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Archive for January, 2015

LET ME BLESS YOU

Posted in Uncategorized on January 30, 2015| Leave a Comment »

LET ME BLESS YOU with My grace and Peace. Open your heart and mind to receive all that I have for you. Do not be ashamed of your emptiness. Instead, view it as the optimal condition for being filled with My Peace.

It is easy to touch up your outward appearance, to look as if you have it all together. Your attempt to look good can fool most people. But I see straight through you, into the depths of your being. There is no place for pretense in your relationship with Me. Rejoice in the relief of being fully understood. Talk with Me about your struggles and feelings of inadequacy. Little by little, I will transform your weaknesses into strengths. Remember that your relationship with Me is saturated in grace. Therefore, nothing that you do or don’t do can separate you from My presence.

Romans 8:38-39     For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Michael & Alison Smitherman

The Singing NetSurfers

I will sing to my Lord as long as I live, I will sing

praise to my God while I have my being.

We are unable to be dishonest with God because he knows us better than we know ourselves. No, it is only ourselves with whom we can be dishonest. That dishonesty does not fool God but it does blind us and blocks us from seeing our own truth. Thus we live a false reality and try to hide God, just as Adam and Eve tried to hide from God and cover themselves.

God knows us. But for us to know us we must face our true selves. Then we will welcome God’s gaze and will eliminate our false perception of separation from God which is sin. When we do this we will once again walk with God in the garden he created for us filled with the grace that surrounds us.

Back to the garden,

Z gardener

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TRY TO VIEW EACH DAY

Posted in Uncategorized on January 29, 2015| Leave a Comment »

TRY TO VIEW EACH DAY as an adventure, carefully planned out by your Guide. Instead of starting into the day that is ahead of you, attempting to program it according to your will, be attentive to Me and to all I have prepared for you. Thank Me for this day of life, recognizing that it is a precious, unrepeatable gift. Trust that I am with you each moment, whether you sense My presence or not. A thankful, trusting attitude helps you to see events in your life from My perspective.

A life lived close to Me will never be dull or predictable. Expect each day to contain surprises! Resist your tendency to search for the easiest route through the day. Be willing to follow wherever I lead. No matter how steep or treacherous the path before you, the safest place to be is by My side.

Psalm 118:24         This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Michael & Alison Smitherman

The Singing NetSurfers

I will sing to my Lord as long as I live, I will sing

praise to my God while I have my being.

Just as we would closely follow our guide on a wilderness journey, we are to follow God through the wilderness of life. We would not question our guide on such a trek, nor should we question God’s guidance in our lives. We are to trust and follow. We are also to rejoice and be glad for all aspects of the trip. In this is certain safety and the assuredness of a successful life journey.

Following the guide,

Z gardener

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LET ME PREPARE YOU

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged on January 28, 2015| Leave a Comment »

LET ME PREPARE YOU for the day that stretches out before you. I know exactly what this day will contain, whereas you will have only vague ideas about it. You would like to see a map, showing all the twists and turns of your journey. You’d feel more prepared if you could somehow visualize what is on the road ahead. However, there is a better way to be prepared for whatever you will encounter today: Spend quality time with Me.

I will not show you what is on the road ahead, but I will thoroughly equip you for the journey. My living Presence is your Companion each step of the way. Stay in continual communication with Me, whispering My Name whenever you need to redirect your thoughts. Thus, you can walk through this day with your focus on Me. My abiding Presence is the best road map available.

Exodus 33:14         The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Michael & Alison Smitherman

The Singing NetSurfers

I will sing to my Lord as long as I live, I will sing

praise to my God while I have my being.

When preparing for a wilderness trip, we get maps, compasses, GPS and emergency communication devices. We study and learn about the area in which we will travel. Yet even with all this preparation, we can not know what lies around each turn. We simply prepare the best we can and then deal with what we encounter.

In our spiritual journey, God prepares us with all we need. God knows every twist and turn along the way. He is the map. God already knows the heading we should take and what our location should be. He is the compass and GPS. And God is always in communications with us if we simply turn our thoughts to God.

We simply need to focus on God, spend time with him and keep our eyes on God and follow the path he sets before us. This seems simple, but because we are human, it is difficult to do. We want to decide. We want to lead. And we want to know what is around the next bend. We can follow God to the Eden that was created for us, or we can follow our own path and wander lost in the wilderness.

Are we there yet?

