A Word to Take Away

Brenda's Best Day

2011-10-02T16:45:00.000-04:00

I got a huge blessing this week, it made heaven shout. I led my friend from work, Brenda, in the prayer of faith.

Brenda made Jesus, the God of Heaven and Earth her Lord. Now there's this new life, this little baby in the spirit. I had so much to say, and was so full that later on the ride home I was tempered by my own awe of God. I can't express enough to Brenda how much her life will change. That's like going back in time and trying to explain email to William Shakesphere. Time and life will show her. I did tell her that while her life will be better, with God in it, she wouldn't be exempt from trouble, but never face trouble alone again.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.--2 Corinthians 5:17

"For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, 'Do not fear, I will help you.'--Isaish 41:13

Yeah, its awesome and at times for me, overwhelming. I want to show her so much in the word. I must remind myself, milk first because she is a babe. Keeping the confidence that Holy Spirit will guide and teach her. He will also direct me in what to share.

"When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,--John 15:26

Soon she will know that there are answers for all her fears, insecurities and worries. They are found in the word, waiting for her to apprehend them. Thank God she has become an heir of salvation and yes much more.

"All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the LORD your God:--Deuteronomy 28:2

Yes Brenda, it was your best day.

Don't Give Him An Inch

2011-06-28T21:03:00.000-04:00

You know the old saying, Give him an inch he'll take a yard? The same can be said of the enemy of the Christian. That old devil Satan. Give him an inch and he'll will surely take a yard.

Too often we sit back and just manage our lives to the best of our ability. We don't use the tools and weapons God gave us. When the enemy becomes invasive in our lives we cry out to God.

Lord, I just don't understand why all this is happening to me?

I think it could be the the inch we gave to the enemy. It was that day we got the job evaluation and the increase was poor. Did we take a stand against the enemy and declare that every need was met and promotion comes from the Lord? That was the inch we gave.

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.--Philippians 4:19

For promotion [cometh] neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God [is] the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.--Psalm 75:6-7

When the doctor said, at your age these things just happen and it's part of your families history.
Did we declare...Not so God made me? If not then that was the inch we gave.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made: marvellous [are] thy works; and [that] my soul knoweth right well.--Psalm 139:14

And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all [them] that hate thee.--Deuteronomy 7:15.

One time I got ants in my home. At first I would see one and kill it with a tissue and go my merry way. I didn't put down bait traps or use bug spray. I learned later the first ants are scouts looking for a way in. The scout leave a scent trail and send out notice to their ant army of the new base camp. Soon ants were literally coming out of the cracks. They didn't encounter any real resistance.

That's how the enemy is. He has his minions working to find a way to steal, kill and destroy. With no resistance he comes in strong and hard. He doesn't care if you just go to the doctor. He doesn't care if you just rework your budget. He only fears when you rise up with the promises of God in your mouth and speak against his attacks with prayer and faith.

So don't give Satan an inch. Make him fight for it. He will run if you do. Why? Because Dad said so.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.--James 4:7

Got Bread?

2011-06-05T21:04:00.001-04:00

I am carb addict and my favorite carb is bread. If carbs made you slur your speech or stagger when you walked. I'd need a twelve step program.

I love fresh slices of honey wheat bread, danishes, croissants, bagels, cupcakes, raisin bread, cakes, bread pudding and french bread. I could eat a sandwich every day for lunch because in my world the bread makes the sandwich.

However, God has a little more in mind when he speaks of bread.

But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'"--Matthew 4:4

Now the real bread of life is Jesus. If we neglect our time with Jesus we are lacking the bread of life.

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.--John 6:35

So when we pray like this
'Give us this day our daily bread--Matthew 6:11.

We in fact are asking God to provide us daily with his wisdom for us, from his word. But God isn't going to force you to sit and read. He isn't going to make the bible float across the room and land on your bedside table. We need to commit the time and energy and go after daily bread. I've committed the next 21 days to really get into the word and seek after God. To put aside some other interest that pull me away, but profit me little. I was getting plenty of carbs in the everyday world. Probably too many and wasn't full. I knew then what I was craving no earthy bread could fix. I am craving my spiritual carb. The living WORD the BREAD OF LIFE.

"For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.--Matthew 7:8

Be blessed.

Live in the Blessing or Die in the Wilderness

2011-05-08T16:41:00.000-04:00

I was reading the story of David and Goliath. You know the young dude who took on the giant. It was more to the story than just an epic showdown.

You can read the whole story in I Samuel 17. It begins with the Philistines army challenging the army of Israel with one man. He was so huge and scary no one in Israel army would step up to the plate. Heck they actually ran when he showed up. Then came David. David just didn't get it. He couldn't understand why everyone let this pagan giant threaten the people God was with.

As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.-- I Samuel 17:48-50

We should feel the same way. What's your reaction to trouble? Do you run or do you take a stand in faith. Do you believe the bad report? Or do you know that facts change.

God told his people they would get a land of milk and honey. A good land, a place they would have forever. However they had to believe God and take the land. So they sent spies in to see what the land was like and who lived there. The 12 spies came back and 10 gave a bad report. Oh yeah the food is good, the land is pretty but it's a land of giants.

But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”-- Numbers 13: 32-33

There out in the wilderness they were ready to pack it up and live with defeat. Except for one man. Caleb. Before the unfaithful spoke he did.

Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”

Caleb believed God. When life gives you hard blows will you believe God? Will you respond by saying what the word says? That's the key. When money is low, let the poor say I am rich. When sick it's by His stripes I am healed. When trouble comes it's I've been young and I've been old but I've never seen the righteous forsaken. When your dream seems dead it's, I know the plans God has for me, plans to give me a hope and a future. Are you faithful to believe God's word. To speak it in spite of your circumstance?

We can hide in our tents and beg for things to get better or we can rise up, with the word in our mouths and fight the good fight of faith. You have a choice my friend. You can live in the blessing or die in the wilderness.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.--Proverbs 18:21

A Great Salvation

2011-04-23T17:15:00.000-04:00

You know when I have the opportunity to see a movie or play about the passion I normally take advantage of it. I've viewed most biblical movies and take them all with a grain of salt. Why?  Because I know enough word and see where certain liberties were taken. Yet with one film I find the torture and cruxifiction of Jesus to be unflinching in it's portrayal. Yet by the stardard of the real barbaric act, still mild in part.

Most of us couldn't stand to see it as it was. We are a people of ease. Most of us don't kill and butcher our own food. Watching a human be tortured and nailed to anything is beyond our comprehension. Not an image we want to dwell on. We really never have a true picture but I think we should try to. Because we really need to think of the price Jesus paid. The physical torture, the spritual burden and separation from God. Then we need to ask ourselves this question.

How can we neglect such a great salvation?

For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard. --Hebrews 2:1-4

How can we be so ordinary, so passive, so unmoved? God help us, so afraid. Afraid to offend, afraid to lose friends, afraid of what our spouse, family, friends and co-workers will think.   How can we neglect our salvation like that.

How can we just roll with the things of the world? How can we be more political than lead by the spirit? How can we voice an opinion that's against the word? How can we take His shed blood for granted?  We didn't shed a drop of blood for our salvation. Jesus paid for everyone of us.

So now it's your opportunity to return God back to first place in your life. Or maybe to give God the place in your life He never had. Don't you think it's time to stop neglecting this great salvation that has been offered to you. The word is truly near to you. Just pray and submit yourself to Jesus, the only living God.

...“THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.” --Romans 10:8-13

Sometimes I Forget

2011-03-26T13:22:00.000-04:00

Are you like me? Do you forget God's promises because of the severity of your circumstances? I do it more often than I have time to tell.

Challenges like my son doing something I never thought he would. The favoritism on the job and work overload. My best friend's parent's illness, and money, enough said.

When I find myself awake in the middle of the night with all these things stomping around in my mind stealing the sleep and peace I prize. I begin to remember what God has done for me.

That it was God who saved me from two foreclosure attempts. Now my mortgage rate is set at 3% for the life of the loan and my payments are almost a thousand dollars less a month. Me worry over money? I don' think so. Because of a promise.

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. --Malachi 3:10-11

I remember how I was as a teen. How God kept my life, literally. He marked me for salvation and I had the prayers of my mother covering me. I know he has great things in store for my child. Because of a promise.

Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.--Proverbs 22:6

At my last administrative job my boss unjustly turned against me. God spoke to my heart and told me not to complain and to watch my facial expressions. I prayed and this same boss came to me one day at and event. She said, " I don't know what it is but you seem to have a glow on your face all the time". I just want you to know how much I enjoy working with you." This same boss promoted me and gave me 17% pay increase. Because of a promise.

For not from the east, nor from the west, Nor from the desert comes exaltation; But God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts another. --Psalm 75:6-7

If in any area of your life you feel like the circumstance are against you. Remember if the deck is stacked it's in our favor. Money, illness, being used none of it matters. God is on our side. Even in our imperfections, He is our loving Father and no weapon formed by our own hand or the enemy will overtake us. Because of a promise.

"No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their vindication is from Me," declares the LORD.--Isaiah 54:17

'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.--Jeremiah 29:11

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?--Romans 8:32

And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."--Genesis 12:3

BLESS GOD!!!!!

Mary and Elizabeth

2011-02-21T12:16:00.000-05:00

Do you have some one who believes in you? Who believes and encourages the vision God gives you?

Gabriel, an angel of the Lord came to Elizabeth's husband Zechariah.The angel told him his wife Elizabeth would have a child. His response, doubt. See Zechariah considered his own body and that of his barren wife. In spite of the fact that this was an answer to Zechariah's own prayers.

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” The angel answered, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.”-- Luke 1:11-20

So Elizabeth's husband didn't believe at first. But Elizabeth did. The same thing was happened with Mary. She believed God but Joseph, well no so much at first. In the same book, Luke 1: 26-38 you can read about how the Angel of the Lord Gabriel appeared to Mary. Mary believed his words and was told by the angel about Elizabeth's pregnancy.

Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”-- Luke 1:36-37

Joseph was I think confused in Matthew. What man wouldn't be. We read he wanted to put her away to keep her from shame. Not hers I think but his. Because the angel of the Lord said to him don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife.

Matthew 1: 16-21 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

So we have two women in highly unusual circumstances. Yet they came together in support of each other. Mary when she heard of Elizabeth's pregnancy left her home and went to see her cousin. She remained with Elizabeth for three months. She was greeted with high praise and recognized as the Mother of the Lord.

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” --Luke 39-45.

How great Mary must have felt. To come from doubt into the house of someone who believed her. Someone who understood because they believed God too. Who believed she had a word from the Lord for her life. Even when it was a crazy hard thing. I am not knocking Joseph or Zachariah. We like to think we would believe something so fantastic, but we probably wouldn't either.

