tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87625012469163510132024-02-22T09:29:55.049-05:00A Word to Take AwayAnalisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05572966946453192369noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762501246916351013.post-41181966482685817662010-07-25T14:57:00.000-04:002010-07-25T14:57:03.910-04:00Determined<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGYR1m1d2mv8zzYLLfUtqU6IvVg4d2Gz5MkTMs07oz0DdpPRElwFtKtf6vGaaNA7yV89kROWZylUnKGOWUCQc9_4aEaM33Ug6JmsyUDFGgEtiHeSudyab6JdH6vPbQC2LP2M3eCZVIRo/s1600/driver+one.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGYR1m1d2mv8zzYLLfUtqU6IvVg4d2Gz5MkTMs07oz0DdpPRElwFtKtf6vGaaNA7yV89kROWZylUnKGOWUCQc9_4aEaM33Ug6JmsyUDFGgEtiHeSudyab6JdH6vPbQC2LP2M3eCZVIRo/s320/driver+one.jpg" /></a></div>Of all the positive traits I think this is the one I admire most. Determination. I love to hear stories of people who tried and failed yet tried again and again. I most admire it because it's not one of my strong personality traits. If I keep encountering failure I need time before I make the attempt again. There are things I am very determined to do well at. Other things not so much. Those things nag at me and I dismiss them with, one day I will do that.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">One of those things is something almost everyone I know does. Drive. I don't drive. I've never had a driver's license. I know I know. I have heard it all. So don't fill up the comment box with but how do you manage questions. Oh I took lessons and failed the road test. There was the "professional" instructor who fell asleep as I was driving. I didn't wear something sexy to pass as one person advised. I failed the road test when others said I should have passed. Really? Where I lived you tested on the road with traffic. The test booklet to study was a tri-fold pamplet with 100 questions and third of those were for motorcycles and trucks. The written I passed every time. I've been told I am not bad driver by fearless friends who would let me behind the wheel with my learner's permit. So why at this ripe age don't I have my license? I could give you a list but the real answer is simple. I haven't determined to do it. </div><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.--Provers 3:5</em></strong></span><br />
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As I have gotten older I discovered that God doesn't expect us to do what is hard for us on our own. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwcHowCVQ77b11bpc6W68x7ugVBgCPhOd3GpraqwDpqnm1jP0RWThHZTKvRQ9CwfKdgaAkSUvodv6mYAymjU5v4fR5m0Uz1bis90ig0_xVMdNCFHU2r6Gtc8xXhzU91bWknNieV9PENg/s1600/dog+in+seat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwcHowCVQ77b11bpc6W68x7ugVBgCPhOd3GpraqwDpqnm1jP0RWThHZTKvRQ9CwfKdgaAkSUvodv6mYAymjU5v4fR5m0Uz1bis90ig0_xVMdNCFHU2r6Gtc8xXhzU91bWknNieV9PENg/s320/dog+in+seat.jpg" /></a></div>When we try to do the difficult thing on our own we can become critical of ourselves. Why can't I do this, what is wrong with me? It's just shameful I haven't done this yet. Or embittered. Why doesn't someone help me with this? This is so unfair, it so easy for everyone else. Why has so and so gotten this and I am still struggling. Oh yes, that is what it's like when we try to accomplish things without God.<br />
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<em><span style="background-color: white; color: #45818e;"><strong>I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.--Philippians 4:13</strong></span></em><br />
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Yes like you I have some things in this life I haven't achieved. One thing I am determined to do. I am determined to follow God and live a life that pleases Him. If I never go back to school, ok. If I never drive, ok. If I never ever finish the book, well that's ok too. It's not ok to lack a determined commitment to God.<br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><em><strong>"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.--Deuteronomy 6:5</strong></em></span><br />
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<em><strong><span style="color: #45818e;">I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.--Philippians 3:14</span></strong></em><br />
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What are you determined to do? <br />
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</div>Analisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05572966946453192369noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762501246916351013.post-45722748532919879082010-07-18T19:18:00.000-04:002010-07-18T19:18:51.588-04:00Who's the Boss<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKiNfcGwwvUfAXFeg8nlHxZePLejqcNP2ySozzFSFOZkDGLP1endVzBSr7UPJ3PTxTn2xBTH4ko5fIF_HYFD8W2WjQwKwV6Yn3z0coW1ZdsVk0pZGzw0qLLatOxaDRlI8f6Ei88HbhI4/s1600/turk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKiNfcGwwvUfAXFeg8nlHxZePLejqcNP2ySozzFSFOZkDGLP1endVzBSr7UPJ3PTxTn2xBTH4ko5fIF_HYFD8W2WjQwKwV6Yn3z0coW1ZdsVk0pZGzw0qLLatOxaDRlI8f6Ei88HbhI4/s320/turk.jpg" /></a></div>A couple of weeks ago I went back to work full time. It's a blessing and a challenge. I felt guilty about not having enough time to do the things I need to. I felt guilty about the short cuts. Then I wrote this, and the guilt is no more. Enjoy.<br />
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<strong>Memorandum</strong><br />
<strong>Date: Today</strong><br />
<strong>Re: My official shutdown </strong><br />
<strong>From: The Brain</strong><br />
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Body, <br />
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This is a final warning. I've sent various signals. Body you put the cold food in the cabinet, you forgot the keycard, you have been dozing on public transportation and you've been weepy. These were warnings that you need to do as I say. In spite of my attempts body, you ignore them. I see that you want to rebel but you don't have the needed energy. Body you seem to be under the impression that you can function without me. You let the mouth and stomach take over and eat whatever the eyes see. You allow the eyes to watch late televisions shows. You have even allow the arms to carry loads you know the back can't abide. So I now I am withdrawing my help. This will resulting in work and home mishaps, constant fatigue, sickness, confusion, then finally depression. <br />
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Intelligently yours, <br />
The Brain.<br />
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<strong>Memorandum</strong><br />
<strong>Date: Eternity</strong><br />
<strong>Re: Rulership</strong><br />
<strong>From: The Holy Spirit</strong><br />
<strong>CC: The Body, and The Soul</strong><br />
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Dear Brain:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJE9S65oWcjpZWsAHmQloTq3Q6f0k1C38mz5-m_ntq7nu_dTJ-XfS7QmI_N_GZH0GLNMBNopKktCYCQmEd4dVdd4wNvlquwc7TEynh7RvIXTbv2UjrYJW7eu_MAOJxUxFdcKujagA7e3A/s1600/e2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJE9S65oWcjpZWsAHmQloTq3Q6f0k1C38mz5-m_ntq7nu_dTJ-XfS7QmI_N_GZH0GLNMBNopKktCYCQmEd4dVdd4wNvlquwc7TEynh7RvIXTbv2UjrYJW7eu_MAOJxUxFdcKujagA7e3A/s320/e2.jpg" /></a></div>Concerning your warnings to the body. It is true that my dear one Lisa, has not taken care of late. However that is why she has my Mercy and Grace. I could tell by the tone of your letter there is some confusion about who has final say here. Lisa's life is not based on her brain or her body but her spirit which is directed by ME. If she tires herself she only has to come to me for wisdom and I will lead her. Remember my thoughts are higher than yours. If her body is ill I will heal her. If she is down I will lift her head. So the next time you have any complaints against the body, see me first. For I am her keeper. Because I know you have a tendency toward the carnal, let me make it clear. Lisa's has turned her life over to me, so I run this. <br />
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With love,<br />
The Holy Spirit.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUuAzdLic9AhSfNZMQ0hYnHVff64DHpWf7QdZjlJvAFeYKaBUyL_k96kqFtcYUqpnUJZSi9ASjwbfp-QlObu-HC9GGCiPNHxtrGey_sxW-KEJDJLlwqXFpKWmRzyaMqVYzokU3MHMojE/s1600/e1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUuAzdLic9AhSfNZMQ0hYnHVff64DHpWf7QdZjlJvAFeYKaBUyL_k96kqFtcYUqpnUJZSi9ASjwbfp-QlObu-HC9GGCiPNHxtrGey_sxW-KEJDJLlwqXFpKWmRzyaMqVYzokU3MHMojE/s320/e1.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: #45818e;"><em><strong>Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.--Isaiah 40:31</strong></em></span><br />
<strong></strong>Analisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05572966946453192369noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762501246916351013.post-9038917549598223642010-06-26T17:57:00.000-04:002010-06-26T17:57:52.894-04:00Faithful<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiP_Y2IbmDc84MBZdxSU0dPLmn7CSPDzHqSGyk5aWQegZuBzGX21pM3UYqucUmYom_7HQ289t2Uuoa3YtTMBPrV5J1csiobSbnqXt7cl_d9ow9R29UQBtez_gpm4BoSf_27ef8D7pWOOU/s1600/bing+old+bible+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiP_Y2IbmDc84MBZdxSU0dPLmn7CSPDzHqSGyk5aWQegZuBzGX21pM3UYqucUmYom_7HQ289t2Uuoa3YtTMBPrV5J1csiobSbnqXt7cl_d9ow9R29UQBtez_gpm4BoSf_27ef8D7pWOOU/s320/bing+old+bible+2.jpg" /></a></div>What does it really mean to be faithful? Here's the first definition in the Encarta dictionary: <strong><em>Unwavering belief. </em></strong>That alone was good enough for me but I will go ahead and give you the rest. <em>Believing firmly in something or somebody, especially a religion or a political doctrine.</em> I think I'll will stick with the first one. It's the closest man made definition that lines up with the word. Unwavering belief. <br />
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<em><strong><span style="color: #76a5af;">But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord;-- James 1:6-7</span></strong></em><br />
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Keeping our definition in let's move on. <br />
<em><span style="color: #76a5af;"><strong>His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.--Matthew 25:23</strong></span></em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpjC6hZE2-T_gtJxfD5ITPzZSPtLTTQI-LL60_QnOySPctsyakfEVU-YjVkfhPbeZGhM4394lQYeGvm-ckFvDEi1lbsbZH_sqFHiwB5hTZmy0G0gGie6oJW3FF_ra6GdAyuRK3QfdrBI/s1600/dirt+old+bible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpjC6hZE2-T_gtJxfD5ITPzZSPtLTTQI-LL60_QnOySPctsyakfEVU-YjVkfhPbeZGhM4394lQYeGvm-ckFvDEi1lbsbZH_sqFHiwB5hTZmy0G0gGie6oJW3FF_ra6GdAyuRK3QfdrBI/s320/dirt+old+bible.jpg" /></a></div>People quote this as what they want to hear from God when they die. Well done good and faithful servant. So what's involved in being a faithful servant of God? Being there whenever the <span style="color: black;">church</span> doors open? Serving in some capacity in the church? Those are good things but do we need to meet those requirements to be called faithful? I don't think so. The first thing to do to be faithful is to have faith in God. Or as some translations read have the faith of God.<br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.--Mark 11:22</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.--Acts 27:25</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful."--2 Chronicles 20:20</span></em></strong><br />
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So how do you develop that faithful, unwavering faith. I think the first thing we must do is make a decision to know God. You can't do that without spending time with The Word. <br />
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<em><strong><span style="color: #76a5af;">In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.--John 1:1</span></strong></em><br />
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Catch hold of that, <em><span style="color: #76a5af;">and the Word was God</span>.</em> So to know God is to know The Word. I could come to your house every Sunday and your family could take turns telling me about you. Guess what! I still won't know you. If I want to know you I must spend time <em><strong>with you.</strong></em> Same with God. Since God equates himself with the Word then we should spend time in it. Only then will faith come. <br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.--Romans 10:17</span></em></strong><br />
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If you want to be a good and faithful servant decide to know the word and be a doer of it. Just being able to quote a bunch of scriptures or debate doctrine is not faith. The more you get to know Him by his Word, the more you have faith in Him. So when trouble comes, and it will come. You will be able to stand with God against it by the Word. If you aren't sure about God's word on the trouble you're facing then study. God will help you as seek Him. Only then will you be truly faithful.<br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.--2 Timothy 2:15</span></em></strong>Analisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05572966946453192369noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762501246916351013.post-198768266482410522010-06-21T20:39:00.000-04:002010-06-21T20:39:27.868-04:00Life on the Edge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk8s29VQINUH2tzLytsWB8Z4_Iav2gWdBX42ZBr29okvkhJaGdoJCeOZ9U_hlcY2T44vb_O3j-ZDqUQzgEsSQRqacSXSo8Z86tgfFOxM7t6T1HdgfrWH0bRHJtiSBSHqcw6VeN1Vaedaw/s1600/best+scar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk8s29VQINUH2tzLytsWB8Z4_Iav2gWdBX42ZBr29okvkhJaGdoJCeOZ9U_hlcY2T44vb_O3j-ZDqUQzgEsSQRqacSXSo8Z86tgfFOxM7t6T1HdgfrWH0bRHJtiSBSHqcw6VeN1Vaedaw/s320/best+scar.jpg" /></a></div>Have you ever been on the edge of life. When you could have a great rescue or a huge disaster. Like Daniel when he stepped into that den of lions(Daniel 6). When he was about a foot away from that den what do you think crossed his mind? Is this gonna hurt? I mean really wouldn't you think that way? We like to super spiritualize the folks in the bible but they were men and women like us. Maybe Daniel knew in his heart he was going to be fine. Or maybe he didn't know it until those lions looked at him like he was a plate of broccoli. Or when that angel showed up in the den and said <em>"Don't <strong>even </strong>think about it Scar"</em><br />
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Daniel and his friends were living on the edge. . I mean it isn't everyday you have to trust God to deliver you from a firey furnance. Yet they were even a little cocky about it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5cw7_bG4OC2Ga94Rmb48qbPS9n4obGD_PUISJ6PCVjA3ptYZzel6I19OLD7M49czXl0m7ZOwhMshX1YuPYz1fblvbOG5VsI2vQ1a7_kj8n6G8mw_obUR8Lr7QYOqaw-WnOYCuC5YC0_c/s1600/fire1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5cw7_bG4OC2Ga94Rmb48qbPS9n4obGD_PUISJ6PCVjA3ptYZzel6I19OLD7M49czXl0m7ZOwhMshX1YuPYz1fblvbOG5VsI2vQ1a7_kj8n6G8mw_obUR8Lr7QYOqaw-WnOYCuC5YC0_c/s320/fire1.jpg" /></a></div><em><strong><span style="color: #45818e;">Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and anger gave orders to bring Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego; then these men were brought before the king. Nebuchadnezzar responded and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? “Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery and bagpipe and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. “But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”--Daniel 3:13-18 </span></strong></em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSytz0_eAh1XhWe7ChqbA8tujMLQVLmNJjUOu8s7hv5LTvXTW1J-4L4tgAyKmIfCU4mtD1ucM4uJAwkfL042vygnC_vm5U6JzumpuSbf0rPQi2fhzqEUq3ch0JvvCqK09tfAcyBTglLI/s1600/firey+furnance+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSytz0_eAh1XhWe7ChqbA8tujMLQVLmNJjUOu8s7hv5LTvXTW1J-4L4tgAyKmIfCU4mtD1ucM4uJAwkfL042vygnC_vm5U6JzumpuSbf0rPQi2fhzqEUq3ch0JvvCqK09tfAcyBTglLI/s320/firey+furnance+1.jpg" /></a></div>Did you notice they all answered the king? There were three replies recorded in scripture. I can just picture it. Shadrach says <em>We really don't have nothing to say to you.</em> Meshach points his finger and says <em>But just so you know God will deliver us.</em> Then just for good measure Abed-nego adds, <em>Even if we get burned we still won't worship no statue.</em> Ok that's the Analisa translation but it gets you there. <br />
