ON THIS WINTER MORNING - Wanda Winters-Gutierrez

from our beautiful friend, Wanda Winters-Gutierrez

ON THIS WINTER MORNING

THIS IS FOR Family & Friends who are facing a challenge , or a test of faith....❄💕❄
"For I have known the thoughts that I am thinking towards you (-- an affirmation of Almighty God--) thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give to you prosperity and a hope filled life full of all good things..

The pic is a stool in front of the chair where I have my morning quiet time...the Rose just bloomed in my desert garden... It is called New Dawn.. And so it is... A Rose is about to bloom in your deep winter desert ... and New Life will Spring forth...❄💕❄💕❄please share❄💕

About Wanda
I am a writer of creative non-fiction and memoirs. A few of my books in publication include:  
- The Search for Peace: A Women's Guide to Spiritual Wholeness
- After the Storm: An Anthology for Survivors
- Family Secrets: Letters to My Granddaughters 

I do workshops, seminars, retreats, teaching Meditative Journaling...Writing Your Memoir...The Inner Life...and other subjects.

Thankful Life - December 18, 2014

As I fight through a little battle physically this morning, I thought about what all this means to me. Often times we believe the chronic pain is our curse or our cross to bear…For me, the reality it's my blessing… I have the opportunity to seek God more, and if that's what it takes for me to do so then it could never be a curse… It's my Saviors time with me. Daily I have opportunity, after opportunity… Thank you Jesus! I can only do this... live in hope and expectation because I am His. Help me Father to remember this in all my moments today, tomorrow and every day I am this side of Heaven.

"It is because of God that you are in Christ Jesus. He became wisdom from God for us. This means that he made us righteous and holy, and he delivered us. This is consistent with what was written: The one who brags should brag in the Lord!" ~1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (Common English Bible)

I know that if things went smoothly, I would not have sought after or fought toward Him very much. I do notice that when things are going well, I tend to "not bother" God as much – I get complacent. I don’t want to, but it happens… by no means am I saying that God is creating the reasons for me to seek Him, but… if I recognize this about me, I realize that our Father definitely knows this about me.

Father, it is my desire to seek You at all times, including and especially during times that are seemingly going well – while reminding me that “all times” are going well when I remember You.

If there were no tough days, how would we know the good days? If there were no trials, how would we see the miracles?

I found so much joy today as I poured out prayer this morning – God truly comforted my own physical challenges are I brought the challenges of others to Him. My life is very blessed, and my heart and soul have learned to soar through recognizing God’s mercies in the every day. Today, I experienced many mercies… and I am thankful.

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;    
His mercies never come to an end;they are new every morning;   
great is Your faithfulness.” ~ Lamentations 3:22-23 (English Standard Version)

And as I settle in tonight, I celebrate another day and sing my LORD’s praises in His Word, one of my favorites and such a comfort for my heart – every time!

Psalm 62 (New American Standard Bible)
1 My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken. 
3 How long will you assail a man, That you may murder him, all of you, Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence? 
4 They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position; They delight in falsehood; They bless with their mouth, But inwardly they curse. Selah. 
5 My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken. 
7 On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.
8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.
9 Men of low degree are only vanity and men of rank are a lie;In the balances they go up; They are together lighter than breath.
10 Do not trust in oppression  And do not vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them. 
11 Once God has spoken; Twice I have heard this:That power belongs to God;  
12 And loving kindness is Yours, O Lord, ,For You recompense a man according to His work."

 

©2014 Giving Thanks Daily, Shawn Boreta

#LymeLifeHOPE
#ThankulLife‬
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Thankful Life - December 17, 2014

Another day and yet more opportunities to seek my LORD and Savior...

Do you know God and His promises for you? I do… And once again today, I was reminded. God is present in my life.

"This means that our knowledge of men can no longer be based on their outward lives (indeed, even though we knew Christ as a man we do not know him like that any longer). For if a man is in Christ he becomes a new person altogether—the past is finished and gone, everything has become fresh and new. All this is God’s doing, for he has reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ; and he has made us agents of the reconciliation. God was in Christ personally reconciling the world to himself—not counting their sins against them—and has commissioned us with the message of reconciliation. We are now Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were appealing direct to you through us. As his personal representatives we say, “Make your peace with God.” For God caused Christ, who himself knew nothing of sin, actually to be sin for our sakes, so that in Christ we might be made good with the goodness of God." ~2 Corinthians 5:16-21 (J.B. Phillips New Testament)

Breathe...

