Living Stones

photo credit goes to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_stone

As I was studying scripture over the last few weeks I came across some verses that I can't get out of my mind.  They speak of "living stones" and The Living Stone (Jesus Christ).  Born again believers and followers of Jesus Christ are to also be living stones and our foundation is to be The Living Stone.  I've put the verses in their entirety here on the Sitting At His Feet page. 

As "living stones":

--we will not be disturbed because we believe;

--we are being tested;

--we are firmly placed;

--we are choice and precious in the sight of God.

So, speaking of a solid foundation--my precept study of Zechariah is getting more and more exciting every week!  My insights come from what will happen in the last days as the nation of Israel and the Jews will be "front and center"!  Find out more here (don't miss it!) on the Zechariah Precept Study page.  You will have to scroll to the bottom for the most recent entry.  Also I've been keeping up my list of God's Character here from my study of Psalms.

He Has Called Me "Friend"

Wow! Really??! The Lord has called me His F R I E N D??!!  I learned in my Precept class that the word for "friend" in John 15:15 is a covenant term.  The Greek noun or adjective is philos meaning loved, dear.  To view the complete scripture of John 15:15 click on the Sitting At His Feet page.  Also, my list is growing on the Character of God through my study of Psalms.  Under the Zechariah Precept Study page, I added Week Three's insights about the first three visions Zechariah received from God.  This is getting more exciting every week!

His Voice

This week I have a lot to write about!  I was reading in Psalms this week and have been updating my list of God's Character here.  What the Holy Spirit impressed upon me this week was God' voice.  His voice is upon the waters and it thunders (Ps. 29:3), His voice is powerful, majestic, and breaks cedars (Ps. 29:5), His voice hews out flames of fire, shakes the wilderness, makes the deer to calve and strips the forests bare (Ps. 29:7-9).  Then in Psalm 29:11 God's people are given a promise: The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.  On the Sitting At His Feet page, I have recorded a verse that I love and that gives comfort and hope.  My Zechariah Precept Study page has been updated with my artistic (NOT!) and very childish drawings of Zechariah's first three visions :)

His Right Hand

Father's Day brings to mind all the memories I have of my childhood about my Dad and my grandfather.  For whatever reason, I remember their hands....the hard work they did, the comfort they brought in the hugs I felt, watching the way a pencil was held in their hand while helping me with math or teaching me to write words in Italian.  In fact, I remember writing a poem about my father's hands and I think I gave it to him as a Father's Day present when I was a child.  Now, I watch how my husband uses his hands to work, to love, and to instruct our children today.  My Father in heaven has shown me ways He uses His hands, too.  Particularly I've noticed many verses about His right hand all through the ages of time.  I've listed some of these (there are too many to list) here on the Sitting At His Feet page.  There are several reasons God chose to use the words "right hand" in the scriptures.  Sometimes He uses it to show how He effects His will among men, of His working in their behalf, and/or showing His favor.  I've also been updating my "God's Character" list here. 

God is BIG!

I know the title for this post sounds child-like, but that's all I could think of when I was reading Scripture this morning.  Isaiah 66:1 says Thus says the LORD, "Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool.  Where then is a house you could build for Me?  And where is a place that I may rest?  For My hand made all these things, thus all these things came into being, " declares the LORD."  Wow! Heaven is His throne and the earth His footstool--God is BIG!  The last sentense of Nahum 1:3 says "...In whirlwind and storm is His way, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet." Wow! The clouds are the dust beneath His feet--God is BIG!  I've updated my "God's Character" list here.  Also, I've included some insights from my reading of Psalm 11 and Genesis 1 this morning here on the "Sitting At His Feet" page.  I pray these postings will bring you joy today.

