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Showing posts with label Isaiah 1:18. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Isaiah 1:18. Show all posts

Monday, October 1, 2018

To Err is Human.....But Who Likes Making Mistakes?

I spend many hours of my day at my computer; typing my daily posts, providing technical editing for other writers and giving encouragement to friends on social media. With all that typing, editing and publishing, I installed a writing app called "Grammarly". Grammarly's app makes sure my messages, documents, and social media posts are clear and mistake-free. The app highlights the incorrect spelling or punctuation and I just tap on it, and whoa la -- everything is corrected. Within seconds, I've made my corrections and I'm good to go. What a blessing it is, considering the old days when we used a manual or electric typewriter. If we made mistakes with our typing then, we used correcting paper or correcting ink. It was laborious, and often difficult to make corrections if a space was needed between words. Whew! We've come a long way, Baby!

And isn’t that true in our lives, as well? As much as we try to do better, it seems our nature is prone to emotional, physical and spiritual mistakes. Maybe it has to do with the company we're keeping, some unhealthy habits, some compromising of our ethics and integrity, or literally missing the mark. Little mistakes can really slow us down and even limit some of the blessings God wants to give us. I remember back in my early learning-to-type days when I made so many mistakes because I wasn't focusing or I was concentrating more on speed than being mistake-free. Now, at this stage of my life, I really want to be as mistake-free as possible, but like what I heard someone say "I do really well with living mistake-free, but then I get out of bed and meet up with people, and then I need the "correcting fluid" to clean up my mistakes.

I was being challenged by my own post by purposing to live a mistake-free life. I know that's just not possible. As long as we're in these earth suits, we'll be prone to missing the mark. But here's the good news: God is so quick to forgive us when we come to Him, and like the "correcting fluid" I used, "Wite-Out", God applies His "white-out" to our mistakes and not only covers them, but He makes us white as snow. "Come now, let's settle this," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool." Isaiah 1:18 His forgiveness really is divine.

I've come to know that focusing my attention on getting it right in my heart, attitude and life makes for a beautiful page in this chapter and book of my life. My daily prayers are “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 and "Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O God!" Psalm 19:4

Saturday, January 7, 2017

Surprise! It Snowed Last Night!

I'm feelin' the love. God's love, that is, because yesterday morning, here in Tulsa, there was a "sprinkling" of snow everywhere. The morning welcomed me with such tenderness and peace. I just had to quickly grab a couple of photos. Though I find that peace here everytime I visit her, Mom still has her sweet little Christmas tree up, lights burning brightly, and over the fireplace is this "Peace" wreath and the manger scene that reminds me of God's amazing grace. Mom just walked into the room and said, "Look at my little deer -- they're still sleeping." I told her to look outside and she said, "Look what we gave you! (I knew she meant -- her AND God!) LOL! I told her I'd be glad to help her take her decorations down while I'm here and she said, "No, I'm having Helen over on Sunday for lunch and I want the Christmas cheer here still." Don't you love that? My 94-year old mother-in-law still loves to entertain and welcome friends to her home. I get inspired every time I come here.

I said "sprinkling" of snow earlier and that reminded me of a post I made a few days ago where I said "Oftentimes, we just want a "little sprinkling of Jesus" into our day, when, in reality we need a "whole lotta' Jesus in every moment of every day of our lives". That's God's grace.....we certainly need way more than just a "sprinkling" of His grace -- that amazing grace that forgives us and makes us white as snow. Isaiah 1:18 says: "Come now, let us settle the matter," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;"

That causes me to recall a beautiful song, "Somewhere It's Snowing" written by a dear friend, Stephanie Boosahda. I've been humming it now since I saw the snow this morning. It was also a song sung by another dear friend, Sharon Daugherty, at my daughter's "Winter Wonderland" Wedding.