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When your life is on the edge you must have confidence in what God is able to do. That He has your back. I recently got caught up in my limitations and forgot this truth. Yet the bible is clear.<br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><em><strong>Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. Hebrews 10:35</strong></em></span><br />
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Daniel and his friends expressed confidence in God. In His power and ability to come to their aid with power and might. I might be on the edge, but as a good friend reminded me I am not on the edge of disaster. I can brag on the God I serve. He is well able to met every need and cause me to win just like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and A bad Negro...that would be me. LOL. Oh yeah the confidence is coming back. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5e2k3X0VGLZ_KUqX10k7U_d_o-nEULWhwEh5WAcctx6HtH52AhXNoPVn7ge38ZBLWgkMKYcNrw9E4DzxD-XSWda9CM22N0Z9OUZmVVM5fE7Y4xtaiI-II8jdhDT_p28RWoG7_sSwJCMA/s1600/simba+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5e2k3X0VGLZ_KUqX10k7U_d_o-nEULWhwEh5WAcctx6HtH52AhXNoPVn7ge38ZBLWgkMKYcNrw9E4DzxD-XSWda9CM22N0Z9OUZmVVM5fE7Y4xtaiI-II8jdhDT_p28RWoG7_sSwJCMA/s320/simba+1.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: #45818e;"><em><strong>But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.-- 2 Corinthians 2:14</strong></em></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Analisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05572966946453192369noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762501246916351013.post-2178126188144102992010-06-15T11:41:00.000-04:002010-06-15T11:41:25.918-04:00The Love of Many<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6-Q_OoM74ZmvcUyGJ5yAW3XzxfLyxRJ1xvXBBedLJVKHIbIDT5g9PMdY4qu9yQrjnJ-vUOwjBV69b3812bY6zyGIrHjUKNi5ccAUffpYKJNuRBE4ti4bzzVN2zVorOrIIMaI3OkcHcg/s1600/cold+heart+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6-Q_OoM74ZmvcUyGJ5yAW3XzxfLyxRJ1xvXBBedLJVKHIbIDT5g9PMdY4qu9yQrjnJ-vUOwjBV69b3812bY6zyGIrHjUKNi5ccAUffpYKJNuRBE4ti4bzzVN2zVorOrIIMaI3OkcHcg/s320/cold+heart+2.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: #76a5af;"><em><strong>Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.--Matthew 24:12</strong></em></span><br />
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Yep it's happening now. People have become cold hearted and lack love toward their fellow man. When you see a lack of love the enemy is present. What about us? Are we demonstrating the love of God in our lives toward others? In this area the bible is clear. <br />
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<span style="color: #76a5af;"><em><strong>And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” And he answered, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE.”--Luke 10:25-27 (all caps portion quotes old testament)</strong></em></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2g0yOXaXjviz7gaCH_RYwZf_DZBSBRQtnWUzUCmN8XFypvRb5ZNhWPItbOiBWRi_HkROQXrPCDXF_DAmOh0AWgpRBMiL-wmC1bKSwME7pm-mYN1AGd34lNzemV2gYtjrfn80oFOhkeY/s1600/cold+heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2g0yOXaXjviz7gaCH_RYwZf_DZBSBRQtnWUzUCmN8XFypvRb5ZNhWPItbOiBWRi_HkROQXrPCDXF_DAmOh0AWgpRBMiL-wmC1bKSwME7pm-mYN1AGd34lNzemV2gYtjrfn80oFOhkeY/s320/cold+heart.jpg" /></a></div>There it is. Love your neighbor as yourself. We all come to the place in God when we have to decide to obey or stay. Either we stay the same or obey God and give up our way for His. Let me just take a page from my own life. I was once prejudiced. That's right I didn't like white people at all. If you find that surprising you can praise God for the change in me. Anyway shortly after I received Jesus as my Lord in 1982, God used the person who led me to Jesus and the word to confront me in love.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="color: #76a5af;"><strong><em>If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.--I John 4:20</em></strong></span> <br />
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I had to make a decision. I choose to obey God. I received forgiveness and a love for all regardless of race. Now it wouldn't enter into my thoughts to prejudge someone that way. That was the old dead me. Yes there is still prejudice in the world, but not in my household. Thank God my son has no prejudice and embraces friendships with people of all races. This is because God changed his mother's heart, my son never knew that old dead part of me.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90A-ndQTemE6W0fTl6WS_XWjP8DwogxqqOHV7_G1xyW9IwFlpZ8OxdgTXWn53zZe7y_ueMJ2UxJe6LI5ypukemXtQ9Hz6w_rBSaXY0LU7gMyh7csKqaX-wxIl0kSSlXhpXH9dSv2SRYk/s1600/bleeding+heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90A-ndQTemE6W0fTl6WS_XWjP8DwogxqqOHV7_G1xyW9IwFlpZ8OxdgTXWn53zZe7y_ueMJ2UxJe6LI5ypukemXtQ9Hz6w_rBSaXY0LU7gMyh7csKqaX-wxIl0kSSlXhpXH9dSv2SRYk/s320/bleeding+heart.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: #76a5af;"><em><strong>..and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.--Romans 5:5</strong></em></span><br />
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It can be tempting to walk out of love. A friend of mine says jokingly when tempted to blow his stack, "God just turn your head for a minute" But he knows God doesn't give us a timeout no matter how much we wish He would. He never winks at our lack of love toward others.<br />
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Don't you know that the moment Jesus uttered the words "It is finished" and died on the cross God could have avenged Him. God could have destroyed every single person who raised a hand against his son Jesus. Every Roman soldier who hit him. The crowd that mocked Him. The people who spit on Jesus or hammered in the nails. Yet God let them live. Why? <br />
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<span style="color: #76a5af;"><strong><em>But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.-- Luke 23:34</em></strong></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzxJ1AWUKrNL6q_2m_B61OpJUMw47uF55YN6nisumExr_XXtERjNrZ6zhv9wZJnl1i2Tp30qzoFo02Wsk_isLTmN8d-0_Q59es0-0EQBsWJj-MPV9ouZWTyuMJfDHZvEJStLbtxxGXuQ/s1600/warm+heart+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzxJ1AWUKrNL6q_2m_B61OpJUMw47uF55YN6nisumExr_XXtERjNrZ6zhv9wZJnl1i2Tp30qzoFo02Wsk_isLTmN8d-0_Q59es0-0EQBsWJj-MPV9ouZWTyuMJfDHZvEJStLbtxxGXuQ/s320/warm+heart+2.jpg" /></a></div>Jesus love is why, and it was clearly evident on that cross. So the next time you want to complain about a salesclerk, waitress,co-worker, boss, sibling, neighbor, parent, teacher, driver, friend, spouse, child, or whomever. Take a moment to ask yourself, is this a time when I can demonstrate God's love? Or has my heart turned a little colder too.<br />
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<span style="color: #76a5af;"><strong><em>If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. </em></strong></span><span style="color: #76a5af;"><strong><em>Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. --I Corinthians 13:1-7</em></strong></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2MQIQDSaiEFqJvwRd9HqIW6wezZ1QMPhQt3USXxm1OBcKqUx-O9v8XodX_nlaaA5GLAe3T3dR-qPfSeQvAyXoFs0fqn8dqCDNRbUYog_AtvvuoA3bzK0AMuzE4Wpr-sjUHGf2UhRUpI/s1600/warm+heart1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2MQIQDSaiEFqJvwRd9HqIW6wezZ1QMPhQt3USXxm1OBcKqUx-O9v8XodX_nlaaA5GLAe3T3dR-qPfSeQvAyXoFs0fqn8dqCDNRbUYog_AtvvuoA3bzK0AMuzE4Wpr-sjUHGf2UhRUpI/s320/warm+heart1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Analisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05572966946453192369noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762501246916351013.post-76088149484329433492010-06-03T13:38:00.000-04:002010-06-03T13:38:52.048-04:00Danger Will Robinson!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4f00pvorsExTzgvWmAbn93pVXmXHb_eLu-qIHEr-4fqz9PzJut4SgANYu09GhWdhdfb72ukrbtKjdKeCpug294X3Ig-L5MOjwifZmZtD8Pw-KR0dW2WXpE5xQ2nUw33TqYd48J8aPHRE/s1600/robot1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4f00pvorsExTzgvWmAbn93pVXmXHb_eLu-qIHEr-4fqz9PzJut4SgANYu09GhWdhdfb72ukrbtKjdKeCpug294X3Ig-L5MOjwifZmZtD8Pw-KR0dW2WXpE5xQ2nUw33TqYd48J8aPHRE/s320/robot1.jpg" /></a></div>Ok one thing I hate are computer viruses. My system has fought off two attacks this week and both of those came as I was visiting blogs. First the page would not close and then about ten of them opened. So I think maybe something is lurking out here in Blogspot land. <br />
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I consider myself pretty savy when it comes to visiting sites and I am on the internet a lot. So is my 17 year old. He hasn't encountered any problems and mine as I said have only been when I have blogged.<br />
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So if you haven't been diligent to run scans, I suggest you do. Also you might want to ad some additional spyware and virus protection. Thanks to my personal tech guru Terrance I have Windows Defender, Avast, Spyware Terminator and Clean Up which my son and I both run before we shut down.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmKSsN5WH5PAIHFwdIQenWyI2VGx6VE_MJMK3XfhuUdxIqMhMaU51TZamUz7Hydh-HbrvP81X-efdfjJ_Vzj1Jsa348CGl9MoQAEqLYVjr8jK3VWUETDytJiNx1Wo9p52qNJ6_Y5RGWw/s1600/robot2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmKSsN5WH5PAIHFwdIQenWyI2VGx6VE_MJMK3XfhuUdxIqMhMaU51TZamUz7Hydh-HbrvP81X-efdfjJ_Vzj1Jsa348CGl9MoQAEqLYVjr8jK3VWUETDytJiNx1Wo9p52qNJ6_Y5RGWw/s320/robot2.jpg" /></a></div>This may seem a little extreme I know. I lost my first book to a computer virus, I had no back ups nothing. I was devestated and didn't go back to writing for several years after. So I take viruses very seriously. I will also of course pray against this happening to any of you.<br />
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My mission is complete. All my blogger friends and visitors consider yourselves loved and warned. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxA5dwH6EB8-lIrVeTTq5NypxZWKd0w0Uhm0Ot-I3rRe5c202iJTSZpMkRVCH7-as_tB1J46yjjaRP2UrjF1bcM0RWAOVJPzk-VMU5Az2SupHrnALDQvTrUVZz_040KyP9o-LZyOv0gw/s1600/tape+recorder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxA5dwH6EB8-lIrVeTTq5NypxZWKd0w0Uhm0Ot-I3rRe5c202iJTSZpMkRVCH7-as_tB1J46yjjaRP2UrjF1bcM0RWAOVJPzk-VMU5Az2SupHrnALDQvTrUVZz_040KyP9o-LZyOv0gw/s320/tape+recorder.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: red;"><strong>This message will be replaced within 48 hours with my regular blog no further instructions will be given. :)</strong></span>Analisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05572966946453192369noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762501246916351013.post-43321993124776720482010-04-26T12:47:00.001-04:002010-04-26T12:47:53.510-04:00Hate The Sin, Love The Sinner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXdrHG14vb28lhEhtmzp41CdTcsOP0J7t6gLU5PXH0myxc5Tuou8thdygJfVoYo2TR5BnMsRlToRZfiLR-O4Ki_irRLuBOLRd91p18ZH07YubEZiIIndbO69BxXCy9tU92IxvaTZqn3c/s1600/u+need+to+stop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXdrHG14vb28lhEhtmzp41CdTcsOP0J7t6gLU5PXH0myxc5Tuou8thdygJfVoYo2TR5BnMsRlToRZfiLR-O4Ki_irRLuBOLRd91p18ZH07YubEZiIIndbO69BxXCy9tU92IxvaTZqn3c/s320/u+need+to+stop.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><br />
There is a distrubing trend here in the good old USA that should stop. I see it in the news, online, posted in comments. With the exception of the first one I have posted their signs through out this blog. So you can see for yourself. It's hateful people who claim to be on the side of God. I say they don't know the God of the bible. They wage wars against the very sinners Jesus died for. <br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.---Ephesians 6:12</em></strong></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuUevgPwZLLhFXJ3GTmt0nlN1oyOoKZGWMnYlnlpwv-KIzwLACLhMZ6Zatt5OfDBDAO-Ytbnuhe2u26PkGvPtwynF7r9YMn-kml3y36iMt8hywk1kdccxelJRuLjCqLnnoPqFFPUEZzCs/s1600/mean2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuUevgPwZLLhFXJ3GTmt0nlN1oyOoKZGWMnYlnlpwv-KIzwLACLhMZ6Zatt5OfDBDAO-Ytbnuhe2u26PkGvPtwynF7r9YMn-kml3y36iMt8hywk1kdccxelJRuLjCqLnnoPqFFPUEZzCs/s320/mean2.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div>The signs on the left are real. They were used outside funeral of a soldier who was gay. The grieving family had to pass these signs and shouts of hatred. I find that heartbreaking. Yes I know the bible speaks of the homosexual life as a sin. I agree. I am a bible girl. However was God glad this young man perished? <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_cKniULk6NZGHAMTfiu2x_AwS-VaTQojxANXKO8OTtaEOH0sCirVh8D6125ozZ-_D873OIh68a5AMgePNmrRTxau0JtV6uzeUDmE0UddpKDfzI_tslOxcB9_NHNOM4sLG5OraoY0vaQ/s1600/protest+at+furneral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_cKniULk6NZGHAMTfiu2x_AwS-VaTQojxANXKO8OTtaEOH0sCirVh8D6125ozZ-_D873OIh68a5AMgePNmrRTxau0JtV6uzeUDmE0UddpKDfzI_tslOxcB9_NHNOM4sLG5OraoY0vaQ/s320/protest+at+furneral.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>Say to them, 'As I live!' declares the Lord GOD, 'I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?' Ezekiel 33:11</em></strong></span><br />
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And again in the same book of the bible. <br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #45818e;">Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked," declares the Lord GOD, "rather than that he should turn from his ways and live? Ezekiel 18:23</span></em></strong><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Let me take a moment to make something else clear. Only God knows for certain where that young man will spend enternity. Remember the thief on the cross. Humor me and read the words I underlined out loud.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDK8BLZKotRlcWMsjR5sHo2dfZBgsNHB5HVrMZobi0Ns9Qw5i0ob6nEqJcyB_T_LL-KbpGZvxT3NTolH3dVcJfz2KWeOuO6cxRmM5uaTrab3J_NF8edbPqOsLIj4-VCHymZKTeZPvCV9g/s1600/mean+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDK8BLZKotRlcWMsjR5sHo2dfZBgsNHB5HVrMZobi0Ns9Qw5i0ob6nEqJcyB_T_LL-KbpGZvxT3NTolH3dVcJfz2KWeOuO6cxRmM5uaTrab3J_NF8edbPqOsLIj4-VCHymZKTeZPvCV9g/s320/mean+3.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? “And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he was saying, <u>“Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”</u> Luke 23:39-43</em></strong></span><br />