A Lesson In Faith

Ten years ago my husband and I got married.  Prior to that I was married and had two children in that marriage.  It was an abusive and unfaithful marriage.  During the process of my divorce 12 years ago, this man you see pictured introduced me to Jesus.  We married two years later.  Finally this week he was able to adopt my two children.  There is a verse of scripture that reminds me of what God has done for us: "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8:15).  The last 10 years have been a roller coaster and a true test of faith where the adoption of my children by my husband is concerned--we went through long bouts of doubt, quietness from the Lord and also periods of peace and stillness knowing He is God and will "....work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28).  To make a long story (a 12-year long story) short, the Lord has grown my faith so much over that last 12 years!  It took 12 years for me to see the "light at the end of the tunnel" but God is not through with me yet--this I know!  God won't stop growing me until I am made more like His Son, Jesus Christ.  Click here to read two scriptures about faith that I have held on to over the last year in particular.  It's when I'm quiet, not disctracted by things of this world, and when I am Sitting at His Feet that I can best hear His voice an not harden my heart (Hebrews 3:7-8).

Balancing Busyness

"BALANCING BUSYNESS"??? Sounds like an oxymoron to me :) The first thing I do every morning is grab my coffee, check my bank statement, and do a 20-minute bible study (in that order---but I know it should be bible study first).  I just can't sit still and concentrate until I know what I've got to do is done.  May has shown itself to be SO BUSY already!  And it will just get busier as the weeks move on this month.  So, my desire to stay in God's Word is very persuing.  The problem is, there is so much to do FIRST (or so I struggle with priorities).  Satan likes to distract me from sitting down and reading/meditating on God's Word--the lies and deception start creeping in "The Lord knows you're busy...it's OK to slack off on reading just a bit" and so on.  I know the truth and I'm learning, through God's wisdom, to discern His voice.  Click here to see some verses the Lord has shown me about the "business of busyness" and balancing life as a wife and mother and the importance of Sitting at His Feet.

Persevering & Letting Go

My husband and I have found ourselves in a challenging "place" over the last several months: raising teenagers who are struggling between being children while striving for their independence. We look to God's Word for wisdom and guidance.  God has ALOT to say to parents and I am truly grateful for his instruction--Who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance (taken from Isaiah 28:29) With that being said, it still is not easy because I have to deal with my flesh and my pride when, in turn, training up my children to be responsible adults.   Of course, I look to God for bible verses I can read to my children when they want to "go their own way" in hopes that they will listen and heed instruction.  These include:

(Prov. 4:1-2)Hear, my children, the instruction of a father,
And give attention to know understanding;
² For I give you good doctrine:
Do not forsake my law.

(Prov. 8:32-33) Now therefore, listen to me, my children,
For blessed are those who keep my ways.
³³ Hear instruction and be wise,
And do not disdain it.

(Ex 20:12)Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you

And, very important for me to remember is that I also play A BIG PART in this and have a crucial responsibility to carry out.  This is difficult when I am feeling mentally exhausted and discouraged by wayward behavior.  I know I MUST  watch over the ways of my household and NOT eat the bread of idleness (taken from Proverbs 31:27) I hope you'll click here to see the words the Lord has given me for encouragement and instruction.  I hope that by Sitting at His Feet you will be encouraged also.

The Character of God

In my inductive bible studies yesterday, I began to make a list of the characteristics of God which I've discovered by reading the book of Jonah.  I've learned quite a bit from this book (by the way...the entire book of Jonah is also found in the Muslim koran).  I love Jonah 3:6-10 and if you enlarge the photo above, you can read it for yourself.  Verse 10 says "When God saw their deeds that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them.  And He did not do it."  There's so much more to be said about the book of Jonah and I will probably share my findings/discoveries in more posts to come, but for now click here to see my running list so far of the character of God on the Sitting At His Feet page of this blog.  It is fascinating (to say the least) to discover things about the One who created me!

Worthy of the Calling??

Asking myself this morning "am I living a life worthy of the calling I have received"? "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle: be patient, bearing with one another in love." (Ephesians 4:1-2).  Click here to see more of my thoughts this morning Sitting at His Feet.

A Labor of Love

There's just something about foggy mornings that make you want to slow down and enjoy the Lord's blessings.  I long to be still in His presence.

My new blog is a labor of love.  

My intent is to pay close attention to that still, small voice and post these words that come from the Lord on the Sitting at His Feet page (tab) and pray they will be a blessing to you also.