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Archive for January, 2015

A THANKFUL ATTITUDE

Posted in faith, spiritual on January 16, 2015| Leave a Comment »

A THANKFUL ATTITUDE opens windows of heaven. Spiritual blessings fall freely onto you through those openings into eternity.  Moreover, as you look up with a grateful heart, you get glimpses of Glory through those windows. You cannot yet live in heaven, but you can experience foretastes of your ultimate home. Such samples of heavenly fare revive your hope. Thankfulness opens you up to these experiences, which then provide further reasons to be grateful. Thus, your path becomes an upward spiral: ever increasing in gladness.

 

Thankfulness is not some sort of magic formula; it is the language of love, which enables you to communicate intimately with Me. A thankful mind-set does not entail a denial of reality with its plethora of problems. Instead, it rejoices in Me, your Savior, in the midst of trials and tribulations. I am your refuge and strength, an ever-present and well-proved help in trouble.

 

Habakkuk 3:17-18        Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

 

Psalm 46:1 AMP   God is our Refuge and Strength {mighty and impenetrable to temptation}, a very present and well-proved help in trouble.

 

 

 

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, in God’s name?” you might ask, can one give thanks for things that hurt us. The answer is contained in the question. Without God’s help, we wouldn’t. Yet, when we give thanks in God’s name for all things, the windows of Heaven open. Then, all the power and majesty of God comes to our aid and showers us with glory and grace.

In the shower,

Z gardener

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THERE IS A TIME OF ABUNDANCE

Posted in faith, spiritual on January 15, 2015| 1 Comment »

THERE IS A TIME OF ABUNDANCE in your life. Your cup  runneth over with blessings. After plodding uphill for many weeks, you are now traipsing through lush meadows drenched in warm sunshine. I want you to enjoy to the fullest this time of ease and refreshment. I delight in providing it for you.

 

Sometimes My children hesitate to receive My good gifts with open hands. Feelings of false guilt creep in, telling them they don’t deserve to be so richly blessed. This is nonsense-thinking, because no one deserves anything from Me. My kingdom is not about earning and deserving; it’s about believing and receiving.

 

When a child of Mine balks at accepting My gifts, I am deeply grieved. When you receive My abundant blessings with a grateful heart, I rejoice. My pleasure in giving and your pleasure in receiving flow together in joyous harmony.

 

Psalm 23:5 KJV    Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

 

 

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 can not earn, create or duplicate God’s gifts. The good news is that all we have to do is believe and receive. But even this is not easy. The world around us presents a false illusion of separation from God. We must overcome this through faith and following God’s will. Then we can fully enjoy God’s gift as we live in the Eden God created for us.

 

Just believe,

Stan

 

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THANK ME THROUGHOUT THIS DAY

Posted in faith, spiritual on January 14, 2015| Leave a Comment »

THANK ME THROUGHOUT THIS DAY for My Presence and My Peace. These are gifts of supernatural proportions. Ever since the resurrection, I have comforted My followers with these messages: Peace be with you, and I am with you always. Listen as I offer you My Peace and Presence in full measure. The best way to receive these glorious gifts is to thank Me for them.

 

It is impossible to spend too much time thanking and praising Me. I created you first and foremost to glorify Me. Thanksgiving and praise put your in proper relationship with Me, opening the way for My riches to flow into you. As you thank Me for My Presence and Peace, you appropriate my richest gifts.

 

Matthew 28:20      “In teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

 

 

 

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.

 

A grateful heart, a listening ear and a willingness to follow God are among our greatest blessings. They  are gateways that unlock all the other blessings in life. For what we all truly want is peace. Herein lies peace and the power of God’s omnipotent presence.

 

Thankfully listening and following,

Z gardener

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BE PREPARED TO SUFFER FOR ME

Posted in faith, spiritual on January 13, 2015| Leave a Comment »

BE PREPARED TO SUFFER FOR ME, in My Name. All suffering has meaning in My kingdom. Pain and problems are opportunities to demonstrate your trust in Me. Bearing your circumstances bravely–even thanking Me for them–is one of the highest forms of praise. This sacrifice of thanksgiving rings golden-toned bells of joy throughout heavenly realms. On earth also, your patient suffering sends out ripples of good tidings in ever-widening circles.

 

When suffering strikes, remember that I am sovereign and that I can bring good out of everything. Do not try to run from pain or hide from problems. Instead, accept adversity in My Name, offering it up to Me for My purposes. thus, your suffering gains meaning and draws you closer to Me. Joy emerges from the ashes of adversity through your trust and thankfulness.

 

James 1:2-4    Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

 

We will all experience pain. Those who turn it over to God will likely find the blessing hidden therein. Those who don’t, will seldom find any good coming from pain. So, the choice is clear. Turn the pain into a blessing or live with it as a curse.

 

Looking for blessings,

Z gardener

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DO NOT LET any set of circumstances intimidate you

Posted in Uncategorized on January 12, 2015| Leave a Comment »

DO NOT LET any set of circumstances intimidate you. The more challenging your day, the more of My power I place at your disposal. You seem to think that I empower you equally each day, but this is not so. Your tendency upon awakening is to assess the difficulties ahead of you, measuring them against your average strength. This is an exercise in unreality.

