Red Sky at Night

Red Sky at Night

My father was in the Coast Guard in WW11, growing up we often would hear him say, red sky at night sailors delight, red sky in morning sailor take warning. Maybe you have heard this saying from your parents or grandparents, but there is so much truth to this!

Sometimes we can see the array of beautiful red colors in the sky when it is setting, like a painter’s brush strokes, we can take solace in the moment’s beauty. Just like the night, there comes a red sky the morning, the waves of the sea get rough, storms are coming. What is coming for us?

As if the weather could tell us so much about our own lives, good relationships, beautiful sunny days or calm days and everything seems to be going as planned. Next day, you wake up into a succession of storms. When things get stormy or out of control, what may be natural is to seek emergency prayer and know Jesus is with you. Storms end, beautiful sky again, all is good.

Did you forget who is in control of the wind and the waves?

Matthew 8:27

 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” 

Would you be able to admit that when things are going well you place Jesus in a convenient spot in the back of the line, just waiting for you to call on Him when you need Him? 

He is not a God of convenience, He is to be worshipped, sought after and praised.

God, who moves the red sky in the morning, the roaring waves that crash down on the beach. God is in control of every aspect, even when you move away from His will, He loves you enough to bring you gently back and through tough lessons, back to the fold of Jesus’ arms. 

He is with you

Don’t ever forget that in the storm, Jesus creates a place for you to come to Him for shelter. He provides you with the strength to weather all storms. When you see red skies at night, the view that as if God is telling you I have brought you this far, my grace is sufficient, stand strong in it the storms are coming, if you have sinned, repent- because sin will cause the strongest of storms and shackle your life.

John 8:34 

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.

Sins are forgiven through repentance and belief in Jesus Christ, who loves you with an everlasting love. Follow Him, keep Him close and know that He is with you in beautiful red sky nights and unpredictable red sky mornings. Don’t put Jesus at the end of the line when your prayers have been answered, put Him first and see that He never leaves you or forsakes you. Follow Jesus.

Shalom

Nancy

The Christian Writer 

#RedSkyatNight #Jesus #repent #sin

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Gossip & It’s Destructive Force

Scrutiny… it’s just another word for gossip. Why? Because we are under the eyes of a scrutinizer. When we start out our conversations do they end up scrutinizing someone for their behavior? But in actuality, we are the ones that are behaving in a un-godly fashion. 

By gossiping, we are allowing the foothold of the enemy in our thoughts and words. If there is anyone who thinks that they are above gossiping, it is not the truth. The truth is that everyone is someone’s judge. We judge other people’s actions and think our ways are better. But are they? Maybe in each person’s sight, we are a vehicle for their wrath.  We need to check in on what we are doing as well. Not one is free from this and we all do some sort of judging. But when it’s taken to a place where it could severely damage someone’s reputation then this needs to stop.

Proverbs 18:8

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;

    they go down to the inmost parts.

Gossip destroys relationships

One person may say one thing and a fire is let loose in it’s path, others get on board. Now you have a flame that’s out of control over something that could have been resolved just by a conversation to clarify everything.

Proverbs 26:20 

Without wood a fire goes out;

    without a gossip, a quarrel dies down.

Many families & friendships split because there are divisions that were misunderstood and “me” focused. “Look what they did to me?” -“Why did they say that to me?” Are just a few of things that can get blown out of proportion. Something misunderstood could be quite simple and pride rears its ugly head. Learning to let go is better than harping on it or blowing it out of context, like the storm that brings in the rough surf. No control just damaging waves.

Proverbs 16:28 

A perverse person stirs up conflict,

    and a gossip separates close friends.

Gossip prevents us from relationships

When you gossip and someone finds out you break confidence and trust. Now what seemed to be a good relationship is on edge with how much you will reveal. The lesson is this, if someone is gossiping to you, they are gossiping about you. So be careful who you let into your deep thoughts.

Proverbs 11:13 

A gossip betrays a confidence,

    but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.

Gossip just hurts

If someone finds out that things were revealed to someone else that’s hurtful and can really take time for someone else to regain trust again. Sadly the lesson is learned in a hurtful way. You lose confidence in someone you thought you had trust in.

1 Corinthians 2:15 

The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,

Gossip does nothing but hurt others, puts wedges between people and many times is not healthy. Ultimately God is our judge, it is He who judges us and our actions. Trust God, pray for everything.

