February 2, 2009

My blog and earlier archives are now found at www.lisabuffaloe.blogspot.com


Please stop over and say hello.

God bless you!

Lisa


January 28, 2009

Woo Hoo! My friend, Delia Latham nominated my blog for "When Life Gives You Lemons, make Lemonade" Award (The Lemonade Award)

 

I am so excited and honored... thank you, Delia.

Please stop by Delia's blog at http://www.themelodywithin.blogspot.com/

Thank you again, Delia!

 

January 25, 2009

Chosen -- He picked me!

 

During my early years, I wasn’t the strongest, tallest, or smartest. I could run fast, until my knee blew out in a pickup game of football with the big guys in the neighborhood. During recess or gym, I was the last to be picked. If I didn’t get on the bus quickly after school, the bus driver had to force someone to share a seat with me. Yes, I was, Forrestina Gump.

 

Even with a loving and supportive family, those lonely, painful years were difficult. At night, I would snuggle in my bed with my stuffed animals, wishing and praying there would be someone who would choose me.

 

I’m not like the incredibly talented guys on this video.
As amazing as those guys abilities are, with God it doesn’t matter what you look like or if you are the most talented. What matters is, you have been chosen--chosen by the God of the universe to be loved.

 

He picks you!

 

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
(Jeremiah 1:5 NIV).

 

“You did not choose me, but I chose you…” (John 15:16 NIV).

 

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—
to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves” (Ephesians 1:4-6 NIV).


January 19, 2009

“God has never failed me. Even in my greatest difficulties, heaviest trials,
and deepest poverty and need. He has never failed me.
Because I was enabled by God’s grace to trust Him.
He has always come to my aid.
I delight in speaking well of His name.” George Mueller

 

I can say the same. Even on days when I wonder where He is and why my situation doesn’t change, God will never fail me. Even when I can’t see what will happen next, God will never fail me.

 

Even when I wallowed in the mud of sin or self-pity, God picked me up, dusted me off, and set me on my feet again, granting unfailing, unmerited, grace and favor. He has never failed to bless me with food when the pantry was bare. He has never failed to hold me close in times of sorrow. He has never failed to heal the wounds of the past. He has never failed to grant beauty through His wonderful creation. He has never failed to supply my every need. And every day He never fails to lavish His extravagant love.

 

The video below is a song originally recorded by Casting Crowns, “Your love is extravagant.” The group singing is Four Shadows Fall, and I love the mellow sound of this singer’s voice. He talks a few minutes before starting the song. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbQ6Hko7n1o&feature=related

 

Your love is extravagant

Written by Darrell Evans

Casting Crowns CD

www.castingcrowns.com

 

“Your love is extravagant
Your friendship, it is intimate
I feel I'm moving to the rhythm of Your grace
Your fragrance is intoxicating in the secret place
Cause Your love is extravagant

Chorus:
Spread wide in the arms of Christ there's a love that covers sin
No greater love have I ever known; You considered me a friend
Capture my heart again

Your love is extravagant
Your friendship, it is intimate
I feel I'm moving to the rhythm of Your grace
Your fragrance is intoxicating in the secret place
Your love is extravagant

Spread wide in the arms of Christ there's a love that covers sin
No greater love have I ever known; You considered me a friend
Spread wide in the arms of Christ there's a love that covers sin
No greater love have I ever known; You considered me a friend
Capture my heart again

Your love is extravagant
Your friendship, it is intimate”

 

Oh sweet Heavenly Father, I delight in speaking well of Your name. Capture my heart again in Your extravagant, intimate, intoxicating, unfailing love.

January 11, 2009

Woo Hoo! The Christian Pulse published another one of my articles... Something Stinketh.

 

"A strange odor emanated from inside our refrigerator. I knew it was bad when even our teenage son was disgusted. Rolling up my sleeves and plugging my nose, I wrestled strange mutations from the vegetable drawer and deposited them in the trash. Bins were wiped and shelves cleaned until they glistened. Taking a step back, I drew in a deep breath of fresh air."

 

Please link here to read the rest… Something Stinketh

Thank you!

January 6, 2009

Battle Plan

Waking with a start, mind reeling, I ran for my Bible. In my nightmare, people/monsters grabbed me, trying to take me away to their monstrous world. My method of escape was to use the sword of the spirit – scripture.

 

Even during the dream I knew I was in trouble. How quickly could I quote verses, how many could I remember in rapid fire, were they appropriate for my situation, and would they make my enemy turn and run?

 

In response to my nightmare, I compiled a list of scripture, truth with which to stand firm and escape the grasp of the enemy. Can you think of others? If your only weapon was God’s word, would you be prepared to battle?

“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14).

 

“The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name” (Exodus 15:2-3).

 

“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, ‘Destroy him!’”(Deuteronomy 33:27).

 

“My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—from violent men you save me” (2 Samuel 22:3).

 

“As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him” (2 Samuel 22:31).
 

“For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield” (Psalm 5:12).

 
“My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart” (Psalm 7:10).
 

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Psalm 18:2).

 

“The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).

“For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock” (Psalm 27:5).

 

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped….” (Psalm 28:7).

 

“The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one” (Psalm 28:8).

 

“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance” (Psalm 32:7).

 

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

 

“Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me” (Psalm 54:4).

 

“With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies” (Psalm 60:12).

 

“Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death” (Psalm 68:20).

 

“Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him” (Psalm 91:3-5).

 

“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name” (Psalm 91:14).

 

“The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies” (Psalm 118:6-7).

 

“The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation” (Psalm 118:14).

 

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me” (Psalm 138:7).

 

“He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me” (Psalm 144:2).
 

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (Proverbs 18:10).

 

“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation” (Isaiah 12:2).

 

“For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; it is he who will save us” (Isaiah 33:22).

 

“But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten” (Jeremiah 20:11).

 

“The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him” (Nahum 1:7).

 

“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).

Thank You, Father for scripture. Drive Your word deep into my heart and mind that I may be ready in any circumstance.

(All verses taken from the NIV version)

January 1, 2009

"Hope looks at all that is true about the present, lifts the circumstances of life into the tender, loving hands of God--and exhales in trust." Shela Walsh 

 

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him"
(Ps 62:5 NIV). 

Earlier blogs are found in my archives.