I Do Not Deserve You

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I Do Not Deserve You
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I do not deserve you, the work you do daily in my heart and life, the work you did on Calvary that gave me eternal life. 

I do not deserve you, the love you freely give, the life you gave that I might live. 

I do not deserve you, my constant ever guide, you never leave me, you are always by my side. 

I do not deserve you, on mountain top or valley deep, your ever constant presence that watches ore me while I sleep. 

I do not deserve you, the blood you freely shed, the blood that washes all my sin away as though I never did. 

I do not deserve you, your gentle calming voice, the tender way you hold me close when I don’t understand. 

I do not deserve you . . . And yet you are always there . . . And this is the beauty of who you are . . . You are Everything that I Do Not Deserve !!!

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

“He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalms 103:10-12

(Reading all of Psalms 103 will bless your heart!)

Day and Night by Season

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Day and Night by Season
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In the crazy twists and turns of weather lately with day and night blending in what seems to be a crossover from one season to the next i was reminded of how our lives can follow a similar path.

Day by day and night by night each by their season, we find ourselves transitioning from season to season. Some seasons come silently just as they should progressing in a normal sequence of life, they bring about change just as anticipated with memories of what was and anticipation of what is yet to be; but sometimes there comes a season that take us completely by surprise leaving us lost between the day and the night. We find ourselves lost, stunned, and bewildered. But we have a Heavenly Father who is always there between the days and nights and the ever shifting seasons.

Psalm 16:7-9 “I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.”

Psalm 1:2-3 “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

Regardless of the season you might find yourself, God is always faithful and true. He never leaves your side !!!

“And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8

So it is we can face Day and Night by Season . . .

More Than Enough

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More Than Enough
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I do not know if you feel the same as I do but there are so many days when I simply do not feel I am enough. Not enough to meet the needs of those looking to me for help, not enough for the questions that need to be answered, or simply not enough to accomplish the to-do-list that never seems to end. Or maybe, not enough for the work I know God is calling me to do.

Recently our pastor shared from the passage of the feeding of the five thousand in Matthew 14:14-21. Jesus faced a hungry crowd with what the world would say was simply not enough. Five loaves and two fish were not enough to even begin to feed a portion of the people that had come to hear the words of Jesus, but wait . . .

Jesus did not waver, he did not falter, he did not fear, he did not turn and run away. He took what the little boy willingly gave and it became more than enough.

It’s not about what I have within me, it’s what I have in Jesus !!!! He is always more than enough, he can take what I willingly give to him though small it may be and he can make it more than enough.

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” II Corinthians 12:9

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

So as we start the new day we can know that no matter what we may face, we are more than enough in him !!! Our strength is not enough, but his is more than enough and he has promised to strengthen us with the power of his might if we come to him !!!

 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me,” Philippians 4:13

Grace, Mercy, and Peace

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Grace, Mercy, and Peace
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When reading in the book of Titus recently these three words stood out to me in Paul’s greeting to Titus, Grace, Mercy, and Peace (Titus 1:4). For a moment I paused to consider the depth of these words which can be found in greetings throughout several books in the New Testament. I think if we stop and think about them, the three words are among the greatest gifts we can desire from our Heavenly Father. I know that on a daily basis I desire his grace as I often take my eyes off of the path he has laid before me and wander off course. In the wandering I certainly need his mercy to find my way back and at the close of the day when I come before him I long for his sweet peace to fill my soul.

“To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.” Titus 1:4

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” II Timothy 2:1

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” Psalms 103:8

“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” Luke 6:36

“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3: 22-23

“Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mid is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3

“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.” Psalms 4:8

“Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.” II Thessalonians 3:16

In this world we will have constant turmoil, but in God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, we can find Grace, Mercy, and Peace.

“Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.” II John 1:3

What God Sees

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What God Sees
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One of my favorite spots is sitting by my bedroom window feeling the sunshine coming in upon my face. One day recently I sat in a moment of reflection looking out upon my empty lot next to my house. I thought about the fact that some may simply see it as an extra lawn to mow, but I see its potential. I see a garden yet to grow, spaces full of blossoms, quiet spots to sit with the first wake of dawn or the final set of sun. I hear the birds as they flutter about, the rustling of leaves upon a cool breeze, and a rippling fountain as the center piece. While I sat and thought upon the garden I could see in my minds eye, God spoke to my heart reminding me that just as I saw what others might not see, he sees within each person what he created them to be and it pricked my heart. Do I pause to see what God sees? Do I make hasty assumptions based upon outward appearances and fail to see the potential in others?

“. . .for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” I Samuel 16:7

Not only does he see us with an inward perspective, he saw us before we were born and purposed our lives for a specific plan only he could see. “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5

Do I work each day to help others become what he purposed them to be or do I simply walk on by? Each person that we meet along the way was created by God who sees their true potential. He sees what they could be, just as I see a garden when I look out my window. When God looks at each individual person, he sees a soul for whom he sent his son to die, that is what God sees !!

What about my own life, do I see what God sees? Do I settle for less than his best because I lack vision or the ability to trust that his plan is what is best for my life? “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3: 5-6

I want to see what God sees !!!

In Anticipation

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As the winter months bring a sense of cold and bland, I find myself stirring inside in anticipation of spring. I begin to search through beautiful seed stores online planning for the first signs of spring and the fresh smell of soil. I dream of lush garden beds, fresh herbs and veggies, and gorgeous bright blossoms to bring spring to my table. Just like my hunger and thirst for the new beginnings of spring, I sometimes find my heart and soul experiencing the winter months where I feel a little separate and uncertain of where God is directing me. I long for the exquisite joy of feeling strongly connected to my purpose, with a clear vision for the path ahead. During these winter months I wait in anticipation, longing for the first signs of the garden path ahead leading me toward a renewed sense of calling and direction.

But what I have come do discover is that in the anticipation the joy builds and grows as I wait patiently for winter to accomplish its purpose. It is in the dormancy of winter that the most beautiful fruits come to grow.

“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

“For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come” Song of Solomon 2:11-12a

In the anticipation, in the wait God works to bring about the truest of all beauty. We are his workmanship, he is our creator and in his time he will bring spring to our hearts once again.

Living with Precision

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I have been reading in the book of Ezekiel where God very clearly and precisely describes every element of his temple. As I read each verse it becomes clear to me the importance God places on ensuring each detail of the temple was carefully measured and fit together just as he directed it to be built. In my reflection I thought of nature, the seasons, even the sun, moon, and stars, everything has been set in place precisely as God ordained it to be. All down through time each element has continued according to his plan with precision, each season following the next.

This brought me to a moment of reflection regarding the one element in nature that consistently moves away from the precise instructions of God creating a state of confusion and utter chaos . . . and that is man . . . the one being created in the image of God, yet we continues to turn from God attempting to live according to the desires and intents of our own heart !!!

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? “ Jeremiah 17:9

“But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.” Psalms 81: 11-12

“And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blashemy, pride, foolishness; all these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” Mark 7:20-23

Instead man should . . . .

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5

God has given clear, precise details in his word regarding how to live our lives and yet we somehow feel as though following his direction isn’t necessary. We do not see the importance of following God in the day to day elements of our lives, seemingly unaware that they determine the overall structure and path of our lives. We seem to think God isn’t concerned with the details of our lives, yet his word so clearly says otherwise. Our bodies are to be a temple, a temple set aside to bring honor and glory to his name. Yet we haphazardly live our lives with no thought to seeking God in the details. One cannot expect to have a life that is precisely according to God’s plan without first ensuring that each detail is attended to with precision. Just as God set out very precise details for the building of his temple to ensure that it would be built exactly as he planned, he has laid out detailed descriptions for each element of our lives to enable us to be able to live with precision.

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” I Corinthians 6:19

Just as God set out precise details for the construction of his temple, he has set out precise details for us to live with precision !!!

