The Gift of Star-Gazing. . .

How Great Thou Art - Arrangement by Soin Piu
(Please click for background music as you read this message of H.I.M.)

As I look up at the beautiful majestic sky this one wintry night, in our quiet, peaceful part of the world surrounded by the farmers’ fields, and one of God’s great lakes, I truly am in wonderment. While I marvel at the celestial sky, I think to myself “He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to them all. Our Lord is great and abundant in strength; His understanding is unlimited, beyond our comprehension” (Psalm 147:4-5).    
Among the countless gifts God gives us through His marvelous creation, I am so grateful for “The Gift of Star-Gazing.” For I stand in amazement and am truly fascinated when looking for the various patterns of stars among the constellations; for example, the Big Dipper, the Little Dipper, or Orion’s belt consisting of three very bright stars. Orion is the constellation, which is defined as the “hunter” in Greek mythology, and is cited three times in the Bible (Job 9:9, Job 38:31, Amos 5:8).  What really is captivating; however, are the billion stars within God’s divine universe and I think to myself, just like the stars shining brightly in the darkest of nights, so do God’s promises shine their brightest as I search for them to bring consolation in times of tribulation. Just like the stars, God’s promises are never-ending. As I explore His Word, I discover God’s promises give:    

• Compassion – “But thou, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, long-suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” (Psalm 86:15)

• On-going deliverance from fear – “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4)

• Mercy – “Through God’s loving compassion for the world, He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

• Fortitude – “…but let us rejoice in our trials, knowing our trials produce perseverance; our perseverance produces character, and our character gives hope.” (Romans 5:3-4) 

• On-going peace – "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." (Isaiah 26:3)

• Reassurance – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)

• Tranquility – “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)  

And so, as you gaze into the sky and see the beauty of God’s promises, may you find much COMFORT in Him.

“This is my comfort in my affliction,
that your promise gives me life.”
(Psalm 119:50)

   

The Gift of Prayer. . .

Sweet Hour of Prayer - Arrangement by David Baroni
(Please click for background music as you read this message of H.I.M.)

I believe one of the greatest gifts we can give one another is “The Gift of Prayer.”  I cannot begin to express how deeply touched I have been by so many, from around the world, who have written to me and said, “I said a prayer for you today.” What a blessing to one’s ears. Praying for one another is not only a blessing but an inspiration to pray for one another. 
Prayer is my opportunity to quietly talk with God. Regardless of what time of day it may be or where I am, I know God is always available to me. I do not need to stand in line, make an appointment or wait in a waiting room to speak with Him. In fact, God encourages us to pray to Him; He is discouraged if we do not. When praying, it is important for me to remember who I am praying to and not what I am praying for.        
As I talk with God, "The Gift of Prayer” allows me to:

• Praise God – for the many “answered” and, yes, even “unanswered” prayers He has provided in my life.  God knows what is best for me at all times and it is only by trusting in Him will I know His will in my life.  “I will praise Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart. And I will glorify Thy name forevermore.” (Psalm 86:12)
• Repent to God – so I may ask for His forgiveness. “For the wages of sin is death, BUT the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)  What rejoicing there can be when God cleanses our heart from sin and sets us free so we can magnify His name.

• Abide with God – so I may draw nearer to Him. “Draw near to God, and He will draw nearer to you.” (James 4:8)  Without a doubt, I believe this to be true! I could never endure the pain and suffering of living with cancer without the presence of God in my life. There is no greater comfort than knowing He is with me at all times.

• Yield to God – so I can fully trust in Him. God wants only the best for us. Therefore, in order for God’s will to occur in my life, I must surrender everything in my life to Him with no doubts.  In doing so, I will have both peace and contentment. “Yield now and be at peace with Him; Thereby good will come to you.” (Job 22:21)

• Engage with God – so I can converse more with Him about all aspects in my life. Having daily communion with God is vital to my life’s “spiritual” well-being. My life would be hopeless and in a disarray without Him. By meditating on His Word and listening to Him, it allows my relationship with Him to deepen and be stronger. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

• Rest in God – so I may have Confidence, Assurance, Reassurance, Encouragement and Stability believing He CARES for me.  When I fully trust in God, this brings me much comfort and consolation knowing He will protect me, sustain me and guide me through every moment of my life. He will never abandon me. “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee. . .”  (Isaiah 43:2), while I “Cast my burden upon the Lord, He shall sustain me.” (Psalm 55:22)         

And so, I said a PRAYER for you today that God would touch your life in a powerful way that only He can do to bring honour and glory to His name. Amen.

Prayer is searching beyond human scope,
past reason, past logic, past yearnings,
past hope. Available always
through faith every minute.
Prayer is a power with
miracles in it.
~ Author Unknown ~

The Gift of Listening. . .

