Simplification - simplicity - is the key to life

It seems that Scripture teaches us that simplification is the key to life. Too often with competing schedules, there is the temptation to put God in the back-burner while we deal with other pressing issues that we deem as urgent and that need to be handled "yesterday".  And yet Jesus teaches us that He is the calm in the eye of the storm, that we can place all of our burdens at His feet, that all of the complicated things of life need be taken to the throne of God and He will take care of them. The Bible says "Seek first the kingdom of God and all His righteousness, AND ALL these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). 

So often I find myself struggling, thinking in the opposite way, in fact, that I should seek ALL OF THOSE THINGS first and THEN seek His Kingdom. I have resolved to seek His Kingdom first, to rely on Him for all things, and follow this Biblical principle - I do believe this is true, I have the weight of the saints in the Bible and throughout the ages that testify to it! 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" Heb 12:1

Be blessed today!

The above is a picture I took of the Johannesburg skyscape.

PS: If you want to read more of the Bible, go to: http://biblehub.com/ - I love this website, because it provides you with the same verse from several different Bible versions. The beauty of this is that you can get a holistic interpretation of the particular verse, in old English and contemporary English.

A promise that God will fill our hearts with joy

I love this Bible promise that God will fill our mouths with laughter and our lips with joy. It tells us that we can rise above our circumstances at all times and no matter how troubled we may feel, God will always be our grounding, and not what is happening around us.

In hours of discouragement, God is our encouragement...

This is such a beautiful poem by Helen Steiner Rice and I have always loved those first two lines, though the whole poem is so powerful:

Sometimes we feel uncertain, 

and unsure of everything,

Afraid to make decisions, 

Dreading what the day will bring,

We keep wishing it were possible 

to dispel all fear and doubt,

and to understand more readily 

just what life is all about,

God has given us the answers 

which too often go unheeded,

but if we search His promises 

we’ll find everything we need

and seek, to lift our faltering spirits 

and renew our courage too,

for there is absolutely nothing too much 

for God to do,

For the Lord is our Salvation 

and our Strength 

in every fight we fight.

Our Redeemer, and Protector, 

our eternal Guiding Light,

He has promised to sustain us, 

He’s our Refuge from all harms,

and underneath this Refuge 

are His Everlasting Arms,

So cast your burdens on Him, 

seek His counsel when distressed,

and go to Him for comfort 

whenever you’re lonely and oppressed,

For God is our encouragement 

in trouble and in trials,

and in suffering and in sorrow 

He will turn our tears to smiles.

God's special phone number!

Today is Friday – I love Fridays, the doorway to the weekend and freedom! 

My daughter is writing a big exam today – 4 hours! She was feeling quite jittery and I realised an important thing: I had not been praying for her success. So I prayed, I asked God to help her in her exams. I think I forget to pray sometimes. And yet God Himself calls us to be better than that – He says that we do not have because we do not ask.  At the same time, He reassures us, saying “Call unto me, and I will show you great and mighty things, things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3). 

Some preachers refer to Jeremiah 33:3 as God’s phone number, that’s pretty cool in my books! Knowing that God is there – just a phone call away! 

Be blessed today!

Comfort Songs - "Jesus, we enthrone You and we proclaim you as King"

Do you, like me, have 'comfort songs' that you sing sometimes when you feel that you just need to be close to the Lord? One of my favouritist is this one:

"Jesus, we enthrone You and we proclaim You as King

Standing here in the very midst of us

We raise You up with our praise

And as we worship build Your throne,

And as we worship build Your throne

And as we worship build Your throne,

Come Lord Jesus, and take Your place!"

Oh, it may be an old song, but the glory and power in it and the grace that I feel washing over my life when I sing it! And the feeling of being supported, loved, held up by the King of Kings and Lord and Lords!

I once read that when you are feeling depressed, sing or read the olden day songs, songs like "Amazing Grace" and "How great Thou art", written way back when but with such an anointing over them. They are so deeply biblical that they have brought comfort to many, myself included!

The background picture that I used to create this worship picture is courtesy of: thedanceoflifewithjenna.blogspot.com