POWER Source within US!

We recently sang a worship song "All my Fountains" and it is really a good good song. For all our fountains ARE in Him. He is all we need, and it is the source of Him being in us that enables us to accomplish what it is that He wants us to do; and the desires He has placed on our hearts to want to do.

With this song recently on my mind, as we visited Niagara Falls yesterday,and I watched the tremendous power of the water; I couldnt help but think of all the power that we are enabled with.

When we read in the Psalms, of God being the fountain of life; and ALL my fountains are found in Him ... WOW we have alot of power within US. Have you ever stopped to think of that? Just HOW much power ? we are plugged in to the vine that is the ULTIMATE POWER source! I think it is just amazing! Even in the tough times, even in the dark hours - HIS POWER is flowing into us, through us, AND out of us.

2 Corinthians 12:9 - God says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for MY POWER is perfected in your weakness"... so that the POWER of Christ may dwell in me.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the POWER of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the POWER of the Holy Spirit.

1Corinthians 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the POWER of our Lord Jesus,

1Corinthians 6:14 Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His POWER.

2Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the POWER will be of God and not from ourselves;

There are so many verses about the POWER of God - it is amazing. I will leave you with two more:

2Corinthians 13:4 For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the POWER of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the POWER of God directed toward you.

Ephesians 1:19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His POWER toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might

That's all for now, Til next time

In HIM - who is the source of all POWER

Jacqueline

Love of Father ... or should I say love of a Mother!

Last Saturday at work we did a time of reflection. We asked the students to think about the story of the Prodigal and then to take some time to see which of the characters they best related to. It is really a neat experience; consider with asking God for yourself: are you more like the younger Son, the older Son or the Father?

When I look back over my life, I see at times I have played each character. It wouldnt have been until recently that I would have "dared" to say that I was like the Father; as with all my "churching" I have had, I knew that in this parable, Jesus was showing us the role of Father is God; and there was no way I was going to compare myself to God. (Ya, I still had some "religious" junk to deal with).

That all said however, because the excercise from Saturday was so fresh on my mind, it made yesterday even more special for me.

Because of the different journies that each of my children are on, my three teenagers do not see each other very often. Yesterday was a very special day for all of us. We spent the whole day together celebrating Michael's 18th birthday, and my heart was so full - for once it is hard for this Mother to even explain how much joy was inside of me.

As I put my arms around my "big kids"; I was reminded very clearly from Father, and
"this is just a little bit of the love I have for you". They still have their lessons to learn about life, God and safety of being under the family protection etc; but it was such a good day.

I was able to love my children - ALL of them at the same time; and no one's decisions and behaviours changed that in the least. I simply wanted them to see, my love as their mother has not changed; I love you and want whats best for you. You do not need to change your behaviour to have my love.

Thank you Father for your love. Thank you Father for the opportunity to love.

That's all for now - til next time

Jacqueline

Black and White Thinking ...

It has been many months since I have written in a blog form. I will update soon, but I would like to share with you something that came to my mind today that I felt was worth sharing.


Those who knows me well, may decribe me as being a "black and white thinker". I have for most of my adult years taken that as either an insult or a weakness. Mostly, I have viewed it as something that I needed to change; because I had viewed it as a legalistic way of thinking. And to be fair, possibly in some areas, I do come across as very strong and determined in how I view certain topics. Particularly those containing to scripture, truth, friendships, how we treat others and family matters. All of which I am extremely passionate about.

I didnt want to lumped in with legalistic thinkers; but rather someone who is confident in what she believes in. Someone who is not prone to being tossed to and fro as the winds and waves change; and not someone who is attracted to teaching that is pleasing to itchy ears. But rather, someone who has ears open to hearing from Father, and specifically how He would like me to grow, change or to love on others.

This morning, Pastor Craig Groeschel from Life Church continued his series on marriage, and he made a few comments that have inspired this blog entry.

I was so encouraged that it is okay to have black and white thinking, (of course I dont mean i shouldnt be willing to compromise that is not what I mean at all); but to stand for what I believe in. God's truth IS black and white. There is such a thing (against popular opinion these days) as right and wrong. There are acts of sin or acts of righteousness; you are either a saved saint or a sinner; things are either true or false; and there is right and wrong.

The shades of grey mentality, messes with more than marriages and fantacy as the popular book suggests. Shades of grey leaves us on a fence, and not knowing what to stand for and being easily swayed and tossed to and fro.

For right now, I am completely okay if I am known as a black and white thinker.
I am thankful that Father has removed muck from eyes and goop out of my ears.

Thanks Craig for the reminder to stand firm on truth.


That's all for now.

Jacqueline