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See that, in just moments this man repented. Jesus, forgave him immediately. Promising that the thief would be with him in paradise. We should never say that we know for certain someone is in hell. We should warn people if they don't repent, of their sins they will go to hell. That should be done with love, not judgment. Our God is merciful and takes every opportunity to save. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCS3FYu-2GOxQSQt6wpJenCJnH-TPXCh6WDj3qCGn6UF0OySALFxLqb0jcOq-7ef03H92tB4joNYdQ6jYWSm_eCQTjt_4-7FpKwBRyHH3S3XyI4604mTs9pf24DaE003_Ee660akCZVx0/s1600/god+sent+the+killer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCS3FYu-2GOxQSQt6wpJenCJnH-TPXCh6WDj3qCGn6UF0OySALFxLqb0jcOq-7ef03H92tB4joNYdQ6jYWSm_eCQTjt_4-7FpKwBRyHH3S3XyI4604mTs9pf24DaE003_Ee660akCZVx0/s320/god+sent+the+killer.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div>Now how do we impact the lost lost? By standing outside clinics and calling them murderers? By killing the abortionist and justifying it by saying we saved the unborn. By that line of reasoning we have condoned murder and maybe their chance to repent. God did not send a killer. No one has the right to take life. We are not to take the lives of the abortionist, or the killer of the abortionist. God created them both, not to kill but for His glory. They each practiced free will and each took a way opposed to God who is the giver of life. <br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb.--Psalm 139:13</em></strong></span> <br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>Your hands made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.--Psalm 119:73</em></strong></span> <br />
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So how did Jesus handle the sinner? <br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, "Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?"--Mark 2:16</em></strong></span> <br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>"For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him.--Matthew 21:32</em></strong></span><br />
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Wow, even after they saw the sinners turn their lives around they still rejected Jesus. They preferred instead to hate and kill the sinner than to reach out to them. Would you come to Jesus based on hatred or love?<br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>They said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. "Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?" They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." John 8:4-7</em></strong></span><br />
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Ever committed a sin? Ever been forgiven? Then drop the stones and the signs of hate. Break bread by sharing the word of life and your testimony. How much God loves them and will forgive them too. Hate the sin, but love the sinner.<br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. <u>Such were some of you;</u> but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. --I Corinthians 6:9-11</em></strong></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4wLYG1SDeH3XuJoRhttp4-tL36DrIOslYCBYPTAdiFUhK9haZpDnk8MqVRtYyIoSLV4eIgVyR9WKnNDluYz9Mu4ToCRZ92WKqIx51gx733HG8mVo5-t3kV_UnFuO_YahyrfKV6DdjeE/s1600/god+hates+signs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4wLYG1SDeH3XuJoRhttp4-tL36DrIOslYCBYPTAdiFUhK9haZpDnk8MqVRtYyIoSLV4eIgVyR9WKnNDluYz9Mu4ToCRZ92WKqIx51gx733HG8mVo5-t3kV_UnFuO_YahyrfKV6DdjeE/s320/god+hates+signs.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div>Analisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05572966946453192369noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762501246916351013.post-58842935340421357232010-04-17T18:23:00.000-04:002010-04-17T18:23:57.598-04:00Birthday Lunch!<span style="color: #134f5c;"><em><strong>I rarely post this often but I thought I would share some pics from my birthday lunch. I have made so many friends blogging and I might not see you face to face ever. But wanted to share. I can't think of one of you who I wouldn't like to have at this table with us. </strong></em></span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><em><strong>The first pic is my Mother, she is 81 and the most active woman I know. She does yoga, bone builders which is an exercise class and is active in her church. She use to do dance but thought she might want to slow down a little she is retired after all. That is my son Paul between us always the shy one, waiting for a chance to escape. </strong></em></span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><strong><em>The second picture is of my sister Anita, we call her Nita and my brother Don. My brother couldn't believe I was 51, he thought I was still in my 40's. Gotta love a brother like that. Or maybe he just started thinking how much older he is than me. Nah...it was a compliment. I think.</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><strong><em>The next picture is of my friend Chelsea, who took most of these. I met her on my last temp assignment and we have been great friends since then. Pretty girl isn't she, now if you know a nice christian young man on the east coast I will play matchmaker......lol. </em></strong></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_21LdK56h64_vGeDARcIHrVXbg4OzlL82Qr_PBhmUPwlEhTJRdz2Ip53kOzaQDzR6KWviX16zQXMzxuKrHheFdtAY6EhHI8wNVdKkMgxTrd_39PBM1RXS40cLYSE5Nj83JihhT13bHE0/s1600/me+and+chelsea+4-2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_21LdK56h64_vGeDARcIHrVXbg4OzlL82Qr_PBhmUPwlEhTJRdz2Ip53kOzaQDzR6KWviX16zQXMzxuKrHheFdtAY6EhHI8wNVdKkMgxTrd_39PBM1RXS40cLYSE5Nj83JihhT13bHE0/s320/me+and+chelsea+4-2010.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><strong><em>Anyway I wanted to share my birthday lunch. Missing some pics of my life long friend Cyndi and her daughter Maria who were there but Cyndi would fuss at me for posting. </em></strong></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">Toasting in my 51st year!!!!</span></em></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUotB7uczAPgcDlDLDHTL-3q-llg4bhspsOQ-c4DucHK_Z6muYVsg61TjQOk30bokkx68ycmNEHi6xbbZoNOI14j9lTXlnaPAreNZWi9W13eh3rDjFdN_F6sZTxMl97rsMjKuSdXp59Pc/s1600/toast+to+my+birthday+4-24-2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><em><span style="color: #134f5c;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUotB7uczAPgcDlDLDHTL-3q-llg4bhspsOQ-c4DucHK_Z6muYVsg61TjQOk30bokkx68ycmNEHi6xbbZoNOI14j9lTXlnaPAreNZWi9W13eh3rDjFdN_F6sZTxMl97rsMjKuSdXp59Pc/s320/toast+to+my+birthday+4-24-2010.jpg" wt="true" /></span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span style="color: #134f5c;"> Thanks everyone I had a ball!</span></em></strong></div><br />
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<strong>A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.</strong><strong>---Proverbs 18:24</strong><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><strong><em>You didn't really think I was gonna post with no scripture did ya?</em></strong></span>Analisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05572966946453192369noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762501246916351013.post-29248059825446043102010-04-16T17:54:00.000-04:002010-04-16T17:54:36.768-04:00The Birth of Days!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKcMEySGwrhE6KsznDyJOEdOfTxej32jXJtEQEYAGRSMYICPfek59mhzh18Xjgjv1nPXUwpWO_sWO8fqcg7P6Xn2P_WztB5yWNoBJIDOBsgFLEhcOMKWX84N8b_XAo16SZZt7lxqTV-Y/s1600/bday+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKcMEySGwrhE6KsznDyJOEdOfTxej32jXJtEQEYAGRSMYICPfek59mhzh18Xjgjv1nPXUwpWO_sWO8fqcg7P6Xn2P_WztB5yWNoBJIDOBsgFLEhcOMKWX84N8b_XAo16SZZt7lxqTV-Y/s320/bday+2.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div>I love my birthday. I was born on this day in 1959. It was a very good year. There was a time when I didn't appreciate getting another year older. I would sit and think about all the things I hadn't done. All the things I didn't have yet and of course getting older.<br />
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Now I appreciate each day. <br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #45818e;">This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.--Psalm 118:24.</span></em></strong><br />
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I woke up happy and blessed just like my Father wants me to be. God wants us to live an aboundant life. Free from stress and worries. Even with challenges I stay close to him to keep that peace. <br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><em><strong>"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.--John 14:27.</strong></em></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpRnMqYM5pRwrX13ROZHFuiZ7wFH9qh3-j9IbDZKm2Y61QUFmd9S4Xo8kTRu6LMiRb3eGmpOBrpjSWjzIiwM1WC_vrQE4Akzu5XthEmxlcwcP61yVuXVOfUMY6R85JQp6OCoWErgWPBk/s1600/bday+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpRnMqYM5pRwrX13ROZHFuiZ7wFH9qh3-j9IbDZKm2Y61QUFmd9S4Xo8kTRu6LMiRb3eGmpOBrpjSWjzIiwM1WC_vrQE4Akzu5XthEmxlcwcP61yVuXVOfUMY6R85JQp6OCoWErgWPBk/s320/bday+3.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div>I need it because I plan on living long and strong because God has given us that promise. When I grow up I wanna be an old woman :).<br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>"So you shall keep His statutes and His commandments which I am giving you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may live long on the land which the LORD your God is giving you for all time."-- Deuteronomy 4:40</em></strong></span><br />
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On April 6th I celebrated the anniversary of my second birthday. The day I gave my life to the Lord in 1982. So I am enjoying my favorite month. Tomorrow I go to lunch with family and friends to celebrate my birthday and they pick up the tab! <br />
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How do you feel about birthdays? <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ89mshJzBlusiVEEQmcCOo2hfyOuSqL1hal7xvwi1Uv_Teb5S5dKB8axiaYMJOJ7BpczwwZOWrlVCU9lHbNH7IWGTGp8EC8xaqlb58QS333Uj1tMMeUNx6Qvh6I8cF7FlMjWQ_s6nHhE/s1600/bday4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ89mshJzBlusiVEEQmcCOo2hfyOuSqL1hal7xvwi1Uv_Teb5S5dKB8axiaYMJOJ7BpczwwZOWrlVCU9lHbNH7IWGTGp8EC8xaqlb58QS333Uj1tMMeUNx6Qvh6I8cF7FlMjWQ_s6nHhE/s320/bday4.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><span style="color: #660000;"><strong>PS. Happy Birthday Shauna over at Trying to Stay Calm!</strong></span> <br />
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Analisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05572966946453192369noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762501246916351013.post-68249339985710951852010-04-12T17:30:00.000-04:002010-04-12T17:30:32.029-04:00When Life is Earthshaking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOYPWIHC62LxjKvbRFjOb4goxseHXTwt-cX5d9T4SZu3mpQzBWsAvRyoWYTUD-3rlPQdnSqsU_1z65SbDjIwuWjQpmsKWdcYur6uL46z0gOij32QFut68N-08ShenyIssRPtnqEon1g8/s1600/earth+from+space.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOYPWIHC62LxjKvbRFjOb4goxseHXTwt-cX5d9T4SZu3mpQzBWsAvRyoWYTUD-3rlPQdnSqsU_1z65SbDjIwuWjQpmsKWdcYur6uL46z0gOij32QFut68N-08ShenyIssRPtnqEon1g8/s320/earth+from+space.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div>Like me I am sure many of you have marveled at the increased amount of earthquake activity. I know the experts say the earth does this all the time and they normally occur without much notice. Not lately. They have been distructive and terrifying to those who found themselves without a solid foundation under their feet. No place seems safe. <br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><em><strong>So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Psalm 46:2(NLV)</strong></em></span><br />
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Even if you've never been in an earthquke you might be dealing with an earthshaking event. A few short hours after your child is born the doctor says the baby is not "normal". The short note found on your spouses empty dresser said, I want a divorce. The single teenaged daughter confesses she's pregnant. The family friend who molested you just called. Your addiction is discovered. You are living with the secret of your rape. The car accident you can't recover from. The invitations have gone out, but she says I can't marry you. The boss says, we can't afford to keep you on. A notice of foreclosure. The death of your parent. Drugs found in your child's room. The fire. The false accusation. The test results. <br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><em><strong>Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. --Psalm 34:19</strong></em></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUkOPvEjIoNAhEGcFjfLYHlzabXlt06OK2Iarm1W3n2TGY5gno-Kejybqjjac7v9MmEQpxu7bjocqjm8NYhggBVlSiVBSqUiQ9nkL_3Xx3r1WEDiUWpaAqsV36kFyoXFNomk8FzvOSso/s1600/crack+in+earth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUkOPvEjIoNAhEGcFjfLYHlzabXlt06OK2Iarm1W3n2TGY5gno-Kejybqjjac7v9MmEQpxu7bjocqjm8NYhggBVlSiVBSqUiQ9nkL_3Xx3r1WEDiUWpaAqsV36kFyoXFNomk8FzvOSso/s320/crack+in+earth.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div>Many? I don't know about you but when I read that I want to say "Wait God! I can live with one or two but many?" We like to think if we live right trouble will skip over us. It doesn't. But thank God for his promise to deliver us out of them all. Trust him to do that. God will also give you wisdom to deal with coming events. If you live in an earthquake area in California and have the means to prepare for an earthquake but don't that is foolish. In this day and age a little preparation is wise for us all. Not based in fear, but wisdom. Okay you say I can relate to that, but we can't prepare for everything. I agree maybe not in a physical way but we can spiritually. I don't want to be insensitive, but if you just got bad news DECIDE. While you are wounded and bleeding, while the doctors words are fresh in your ears decide. Decide how you will respond. What will your stand be. Will grief overwhelm you? Will you curse God? Will you ask why me? Will you fight? We must be rooted in grounded in the word.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJpjFNQh-VAftOsZ_XOvTaBerQPWyX9Teh1s4pC2YpAv1Dxnz8De9MSBfTZAjzYsMSPtb2mTFEnlw9IYb02sgFszZeVzySzQoz7rIdVxJ-LZh84PqndNjYhtJv-7epFleDDW8QWU_UP4/s1600/last+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJpjFNQh-VAftOsZ_XOvTaBerQPWyX9Teh1s4pC2YpAv1Dxnz8De9MSBfTZAjzYsMSPtb2mTFEnlw9IYb02sgFszZeVzySzQoz7rIdVxJ-LZh84PqndNjYhtJv-7epFleDDW8QWU_UP4/s320/last+home.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><span style="color: #134f5c;"><em><strong>"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.--Matthew 7:24-25</strong></em></span><br />
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Seeking God with prayer and mediatating on his word can prepare your for the worst of days. I have seen God in my own life step in and change circumstances that were hopeless. You have to get stubborn and decide no matter what I will trust the Lord for victory. <br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><em><strong>For the Lord GOD helps Me, Therefore, I am not disgraced; Therefore, I have set My face like flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.--Isaiah 50:7</strong></em></span><br />
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Friends God doesn't step back when these things come upon us. He is there at all times. He doesn't bring death and distruction. He is the help when it comes.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcRTGTmPMz61R922iTooEBVkp19LKxeD5OiXqdGLUUXuB4tSvh-B8m62YR5VkiKnbdyXqm_3GgY8vgCa0nSN42MqIeXobNLzKl_7eZvdS6TZRNdRPON3j4Q5yQxq5VaQZ-60wqsicnUM/s1600/earth+in+hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcRTGTmPMz61R922iTooEBVkp19LKxeD5OiXqdGLUUXuB4tSvh-B8m62YR5VkiKnbdyXqm_3GgY8vgCa0nSN42MqIeXobNLzKl_7eZvdS6TZRNdRPON3j4Q5yQxq5VaQZ-60wqsicnUM/s320/earth+in+hands.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><span style="color: #134f5c;"><em><strong>Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me."--Psalm 50:15</strong></em></span><br />
