Feeling overwhelmed as if the end is approaching!

But God!

Devotions tonight started with Jeremiah 29:11 Amplified Bible

“For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,” says The LORD, “plans for peace and well-being, and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope!”

Reading this a few times it washed our souls bringing a healing balm.

The next verse Romans 8:28 New American Standard

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good, to those who Love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 New American Standard

Therefore we do not loose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

I usually read before and after the verses to get a more full understanding,

but tonight I kept going.

Romans 8:26 -And in the same way The Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but The Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

v28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for the good to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose, for whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

V31, What then shall we say to these things: If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God who also intercedes for us.

V36 Just as it is written, “FOR THY SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”

V37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the Love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We both left this reading in Peace,

Knowing The LOVE OF GOD FOR US!

GOD IS SO VERY GOOD!

The beginning of the flowerbed!

God created all the beauty of creation!

The fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control. Galatians 5:22

I happen to believe that a beautiful flowerbed exudes all of the fruit of the Spirit. When walking through a lovely garden doesn’t it fill us with love, joy, peace, kindness, and goodness?

Our huge Maple tree became a big part of the appeal of us choosing our new home. It is a cover of protection every time we walk outside. During family meals I would look out at the tree and think one day I will clime you.

Mowing with the riding lawn mower around the tree, and driving over the roots feels like I’m hurting the tree.

My solution: create beauty in the form of a flowerbed!

Do you appreciate the flowerbed from 2009? It looks small comparing to 2025!

Every spring I would spend $100 on flowers to cover the space around the tree and the three flower boxes.

Flowers are my Mother’s Day gift! It often takes 6-8 weeks to finish planting the flowers. If you take into account the weakness of my 40 year old body it could easily be compared to  someone in their 60’s. Every doctor visit of my life I would shake the doctor’s hand and they would be so concerned at the weakness of my handshake they would immediately grab my left hand to compare. By my late 40’s pain rose to the point I could feel every hit of the football players while watching them. Creating the flowerbed took months because I could only work a few hours a week

I am able to do this is because I believe and confess Isaiah 40:31!

Isaiah 40:31 Yet those who wait upon the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wing like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.

Planting and weeding the flowers pulls me outside into the sun and dirt bringing healing to my soul and strength to my body. I have been hearing about the importance of being in the sun. It does good things for our brains and lifts our attitude. There is a true suffering when living in the North during the winter months and lack of sunshine encourages depression.

My husband knows he can make me smile by encouraging me to follow him out and look at the flowers. This always draws me out to work in the dirt and pull weeds. I have shed many tears pulling weeds as God works in my soul bringing healing.

The flower garden is a Blessing that fills my soul with Joy.

And then:

Uh oh, I see water started bubbling up in the midst of my flowers. Something is not right!

The story continues next week.

As they say on YouTube like, comment, and donate!

I know there is no place to like but commenting what you like and don’t like would help.

Do you appreciate my stories and do you want them to continue?

God Bless each and everyone who reads this with The Joy of The LORD! Amen.

Exhausted with pain, how do I get 10,000 steps!

This is a familiar place and I wonder how God is going to get me moving?

Most of my days start with pain, and it just takes a bit to be able to move. Some days it takes an hour or two to start moving. Other days food and a nap get me going. But today every step is difficult and sitting up hurts so I wonder if God is going to give me the ability to move outside.

Some days are meant to rest the whole day and other days God gets my interest with a little color.

This little bit of color forming out our front window draws me outside to look for hope and a sunset!

Outside I look in all directions for Hope!

This is enough color to put a little fire in my soul. I quickly dress for a walk. Sam is very happy!

Rain and thunder is expected to last well into the night but this looks like the possibility of a sunset.

Sam and I start out for the cemetery and do find beauty! Sam thinks he wants to run! I try to run, and it turns into kind of a trot!

Do any of you like the sunset?

Would you get up for this?

I did get my 10,000 steps. I am on day 12 hoping to reach 30 days.

God spoke 30 into my spirit a few months ago! I believe it will mean my strength has returned and life is moving forward to a future instead of surviving.

GOD IS SO VERY GOOD!

Starting up a conversation with the clerk who is watching the self check out area. My conversation most often goes to God and the Good things He is doing.

