Storm Watch…

Well, we’re under a storm watch today, here in the Midwest.

A  warm front from the south will be smacked down by a nasty cold front from the north, right over our heads, creating perfect weather conditions, the weatherman said, for strong winds, heavy rain, and maybe even a tornado or two.

Well, the cooler temps and rain predicted for the rest of the week, have my family packing our bikes back into the garage.

Cold fronts can be real party-poopers for us fair-weather-bikers. 😦

Sigh…

And we certainly don’t want cold fronts building up in our hearts, Christian.  Cold winds of doubt can smack down our faith and blow away any chances of happiness and peace.

Fortunately, we can control our heart conditions by… (drum roll, please)

READING OUR BIBLES! Say it with me —   THE BIBLE IS MY FRIEND!  The B-i-b-l-e, that’s the book for you.  It’s true!

Regular Bible reading (and doing) will keep our hearts warm.

Below is a diagram, from the Navigators ministry, showing how to get a HAND-le on the Bible:

“The Word Hand”.  “Meditate, Memorize, Study, Read, Hear.”

Memorizing the verses on each finger of that hand above might be just the thing to improve your internal weather pattern.  You could trace your hand into your journal to make your own HAND-y diagram. (can you tell I’ve taught a lot of Sunday School?)

(Click on the WORD HAND for a more thorough explanation of the verses from Navigators.org, if you’re interested)

Another cold front stopper and heart warmer is to PRAY.

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!!!

Stop! Drop! and Pray!

We don’t have to weather our storms alone!

My pastor said, “The storm your going through isn’t the issue.  It’s Who’s going through it with you that matters.” ~Cal Rychener

So, Who’s your storm-buddy? You gotta be prepared…

“When I think I’m goin’ under, part the waters, Lord.

When I feel the waves around me, calm the sea.

When I cry for help, O, hear me, Lord, and hold out your hand!

Touch my life!

Still the raging storm in me.”

I need you every hour...

“The Cold Front Prayer:

“Oh, Father, thank you for loving me.  I need you every hour, every minute, every second.

Thank you for touching my life when I call to you, like the song said above, and stilling the raging storms in me.

Please help me to love Your Word, the Bible.  The B-I-B-L-E — may it be the book for me.

And, Lord, I know there’s so much time wasted I”ve wasted because I didn’t pray, and so many storms in my life that could have been avoided if I’d relied on You in the midst of them.

I am so weak.  Strengthen me inside with power through Your Spirit (Ephesians 3:16) In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

You got a storm buddy?  Click on the pic below to meet mine:

I Need Thee…

"Ho' my han', Daddy"

Father, hold my hand.  The world can be such a “hurty” place.  I wanna climb up on your lap for awhile and feel your warm arms around me.  I know you’ll sympathize…

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin.

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”  Hebrews 4:15-16

In Praise of the Mountain-Maker

“Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying…” Matthew 5;1-2

I love the mountains. Nothing compares with the smell of the pine and the beautiful view.

This summer we’re climbing Pikes Peak — me, my husband, our son and his friend.  So, in honor of our climb, here’s and a song to worship the Creator of all mountains with, “You Raise Me Up”, and a prayer from the Apostle Paul about the mountain of love Christ has for us.  Hope you enjoy the view!

     I put this prayer in first person, substituting the “you’s” for “I’s”, and the “his’s” for “You’s” so you can pray it for yourself….

“I pray that out of Your glorious riches You may strengthen me with power through your Spirit in my inner being, so that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith. And I pray that I, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that I may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  Now to You who are able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine, according to Your power that is at work within me, to You be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”  Ephesians 3:16-21

This is a great prayer to pray for the ones you want to have a better view of Christ’s love.

Do you know the Mountain-Maker?  Click here for a short video presentation that introduces Him: Jesus