My Border Collie, Queen Esther, is just about as handy as a GPS if she’s been to the destination at least once. The closer we get to where we’re going, the more hyper she becomes. The backseat of my car may as well be a treadmill. In fact, if I’m on the phone, I usually have to hang up because the person on the other line becomes too distracted to talk.
What is that?
My dog. Sorry. She’s a little over excited.
Is she hurt?
No. She’s happy.
What does she want?
Out!
She jumps from window to window and commences – not to bark exactly – but to yelp. I constantly insist to Keith that I have the gift of interpretation for the tongue Queen Esther speaks and, when we’re coming up on our destination, I am absolutely sure of what she’s saying: Let me out of this car so I can run the rest of the way!
Right about now, you’re the Queen – the real kind and not the canine variety – and it’s the perfect time to start your happiest yelping. You can see from the view out of your window that we are almost to our destination and, after a whole lot of hard work, I hope everything in you is hyping up and hollering, Let me out so I can run the rest of the way!
Good grief, you’ve been fantastic. I cannot recall ever having a higher percentage finish out the year. I’d have to check past years to confirm that but I don’t remember ever having a more active group from start to finish. I wish you were sitting right here with me in my chilly den in front of this fire and we could talk face to face instead of line to line.
Our heater is out and it is just about as cold in Houston as it gets most winters. We’ve already had the repairman out for hours but he’s been unable to fix it and advised us to call our builder. He thinks it’s a malfunction in the unit. You have to write an email request to the builder for a repair and we haven’t heard back from them yet so it could be a frosty few days. I just worked out on my elliptical with a jacket on if that tells you anything. I don’t mind so much though, as long as it’s fixed pretty soon. It’s gorgeous outside and I love sitting by a fire anyway. The part I don’t like is that Jackson and Annabeth’s room at my house is like ice and they really can’t even play in it right now when they come over. No worries, though. I expect it to be repaired surely by the first few days of this week.
If you were here, I’d also serve you up some cinnamon rolls in about an hour. I made homemade rolls for our Thanksgiving feast and I almost always roll out cinnamon rolls with the leftover dough several days later. They’re rising right now under some lights in the only warm end of my house.
Some of you are observant enough to ask me if I pulled two of them off the one pan and ate them raw because of those 2 circles of flour. No, I didn’t – though I was tempted – but I did peel them off and put them on the second cookie sheet because the 3 rolls that wouldn’t fit on the first pan looked so lonely over there. My cold house is going to smell like heaven in a little while. Sometimes I make a thick butter icing but, really, I prefer a thinner glaze made of powdered sugar, vanilla and a tiny bit of half and half. Too much icing takes away from the homemade flavor of the rolls in my opinion.
The inevitable question I get at a time like this is, “Do you always eat like that?”
Lord have mercy, no. But, Girlfriend, it’s a holiday.
I could make you hot tea or coffee to go with yours, depending upon your preference, and we’d chat a while and then we’d trade our 23rd verses.
My selection came up in my devotional this morning and catapulted me into prayer. I’m actually memorizing the 2nd chapter of Colossians right now but sometimes the section I’m working on next is too awkward out of context to post as an SSMT verse. For instance, if Colossians 2:21 were next, imagine this as my SSMT selection: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!” See? Awkward. So, if I’m in the middle of a long portion, I usually go off road for SSMT and select a verse that is more user friendly so that women who are drawing a blank on their choices can go with me on mine if they wish. Here goes:
Beth, Houston. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8 ESV
The second half of it drew me into intercession. It does not say that the reason the Son of God appeared was to deny the works of the devil. It does not say that the Son of God appeared to downplay the works of the devil. It does not say that the Son of God appeared to decrease the works of the devil. It says He appeared to DESTROY the works of the devil.
So I started pinpointing some areas around my life and the lives of my family members and loved ones where the enemy is rearing up his ugly head. And with great joy and a sense of victory in my chest, I thanked Jesus for coming to destroy his works and asked Him to demonstrate that destruction right before our eyes in those areas. We know that “the ancient serpent, who is the devil” will not be completely bound until the Kingdom of the living Christ comes in its fullness and His throne is established right here on earth. At that time, the prayer we’ve prayed more than any other will finally be fulfilled: Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
But, until then, we are meant to experience stunning victories where we see living, breathing evidences that the enemy has been overcome. We’re meant to give the devil a taste of what he will experience in the Kingdom when he is bound for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:2)
Let’s not let him off the hook. Let’s remind our enemy every single day that he is not only defeated. His works are destroyed in Jesus’ great Name.