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You can have peace in the middle of disaster but it takes a committment to God's word. I find Psalms 91 to be a great source of comfort at all times a great daily confession. Peace to you.<br />
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<em><strong><span style="color: #134f5c;">Psalms 91</span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong><span style="color: #134f5c;">He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.</span></strong></em><br />
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<em><strong><span style="color: #134f5c;">2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.</span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong><span style="color: #134f5c;">3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.</span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong><span style="color: #134f5c;">4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.</span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong><span style="color: #134f5c;">5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;</span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong><span style="color: #134f5c;">6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.</span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong><span style="color: #134f5c;">7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.</span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong><span style="color: #134f5c;">8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.</span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong><span style="color: #134f5c;">9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;</span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong><span style="color: #134f5c;">10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.</span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong><span style="color: #134f5c;">11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.</span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong><span style="color: #134f5c;">12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.</span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong><span style="color: #134f5c;">13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.</span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong><span style="color: #134f5c;">14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.</span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong><span style="color: #134f5c;">15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.</span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong><span style="color: #134f5c;">16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.</span></strong></em>Analisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05572966946453192369noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762501246916351013.post-15356655784652764822010-02-20T11:16:00.000-05:002010-02-20T11:16:40.949-05:00Pass the compassion, please.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQc2Ss2c9AO6h5iuUgZtfl86XQTNrRL5BOJ6epWPWNFTZ7q0QeXp7myypK5gVLBSdxlAmRIsJE2uuq1HmC_ZtRQ09TfrOtybxCjiYKqIFUNIcIRv7c-lp6rjOVHlCR646Lq-oMO3Qip0/s1600-h/vanessa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQc2Ss2c9AO6h5iuUgZtfl86XQTNrRL5BOJ6epWPWNFTZ7q0QeXp7myypK5gVLBSdxlAmRIsJE2uuq1HmC_ZtRQ09TfrOtybxCjiYKqIFUNIcIRv7c-lp6rjOVHlCR646Lq-oMO3Qip0/s320/vanessa.jpg" /></a></div>When I was younger I watched the Miss America pagent. I listed the contestants I wanted to win and cheered them on. I can recall the questions host Bert Parks would pose. I guess he was checking to see if the Miss Kentucky had a heart to go with her beauty. <em>If you could give the world anything what would it be?</em> I thought on that this week. Do you know what I would give the world? Compassion. I know you thought I was gonna say Jesus, but God already did took care of that. <br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><em><strong>For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16</strong></em></span><br />
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This past week I read about a recent suicide of a designer, a wife divoircing her world famous minister husband, a white pop singers use of the "N" word, and the adultery of a pro golfer. With each came the usual public criticism. Compassion was rare. <br />
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You would think none of us had ever divorced, felt like giving up, or did something shameful. Not even the designer who hung himself the eve of his mother's furneral could chip the ice off some of the hard hearted. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtv8rtwoJWVoY3EQEmWuD-9_oOhseVrsTAX1r43Tc5dUqemhCLki23E2g2ekqa67P-vGR-SXS1kDoPlp8Cg9zK20eFTyIWxD5_IHkDv5qmwWA6uDeMynRcSCz8aPXtM5qn5W3krQJ6Dy0/s1600-h/finger+pointing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtv8rtwoJWVoY3EQEmWuD-9_oOhseVrsTAX1r43Tc5dUqemhCLki23E2g2ekqa67P-vGR-SXS1kDoPlp8Cg9zK20eFTyIWxD5_IHkDv5qmwWA6uDeMynRcSCz8aPXtM5qn5W3krQJ6Dy0/s320/finger+pointing.jpg" /></a></div>Look I am not pointing a finger I am squarely looking myself in the mirror because I <em>was </em>very judgemental.<strong> </strong>Thank God he has raised me to do better. I repented of the words I spoke against that golfer when that story broke months ago. He sinned against God and his wife...not me. <br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.---Matthew 7: 1-5</em></strong></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_b7E-UfWJBPwxzIG-BtfkQfjK-yzylOF_BWOukP4DeMNFyMiT6hrBIjCrPAPV4GVMiu-7_B001QXJ__ucgSukS91Y_eQ1YmxJ8OxY1R99FtVgWbX3cOs4uCgduUw9W6lvcS4Ltnylfcg/s1600-h/sad+mariyln.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_b7E-UfWJBPwxzIG-BtfkQfjK-yzylOF_BWOukP4DeMNFyMiT6hrBIjCrPAPV4GVMiu-7_B001QXJ__ucgSukS91Y_eQ1YmxJ8OxY1R99FtVgWbX3cOs4uCgduUw9W6lvcS4Ltnylfcg/s320/sad+mariyln.jpg" /></a></div>Once I saw a clip of Marilyn Monroe after her divorce from baseball great Joe Demaggio. Large camera light bulbs flashed all around her as she left the courtroom. She looked like a wounded animal. Later she said it was like everyone wanted to take a bite out of her. Why do we think it is ok to tear people apart because they are famous? Maybe because of all the practice doing it to the obscure. You know what I mean. To our neighbors,children pastors,bosses, relatives and friends. <br />
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Just in case we have forgotten the word says;<br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><em><strong>But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ---Romans 5:8</strong></em></span><br />
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Did you see that? Jesus came and died for the sinners. He didn't come for the I got it all together folks. He came for me. I still need his forgiveness. So before you pull the ladder out to climb up on that high horse remember this...the fall is greater from way up there. <br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><em><strong>For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.--- Romans 12:3</strong></em></span><br />
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<em><strong>Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall----Confucius</strong></em>Analisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05572966946453192369noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762501246916351013.post-47424087737521411042010-02-14T13:34:00.000-05:002010-02-14T13:34:12.894-05:00The Hunger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWpyNKvQLqFlrtfg0dOUS_fqPyeGrM-0DkIP1PFWisRIEJbSWamdbVfx_s8UOOTT3vCdhfCQKqOcspdcRRGEshfq7GBGXlhOGXJZZ7RgQGxOzJaztsBbzlQEHXa31RmdAcUIgcUBuSMo/s1600-h/cheesy+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWpyNKvQLqFlrtfg0dOUS_fqPyeGrM-0DkIP1PFWisRIEJbSWamdbVfx_s8UOOTT3vCdhfCQKqOcspdcRRGEshfq7GBGXlhOGXJZZ7RgQGxOzJaztsBbzlQEHXa31RmdAcUIgcUBuSMo/s320/cheesy+2.jpg" /></a></div>Have you ever had one of those days when you have a taste for something but don't know what it is? For me this leads trying several foods. Something cheesy or something salty. Then something creamy, then something sweet, then something spicy and then something medicinal for my heartburn. While I am trying all this at any moment I am expecting satisfaction, but it doesn't come. I am still hungry.<br />
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I have noticed this in other areas of my life. I will find myself flipping through the TV channels. Not in the mood for romance, history, comedy or drama I keep going. Finally I land on some show and when it ends the restlessness comes back. I begin the tour of channels once again. I am still hungry.<br />
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<em><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. Psalm 119:37</strong></span></em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaC6cMV_VSUE_WQzeJSb8-5kjgiVEtZ_oDhsXdi3sP-po_AW-6FIhkP-RewqrHM86H4Z2PT7b3jub5fPvYLIFt4PVOYmNItDti98CvsbfKp2cdh4p_9_IzvmUutGFvq2QkZ7nhtwyNno0/s1600-h/crossword.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaC6cMV_VSUE_WQzeJSb8-5kjgiVEtZ_oDhsXdi3sP-po_AW-6FIhkP-RewqrHM86H4Z2PT7b3jub5fPvYLIFt4PVOYmNItDti98CvsbfKp2cdh4p_9_IzvmUutGFvq2QkZ7nhtwyNno0/s320/crossword.jpg" /></a></div>I pick up a book, or a crossword puzzle and find a comfortable chair. I read a couple of chapters before I find myself distracted and staring out of the window. I start on the puzzle and after filling in a few answers my brain turns to mush and the things I know elude me. I am hungry. <br />
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I begin to take an quick evaluation. When did I last really devote some time to God? I know it is what I need to do, not later but now. I flip on the TV again and waste a few more minutes. I then feel a little pull in my heart to go and seek out the only one who can fill me with peace. I get my favorite bible and pull out my one year guide and find the selected passage. A twinge of guilt hits as I note the days I have missed. I take the thought captive by confessing God's love for me. I read and pray and my peace returns and my hunger is filled.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2cozVV8NTCCH8KjwZsnyg9It9GrN_8ALy_6JJ3pB-J2_2ettc6OQyWtpe1hB_ciiMFKLHH7MEfsgvJb-xEHZm0AaPh3CxnR4KoQeJfuuHgSaki4_e89iPQdB9PjkIIGX62-t4YdKLYI/s1600-h/deer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2cozVV8NTCCH8KjwZsnyg9It9GrN_8ALy_6JJ3pB-J2_2ettc6OQyWtpe1hB_ciiMFKLHH7MEfsgvJb-xEHZm0AaPh3CxnR4KoQeJfuuHgSaki4_e89iPQdB9PjkIIGX62-t4YdKLYI/s320/deer.jpg" /></a></div><strong><em><span style="color: #45818e;">...As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. Psalm 42:1</span></em></strong><br />
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We think we can live a life that is satisfiying without God's direction in it. As long as everyone is healthy, money is in the bank and food is on the table we can get pretty comfortable with just religion but we need a relationship. That only that comes from a commitment to the Lord.<br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #45818e;">'I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.--Jeremiah 24:7</span></em></strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’“But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ Luke 13: 22-27</em></strong></span></div><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="color: black;">Feed your hunger, go after God.</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxZytQuZkm4zGr1jIh91giVLy3X8XNimE4b4u0vP2yvgDGUfyZFpgGIQw5Lbyj3LiIhZjZ3tdwvzuxpl_WxrikvHDKFs30wLWbXHgc9uMK77tQ26lxLVlZDO0PrQmJjj3VXZsIFCi_QA/s1600-h/seek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxZytQuZkm4zGr1jIh91giVLy3X8XNimE4b4u0vP2yvgDGUfyZFpgGIQw5Lbyj3LiIhZjZ3tdwvzuxpl_WxrikvHDKFs30wLWbXHgc9uMK77tQ26lxLVlZDO0PrQmJjj3VXZsIFCi_QA/s320/seek.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><em><strong> Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.--Isaiah 55:6</strong></em></span><br />
</div>Analisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05572966946453192369noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762501246916351013.post-43760835420397246512010-01-23T11:24:00.000-05:002010-01-23T11:24:30.198-05:00Losses and Gains<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7JbDqrqpW9cUc6YTwaTAIMsUzkge8wDD6pAlGk-PAIQwZWpRicwAEeET3CrHRA5V_gZTd6YCmjCaim0G8mjx3FmbzQsMyAet3IbFZwcrwurFLX0-FljHVmdd8J0RP1kQBwmj_jkGDfk/s1600-h/betterdarkroad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7JbDqrqpW9cUc6YTwaTAIMsUzkge8wDD6pAlGk-PAIQwZWpRicwAEeET3CrHRA5V_gZTd6YCmjCaim0G8mjx3FmbzQsMyAet3IbFZwcrwurFLX0-FljHVmdd8J0RP1kQBwmj_jkGDfk/s320/betterdarkroad.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>On Wednesday night I got what we "temps" have named "the call". The call is what you get at home when the employer is not satisfied with you and has ended your assignment. So I have lost a job and I am moving on. I could fill this blog with all the reasons it happened but it doesn't really matter. I was put there by God for a reason and that was fullfilled. God is my source. Not a job, not a even a paycheck. The bible doesn't say that my job will supply all my needs according to my job's riches in glory. It says:<br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #45818e;">And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Phillippians 4:19</span></em></strong><br />
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So my current duties are as follows: to seek God and listen, update the resume, post to job sites and fill out applications. God knows the way I take since he established it. So I will increase my time in the word and the path will become clearer. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQni84WTu4IteX5OjXqWbDYgYsVegitdX0-JmPTpyWPV1u7Uq6Wa1wPEn6UoxqzkmZlSisIoxQl1cn9PvzbAypoJ5w_gP3HU6Zs4jZHxhcvsmRpYMEh_y1P2NOP1ffm7iR89W1pTCcmIY/s1600-h/sunny+tree+line+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQni84WTu4IteX5OjXqWbDYgYsVegitdX0-JmPTpyWPV1u7Uq6Wa1wPEn6UoxqzkmZlSisIoxQl1cn9PvzbAypoJ5w_gP3HU6Zs4jZHxhcvsmRpYMEh_y1P2NOP1ffm7iR89W1pTCcmIY/s320/sunny+tree+line+road.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><em><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. Psalm 119:105</strong></span></em><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #45818e;">But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day. Proverbs 4:18</span></em></strong><br />
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The agency called me about another job, with the same type of duties, they wanted me to start immediately. It was about 11:00 am and they were pressing me to start that afternoon. I felt instantly uneasy. I questioned them about the duties and they remained vague. Only that it was working in a call center for a media company. When I hesitated the womans voice became hard. She stated since the other job ended I should be gung ho about this. I asked if I could decide later and let her know. She said they didn't have time for that the company needed someone today. I reiterated that I would like more adminstrative types of jobs. Something they said they would find for me. I went on to say I didn't want to give the impression I am not willing to work, but would like to do something that fits my skills. Shortly after we ended the call. I wondered about it for a while until I knew in my heart if I had taken the job it would have been an act of fear, not faith. Some might think that was a mistake, just take something until you find something else is the common thinking. <br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty. Proverbs 21:5</em></strong></span><br />
