Making a Difference

Last week just blew by me and although I spent lots of time on the front porch I missed sharing with you on my blog spot. So here I am Sunday evening, the sun is setting, it's cooling down, and I am thinking about what to

write about.

 Life is flying by at breakneck speed these days. I don't know if it is just me or this season of my life, or I am just so busy packing in each day that they just roll into each other until it is Sunday again.

Whew!!!!!! What boggles my mind is that I used to work 40 or more hours a week and I think...how did I do that and get anything else done...but some how I did. Now, retired, I get to do 168 hours a week what I want to do...there is a big difference. Need I say I am grateful...smile. Well, these days I do get to choose how I spend my time. I try to make each day count don't you? Life is really meant to make a difference...what I mean by that is, when we find out that life is more than just about us...we will want to make a difference...and leave this world a better place.

What I am witnessing lately is a generation that is taking responsiblity for raising up their children to make a difference in the world they live in. I believe praying has made that difference. Many have purposed to ask God for this next generation. First of all, that their hearts be turned to Him. So He can bless them who will choose to obey and follow His Word, and choose His Son Jesus Christ. To live up to the highest calling of knowing Him and making Him known. That is a generation after God's own heart for sure. A generation full of passion and fire with intention of making a difference.

Yes, Lord, walking in the way of Your laws, we wait for You; Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. Isaiah 26: 8

Living on purpose... to pray daily for the next generation to make a difference for God's glory and honor. Won't you join me???

Simply His,

Alta Lynn

Live simply, live well... is a good definition for simplify.

 This is a special word for me. A few years ago the Lord put it in my heart to get my life back in balance and on the path He had purposed for me. I was exhausted and feeling very shaken over a illness that blindsided me just before Christmas 2007. It left me very weak due to an attack on my Mylen sheath which is the covering of our spinal cord. It was a terrifying experience and took better than a year to regain my strength back and energy I was so used to.

Simplify!! I didn't take it lightly... knowing the Lord was with me through the entire season I purposed to pay attention. I began to pray about what God would want me to lay aside, step aside, and put away. We can become so busy doing, that we aren't fully in line with His will for our lives. I have a heart for women and a passion to see them fulfill the purpose God has intended for their lives. Through encouraging them and spurring them on in their faith in Christ. I was leading Women's Ministry, teaching a discipleship class and organizing Bible Studies, leading small groups, and on intercessory prayer team and meeting my family's needs as well as speaking where ever God opened doors. It was a whirlwind of activity. As I laid it all before the Lord, He would lead and guide me to simplify.

It took about a year to fully get it in balance. I knew peace and joy...had lived it...but lost it. A servants heart is what I had prayed for. I wanted to love and serve God and His people.What I didn't know was when to say no. God knows best !! We must stay close enough to Him to hear His voice speaking to our hearts..."that's it!" "enough!"

I still love ministering to women and loving them to a deeper intimacy with God through encouraging them and sharing the Word of God when I have opportunity. I love prayer and praying for others. I also love paying closer attention to the Spirit's leading. This blog spot is birthed out of His leading and His green light")

This word spoke volumes to me:

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21

Are you living life in peace and joy while serving the Lord? Maybe you need to simplify...
Ask the ONE who knows you best")

Simply His,
Alta Lynn

For the Birds

This is my favorite place to reflect, to listen to my music, pray and praise. Hello from the front porch. I have been writing in my journals from here for several years now...weather permitting of course. There is just something about warm mornings, a cup of fresh coffee and watching birds...did I really say that?
I did...they just seem to delight me these days.  I have a little small maple tree that didn't grow with the rest of our trees and is really rather ugly. But, it is perfect to hang a bag of milk thistle seed for the Golden Finches. And they just love it!

What can we learn from bird watching?

Well, they must be special to God because Jesus even talked about them when sharing with His Disciples on the subject of worry. He says it like this..."look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God."Matthew 6:26 MSG Our Heavenly Father cares for them, and so He has us put feeders out because we think He needs our help...not really!! SMILE! He provides for them regardless if we put seed out or not. The obvious here is we feed them because we want to watch them...right?  So, what about the subject of worry? There is a reasonable concern and then there's... worry.

Some things in life are just out of our control and require our trusting God. This can be difficult if we do not have a God confidence that He is who He says He is, and can do what He says He can do. Worry can be rooted in fear. Fear is faithlessness at its worst. Jesus commands us not to fear, but to trust. Cast our cares on to Him because He cares for us. "You have not been given a spirit of fear, but love, power and a sound mind." 2Timothy 1:7 NIV

Worry can also be rooted in insecurity due what we choose to carry into our new life in Christ. We must remember that when we receive Christ the old has pasted away, its under the blood, and the new has come. We are forgiven, washed clean, and now have the Holy Spirit of God to empower our lives to live for Christ.

