To My Sisters In Christ:

A Fire is Burning in Me!

2011-05-01T15:26:00.007-04:00

My heart feels like it is about to burst wide open for You Lord...
In your presence there is fullness of joy!

I thank You for Your presence, Your in-habitation, Your love,
Your grace, Your mercy, Your peace, Your Wonderful, Holy Spirit that resides in me, and fills me...

Thank You for continuously changing me to be more like You...
Purging me, dwelling in me, burning in me...empowering me to share Your love with others...

Most of all, I thank You for this inexplicable and seemingly unquenchable thirst--that burning desire inside of me to seek more of You, to know more of You, to drink of You, to breathe You, to sup with you daily...

Let the excitement that You've given me for You, (like fire shut up in my bones), run over with contagion to others...Freeing them of their inhibitions...setting them free...free to truly worship You for who You are!

For there is NO ONE else like You, for You ARE GREAT, You are MORE than worthy to be praised...

Halleluyah!
Halleluyah!
Halleluyah!

I love You, Lord...Halleluyah!

Father's Day 2010

2010-06-19T16:53:00.003-04:00

As this Father's Day approaches, I have found myself reminiscing about my daddy. I miss him. He had a HUGE personality! While this post is not really a tribute to Daddy, it is more of a reminder of God's love, and how we are to demonstrate it. I originally posted the post below in November 2008, but truth still stands: Love is a Verb!
==============================================

Three weeks ago, my father died. Even though Daddy had been sick for some time, he really did not start to appear to be ill until he started losing weight within the past year. The weight loss was a result of one of the side complications of his illness. Up until the very night that he lost consciousness, Daddy drove himself around, walked on his own strength, had his right mind, and was not shy about giving you a piece of it in an articulate manner. He was becoming a little forgetful though…

On October 19, 2008, Sunday morning, his wife could not wake him. Daddy was determined to be in a diabetic coma by the paramedics, and confirmed by the hospital doctors. The doctors were aggressive and did everything humanly possible to help him. He stayed in ICU for 12 days, and then was moved to hospice for his remaining days with us. We prayed without ceasing, looking and believing that God could send a miracle if He so desired. That was not to be God’s will. Daddy never recovered from the coma, and died peacefully while my youngest son and I were at his side on November 2, 2008.

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15

When I got home, I called a dear friend of mine at the church, and briefly told her what happened. She evidently called some other church members, and they began to pray for me and my family. I asked my husband to call two of my girlfriends to tell them the news also. They in turn spread the word, and I actually felt love all around me. I slept peacefully that night.

“The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them.” Ps. 34:7 (NAS)

My dear husband called my job the next day and spoke to my employers. He was told to relay to me to take my time coming back, and not to worry about anything. Soon, my phone started ringing off the hook with condolences, people checking up on me, and sincere offers of help.

Beautiful flowers and plants suddenly started arriving at my house. My living room became so flooded with cards, that I do not have a place to put even one more card! Friends started coming over with food. That’s when I first started to experience the self sacrificing love of others, and the love of God in action for myself. The Love Outreach ministry members at my church continuously called with a word of encouragement and prayer, but they also brought over food for my family and the out-of-town guests.

At the funeral home viewing, my family, extended family, friends, and even former co-workers that I have not seen in eons came out to support me during my time of bereavement. All of the hugs, love, support and encouragement that I received that night from everyone, including my family, extended relatives and friends, my Pastor and loving church family, my dear small group members, past and present co-workers all showed me very clearly one thing: That God’s love is a verb…LOVE IS AN ACTION WORD. God used everyone there to fortify us…build us up….and His love gave me the strength to carry on through the next day….the day of the funeral.

“He answered: 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, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27

At the funeral, many people came out to support me and my family during our time of loss…and their love held us up and made us strong.

My Daddy was eulogized by his Pastor, who was also a personal friend of his for 35 years. By the time the Pastor was done with the eulogy, you would have thought that in addition to all of his real life accomplishments and accolades that Daddy could walk on water too! :-)

Which brings me to today…three weeks and one day after my Daddy was called home by God. My support system is still just as strong as ever. My friends and extended family still call and check on me, they email me, cards are still arriving, and those wonderful hugs are still given to me freely. I’ve been told that several small groups at my church are specifically praying for me and my family!

And through all of this, I wonder I how do I pay anyone back? Thank you is not enough. I‘ve been there for some in their time of need, but I could not know how much it meant to them…and for others I have to admit, I was not there for. Now I truly see the importance of extending oneself, truly sacrificing myself for the needs of someone else…Out of gratitude, I am indebted to be diligent to pay it forward for the rest of my life...