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<em><strong><span style="color: #45818e;">Every man's way is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts. Proverbs 21:2</span></strong></em> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPx3HFEutcMu4J4NGVPVOM83NFAIbI4PUs4-xsqxNxJwz9oXqK5Hb7mKwimpkAAL0qFhCj3Gfc0NJCMBbphdN-QP1Z8sLu5qB4DLwYjVjztrCTwLiLFcV1TJZ-2aQJZIMwm8qOvIKbtQ/s1600-h/curvy+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPx3HFEutcMu4J4NGVPVOM83NFAIbI4PUs4-xsqxNxJwz9oXqK5Hb7mKwimpkAAL0qFhCj3Gfc0NJCMBbphdN-QP1Z8sLu5qB4DLwYjVjztrCTwLiLFcV1TJZ-2aQJZIMwm8qOvIKbtQ/s320/curvy+road.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>God never shoves you into a door to open it. He opens a door wide and gently points you in that direction so you may walk in. His love doesn't come with threats. When I fully lean on God and not my skills or others he steps in to help. I know God has planned my course and like GPS if I get off track he will redirect me. That means even if I was wrong God's mercy will put me on a path of success as I act in faith by submitting my resume to jobs that will pay the bills and provide benefits for my son and I. <br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:6</em></strong></span><br />
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I am walking on this path armed with more wisdom than I previously had. Not skills but how to work humbly before God. I wasn't used to doing so poorly on a job. Experiencing that stripped away hidden pride and arrogance and I am the better for it. <br />
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God wants us to walk in excellence not self exaltation. Knowing at all times that our help comes from him. Learning not to believe the hype about yourself. Be careful when folks say...you deserve it or with your skills you can get any job. Give God the credit. I know everything I have is a direct result of God's favor and hand in my life. <br />
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<em><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. James 1:17</strong></span></em> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNNCUQqae0uw9TPy1sqw9R2MfxRPeqavVx3xZhvxWh3KQXIjH5SXAu4KJ00JkoGSP5KD3kfmvNZtojPv4RNe15qDbRjjdSp8jGY_FsLge-GRoYRgJfGEiCFf4tXYIH42uSEB0GrKnYkE/s1600-h/peaceful+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNNCUQqae0uw9TPy1sqw9R2MfxRPeqavVx3xZhvxWh3KQXIjH5SXAu4KJ00JkoGSP5KD3kfmvNZtojPv4RNe15qDbRjjdSp8jGY_FsLge-GRoYRgJfGEiCFf4tXYIH42uSEB0GrKnYkE/s320/peaceful+road.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>He never changes and is a continuous giver. My heart and hands are open to receive whatever he gives and my feet are on the pathway he chooses and that is my great gain.<br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. I Timothy 6:6</em></strong></span>Analisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05572966946453192369noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762501246916351013.post-13170028579393476872010-01-17T23:20:00.001-05:002021-06-15T14:54:59.400-04:00Frustration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_R4RAfgtyG_Zd2p2IrUMO7gR0P_jLA8_pTmotVGEXLL9aUxOn39AxRNOSS1PU5bk_dQaCMnLzrU23kccTV3JJcifIVjlACZyoXd1O4_iRcKLtsyh3_ZoKZkFdd5fz0gPOYXpF0zpCYw/s1600-h/toilet+seat.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_R4RAfgtyG_Zd2p2IrUMO7gR0P_jLA8_pTmotVGEXLL9aUxOn39AxRNOSS1PU5bk_dQaCMnLzrU23kccTV3JJcifIVjlACZyoXd1O4_iRcKLtsyh3_ZoKZkFdd5fz0gPOYXpF0zpCYw/s320/toilet+seat.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>I hate being frustrated, but I often am. I am not one who likes to take a lot of time on something I consider simple. Like changing a toilet valve. I embarked on this simple project this Friday after breaking the existing one causing water to shoot out of the tank like a fountain. Armed with a new one I decided to replace it this weekend. The one thing they say not to do is to use any putty or glue to seal the attachment to the toilet. The manufacture knows one day it will need replacing and any glue or putty will make removal of the old one, shall we say difficult. The last person who installed it ignored that rule. So two days later I am still turning my bathroom water valve on and off in order to flush the toilet. Then again to fill the tank for the next flush. I could use my 17 year old son's bathroom. Have you seen one of those? Yeah...which is why I would rather be inconvenienced my own clean bathroom. <br />
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So on and off since Saturday I have attempted to remove the old valve which has led to my increasing frustration. Along with other "things" that needed my attention I hoped to at least have this checked off my list. Some problems aren't just going to go away in a couple of days or weeks or months, but they have an end date and while I wait for the resolution I have a promise.<br />
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</div><span style="color: #134f5c;"><strong><em>Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:19</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><strong><em>In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 56:11</em></strong></span><br />
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The toilet tank now has a small leak to go along with it's other issues. Every drop of water I hear is like a taunt from a boastful opponent to try to best them again. I just might. After all I have more than my own hands to help me. I recently read this in an issue of Everyday Life the magazine of Joyce Meyer Ministries.. <em>Ask God for help with the small things and the big things. After all every thing is small to God. </em><br />
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Love that!Analisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05572966946453192369noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762501246916351013.post-79536319773499339742010-01-09T18:51:00.000-05:002010-01-09T18:51:33.958-05:00Don't worry about it.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCHspii0jXsMPLCKHnnvlpMrV2ah9vaq5FLjF-2xdup_EgYuTaWNd7C4qJQPVFoUHjJ2gjI1LCvM36Nls6sDOzrI3x8xp107ISksdoBs13E6M5fD5jOthQ3xAwXP6bCom1BE13OaMMqE/s1600-h/more+paper+please.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCHspii0jXsMPLCKHnnvlpMrV2ah9vaq5FLjF-2xdup_EgYuTaWNd7C4qJQPVFoUHjJ2gjI1LCvM36Nls6sDOzrI3x8xp107ISksdoBs13E6M5fD5jOthQ3xAwXP6bCom1BE13OaMMqE/s320/more+paper+please.jpg" /></a><br />
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Friday I got scared. I am a temp on my job just getting to a place where I am not drowning. No joke. I felt so overwhelmed that Monday night I called the prayer line of one of my favorite ministries. I got this guy named Ben who listened and asked questions about the job. He prayed for my skills to improve and that I would have <em><strong>unreasonable favor.</strong></em> The last thing he said was don't get into fear<em><strong> it will kill your faith everytime</strong></em>. The next day I felt like a boulder had been lifted off my chest. I didn't dread going to work. I had joy in spite of the fact I had much more to do. I refused to worry and focused on giving it my best effort. <br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">"And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? Matthew 6:27.</span></em></strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB18guK2mD8ogNQBKTf2aU62YOJJgurNgZt0l1sri3p7BfJz1EOh5okpQG-g7AjaiJ7XazvQt3OKZ57xFXPrjOBQzQ_az2htekfJaizwoGfOmFSFfqok8cxaRcmSK1fiEvvxk3oLJ92rM/s1600-h/timeclock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB18guK2mD8ogNQBKTf2aU62YOJJgurNgZt0l1sri3p7BfJz1EOh5okpQG-g7AjaiJ7XazvQt3OKZ57xFXPrjOBQzQ_az2htekfJaizwoGfOmFSFfqok8cxaRcmSK1fiEvvxk3oLJ92rM/s320/timeclock.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Well the week went on and I was able to work lots of overtime and I was catching up a little. Then Friday came. I went to the supervisior and asked if I could do overtime that evening like normal and she said said I'll let you know. My shift ended and I lingered because she was in a meeting. So I got an email from some other kinda supervisor about an old case. Before I could figure it out I get another email.<em> This case has been reassigned no need to research it anymore.</em> My translation. You're inept and we need someone who knows what they are doing. Then I get another email from the kinda supervisor. <em>Please send a list of all your overdue cases.</em> My heart sank as I submitted the list. I had started working on some others I hadn't touched. I was embarassed and ashamed. Other staff, but not all, have managed to get all the December cases done. I felt defeat creeping in. Then another email comes from a manager at the temporary staffing company I work for. It was to the point. <strong><em>Call me right away.</em></strong> <br />
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I fought the tears back. My mind raced and I got up to see if my friend also a temp had gotten an email. No she reponded but another temp did and seemed upset. Fear gripped me and I went to the bathroom my friend following behind me. I was wiping away tears afraid I was getting fired. My friend handed me her cell phone and I braced myself and made the call.<br />
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<em>Hi, this is Analisa.</em><br />
<em>Hi Analisa I just have some feedback.</em><br />
<em>Yes. </em><br />
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</div><em>You aren't eligible for overtime.</em><br />
<em>Oh okay.</em> <br />
There is a cold silence as I wait for the other shoe to drop. I broke the ice floating around my neck. <br />
<em>Is that all?</em><br />
<em>Yep that's all Analisa. Bye. </em><br />
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Back at my desk I am not totally relieved. I submit my list of overdue cases. I do my timesheet. I put my extra pair of shoes in my bag and wonder if it's wise to leave any personal items there. I get another email. It's official. <em>According to your agency you aren't eligible for overtime, sorry. Have a great weekend.</em> I clock out and go home. <br />
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I 've done my fair share of wondering what Monday may hold. Then I decide not to worry about it. Then I decide again not to worry about it. I remember the prayer Ben prayed. I remember that I serve the only living God who does the impossible. I remember these words. <br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">For we walk by faith, not by sight-- 2Corinthians 5:7</span></em></strong> <br />
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</div><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="color: black;">I must keep my eyes on God. It may be a weird was of saying it put here goes. You know what it's like to watch a toddler. You try to keep them in view every second, but it's impossible. The moment you turn your head they fall down. You feel horrid. You comfort them kissing away the hurt. It is a common parenting experience. Only with God when you take your eyes off him <strong>you </strong>fall. God our father picks you up and kisses away the pain that happened when you looked away. I love him for that.</span></span> <br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="color: black;">If God wants me to leave this job it won't be as a failure. God has not planned any defeats for me. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><strong><em>For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, said the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11</em></strong></span> <br />
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Anyway He got me the gig in the first place, and he has the final say. Bless His holy name:).Analisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05572966946453192369noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762501246916351013.post-52558511197413097632009-11-29T18:59:00.000-05:002009-11-29T18:59:02.056-05:00Nothing to fear..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4B-iJel2xxgdxPMDx92cGAVftpxTE9_UBn0lTiRmj5LJ_97Uw1extnbgwldVMWm2hRwXMBgq7bVfq3qiLpl9VAlhixmaQ0DUhoi6n-3SN06lYVfeb5bVHp7BDeTyqnsr0D06Ncnzferg/s1600/fearful+blond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4B-iJel2xxgdxPMDx92cGAVftpxTE9_UBn0lTiRmj5LJ_97Uw1extnbgwldVMWm2hRwXMBgq7bVfq3qiLpl9VAlhixmaQ0DUhoi6n-3SN06lYVfeb5bVHp7BDeTyqnsr0D06Ncnzferg/s320/fearful+blond.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself -- nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.--Franklin D. Roosevelt</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Those words still pack quite a punch. Roosevelt knew what it meant to be paralyzed in his body and he used that word to describe what fear does. Read it again and note the words <em><span style="color: #45818e;">"</span></em><strong><em><span style="color: #45818e;">paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance."</span></em> </strong>That blow<strong>s</strong> me away. Fear can stop you from moving forward. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iTB_EvfEZ6rUNcocJtXhFW2Ifb73owCmDLHL7FrlTKLYcFNvFxKYp7g4Lx7yse8BWVQUQFf2mANPxgap1ZfAYqzwh_A8V5sL7UX7AOqnEnjmtwv0ynl1qUCjhvcWwlLfi_w7wEUSj2c/s1600/y2k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iTB_EvfEZ6rUNcocJtXhFW2Ifb73owCmDLHL7FrlTKLYcFNvFxKYp7g4Lx7yse8BWVQUQFf2mANPxgap1ZfAYqzwh_A8V5sL7UX7AOqnEnjmtwv0ynl1qUCjhvcWwlLfi_w7wEUSj2c/s320/y2k.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><span style="color: black;">In 1999 there was a lot of talk about Y2K(year 2000). Phones, ATMs, and computers were expected by many experts to break down. We were told we might not be able to get food and services. Our bank account might read zero. This was national news. Folks stocked up on canned goods and water, and cash. Many believed there would be an enormous impact and fear was creeping across the nation. The new year came and went without incident. Like in the days of Y2K we are once again letting fear creep across the nation. I hear it in the voices of friends and family, I see it in emails and blog post. We have decided no one is safe from some financial crisis. We have become the fearful. Fear is: <strong>F</strong>alse <strong>E</strong>vidence <strong>A</strong>ppearing <strong>R</strong>eal. I don't know who made up that little acronym but they got it right. </span><span style="color: black;"></span> I have decided to opt out this time. I am not going to worry about job loss, low pay or lack of benefits. Why? Because I know who my Daddy is. <br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>He who dwells in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the almighty</em></strong></span>--<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>Psalm 91:1</em></strong></span> </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLX2G-CrHJ_T90iXxNEY-H4_XrYLOFXaPPcka3EGST2JwGhKEl2nLTcod0G0bkqFggM3E86mm7lUF4L5DEZUuARlzWFmSaShXCTdN7fsyCKGFGxIIMOSwSDrWLrlcwLC7rYqvoLoL3Eb8/s1600/fear+at+phone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLX2G-CrHJ_T90iXxNEY-H4_XrYLOFXaPPcka3EGST2JwGhKEl2nLTcod0G0bkqFggM3E86mm7lUF4L5DEZUuARlzWFmSaShXCTdN7fsyCKGFGxIIMOSwSDrWLrlcwLC7rYqvoLoL3Eb8/s320/fear+at+phone.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div>Fear is not of God and it is not from God, he clearly states he didn't give us that.<br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.--2 Timothy 1:7</em></strong></span><br />
