"Heart Soul & Mind: Sanctuary" by Felicity

Felicity · #1 04-07-2007, 01:13 AM

I've been considering doing this for a while now - starting an online journal of sorts where I can keep track a bit of what is going on in my world.

Where I can squirrel away thoughts, inspiration, poetry, quotes, a little of this and a little of that .... whatever catches my attention, captures my heart or brings fresh perspective in a way that I want to put to paper - well, in this case a message box.

I hope you'll enjoy what is written here and that you'll feel free to comment and join in.

Felicity · #2 04-07-2007, 01:20 AM

"You are my hiding place;
You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance."
Ps. 32:7
~~~

REFUGE
Faced with fear, I go inside myself.
Emotionally I curl up so small that any threatening trouble will overlook me
and continue on its way.
I reach for other people, Lord, but for true comfort and peace
I prefer Your presence.

Your stillness inside my heart shames away boisterous difficulties.
Harm cannot come to me here.
You never said You would remove trials for Your children.
You offer something better: a place of rescue.

Save me, Lord, from the loneliness of this particular struggle.
Once my strength is restored, I will return to the daily clatter.
Right now, though it does my soul good to listen to the melodic voice of my Deliverer.

Felicity · #3 04-08-2007, 02:17 AM

THE BEST BIRTHDAY GIFT OF ALL!

Lunch break today ... which consisted of ...

45 min of peace from non-stop music, chatter and customer demand and
a chance to put my feet up ...
a warmed again for the 3rd time tall cup of coffee...
half a cinnamon bun! Yum!! ... and
a phone call visit from a friend.

The conversation after a bit drifted to prayer, anointing, burden and how that sometimes seemingly simple, unassuming and unpretentious men .... once they are standing behind the pulpit to minister ... become cloaked in a mantle of anointing that settles down on them, and with with that comes spiritual authority, power and anointing. I've seen it more than once.

A story was related to me about an elderly lady who is a pastor's wife and a pastor's mother and it goes kind of like this .......

Each year through the years on her son's birthday she would spend 8 hours in prayer -- praying for no other purpose than to intercede for her son.

Not praying and reading her Bible.
Not praying and reading other devotional material.
Not praying for the mind of God for a message she might need to speak.
Not praying for souls in Africa or Asia or Central America.
Not praying for herself or her church or her husband or her grandchildren.

No! That time of prayer was spent entirely praying for her son's needs; the ones she knew about and the ones she didn't know about. That has been and still is her birthday gift to her son each year!

That mother is Vesta Mangun!

And I thought, "Wow! What a birthday gift to give to your child! There couldn't be one any better than that for sure!"

I may not be able to spend 8 hours in prayer on my sons' and daughter's birthdays but I sure could spent a couple or one at least .... and spend concentrated prayer each day for each of them and my grandchildren as well.

This I intend to do with purpose, passion, will and determination.

Mat 21:22: And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Barb · #4 04-08-2007, 07:11 AM

This is SO great, Felicity...I look forward to further installments in the Sancturary.

Felicity · #5 04-10-2007, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barb

This is SO great, Felicity...I look forward to further installments in the Sancturary.

Thanks Sis.

Felicity · #6 04-10-2007, 02:38 AM

God's Boxes

I have in my hands two boxes
Which God gave me to hold.
He said, "Put all your sorrows in the black box,
And all your joys in the gold."

I heeded His words and in the two boxes
Both my joys and sorrows I stored,
But though the gold became heavier each day
The black was as light as before.

With curiosity, I opened the black,
I wanted to find out why,
And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole
Which my sorrows had fallen out by.

I showed the hole to God, and mused,
"I wonder where my sorrows could be."
He smiled a gentle smile and said,
"My child, they're all here with me."

I asked God, why He gave me the boxes;
"Why the gold, and the black with the hole?"
"My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings;
The black is for you to let go."

Falla39 · #7 04-10-2007, 07:18 AM

Sis. Felicity,

Reflecting over each post you have contributed to the 'Sanctuary"

I finally gave up trying to pick a favorite. They are all so good!

Blessings,

Falla39

Felicity · #8 04-10-2007, 11:05 AM

"This is the day that the Lord hath made. I will rejoice and be glad in it"

I just fixed a bowl of my favorite cereal. Oatmeal Crisp with Almonds.

Don't you just hate it though when you pour out cereal that has other things in it like fruit or nuts ..... in this case almonds ..... into your bowl and all you get is the flakes of cereal minus the nuts. Then you have to shake the box or empty part of it out in order to get it all more even distributed and get the goodies ... in this case, almonds. Arrghhh! One of my pet peeves! LOL!

Well, life has its frustrations and that's a very very minor one for sure.

It's a gorgeous beautiful morning here. The sun is streaming through the windows into my kitchen and the scripture I posted above came to mind.

This IS the day the Lord has made and I will and CAN rejoice in it because God knows the beginning of my day. He knows all that is going to come my way today, the frustrations, the joys, the laughs, each customer I'll serve, each problem I encounter, whether my boss is going to be "hyper" and make me want to say to him ....... "Calm ........ calm ......... just calm down. Relax!" Hehehe.

He knows the beginning, the end and all the in-between part so I can offer this day up to Him and offer myself up to Him to be a blessing to every person I meet. And this day can and will .... by faith and conscious decision ..... be a GOOD day.

Hopefully this day will have an even balance of flakes and nuts. Well, that didn't come out exactly right.

I mean an even balance of flakes and almonds. That still doesn't quite work, does it?

Oh well, I'm looking forward to a good one. Hope yours is great too!

Barb · #9 04-10-2007, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falla39

Sis. Felicity,

Reflecting over each post you have contributed to the 'Sanctuary"

I finally gave up trying to pick a favorite. They are all so good!

Blessings,

Falla39

I know that's right, Mother...all of them have blessed me...!!

Felicity · #10 04-11-2007, 10:58 AM

The Will of God

"If anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him."
John 9:31

My will is not a place, but a condition. Do not ask Me where and when, but ask Me how. You will discover blessing in every place, and any place, if your spirit is in tune with Me. No place or time is more hallowed than another when you are truly in love with Me.

I direct every motion of your life, as the ocean bears a ship Your will and intelligence may be at the helm, but divine providence and sovereignty are stronger forces. You can trust Me, knowing that any pressure I bring to bear upon your life is initiated by My love, and I will not do even this except as you are willing and desire.

Many a ship has sailed from port to port with no interference from Me, because Strong Will has been at the wheel. Multitudes of pleasure cruises go merrily on their ways, untouched by the power of My hand.

But you have put your life into My keeping, and because you are depending on Me for guidance and direction, I shall give it.

Move on steadily, and know that the waters that carry you are the waters of My love and My kindness, and I will keep you on the right course.