Jesus teaches us a simple principle when it comes to worry...He says it like this, "steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provision. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday concerns will be met. Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." Matthew 6:33-34 MSG "Seek first the kingdom (His rule and power) of God and His righteousness (His right way of doing and being) and all things will be added to you." NIV Italics are mine.


This is how we choose to live in God confidence..."trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not to your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge God and He will direct your path." Proverbs 3:5-6

"Lord I rejoice that these things keep reminding me to depend on You with all my heart..that they prompt me to trust in your love, Your forgiveness, Your power and Your sufficiency. Your ability to overrule, and Your transforming presence with in me." R. M.

Thinking of you today with a smile in my heart. You are loved sweet ones")

Simply His,
Alta Lynn

Greetings from the front porch. I know you are loving this amazing weather.
I certainly am. Aside from the huge storm we had last night for a few hours it has been beautiful.

This morning I spent some time with the Lord that was so good I have to share a little of what He so graciously reminded me of.

You know those times when you struggle with your thought life? I notice it more when I purpose to "be a light not a judge." Whats up with that??? I strive to do as Paul instructs us in Philippians 4. In verse 8 he says, "think on things that are true and good and right. Think pure and lovely thoughts and dwell on the fine good things in others." (NLT)  I so want my thoughts to be pure don't you? I have this way down in my knower that God is not pleased when I don't change the channel and let unhealthy thoughts rotate in my head.

Well, I was convicted in my prayer time and I asked Him to help me. I confessed what I knew was sin and asked for His forgiveness. Then I picked up a book I often use and at the bottom of the daily reading there was a suggested reading to go to in the back, here's what I found. "Abide in Me"----what an incredible invitation! This was such a reminder to me..something I have known as a safe guard to keep me in that place of obedience and love. "Abiding"

Think of this promise in John 15:7... If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.

It is the abiding that is the key to a life that can pray down heaven...abiding in Christ..." it means to depend on Him, enjoying our spiritual union with Him and allowing Him to meet our needs. As we abide in Christ we experience the life of Christ as our own. Life that is fresh, pure, joyous, fruitful, free of anxiety, and full of faith.
Life that is wrapped up in the desires that are on God's heart." R.M.

Now isn't that so much better than letting our minds camp on, stinkin thinkin?

I love the reminder I heard from a godly women that was a mentor of mine, she said, "if you are struggling with fear, doubt, unbelief or you can't get your mind off yourself, or off someone else, then you better check up on your abiding." What that has taught me is... I need more time with the ONE who loves me best and knows my greatest need is Him")

Lets accept Jesus' words..."without Me you can do nothing" ---that is, nothing significant in God's eyes. Turn and trust Him...saying, Thank You that You are my life!

I changed the channel to...love...ahhh...my heart is at peace.


Next time you are struggling with your thoughts, check up on your abiding! You just might need a little Jesus time. Go ahead...meet with Him..in His presence is fullness of joy.

Simply His,
Alta Lynn

 

A Voice for a Generation

As I have been preparing my heart to pray for my Children and Grandchildren. My hearts cry is, that they will be used of God to be a voice for Him in their generation.  I am praying for each one specifically. May God grant direction and guidance.

So, I seek God on the words to pray that line up according to His will. 1 Jn 5:14-15 "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of Him." How bout that for a promise! Always keep in mind that the commands of the Lord are to be obeyed and His promises are by faith.

Ciara & Maddie,14 &13, Summer & Denise, 13 & 17...will they be a voice for God in their generation? I pray they will delight in Him and have a life-changing personal relationship with the ONE who loves them best. Jesus Christ. I believe God has touched their hearts. May they learn to love Him with a whole heart and follow after Him. I pray for ears to hear His voice clearly. And a submissive heart and spirit to obey as He speaks. Willingness to go where He leads and fufill His perfect will for their lives. Praying they will shine BRIGHT LIGHT in the darkness and lead many to the kingdom of God.

Ashleigh and Hannah, 21& 18...will they be a voice for God in their generation? God has already touched their hearts. I had the privilege to pray with them for salvation when they were very young. My prayer for them is that God will have His way in their hearts and that they will learn to love Him wholeheartedly and be BRIGHT LIGHTS  in darkness leading many to Christ. Voices to proclaim God's goodness and grace through Jesus Christ. Speaking truth of His word to broken hearts, and comfort to those who are torn by broken homes. Advocates for those abandoned, the fatherless and orpans. Witnesses for Christ.

 

Hayden 15...will he be a voice for God in his generation? Praying God to raise him up as a "mighty man of valor". I am praying for a submissive heart willing to be lead of God. I pray for Hayden to be a leader that is strong in conviction and demonstrates God's power through faith in Christ. I pray that God will make known His plans for his life and he will be all that God purposed to bring Him glory. A man after God's own heart. A man of prayer. An example of a godly man, husband & father. That he will never forget those that society ignores, and be a light to those who set in darkness. Setting captives free through the power of the Holy Spirit. To be a LIGHT not a JUDGE!!