Is there someone in your life that's believing with you and for you? Like Elizabeth was for Mary. Someone you can call when God drops a dream in your heart. Or something he wants you to believe.

Love your neighbor? Are your sure?

2011-01-23T20:53:00.000-05:00

I think one of the biggest challenges we face as Christians is to love. Yet God makes it clear we are to do just that. On the list of God's top priorities it ranks as number two.

One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ “The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12: 28-31

Perhaps you don't think it's a challenge. You say, "I am nice to everyone." "I love everyone with the love of the Lord." Do me a favor, challenge yourself. Are you really loving your neighbor? Neighbor as in whomever you come across in your life. Not just the folks next door. Do you love the people you meet in a store, at work, at home, on a plane, at the repair shop, any and everywhere. Do you love all races? We aren't talking just warm smiles and excuse me please. Don't get me wrong I love manners. I am talking about more.

God the Father loved us so much that he stripped down his glory and came through the womb of a woman he made. This same love allowed the hands he designed to nail him to a cross. The cross that was made from a tree he spoke into existence. Now that's love.

So when most of us make the hippy declaration of " I love everyone" we probably don't even know we just lied.

Love always, always comes at a cost. It cost us our time and resources. It cost us our "rights" for what's right. It can cost you silencing your opinion for peace and so much more. If your love to others has never cost your a thing it's superficial at best. When we really love the way God desires it cost. So put your love to the test, and see if you really love your neighbor.

Love like the Father loves you.

No Punishment for Christmas

2010-12-23T23:28:00.000-05:00

After a long day at work I am relaxing in front of the TV. My son saunters into the kitchen and tells me I will probably get a call from his school. The call will say he missed a class. Well two classes today. He explains without emotion like only a teen boy can. That he spent that time in the nurses office.

My mommie sense begins to tingle. I pepper him with the usual questions.

What was wrong?

I felt sick to my stomach and had a headache.

How do you feel now. At this point I resist the urge to fly up from the couch and plant a hand on his forehead.

Fine.

I am sorry you didn't feel well. Have you been drinking water?

Water is my cure all. Especially with a child who was prone to migraines.
No not much.
Well make sure to drink some.
Crisis averted I lean back into the couch. Snatching looks to make sure he is fine.

Later the other side of me showed up. As a single parent you're always a little schizoid. Sometimes mommie. Sometimes daddy. The dad side of me has no questions about health. The dad side is more lawyer than nurse. Think Perry Mason.

So Paul what time did you get sick?

Uh right after lunch.

Um humm. So did you go to class and then get a pass to the nurse?
No. I just went?
So you went missing for two hours?
I was on a cot sleeping. I even set my alarm because I didn't want to miss all my classes.
Um mm. My um mm is full of suspicion.
Did the nurse give you a pass back to class?

No.

Why not? I shoot back smelling a kill.

I didn't see her, but other kids were in there too.
This is the classic grouping tool of the teen. As if the Perry Mason in me cares about what the other kids do. I know it I keep at him long enough I can wear him down. But I am tired and desire sleep not stress.

I think about the laptop I promised him for Christmas. If he's lying should he still get it? I move on keeping the rest of my investigation a secret. I call the nurse the next day. His alibi seems blown. However she isn't strong in her testimony. I remember sleeping in the nurses office in high school. You could hang in there for hours.

Back home I tell him my findings. He insist he was in the nurses office sleeping. He isn't wavering. I fire off a few more questions and drop it. When there is doubt you don't convict. Where there is grace there is no punishment.

That leads us to here. Right where you are. Are you carrying guilt . Do you think God is punishing you for some past sin?

When sickness comes, do you think it's God's little payback. When you wish for a mate and years go by. Do you think it's punishment for the divorce? What about finances. Do you think you struggle because years ago you made all that money you were selfish. So now God won't give you more?

If I can give grace, and yes a laptop to my son. Me a fallible human. Don't you think God can place His grace on you.

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.---Romans 3: 23-28

Jesus paid the price for your sins. Where sin is grace abounds. That doesn't make me want to sin more. It make me grateful, so grateful to the one God sent. Every lie, every sinful act, Jesus took my punishment and gave me forgiveness and grace instead. So No Punishment for Christmas. No punishment at all. While you're giving out gifts. Give some grace too.

Merry Christmas.

Thanks for everything

2010-11-25T14:37:00.000-05:00

I find it so hard to list things to be thankful for. Not because I have nothing to add to the list, but because my mind can't tally all the blessing.

Maybe 2010 is "annus horribilis" to quote Queen Elizabeth, a horrible year. If that's you can I just encourage you from where I sit? Or limp to put it more accurately.

See on this Thankgiving Day I have my leg propped up on a chair and ice pack on my calf. This is the second time in just a couple of months I had an injury to my achilles tendon. Not good for someone who doesn't drive and catches at least four buses each weekday. As I stepped off one bus to catch my other bus connection that was preparing to pull away. I went to into a trot and ping. My calf muscle contracted with such force I bent over frozen in pain. I made my way home fighting feelings of self pity. I prayed, praised God and cried. In too much pain to walk I stayed home from work the next day. It took serveral attempts before I could gain control of my emotions to call in. I hung the phone up twice before I could trust myself to speak. Why? I hate to appear weak in any way. Yet the choice was taken from me. After encouragement from my best friend. I let go of it. I let go of the days I might miss, the work undone, the impact to my pay and the care of it.

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.--2 Corinthians 12:9.

So I'am walking with a limp and yes the pain is pretty constant. Just when I think it feels better I make some move I would normally make which causes racing red hot pain runs to travel down my leg. Yet in my soul all is well. I am thankful. Not for the pain, but for the promise that I will recover.

My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him.-- Psalm 62:5

There is some irony in this. I just got hired with a major healthcare company. But my benefits don't start until next month, and maybe not until the second week. See the devil doesn't want me to enjoy the blessing of a new job. He wants me to complain. Yet God is taking what was meant for evil and turning it for good. So even in my light momentary affliction I can be thankful.

Because of my situation a young lady in my department volunteered to pick me up at my door and bring me home. On the car ride to work we passed a church I once attended. I remarked on it and she told me about the church she attends. It's my church. I then discoverd she was a believer. She invited me to service last night and we attended our bond in Christ cemented. I have met another person I will spend enternity with. How great is that! Now this light affliction has become a testimony of God's glory.

Let me make it clear. God didn't give me this affliction. So since the devil decided he would come after me. God is using it to show those around me that I am different. I belong to the Most High. God is mocking the enemy of my soul. Letting the devil know he has no place in my life. Healing? Well it's the children's bread isn't it? Like the sunrise it will surely come.

So if your year has been great and you have much to be thankful that's wonderful. If your year has been a struggle. Hold on. Help is on the way and deliverence will surely come. I am a witness.

Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.---Psalm 37:5.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."--John 16:33

Be blessed and have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Fear Part 2

2010-10-24T13:47:00.001-04:00

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.

So God didn't give that spirit to us, so where does it come from? It comes from the enemy. Satan has manipulated the culture of this fallen world to increase our fears. Fear is a faith killer. It always opposes the promises that God has given us.

How does fear get into our lives? Well what are we listening to? Watching? If we sit and watch two hours of news each night it can effect us in a negative way. I am not saying don't be informed, but even watching the news should be limited. We hear about lay offs, crime, health threats then start wondering if we are next. We feed our eyes and ears and it all goes into the heart. In the scriptures the heart represents more than love. It's the soul, our mind will and emotions. You've heard the sayings. "His heart wasn't in it" "Follow your heart:" "Your hearts desire". Those things apply to more than romantic love. The bible tells us to guard our hearts.

Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.--Genesis 6:5

Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.-- Proverbs 4:23

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.--Matthew 15:19.

Put in evil and evil will surely come out. Fear comes in different ways. We know if the kids watch a scary movie, they might just want to sleep in your bed that night. Ok that's an obvious manifestation. Yet not so obvious fears can show up later as insecurity, phobias, timidity and a fear of failure. Remember the bible calls it a spirit. It doesn't leave just because the movie is over. As parents we must use Godly wisdom in what we allow in our homes. Not just for our children but ourselves too.

One example is the vampire movies that have been around since 1922. Why are they so popular? Maybe because it's familiar. The vampire loves a mortal woman woos her. God loved and woos us to him. The vampire "undead" rises from the grave. Jesus rose from the grave. Vampire lives forever by drinking blood and promises you will live forever. We can only have eternal life because Jesus shed his blood for us. The vampire dies by a wooden stake. Jesus died on a wooden cross. See how the enemy has used something holy and twisted it. It happens over and over again in every genre of entertainment. We must remember that God will not allow His word to be mocked.

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.--Galatians 6:7

So if we plant these things in our hearts and mind they will come to pass somewhere in our lives. So what should you do to bring forth faith instead of fear. Decide to believe God's promises do as the word says. If we stick with that fear won't have a chance. Remember God's love wants the best for you.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. --Phillippians 4:8-9

Fear (Part One)

2010-10-03T17:15:00.000-04:00

The more I live the more I think God hates fear. He doesn't hate the fearful, but fear itself. I am not speaking of reverance. When the bible tells us to fear God. This doesn't mean be afraid of God. There's a difference. This qoute from the website gotQuestions.org explains Godly fear better than I could.

This type of fear does not necessarily mean to be afraid of something. Rather, it is a reverential awe of God; a reverence for His power and glory. However, it is also a proper respect for His wrath and anger. In other words, the fear of the Lord is a total acknowledgement of all that God is, which comes through knowing Him and His attributes http://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-fear.html

I am all about that kind of fear. I want to address is the other kind. The one God says over and over not to do. Don't be afraid. Don't fear. Those words are found hundreds of times in the scripture as a command and even encouragement.

Yet for many fear is so real. It can paralyze us and keep us from moving forward. Sometimes it can push us into making wrong decisions. I am ever watchful for it in my own life. Like a shadow it lurks in the corners waiting for me to accept it. When I stand on the word, confessing the Lord is my light and salvation whom shall I fear, of whom shall I be afraid? The fear can't take the light of the word and runs off.

But fear is not always an easy enemy to rid ourselves of . Sometimes the battle is long and toe to toe. Remember the opening scenes of the movie "Saving Private Ryan" ? Yep some battles with fear are just like that. They leave you bloody wounded, shaken and emotionally scarred. So before fear comes, because it will come. We need to know more about fear to battle it effectively.

