wisdom – Valerie Rumfelt

Why Guard Your Heart?

During my college days, I would attend movies that I knew my parents would not have approved of. I was away from home, and it was easy to justify doing some activities. I wasn’t interested in the Holy Spirit’s uncomfortable presence. And you want to know the consequences of that willful behavior? I’ve always remembered that time. I thank God that He forgave me, but He left the memory. But I thank God for the memory because later, it informed my decision to be careful of my media intake. He left that responsibility to me, and He left it to you too.
Guarding your heart is more than media intake. Are the people closest to you striving to guard their hearts too? God cares about the company we keep(I Corinthians 15:33). He cares about our attitudes in every area of life, from how we care for our bodies to how we treat others. Additionally, I have several articles on this site about the importance of a morning quiet time with God. And other articles on scripture engagement. These kinds of activities help us guard our hearts.

The heading of Proverbs 4 is “Get Wisdom at Any Cost.” With that heading, we can know God cares about our hearts. It is an understatement to say that from a physical standpoint, our heart is vital to our life. I think God looks at our spiritual hearts the same way. We must intentionally care for it. It is vital to our spiritual life.

Proverbs 4:23 – Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Sometimes adults believe they can watch, read or do whatever they want because they are adults. Societies determine a legal age to do certain activities, and some Christians adopt this way of life, thinking if an action is considered legal, then it is ok to do. The Bible doesn’t teach this. God commands us to guard our hearts.

Why guard your heart? Obviously, because the Bible says so. A few others are listed below, and you might have one to add. Please leave a comment to share if you do.

Reasons to Guard Your Heart:

To intentionally choose purity. You want the Holy Spirit to be at home in your heart(Matthew 5:8, Psalm 51:10).
To have a greater desire to meet with God. This desire increases when darkness decreases(Psalm 42:2).
To have godly wisdom to pass on to your children and grandchildren, and friends(Proverbs 1:8-9).
To be a good example. If you are a Christian, then you are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Christians and lost people need a good example.
To have a beautiful mind, plus, thinking about “these things” is easier(Philippians 4:8).
To use your time wisely since much of the harm to our hearts comes by way of media affecting our eyes and ears (Matthew 13:15).
To decrease anxiety because what we read, watch, and listen to impacts our spirit(I Corinthians 6:12-13, Matthew 6:22-23).
To fellowship with God because whatever is filling your mind has your attention. You can’t enjoy God and His presence with distractions(Psalm 16:11).
To have a filter for what comes out of your mouth. If you aren’t guarding your heart, then your mind is not the mind of Christ(2 Corinthians, chapter 2). If your mind is dark, then your mouth will reveal it(Matthew 15:18).
To have a strong mind since your mind is supposed to be used to understand God’s will. It is renewable. The sooner you guard your heart, the sooner you will know all that God has for you to know( Romans 12:1-2).
To have more peace by allowing the Holy Spirit to permeate your mind. Your anxiety level diminishes and your joy increases(Romans 8:6).
To lose the desire for the things of this world. Greed will decrease. Your eyes will be opened to all God gives to you straight from His loving heart materially and spiritually(I John 2:15-17).

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. I Corinthians 6:19-20

Think about what you let in. In children’s church, we sang a song with this line, “Oh be careful little eyes what you see.” The internet is wonderful and beneficial in many ways. Like a library, it has great content, but just like a library, it has sinful content too. The words to the music you listen to in your car (even if it is from your high school days)may be causing your mind to linger in places that keep you from God. Are your podcasts filling your mind with God’s truth or with the world’s solutions? Are they fueling anger or cynicism? There are so many wonderful books in this world. Find books that cause your mind to be in beautiful places and not fantasize, crave violence, or encourage careless speech.

We will never be perfect until Jesus comes again, but we are to strive to be more like Him each day and to bring glory to Him with our lives. Everyday choices show that we care about our relationship with Him. Think about your choices. Without comparing yourself to your friends, ask yourself, “Am I doing all I can to guard my heart?”

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How to use this article:

Personal Bible study – Look up every verse and write it, say it, pray it. Decide what you can do more to guard your heart.

Go over it with any new believer or with your children or grandchildren, nieces or nephews etc. Discuss more ways to guard your heart.

Memorize some of the scriptures.

©Valerie Rumfelt

How You Can Be Prepared for God’s Plans

When was the last time you thought about a beaver? Me neither, but these interesting rodents recently came to mind when I pondered being ready for whatever is coming. Curiosity led me to research these non-hibernators. Beavers have a method of gnawing on trees and branches near a stream. This begins the process of building a dam and a home for themselves called a lodge.