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Over and over in scripture we are told not to fear. Really? Yep really. <br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>Do not tremble and do not be afraid; Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it? And you are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me, Or is there any other Rock? I know of none.'"Isaiah 44:8</em></strong></span><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #45818e;">You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the LORD is with you."--2Chronicles 20:17</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #45818e;">Joshua then said to them, "Do not fear or be dismayed! Be strong and courageous, for thus the LORD will do to all your enemies with whom you fight."--Joshua 10:25</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #45818e;">"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you."--Deuteronomy 31:6</span></em></strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCO660r3_2mxW5i4XyObQmWlIoQ7L6PyYNByVeEkQNv0zJkuwtbgP2lwVNqOxlNifBB8d2qje70_krnLI1kIjixx53HewkFjLsC-4O9EcfZMF0AsNdwif7P7z6LMrvIn2Mes3NdEu6m4/s1600/bible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCO660r3_2mxW5i4XyObQmWlIoQ7L6PyYNByVeEkQNv0zJkuwtbgP2lwVNqOxlNifBB8d2qje70_krnLI1kIjixx53HewkFjLsC-4O9EcfZMF0AsNdwif7P7z6LMrvIn2Mes3NdEu6m4/s320/bible.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><strong><em><span style="color: #45818e;">"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.--Luke 12:32</span></em></strong><br />
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Ok so now you have seen it for yourself. God tells us not to fear. Why? Because fear is perverted faith, not the opposite of it. It is the act of putting faith in the negative outcome. We should keep in mind that there is no such thing as a healthy fear. There is however a healthy respect. We should respect lightning during a storm. We don't have to be afraid of it, just know the rules that govern it and respect them. Don't stand in the middle of the golf course with a club saying "I am not afraid of a little lighting." That would be foolish. I know bad things happen but don't assume it will happen to you. If it does, expect God's help.<br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>He stated "For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me." --Job 3:25</em></strong></span><br />
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We toss words around forgetting that what we say is power filled. Think about it. Has someone said words to you that still ring in your memory today? They could be kind and encouraging or harsh and critical. We still remember them. Words can impact how you live and choices you make. If you are dealing with fear concerning a situation, a loved one or maybe yourself, can I ask you gently to watch your mouth. Stop saying I am afraid I will lose my job, I am afraid my child will use drugs, I am afraid this illness might kill me. Stop speaking words of fear and try speaking words of faith. Monitor what you watch on TV and how much news you take in. If you are into dark, horror movies or shows with a lot of violence. You won't be able to shake the fear about your health, home, job or kids. You can take in the fears of the world and remain courageous. The enemy of our souls loves to use entertainment against us. Make good choices.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVdVqXsnb-JTRiNynW8K9UodqS45Izxum5mqAKOZGY24dPpjvQsDqOAJa9MYpaNCBTWz1kaZMeAf4JJ5JztINYszIPPZg6O9Z-lGDmKa8FTY3ObTZfiG_hm5WPP5zOoCt04W9zszTnEA/s1600/the+lord+is+my+light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVdVqXsnb-JTRiNynW8K9UodqS45Izxum5mqAKOZGY24dPpjvQsDqOAJa9MYpaNCBTWz1kaZMeAf4JJ5JztINYszIPPZg6O9Z-lGDmKa8FTY3ObTZfiG_hm5WPP5zOoCt04W9zszTnEA/s320/the+lord+is+my+light.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div>It takes effort to live a life of faith, but the benefits are so wonderful. If you are facing some harsh circumstances get your bible out. You can use the tab at the top of this page to Biblegateway and find topics with scripture references. I suggest a study of Psalm 91. Read it aloud everyday. Speak out those words of faith and drive fear out. We have nothing to fear God is with us.<br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>Your words were found, and I did eat them; and your word was to me the joy and</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>rejoicing of my heart: for I am called by your name, O LORD God of hosts. ... Jeremiah 15:16</em></strong></span><br />
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Analisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05572966946453192369noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762501246916351013.post-83476742281108096322009-11-26T08:28:00.000-05:002009-11-26T08:28:23.482-05:00A simple thanks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtEGk86SKR-qQhLMJLsVh0zn8fAqdFmtDtYD9DmKmmOlLEiRFIs2Ev1gtOc_80aCpKKTbrFaKjiX7C-DSorQfN6kOUWfKKR2My-BARjoNHanh-osxKeDjRuFx68heFl6DvKY4ycAifvw/s1600/happy+thanksgiving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtEGk86SKR-qQhLMJLsVh0zn8fAqdFmtDtYD9DmKmmOlLEiRFIs2Ev1gtOc_80aCpKKTbrFaKjiX7C-DSorQfN6kOUWfKKR2My-BARjoNHanh-osxKeDjRuFx68heFl6DvKY4ycAifvw/s320/happy+thanksgiving.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div>I want to say thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read A Word to Take Away and left a comment. It has made me feel close to you dear readers. I love doing the blog and it has been such a blessing to me. This blog has taken a course all its own, with Gods hand guilding and directing me. I come to the new post page sometimes with nothing to say. I take a moment to pray and God who is never at a lost for words drops a thought into my heart and lets me be his voice for a little while. It is my hope and prayer that he will continue to do that.<br />
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Thank you for the awesome comments and the emails. Thanks for being there for me as I have faced my own struggles. Thanks for prayers and the privilege of praying for you.<br />
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A special thanks to my first follower, Kathryn Magendie over at Tender Graces. Some of my first followers came over from her site which is a personal favorite of mine. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhID95jiPwl2Icd71jrOTcSt4maa-5ZF7dszbzINV77Xc2bykJJNMKreib-DDcmtAAXSTc9-k-Q1ZuC-VlHwS6tfr-je4vLu8wDuuZpLeFihkuEAGcg0CtF9gKD9RlDdv9VZz8JJzNTfs/s1600/woman+and+turkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhID95jiPwl2Icd71jrOTcSt4maa-5ZF7dszbzINV77Xc2bykJJNMKreib-DDcmtAAXSTc9-k-Q1ZuC-VlHwS6tfr-je4vLu8wDuuZpLeFihkuEAGcg0CtF9gKD9RlDdv9VZz8JJzNTfs/s320/woman+and+turkey.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">God bless you all and Happy Thanksgiving!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><em><strong>Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.-- Colossians 3:17</strong></em></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><em><strong> ....always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;--Epesians 5:20</strong></em></span> <br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><em><strong>First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,---I Timothy 2:1</strong></em></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><em><strong>Always say thank you 'cause folks don't have to do nothin for you--- Analisa :)</strong></em></span>Analisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05572966946453192369noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762501246916351013.post-80066125504055473112009-11-21T19:22:00.002-05:002021-06-15T15:00:41.814-04:00Worth waiting for<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJF-Nr_0_DgBYZvvrd8limawkFv8v92Q0GAMazwZdbTjZkAdUJxJ1UGQ1sbYfn51VZme9nwsamtLi_hI1tuRNsG5UCcfrK_oLHIsl58F2Xy1n05rdbTglLWGEHnDj4MgnGtDbBzGIlMA/s1600/waiting+in+line+black+and+white.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJF-Nr_0_DgBYZvvrd8limawkFv8v92Q0GAMazwZdbTjZkAdUJxJ1UGQ1sbYfn51VZme9nwsamtLi_hI1tuRNsG5UCcfrK_oLHIsl58F2Xy1n05rdbTglLWGEHnDj4MgnGtDbBzGIlMA/s320/waiting+in+line+black+and+white.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div>I am not a fan of waiting. I prefer not to do it at all but I have learned to do it well. The best method for me is to entertain myself during the lull. Like the line at the grocery store. I don't stare down the unprepared woman who is tyring to find her checkbook in a hand bag so enormous she will need a flashlight. Nope, I just pick up a magazine from the rack and glance over the pictures and skim the articles. Yeah it is easy for me when it is simple. Not so much when it's life altering and the wait is an extended one. So much time can amass that I can wonder if change is really coming. I know you have been there, might be there now.<br />
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Tired? Wondering how many more hits you can take? How much longer before you turn that corner? Don't give up. God has a plan and it is a good one. Why am I still hopeful about things I am waiting on? I know God can break through at any moment with the end to my wait. <br />
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In the bible there was a woman who had "an issue of blood". Some bible commentaries said it was either from the womb or the bowels, equally awful. For twelve years nothing changed. On top of that there were religous laws she had to follow.<br />
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<em><strong><span style="color: #134f5c;">" 'When a woman has a discharge of blood for many days at a time other than her monthly period or has a discharge that continues beyond her period, she will be unclean as long as she has the discharge, just as in the days of her period. Any bed she lies on while her discharge continues will be unclean, as is her bed during her monthly period, and anything she sits on will be unclean, as during her period. Whoever touches them will be unclean; he must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean till evening.'When she is cleansed from her discharge, she must count off seven days, and after that she will be ceremonially clean.---Leviticus 15: 19-28 </span></strong></em><br />
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</div>Not only is she <strike>addicted </strike> <strike>broke</strike> <strike>divorced</strike> <strike>unemployed</strike> sick but it limits what she can do. No going out with friends, no trips to the theater, no vacations, no wedding invitations no invitations at all. The situation changed the way she related to the world around her. How lonely she must have been. Yet one day she heard about Jesus. She ventured out, and made her way through the crowd. How did this sickly woman manage to get so close? Maybe the crowd recognized "the unclean woman" and stepped away from her. <br />
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<strong><span style="color: #134f5c;"><em>And a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. And Jesus said, "Who is the one who touched Me?" And while they were all denying it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing in on You." But Jesus said, "Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had gone out of Me." When the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling and fell down before Him, and declared in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how she had been immediately healed. And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace." ---Luke 8:43-48</em></span></strong><br />
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</div>God stepped in, and suddenly it was over. She was healed. She didn't have to meet any criteria or be good enough or deserve it. She just knew it was possible. Jesus said <span style="color: #134f5c;"><strong><em>"...your faith has made you well" </em></strong><span style="color: black;">In other gospel accounts of this story it says she spent all her money trying to get well. She was at the end of her rope, no more money and still sick? No more money and the mortgage is due, kids need clothes, and the list goes on. Don't get hung up on what you can see. <strong>Believe God in spite of what you see.</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="color: black;">Push your way in. Tell him what you need even if that means confessing you're afraid he won't help you. Start seeing yourself and your household healthy, out of debt, rescued and restored. Then write down the victory you expect to have.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><em><strong>"Then the LORD answered me and said, "Record the vision. And inscribe it on tablets, That the one who reads it may run. For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal and it will not fail <span style="color: #134f5c;"><em><strong>Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay. --Habakkuk 2:2-3</strong></em></span></strong></em></span></span></span><span style="color: #134f5c;"> </span>God has not forgotten you. Stay in faith and believe his word. Your touch from God will come suddenly, in the fullness of time. Isn't that worth waiting for?<br />
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Analisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05572966946453192369noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762501246916351013.post-78853715082877516252009-11-15T17:56:00.000-05:002009-11-15T17:56:24.914-05:00Ask anyway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvxCU1n3nVu-EElJLctO5vrX7C4BGez38_kEDRQuQBtat-ClsOIQXbAlPliZrRDdKmKXECvlXq1D36tBmvp3WThXe0GFR81t7P8wcDY7bWzDSh-3ugau-6hdJ7BtFZQh3dYmpMAiqPp0/s1600-h/cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvxCU1n3nVu-EElJLctO5vrX7C4BGez38_kEDRQuQBtat-ClsOIQXbAlPliZrRDdKmKXECvlXq1D36tBmvp3WThXe0GFR81t7P8wcDY7bWzDSh-3ugau-6hdJ7BtFZQh3dYmpMAiqPp0/s320/cat.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Have you ever said to your body" Hey I am tired, stop doing stuff so I can get some rest." Of course not. The body knows when it's time to rest. Our eyes get heavy and we slow down as our bodies prepare to rejuvenate by sleeping. That is how God designed us. He also made us for relationship with him. One aspect of that relationship is his promise to help. It is pretty one sided because God is never in need. Us independant folks can run into problems with this and can feel uncomfortable about praying to God about something we feel we can handle ourselves.<br />
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Once there was a King named Asa. He was a pretty good king. He got rid of the worship of false gods in his kingdom even removing his grandmother from her role as Queen Mother because she wanted to worship a false god. One day an enemy came with an army of three million men to war against Asa. King Asa prayed to God. He told God in his prayer there is no one who can help but you God. (2 Chronicles 14:11) <br />
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</div>Have you ever been there? Probably because trouble is common like rain. When King Asa asked God for help God gave it because Asa followed God. <br />
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God had given King Asa this wonderful victory over a huge enemy. Later trouble rose again but King Asa didn’t pray or ask for God's help. He decided to handle it on his own. He took treasures from the temple and paid another King to help him out. This displeased God and King Asa’s enemy escaped. God sent a prophet to explain to Asa why he failed. <br />
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"<strong><em><span style="color: #45818e;">Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim an immense army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand. "For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars." 2 Chronicles 16:8-9.</span></em></strong><br />
