I edited my own banner by resizing it to make a link button. The above is what I produced, which I am just happy to share. No, not because I want everyone to add my button to your blogs, but because I happened to stumble upon this lovely free editing site. It has the basic features for photo editing, adding overlays and underlays, etc. and it is so easy to use....." Voila, a button, all in a jiffy." Well, I posted this because I was busy studying how to make an HTML, for the button so that it will link to my site, once clicked. My good friend was also challenging me to make my button. So I searched for a free on-line photo editor, with which a grandma-become-digital geek, could easily navigate.
So there it is. And for the free photo editor web-site that I used, here it is, introducing, pixlr
To Diane, thanks for the challenge. Your flag is flying in my blog ready to be "clicked," and in just a wink, one will be at your doorstep. Wahoo back to you. Grannies learning HTMLs, making LINK BUTTONS, changing the face of our blogs, making rooms for improvement, especially in digital and on-line world. Isn't that amazing?
As my wise-hearted-friend, Martha, aptly said in her blog
we too, as most people, like to keep in step with cyber developments, for all purposes as well as to keep our hands busy with wise things to do. Plenty a room to improve, anyone!
There was a glitch in the internet here, I unfortunately UN-POSTED this post I published yesterday. I wish there is an options for recovery of posts deleted by mistake, something like a recycle bin. Anyway, the damage is done already. I am making a repost of it, and I will try to remember as much as I could how I wrote it yesterday. I am convinced that it is advisable, to keep a copy of our texts to our computer, to save us the trouble of rewording the post again. I am also doing this because of the comments attached to it. Please bear with me. Thank you.
For those who have read it on its original form, pardon for the inevitable changes as I could not recapture it word for word. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(First posted on March 2, 2012)
For several days now, I have been
concentrating on my time-alone-with Jesus development. Not that I
don't have one, but that I have been prompted by the Holy Spirit to
make it a regular-early-morning-alone-time. It even made me decide
to rearrange the little space we have at home so that I could get the
best nook and keep it as my permanent quiet time corner. I have
mentioned in my previous post, that the usual time I have my
appointments with my Lord, is during lunch break at the office. We
have an hour lights-out time. I could get my verses from the on-line
Bible sites. There's a lot of sites one can get a devotional
material from and a host of Bible study guides too. And yet, I am
being lead to go up the prayer mountain at dawn.
The spot I have chosen is at our dining
table, which is by a window, so that when you look out towards the
mountain-village of the rich, you are able to see the sky changing
hue, from dark to light. So I told Jesus, “this is where we will meet
at dawn, my Lord.” There were also changes needed with my sleeping
time so that I'd be as clear minded as I can, which is positively
difficult for me. My usual time to get up is at 6:00 A.M. There is not
enough time, as this is already rush hour. I thought, I should give
up watching my favorite programs in the evening especially the late show.
Thus, I found myself awake the next
morning at 4:00. The sky was still clothed in darkness. I sat, as
comfortably as I could, in the plastic dining chair at my corner. I was thankful
that I did not have the usual lethargy I experience when I wake up at
this time. I sat in silence for a little while as I closed my eyes
to listen closely. I wanted God to make the first move.
Then I started praising the Father of
heavenly light, all His attributes pouring out of my mouth. I raised
my voice to all the blessings He has afforded me, thanked Him for
family and friends and even the sustenance of life. Then, rejoiced at the negative things which made me stronger. After that,
followed supplications and the laying-down of my transgressions down at the altar of grace.
As soon as I was unfolding my mental note for petitions,
because this time I was ready to give them wings, I stopped on track because there was a big lump in my chest
which made it difficult to breathe. I took several deep and slow
inhalations and slower exhalations. It was as though, I was squeezed
so tightly, I was gasping for air. Tears came pouring out like rain.
It was the kind of tears which one feels after being pardoned for an unforgivable
wrong.
I wondered what has given to the tears
when I was not yet praying for anything. Then suddenly I realized, I
was in my Father's tight embrace. I believe He wanted me to become
aware of it. Grace was manifested. It was a Holy Hour of Grace.
Wasn't it the Father's eager welcome
hug to a prodigal daughter home at last? The Holy spirit was waiting
for me to have this special moment alone together. It was a happy
reconnection. Indeed, He wanted to meet me in the
early-morning-hours. “Father, here I am, home at last.”
Psalm 37:7
Be still in the presence of the Lord, and
wait patiently for him to act. (NLT)
Psalm 40:1
I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned
to me and heard my cry. (NIV)
Heavenly Father God, thank you for giving me this opportunity to experience your welcome home hug. Pardon me for all the times I did not appear at our appointed times of meeting. Help me, I need it badly, Lord, to keep this a regular habit. And give me the longing for those moments everyday. Amen.
Comments previously posted: (I am glad that the comments are intact after the accidental deletion of this post).
by Diane:
Oh, I'm so happy for your time with Jesus, Lolita! Isn't the early mornings extraordinary?
Hallelujah!
This was a beautifully written post. Thank you for sharing your time with us all. 3-2-2012 - - - - - - - - - - - -
reply by Lolita:
Thank you, my dear D, my ever faithful companion and prayer partner. You are welcome to my time and space.
Yes, D. The early-morning-alone-time at Jesus' feet are extraordinary. Miracles grow in the garden visited by God. 3-2-2012 - - - - - - - - - - - -
by Pam:
You
wrote this so beautifully, Lolita! How wondrous your time with the
Lord was this day! God bless you with more of his hugs. Thanks for all
your prayers! Pam 3-2-2012
- - - - - - - - - - - -
reply by Lolita:
@Pam,
I am glad you like it knowing that you are my model. How I admire the
way you use figurative words that make your writings amazingly alive.