Nature's Music - Arrangement by Tammi Yates
(Please click for background music as you read this message of H.I.M.)

Have you ever stopped to think how often we are required to listen throughout the day? It often begins from the time we wake up; particularly, for those who may require hearing an alarm clock to get their day started. However, the ability of “hearing” is very different from the ability of “listening”.   

“Being still” and “listening” are two virtues I have always strived for in my life; in order to hear, know and understand God's will for my life. When I am praying to God, I am talking. However, when I am meditating on God’s Word, I must be still and listen to what God is teaching me, if I want to know His plans and purpose for my life. As a result, I have learned, "The Gift of Listening":

~ Lessens my burdens and turns them into blessings - When I let go of my anxieties, fears and tears then I will receive God's comfort knowing He cares for me. “Casting all my cares on Him, for He cares for me.” (I Peter 5:7);

~ Inspires me to follow God's instructions in my life as He teaches me to lean on Him and trust Him in all circumstances. “Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding, but in all your ways, acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.”  (Proverbs 3:5-6);

~ Strengthens my trust in Him and gives me salvation. “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise Him.” (Psalm 28:7), “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24);

~ Teaches me to wait patiently on the Lord, knowing His presence is always with me. “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31);

~ Encourages me to rely on Him as He gives me direction, instruction, and protection in all circumstances. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. . . .Thou art my hiding place and shield; I hope in thy word.” (Psalm 119:105,114);

~ Nourishes me to yearn for more of His teachings that I may comfort others in their time of need. “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our trials that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” (II Corinthians 1:3-4).     

I am grateful to God for His “Gift of Listening” as He is my Shepherd, who guides me along my way day by day. I am comforted that as one of His sheep, He hears me when I cry out to Him. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give to them eternal life; and they shall never die. . .” (John 10:27-28).  Knowing my Shepherd hears my voice, strengthens my “faith, which comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17).  Hence, when I “sought the Lord, and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4), I can say, with praise, “In God, I will praise His Word, in God, I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.” (Psalm 56:4).  

My dear friend's Labradoodle, Chloe,
inspires me to ~
Stay close to My Master,
Who never leaves my side,
He talks with me daily,
As I listen and abide. 

      

God's Gift. . .

I Will Always Love You - Arrangement by John Tesh
(Please click for background music as you read about H.I.M.)

I find it fascinating when I think what it takes to make a day ~ 86,400 seconds, 1,440 minutes or 24 hours!  Now, imagine if we take those same figures and multiple it for a year. We know there are 365 days in a year, which results in 31,536,000 seconds, 525,600 minutes or 8,760 hours!

We know yesterday is “history” and tomorrow is a “mystery”; hence, we call today the “present”; the period of time, which is now occurring. However, we also know it truly is a “present” from our Creator; God’s gift to us!  

Today is a present beyond all presents, which gives us the Gift of:

Second chances – Regardless of what I may or may not have accomplished previously, today gives me a “second chance” to start again, continue chasing after my dreams, finishing life’s goals already begun, while planning new ones, and letting go of regrets.

Though setbacks can sometimes deter us; alternatively, the gift of the present inspires us to stay calm, persevere and carry on so we can find joy in our lives and never give up hope.    

“…weeping may endure for the night, BUT joy cometh in the morning” (Psalm 30:5)

Opportunity – Although we cannot bring back yesterday and there is no certainty for a tomorrow, the gift of the present gives new opportunities.  It is by the renewing of my spirit day-by-day that gives me optimism and confidence allowing me to stay focused, be passionate about my purpose in life, while encouraging and sharing H.I.M. with others, and never lose sight of God’s will in my life.

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, 

our inner self is being renewed day by day.” 

(II Corinthians 4:16)

New beginnings – Each day God continues giving me the gift of life of which I am so very grateful. In return, my gift to Him is what I do with my life for Him. There is not a moment in my life that I take for granted, but I do savour every moment. I have experienced much sorrow this past year, but I am thankful I have been able to turn my burdens into blessings, my tears into triumph and my sorrow into a song of praise and thanksgiving for living.  

       

“This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24)  

However, God’s greatest gift of all is His SON, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for our sins so we may have eternal life and the gift of salvation. By this gift, we receive God’s presence, His ever-lasting love and grace. 

“For by grace are we saved through faith; 

and that not of yourselves;

it is the Gift of God.” 

(Ephesians 2:8)

And so, my gift to you is my prayer that you, too, know God’s SON, and you will embrace each moment of today with a heart full of praise and gratitude.

Life is fragile ~ please handle
    with care and much prayer.