You, my dear sister, are a great privilege to serve. Walk strong with your God, young lady. Ask for a fiery faith to believe Him and for eyes to see His works manifested right here on this ailing planet. Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
Let’s toast to that.
Tags: Scripture Memory 2013
Stephanie, La Habra, CA For the weapons of our warfare are not physical but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:4 Amplified Bible
…”Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”
Mark 5:36b ESV
Jayne
Frisco, TX
Traci from Evansdale, IA
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that yoy may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
I Peter 2:9 NIV 2011
Psalms 86:11 (NLT)
Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may relay on Your faithfulness; give me an undivided and focused heart; teach me to serve You with complete devotion!
This is my heart’s prayer…
Romans 8:27 niv
And He Who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
Tilley Hawkins from Franklin, TN
“I will always show you where to go. I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places — firm muscles, strong bones. You’ll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry.”
Isaiah 58:11 (MSG)
‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’
Matthew 12:7 a (NIV)
Rene, Overland Park, KS “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!” Psalm 95:6 ESV
Melissa from Flemington, NJ. Psalm 51:2-4, “Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.” KJV.
Connie – Fulton, KY
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:22 (NIV) 1984
Jo, Fremont, Isaiah 58:11 NIV
“The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”
Jo, Fremont
The Lord will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
Is 58:11. NIV
Bethany, Evart, Michigan. He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. Job 8:21 NIV
Diane, Cypress, TX
Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things and by your will they existed and were created. Rev. 4:11 (ESV)
If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
Jeremiah 29:13 NLT
Deb, Bradenton,FL
Jeremiah 32:17
New Living Translation (NLT)
17 “O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!
Holbrook, New York.
But the WISDOM from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. James 3:17 NASB
Missy Newman, Andersonville, TN NKJV John 13:35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
Kristen, Largo, FL “I will boast only the Lord. Let all who are discouraged take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness. Let us exalt His name together.” Ps. 34: 2-3
Barbara, Lewisburg KY,
Romans 5:6-8 KJV
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Kristen, Largo, FL NLT “I will boast only the Lord. Let all who are discouraged take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness. Let us exalt His name together.” Ps. 34: 2-3
Moreen, Sydney Australia
Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8 ESV)
Patti, Tampa Florida:
The LORD will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
Isaiah 58:11 NIV
Deb, Bradenton, FL
Jeremiah 32:17
New Living Translation (NLT)
17 “O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!
Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Psalm 139:24 NLT
Emily McAnear, Corona, CA
In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord will keep me safe.
Psalm 4:8, NLT
Patty, Shelton, WA
Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8 ESV
Rev 12:10-11 NASV Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death.
Beth, Dyersburg, TN
And Jesus spoke to them saying, ” I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12 ESV
Kim, Amherst, OH
Prov. 16:9 NIV
In his heart a man plans his course but the Lord determines his steps.
Michelle Weihing – Frisco Texas
2 Samuel 22:31 – NLT – The one true God acts in a faithful manner; the Lord ‘s promise is reliable; he is a shield to all who take shelter in him.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6, ESV
Betsy from Westerville, Ohio
Psalm 71:5
For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.
Gina Rosamond, Ca
John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Kristin, Panama City, FL
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
(James 4:7, 8a NIV)
Sue, Groveport, OH
Psalm 34:21. NIV
Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
Lauren, Dedham, MA: “Deliver Israel, O God, from all their troubles!” Psalm 25:22 (NIV)
Pat, Hot Springs, AR
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36 KJV
Kerry, Nederland, Texas
A truly wise person uses few words.
Proverbs 17:27. NLT
Kristi, Austin
“As a mother comforts her child,
so will I comfort you.” Isaiah 66:13 NIV
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23,24
Debra, San Antonio, TX.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100:5 NIV.
Elizabeth, Broomfield, CO
Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Exodus 14:13-14 (NIV)
Yay! I have my plane tickets for the celebration! So excited. Pray that my baby can be weaned. He’s close…
Caitlin, McKinney, Texas
“…and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.” Isaiah 58:10
Katie g; Knoxville, TN
“Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”
1 John 3:8 ESV
Erin Sheldon
Savannah, GA
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18 NLT
Tomi, Des Moines. My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all boldness, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death. Philippians 1:20 HCSB
Ali C., Pleasanton, CA- He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Psalm 37:6 (ESV)
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3 NIV
Shannon, Buda, TX
Praise The Lord all his heavenly host you his servants who do His will.
Psalm 103:21