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Asa wasn’t perfect, but if he had just stopped trying to fix it alone I have no doubt he would've been victorious a second time. Look at how the verse above says, God looks on the earth for those He can strongly support. How great is that!<br />
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Last week I found myself murmuring and complaining. I knew I was wrong but I couldn't seem to stop. I had diarrhea of the mouth. Very soon I saw the the power to succeed fading. I was stumbling with things that normally would be easy for me. I became perplexed, upset and worried that I, like others who didn’t work out, would get the call not to come back to the job. Like Asa I neglected to seek God’s help and just tried to work it out on my own. When Friday came around I was a crying exhausted mess. Why? Because I didn’t ask for God’s help. I just keep trying to push through, manage it, and rely on my own wits. I have repented of that. <br />
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</div>Think of it this way. You're married. Your spouse is great, always willing to help and pitch in. One day after work your car breaks down on the highway in the rain. You have a phone but you don't call your spouse to pick you up instead you turn the phone off. You tinker with the car and nothing works. You're stuck. In frustatration you swear at the car. It's getting dark and it's miles from your home. If you just walk in the shoulder and wait for traffic to clear you might make it home in a couple of hours. Trucks and cars are zooming by and you know you are in danger of being hit. You think of how you should've taken your spouse up on the offer to take the car in for a tune up last week. So why bother your spouse now. You finally make it home. Hours late, you stumble in.Your feet are blistered from walking in your dress shoes. Your suit is wet and dirty. Your spouse, alarmed by your appearance runs over and embraces you. You explain about the car. What does your spouse say? You guessed it. Why didn't you call me? You say, I just didn't want to bother you. A look of hurt passes across the face of your spouse. Why? Because you don't understand how much they love you.<br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39</em></strong></span> <br />
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I think God is like that when we don't ask for help. He knows you really don't get how much he loves you. He desires to show you how much. God never intended us to handle this life on our own. No more than we would expect a three year old to make his own dinner, or drive himself to daycare. <br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10</em></strong></span><br />
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Our Father wants to help us with everything. Let him. Go to him over and over and over and over and over and then over again. His supply is limitless, his love matchless, his patience boundless, his mercy new every morning. It doesn't matter the size of the problem. This is the God of heaven, who as my friend Jane reminded me on her blog, numbered the very hairs on your head. Why would God do that? Because he wants you to know there is nothing to small or too great to ask for his help.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>O Lord, how many are my foes!</em></strong></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>How many rise up against me! </em></strong></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>Many are saying of me,</em></strong></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>“God will not deliver him.” </em></strong></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>But you are a shield around me, O Lord;</em></strong></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. </em></strong></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>To the Lord I cry aloud,</em></strong></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>and he answers me from his holy hill. I lie down and sleep;</em></strong></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. </em></strong></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>I will not fear the tens of thousands</em></strong></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>drawn up against me on every side. </em></strong></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>Arise, O Lord!</em></strong></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>Deliver me, O my God!</em></strong></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>Strike all my enemies on the jaw;</em></strong></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>break the teeth of the wicked. </em></strong></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>From the Lord comes deliverance.</em></strong></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>May your blessing be on your people.-- Psalm 3</em></strong></span><br />
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</strong>Analisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05572966946453192369noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762501246916351013.post-32331076492879946402009-11-07T20:02:00.000-05:002009-11-07T20:02:46.345-05:00Great Expectations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0uKkxh1d6oYPvnUa9zCLR1qg5VkOIAzc7ZM5QdMeo-Nu0LjrohFBxkJStDwGUmtop4F8aut3J8GGnCmyfyZV4oiyUJKSnxOaI1nyIS-0TiH2UYWNcFIjwrqIrLrkS0_G4MtJnsQa1os/s1600-h/garra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0uKkxh1d6oYPvnUa9zCLR1qg5VkOIAzc7ZM5QdMeo-Nu0LjrohFBxkJStDwGUmtop4F8aut3J8GGnCmyfyZV4oiyUJKSnxOaI1nyIS-0TiH2UYWNcFIjwrqIrLrkS0_G4MtJnsQa1os/s400/garra.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>We have all been there. We fall in love and one day words fall from the mouth of that knight in shining armor that pierces our heart. Or a promotion doesn’t come when it was promised in spite of all the overtime you put in. The illness comes back after you followed the treatments to the letter to cure it. Friendships end. Promises are broken. Loans are denied. Calls don’t come. Deals fall through. People don’t show up. You don’t get the job. <br />
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After a series of disappointments we don’t expect much. We begin to feel life is a little cruel. We pull our hearts back little by little and keep our emotions hidden. Years roll by and we rarely feel anything deeply anymore. Sometimes we attempt to mask what we do feel with humor, but our laughter is tinged with bitterness. Our world shrinks around us as we build a wall of protection. Why? It’s because we no longer expect the good. <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mZpS0-Io2470bSI1jNQYNOGOjjtfPBZxWKvlPXTFDX3a-2F7Aw8Docujdwf2O7mQ3vOT_hB8hG6nvJH7JlmpglMkT2xiAKhZyDiZrevEkyZSV-XapavL2dQh5xmPTbCvU6hyphenhyphenyLdq2xk/s1600-h/naruto+angel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mZpS0-Io2470bSI1jNQYNOGOjjtfPBZxWKvlPXTFDX3a-2F7Aw8Docujdwf2O7mQ3vOT_hB8hG6nvJH7JlmpglMkT2xiAKhZyDiZrevEkyZSV-XapavL2dQh5xmPTbCvU6hyphenhyphenyLdq2xk/s320/naruto+angel.jpg" /></a>Today I challenge you to get pregnant with possibility. I challenge you to expect more and live by faith in God. Expect success in everything you do. That’s right everything. Think that’s unrealistic? I know bad things happen, but I have decided to expect the good continuously. You can too. The more you expect the goodness of God the more of it you will see because he takes delight in blessing you. You’re the apple of his eye.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I choose to believe when I have to walk home in the dark the angels of God surround and protect me. <span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. Psalm 91:11. </strong></span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">When I have financial challenges I expect God to provide. <span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19</strong></span><br />
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</div>Times when I am puzzled I pray and expect God to give me wisdom.<span style="color: #45818e;"> <strong>If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5.</strong></span><br />
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If worry creeps in I remember his word. <br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Psalms 55:22</strong></span><br />
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See there isn’t an area in life where God won’t help and guide you. He never leaves us alone in this world. He is closer than a brother. God is the one who will never disappoint so just pin every care and hope on him. Have faith in God, he can’t lie. <span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19</strong></span><br />
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</div>Got that? He doesn’t lie, or break a promise. What God says he does. People will disappoint you, forgive them. Take all your disappointments to God and leave them there. Run to the one who will never leave you. <span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8. </strong></span><br />
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You can have great expectations because we have a great God who is willing and able to fulfill them. So pull up a chair to God's table and expect the good. <br />
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<strong><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: x-small;"><em>Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. --Psalm 37:4</em></span></strong><br />
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<em><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: x-small;"><strong>This is the best day the world has ever seen. Tomorrow will be better--R.A. Campbell</strong></span></em>Analisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05572966946453192369noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762501246916351013.post-53811962232868939582009-10-30T20:25:00.000-04:002009-10-30T20:25:05.840-04:00I am so unlucky<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7p9AxjLOxtHUn7AjSxNw44_2pXChnThrdBtVnkIHkdYIWKCbLukyz0ir_rAXIepfd4y2YKrD2ToL-hHmB6bwrUbmXM38h3eIcE9mhqL5oYjq4vXp2st35m1H4qWYwDKnojFwIknzHQU/s1600-h/unlucky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7p9AxjLOxtHUn7AjSxNw44_2pXChnThrdBtVnkIHkdYIWKCbLukyz0ir_rAXIepfd4y2YKrD2ToL-hHmB6bwrUbmXM38h3eIcE9mhqL5oYjq4vXp2st35m1H4qWYwDKnojFwIknzHQU/s320/unlucky.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div>Hold your collective sighs. It is not what you think. You see I am unlucky and I love it. <strong>Luck:</strong> <em>is success that seems to happen by chance.</em> That’s the definition given in the Encarta dictionary so let’s go with that. <br />
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It is almost comical to think I have reached the tender age of fifty by some stroke of chance. Or that life is like the old Doris Day song <em>Que Sera Sera /Whatever will be will be.</em> I actually like the song, the Sly & the Family Stone version, but not the sentiment. <br />
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An unplanned life is an unfruitful life. God is a planner. He wants us to be planners too. That doesn’t exempt us from stuff we don’t anticipate. I planned to live out my life sitting at a computer whipping out tales that warm the cockles of your heart, but I am flexible. I took a job this past week and I am fine with that. Eating was in my plan too. <em><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>“ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “ plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you” Jeremiah 29:11-12. </strong></span></em>See God plans, not little stokes of luck but intentional plans of good. I haven’t abandoned my plans with his help I have enlarged them. <br />
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</div>For instance Monday I planned to apply for some kind of government aid (groan)because my job searches had come up empty and needs were pressing. Sunday evening I began to think maybe I should stay home Monday. So I declared I am staying home. I laughed because I knew it was a little prompting from God. Monday morning a call came in with a job offer and I accepted. Other blessings came too after I send an email blast telling friends I got a job, but no way to get there. Soon I had enough to put more food on the table and handle transportation. One dear friend, who is also my computer guy, was blessed with a printer he promptly gave me, with six cartridges. He’s one of the folks who for months after my printer died provided hard copies of my email attachments. I am surrounded by loving caring folks and you. Is that luck? No it is the hand of God who loves me. He wants to help in any way like giving me a printer. My heavenly Father is so good.<br />
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The thing is the Father gives us free will. If you want to do it all on your own he will totally let you. He doesn’t overtake your life, he waits for an invitation. I keep my door open to him and he keeps the throne room open to me. I had needs and he met them. <span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Phillipians 4:19<br />
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</div>Sometimes we think our thing isn’t a big deal. No need to bother God about that when so many are worse off than we are. That’s very umm, well self sacrificing. Only God doesn’t need you to sacrifice yourself. Explore something with me. The first miracle Jesus did took place at a friends wedding where he changed water into wine. Did you ever think about why? Oh yeah they had run out of wine. So what! I mean was anyone going to die from that? Nope. Maybe the host would be embarrassed, but that’s it. Yet Jesus did the miracle anyway. It was done out of love. Your need doesn’t have to be great, it doesn’t even have to be a need. It could be a desire. God plans to meet needs and give you the desires of your heart. I promise you one thing it won’t be by luck. So what do you want? Ask the Father, he is just waiting for your request.. Hey take my word for it. I am the unlucky one and I love it. <br />
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<em><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: x-small;"><strong>"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8</strong></span></em> <br />
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<em><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: x-small;"><strong>Depend upon the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember it didn't work for the rabbit--R.E. Shay</strong></span></em>Analisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05572966946453192369noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762501246916351013.post-50082916596528341842009-10-23T19:52:00.000-04:002009-10-23T19:52:42.680-04:00Memories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhKc43SBmcBvqFqeiaEYyF9p42szyWDrvzFEvBd2AhkVL9ovfSdPznsvuVoUGGJBKqxISodSVppMbEippeiXB1kcm-oVIdGB6vzSfBq8h3hhBM61j8qYMrWuBL7FMGrGRs71qOnshkOM/s1600-h/katie+and+hubbell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhKc43SBmcBvqFqeiaEYyF9p42szyWDrvzFEvBd2AhkVL9ovfSdPznsvuVoUGGJBKqxISodSVppMbEippeiXB1kcm-oVIdGB6vzSfBq8h3hhBM61j8qYMrWuBL7FMGrGRs71qOnshkOM/s320/katie+and+hubbell.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><em><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>Memories like the corners of my mind...</strong></span> </em><br />