These creatures choose a shallow body of water. Choosing this protects them later from a build-up of ice in the winter. The build-up would slow down their ability to go to and fro in their engineered paths for food. They strip away from the trees and bring along other limbs, twigs, stones, and other plants for this intentional endeavor. The result; survival. In addition to this fundamental need, the dams serve as protection from those who seek to devour them; predators.

Beavers offer some analogy for us as humans. At times in our lives, we may choose to let go of unnecessary things, just like animals shed their fur to stay cool. This is good. But more often than not, it is God who orchestrates processes to cause this. The “letting go” can be in many forms and can come quickly or over time. This process is to get us prepared.

Some choose to cooperate with God in this process; others dig their heels in.

Who could have predicted an unseen, worldwide pandemic and all its ramifications? Remember when Covid 19 shut down gyms for a while? Was this a routine in your life? How did you adjust and prepare for the new season? Did you get creative and find other ways to stay fit? This is an everyday example. But twists and turns that require our adjustment come, and we must be prepared. We won’t always have time to get prepared.

Consider the following scenarios: a tragedy of some kind, a natural disaster, the death of a close loved one, a financial collapse, incarceration, a move to an unlikely place, a call to ministry or missions, a terminal diagnosis, or being the caregiver for a vulnerable person. It could be God is calling you out of your comfort zone, and you need to prepare for your next assignment. Or the surprise of a godly man or woman entering your life as your future mate.

But back to the beaver: Eventually, the dam or the lodge is built. Its functions and purposes are in place, and the beaver begins life in its new ecological home. Survival in a new season instinctually led the beaver to build a shelter.

In contrast, we can often ignore or procrastinate when action is needed. We spend more time than required asking why. We complain. We need time to process, and we wish things would go back to the way they were. We have no interest in being challenged or surrendering to God. Beavers? They do what’s necessary for life and living and survival. They do these acts of survival year around. I know I can learn some things from these nocturnal, busy, and intentional creatures.

Our God is sovereign, and He is powerful, and nothing that comes into a Christ-followers’ life is unplanned. There are no surprises to God. Since this is true, then why does it take us so long sometimes to get on board with His plan? The beaver knows what is required and gets about doing it. The result is efficient, prepared, and ready for whatever may come. We can do the same. God is not interested in us being ill-equipped or unprepared for life. We can adjust ourselves to God.

Our ability to adjust seems related to our ability to trust our Heavenly Father.

So just like the beaver, we can build our earthly life efficiently, with preparation, and live in the reality of what is, instead of what we wish it would be.

We can grow no matter how old we are, no matter the situation.

We can be ready for what God has. It doesn’t mean we won’t have fear or anxiety, but I humbly submit when I incorporate specific disciplines and habits, my response improves when the challenge comes and when life is changing.

I also know the enemy is prowling, and he preys on those who are idle and unprepared. Christ’s followers are in the Lord’s army, and we must have a soldier’s readiness. We don’t want to cooperate in any delay of God’s plan, do we?

Here are some practices and disciplines I’ve learned which help me. I’m still growing, and I need God’s mercy and help every day of my life.

Tips to be Prepared for Life:

–Memorize and meditate on scripture – The Bible is God’s Word and the roadmap for life. As followers of Jesus, He expects us to obey it. The more scripture you have inside of you, the better your foundation for action when the plan comes.

–Pray – Prayer is meeting with our Father. We are talking and listening, but mainly we are in His presence. If you want to feel close to God, intentionally set times aside to pray. When the plans begin to change, you will be at peace.

–Keep your mind clean – Just because adults can view it or listen to it doesn’t mean you need to. Be discerning and be vigilant to guard your mind. Your mind is a camera, and every word and image is inside your brain. Jesus tells us to love Him with our minds. You will be better able to love Him with a clean mind.

–Exercise and care for your body– We tend to feel better about ourselves when we do this. Giving in to every indulgence is not useful for building yourself for service to Him. Discipline and self-control are all close to God’s heart. He writes about the body in His word. It’s essential, and you will be ready for any new plans coming when you care for your body.

–Love the Church – Beavers stay in groups and care for one another. God has given us the church body to love and serve. Attend your local church, serve your local church, love other believers. Live in unity with every believer.

– Be weak – God cares, and He can perfect those weak and faithless places in you. Weak people depend on God. Our faith hangs by a thread sometimes. He is your dearest friend and loving Shepherd. Humbly seek His help and ask Him to make your faith strong.