 

I know what each of your days will contain, and I empower you accordingly. The degree to which I strengthen you on a given day is based mainly on two variables: the difficulty of your circumstances, and your willingness to depend on Me for help. Try to view challenging days as opportunities to receive more of My power than usual. Look to Me for all that you need, and watch to see what I will do. As your day, so shall your strength be.

 

Deuteronomy 33:25 NKJV   Your sandals shall be iron and bronze; as your days, so shall your strength be.

 

 

 

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.

 

Regardless of the challenges we face, the first words and thoughts we should have when overcoming them are “Lord, guide direct and strengthen me”. If we stay focused on God and seeking God’s will, then our best success is assured. And that best good may not be that which we envisioned or for which we longed. But it will be the right way, and it will give us the strength and direction we need to overcome the challenge. It will also become an opportunity to show yourself and the world that God’s power is more than sufficient for all we need.

 

In dependence,

Z gardener

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SIT QUIETLY WITH ME

Posted in Uncategorized on January 10, 2015| Leave a Comment »

SIT QUIETLY WITH ME, letting all your fears and worries bubble up to the surface of your consciousness. There, in the light of My Presence, the bubbles pop and disappear. However, some fears surface over and over again, especially fear of the future. You tend to project yourself mentally into the next day, week, month, year, decade; and you visualize yourself coping badly in those times. What you are seeing is a false image, because it doesn’t include Me. Those gloomy times that you imagine will not come to pass, since My Presence will be with you at alltimes.

 

When a future-oriented worry assails you, capture it and disarm it by suffusing the Light of My Presence into that mental image. Say to yourself, “Jesus will be with me then and there. With His help, I can cope!” Then, come home to the present moment, where you can enjoy Peace in My Presence.

 

 

Deuteronomy 31:6         “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake 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.

When we turn our thoughts away from negativity and replace the negative thoughts with thoughts of God, then we allow the light of God’s grace to penetrate us. This not only enlightens our thoughts, but reflects the light of God on everything around us.

 

As the dark images are replaced with images of light, we can sit quietly with God in Peace.

 

Letting the light shine in,

Z gardener

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WORSHIP ME

Posted in Uncategorized on January 8, 2015| Leave a Comment »

WORSHIP ME in the beauty of holiness. All true beauty reflects some of who I am. I am working My ways in you: the divine Artist is creating loveliness within your being. My main work is to clear out debris and clutter, making room for My Spirit to take full possession. Collaborate with Me in this effort by being willing to let go of everything I choose to take away. I know what you need, and I have promised to provide all of that–abundantly!

 

Your sense of security must not rest in your possessions or in things going your way. I am training you to depend on Me alone, finding fulfillment in My Presence. This entails being satisfied with much or with little, accepting either as My will for the moment. Instead of grasping and controlling, you are learning to release and receive. Cultivate this receptive stance by trusting Me in every situation.

 

Psalm 29:2 NKJV          Give unto the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

 

 

 

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.

The passive nature of learning to release and receive is contrary to our culture. Tha’s fine. It just means we must unlearn some bad or unhelpful habits. Time to begin.

 

Being receptive,

Z gardener

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SEEK TO PLEASE ME

Posted in Uncategorized on January 6, 2015| Leave a Comment »

SEEK TO PLEASE ME above all else. As you journey through today, there will be many choice-points along your way. Most of the day’s decisions will be small ones you have to make quickly. You need some rule of thumb to help you make good choices. Many people’s decisions are a combination of their habitual responses and their desire to please themselves or others. This is not My way for you.

 

Strive to please Me in everything, not just in major decisions. This is possible only to the extent that you are living in close communication with Me. when My Presence is your deepest delight, you know almost instinctively what will please Me. A quick glance at Me is all you need to make the right choice. Delight yourselves in Me more and more; seek My pleasure in all you do.

 

John 8:29       “The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” 

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 our over-arching priority is staying in close touch with God., then all our decision options will be clearer and our path well defined. It is when our priorities  are about us that our decisions are murky and our path confused.

By seeking to please God instead of ourselves we ensure our best good and walk with confidence into each day.

Seeking to please,

Z gardener

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YOU CAN LIVE

Posted in Uncategorized on January 5, 2015| Leave a Comment »

YOU CAN LIVE as close to Me as you choose. I set up no barriers between us; neither do I tear down barriers that you erect.

People tend to think their circumstances determine the quality of their lives. So they pour their energy into trying to control those situations. They feel happy when things are going well, and sad or frustrated when things don’t turn out as they’d hoped. They rarely question this correlation between their circumstances and feelings. Yet it is possible to be content in any and every situation.

Put more energy into trusting Me and enjoying My Presence. Don’t let your well-being depend on your circumstances. Instead, connect your joy to My precious promises:

I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go.

I will meet all your needs according to My glorious riches.

Nothing in all creation will be able to separate you from My Love.  

Philippians 4:12    I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.

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 are we to rejoice in all things when life is full of so many heartaches and concerns? The answer is that “we” are not able to do this without trusting God and his promises. It is through God’s help that we are able to be content even when the world offers little or no contentment or happiness. In fact, if we remain close to God, nothing can take away our peace or joy. And nothing can separate us from God but us.

Un-separated,

Z gardener

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