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I remember the final scene in the movie The Way we Were. Katie (Barbara Streisand) reached up to tuck a wisp of hair back into place on Hubbell’s (Robert Redford) forehead as they stood on the streets of New York. It was a chance meeting after the breakup of their marriage years before. The familiar gesture done with such love it just made you ache. <br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>Misty water colored memories…</em></strong></span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Memories at times so sweet they fill you with nostalgic longing of days gone by. Yet there is a flip side. Memories so dark and shameful we could never share them. Some recollections are good for life, others can hinder it. There are things on everyone’s “life film” that we rather not see. Yet we should press on like the apostle Paul said. I press on towards the mark of the high calling. (Philippians 3:14). He knew God had a plan for his life. It didn’t matter that he had persecuted Christians and stood by consenting as Stephen was stoned to death. Paul accepted God’s grace and forgiveness for the things in his past. You could be thinking of course he was forgiven, look what he was going to do for God. <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We can have a hard time believing the broad brush of God’s forgiveness. We say, you don’t understand. We say, if only you knew what I've done. We say, if you knew what was done to me. With our own standards there are things we deem unforgivable. Thankfully God doesn’t think the way we do. Forgiveness is a choice God extends to everyone. No exceptions. You just have to take it.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><em><strong>Could it be that it was all so simple then…</strong></em></span> <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Nope the past can be a complicated difficult thing. However God’s mercy can help you begin to take the sting out. With a few simple but powerful words the road to healing can begin. God forgive me and help me forgive others. Release me from harmful memories and let me think on good things. <br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>So it’s the laughter we will remember…</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><em>Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. <strong>Philippians 4:8</strong></em></span><br />
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</div>Analisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05572966946453192369noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762501246916351013.post-72653057649783970382009-10-16T09:52:00.016-04:002009-10-16T09:58:53.275-04:00My Testimony<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYojUK62lLt2ZNE9QPSvM2E_Vo1NsS4G4TsFgP61j9FQKvV9w_r1itcbcMxpIzHRnb5jiCb3CE_QyOvZaZpSootJ0c-n4bWJNJenid7ybOC53XSiLlc_99TRfo04yNZtdTe0nSzMoHheM/s1600-h/loney+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYojUK62lLt2ZNE9QPSvM2E_Vo1NsS4G4TsFgP61j9FQKvV9w_r1itcbcMxpIzHRnb5jiCb3CE_QyOvZaZpSootJ0c-n4bWJNJenid7ybOC53XSiLlc_99TRfo04yNZtdTe0nSzMoHheM/s320/loney+tree.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong><em>I hope this post will give hope to one person who may be in a dark struggle. It is a letter I sent to a friend many years ago who was going through a period of depression. With the exception of removing two very private things concerning others it is the same. </em></strong></span><br />
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My Testimony<br />
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<span style="color: black;">For we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.</span><br />
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I as you know have had some really dark days in my past. Days so dark that suicide was not something I thought about but had an action plan and goal that I attempted more than once to achieve. Life was a horrible task master and I wanted out. Days when I could barely make it into the house before I broke into tears. Days when I cried on the subway and bus because life felt heavy, way too heavy for me. Wishing and praying I would find someone to who could help me with the everyday chores of life, the shopping, cleaning appointments and work. Days when I would get dressed, but held on to the doorknob with my keys in my hand and sometime my son standing beside me bewildered because I could not get out of the house. <br />
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I stopped praying because I hated crying yet again about what had not changed in decades. I thought God what have I done so bad that I can not have the simple things in like a husband. Times when I would not cry because I was afraid I would not stop. Then I thought it was a test and I just had to be patient and maybe someday B--- would love me or get saved or whatever the scenario it would get so much better. Then later I said it was because I gave myself to too many so now the Lord is denying me my hearts desire, then I said oh it is over now because I am divorced and disobeyed God by marrying wrong I won’t ever have that.<br />
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I felt like every mistake I made was going to be a black mark against me. I said being a Christian was too hard, I can’t keep up. I can’t be nice enough, go to church enough and pray enough. I felt guilty every time I missed a Sunday or heard a message or prayer, or sharing your faith. I felt guilt and yes some anger too. God why did you make it so hard to follow you? Why can’t I have a Christian man who will encourage me , my child and we could grow together. That’s what you have done to others. Give me peace about being alone I said teach me to accept it…but He never did. I said well I know the bible says he loves me, but I guess not like some. I was going to church and learning but not much was changing in my life. I worked and went home. All the hurts and the rejections, the being treated like dirt on jobs, the unethical treatment from others wore me out. I became a little paranoid and a lot self centered, but I didn’t know it at the time. I could go on and on. I told God I could not take another loss. Another friend who does not call anymore, a past love who closes the door, an opportunity closed to me. I did not know how to pray then, and did not really care to. I kept saying God is loving but deep inside I thought he was cruel.<br />
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The biggest change came when I really understood how much God loves me. Maybe because I started saying God I need to see down here right where I am that you love me.<br />
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</div>It was like he was waiting for that request, waiting for me to say prove it Lord, that is moee than just going to heaven, more than church stuff and Christian sayings. I found He loves me so much that he tosses my sin into the sea of forgetfulness, and when the devil comes before him saying but she did this and this. God says, I do no recall that only that she has accepted the gift I gave when my son died. Instead of my sins he sees his son. I will never again live lime that is not enough because with it I became a conqueror and more. I tossed up my hands and said I am tired God and if you don’t step in and help me, I will be lost. He showed me that my depression was anger, for the things I did not get. Anger because I felt deep inside me the life was something I was given that was not fair. It was my mind and body rebelling against the truth God had put in my soul when I accepted Christ on April 6, 1982. I was once oppressed and depressed now I am free.<br />
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You will be free as well, just because He loves us.<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><em>If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.<strong> John 8:36</strong></em></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><em>I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. </em></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><em>My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. </em></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><em>He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. </em></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><em>Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. </em></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><em>The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. </em></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><em>The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. </em></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><em>The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. </em></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><em>The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. <strong>Psalm 121:1-8</strong></em></span><br />
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Thank you Jesus!Analisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05572966946453192369noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762501246916351013.post-67793744194100736792009-10-09T21:24:00.000-04:002009-10-09T21:24:29.355-04:00Born Creative<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The different ways we express ourselves fascinates me. Not just the words we say but what and how we produce. I was watching a PBS program this week that featured crafters. There was an American Indian who did elaborate authentic beadwork. A college professor who wove textiles and mixed colors using only the most rudimental tools and dyes. A blacksmith who designed the wrought iron scroll style gate that's still popular in the south. A mind blowing glass maker and a group of potters that formed stunning pieces. Most of these folks stepped into the role of teacher to pass their skills along to the next generation. That's how God wired us.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In Exodus 35:35 it says, <span style="color: #134f5c;"><strong><em>He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them master craftsmen and designers.</em></strong> </span>I love that. God endowed us with a little of himself to share with everyone. So we sing, act, cook, play, dance, write, paint and birth all manner of lovely things including babies. Then we get to enjoy what we have made, in this blue sphere of his creation. <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Creation hangs on the walls of galleries and museums. It stands proudly in store front windows. Its notes float out of concert halls from instruments and throats. Its colors and textures strut down runways and we pluck them from the racks. <br />
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</div>Some are creative thinkers and have given us wonderful technology and research that makes our lives easier. Or it takes form in the way the gifted tame chaos to create order that somehow remains flexible. It inhabits the one using ten bucks to feed a family with flavor and flair. All that jazz takes creativity.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So tell me…<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Do you think you're creative? Do you want to learn something to enhance your creative side? What would you like to pass on to the next generation? What creative expression is most like you? Come on share. We can inspire each other.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><em>Men are like trees: each one must put forth the leaf that is created in him---<strong>Henry Ward Beecher</strong></em></span><br />
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</div>Analisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05572966946453192369noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762501246916351013.post-5781045864590771462009-10-02T21:50:00.001-04:002009-10-07T13:30:34.465-04:00Let’s hear it for crying out loud!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzy4vgBA-QPYYIJ2BrD-Hpj1Tc8OwB4I8PHy7L0XmTNIhLTGhu5gEegakVA1rNJkmo_G8MEnTSlB3y8J4gqeAmgh5BmOA0oWgOGMFnrGSqdU_sIWV7Nn9HczbKidLEwI9_Sq2TVofQ9w/s1600-h/ok+to+cry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzy4vgBA-QPYYIJ2BrD-Hpj1Tc8OwB4I8PHy7L0XmTNIhLTGhu5gEegakVA1rNJkmo_G8MEnTSlB3y8J4gqeAmgh5BmOA0oWgOGMFnrGSqdU_sIWV7Nn9HczbKidLEwI9_Sq2TVofQ9w/s320/ok+to+cry.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Just yesterday a situation I found serious sent me on a mini crying jag.<br />
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The situation resolved itself in an hour or so but that was too late. The dam had broken and the salty water ocean of my brown eyes burst forth. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">While it was happening I was mortified, because it was witnessed by my son. Even with that factor I was unable to plug up the flow. I kept saying I was ok. Then I blamed hormones. At fifty I can perform a nifty little trick, I can be premenstrual and premenopausal at the same time. <br />
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</div>When I finally dried up I was thinking I’ve never done that before. Whoa! My brain like an efficient secretary went to the files and pulled out a reference. My mind flashed back to spring of 2000. Where I was sitting at a bus stop crying into my cell phone. Before arriving at the bus stop I held it together for over an hour in a dental chair at a teaching hospital. I endured shot after shot but they were unable to anesthetize the area needing work. In the chair I was calm and smiling after each failed attempt. How did they know it wasn’t working? The shuddering moans coming from me. Finally the instructor comes into the room. He quickly sums up the problem and apologizes. An infection and my high blood pressure are the culprit. I leave with a future appointment, walk two blocks to the bus and fall into a crying jag. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Wc_L-mo0DsLbMFT2O62ZIvFbyIwQhJBBJn8CyrADwlvugm2sryY6ugUazo5kO0S9HW29mMM3gp7i_WiXuJhgbPigk8gyhNeMBbbzEHqdejXtTjKEoclqwKIu-BOuGuYvS9fpbBUG4GY/s1600-h/suprised+crying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Wc_L-mo0DsLbMFT2O62ZIvFbyIwQhJBBJn8CyrADwlvugm2sryY6ugUazo5kO0S9HW29mMM3gp7i_WiXuJhgbPigk8gyhNeMBbbzEHqdejXtTjKEoclqwKIu-BOuGuYvS9fpbBUG4GY/s320/suprised+crying.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>If you don’t bend you will crack. If you don’t crack you will break. Crying is a signal to us that something is wrong. It can be a release for pent up pressure. A red light warning. I am the master of holding it together and I know I am not alone. Some of you have been carrying a weight that God never gave you or intended for you to carry alone. He is telling you set it down, because he will take it. This can be difficult for me because I like being the one who helps, not the one who needs help. Maybe you are the same.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPueS9rRhNFtr5ConFjfAyxTuQ8FRg94Fe-jjnIMbhOkcylwyYSslmEPcsxBigRp9lgsHh325w9FMNeJSr-hAomWRT3vI02P4BKQAnFc_-CkVXR_GCx5fNUsNi3FcVS8KuIYuuQrO-Zzg/s1600-h/healed+heart+by+god.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPueS9rRhNFtr5ConFjfAyxTuQ8FRg94Fe-jjnIMbhOkcylwyYSslmEPcsxBigRp9lgsHh325w9FMNeJSr-hAomWRT3vI02P4BKQAnFc_-CkVXR_GCx5fNUsNi3FcVS8KuIYuuQrO-Zzg/s320/healed+heart+by+god.jpg" /></a>This heart God put in me is tender, just like yours. Sometimes it doesn’t want to be the strong one. It cries out to God. It breaks. Tears flow and I admit my weakness. Then I find I am healed. Let’s hear it for crying out loud. <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.---</strong> <strong>Psalm 55:22</strong></span><br />
</div>Analisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05572966946453192369noreply@blogger.com14