The next time you sense your life is about to change. Consider how you will respond. Ponder one of God’s most unique creatures, and have a winning response. Success in life is when you walk hand in hand with Jesus. Faithful to Him.

The beaver is prepared. It ends up with shelter, an efficient way to get provisions, and a fun and safe place to play in the water away from predators. Jesus is our shelter, our safe place, and He desires us to live in the joy of His presence.

God is the God of ‘right now.’ He doesn’t want you sitting around regretting yesterday. Nor does He want you wringing your hands and worrying about the future. He wants you focusing on what He is saying to you and putting in front of you … right now. Priscilla Shirer

©Valerie Rumfelt

*photos by Google

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The Lowdown on Loving

Luke 6:27-35

⁷“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. ²⁹If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. ³⁰Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. ³¹Do to others as you would have them do to you^{. 32}“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. ³³And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. ³⁴And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. ³⁵But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Matthew 5:43-48

⁴³“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[a] and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Romans 12:17-21

¹⁷Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”^[a] says the Lord.²⁰On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”^[b]

²¹Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

A friend asked me this week, what do I pray for my enemies? Years ago, I worked in a Christian environment, and it wasn’t long before an enemy presented herself. This lady would do all manner of hurtful things. The shocking part was she was a Christian. At the time, I had no idea I’d be in that work situation for 10 years. But that’s where Jesus kept me, so I had to learn to get along with this person. On my way home one day, the Spirit reminded me that He loved her as much as He loved me. That truth likely began my journey to please God in that situation.
When my friend asked me how to pray for her enemies, I immediately thought of my past work situation.
Jesus’ biblical commands, at first glance, present an impossible task for His children. I submit that all Biblical teaching, precepts, and commands are impossible. But thankfully, Christians have God’s divine power to lead a godly life (2 Peter 1:3). Knowing this power is within should motivate us, but it might cause us to question why we struggle to live it out.

No one likes their rights trampled on. Plus, Christians and unbelievers alike have lots of pride. Many times we live for ourselves. In this area, often, we can live like the world, walking in darkness. And we justify ourselves. All this gives us plenty of obstacles to carrying out these biblical mandates.
We should approach these passages with a spirit of obedience. Jesus is good, right, and just in all His ways. Jesus expects His followers to act toward enemies as He teaches us.
Most of our problems come with our rebellion against what Jesus asks. We are good at developing alternative plans, rationalizations, and reasons to ignore uncomfortable commands. These commands in this passage require a dying to self on the front end. If you don’t, you will add an enemy to the situation, yourself.
At the point of our salvation in Christ, each of God’s children receives the promised Holy Spirit. Acts of obedience are accomplished only through the power of the Holy Spirit.
So what does it take to love our enemies, as Jesus outlines in these passages?
-Die to yourself first
-Obey all that Jesus outlines here.
-Remember, you have the power inside you to do what pleases God. He doesn’t ask His children to do anything without the power of the Holy Spirit. He never expects us to act on our own will, ability, or desire. He looks to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him( 2 Chronicles 16:9).
Luke 6:31 assumes we want to bless our enemies since we would like to be treated this way too. Jesus is trying to help us see that sometimes we are the enemy. But we don’t want to hear that. They are the wicked ones, not us. But this is not what Jesus implies. Our self-righteousness hangs us. His demands are high. Verse 35 is in no way speaking of earning your salvation. It implies that should you choose the biblical way of relating to your enemies, then you are being like Jesus. He is the only perfect one.
Matthew 5:48 only highlights Jesus’ desire for His children to obey the command to love one’s enemies by declaring perfection before God when we do these actions toward our enemy. When we act as He desires, we are becoming more like Him. He is the perfect example.
So why is God so hard on us?
The whole Bible is about the redemption and salvation of all men. Behavior like this is so counter to human nature. What would happen if we decided to behave as Jesus tells us? What effect would our Christian behavior have on the world, our families, and our workplace?
There is a high probability that our enemy will see Christ in us, and God will get the glory(Matthew 5:16). What is the outcome of this example? Possible reconciliation. Certain forgiveness in your heart(the offended one), possible salvation in Christ Jesus for the enemy. This behavior can potentially have such eternal ramifications that Jesus spells out precisely what to do. The details are clear. A life well lived in demanding situations with our enemies is a good witness. If nothing else, it gives your enemies a good impression of what Christianity is.
So my friend asked, “How do I pray?” Suppose any of God’s children decide to take God at His Word and follow these instructions. In that case, you will be praying throughout the process for yourself, and your enemy, and those prayers are coming from our Counselor, the promised Holy Spirit. I know this because if you decide in your heart to follow Jesus in obedience, then He will teach you how to pray, and behave.
As a child of God, you can’t read these requirements for your obedience without being impacted. You must know that whether you are mistreated for persecution or just another believer being mean-spirited toward you, God wants you to leave revenge with Him. Your assignment is to pray for all you will need to obey God, and then go in obedience to your enemy and begin your task.
Do these passages take into account loving those who never respond redemptively? Do they offer anything for the offended one? I can tell you from experience that God left me in an office with someone ten years before delivering me. When He did, I left knowing I’d been obedient to Him. I’d learned my lesson, and I left at peace with myself and that person.

