessings,

Thankful for the Harvest

This year we decided to plant a small garden.  It has been so exciting!  The other week we harvested our first squash.  Now my daughter and I don't like squash, but my husband and son like it.  My husband has fixed it several ways.  We have had quite a lot of squash which we have given to other people to enjoy.

Today, my husband harvested our first cucumbers, green pepper and tomatoes.  It was pretty exciting when he brought them into the house.  To think that these vegetables came out of our back yard! 

It took a lot of work to have these vegetables to eat.  We had to till the ground, make the rows, plant the seeds, water, pull weeds, water and more water, wait and wait and water some more.  And finally when the vegetables were just right, he was able to start picking them. 

This reminded me of the story in the Bible about the harvest.  Jesus said that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Let's be among the workers!  What joy it will be to bring in the harvest!  It's not easy and it takes a lot of work and a lot of waiting.  Just as it was exciting for me to see the first vegetables from our small garden, so it will be for us workers in the harvest of souls!

On another note, this past Monday I spent several hours in the emergency room which I was diagnosed with vertigo, which is awful, just awful.  I had never experienced anything like it before.  I am still dealing with it, several days later, but it is getting much better.  I am thankful that it was not as bad as it could have been.  I am able to sit up.  I just can't bend my head.  I had been told that some people can't do anything - lie down or sit up without experiencing the dizziness. 

Let's pray.  Father, I thank You for the harvest we are receiving from our small garden and that we have been able to bless others with it as well.  I am also thankful that this vertigo that I have experienced the last several days is not as bad as it could have been.  I am thankful that each day it gets better and I thank You for Your healing touch on my life!  Father, I pray that we will be willing workers in the harvest of souls.  We bless Your name and give You all praise!  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Blessings,

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to the very best dad in the world - my husband, Terry Swiney! He is one extraordinary man and I am one lucky lady!  I am so grateful that God brought us together and blessed us with two awesome children!  Terry helps the kids with all sorts of things, including working with them on sports and going to all the away games (at least), homework, and so very much more.  But above that, he teaches them by words and actions how to love Jesus and how to live for Jesus.  Both my children are very mature spiritually for their age and have always been.  That doesn't just come from being a Pastor's kid, but by the example they see daily.  I am indeed blessed to have a God-fearing husband and father!

(Isn't great that we can all say that our dad or our husband is the best dad in the world?)

On Saturday, we drove up to Maryland to spend the day with my in-laws.  My mother and father in-law flew to Maryland to stay the weekend with my brother in-law and his wife.  We had a great time together.  The boys went golfing and the girls went shopping.  Afterwards we had dinner at Olive Garden, one of my favorite places.

My husband Terry, his dad, my brother in-law and my son Stephen

My father in-law, Stephen and Terry

On Sunday we had a great day at church and went out for lunch.  My husband does all the cooking so it was a treat for him not to have to cook.  I know girls, I am indeed blessed!  Later that evening we went to an outside Christian concert at a local theme park.  Although it rain a bit, we had a wonderful time!

Sarah, Terry and Stephen

My earthly father is in heaven now and miss him being with us.  He sure did love his children and his grandchildren.  He would have done anything for us.  We didn't always know it when we were growing up, but we did come to appreciate it before he passed away.

And we have a Heavenly Father who is always with us and has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.  My earthly dad is no longer with me and my children have a great dad.  None can compare to our Heavenly Father.  He loves us with an everlasting love.  I am so thankful for my Heavenly Father! 


Blessings,

Revelation Song

This week's Word Filled Wednesday I shared a verse in Revelation. Check out Phillips, Craig and Dean singing the Revelation Song. I just love this worship song!







Blessings,