Shalom

Nancy

The Christian Writer

Spiritual Growth & God’s Plan

 

If you are like me, you constantly are measuring your growth in Christ. Many times I question, am I maturing and growing?  Am I behaving in a way that glorifies God or am I self-seeking? 

Today, I’m reflecting on David who was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22)

Reading David’s Psalms we come to realize, he also was growing in his thoughts and behavior. David was clear on one thing, He knew with God all things are possible and he stepped out in prayer and faith. God grew his abilities to fight, guided him every day as a leader in King Saul’s army and kept him strong for whatever was coming his way.

Getting Stuck

David faced obstacles, King Saul, knowing David was next in line for kingship pursued him. We can only imagine his fear at times but we also know that God was with him and had anointed him to move through battles that were just about impossible for man to overcome and true miracles from the Lord’s Angel Armies. God had given David strength to scale every wall, victory in battle and as he leads, favor with men. David grew from a young sheep shearer to a great King, God was showing him the way because David got out of his own way. The plans were set for David, just as God has His plans set for us.

Psalm 33:11 

But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,

    the purposes of his heart through all generations.

What can we learn from this and how can we get unstuck? 

There is no rock too big for God to move, let’s not let the one that is in front of us get in our way, it means only a detour for now, but later a victory. 

Psalm 25 Of David.

In you, Lord my God,

    I put my trust.

Where You Are

Looking back, from when you first felt God in your life and how you were led, do you see the work He has done in you? Do you see how He has led you from person to person, from teaching to teaching and has established your growth in ways only you can understand. As you study the Bible it becomes more real to you, your life unfolds in understanding the answers to your questions. As your prayer life changes your growth in Christ deepens and your relationship to Jesus goes from head knowledge to heart knowledge seeking the love that only He can give you.

Proverbs 19:21

Many are the plans in a person’s heart,

    but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

Where You Are Going

God knows what each day will bring, not us. 

If you have you asked for direction with no answer in sight, it may take more growth, more tearing away the “old selfish ways” as Jesus makes new ways. 

Jesus does tell us to “Ask, Seek, Knock” and the door will be opened. The hardest part is waiting as we grow and understand that God’s way is better than our way. Pray and wait, the Holy Spirit will do the leading and you will know when things are right. Even if you make a mistake, He will gently show you the way back. He’s the potter, we are the clay. Trusting God is the most important thing you can do to know where you are going. Remember….. who’s plan, God’s!  

Isaiah 55:8

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

    neither are your ways my ways,”

declares the Lord.

Shalom

Nancy

The Christian Writer

#Godsplan #Spiritualgrowth #Jesus #askseekknock

God Is Coming For You

If you are reading this, God is coming after you. Maybe you can’t imagine that God even cares but He does, He cares so much for you that He sent His Son for you, so that you may have a way to Him.

Luke 15:3-7

 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?  And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders  and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’  I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

We can’t go through life wandering around just imaging that something great is going to happen,  or something tragic will fall upon you. We are given the ability to know Jesus and our lives ahead are bringing us closer to eternity with Him.

God doesn’t want your money, possessions or thinking you must work your way into Heaven. He wants you. Jesus says to come, He is the source of life abundant So if you are experiencing loneliness, depression, or questioning your faith-then pray and ask Him to come into your life.

Let’s pray right now.

Heavenly Father, you know all things, you know me when I come and go, where I am and what I am going through, help me to see things through the lens of your throne where you reside. Help me to know you, help me to see you in all things that you have given to me, life, gifts and a way to worship you. Help me Lord to see you in all of this, I have been lost and you have come for me, thank you Lord for opening my heart to you.

Amen

May you find peace in knowing that you are counted and joyfully loved in every way possible.

Shalom

Nancy

The Christian Writer

Is God Real?

Is God Real?

Many years ago while I was searching for truth I asked the question, “Is God Real?”I grew up in a church that really didn’t teach much except to be afraid of God, lots of rules and ways to behave, I still struggled to know if God was real and how is He relevant in my life?

After searching, studying and speaking with other Christians I know  He’s real, operating in every way through your life. Do you wonder does God even know who I am?

This is what the Bible tells us:

• He knew you in the womb: Psalm 139:13
• He set you apart: Psalm 4:3
• He counts the hairs on your head: Matthew 10:30
• He knows what you need before you ask: Matthew 6:8
• He hears your prayers: 1 John 5:14 
• He blesses you: Psalm 67:6
• He protects you: Proverbs 2:8
• Jesus prays for you: John 17:6
• The Holy Spirit guides you: John 16:12-13
• He has a plan for you: Jeremiah 29:11
• His love for you endures forever: Psalm 100:5
• His kingdom never ends: Luke 1:33
• He makes a place for you there: John 14:3

The Bible points us to Scripture many times of God knowing you, intimately, even before you were born. You see the Holy Spirit that is given to us the moment we believe and surrender our lives to Christ will show us the way and the truth that can set you free. Maybe you feel the weight of life upon you and you just want to break free of those chains, you can, if you believe in the One and Only True God, Jesus Christ.