Some people have enemies hundreds of miles away. Maybe you have forgiven them, and for you, they are no longer an enemy. But you know they still view you as their enemy. Your requirement is to do all these passages outlined and leave the result in God’s care. Everyone is not interested in redemption. Whether your enemy is interested in redemption or not, be sure you are interested in redemption.

Let’s be sure we desire to please God and not just get revenge or keep the offense alive. Situations of injustice make enemies. Situations with enemies make Christians Christian. To act like Christ, we must focus on Christ, remember His suffering, how He acted before His enemies, and how little he talked before His enemies.
Praying, giving, loving, and blessing are all required of Christ’s followers. It is how we become most like Jesus and how our enemies in life know we are Christians. I believe Jesus spends so much time teaching about this because it is one of the most profound ways to lay down our lives and to show His love to others.

©Valerie Rumfelt

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The Ultimate Love Letter

Don’t let Valentine’s Day get you down. If you are a Christian, you have the most incredible love letter in your copy of God’s Word. Any moments you choose today to spend with the Lord in His Word will pay off. I can’t tell you how He will bless you specifically, but I know He will.

Our emotions can get the better of us on days like today. God’s Word brings calm and peace, and the correct perspective. Valentine’s Day is of this world’s system. While it can be a delightful day to express our thoughts toward others, ultimately, as Christians, we live for a world yet to come, and we serve the One who loves us most. So let’s get started on reframing this day if you are struggling.
Have you sometimes memorized Scripture or you’ve thought of memorizing but have yet to?

The Bible tells us that Scripture is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path(Psalm 119:105). Joshua 1:8 says to meditate on Scripture day and night. Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. Its theme is the Word of God. The Bible advocates for a Christian to engage with Scripture as a regular part of life intentionally. So to encourage you to engage God’s Holy Word and find joy in making that choice, here are a few ideas. If you have other ideas, please leave them in the comments.

Have a morning quiet time every day – Whatever plan you choose, show up faithfully to meet God in His Word each morning.

Write Scripture – Peace will come to you while you are doing this. It doesn’t matter if you have pretty handwriting. The motion and very act of taking time to write Scripture sends a message to your brain to slow down and pay attention. And the reward is being aware of the Holy Spirit in your life, the meaning of the scripture, and a calming, pervasive peace.

Listen to a Bible app while you do anything – Driving, doing chores, on your lunch break, going to sleep. You will hear things you’ve never heard before, which might lead to further scripture engagement.

Memorize one verse – If you have a morning quiet time, then you are coming across some amazing passages. Choose one and write it in a notebook. Say it, write it, as often as you can.

Meditate on Scripture – What does this look like? Scripture writing is a meditation activity, but you can sit and read a passage. Read it aloud, read it silently, write a poem about what you’ve read, talk to God about what you read, make up a song from a passage, or just spend time in the Word.

Type out some scriptures – After this, press the read-aloud function in the review tab of your document menu- close your eyes and listen to everything you typed.

Read a Proverb every day of the month – Then write the proverb. Then choose some to memorize.

Do word studies – Find all the words in the Bible about a topic using a study Bible. This could lead to other activities interacting with Scripture.

Record your voice reading Scripture – Send it to your children, grandchildren, or a friend.

Pray Scripture – If you need some extra help in your prayer life, add scripture. This can be praise passages, repentance passages, asking God for transformation in some area of your life, reading passages that describe God, and thanking and praising Him.

Here’s a post where I give ideas of ways to engage scripture https://valerierumfelt.com/2021/01/06/trust-and-hope/

Psalm 119:11 says, “I will hide God’s Word in my heart that I might not sin against thee.”