Z gardener

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SOFTLY I ANNOUNCE MY PRESENCE

Posted in Uncategorized on January 27, 2015| Leave a Comment »

SOFTLY I ANNOUNCE MY PRESENCE.  Shimmering hues of radiance tap gently at your consciousness, seeking entrance. Though I have all Power in heaven and on earth, I am infinitely tender with you. The weaker you are, the more gently I approach you. Let your weakness be a door to My Presence. Whenever you feel inadequate, remember that I am your ever-present help.

Hope in Me, and you will be protected from depression and self pity. Hope is like a golden cord connecting you to heaven. The more you cling to this cord, the more I bear the weight of your burdens; thus, you are lightened. Heaviness is not of My kingdom. Cling to hope, and My rays of Light will reach you through the darkness.

Psalm 46:1     God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Michael & Alison Smitherman

The Singing NetSurfers

amduo@bellsouth.net

I will sing to my Lord as long as I live, I will sing

praise to my God while I have my being.

God’s presence is always there, standing quietly, waiting on us to open the door. When we feel weakest, God is closest to us, calling us to let him in so he can lift us with hope. Hope is the rescue line upon which we float over darkness and the selfness of turning inward. The we are filled with lightness. That beaming brightness dispels all darkness and and is our ever present help in trouble.

Lightening up,

Z gardener

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EVERY TIME YOU AFFIRM YOUR TRUST IN ME

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , on January 26, 2015| Leave a Comment »

EVERY TIME YOU AFFIRM YOUR TRUST IN ME, you put a coin into My treasury. Thus you build up equity in preparation for days of trouble. I keep safely in My heart all trust invested in Me, with interest compounded continuously. The more you trust Me, the more I empower you to do so.

Practice trusting Me during quiet days, when nothing much seems to be happening. Then when storms come, your trust balance will be sufficient to see you through. Store up for yourself treasures in heaven, through placing your trust in Me. This practice will keep you in My peace.

Psalm 56:3-4          When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I will trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?

Michael & Alison Smitherman

The Singing NetSurfers

I will sing to my Lord as long as I live, I will sing

praise to my God while I have my being.

All the trust we build in God is there for us in days of trouble. When we trust God in small things it gives us the faith to trust God in large things. Step by step we learn to place our fate, hopes and dreams in God’s hands. Then we will be girded with strength, filled with courage and covered by God’s protection. In God’s hands nothing is impossible.

Are you in good hands? 😉

In God I trust,

Z gardener

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APPROACH THIS DAY WITH AWARENESS OF WHO IS BOSS

Posted in faith, spiritual on January 23, 2015| Leave a Comment »

APPROACH THIS DAY WITH AWARENESS OF WHO IS BOSS. As you make plans for the day, remember that it is I who orchestrated the events of your life. On days when things go smoothly, according to your plans, you may be unaware of My sovereign Presence. On days when your plans are thwarted, be on the lookout for Me! I may be doing something important in your life, something quite different from what you expected. 

It is essential at such times to stay in communication with Me, accepting My way as better than yours. Don’t try to figure out what is happening. Simply trust Me and thank Me in advance for the good that will come out of it all. I know the plans I have for you, and they are good.

Jeremiah 29:11      “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Michael & Alison Smitherman

The Singing NetSurfers

I will sing to my Lord as long as I live, I will sing

praise to my God while I have my being.

Even on the worst of days, when faced with tragedy and loss, God has plans for us that are good. His plan is to prosper us; not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future. Tomorrow will be one of those days. Our family will celebrate the life of our #4 brother with a memorial and homecoming. 

In this tragedy one thing is clear. If we trust God’s promise, the day will bring more joy than sorrow, more hope than despair and God’s presence will bring unfathomable blessings  from our pain. The verse above will be read because it was his favorite. How fitting that God is already working his miracles to relieve our hurts and replace them with hopes.

Thanking and trusting God,

Stan

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IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PRAISE OR THANK ME TOO MUCH

Posted in faith, praise, spiritual on January 22, 2015| 1 Comment »

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PRAISE OR THANK ME TOO MUCH. As it is written, I inhabit the praises of My people. Sometimes your adoration is a spontaneous overflow of joy, in response to radiant beauty or rich blessings. At other times your praise is more disciplined and measured–an act of your will. I dwell equally in both types of praise. Thankfulness, also, is a royal road to draw near Me. A thankful heart has plenty of room for Me.

When you thank Me for the many pleasures I provide, you affirm that I am God, from whom all blessings flow. When adversity strikes and you thank Me anyway, your trust in My sovereignty is a showpiece in invisible realms. Fill up the spare moments of your life with praise and thanksgiving. The joyous discipline will help you live in the intimacy of My Presence.