Stand firm in the midst of storms and fires... they will never stop coming.

I find myself asking, during times that seem unbearable, "what more can I do to draw nearer my Father?" And, simply I pray more... talk to Him, seek Him and look for ways to do it even more - draw near.

So, as the waves crash and the smoke inches in... I breathe! I breathe in His Word.

Father we come to You in whole heart that our lives can reflect our Savior in mighty ways. That we can minister when our lives and circumstances seem out of control, as well as when we see Your blessings in the good times. Help us to live Christ-like and love others without judgement or disdainment for anything that is done toward us. Let us remember that we have all sinned and fall short... that without You our lives would be empty and worthless. In Christ's name we pray.


My daily lessons, and perfect God's orchestrations of the interactions through others are my constant reminder that this life is to be 'done' for Him. When I dwell on "it's all about me", I become discouraged quickly... when I make efforts my focus is on Him, what He wants me to do.... and helping and blessing others, I find peace and joy. These constant reminders come to encourage me that this world is temporary... and He is the only thing constant and permanent... My friends.don't let this world and what happens keep you down. I pray you find joy even in the tough times....

God is present in my life. And I pray for you today that He will be present in your life as well.

‪©2014 Giving Thanks Daily, Shawn Boreta

#LymeLifeHOPE
#ThankulLife‬
‪#‎GivingThanksDaily‬
‪#‎LifeincolorandWORDs‬

Thankful Life - December 16, 2014

Yesterday was a very strange day emotionally from the 'get go'... no event actually triggered any changes, yet as soon as I woke up, my heart was gravely lamented – and seeking my God began and continued all day.

On days that are tough, I count on the LORD.... and there have been many rough days lately, emotionally and physically.... So to my Father I run where I am accepted and comforted with open arms because He can handle it all.

He has endured it all... so I can have the strength to endure "just my part".

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." ~Hebrews 12:1-2 (New International Version)

As I listen to those around me… either audibly or visually through the things that I read, I have an inkling of why my heart is so grieved, and I can only imagine how much the heart of our Father is grieved by what He sees; what His children say, live and share. We allow much to filter through to our lives and bleed out to those we are to example to. Every day I pray that my brothers and sisters in Christ will allow the Holy Spirit to lead, that I will be led wholly by the Holy Spirit to live well… to be guided and corrected. And, as we live in this world, and see all that it delivers, we are called to decipher the truth and live righteously according to our Father’s will.

“Behold My Servant, Whom I uphold, My elect in Whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice and right and reveal truth to the nations.” ~Isaiah 42:1 (Amplified Bible)

Let me not be grieved, but celebrate...

This month, we celebrate the birth of Christ… Knowing that the birth of Christ would be nothing without the death, burial and resurrection of Christ – the Messiah. During this time year, many people celebrate! Sometimes what they celebrate isn't quite clear. But it's during this time that we can love in amazing ways and witness the true reason for the season.

God loves you so much and desires you to be His.

Many pray… as believers, we pray to God... and in one breath ask Him to "help" us – and then in action, we reject Him and adhere to what is acceptable to the world.

Father, I pray for our hearts to be Christ-minded... obedient and open to hearing Your leading in all things, even and especially with the things that seem to be minor or harmless or not so important. Help us to be mindful of what YOU DID to save us; that we are burdenless because of YOUR work and love for us; that we are limitless in our abilities to be like You and do Your will every day because of the Holy Spirit in us. Help us to be grieved and convicted to leave this world behind. Help us to leave behind our inappropriateness of speech or actions, our inabilities to operate in fullness of Spirit and let go of the flesh. As an example, but too for our own good and well being. Help us toward our own perfecting in this life of flesh because we need Your help in all this. Through Christ Jesus we petition and plead. Amen.