Thank you. As for my prayers, I am seeking to put everything aligned
with God, for I long to be able to carry other's burdens and upload them
all to his altar
"Draw me near your presence, oh Lord." How sweet it is to spend time at the feet of Jesus. I could just imagine how Mary was drawn at His feet, listening to His stories and insights. What a privilege that was for Mary who preferred to sit at the floor rather than be like Martha, who had the gift of service and hospitality. Martha was so busy playing the perfect hostess to Jesus and always on her toes to make him comfortable and fed. But you, very well know, that although it was never a bad thing to be hospitable to your guest, He was pleased with the child-like, awe-inspired attitude of Mary. Times to draw near to Jesus, being at His precious feet, was something all of us hunger for. However, those times, are often-times, given up for other mundane things.
The word of Jesus:
But the
Lord answered her “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by
many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better
part, which will not be taken away from her”.’ (Read Luke
10:38-42)
I am so thankful to Jesus this morning, for giving me time to draw near Him, down at His feet. I sat quietly before His awesome presence, just silent and listening. He made me sing the beautiful songs "Draw Me Near," and "I just want to be Where You Are." What a wonderful time I had and what a gracious privilege to come near Him. When you feel His righteous hand laid upon your head, you will know that nothing could ever separate us from His love, no nothing....... and His peace, which knows no bounds, will cause you to "be still."
" Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."
"There are times to speak up and take
action--but sometimes it's important to just humbly sit back and
silently reflect on God's presence. This psalm encourages us to take
time to meditate quietly in the assurance that God is in control.
" http://biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps.46.10&version=NIV
Times of Refreshing in the presence of Jesus. Help me, Oh my Lord, to thirst for those times. Amen!
DOWN AT YOUR FEET: NO HIGHER CALLING
Lenny LeBlanc
Greg Gulley
Down at Your feet, Oh Lord
Is the most high place
In Your presence, Lord
I seek Your face, I seek your face
Chorus
There is no higher calling no greater honor
Than to bow and kneel before Your throne
I'm amazed at Your glory, embraced by Your mercy
Oh Lord, I live to worship You Down at Your feet, Oh Lord
Is the most high place
In Your presence, Lord
We seek Your face, we seek your face
Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving. ~ Kahill Gibran (borrowed from Diane's collection@http://warmtheheart.blogspot.com/p/worth-repeating-to-yourself.html)
Reflections:
What did Jesus mean by saying "which will not be taken away" from Mary? Did He mean the wisdom we can gather when we stop to listen to His words, and in so doing would make us grow stronger in our faith and knowledge of who God is in our life?
Did Martha miss a lot of learning opportunities down at Jesus' feet while she was busy doing household chores?
Was the bond that grew between Jesus the teacher and Mary the student more important to Jesus than being fussed over by Martha?
I need to walk alone with you, my Lord. In the early morning hour when the world is still blanketed by the dark, when it is not yet time to rush. But I also need your help to make this a regular habit. One that is essential to my being, a requisite to my existence.
I must confess to you that this is something I have to master. I am used to having a time out with God as a midday appointment. Our office shuts off the lights after having had lunch. We usually just stay in and take a nap. I am one who is not used to taking a short nap at midday because I would be too full after having lunch, so I take this time to read the bible, the devotionals and take a quiet time. But I so desire to be able to wake up at dawn when the house is quiet and the rush is a few hours away. Unfortunately, I seldom is able to rise at this hour because I sleep late. The household chores that needs my attention takes the remaining hours after dinner. Therefore, if I am to switch into the "morning hour" to have a quiet moment with my Lord, I need a complete body clock change.
I am claiming this change with my Lord and I need your prayers because I would love to do this. Today, my Lord woke me up at dawn but I fell asleep again. It was the exact time that I should arise but my enemy told me that I needed to sleep more, so I failed. Take note that Jesus was so faithful to wake me. Was I faithful to myself and my desire to arise early? Nope.
To be a good soul-keeper, a regular and specific time to meditate is a must. I am convicted of this for a long time now. Plugging in with God is a must-do prior to the hassles of daily activities. This way, my mind and heart would be attuned to Him and upon His leading and guidance, which become the order of my day, in everything I'd say and do, and how I would deal with every situation that would come my way.
I do not want to lecture you about this subject. I am "camping out in the valley" with God in various issues I have with my own tongue.
When I emerge from this one...... which I know would take some time.... as there may be people I need to ask forgiveness from, I will be able to open my mouth or write about it then. As of this time....... I've got my "little-poisonous-judgemental-tool-of the evil one" part surrendered before the Lord. Your prayers are most appreciated and necessary for the process I am submitting to.
Some references I am reading, which will help me through this:
Often the hostility
in our hearts reveals itself through our words and actions. The word "tongue"
is mentioned ninety-three times in the Bible, often referring to its destructive
power:
The lash of the tongue
(Job 5:21).
Your sin prompts your mouth; you adopt the tongue of the crafty (Job 15:5).
Though evil is sweet
in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue (Job 20:12).
A deceitful tongue
crushes the spirit (Proverbs 15:4).
Their tongue is a
deadly arrow (Jeremiah 9:8).
The tongue also is
a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole
person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on
fire by hell (James 3:6).
No man can tame the
tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison (James 3:8).
There is no amount of testimony I can offer, or write about that is of value, until my own tongue has been tamed by my Lord, repented upon, confessed, forgiven and cleansed. Forgive me, my dear sisters in Christ, for I am guilty of using my tongue in other forms other than praise, honour and glory of God..
Thank you and may in your prayers, you will include me, for divine intercession. AMEN