We need to ask hard questions. How in this day in age do we overcome it? How do we prevent it from coming into our lives? Did I cause this fear I have? Does the devil use fear? Have I passed on my fear to my children? I hope in the next few weeks to address some of those things. Showing how we have opened up doors for the enemy through cultural norms, entertainment and sadly our own arrogance. How we accept fear and call it concern, caution or worry. What steps we can take to keep it at bay and overcome it.

The first steps in combating fears is getting them out in the open. The devil wants you to think you are the only one. Do you have a fear? I do. Mice. Just thinking of them makes me feel uncomfortable. Thank God I don't have to deal them, but I once did. I still need God's help with the fear of mice.

So what's your fear. I have heard all kinds. One woman I know has a fear of creamy foods. (not joking) So yours could be, flying, spiders, fear of getting a disease, fear of losing a job, or home, fear of getting hurt, germs, the dark, public speaking, death, dogs,water,clowns, fear of divorce, being outdoors, death of loved one, heights, driving, fears for your children,certain foods?

It's time to put the light on fear and get rid of it. I ask everyone to pray for any fear someone is dealing with. So what's your fear?

'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'--Isaiah 41:10

Next week Fear (Part 2)

When Silence is Golden

2010-09-19T21:02:00.001-04:00

Sometimes I have very little to say. This never fails to surprise the folks around me. Why? Because they know me as a talker. I even talk to myself. It helps me focus. There is just something comforting about hearing my thoughts softly tumble out of me. Sometimes I give myself a little cheer. Or I am quoting the word under my breath.

However that's not always me. I pull back silently. Almost invisible to my surroundings and the people in them. Conversations go on around me. I don't nod or speak. I watch. I learn. I listen.

This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;--James 1:19

I become still to gain control over my emotions. I go quiet when I am challenged. But it's my personality to defend myself verbally. Believe me I am good at it and could debate a debater. But I choose not to nowadays. I choose silence. Becoming an audience of one I watch my God's defense of me.

No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their vindication is from Me," declares the LORD.--Isaiah 54:17

Sometimes the words locked behind my lips frustrate me and I cry. But the Father comforts me and my silence becomes golden. He whispers in my ear in a still small voice. Sharing His treasures. Giving me love, hope, peace and joy. And oh yes sweet victory.

"But the LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him."--Habakkuk 2:20

We can't take our words back. So sometimes it best to keep them. Be blessed in the glory of His presence.

Slip Slidin' Away

2010-09-03T19:56:00.000-04:00

Ever lost a relationship? Remember how it started to change. The long uncomfortable silences. The decrease of affection. Feeling more comfortable in a group than alone together. You both pretend nothing is wrong but you know something is.

Slip slidin' away

Slip slidin' away
You know the nearer your destination
The more you're slip slidin' away

The thing is I am desperate to keep this relationship. It's more than life to me. Yet, I can act like, well I can take it or leave it at times. I toss out a hello and say I know we need to talk. Tomorrow. I'll try tomorrow.

Slip slidin' away
God only knows

God makes his plan
The information's unavailable
To the mortal man
We work our jobs
Collect our pay
Believe we're gliding down the highway
When in fact we're slip slidin' away --Paul Simon

But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.-- Revelation 2:4

In relationship God reveals his plans for me. In relationship I find hope, love and peace. So why is it when I take that unbiased look at how I spend my time it screams of my indifference. I find I take advantage because I know He will be there. I toss out a hello, forgive me for not spending more time with you today. I know I need to read and pray. Lord I feel the distance I've caused. I make excuses and go to bed without returning the call on my soul. See I kept thinking God understands. But understanding and knowing are two different things. He knows why I do what I do and makes no exceptions for it in scripture.

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.--Revelation 3:15-16

See I somehow manage to watch, a movie, or favorite TV show. I go to work and sometimes cut short lunch or stay a little later to finish a task. I find time to talk to friends and family. Time to go shop and eat out.

The thing is God won't say you must read, you must pray, you must worship. No, but He clearly knows our need to. I need God. You need God. We need God. We need that close abiding relationship with Him. God should never take seond place to anything in our lives.

Slip sliding away.

God uses marriage as his example. He is the bridegroom we are the bride. Like any good relationship it requires effort and time. If you have neglected your relationship with God go back to your first love today. Start there and he will lead you to all the rest.

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.-- Matthew 6:33

No Forgiveness No Peace

2010-08-22T14:39:00.000-04:00

Recently I was watching a follow up story on the DC Sniper. The snipers killed shot 15 people and 10 of those victims died in the Maryland, Virginia and DC area.

Three survivors of the snipers were interview by William Shatner about their lives. Their stories are beyond heartbreaking. Two of the survivors picked up the pieces since shot. I felt joy upon hearing how they are moving forward. Not that they don't have issues, but they are in tact.

One of the survivors, hasn't fared as well. Along with physical difficulties from thirty surgeries. She suffered a divorce and mental breakdowns that resulted in hospitalization. The courts decided she might hurt her daughter or herself . So she lost custody of her nine year old daughter. It was very emotional. I just wanted to reach into the TV and give her a hug.

While the three of them shared all shared the same traumatic experience. There's a difference between her and the other two survivors. They found a way to forgive, she couldn't. I don't make any judgement calls. I feel what she has endured was a direct result of being shot. Yet, I know it's more than that. Not forgiving has devastating consequences.

Read this account on forgiveness found in Matthew 18:21-35.

Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. “When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. “But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. “So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ “And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. “But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ “So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ “But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. “So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. “Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.‘Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ “And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”

Wow read that last line again.

The Father will do the same to us. Turn us over to the torturers. Not a misprint or poorly translated. Just a fact. God says I forgive you, you forgive others. It doesn't matter what act was done to us. Shot, beaten, cheated, lied on, lied to, betrayed, molested, raped, or robbed. Pick one and God still expects us to forgive.

Even William Shatner knew enough to point out she needed to forgive. He quoted a line familiar in the Christian church. "Not forgiving someone is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die" Not only does unforgiveness kill the life God wants us to have, it also separates us from God.

"But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions." Mark 11:26

Say you forgive even it you don't feel it. Open your mouth and tell the Lord, I forgive _________. If someone ask for your forgiveness give it. Keep that confession in your mouth and your feelings will line up with the words you speak. Ask God to give you a tender heart and help you let go of the offense. This doesn't mean you agree with the act. It means you forgive the person for the act. God will heal your heart if you are willing to forgive. Be blessed.

The Burden of Complaints

2010-08-08T17:59:00.000-04:00

I'm old enough to recall the days of the official complaint desk. What's now called the customer service desk was called a complaint desk. I guess some savvy market executive decided it wasn't in the retailer's best interest to make complaining so easy to do. Smart.

I recently went back to full time work. After a short month I set up a complaint desk of my own. Well kind of. I questioned in my own mind how they did things. Weary with working my way around websites, procedures and people to complete simple task. I murmured and complained silently, but I was thinking like a complainer.

For as he thinks within himself, so he is...Proverbs 23:7

Soon I found a partner in crime. I will call her Lynn. We begin to vocalize our complaints in a funny mutual partnership. Misery loves company.

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!--Psalm 1:1

Yet something else was happening on the inside of me. My joy was fading and I began to feel the tedium of work. Soon I actually said aloud to another a co-worker "I am not leaving but I understand why the other two people did." WHAT!! When I got home it hit me. I couldn't believe I said it. I prayed nothing would come of my words. That my co-worker wouldn't even recall them. During this short period that lasted about a week. I came home at night feeling ungrateful, tired and burdened. This was not the witness I wanted to have.

The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.--Proverbs 14:1

When you complain you tear down yourself and others. It's only a short step from there to total defeat.

I confessed all this to my best friend who also faced this struggle recently. We talked about job challenges and how difficult it could be not to moan and groan about it. God knew what I needed. The very next day I heard two bible teachings. One on treating our blessings as a burden the other on complaining.

I repented and I've stopped complaining. I knew I wasn't pleasing God. I needed to continue to be thankful for my job. I told Lynn I was going to stay positive. That I was sorry for complaining. That since I was the "new kid" I had nothing to complain about. I reminded myself that just a few short weeks ago I was praying for a job.

The very next day after I repented and listened to those bibical teachings peace came. God helped me complete things I just couldn't seem to get to. Wisdom came and my days became much more productive. When people ask me how I am doing. I say good. When they ask and I am facing a huge challenge and deadline, I still say good. See I know I will see the goodness of the Lord in my situation if I continue to obey Him. When I fell into the cycle of complaining it created a burden. I forgot the words of Jesus.

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
--Matthew 11:29-30

Boundaries Set

2010-07-31T12:25:00.001-04:00

In the book of Acts the 17th chapter we come upon Paul after his conversion expounding to the men of Athens just who Jesus was.

The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,--Acts 17:24-26

Now I included verses 24 and 25 for clarity but my focus this week is on verse 26. That's where the word clearly states God sets the boundaries of our habitation. God detemines where you will live. The state, the city, town, the house, apartment, condo, hut, or tent. He determines all that in advance. Let me be clear, we are talking location not the condition. That is another blog. Do we have free will in this process? Yep. However as you walk with God he will steer you towards the boundary of your habitation. Can it change? Of course but if God has gives you an appointed place and you know it, no man can remove you from it.

'Cursed is he who moves his neighbor's boundary mark.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'--Deuteronomy 27:17

Now in 2004 God picked a home for me. I had no idea I would ever live in Gaithersburg, MD. Didn't know the area hadn't set foot in it. I lived in DC most of my life and until around 2003 loved it. Then was time to move. So I began to look. With little money I began to search. Then I got a random spostcard in the mail. They were advertising this condo development called Rosewood. I heard a guy in another department on my job mentioned to someone he lived in Gaithersburg. I asked him about it. He told me if you move there I will be able to hear you if you scream. Turned out he lived up the street from the place. He and I would become good friends. Anyway the first unit I wanted was cheaper. It looked out over a parking lot but someone had snapped it up. They had one more spot and it was perfect for me and my son. It overlooks a walking path and is tree lined. Perfect. My first home. When I found out how much I would have to pay a month I was heartbroken. Too much. Told I would lose my down payment if I backed out. I felt I had no choice I went forward. In the beginning God told me a storm ws coming. I began to get into the word more. Long story short in 2005 the lender started foreclosurer actions because I was late every month by one month. Yet God intervened. We are talking court and auction dates. I took off work one day just to pray. God said to me. Walk around the inside boundaries of your home, against every wall and pray in tongues. I obeyed God. At the end of this action God spoke these words in that still small voice. You will not lose your home

Ok you can't spend your time debating if tongues is for today or if God speaks directly to us. Have fun with that. God doesn't need me to defend His word he needs me to live it. God will have you do things that our natural minds want to reject. Yet when we obey watch God move in our lives. So God led me to an small organization that worked with my lender. They kept telling me, the lender won't do anything until you make more money. So I began to look for a part time job to work in the evenings. Then God said. I don't want you to take another job. I was like ok I know that wasn't God. Then it happened again, and this time the voice in my spirit wasn't so little. I spent many days in tears. Horribly afraid that I would be the cause of my son and I becoming homeless. Yet I felt torn but I obeyed God. Suddenly after months of struggle God stopped the foreclosure without me making a penny more. Then they told me when I would have to begin my payments and only after that did God give me a promotion on my job. I was good.