The clerk mentions she is learning thoughts that keep returning must be from God.  Her example is about calling her daughter.

My response to her statement, “As long as it is not condemnation.”

Her question, “What is that?”

Her asking about condemnation shocked me! How can her life be so different from mine?

The world’s treatment filled me with condemnation.

The thoughts floating through my head my whole life until around 50 were condemnation. If I had a a chance to talk with someone I would kick myself for the next few days with these thoughts:

“I messed up again! I said too much! They won’t want to talk with me ever again. How could I do that again? Stupid, Stupid, Stupid!”

But God’s Way changed my thinking! I know I am covered and filled with His Righteousness.

Romans 8:1-2 There is therefore now No condemnation for those in Jesus Christ. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.

In Romans 14:17 The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

How to #1: Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you my prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

How to #2: Ephesians 4:22-24 In reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has been created in the righteousness and holiness of the Truth.

The way to renew our mind is to meditate on the scriptures that we need to grow in.

I started confessing, “I am LOVED! I am the Beloved! I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus! There is NO CONDEMNATION IN CHRIST JESUS!”

Hopefully no one reading this needs to transform your mind from condemnation but I will say that it works. When put in the situation of being bullied the words really do run off my back as water off a duck’s back.

All my life I had to have the tv or radio on to keep my mind busy! This keeps the bad thoughts from controlling my life and dragging my down into the pit! But God has washed me new and NOW I am able to sit in a quiet room and be at PEACE!

God is So Very Good!

Today is day 2 of my first 30 days of running!

I know running has been one of my things for 15 years but the last 5 years especially have gone from infrequent to almost nonexistent.

My body weakened so much so that going to church for a few hours and sitting up in their chairs would take me out for a day.

HOPE FOR A NEW FUTURE

Sometime in December God gave me the Wisdom to not wait to be successful at running to exercise building muscle. His challenge began with exercise every night before bed; starting with a 1 minute plank and 12 push-ups.

The hard work of moving a ladder around to get Christmas lights down strengthened my body noticeably! My plank grew to 2 minutes  and my push-ups increased to 25! This totally shocked me!

The difference is showing up in places like going to watch a movie in the theater! Last Year I went to watch, “The Chosen” in the theater lasting 2 and 3 hours. My body could hardly make it through the movie and it took me out for many days. This year “The Chosen” has returned to the theater with out any problems!

God is so good!

I Believe the return of DAILY RUNNING starts today!

GOD IS SO VERY GOOD!

Devotion: What is it? Does it exist today?
I noticed Charlie paying complete attention to his master who happens to be eating.

His hope is something will drop rewarding him for his attention.

He may not get a treat now but just being at the feet of his master is enough to fill Charlie with contentment.

The dictionary suggests devotion is an act of worship and prayer or an act of dedication to a cause.

When I saw Charlie so attentive today I thought of God The Father who gave His Only Son to clear the way for us to be in relationship with Him.

He gave all because He wants our love and devotion.

How often do we respond to His goodness with our love and devotion?

We survive Y2K, now we are set to move!

We are selling the house in Florida and buying a couple acres in Kentucky.

Surprise, all of a suddenly a pain in my tailbone shows up. Sitting and standing both become difficult!

“God, You have to do something, I need to be able to take care of this house and yard we are buying!”

“Justine, When you take your daughter to the radio station to give her offering, ask them to pray for your healing.”

Arriving at the radio station, we enter the building unsure where to go. Finding our way to the announcer we wait until she is done announcing the next song.

Getting  past the awkward moment she assumes my daughter wants to empty her purse, I mention.

 “God told me to ask you to pray for healing.”

We stand in a circle and she prays over me. Nothing happens we offer thanks and leave the building. Opening the door to the outside I question God!

“What’s up God? You told me to come here and have them pray for me, and I did! Nothing happened! What’s up?”

“Jesus already paid! You don’t have to pay!”

By the time I reach my vehicle the pain is gone!

Fifteen years earlier a thought enters my mind.

I deserve to hurt because I didn’t listen!

God doesn’t make us pay!

JESUS ALREADY PAID!

John 3:17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

JOHN 19:30b Jesus said, “IT IS FINISHED!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.