Morning musings...

This morning, I wasn't feeling very well when I woke up. I decided to stay home from church, which I hate to miss. :( But since the stomach bug is going around and IF that's what's coming on me, I certainly don't want to 'share' it with my friends!

I took my coffee out to the deck for my morning Quiet Time. I opened my Bible and it landed on Isaiah 41. As is often the case, I've read these verses many times before, but today I read them in a new way... Beth Moore has a book called Praying God's Word - and it's really amazing what a comfort you feel when you apply the Bible to you. I read over and over these verses this morning, then it hit me right in my heart....and I couldn't help but sit there smiling ear-to-ear:

⁹ I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you. --- He took me from my own pit! He saved me?! Me??
I said, 'You are my servant'; -- He thinks I am worthy of serving Him?? Me??
I have chosen you and have not rejected you. - after all the sins and weakness I have, the truly horrible things I've done? He doesn't reject me!? Ever??

¹⁰ So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. -- This speaks for itself...these promises are worth more than anything that this world can give!

¹¹ "All who rage against you
will surely be ashamed and disgraced; -- I need not worry about those who hate me, God is in control. My time is better used focusing on HIM.
those who oppose you
will be as nothing and perish. - they are "nothing" to me, they no longer matter!

¹² Though you search for your enemies,
you will not find them. -- because of the change in me, I can no longer find the many 'enemies' of my past...my heart has changed toward others --- simply put: no more drama!!
Those who wage war against you
will be as nothing at all. -- How can I let others bring me down when I have the love of GOD?? How can I let those who hate me affect my daily life, when Jesus is my best friend??

I don't know what our sermon was about today at church...but I'm really glad that God saw fit to give me my own lesson this morning on the deck, out with the birds and the cool spring breeze. I still feel queasy physically, but my emotional state is so uplifted!