Madison 10, Stormy Lee 6, Lilly 5, Sydney 11 & Harry 2 ...will they be a voice for God in their generation? Praying for their little hearts to be good soil for God to plant His love for His Son Jesus. May God raise them up to be His hands and feet for serving Him. And a voice to be heard of His great love and mercy. Hearts to love others and especially the downtrodden and needy.  That God will give them an anointing to do more than any generation to bring many souls to Christ. Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow!!!

                                                                                                    

I am believing God for His good work in our Grandchildren's lives. He has a good plan for each one of them (Jerm. 29:11) and I trust that He will complete it to His glory, honor and praise. I'm standing on the promise that I shared in 1 John. No matter how things may look in this realm, God is at work answering prayer when we pray according to His will. God is not moved by our emotions, but He is moved by our faith... "and without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." Hebrews 11:6

Today, believe him to work in your life through prayer. Find what he says about what you are asking for and then choose to believe Him for it. By faith are His promises true.

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" Eph. 3:20-21

Simply His,
Alta Lynn

From the Front Porch

It is a a beautiful afternoon on the front porch. This morning it was a tad bit cool. I am always drawn to the the beauty of spring with all the new life and flowering trees. So I am posting a picture of one of our flowering Crabapples. We have a few that blossomed really full this year. Makes me smile:-) Makes me want to praise the One Who holds the Universe. And holds you and me in His arms.

  Think about this: "When we praise God and bring our request to Him in prayer, by faith, we plug into His almighty power...and when we offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving we open a door for Him to rescue us and bless our lives, and we also prepare the way for Him to rescue and bless other people as well." R .M.

Do you worry about asking Him in prayer? Paul puts it this way in his letter to the Philippians. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Phil.4:6
By prayer and petition, with thanksgiving...here's our key to receiving. God loves a thankful heart. What we are doing here is saying, "thank You God in advance for what You are doing and going to do"...faith at work!

I love this quote from S.D. Gordon. "no human imagination can take in the startling, revolutionary power, softly, subtly, but with irrestible sweep, that flows down from the crowned Christ among grateful men and women...that flows through the lives of individuals wholly under the gracious influence of the Holy Spirit...through people who simply live in full-faced touch with Christ, and who take that power as the need arises and the Sovereign Holy Spirit leads."

Ruth Myers adds to this, "thank You God, that I am part of a vast army of people around the world--people who live in full-faced touch with Your Son and move Your mighty hand to bring about Your gracious purposes."

 Prayer is the key to living in full-face touch with God, with Christ. When we trust Him to do what He says He will do and believe we hear His voice, all things are possible.
God has given us the blessed Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth and He makes known to us the heart of God.
Zechariah 4:6 "Not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit says the LORD."

If you find yourself today wandering or wondering... stop!!!! Ask yourself, "have I even asked God about this? does He even know I am struggling here?" He delights for us to seek Him first, and to trust Him. Don't call a girlfriend, don't wish and whine...start believing and receiving my friend. PUSH=Pray Until Something Happens:-)

Know you are loved and prayed for daily. Jesus loves you and I do too.

Simply His,
Alta Lynn

Life is Good

We love it when all is well. Life is good!! Maybe it's when your health is good and your weight is normal. Maybe it's when your first born starts school and your little one is potty trained...oh what a memory that is.  Ah, life is good!!Or you finally landed that job you have been looking for forever. Maybe when the bills are all paid and you have food in the frig. Well, I could go on and on with thoughts about when we are loving life.



But what do you do when life is hard? Where do you turn? Who do you call? Before I became a follower of Christ I would panic and worry frantically when things would go wrong. What am I going to do? Who will help me? I lived with the stress of life out of control for 40 years of my 60 yrs. Then came the  Peacemaker...Jesus the Christ of God.  He changed my life and I haven't been the same since.

  One Scripture that began to change the way I did life is found in the book of Matthew. Jesus speaking from the Mt. Beattitude overlooking the Sea of Galilee shared with His followers this profound statement. "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you." Matt. 6:33 NIV and in the Message it reads like this. "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." I am learning still to give my hard days to Him to help me. When I looked at the Amplified version the word seek really spoke to my heart. It actually means "to inquire and require God as your vital necessity."

When life is out of control and you are at the end of yourself it is the best place to call on the ONE who loves you best and knows what you need. Trust Him to do what he says He will do. He will meet you right where you are in life. He will meet your needs, give you direction, comfort your broken heart, give you strength for to day and bright hope for tomorrow.

FOLLOW THE SON!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Simply His,
Alta Lynn