Pearl of Great Price

Just thought of this cute little story this afternoon and hope you will get a laugh out of it as I did.

A friend of mine shared with me that she had bought her young son a new Bible. I think Andrew was nine or ten at the time--not sure. This was quite a few years ago--it just popped in my mind today. But he was old enough to know how to write and to know some of his mother's habits. smile

It seems that my friend, Lisa, presented him the Bible but had forgotten to fill out the page where it says:

When she went to get the Bible from his room to record the pertinent information, she found written in his childish scrawl:

What will your children remember about you? What will my children remember about me? We can be sure they are or were watching.

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1,2

I think what this verse is telling us is this: Just as children imitate what they see, we should imitate God as Jesus did when He gave Himself for us.

When I started writing this post, I was just going to tell you the little story about Andrew. As it developed, the little laugh turned in to a sobering moment for me.


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I love hearing from you. Email address can be accessed at top left of this page.
--a reprint from 2010--

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is such a great privilege as well as a Christian's responsibility.

 We are reminded numerous times in the Bible to pray in this way.  One of them is found in Psalm 122:6.

 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

 So, on Wednesdays I would like to place the focus on Israel and praying for her peace.

 As this becomes a weekly tradition here on my blog, I want to study, meditate on and read some commentaries on these verses.

 I read just a little bit this morning and I realize I have a lot to learn.

 But I don't think we can go wrong just to take the scriptures at face value--so, for now, I will do just that.

I also wanted to include one other country each week to pray for--This week my heart is especially connected to South Korea.

Father, We come before you today to ask your blessings on Jerusalem and all of Israel. We pray that in the days ahead you will burden our hearts more and more for Israel and teach us how to pray.  In your Word we are told to pray for the peace of Israel and we know that you are peace--the only true peace comes from you--  We pray that you would protect Israel from those who would want to destroy her, who would want this country wiped from the face of the map. When her enemies stretch forth their bows, may their arrows fall short-- And not only that, Lord, but that her enemies would have miraculous encounters with you--we pray that You would make Yourself real to them in visions and dreams, in encounters that we cannot even imagine. And South Korea, Lord, please bless South Korea today.  Let your blessings flow unbounded, may many come to know You, even today.   Thank you so much for the readers of this blog from that part of the world.  Be gracious and compassionate towards them, Lord, and enrich their lives abundantly.   Thank you for the power of prayer. All things we ask in the name of Jesus, Amen

© ALL ART, PHOTOGRAPHS AND TEXT PROPERTY OF ELIZABETH DIANNE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, 2008-2015

I love hearing from you.  My email address can be found under the 'Contact' heading at the top left of this page.

A Favorite Verse

When--I absolutely have no clue when I first read the scripture that I'm sharing with you today or when it first penetrated my heart and mind like a lightning bolt.

But it must have been when I was feeling really "closed in."

Physically, I am not fond of very tight or closed in places but I can cope with them.  Well, I coped but not really well with the first "closed in" MRI I ever had.

I remember a sinking feeling in my gut, not exactly a claustrophobic feeling but something that might resemble it.

Enough of the MRI thingie--

No, I am talking spiritually "closed in."  --when everything seems bleak, when there is no light at the end of the tunnel--the kind of darkness that can seemingly go on for months on end.

That is when this verse jumped off the pages of the Bible at me and I knew I had been rescued.

Ever since that day--I would guess 20 or so years ago--I can't read this verse without feeling the same kind of joy and freedom all over again.

He brought me out into a spacious place; 

he rescued me because He delighted in me.

Psalm 18:19

© ALL ART, PHOTOGRAPHS AND TEXT PROPERTY OF ELIZABETH DIANNE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, 2008-2015

Photos in this post by Canva


I would love to hear from you.
My email address can be found in the contact information at the top left of this page.

How to Learn More About Jesus

'The golden rule for understanding spiritually is not intellect, but obedience. If a man wants scientific knowledge, intellectual curiosity is his guide; but if he wants insight into what Jesus Christ teaches, he can only get it by obedience."--Oswald Chambers

Today's My Utmost for His Highest devotional hit right between the eyes.  In fact, one commenter said, "Ouch!"

I tend to agree with the words of Chambers.  Because?  Well, because that is when I notice growth and union with Christ Jesus--when I am passionate about obedience to Him in all areas of my life.

Worrying?

Fretting?

Trying to control circumstances and issues?

My time?

My giving?

Is there anyone against whom I am holding a grudge or have hard feelings?

What I read?

What I watch?

Harsh words or thoughts?

The list goes on and on..................................

It is only when I inhale deeply the fragrance of obedience to Christ that I become sensitive to the most minute details of my daily walk with Him--I cannot fully obey Him in the big things of life if I have sloughed off obeying Him even in the smallest.

It is my hope and prayer that this is a good week for you--that you inhale deeply the fragrance of His love for you and in return love Him back.

Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.  My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. John 14:23

© ALL ART, PHOTOGRAPHS AND TEXT PROPERTY OF ELIZABETH DIANNE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, 2008-2015

Photos in today's post are by Canva.

I would love to hear from you.  Email address can be accessed under contact information at the top left of this page.

When Being Still Was Not in the Plan

Waiting is not always easy. I am waiting to have a total knee replacement on August 11. It would be easy to get impatient--to waste this precious time that God has set before me--

Instead, I want to embrace it--to use it wisely--to grow in grace and patience.

And believe me, I realize how blessed I am.  Just a small look around at social media or the newspaper to see that there are those, myriads of those who have challenges far exceeding this small bump in the road of life that I am experiencing.

During this time of "stillness," I want to grow more like my Savior each day.

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;     I will be exalted among the nations,     I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

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When God's Purity Seems Far Away

'The purity which God demands is impossible unless I can be remade within, and that is what Jesus has undertaken to do by His Redemption."--Oswald Chambers

I love the writings of Oswald Chambers.  It seems that each day his devotionals speak to a direct need in my life.

When I "blow it" as a Christian and totally mess up, I can get discouraged with myself.  After all, I have been a Christian many, many years and ought to have a grip on how a Christian behaves.

But that is not how it works--it is not anything I do but how much I depend on God through His Holy Spirit to direct my life.

I must daily let Him take his rightful place upon the throne of my life--yes, that means dying daily to myself and not only daily--it is a moment by moment adventure with the dynamic force of God that empowers us to be all that we want to be, more than we ever thought we could be, and prepared to stand before a Holy and Righteous God.

"Who can stand in the eternal light of God and have nothing for Him to rebuke?  Only the Son of God, and Jesus Christ claims that through His redemption  He can place within anyone His own nature  and make that person as pure and as simple as a child." Chambers

When God looks upon me, 

I want Him to see Jesus and Jesus alone.

© ALL ART, PHOTOGRAPHS AND TEXT PROPERTY OF ELIZABETH DIANNE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, 2008-2015