Philippians 4 - "Out of My Hands"

God filled my day with blessings to the max yesterday! Woo hoo! He is so good to provide exactly what I need. Children's Sunday School class was so good! Doing what I love to do with preaching was so good! Spending the afternoon participating in the Human Library Project was so good! It was a full and exhausting day but it was a good one! I stood and took in the beauty of His creation as I waited for dinner and tears came. I am one blessed lady. Even in the times when I feel lonely I know I am never alone. He is always with me. In yesterday's sermon I spoke about the importance of standing on His promises. Yesterday in my presentations I shared how God gave me Philippians 4:13 at the time of the MS diagnosis. I thought it was just for physical strength but He soon revealed to me it is for physical, mental, emotional, financial, and most of all spiritual strength. Praise His Holy Name! This verse does not mean He will give me everything I desire but instead means He will give me His strength to give me what He desires for my life. The more I walk in obedience to His will the more the desires of my heart will line up with the desires of His heart. Woo hoo! Life can and is full of challenges but that does not mean He doesn't love us. Paul shows us throughout the letter to the Church of Philippi an example of how to live a life for Christ. I love the part where he writes about being content no matter what life brought before him in Philippians 4:10-12. His contentment is not based on what he is going through but on Jesus. We need to follow Paul's example in our own life. When we do, we will experience God's joy and peace. That is where I choose to live. I am so thankful for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit that enables me to live in His joy and peace in the midst of all life has brought me. I am reminded this morning of the song "Out Of My Hands" that Jeremy Camp sings. He wrote of this song:

"This song 'Out Of My Hands' came from a time where I really battled with trust and I was holding onto things too much," Camp said. "This song came out saying 'God, I'm sorry for trying to hold things in my own hands because I'm not in control, you're in control.' And when I finally let that go, the peace came."

Living in His strength and allowing Him to be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords over my life is the secret to living in His joy and peace. 

Dear Jesus, Thank You for such a wonderfully blessed day yesterday from start to finish! Thank You for all of the ways You used me to share You with others! Cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. May You be seen/heard through my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts. Thank You for the rest last night and for the rest You are going to provide today! I pray for the board meeting tonight to be exactly as You desire. Lord, may Your joy and peace come down upon many going through difficult times. My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Cait; Mike; Norma Hall; Little Jensen who needs a heart; Sharon Sebolt and her Momma Shirley; Serena and her husband; some young ladies with anxiety; a man in rehab for anger issues; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; a husband/father separated from his wife; Pastor Sam; Mary Lilley; Preacher Bill Watts; Brooklyn; Kristen Batten; Timmy; Amber; families in turmoil; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are dealing with 'c' and/or going through treatments... Doug and Gay; Patty's daughter Tracy; Sharon's daughter Ashley and niece Amy; Chrissy's cousins; Debbie's husband Kelly; Cait's friend with leukemia; my pastor friend with daily chemo; Patti Perkins; Tammie; Betty's friend in New York; my friend diagnosed with mesothelioma; Dorothy's grandson; Little Ivy; and my friend who has upcoming radiation treatments. I pray for: Jonathan whose mother was diagnosed with a brain tumor, the Long Family, Baby Henry, June, Coley's Momma, and Christina and her family. Go before the surgeon's today and give them Your wisdom for Kim's surgery. I pray for all our military and their families to lean into Your strength. I pray for Larry Amstutz to have open doors as he seeks new employment. Lord, continue to be with Anna, Michael, Matt, and myself with 'tough' days without my Rickey with us. Sunday's are so hard without his encouraging words but You always get me through. Thank You for all the ways You love on us in such times. Thank You for being My King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Amen.