Monday, September 14, 2009

This morning I did something that I haven't done in ages. I took my Bible, my prayer journal and a pen, a nice cup of hot tea, and a lawn chair, and I went to the backyard to pray. I sat my chair near the crepe myrtle bush that grows there...in the place where my friend, Pat, from Pennsylvania and I pray when she is in, and oh! What a tremendous blessing!

The first thing I did was just listen as I drank my morning cup of tea. I could hear birds singing, squirrels chattering, crickets chirping, and the last of the summer's cicadas droning. I could hear other sounds, too...an occassional passing car, a dog barking, our chickens clucking inside their pen...even a cow mowing and the horse in the pasture adjoining our property as he neighed quietly to himself. (Isn't living in a small town, farming community grand? We've got it all, and it's all wonderful!)

Anyway, I heard all these things and was just truly able to enjoy them and praise God for them. And then there were the sights...two cats (Stripes and Chip) scampering about...playing under my feet and wrestling with one another...one, solitary mushroom...a big, white puffball...that had sprang up overnight with all the moisture we've had, the colors of the turning leaves...some already falling...and the evidence of a soon-ending summer coming on quick to our garden...tired and yellow plants, heavy with unharvested produce...cucumbers that are too big and too bitter to be enjoyed...tomatoes...green and red...and peppers...lots and lots of good, green peppers! (I've been making a lot of stuffed pepper casserole lately!) And, then, the most beautiful thing of all...the opening of God's Word, and sweet time spent in communion with my Lord and precious Savior, Jesus Christ!

This morning, after attending an awesome prayer meeting in Mindenmines, MO, and after fellowshipping with other like-minded believers, my heart was drawn to Psalm 51. The last few months have been hard months for our family, and, in the midst of it all, I've slipped...slipped badly...slipped so far from where I once was spiritually...and it shows. I've become tired and apathetic toward the things of God, and bitter and ugly towards people. This morning, as I read through Psalm 51, my conscious was pricked, and I truly felt the words of the psalmist as his words became my own...

"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..." (verses 2-4).

The words welled up within my spirit...

(Verses 10-12) - "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with thy free spirit."

What a beautiful passage! What a sweet release! I love the Lord! And I hope you love Him, too. If you don't...or if you don't know Him personally this morning as Lord and Savior...it's not too late. Just open up your heart and let Jesus come in. He'll not only change your heart, but He'll change your life. And, if you'd like someone to pray with you, e-mail me privately at: proverbs31heart@yahoo.com or call me: 417-843-6469. I'm here and I'd be happy to do that with you.

Well, my time is up, so I will close for now. Have a wonderful day, and may God's richest blessings be yours...today and always!

All My Love,
~Rebecca

"...Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved..." (Acts 16:30-31)

"...as...they came to a certain water...the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 8:36-37)