The Bible is not a fable, it’s truth speaks to us and works as a guidebook, it’s rich history and lessons stand every generation. Reading through God’s word you can see the Holy Spirit guiding men and women who have listened and took action to what God had for them. If you feel that somehow this doesn’t make sense to you, then pray and ask. You will get your answer, seeking God for answers will help you get to know the great God that is over us and you will know God is real when you do.

God had a greater plan when He sent His Son to this world, living 33 years and the last three in ministry and instruction, what Jesus accomplished has changed the world. He fulfilled what the prophets spoke about, a Savior that would come and be a sacrifice for us, for forgiveness of sins. 

Jesus says:

Matthew 20:28

just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Apostle Paul says:

Hebrews 9:26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.

If you still don’t understand who God is and if He is real,  the first place to start to know Jesus in the Gospel Matthew, that will show you the genealogy of Jesus and miracle virgin birth God did through Mary. God is real and is around us everywhere, leading you to Himself, so that you will have an eternal home, but you must trust God for this and have faith!

Shalom,

Nancy

Christian Writer

Step Back, Adjust Your View

Seeing things from a different perspective

Just recently I purchased a car with a back up camera, it’s a great feature and to know what’s right behind the back of my car that I can’t see. Although this is such an revolutionary idea, I still have to look around the sides and adjust my view, sometimes the camera can’t see everything. The same goes for photography, my grandson took a picture of the garden from his perspective, but if I took it from my view it would be very different. That’s the great thing about photography everybody has a different sense of an angle or depth of field, we adjust our way of looking at things, we adjust our view. ( I adjusted the size of the photo above) you can point the camera to to mountains and turn 360 degrees and take a water fall, it’s how we look at things and how we want to look at things.

Then there is my garden…

The deer have chewed our Hostas down to picks, I get it they love the salad garden we grow here at our house but I really get upset and would never cause any deer harm, so I changed my point of view from allowing them free reign to now spraying to keep them away, planting flowers they don’t like and just by changing our view and using the knowledge we have been given we are seeing the results!

In life, not only can we adjust our view by seeing, we can adjust by receiving and responding. We just have to step back and understand what’s really important to us, winning the fight or seeing the answer by someone else’s view. Pride can make you look only through a peephole, but let it go and see the whole bigger view that maybe you haven’t seen at all!    Step back, adjust your view.

Do you see yourself looking at things through one view or perspective?

The best solution for understanding comes through prayer, asking God for help, seeking Jesus in times of struggle and uncertainty and relying on that, trying to see things from God’s view!

Psalm 19:14 

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart

    be pleasing in your sight,

    Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Please share

Shalom

Nancy

#Stepbackadjustyourview

#Jesus

#God

#perspective

 

 

 

Step Out & Try

Looking back over the years that I worked and volunteered I found there to be rules and structure to the way the organization was run. Now if you are like me, (a creative at heart) 

You like to be different than others but you still follow the crowds, continue with tradition and rituals that certain places practice, because that’s what is required, you just go along and follow the crowd and don’t rock the boat. But inside you want to make changes!

So through the years have you ever worked alongside someone that just wouldn’t fit in the mold? The person was right in their standing, ethically and morally had great ideas that you even agreed with but because they didn’t fit into the crowd, said something that was correct but was frowned upon and was branded an outcast. That’s a creative and outside the box thinker, pushed back by peers but ultimately that creative thinker is learning and growing in those situations to use in the future.

Often times that independent, creative thinker goes off and starts their own business or group that inspires others to want to learn and follow them or create something that is unique so that others can feel that there isn’t anything wrong with different ideas. That God gives us unique inspiration and guidance so that we don’t feel like our ideas or thoughts are a failure but reminds us to acknowledge how creatively made we all are.

So what I am driving at are two things for you today,

#1 When you feel like an outcast, no matter where it is, or what it is, ride it out- 

you will need this someday and it may really be tough now and you might be going through difficulty but there is an end and a lesson and God has a plan in it for you.

#2 If your heart and gut tell you to accomplish something, start it! 

