Uplifting Scripture of the week

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Your heart. A tender, precious, and complex thing. For when Christ has your heart, no one can remove you from Him. I think back to how much I have changed since Christ found me. The way I think, the way I live my life, the choices I make. And Every time I make those choices, I am storing up in Heaven. I believe my Father sees my heart, and my actions though not to receive a reward, but because I know it pleases my Father so. There is no outward sign, no stamp that I can put on my relationship, but rather the actions, that are FOR my Father,always, and not for myself.
For He is my heart, and my soul, forever.

"Father, let you always be my beginning and my end. May I always seek you before I seek my own, and may you always guide me through the mess I may have made in my life. For my heart seeks to please you, and only you, for now until forever. amen"

Take Delight...

3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4Delight yourself also in The Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart~ Psalm 37:3-4

I love this scripture. I just love it. I was talking to my daughter about this passage, and reminded her of what it meant. All of this Psalm is wonderful, so if you have a moment, please read it lovingly. and with an open heart.

I reflected on this psalm passage today as I picked up my husband and step daughter from the airport. I had anticipated her return home for quite some time, as she lives out of state with her mother. She often comes to visit for a few months at a time, and my heart is made fuller by her existence here with my little one. My daughter loves having a sister around, and my heart soars when the girls gather around to tell me how much they love me. Really, its enough to make your heart ache!

Anyway, while gazing at little Adrianna in the back seat, I had to smile. I remembered how I prayed so diligently that she would be safe and sound so that our family could see her again. I cried when she left, and I felt more sadness than I could have ever anticipated. I had fallen so in love with this little girl, just as though she were my own. So you can imagine that letting her go was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.

So, what did I do? Well, before Adrianna left, I had so many prayers for her. so many DETAILED prayers as if to give God instructions on what I would like for Him to do with her. Then I Who was I kidding? I couldn't compare to the amount of Love He would ultimately give her!!! After all, my heart really just desired one thing- to see little Adrianna again...To see the face of that little girl I had grown to love, to hear the laughter of her and Tiana playing in the other room, and to have a moment where I could hold them both safely in my arms again.
Yes, that was my hearts desire.

All I could do was trust that God would bring her back. Trust that He loved her even more than I did, and that after all, she belonged to Him in the first place. My trust was solely in Him. And frankly, I knew He would deliver, and you know what? Today He did!

You see, as long as the desires of our hearts are not for self, and always for God, He stays true to this word. He will give you the desires of your heart because truly when you love God, those desires were His in the first place. God is so good, what are the desires you share?

Letter from your father..

Thanks to Priscilla, who submitted a wonderful "letter from our Father" its so wonderful to read, and a reminder of how great and awesome our God is! Enjoy the read, I did!

My Child,You may not know me, but I know everything about you.

Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise up.

Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all your ways.

Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.

Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in my image.

Genesis 1:27
In me you live and move and have your being.

Acts 17:28
For you are my offspring.

Acts 17:28
I knew you even before you were conceived.

Jeremiah 1:4-5
I chose you when I planned creation.

Ephesians 1:11-12
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book.

Psalm 139:15-16
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live.

Acts 17:26
You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Psalm 139:14
I knit you together in your mother's womb.

Psalm 139:13
And brought you forth on the day you were born.

Psalm 71:6
I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me.

John 8:41-44
I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love.

1 John 4:16
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.

1 John 3:1
Simply because you are my child and I am your Father.

1 John 3:1
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.

Matthew 7:11
For I am the perfect father.

Matthew 5:48
Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.

James 1:17
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.

Matthew 6:31-33
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.

Jeremiah 29:11
Because I love you with an everlasting love.

Jeremiah 31:3
My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore.

Psalms 139:17-18
And I rejoice over you with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17
I will never stop doing good to you.

Jeremiah 32:40
For you are my treasured possession.

Exodus 19:5
I desire to establish youwith all my heart and all my soul.

Jeremiah 32:41
And I want to show you great and marvelous things.

Jeremiah 33:3
If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me.

Deuteronomy 4:29
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4
For it is I who gave you those desires.

Philippians 2:13
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine.

Ephesians 3:20
For I am your greatest encourager.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you.

Psalm 34:18
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart.

Isaiah 40:11
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes.

Revelation 21:3-4
And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth.

Revelation 21:3-4
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus.

John 17:23
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.

John 17:26
He is the exact representation of my being.

Hebrews 1:3
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you.

Romans 8:31
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19
His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you.

1 John 4:10
I gave up everything I lovedthat I might gain your love.

Romans 8:31-32
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me.

1 John 2:23
And nothing will ever separate you from my love again.

Romans 8:38-39
Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen.

Luke 15:7
I have always been Father, and will always be Father.

Ephesians 3:14-15
My question is…Will you be my child?

John 1:12-13
I am waiting for you.

Luke 15:11-32

Love,

Your Dad

Almighty God