Following are the lyrics -- but, please, as you read, click on this link so you can hear Stephanie sing it with her beautiful, God-given voice. I promise you -- it will bless you. In fact, why don't you join me in having a little talk with the SNOW-GIVER and ask Him for a good snow cover today to our hearts and soul?

http://stephanieboosahda.bandcamp.com/track/7-somewhere-its-snowing

I once read in a poem, when snow covers the earth,
That it hides the worlds scars, and gives nature new birth,
And they say when a man turns from sin to the Lord,
That forgiveness, like snow, covers him evermore!

And somewhere it’s snowing – see the soft drifting down
As the snowflakes surrender to the hardening ground.
Like the good grace of Jesus that now covers our sin,
In the kingdom of Heaven, it’s snowing, again.

And it's told that the angels lift their hearts and rejoice,
When one traveler turns homeward from his way, to the Lord.
If somewhere someone’s turning, He’s giving His all,
Then God’s grace, like the snow, is beginning to fall!

And somewhere it’s snowing – see the soft drifting down
As the snowflakes surrender to the hardening ground.
Like the good grace of Jesus, that now covers our sin,
In the Kingdom of Heaven, it’s snowing, again.




Sunday, March 1, 2015

Somewhere It's Snowing

Day 59 of Photo Inspirations -- Somewhere It's Snowing!
These snowy days have certainly made way for hilarious one-liners and photos on FB.  I joined the crowd and added a couple of my own.
But, it wasn't so hilarious for my friends who were helping their kids move yesterday. The moving van was scheduled and they had no recourse.  It seems pretty weak to say "I prayed for them"  as I stayed homebound in my cozies -- all toasty and warm.   And then there's those folks who live where it is not just a temporary, few-day snow experience, but it continues to pile up and stay for 5 to 6 months.  That's my precious family in Winnipeg, MB Canada where it gets to 40 below, in addition to the snow.  Whew -- should we really get annoyed at a few days here in balmy Oklahoma?  Get out your flip flops and shorts -- it could be here this week-- LOL!

I know there are those of who would like to throw snowballs at me for saying this, but honestly, I've loved the snow this year. There's just something so peaceful and calming about watching it fall so gently to the ground.   Fact is, I know July and August will be here before we know it so I'm embracing every minute.
And, it causes me to recall a beautiful song, "Somewhere It's Snowing" written by a dear friend, Stephanie Boosahda.  I've been humming it throughout this day. It was also a song sung by another dear friend, Sharon Daugherty, at my daughter's "Winter Wonderland" Wedding.

I just thought today, it's time turn those "funnies" into a different picture and give a new perspective.  This song talks about God's amazing grace as He forgives us and makes us white as snow.   Following are the lyrics -- but, please, as you read,  click on this link so you can hear Stephanie sing it with her beautiful, God-given voice. promise you -- it will bless you.   Perhaps, if needed, you can go to the SNOW-GIVER and ask Him for a good snow cover today to your heart and soul.

 http://stephanieboosahda.bandcamp.com/track/7-somewhere-its-snowing

I once read in a poem, when snow covers the earth,
That it hides the worlds scars, and gives nature new birth,
And they say when a man turns from sin to the Lord,
That forgiveness, like snow, covers him evermore!

And somewhere it’s snowing –  see the soft drifting down
As the snowflakes surrender to the hardening ground.
Like the good grace of Jesus that now covers our sin,
In the kingdom of Heaven, it’s snowing, again.

And its told that the angels lift their hearts and rejoice,
When one traveler turns homeward from his way, to the Lord.
If somewhere someone’s turning, he’s giving his all,
Then God’s grace, like the snow, is beginning to fall!

And somewhere it’s snowing – see the soft drifting down
As the snowflakes surrender to the hardening ground.
Like the good grace of Jesus, that now covers our sin,
In the kingdom of Heaven, it’s snowing, again.

"Come now, let us settle the matter," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;"  Isaiah 1:18
#SomewhereItsSnowing #AmazingGrace #StephanieBoohsahda