“I the Lord have called You [the Messiah] for a righteous purpose and in righteousness; I will take You by the hand and will keep You; I will give You for a covenant to the people [Israel], for a light to the nations [Gentiles],
“To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness from the prison.
“I am the Lord; that is My name! And My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to graven images.” ~Isaiah 42:6-8 (Amplified Bible)

If you do not know Jesus... it's time to choose Him. Know that He pursues you... He is for you... and it's all on Him, once you choose. He will help you be obedient, once you are His. Have you asked Him into your life?

"Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out," ~Acts 3:19 (English Standard Version)

We must give our lives to Christ and accept His gift of salvation... His work on the cross DID IT ALL. Romans 10:9 says, "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (New International Version)

Such a giving Father in heaven who prepared the way... and all we have to do to be saved is ask God to come into our life. To be the master over us. And, in that instant, we are saved. It's by the strength of the Holy Spirit AND BECAUSE HE LIVES IN US, that we can be obedient.

I pray for those who do not know You Father… that Your Word, Your promises will be revealed and embedded in their hearts and lives. “teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 (Lexham English Bible)

‪©2014 Giving Thanks Daily, Shawn Boreta

#LymeLifeHOPE
#ThankulLife‬
‪#‎GivingThanksDaily‬
‪#‎LifeincolorandWORDs‬

Thankful

There is such an outpouring from all of you of prayer and love... I just want to thank you for being here with me... I so appreciate and love you all.

Thankful Life - December 13, 2014

I trust You Father.

As we head out to our days... let us remember who we come from, who we honor with our actions and works. LORD, we thank You that we are wonderfully made (Psalm 139) and are loved so deeply (John 3:16-17) by You, THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16)....

"For we are God’s masterpiece, created in the Messiah Jesus to perform good actions that God prepared long ago to be our way of life." ~Ephesians 2:10 (International Standard Version)

I'm totally trusting that this is his orchestration, 32 years! Many tears, And everyone of them He counted. That's all I can look forward to.

"Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day." ~2 Corinthians 4:16 (New American Standard Bible)

Regardless of what happens in this life - as children of God - we live through it because of what He did... because "it is finished", we live toward an eternity with a mighty and perfect God. The circumstances of this life that seem devastating... will not devastate us, but will form us. I had to hear this again today. God will sustain me. (Psalm 55:22; Isaiah 46:4; Psalm 37:24)

I am grateful for reminders and God's mercies throughout my day today: I can do all things... I am grateful that I chose... and that He is my everything.

It's all on Him, once you choose. He will help you be obedient, once you are His. Have you asked Him into your life?

We must give our lives to Christ and accept His gift of salvation... His work on the cross DID IT ALL. Romans 10:9 says, " If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Such a giving Father in heaven who prepared the way... and all we have to do to be saved is ask God to come into our life. To be the master over us. And, in that instant, we are saved.

It's by the strength of the Holy Spirit AND BECAUSE HE LIVES IN US, that we can be obedient.

God loves you so much and desires you to be His.

#givingthanksdaily
#thankfullife
#LymeLifeHOPE
#LiveincolorandWORDS

© 2014 Giving Thanks Daily, Shawn Boreta

Thankful Life - December 11, 2014

I am thankful today... so much love and so many gifts that my God delivers to me daily. How can I count them? How much more LORD will You lavish upon my life?

God's goodness through His daily inspiration for me has delivered amazing peace and hope in my life... regardless of what is going on - every storm has a clearing. Every clear sky shines a mighty God and His glory.

THESE ARE THE THINGS I MUST REMEMBER in the times of storms, or troubled waters. THESE ARE THE THINGS I MUST REMEMBER when my flesh is weak, my heart is torn and my will is tattered. THESE ARE THE THINGS I MUST REMEMBER while the lessons are difficult and the times are tough... Yes, Father deliverance to and toward a life that is representative of You in it - THIS IS MY DESIRE!

"I'll give you concealed treasures and riches hidden in secret places, so that you'll know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by name." ~Isaiah 45:3 (International Standard Version) 

When we, as Christ's people, believe that wealth is define as the world defines it... we are deprived of God's infinite treasures...

And when we described our healing in the flesh, we let go of His tender and amazing mercies. 

Our treasures and mercies are the gift that came with the beautiful words, "It is finished!"