Then a few years go by. It's 2008 and God said leave my job. I wanted to leave my job before and used to chant out the gate in 2008. Now things were good and I was happy. A job where I was well liked. Making more money than I ever thought I could. Had my own office and two folks working under me. We are talking beyond sixty thousand, with no college degree. God did that for me and now he was saying. Lisa it's time to go. The first thing I thought about was my mortgage payments. How is this gonna work. People looked at me like I was crazy. But I obeyed God after praying and wondering. I told myself it was to write. Because of course God is not telling me to just sit around all day. I had no idea until recently how much that time changed me. It was like a honeymoon only it was God and I forming a trust and bond that will never be broken. I am working for the Lord without an income except for four months making a little more than minimum wage.

I could filll up serveral blogs telling you how God provided without government help, but not today.

So now it's 2009. For a solid year not one mortgage payment has been made. I simply didn't have over two thousand dollars to give them. Then God reminded me of what he said before. You will not lose your home. I was like ok yeah but that was back then. What about now? Yes it was a struggle at times just making do. I didn't always get it. But I knew God had a plan. He said. When I speak something it is eternal. That blew me away. So without stress and worry I moved on I didn't have a care about it. God changed my lender twice. That was part of the plan too. All the time, I still haven't paid a dime. Not by intent. I was looking for work again knowing I had God's ok to do so. In June of this year I went back to work. June 30th to be exact, because God is exact.

I called my lender as soon as I was hired to tell them. As always they were remarkably kind and patient. It was sorta weird. A totaly different experience from what I had in 2005. There was this peace as God hid me. I knew beyond all doubt no one could take my house from me. This wasn't arrogance or self confidence. It was what I have learned while I was home. To totally on God for my daily bread. He has set my boundaries.

Now I pray you'll see God's hand in this. Not luck or coincidence.

A couple of weeks ago I heard radio annoucement for NACA. They help homeowners save their houses and they were coming to DC. Now I am only two weeks into my new job. I don't want to take off. I said God if you want me to go let me know. After that I get a letter in the mail from my lender. NACA's flyer is inside along with my lender's letter urging me to attend and saying they will be there to help modify my loan. See God in that? Me too. So I get the day off and go. They need at least 30 days of paystubs. By the time I go to the event it is July 29th. I am one paystub away. It's a very long process and I have to come back the next day the 30th. The night of the 29th I get home to find my paystub in the mail. Now I have 30 days worth of stubs. Remember I was hired on June 30th. See God in all that? Me too.

Now the end result. My mortage will be 790 less a month. I can pay this. My new finance rate is 3%. Fixed. For the life of the loan. That's right done, as long as I have the loan my payment won't go up nor will the rate. Now that is the God I serve.

I am told NACA is a Christian based organization. The atmosphere in the place was full of God's annointing. After people finished they allowed them come to the podium and to tell their story to the thousands of people sitting and waiting for their turn. People came to microphone praising God for what he did for them and thanking their lenders and NACA. I did too. Now I will be able to not just make payments but to pay it off.

God loves you and wants what is best for you. If you are having a problem holding on to your home. Go to their website. It's a tool God is using.

https://www.naca.com/index_main.jsp

Remember it is God's who sets your boundaries. Thank you Jesus!!!!

You have established all the boundaries of the earth; You have made summer and winter.--Psalm--74:17

Determined

2010-07-25T14:57:00.000-04:00

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.

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.

Like weight loss we may long for the slender person we used to be. However deciding and committing to eat healthy and workout is another matter. Some of us can drum up will power for a short period. Then we fall back into our bad habits. We lack real determination.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.--Provers 3:5

As I have gotten older I discovered that God doesn't expect us to do what is hard for us on our own.

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.

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.--Philippians 4:13

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.

"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.--Deuteronomy 6:5

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.--Philippians 3:14

What are you determined to do?

Who's the Boss

2010-07-18T19:18:00.000-04:00

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.

Memorandum
Date: Today
Re: My official shutdown
From: The Brain

Body,

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.

Intelligently yours,
The Brain.

Memorandum
Date: Eternity
Re: Rulership
From: The Holy Spirit
CC: The Body, and The Soul

Dear Brain:

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.

With love,
The Holy Spirit.

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

PAID

2010-07-05T13:54:00.000-04:00

Once I was deep in debt. My marriage ended and the household finances went from two incomes to one. Mutual accumulated debt was now my sole responsiblity. With six credit cards I needed to pay several creditors. In two years time I paid off all but one. Each time I made my final payment it was accompanied by an enormous sense of relief. I closed the accounts and distroyed the credit cards. I requested letters from each creditor stating the account was paid and closed by my request.

Now imagine if one of those creditors called and said I still owed money. I could confidently say, "My bill is paid in full."

Do you know what else is paid in full? Your sins. That's if Jesus is your Lord and Saviour.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.--Romans 5:8

Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;--Romans 6:6

Sin is paid for. Does this mean you'll never sin or need to repent? Nope but it does mean your sin has already been paid for. For me it would have been easy to open new charge accounts and go back in debt. You know what restrained me? Remembering the sacrifice of paying off my old debt. That is how I think about sin. It can be tempting but it's never worth giving into.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.--Romans 6:23

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, --Galatians 1:3-4

Unfortunately many have the wrong idea on this issue. They're under the impression that at death their good works or deeds will be weighed against their wrong doing. Then if they weren't too bad they will go to heaven. If horrible by their standards then hell. If that were the case we wouldn't need Jesus to die on the cross.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

So trust in that finished work. Jesus shed blood brings forgiveness. You can't earn it, but you can accept it by grace.

Faithful

2010-06-26T17:57:00.000-04:00

What does it really mean to be faithful? Here's the first definition in the Encarta dictionary: Unwavering belief. That alone was good enough for me but I will go ahead and give you the rest. Believing firmly in something or somebody, especially a religion or a political doctrine. 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.

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

Keeping our definition in let's move on.
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

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 church 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.

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.--Mark 11:22

So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.--Acts 27:25

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

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.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.--John 1:1

Catch hold of that, and the Word was God. 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 with you. Same with God. Since God equates himself with the Word then we should spend time in it. Only then will faith come.

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.--Romans 10:17

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.

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

Life on the Edge

2010-06-21T20:39:00.000-04:00

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 "Don't even think about it Scar"

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.

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

Did you notice they all answered the king? There were three replies recorded in scripture. I can just picture it. Shadrach says We really don't have nothing to say to you. Meshach points his finger and says But just so you know God will deliver us. Then just for good measure Abed-nego adds, Even if we get burned we still won't worship no statue. Ok that's the Analisa translation but it gets you there.

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.

Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. Hebrews 10:35

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.

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

The Love of Many

2010-06-15T11:41:00.000-04:00

Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.--Matthew 24:12

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.

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)

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.

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

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.

..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

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.

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?

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

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.

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. 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

Day by Day

2010-06-07T12:52:00.000-04:00

There comes a time in everyone's life we encounter a desire or need. It could be anything from finances to family. Time is spent praying about it, fasting, finding out what the bible says, and believing God. Yet as time goes by we find the need still looms before us.

If we aren't careful we will begin to count the days. We remind the Lord how we have struggled. We look down the road ahead and just see more of the same. We can become fearful and start to imagine how to manage in the days ahead forgetting to take it day by day.

"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."--Matthew 6:34

God knows about our worries. He knows that we look down the road without hope. We look back on the past and get caught up in time. Focusing on how long it's been already dealing with limited resources, illness, loneliness, and addiction. If we aren't careful we stop expecting God to change our situation. We lose our joy and just try to survive it. No longer a witness of God's grace and triumph.

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

But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.--Micah 7:7

God will hear you. Don't allow the devil to trick you. Stand on God's promises. Don't give up!

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.--Psalm 34:19

I can't tell you the day or hour or the when and where, but God will meet your need. He is not on our timeclock but He will move in the fullness of time.Take it day by day. Today you're one day closer to your miracle.

Danger Will Robinson!

2010-06-03T13:38:00.000-04:00

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.

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.

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.

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.

My mission is complete. All my blogger friends and visitors consider yourselves loved and warned.

This message will be replaced within 48 hours with my regular blog no further instructions will be given. :)

You must come in at the door

2010-05-30T11:28:00.000-04:00

Why do people say as long as you believe in God it doesn't matter what else you believe? You can be a Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, Scientologist or just howl at the moon and we will all meet in heaven. Do you know why they say that? I think I have an idea. It's because they are using their own criteria. People think they can set criteria for God. How is that when you can't even do it in your own country,state, city or town?

For example: You go to the local grocery store. You get groceries and push the cart out to your car and begin to unload. The only thing is you don't bother to pay. When the store employees come after you. You smile and say, Oh I know I didn't pay, I will pay next week. I am a good and faithful shopper here. The store says, But you must pay before you leave. When you insist nicely you don't have to they call the police. You wait because you're confident that the police will accept your explanation of being a good shopper. However the police arrest you for theft. The law backed the store.

God backs Jesus and Jesus says He is the door that leads to the Father.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. “But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. “To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. “When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. “A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.

So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. “All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. “He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. “He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.” --John 10:1-18

See the Father has this criteria that says a price has to be paid for forgiveness of sins and entrance into heaven. He sent his son Jesus to pay that price. He didn't send anyone else for that. JESUS alone was the one who paid the price.

This is why you can't get good enough to get into heaven. You can't earn your way in and that's just fine by me. I've taken the gift offered and walked through the only door that gives me access to The Father. There aren't many roads to heaven. There is only one. The way, Jesus.
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.--John 14:6

Special Delivery

2010-05-22T20:00:00.000-04:00

In scripture one thing is certain God delivers His people. It's a wonderful thing. Some of us have experienced it firsthand. God doesn't bring evil into our lives but He will use these attacks from Satan to show He is faithful and bring glory to His name.

You can live a life that pleases God and have horrible problems. Actually you can expect it. With the word comes presecution and affliction. Many are taught erroneously that if you give your life to Jesus it will be problem free. Sadly some use this as a witnessing tool. A problem free life is not what the bible teaches. It does teach that persecution and affliction comes in attempt to destroy your faith in God and doubt the word. This is seen in the famous parable of the sower. The parable is explained by Jesus and we learn exactly why the persecution comes.