Memorization is an excellent discipline I do, have done, and would encourage for you. And memorization is what I believe the Psalmist is referencing. But there’s not a verse I know of that says one will have instant recall years later of any memorization. Hiding God’s Word means, by some supernatural means, the Holy Spirit is working the Word deep inside you. The Word is transforming you. David believes it will help him to sin less. His desire to please God is paramount.

I look at Scripture as medicine. It is healing, transforming, peace inducing, soaking me in truth, making my mind healthier, flushing old patterns of sin, digging up embedded lies, and softening my heart.

It is mental health, heart health, emotional health, and yes, I believe the one who is interacting with Scripture regularly has a fountain of youth that has nothing to do with wrinkles but with winsomeness, a sparkle in the eyes, and a general peaceful countenance.

Scripture is powerful, and this is backed up in Scripture in Hebrews 4:12, as Paul describes Scripture’s supernatural ability. But most of all, scripture is a treasure. It is God’s Word to us. He loves us, and we get to know the One who loves us through His Word.

Memorizing is an intentional way to get the scripture in your heart. But instant recall is not the goal. If you memorize a verse or passage and over time you can’t repeat it. Don’t be discouraged. Rejoice because the Bible tells us it is in you. It is hidden in your heart.

image by Unsplash

I’ve heard people say over the years that whatever you memorize will be there when you need it. That can be true; it has been for me in some cases. But often, I wonder why more scripture doesn’t pop into my mind in challenging moments or times. But whether it springs up or not, this I do know, it is in me. It is transforming me to be more like Christ and is doing all the functions I listed above and more. That I do believe.

Memorization seems like a spiritually profitable practice to me and one I believe will bring eternal change in your heart. Why not use this Valentine’s Day to spend some time with the Author of the Ultimate Love Letter. Let me hear from you in the comments. And Happy Valentines Day!

©Valerie Rumfelt

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Diagramming Scripture

Diagramming Scripture

Names of God
Action words
Words of intention
A command for us
Characteristics about God or Jesus or the Holy Spirit
Characteristics about us in our rebellion
Characteristics about us after we are redeemed
Characteristics of God’s Word
Consequences of rebellion
Results and rewards of obedience
A promise from God
The words IF, THEN, THEREFORE, ALWAYS, BUT
Things God will do and things we are to do
Place your name where there are personal pronouns.

Diagramming Scripture is another way to interact with scripture to make it come alive for you personally. It’s a partner with Scripture Writing. Use your favorite pens and circle, underline, draw arrows, or squiggly lines in your scripture writing. Have fun highlighting truths, and enjoy the colorful results of finding all that you can in your scripture writing for that day. Then apply the scripture to you, making it personal, acknowledging how the truths impact your life. Pray the scripture back to God and thank Him for the power of His Word.

©️Valerie Rumfelt

How to Leave Disappointment Behind(Ways to Move Into 2023)

Do you have disappointments from 2022? Maybe you wonder how to pass from this year into 2023 because disappointments have left you wondering, what now? Disappointments come like a boulder careening down the side of a cliff, and then rolling to the shoreline, and slipping heavily into the water, sinking. Gone.

What is gone? Your expectation. Your hope. Your dream. Whatever it was, disappointment steals. This is where we have to be careful because bitterness moves in. Bitterness will have us questioning God, not in faith-building ways, but in ways that cause us to doubt His goodness. So how do we move on?

Psalm 13 lets us hear from David, and he’s asking the LORD, how long? Is the LORD going to forget him? But, by verse 5, we see a rejoicing heart. David rejoices in God’s salvation. Not in circumstances. Not in outcomes. But in God’s salvation.

And this, friends, is where you and I can begin as we ponder letting go of a year. Maybe your year was fantastic, but even if it was, it would be really extraordinary if you had not experienced at least one disappointment. So how do we let go of disappointment? How do we move beyond this sad, controlling emotion of our human condition?

Ways to Move into 2023:

*Choose to go to the Lord and thank Him and praise Him for your eternal salvation. Rejoice. What a great salvation it is. He saved you. He saw you. You are known. He knows your name. Read Psalm 13.

*Remember, He has a plan for your life. If you are His child, His Spirit lives in you. You have a friend in Jesus.

*Confess your sin to Him. Confess your disappointment in the outcomes, or in the disappointment of family or friends. Forgive those who brought pain. All this keeps bitterness from developing in your heart. Rejoice. Choose to be glad. Read Psalm 32.