We experience death—we give life, by the power of God

7-13 "This priceless treasure we hold, so to speak, in a common earthenware jar—to show that the splendid power of it belongs to God and not to us. We are handicapped on all sides, but we are never frustrated; we are puzzled, but never in despair. We are persecuted, but we never have to stand it alone: we may be knocked down but we are never knocked out! Every day we experience something of the death of the Lord Jesus, so that we may also know the power of the life of Jesus in these bodies of ours. Yes, we who are living are always being exposed to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be plainly seen in our mortal lives. We are always facing death, but this means that you know more and more of life. Our faith is like that mentioned in the scripture: ‘I believed and therefore I spoke’.

14 "For we too speak because we believe, and we know for certain that he who raised the Lord Jesus from death shall also by him raise us. We shall all stand together before him.
We live a transitory life with our eyes on the life eternal

15-18 "We wish you could see how all this is working out for your benefit, and how the more grace God gives, the more thanksgiving will redound to his glory. This is the reason why we never collapse. The outward man does indeed suffer wear and tear, but every day the inward man receives fresh strength. These little troubles (which are really so transitory) are winning for us a permanent, glorious and solid reward out of all proportion to our pain. For we are looking all the time not at the visible things but at the invisible. The visible things are transitory: it is the invisible things that are really permanent." ~2 Corinthians 4:7-18 J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)

 #givingthanksdaily
#thankfullife
#LymeLifeHOPE
#LiveincolorandWORDS

© 2014 Giving Thanks Daily, Shawn Boreta

Thankful Life - December 9, 2014

Today is a good day, but when someone asked me, "How are you?", the other day... my immediate thought was, "Now, that's a very complicated question!"

My answer...
"It's been a big week for sleep and dwelling..."

Dwelling in His promise, rather than the 6 roughest days this year.

"Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10 (New American Standard Bible)

SURELY I WILL HELP YOU! ~God

I woke up refreshed this morning, and as usual I thanked the LORD for another day and prayed for the strength to focus on the great things in my life. There truly are so many… an amazing Father in heaven who never leaves me, a loving and caring husband who God has softened so greatly over the years, a beautiful daughter whose compassion for others is such a gift… An extended family who prays for me and cares about me. The true meaning of love one another is present in their actions and use of their giftings!

As I got ready for work this morning, and looked in the mirror, I noticed the "battle lines" in my face. I have two vertical lines in my four head that seem to get deeper with every episode of pain that I battle. And my first thought this morning was, "what could I do to ease those lines, to soften them… to make them disappear?"  But through the day as I pondered that, and as I read through Matthew 7, my heart settled on acceptance of these battle lines. They are part of my journey! They are a constant reminder that this battle is not mine, but God's and He's got this.

During a conversation with my husband the other day, I admitted aloud that "I am afraid"… Not only afraid of what was to come with treatment options, but we talked about the "what ifs" as well. I am afraid to hope for result that have not occurred thus far. I admitted too, that I am afraid that he would become discouraged, lose heart and become distant in this process… That it would become even more difficult, even unbearable! And during this time of connection with my husband, which was the first like this, I sensed God comforting me… Speaking gently to His daughter…

It was a great discussion, and God's comfort continued in the lesson on Sunday at church.

The greatest sin is to not believe… To look God square in the face day after day as I don't believe and really relay to Him, "My fears are bigger than You"! Today, I am grateful. For I will not be derailed from my God's healing, my fear will not delay me, my God will deliver me.

In my gleaning this morning... my attention was drawn to our Father's love for His children - that my relationship with Him is what matters. "How much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask!" Let me remember always of this kind of love as I pursue His heart and desires for my life. Let me remember the way He loves me... comforts me... defines me!

I just love this... don't you?

Ask, Seek, Knock“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! In everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law and the prophets." ~Matthew 7:1-12 (New English Translation)

God desires all of me. What part of have I not given Him, or haven't surrendered? It's time to give it up. Give it up to have it all. He is my treasure.

God desires all of you. What part of you have you not given him, or haven't surrendered? It's time to give it up. Give it up to have it all. He is your treasure.

 #givingthanksdaily

#thankfullife

#LymeLifeHOPE

#LiveincolorandWORDS

© 2014 Giving Thanks Daily, Shawn Boreta