     Don’t talk about it and think about it and contemplate over it, take a baby step out and start      walking. Take 20 minutes write it in your notes on your iphone, write a plan down, do it in steps but easy ones and then give it over to God, because through Him great things can be done.He is our inspiration.

Our great example  is Jesus, If God didn’t send His only Son into the world and turn it upside down, creating havoc over religious laws, stir hearts, heal sick and broken people and just when things got really amazing and thousands upon thousands were following Him, He was condemned by those religious leaders, but stood strong against their plans, yet relinquished His rights , put to death and was resurrected from the dead- 

What Jesus did for us and taught us we are set free from strict religious laws and rules-to follow Him and to love others, just as He loves us. 

Romans 8:3-4 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh,  in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Jesus taught us not only to step out and follow Him but also to know that He brings light and newness to a dark world, we no longer need to be afraid— be brave, step out even if you feel you will be ridiculed or resented, at least you will not have regrets for not trying and that’s harder to live with as you look back.

Remember you are completely, beautifully made in your uniqueness.

Praising Him…….Nancy

How God Grows Us

Every year I tend to a garden that sits way back from our house. There are different varieties of plants and flowers and every year I am amazed at what comes up, I completely forget!

Just this week I went back and realized that my fig tree which I thought was completely dead has been resurrected and is growing need branches at the bottom. It just helps me realize that what I thought was gone and dead has been given another chance to grow.

That’s what happens with us doesn’t it?

Just when we think things aren’t going the way we hoped God has another plan, He makes part of us die, so that new growth can emerge and we can be better in our newness and service.

I thank God for the newness in me, it helps me to grow and to see where I was, what had to change and what can still be ahead, God will always surprise, we don’t have to know it all, we just stay faithful for growth and understanding, praying for guidance in doing His will as He directs us in His mysterious ways.

Shalom,

Nancy

#HowGodGrowsUs

#Growth

Eye Witnesses Of The Living Jesus

If there is doubt in the world whether or not Jesus was real and some made up story, there are many historical facts that are documented history on this. The most trust worthy written word is in the New Testament of the Bible, there we find eyewitness accounts of Jesus appearing first to Mary Magdolin at the tomb then to the disciples, then to many others. Pressing out further, we find documented letters from His Apostles that have been written and shared about Him and shared with followers regarding His crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection from death. In the Gospel of John, we read how the obedient disciples wait in hiding until Jesus appears to them as He promised.

John 20:19 

 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

In the Book of Acts, Paul (was Saul) himself experienced the Living Jesus on the road to Damascus as he was headed to persecute and kill Christians.

Acts 9:3-6

³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Then later after Paul’s conversion we read in his letters of the resurrected and living Christ and as he wrote to the Corinthians and said:

1 Corinthians 15:6-8

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas (Peter) and then to the Twelve. ⁶ After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, ⁸ and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

 There were many witnesses to the appearance of Christ that are documented in the Bible. There are other historical books that document Christ, Christians and the Romans persecution of Christians.

The following link is explores other documented evidence of Jesus’ existence.

(Bible History Daily)

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-historical-jesus/did-jesus-exist/

At this time of High Holy Days, it’s a time to be reflective of our lives and what Christ has done for us on the Cross-, He died so that you could have eternal life; He defeated death and was a perfect sacrifice for your sins.

His faithful disciples knew first hand and stood their ground for Him as their one and only God. They were eyewitnesses to Jesus alive, talking and eating with them.

We may not be able to see Jesus, but when we whole-heartedly come to Him, he is in our presence through the Holy Spirit, which has guided you all along your life.

Jesus is as much alive NOW as He was then. We can’t see Him but he tells us in John

John 20:29

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

 Be Blessed My Brothers and Sisters,

Nancy

 

 

#Christ #LivingJesus #LivingGod #ChristCrucified #God #One&OnlyGod #EyeWitnessesToTheLivingJesus

A Simple Lenten Prayer

Lord, during this time of reflection, open my eyes to see the truth of Your presence in my life. It isn’t what I don’t have, but all the things that I do have that I forgot or ignored. I pray you keep me safe under your arms and guide me to the path that you have set before me. Help me to stay faithful even in my darkest days and help me to love and forgive those that have hurt or forgotten me. Jesus thank you for the grace that only you can give and for setting me free from the things that weren’t right, putting me on a new path and a new start ahead.

Praying all this in your precious Holy Name, Jesus

 

John 8:32

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

 

Shalom, 

Nancy