1 Thessalonians 5:18     Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Michael & Alison Smitherman

The Singing NetSurfers

I will sing to my Lord as long as I live, I will sing

praise to my God while I have my being.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. Praise God, all creatures here below. Praise God above all ye heavenly hosts. Praise Him Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

When this is our response to every circumstance, blessings will flow from our deepest hurt and our darkest places. This is God’s promise and it is always true.

In praise,

Stan

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I AM ABLE

Posted in Uncategorized on January 21, 2015| Leave a Comment »

I AM ABLE to do far beyond all that you ask or imagine. Come to Me with positive expectations, knowing that there is no limit to what I can accomplish. Ask My Spirit to control your mind, so that you can think great thoughts of Me. Do not be discouraged by the fact that many of your prayers are yet unanswered. Time is a trainer, teaching you to wait upon Me, to trust Me in the dark.

The more extreme your circumstances, the more likely you are to see My power and glory at work in the situation. Instead of letting difficulties draw you into worrying, try to view them as setting the scene for My glorious intervention. Keep your eyes and your mind wide open to all that I am doing in your life.

Isaiah 40:30-31 NKJV          Even the youth shall faint and be weary, and the young man shall utterly fall, but those who wait in the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Michael & Alison Smitherman

The Singing NetSurfers

I will sing to my Lord as long as I live, I will sing

As we learn to let God’s spirit control our thoughts, words and deeds, we come to learn there is nothing beyond God’s power. As that reality comes to define our lives, we begin to understand that every obstacle, pain or setback is an opportunity for God to lift us higher than we thought imaginable. When this truly sinks in, we come to feel the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Peace,

Z gardener

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YOU CAN ACHIEVE THE VICTORIOUS LIFE

Posted in faith, spiritual on January 20, 2015| Leave a Comment »

YOU CAN ACHIEVE THE VICTORIOUS LIFE through living in deep dependence on Me. People usually associate victory with success: not falling or stumbling, not making mistakes. But those who are successful in their own strength tend to get their own way, forgetting about Me. It is always through problems and failure, weakness and neediness that you learn to rely on Me.

 

True dependence is not simply asking Me to bless what you have decided to do. It is coming to Me with an open mind and heart, inviting Me to plant My desires within you. I may infuse within you a dream that seems far beyond your reach. You know that in yourself you cannot achieve such a goal. Thus begins your journey of profound reliance on Me. It is a faith-walk, taken one step at a time, leaning on Me as much as you need. This is not a path of continual success but of multiple failures. However, each failure is followed by a growth spurt, nourished by increased reliance on Me. Enjoy the blessedness of a victorious life, through deepening your dependence on Me.

 

Psalm 34:17-18      The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

 

 

 

Michael & Alison Smitherman

The Singing NetSurfers

I will sing to my Lord as long as I live, I will sing

praise to my God while I have my

 

It seems so contradictory to view failure as means to victory, but that is the way we must travel our path. Human nature tends to ignore God when things are going well, and then we raise ourselves to a place of pride and self-reliance. This is the source of our true failures and blinds us to God’s plan for ultimate victory.

 

The path to that victory is not filled with a string of self-perpetuated success and greater comfort. It is only assured by taking the rocky and narrow path of self-denial and reliance on God. It is often a rough road, but remember this. The road to failure is wide, flat and easy is the way. Thus so many take this path that leads to darkness. Take the road to the light, and endure all it brings with trust, hope and reliance on God. Then and only then will true victory be assured.

 

Rocky road anyone?

 

Peace,

Z gardener

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REST IN THE DEEP ASSURANCE

Posted in faith, spiritual on January 19, 2015| Leave a Comment »

REST IN THE DEEP ASSURANCE of My unfailing Love. Let your body, mind, and spirit relax in My Presence. Release into My care anything that is troubling you, so that you can focus your full attention on Me. Be awed by the vast dimensions of My Love for you: wider, longer, higher, and deeper than anything you know. Rejoice that this marvelous Love is yours forever!

 

The best response to this glorious gift is a life steeped in thankfulness. Every time you thank Me, you acknowledge that I am your Lord and Provider. This is the proper stance for a child of God; receiving with thanksgiving. Bring Me the sacrifice of gratitude, and watch to see how much I bless you.

 

1 Peter 5:17   Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

 

Michael & Alison Smitherman

The Singing NetSurfers

I will sing to my Lord as long as I live, I will sing

praise to my God while I have my being.

“How can I rest with all these issues I need to resolve?” we may ask. The answer is first to give thanks and be grateful for all our blessings. Then, once reminded of God’s power manifested in our blessings, we may confidently release all problems to God and let our bodie, minds and spirits rest.

 

Be grateful and rest,

Z gardener

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