“Hear then the parable of the sower. “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. “The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. “And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. “And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.” --Matthew 13:18-23

The whole point of the enemy's attack is to make you doubt God. It can be very difficult to stand when everything around you seems to be coming against you. I suppose the children of Isreal felt that way on the shores of the Red Sea. Finally free from slavery only to look back and see Pharoah's army coming after them. This was no little thing. This was an impossible thing with no one to help them. They hadn't forged weapons or trained for war. These were laborers, women and children. God for His glory delivered them.

“Thus I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” And they did so. --Exodus 14:4

God specializes in delivering His people. He wants the world to know that there is nothing impossible for Him. So when you are in that hard place expect God to fulfill His word and don't give up. He has a special delivery for you.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all--Psalm 34:19

..persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!-- 2Timothy 3:11

I've had my share of battles in life and find myself in one now. But thanks be to God He doesn't give us more than we can endure. Deliverance will come for me and it will come for you. Remember when we are weak God's power shows more profoundly.

Since I am afflicted and needy, Let the Lord be mindful of me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God.--Psalm 40:17

I love that God included this verse in the bible. It rings of His understanding of our humanity. God my God, do not delay. Amen.

Oh mercy me!

2010-05-15T20:19:00.000-04:00

In the book of Matthew there's a story of a woman who comes to Jesus with on behalf of her demon possessed child. She cries out for mercy.

Jesus went away from there, and withdrew into the district of Tyre and Sidon. And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.” But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us.” But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” And He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” But she said, “Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once.--Matthew 15:21-28

The book of Matthew shows Jesus as the Messiah the Jews have waited for. It's the reason he tells his disciples, I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Isreal. Jesus came to the Jews first. This woman knew she might be denied because she wasn't from the house of Isreal. She's not under their convenant and has no right to any of it's privileges. Still she comes to Jesus recognizing his lordship. Lord, Son of David she calls. He ignores her but she presses on. Finally reaching him she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” When He does speak to her it sounds like an insult. “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” Ouch.

Now this is the point where many would walk away in disgust. Imagine going to a minister God uses to heal people. You ask him to pray for your child. He says, Look I am called to take care of my church members first, not non members. Would you have enough faith to keep asking?

Anyway I don't think Jesus was insulting her. I think it was a simple parable showing why He was sent. He was referring to the people of Isreal, His children. How the word (bread of life) must be given to them first. Not to those without a convenant with God. Later in Matthew Jesus would repeat that thought again.

Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Matthew 7:6

This woman proved herself wise, and her answer spoke of her faith in Him. “Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” She knew she had no rights but had faith in God's mercy. Because of her faith in God her child was healed.

Have you ever been in a postion where you knew you didn't have the right to ask, but you did anyway? Like the time you had a bad day just to get pulled over for speeding on the way home. You confessed and asked the office to please give you a break. You got off with just a verbal warning. That's mercy.

For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.-James 2:13

In God's mercy salvation was extended to the world. We are all able to come and cry out to God for mercy in every area of our lives and He freely gives it. Oh mercy me!

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,--Titus 3:5

Listen Up!

2010-05-08T21:21:00.000-04:00

One day my son and I were talking about something. To tell you the truth I can't remember what it was. With a little frustration he said quietly "You won't listen you don't listen to me" It wasn't an outburst, just a simple statement. Those words stayed with me because I found he was right. So I began to monitor myself. I discovered I was hearing but not always listening.

This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;--James 1:19.

It's a normal part of my life to be sought out when people are facing difficult circumstances. The ability to give someone sound counsel from scripture is a God given gift and a responsibility. So God wanted to make me aware of this weakness. The correction came through my son because I obviously at the time I wasn't listening. Now I am learning to settle myself, be still and listen.

He who restrains his words has knowledge, And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.--Proverbs 17:27

See once I submitted myself to correction I began to hear biblical teachings on listening for God's voice.Through this He is showing me how to listen to Him more and really hear others. I believe reading the bible is the primary way God speaks to us. Yet we must move beyond just reading and take time to meditate on the word.

This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.--Joshua 1:8

My eyes anticipate the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word.--Psalm 119:148

One other way God speaks is when we pray. The problem is we have too many one-sided conversations. We pray to God and thank Him and leave. God desires to answer us but sometimes we don't stay around to listen. We miss so many of God's blessings and His wisdom when we don't earnestly listen.

And He said, "If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD, am your healer."--Exodus 15:26

Over and over in scripture God solved problems by first giving instructions. He would say, go here, say this, do that. He still does that but we must LISTEN UP. We must have our ears tuned in to heaven. Read the word and ask God to speak to you while you do. Insight will begin to leap off the pages of scripture. After you pray stick around and ask God to speak to you. He would love to talk to you. Don't take my word for it, seek Him for yourself.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;--John 10:27

Shipwrecked

2010-05-01T19:13:00.000-04:00

On a cold rainy Sunday morning you decide to sleep in. Secretly you are glad to have any excuse not to go to church. Anyway you tell yourself the church is not the building. You'll watch a few ministries on TV or read a chapter later. You think of all the time is spent at church and still your prayers aren't answered. In bed you start channel surfing and find a favorite movie. Church forgotten you settle in. Before you know it the day is gone. You look at your alarm clock too tired to read. You feel a little guilty but God knows your heart right? You climb in bed and rush through the Lord's prayer dismissing a stirring in your spirit for more.

And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.--Hebrews 10:24-25

Soon skipping church a couple of times a month is no big deal. You still put something in the offering and when you come you pray. You make sure not to miss communion. That's more than most folks do.

After a while you don't bristle at inappropriate jokes at the office. TV shows you thought offensive aren't really that bad. If they keep cussing you promise to turn it off but don't. A cute co-worker asks you join them for happy hour. You go because after all you deserve a little fun. You say Paul told Timothy to have a little wine. Even Jesus hung out with sinners so why not you. After a few glasses of wine you enjoy some harmless flirtation. You won't be serious with anyone unsaved, but you look forward to the dinner date you made.

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?-- 2 Corinthians 6:14

With time you don't bristle anymore at vulgar jokes at the office. Soon sexually laced movies are no big deal. It's just make believe and at least you don't watch porn. Now you have something more interesting to say at work when asked what you did over the weekend.

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. I John 2:15

At church you stop volunteering. It's a big church someone else will help out. Anyway you deserve a break. Now you can attend more Sunday events with your less uptight friends. You did surprise yourself in traffic yesterday when you dropped the F-bomb. But instead of repenting you giggled.

Soon your blossoming relationship has the benefits of marriage, without a license. You never thought you would get into a sexual relationship. You both care so much and maybe it will lead to marriage. Anyway you both agree celibacy in this day and age is unrealistic.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?-- I Corinthians 6:19

Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.--I Peter 2:11
An old friend in the faith telephones. Gently they express concern about your walk with God. They have the gall to say you've changed. Your friend offers to pray with you, but you decline. You think maybe they shouldn't judge. It's not like they live a perfect life. When they call again you don't answer. You never noticed how annoying your old friend could be. Every conversation doesn't have to be about God or the bible.

The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. --John 1:5

Do you know anyone who is drifting away? Someone who let go of their anchor in the Lord. Maybe it's you or a loved one. God is able to forgive and get that drifting heart back on course.

I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.--Hosea 14:4 KJV

Take the time to read Paul's encouraging words to, his son in the faith.

It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. --I Timothy 1: 15-19

Hate The Sin, Love The Sinner

2010-04-26T12:47:00.001-04:00

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.

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

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?

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

And again in the same book of the bible.

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

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.

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, “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.” Luke 23:39-43

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.

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.

For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb.--Psalm 139:13

Your hands made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.--Psalm 119:73

So how did Jesus handle the sinner?

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

He sat with the rejected sinners. Not only did he eat with the sinners. He turned his attention to the religious ones and told them how the sinners repented. He reminded them of how John the Baptist came to church going group asking them to repent but they ignored him.

"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

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?

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

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.

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. Such were some of you; 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

Birthday Lunch!

2010-04-17T18:23:00.000-04:00

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Toasting in my 51st year!!!! Thanks everyone I had a ball!

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.---Proverbs 18:24

You didn't really think I was gonna post with no scripture did ya?

The Birth of Days!

2010-04-16T17:54:00.000-04:00

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.

Now I appreciate each day.

This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.--Psalm 118:24.

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.

"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.

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 :).

"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

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!

How do you feel about birthdays?

PS. Happy Birthday Shauna over at Trying to Stay Calm!

When Life is Earthshaking

2010-04-12T17:30:00.000-04:00

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.

So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Psalm 46:2(NLV)

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.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. --Psalm 34:19

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.

"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

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.

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

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.

Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me."--Psalm 50:15

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.

Psalms 91
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
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.
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.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

The One and Only Jesus Christ

2010-04-03T13:35:00.000-04:00

I don't like depending on anyone at all. It's part of my nature and upbringing. Maybe that's why it took me so long to get it. You know get the fact that we can't do anything to really fix ourselves. We are most miserable when you put us up against a holy God. We could apply every self help book to our lives and soak our bodies in expensive perfumes and still our sins would stink up the heavens.

Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Romans 7:24

Don't get it twisted, none of us will ever be good enough to enter God's presence in heaven. We can't pray enough, fast enough, attend church enough or give enough. There is no enough on our own. There's just our lack. Still we insist on trying to do it. We try to wash our sins away with dirty hands. Dressed up for good deeds, full of pride and a deceived heart.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.--Matthew 23:27

We need our sins removed forever. We need to know what God wants and how to give it to him.

...who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father-- Galatians 1:4

Read it again in the God's word version.

In order to free us from this present evil world, Christ took the punishment for our sins, because that was what our God and Father wanted.--Galatians 1:4

See it was what God wanted. Jesus was not killed by anyone. No man had power over him. He was offered up as a sinless sacrifice by Father God for us. For you. Want to be accepted by God? There is only one way. The One and Only Jesus Christ.

No one takes my life from me. I give my life of my own free will. I have the authority to give my life, and I have the authority to take my life back again. This is what my Father ordered me to do."John 10:18

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.--John 14:6

Jesus died on the cross taking on our sins and he rose from the dead in victory. Your confession of that will save you. Not your good deeds. Nor can your bad deeds keep you from the Father if you confess Jesus.

But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART "-- that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.--Roman 10:8-10

God word is final. Read the prophecy written by Isaiah hundreds of years before the One and Only Jesus was born on earth.

Isaiah 53

Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light [of life]and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, he and will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors.For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

AMEN!