The Day is Calling

Posted on By Tina "Richele" Ballinger 1 Comment on The Day is Calling
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I think we could all admit that there are mornings when the day begins to call and we would rather bury our heads beneath the pillow, pretending we did not hear. Yesterday was one of those mornings for me, I heard the call and I greeted the day reluctantly longing to remain tucked deep within my bed. As I drug myself out from beneath the cozy covers, I heard God stirring my heart to write a blog post with thoughts I was feeling, but I pushed the thought far from my mind ignoring the small inner voice. I was tired, I was weary, and I knew the hectic schedule that lay ahead of me. I attempted to pick myself up and move begrudgingly forward.

Needless to say the day became overrun with one stressful moment after another, nothing went as it should, in fact it was the complete opposite. Somewhere in the course of the day, I heard the calling once again knowing that in my failure to meet God within the early morning call I had allowed my day to completely spiral out of control. The problem was that I awoke to the call of the day, but I failed to meet God in those initial waking moments giving Him the true place He deserved in my heart. I attempted to move forward in my own strength, which I know all too well is a feeble attempt at best .

So here I sit with the calling of yet another new day, licking my wounds and writing the thoughts that He meant to help guide me through my yesterday.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 1: 1-4

“It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3: 22-23

“Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.” Psalms 143:8

“My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O lord: in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” Psalms 5:3

As I answer the calling of a new day, I am reminded that God was there from the beginning and he will be there until the end to guide me each step of the way. Nothing I face will have taken him by surprise, he has already prepared the way ahead. He will direct my steps, he will carry me forward, within each task I face he will give the strength that I need.

In the Calling of the New Day, I will lift my head toward heaven for therein lies my strength.

Planting Precious Seeds

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Nothing thrills my heart more than planting in spring, with the first rays of sunshine glittering upon the daffodils my heart has already been in full planning stages for new beginnings and new additions to my garden. One of my absolute favorite thing to do is planting trees knowing that I may not see their full potential, but others will benefit from the work I am doing today.

Yesterday, one of my beautiful granddaughters assisted me in the planting of my newest addition to my landscape, a some day will be gorgeous Southern Magnolia. As I watched her eager to help, longing to be part of what I was doing I paused to reflect upon the fact that but for a moment she is intently absorbing all that I have to teach her. In the hustle of the day I often forget that she is watching, she is listening (even when it does not appear to be the case). One of my greatest blessings is the opportunity to be a Nana, a chance to plant precious seeds for Jesus Christ. Just like the magnolia, I may not see the full results of who she will become and how my teaching may direct her toward God’s plan for her life, but someday she will become something beautiful in His sight if I remain faithful in the planting of the precious seeds of the Gospel in her heart today.

“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7

“And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” Isaiah 54:13

“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” II Timothy 3:14-15

Oh, the precious seeds that bring beauty to our world and to our lives, the sharing of the Gospel that brings others to Jesus Christ. There is no greater calling, there is no greater honor than to plant the seeds that bring honor and glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Be Thou Instructed

Posted on By Tina "Richele" Ballinger 1 Comment on Be Thou Instructed
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“Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.” Jeremiah 6:8

As a young child I tended to soak up instruction, curious to learn all that I could, hungry to know more and more. Yet, somewhere along the way there seemed to build up a resistance to being instructed, somewhere around the early teen-age years I obviously felt that I had received all of the instruction necessary. The children of Israel seemed to have similar feelings toward the instruction of God.

All throughout Biblical history, the Israelites were in constant turmoil between obedience and rebellion much like I have found myself over the course of time. I get a good forward motion, fully intent on the Word of God striving with everything in me to remain focused on His instruction . . . and then before I know what has happened I am in left field going in an entirely different direction. It happens all too quickly, that rebellion within rises up to divert my attention from what God is trying to teach me.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” II Timothy 3:16-17

Just as God told the Israelites in Jeremiah 6:8, God’s instruction is given to us that we might know Him and experience the fullness of life that is found only in His Word. Without the instruction of God our hearts become desolate, we become wanderers in an uninhabited land without a true direction.

“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Psalm 32:8

I want to know that God’s eye is upon me, guiding me, teaching me, and instructing me in the way that I should go. When I am walking in His promises, when I allow Him to instruct me, I know that I am exactly where I need to be in Him.

“Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.” Proverbs 8:32