*Exercise and eat right because this, along with your spiritual habits, impacts your ability to cope.

*Start a new habit or keep up the habit to meet Him every morning and read His Word and pray to Him. This gets your day started in submission to His plan and His ways. Pray for this desire to meet Him every morning. Read Psalm 42.

Let’s read Psalm 13, Psalm 32, and Psalm 42 and let God’s Spirit speak to us and get a path for entering the new year, leaving disappointments behind and realize that God is in control. Let’s go with His plan. He is worthy of our trust. He is with us.

Happy New Year!

©️Valerie Rumfelt

How to Leave Disappointment Behind(Ways to Move Into 2023)

Ways to Move into 2023:

*Choose to go to the Lord and thank Him and praise Him for your eternal salvation. Rejoice. What a great salvation it is. He saved you. He saw you. You are known. He knows your name. Read Psalm 13.

*Remember, He has a plan for your life. If you are His child, His Spirit lives in you. You have a friend in Jesus.

*Exercise and eat right because this, along with your spiritual habits, impacts your ability to cope.

Happy New Year!

©️Valerie Rumfelt

Walk in the Rain

Walk in the rain that turned to storm

Some avoided this morning’s norm

No one out; the metropolis quiet

because of pounding rain, but we desire it.

Why out in the rain and not at home?

Did we not get the memo, stay out of the storm?

We knew the report, but we wanted to worship

So off in the rain we went to the church house.

Why walk in the rain when you could drive?

We couldn’t drive in our situation at this time.

Maybe a taxi, but it didn’t come to mind, 

so off in the rain our hearts sublime.

The destination worth it, the puddles unavoidable

Around each one we tried but wet was our stride

The pastor made comment of the weather amid,

“…also, a wonderful, dry room to worship in.”

How grateful he was and so were we

If work had called, we’d on time be.

So why miss assembly and worship a tree

Yes, a storm is on us, but we are free.

With lungs to breathe air, and eyes to see,

ears to hear tapping of wet moisture on me

It seemed such joy to be able to worship

A little rain, or a lot was not to disturb us.

Never should keep us from gathering or deter

So go to church, and be on time as it were.

A privilege that not all in the world can embrace

Be a Jesus freak, run and stay in the race.

The worshiping assembly is a joy of the Kingdom.

Make it a habit but not an agenda.

Don’t be one of those with no good reason

Go to church, worship Jesus, and live life in season.

2022

²⁴And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25

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Notes off Notes App

Cleaning up my data on my phone recently when I discovered these notes. I’m passing them on to my readers. Remember the word content is not mine. Priscilla Shirer (daughter of pastor Tony Evans) was in person a few years ago at FBC Jackson and this is notes from that message. Take what’s useful.

Priscilla Shirer

Prayer doesn’t manipulate God, it gives you access to what He already has planned for you.

The enemy wants to devalue.

Psalm 133- God commands a blessing.

Unity- He commands that there be a blessing.

Philippians 1:6

We sit on our feelings like they are fact

You don’t execute- you just hold on to your knowledge.

We never need to pray about a command.

Only the Creator can define you and call you by your name.

You are not defined by anything other than who God says you are.

The applause of those around or lack of applause doesn’t define you.

Even your weaknesses can become a platform.

When I surrender all I am to God then I become a temple for the Holy Spirit.

When God encountered people He changed their name.

Align everything with your identity.

Over 8000 promises. To grab hold of them you gotta know who you are.

When you don’t know who you are you get attacked by the enemy.

Judges 6

And everyone was doing what they thought was right in their own eyes.

The Middianites had conquered them.

Vs 11&12- Gideon was met by the angel and the angel called him a valiant warrior.

The angel of the Lord came to meet with mere people. It is God. Gideon is threshing wheat in a wine press. He is hiding. The angel of the Lord went to him. vs 11- He was there but in vs 12 he became aware he was near.

Open our eyes to see Him.

We want the manifest presence of God. We see Him. We see His tracks.

He hilights the word!

Spiritual senses so that our spiritual radar is up.

If you’ve not been able to detect God, and you can’t trust His hand then trust his heart.

You know you are hearing from God, when you hear truth. He will not conform to us. We must turn into His likeness.

Truth doesn’t change just cause we don’t like it.

Ch 6&7

You’re entire family is waiting for you to figure out who you are.

The whole nation was waiting on one person.

Daniel- God didn’t take them out of the fire, He joined them in the fire.

Isaiah 65- I allowed myself to be found by people who didn’t want to be found.