A request for prayer

2010-03-27T20:00:00.001-04:00

I once was a fan of The Simpsons. In one episode Bart had to take a test that he knew he was going to fail on the next day. Desperate he knelt and prayed to God for a snow day so he wouldn't have to go to school. His sister Lisa saw him and remarked with a smirk, "Ah prayer, the last refuge of a scoundrel." It was pretty funny.

Like Bart we often use prayer as a last resort. Most folks don't think of prayer as preventive or continuously needed. Daily millions take handfuls of vitamins to prevent illness. Yet we won't use prayer in the same preventive way. While we have a good job we need to pray for success and security in our employment. Pray for the government regularly before a decision is made that contradicts the word. Pray over our kids while they are babies about their safety and the adult lives they will lead.

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.--I Thessalonians 5:16-18

The bible says we need to pray without ceasing. Well of course I can't just drop to my knees in the middle of the grocery store or in my son's school at the parent-teacher meeting. Acting that way will make you the weirdo christian that folks don't want around. What is prayer exactly? You could read books on this question alone and that is not a bad idea. However in a nutshell it's having an honest conversation with God. Those conversations can take many forms. There's thanksgiving(a show of gratitute), supplication(an appeal to someone in authority to grant a request), adoration( the love of someone deeply), praise(words that express approval or admiration, e.g. for somebody's achievements or for something's good qualities),intercession, ( the action of pleading on somebody's behalf)and petitions (to urge for or against a course of action). Love those.

You can pray soundlessly, outloud, or in the Holy Spirit.

As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. -- I Samuel 1:13

In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.--Hebrews 5:7

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,--Jude 1:20

You can kneel, sit, lay on your face or stand. You can pray alone, with a friend, with your child or spouse.

"I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all your sin which you had committed in doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD to provoke Him to anger. --Deuteronomy 9:18

When he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.--Acts 20:36

You can pray in your room, in the shower, by a beside. You can pray in the morning, afternoon, evening or night. The where and when is not as important as the practice of it. Like Daniel did even after a law was passed not to pray to God.

When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.-- Daniel 6:10

The thing is my dear friends it to just pray. Don't get caught up in legalism. We feel we need to go through some kind of ritual before we can approach God. Like listing all our sins first and then asking forgiveness. God's not in heaven making a list of sins and checking it twice. If you have accepted Chirst then you're clean because of the blood of Jesus. That alone gives us entry into the Father's presence.

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.--Hebrews 4:16

Now the other side of prayer is listening. God is a talker. He loves words so much it's his first choice of communication. He is the creator. Wouldn't it be wise to listen to him?

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;-- John 10:27

When you make yourself availible to God he will speak and direct you. He loves it when you come to him. Just remember when you ask God questions make sure you stick around for the answers.

“If we pray little, it is probably because we do not really believe that prayer accomplishes much at all.”-- Wayne A. Grudem

Fallen? So have I

2010-03-21T21:05:00.000-04:00

We all blow it from time to time. Sometimes the failing is ours alone and done in secret. Sometimes it's a big visible mess that breaks close relationships. The enemy of souls, Satan will gently lead us away from our solid moral standing to compromise. One way to avoid the subtle call of sin knowing we are all capable of it.

.....for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God --Romans 3:23

In our pride we look at others mistakes and say I would never do that. However scripture clearly warns against such an attitude.

When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom.-- Proverbs 11:2

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. --I Cornithians 10:12

Our pride tells us it's no big deal. We can handle it. Don't be deceived. On our own we can't withstand the temptations from Satan. The enemy is sly, slick, wicked and powerful. He is rarely overt in his attack. What was a little peek becomes a long look then a bondage. A little taste becomes a habit. Satan plays us like an expert fisherman baits a hook. The bait is so appealing and shiny that we make a grab for it. Then we're hooked.

I heard a wise minister once say this about sin. "It takes you someplace you didn't want to go. Then it keeps you there too long. Finally it cost you more than you every wanted to pay."

That is exactly what sin does. It never has a good outcome, but it's always appealing to us in someway. Otherwise we wouldn't bother. You make sin less appealing by thinking the way God thinks about it and he says sin is deadly. It kills dreams, hopes, and anything good in it's path.

For the wages of sin is death --Romans 6:23.

With sin there is always a choice and God will prepare you to make the right choice if you listen. He will tell you what a little compromise can lead to.

...so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
--II Corinthians 2:11

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.--Ephesians 6:13

Most of the time when someone talks about temptation our minds think of things pertaining to our bodies. Yet we can be tempted into self-pity, burst of anger, selfishness, discouragement, worry, fear and a host of other unhealthy emotions. When you accept those emotions it's an engraved invitation for Satan to bring distruction in your life.

If you find yourself in a trap of sin, cry out to God. He is the only one who ever provided a way out and that way is Jesus. He loves you more than you could ever imagine. He wants to get you off the devils hook forever.

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.--I Corinthians 10:13

But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.-- Isaiah 53:3

Stop That Stinkin' Thinkin'

2010-03-13T17:45:00.000-05:00

This year my declaration is simple. "In 2010 I win!" Not very original but I say it just the same. Why? Because it immediately changes my outlook. It gives me anticipation of a good outcome. I think like, well I think like a winner.

You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And light will shine on your ways.-- Job 22:28
For as he thinks within himself, so he is...--Proverbs 23:7

This way of thinking doesn't come without opposition. Sometimes a dark thought will creep across the blue skies blotting out my sunny musings. Especially in the mornings. I am barely able to clear my sleepy eyes before the enemy, that grandmaster of lies begins yapping. Morning is one of the most vulnerable times of the day.The wrong mindset in the morning can throw the whole day off. It's during those times I have to choose to renew my mind by listening to the word or taking some time to pray.

So many times we jump up in the morning doing what millions upon millions do. Shower dress, go! We run on auto pilot to our destinations. Often filling our minds with the daily news or negative thoughts about work before we even get there. It should be different for us. We are called into transformation, sharing, studying, loving, and obeying to name a few. After our salvation renewing our minds is required.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.--Romans 12:2

Do not be conformed to this world? How can God give us such an instuction? Because we are to be separate in the way we live and think, but not from people who don't live and think like us. Thinking we should shun people has made Christianity out to be a snobby club full of judges who lack love for the lost. No doubt we should be separate from society's ideology. That ideolory is based on getting what we desire more than what God desires. Do you remember the old Hebrew National hotdog commercials? They stated why they don't use the normal fillers found in most hot dogs. They were required to keep it kosher. Their tag line was "We answer to a higher authority". So do we.

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." --1 Peter 13-16

The more challenges we have the more we should gives God's word first place. It's like training for war. We need to let go of "I want to" for training. Just like the kid who passes up a Saturday night out with friends because he has a midterm coming up. When your'e in a fight to win you don't have time for the same 'o same o'. You begin to look at time seriously. Refusing things not just because it might be sinful but because it doesn't enhance you.

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. --I Corinthians 10:
No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.--2 Timothy 2:4

Changing the way you think means seeking God. It takes time and dedication, but the rewards are wonderful. When you fill your mind with the light of God's word, there is little room for stinkin' thinkin'.

As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.-- I Chronicles 28:9

"Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?'For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.--Matthew 6:31-33

What did you say exactly?

2010-03-07T21:08:00.000-05:00

Have you ever really noticed the horrible sayings that float around in everyday society. Sayings that are really toxic to your heart, mind and spirit. We don't take what we say seriously but we should. Words are powerful. The just might be the most powerful thing we use on a regular basis.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.--Proverbs 18:21

You might think speaking certain words have no effect, because you don't feel like they really do, but your soul carries those words and they become a burden. Haven't you known someone who repeatedly spoke negative things and it became a self fulling prophecy? Good or bad what you say about your life yourself and your situation matters.

I can recall times when I would make a mistake and I would mutter idiot under my breath. Or say to myself Lisa that was really stupid. Judging myself for the major and the minor mistakes by words that slipped from my mouth without much thought. We think of God as judging our deeds when we die, but did you know he will judge every word.

But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. --Matthew 12:36

The mind, will and emotions, our soul doesn't make distictions between words said as a figure of speech or the words we mean. These are examples of careless words.

You will catch your death of cold.
My feet are killing me.
I was scared to death.
I laughed so hard I thought I would die.
I am gonna kill you.
I love you to death.
I am afraid I won't.....

I know you are saying come on those are little things we say, we don't really mean it. If it doesn't matter why are so many references to death and fear?

If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. --James 1:26

Do I really need to say anything about cursing? Ok I will say this. I used to love to curse. I have no idea why especially since my mother told us as kids that a lady never curses. Now feel a little sad when I hear others do it. Once I was in a small carry-out in D.C. Two young men came in while my son and I were waiting on our order. They were talking and literally every other other word was a curse word. It was pretty foul. After a few minutes of this, I just took a step over to these two guys and said in a motherly tone. Here you are two nice looking young black men, decendants of kings and the language that is coming from your mouth doesn't show that at all. It took them by surprise, but they each respectfully apologized and I thanked them. They went back to their conversation, sans curse words. They sounded far more intelligent without them, we all do.

A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but perversion in it crushes the spirit Proverbs 15:4

But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. James 3: 8-10

I constantly have to ask God for help with my mouth. I know one day I am going to eat my words so I want them to be sweet. How about you?

Giving is good, but so is receiving

2010-02-28T23:11:00.000-05:00

Over the years I have learned to recieve things from others. Don't get me wrong I love giving.

"In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" ---Acts 20:35

Please note, it doesn't say it is better to give, it says it is more blessed to give. It never says taking is bad or makes you somehow a lesser person. We are ok with the giving but somewhere inside we have a problem with receiving and often people who do. Yet there are clearly times in scripture when Jesus received from others.

At his birth the wisemen came and presented him with gifts. Some would argue he was a baby so it's not like he took it. Well what about the woman who came and poured out the oil on him? The gift was so costly even some of the disciples were offended.

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table. But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, “Why this waste? “For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me. “For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. “For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. “Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.” --Mathew26: 6-13

You see that? The gift was so expensive selling it could have helped many others yet Jesus still took it. Then told of how she would be remembered for it. Recently I attemped to refuse a gift of money because I didn't really need it. The givers pressed on really wanting to me to have it even after I explained. They insisted and I realized I was taking away their oppourtunity to be blessed by God for their giving.

And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."--Genesis 12:3

"Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure-- pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."--Luke 6:38

Giving is not always financial. It can be time, friendship, work or helping others. I love giving, but I will go on the record without shame to say I am learning to love receiving too. I love it when God pours that blessing back on someone who has shown me a kindness and I love when he pours the blessing on me. I receive more from God because I know my Father loves me and he delights in giving to me. Quiet as it's kept, love also takes. God takes our worship, praise, time and adoration. He loves it.

Think of a loved one struggling with serveral areas in life. They refuse every single offer of help. Their mentality is that God helps those who help themselves. A sentiment you won't find in scripture. Sometimes is is just pride that prevents us from taking help. Taking shouldn't be something that is done only when you don't have a choice. It should be a natural part of our lives just like giving.

So the next time someone wants to bless you, receive it. God will give you an oppourtunity to play that blessing forward.

Pass the compassion, please.

2010-02-20T11:16:00.000-05:00

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. If you could give the world anything what would it be? 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.

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

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.

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.

Look I am not pointing a finger I am squarely looking myself in the mirror because I was very judgemental. 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.

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

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.

Just in case we have forgotten the word says;

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ---Romans 5:8

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.

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

Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall----Confucius

The Hunger

2010-02-14T13:34:00.000-05:00

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.

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.

Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. Psalm 119:37

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.

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.

...As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. Psalm 42:1

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.

'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

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

Feed your hunger, go after God.

Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.--Isaiah 55:6

Works of Faith

2010-02-07T18:19:00.082-05:00

When we think of being called into the ministry we think of pastors or ministers in the pulpit who have committed their lives to God. It has become an excuse. God has chosen men and women for leadership roles in minstry. I thank God for them but what about the rest of us? We give reasons for why we don't share the bible, lay hands on the sick or invite people to church. Oh we get involved in church life but when it comes to one on one interactions.We say, well I am no minister. I don't want to push my religion on anyone, I am not perfect, and I don't know enough about the bible to share it. We toss those responsiblities back on God and the "men of the cloth" with a prayer and no participation.

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. James 2:14-19

Shouldn't we instead of always looking for an answer to prayer become an answer to prayer?
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. John 14:12-13

If we yield ourselves to God he will use our personalities, gifts and talents to reach those around us. Just share how you came to the Lord. How he has helped you in tight places. How you have come to know how much he loves you. It may not be with the skill of Paul or the faith of Peter, but if you just open your heart to a friend or neighbor. God will do the rest.

And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Mark 16:15

Share the love. It is the least you can do for the one who died for you.

Circumstantial Evidence

2010-02-01T15:09:00.001-05:00

In the courtroom circumstantial evidence is defined as evidence in a case which can be used to draw inferences about a series of events.

Allow me to paint a picture. A movie's opening scene is a small kitchen. The camera pans the room, the stove, refrigerator a small island in the center with a cutting board with what looks like pieces of fruit on it. Then the camera pans to the floor, a woman lies there blood pooling on the floor beneath her. The camera shifts left. We see a pair of shoes, then pants, then a shirt as the camera pans up to a man. His shirt is bloody, he holds a knife, also bloody. We hear a scream as the camera turns to a young woman standing in the doorway that leads outside. She locks eyes with man and runs away terrified. Are we looking at a murderer? First a message from our sponsor.

Sometimes God will ask us to do things that put us in a place we don't desire. I don't read anywhere is the bible where the apostle Paul wanted to go to jail or be beaten but he was.

Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. --2 Corinthians 11:24-28

Paul had some hard circumstances. Now we have the benefit of scripture to prove Paul a worthy man. However if you know nothing about Paul just those verses about a man beaten over and over, shipwrecked and put in jail. Well you might start thinking there must be something he is doing that is causing his hardship. Maybe he didn't hear God right. Like when John the Baptist was in jail. His disciples came to visit him. He told them go ask Jesus is he really the one?

Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, "Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and report to John what you hear and see: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. "And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me."-- Matthew 11:2-6.

What made John doubt? His circumstances. Are you offended because of the circumstantial evidence in your life? Are hard times making you wonder if God really loves you? Don't allow the enemy of our souls to steal your faith away. God's word is constantly being put to the test and we must keep believing because his word is true.

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. Galatians 6:9

...for we walk by faith, not by sight-- 2Corinthians 5:7

Our situations shouldn't be the judge of our walk with God. Our walk with God should remain the same in spite of them. Don't judge God's faithfullness based on what you see because what you see can change.

Now back to our movie.

Dorie was cutting up fruit for a salad while her husband Tim looked on and talked about his day. She rinsed the fruit and carried it from the sink to the cutting board the water dripped onto the freshly waxed floor. Dorie never noticed she was enthralled in her husband's witty banter about the office. She took a handful of orange peels to the sink's disposal still carrying the knife in her hand. She turned back to the cutting board and slipped. As she fell she attempted to brace herself forgetting about the knife in her hand. It pierced her ribcage and everything went black. Tim raced to his wife's side, slipping on the same watery spot, his shoes left black skid marks on the floor but he regained his balance. His eyes grew wide at the sight of the large knife protruding from his wife's side. He leaned forward and lifted Dorie slightly thank God she was alive but her breathing was shallow. Attempting to help he pulled the knife out of her ribcage and was sprayed with blood. Startled he shot to his feet still clutching the knife. His mind was racing. Then he heard a scream and turned to look into the eyes of his babysitter and before Tim could yell "Call 911!" she ran away.

Things may look bad but they aren't always what they seem. God is there, wait on him.

I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. Psalm 130:5

And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

Isaiah 30:18

O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble. Isaiah 33:2

Losses and Gains

2010-01-23T11:24:00.000-05:00

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:

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Phillippians 4:19

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.

Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. Psalm 119:105

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day. Proverbs 4:18

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.

The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty. Proverbs 21:5

Every man's way is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts. Proverbs 21:2

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.

In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:6

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.

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.

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

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.
But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. I Timothy 6:6

Frustration

2010-01-17T23:20:00.000-05:00

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 attachement to the toilet. The nmanufactures know 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.

So on and off since Saturday I have attemped 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.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:19

In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 56:11

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 Minstries.. Ask God for help with the small things and the big things. After all every thing is small to God.

Love that!

Don't worry about it.

2010-01-09T18:51:00.000-05:00

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 unreasonable favor. The last thing he said was don't get into fear it will kill your faith everytime. 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.

"And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? Matthew 6:27.

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. This case has been reassigned no need to research it anymore. My translation. You're inept and we need someone who knows what they are doing. Then I get another email from the kinda supervisor. Please send a list of all your overdue cases. 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. Call me right away.

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.

Hi, this is Analisa.
Hi Analisa I just have some feedback.
Yes.

You aren't eligible for overtime.
Oh okay.
There is a cold silence as I wait for the other shoe to drop. I broke the ice floating around my neck.
Is that all?
Yep that's all Analisa. Bye.

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. According to your agency you aren't eligible for overtime, sorry. Have a great weekend. I clock out and go home.

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.

For we walk by faith, not by sight-- 2Corinthians 5:7

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 you fall. God our father picks you up and kisses away the pain that happened when you looked away. I love him for that.

If God wants me to leave this job it won't be as a failure. God has not planned any defeats for me.

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

Anyway He got me the gig in the first place, and he has the final say. Bless His holy name:).

The Mercy of the Vine

2010-01-03T20:42:00.000-05:00

I love entertainment, books, movies, television and music. Television is my first choice. As a kid I watched movies on television. In the D.C area Saturday night was Creator Feature with Count Gore De Vol on channel 20, Sunday was Playhouse 5, on channel 5 and the Sunday Night Movie on ABC. Lots of my hours were spent that way, before any real responsibilities or a life in Christ. It wasn’t a fruitful time.

Recently with two long weekends and time to lie around I spent a large part of that time watching television. I began to feel unsettled, lonely, and unsure. There was also a little fear lingering in the air. Whenever I went to pray my eyes stung and tears threatened. I quickly rapped up my prayer time. I read scripture, just enough so I wouldn't feel guilty. I didn't want to think about the things that were really bothering me. I wanted a break from thinking those issues and even praying about them. I went back to the TV feeling anxious, impatient and moody. When I should have been running to God I was running away. I disconnected from the vine.

"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." --John 15:5

I tossed out a prayer asking forgiveness for neglecting my relationship with God my Father and asked for help in keeping him first. Then I went back to the TV. I felt thirsty and weak and my list of concerns began to grow. You know food we can go without, but not water. I speak of the spirit not of the body.

"For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That can hold no water.--Jeremiah 2:13

And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.--Luke 4:4

I was amazed at how quickly my spiritual life began to wane. I remember how Jesus once told Peter that satan desired to have him to sift him like wheat. Our enemy is real and he is constantly on the prowl looking for someone to devour. I know this is not the time to put down my weapons.

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds--2 Corinthians 10:4

I haven't seen everything God has for me, my family and friends. I haven't yet walked in victory in every area of my life, but I will. Not that a battle won't come, but I will be a victor. So I picked up my sword and my shield and remembered the Lord God who helps me. The enemy scatters when the name JESUS is spoken. The confession of the word puts up a wall he can't penetrate. My prayer is a walk into the throne room where the enemy is not invited. My praise tears down his plans against me as the angels of heaven join me in song.

Thank you Lord for your faithfulness, when I am not. For your mercies which are new every morning. I need them everyday.

My resolution?

2009-12-27T20:44:00.000-05:00

I am not much for New Year's resolutions. I used to be, but it just keeps me too preoccupied with self. One common resolution is to lose weight. Which was always mine. Some folks vow to stop,cussing, smoking, drinking or some other habit they have no wish to drag with them into the new year. By March most resolutions are broken or forgotten. The more serious ones leave disappointment in their wake. Every April I was reminded of the pounds still on my midsection as I tried to enjoy my birthday cake without guilt. Like I said I am not much for New Years resolutions. This year I might just jump back into the fray. Well kind of but not with a traditional resolution but more of a resolve.

My resolve is to strive for a life continuously yielded to God. This is because simply stated, I don't always want to do what God says.

I would rather send a letter of complaint to the property manager and condo board about the first floor residents who insist on putting their trash in the hall until they take it out. I prayed about it and God said, take it to the dumpster. Really, God? Yep really. So I have yielded to taking out their trash when I see it. In spite of the fact I don't take out my own, that's my son's chore. When my job became something I dreaded, I decided to look for another. I prayed. God clearly said to wait. He went on to say that I was placed there for his plan and I shouldn't go to the left or the right without his direction. So I am waiting and it's getting better. I've gown to like it, some and I have found favor with my coworkers and received encouragement from my supervisor.

If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: Isaiah 1:19

I don't know about you but I need help to obey God, because I am nice, but not that nice. I need God's help to stay attentive, softhearted and quick to obey. I have to watch my normal tendencies to be anti social. Somedays in my selfishness I don't want to be bothered with people. Instead I prefer hours of isolation in front of the glow of the TV. What I need is to ask God each day to put the person in my path that needs a kind word or a smile or maybe just a little conversation. I might just be the only person they talk to all day. I need God to keep my heart open, so the friend or stranger can ask for prayer or advice without judgement.

Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Romans 15:1

So the New Year will not be about me, or my "self improvement" a humanist view that is limited. Instead I will let God do the improving by submitting fully and faithfully to him. It is where my joy is, my life is and my hope. To do his will is my daily bread.

"His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' Matthew 25:21

So this New Years Eve, I won't fault myself with the things I haven't done in 2009. I will instead look forward to the year ahead with God, my resolve and all the newness it holds.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Happy New Year!

Mary's Song

2009-12-20T20:24:00.000-05:00

There are very few words spoken about Mary the mother of Jesus. Some of us have just relegated her to the "Virgin" status and left her there. Some not wanting to be called "Mary worshippers" ignore her all together. Yet there is so much to learn from this woman of God.

She was engaged to a man named Joseph. In those days what we would call an engagement was called a pledge. It was binding as marriage and to end it would take a divorce. So here is Mary going about the business of her life probably happy to become a bride when she gets a visit from an angel.

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her. Luke 1:26-38

Wow, so this girl had this incredible experience that was going to turn her life upside down and she didn't think about the repercussions. She just had a will to obey God. I don't know about you but I might have said, "Hey wait a minute I am getting married." or "Could you please send an angel to my parents, they will never believe me." or "Don't you know they stone women around here?"

Not Mary, she just said. May it be to me as you have said. She only wondered how it was going to happen, then she gave herself totally to it. It didn't matter that it was uncomfortable. Or that she might be misunderstood or publicly disgraced. She left the consequences of her obedience to God. I admire Mary for that. It's no wonder God hand picked her to bring our saviour into the world.

She was in love with the God of heaven. Take this Christmas season to rekindle your love for the one who loves you. Read over Mary's song found in Luke 1:46-55 and have a blessed Christmas.

“My soul glorifies the Lord

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers.”

He's got you covered!

2009-12-13T14:34:00.002-05:00

In the job God picked for me there are several words I hear over and over each day. Three of those words are plan, benefits and covered. Most of us are familiar with those words because of our health care, car or home insurance. It's very disheartening to find you're uninsured or that the benefits package doesn't cover a specific need. Some insurance companies find loop holes so they don't have to pay up, even when the policy holder has loyally paid premiums.

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord instantly God's blessing plan is activated in our lives. It covers every need and circumstance. Get that? Every need and circumstance. You might be saying then why won't he do something? He did, two thousand years ago as Jesus hung on the cross taking every sin as his own. That was all God needed to do for us to walk in the blessing.

I am not a big fan of details. Who knew there was so much paperwork involved in being an adult? I have been guilty of signing up for health insurance and just glancing over the plan. All I wanted to know was how much was coming out of my check. Because of this I have missed out on benefits I didn't know I had.

In England there was an poor elderly woman who became seriously ill. A concerned neighbor sent for a doctor. The old woman was suffering from malnutrition. While there the doctor noticed a framed certificate hanging on her wall. He recognized the official seal and asked the old woman if she had ever worked in Buckingham Palace. The woman replied yes she had worked there many years for the Queen. She went on to say that on the day of her retirement many years ago she was given the certificate by the Queen herself. The doctor took it off the wall and read it. He looked around the room amazed at her living conditions. He asked the woman, do you know what this certificate says? The woman unable to read admitted she didn't. The doctor removed the certificate from the wall and informed the woman that she would never need to worry about money again. The certificate bestowed upon her a house, a generous pension and free healthcare all the days of her life. All the time the woman had been struggling to survive and everything she needed was in the room with her all the time. That is a true story.

Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord? Then you don't have earn the benefits of God, you couldn't if you tried. When you accepted Christ they came as part of God's blessing plan for your life. Dig into the word find out what God has promised you and thank God for his benefits. What you need has been there all the time. He's got you covered.

Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
The LORD performs righteous deeds
And judgments for all who are oppressed. --Psalm 103: 1-6

What is this among so many?

2009-12-06T21:46:00.000-05:00

Friday I got the mail out of the box before I made my way up the short flight of stairs leading to the condo I call home. I glanced through the mail some not bothering to open. You know the type, straight to the trash bin. I did come across one I had missed. It was a letter from an attorney's office about a debt. As I read each line, and the deadline to resolve it, my heart began to sink. My eyes stung with tears begging to be shed. I hoped to work out some kind of plan. Now it looked like a court date was looming in my future. It was the second time that day I opened and envelope and was dissapointed. The first was my weekly paycheck. With the office closed two days for Thanksgiving it was small. When I saw my check I must admit, this woman of faith smirked. I thought what can I do with that little bit. Now faced with another quandary those kind of thoughts came again. What is this little against so much?

This was what the one of the disciples voiced to Jesus. Like me he looked at the problem and came to the same conclusion. It takes place in the 6th chapter of John's gospel, it is great reading. There was a crowd that had followed Jesus and it was near the time of Passover and they had no food.

How can we buy we bread to feed these folks? Jesus asked Phillip.

It was five thousand men, not counting women and children. Jesus, asked Phillip that question as a test. He gave Phillip an opportunity to make a statement of faith. It should've been easy for Phillip you would think. He had seen Jesus do amazing things, but Phillip could only think of what he might do. He answered the way most of us would.

Jesus, it would take a lot of money and even then, they each would only get a bite and probably not even that.

Then Andrew comes up with a kid's lunch bag and says.

Hey this kid has two fish sticks and five rolls, but what is that among so many?

I had a smaller check and bills all around me. I was looking at the problems. Just like Phillip, just like Andrew. So quickly I had forgotten what Jesus is capable of doing.

Jesus said , Make everybody sit down.

I think Jesus made them sit so they could see him and what he was about to do. He then took the rolls, and gave thanks and passed them out. Then he took the fish and did the same. It was just a little bit, but he gave thanks. He never asked Andrew, Is this all you could come up with? Go back out in the crowd and see what else they have. Nope, that's what I would've done. You know what? Jesus didn't need anything from the crowd. He is the Creator God, he could have reached down and picked up a stone and turned it to bread. God wants your faith, he doesn't need your help.
So now the crowd was now sitting. No need for them to do anything. They were in a posture to see Jesus and receive from him. The bread and fish were passed around each took as much as they wanted and passed it on. Remember it's two pieces of fish and five rolls to feed thousands. After they ate they collected twelve baskets full of leftovers. Imagine that, enough for every household expense and an abundance left over to share.

I put the letter from the attorney's with my other bills and took my shower. I turned the radio to a local gospel station . Somewhere in that steaming hot shower my soul caught fire. I did what I have learned to do. I thanked God in advance and declared that he was my help. I went into the shower feeling overwhelmed, but I came out a faith filled woman. I know God will help me.

Saturday another creditor called with bad news. This time, I was not shaken. I kept my peace and God gave me favor by greatly reducing my monthly payments. Only moments before they absolutely refused to do that. All late fees were eliminated and I was given a finance charge that is so low it's almost invisible. I was reminded that God is my source not my job. That I don't need to make more money. No more than they needed to find more fish and bread. It didn't look like enough but it in the right hands it was more than enough. It can be so little, but with Jesus it does so much.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us---Ephesians 3:20

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.--Phillippians 4:19

He who gives attention to the word will find good, And blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.--Proverbs 16:20

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.--Psalm 84:11

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.--Malachi 3:10

Nothing to fear..

2009-11-29T18:59:00.000-05:00

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

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 "paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance." That blows me away. Fear can stop you from moving forward.

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: False Evidence Appearing Real. I don't know who made up that little acronym but they got it right. 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.

He who dwells in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the almighty--Psalm 91:1

Fear is not of God and it is not from God, he clearly states he didn't give us that.

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

Over and over in scripture we are told not to fear. Really? Yep really.

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

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

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

"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

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.--Luke 12:32

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.

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

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.

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.
Your words were found, and I did eat them; and your word was to me the joy and
rejoicing of my heart: for I am called by your name, O LORD God of hosts. ... Jeremiah 15:16

A simple thanks

2009-11-26T08:28:00.000-05:00

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.

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.

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.

God bless you all and Happy Thanksgiving!

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

....always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;--Epesians 5:20

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,---I Timothy 2:1

Always say thank you 'cause folks don't have to do nothin for you--- Analisa :)

Worth waiting for

2009-11-21T19:22:00.000-05:00

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.

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.

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.

" '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

Not only is she ~~addicted~~ ~~broke~~ ~~divorced~~ ~~unemployed~~ 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.

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

God stopped 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 "...your faith has made you well" 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 mortage is due, kids need clothes,and the list goes on. Don't get hung up on what you can see. Believe God in spite of what you see.
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.

"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 Though it tarries, wait for it;For it will certainly come, it will not delay. --Habakkuk 2:2-3 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 wating for?

Ask anyway

2009-11-15T17:56:00.000-05:00

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.

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)

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.

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.

"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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10

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.

O Lord, how many are my foes!

How many rise up against me!

Many are saying of me,

“God will not deliver him.”

But you are a shield around me, O Lord;

you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.

To the Lord I cry aloud,

and he answers me from his holy hill. I lie down and sleep;

I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.

I will not fear the tens of thousands

drawn up against me on every side.

Arise, O Lord!

Deliver me, O my God!

Strike all my enemies on the jaw;

break the teeth of the wicked.

From the Lord comes deliverance.

May your blessing be on your people.-- Psalm 3

Great Expectations

2009-11-07T20:02:00.000-05:00

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.

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.

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.

I choose to believe when I have to walk home in the dark the angels of God surround and protect me. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. Psalm 91:11.

When I have financial challenges I expect God to provide. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Times when I am puzzled I pray and expect God to give me wisdom. 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.

If worry creeps in I remember his word.
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Psalms 55:22

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. 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

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. 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.

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.

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. --Psalm 37:4

This is the best day the world has ever seen. Tomorrow will be better--R.A. Campbell

I am so unlucky

2009-10-30T20:25:00.000-04:00

Hold your collective sighs. It is not what you think. You see I am unlucky and I love it. Luck: is success that seems to happen by chance. That’s the definition given in the Encarta dictionary so let’s go with that.

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 Que Sera Sera /Whatever will be will be. I actually like the song, the Sly & the Family Stone version, but not the sentiment.

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. “ 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. 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.

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.

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. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Phillipians 4:19

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.

"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

Depend upon the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember it didn't work for the rabbit--R.E. Shay

Memories

2009-10-23T19:52:00.000-04:00

Memories like the corners of my mind...

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.

Misty water colored memories…

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.

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.

Could it be that it was all so simple then…

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.

So it’s the laughter we will remember…

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. Philippians 4:8