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

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I am a Friend of God

2010-02-28T18:00:00.002-05:00

The Song: I am a Friend of God
by Israel Houghton and Michael Gungor

I originally posted this on my blog on December 6, 2006, but I have a nice video to add, so I am reposting! :-)

The Lyrics:
Who am I that You are mindful of me
That You hear me when I call
Is it true that You are thinking of me
How You love me it's amazing

(Chorus)
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
He calls me friend

God Almighty, Lord of Glory
You have called me friend

(Repeat Chorus)
He calls me friend
He calls me friend...

We sang this song at church two Sundays ago, and it has been on my heart and on my lips every day since! The words just sank in down and stirred within my soul as the meaning of the lyrics seeped into my bones! It just boggles my mind to think that the Almighty God has called us His friends! You don't believe me? Let's look at what the Word says:

"Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness and he was called the friend of God." James 2:23

Jesus says, “You are my friends if you do whatever I command you.” John 15:14, 15

By living a life of obedience in love, we demonstrate to others that we are friends with God Almighty.

“This is my commandment: Love each other.”
John 15:17

Did you notice that Jesus’ friendship with us is characterized by full disclosure on His part? During the days He walked in the flesh, Christ revealed everything he learned from the Father to His disciples, and ultimately to us.

"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends for everything that I have learned from my Father I have made known to you." John 15:15

Jesus gave us the best knowledge we could ever want from Him...the knowledge of the Father Himself, shared with us through the Word! He hasn’t kept secrets from us, but instead has given us an intimate peek into God as our Father through His Word. He generously gives us wisdom in understanding the Word, and how to live according to His Word. He willingly reveals his mind and character to us through the Word too! Isn’t genuine friendship built on disclosure and trust? It is amazing to me that our Savior would reveal Himself to us in such an intimate and full way!

Jesus also models true friendship for us in scripture. He shared the thoughts, desires and hopes that God our Father has for us. He disclosed the ways of God through His life. He shares His sacrificial love for us. He demonstrates His love for us in a way that could never be duplicated or surpassed.

He wants the same honest disclosure from us too...about everything. Why try to hide anything? Does that make sense? He knows about everything in us anyway! He can see deep into our hearts where we try to hide our ugliest secrets from everyone. And we may be successful hiding it from everyone else…but not Him. So why be a hypocrite and hold back the truth about our feelings from Him? Let it out!

Even what you think may be viewed as audacity in your full disclosure to Him, God views as authenticity. Express yourself, unburden yourself, and experience freedom in Christ like never before as the strongholds of secrecy and unconfessed sins are lifted!

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9

What do we have to lose? We only lose our egotistical self pretenses in front of God. He is not going to love us any less! In the process of shedding the useless false pretenses, unhindered by guilt or fear, in being completely honest about everything, our relationship with our heavenly Father deepens and becomes intimate.

“…Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” Hebrews 13:5

He has spoken nothing but truth to us…can we do the same in return?

These are the lyrics to a song called "You Called Me Friend” by Fred Hammond.

Perfect and true,
Pure in all Your ways,
Oh Lord, there is none else like You,
no one like You,
and all these things,
keep me in awe of You,
and I'm overwhelmed that you would,
call me friend.

I guess I still find it utterly amazing that the perfect, omniscient God would want a friendship with me…obviously His grace, forgiveness and the blood of Jesus covers me beyond measure ever so completely!

“The Son of Man came … a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” Matthew 11:19a

Halleluyah! \0/

My Heart Overflows...

2009-10-05T15:17:00.000-04:00

My heart overflows for You Lord...
I thank You for Your presence,
Your inhabitation, Your love,
Your grace, Your mercy, Your
Wonderful, Holy Spirit that resides in me,
and fills me...
Thank You for continuously changing me
to be more like You...
Purging me, dwelling in me, burning in me...
empowering me to share Your love with others...
Let the enthusiasm that You've given me
for You, (like fire shut up in my bones),
run over with contagion to others...
Freeing them of their inhibitions...setting them free
to truly worship You for who You are!
For there is NO ONE else like You,
for You ARE GREAT, You are MORE than
worthy to be praised...
I love You, Lord...Halleluyah!

A Father's Love Letter

2009-10-04T03:51:00.000-04:00

Thanksgiving...is it only the 4th Thursday in November?

2008-12-01T07:13:00.003-05:00

"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name." Psalm 100:4

"I’ve come to the conclusion that every day should be treated as
Thanksgiving! How often do we forget to say thanks, to God? To
each other? How often do we not see the small miracles in our
life? Please God remind me when I forget how blessed I am.
How you have given us the ultimate gift, your son."

This is recent a quote from a dear friend of mine...one whose husband is in the hospital trying to hold onto his life. But in the midst of it all, she is praising God!

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6

Makes one wonder: Why is it that we humans for the most part, only make time on one day of the year to be thankful? Why is it only on this one day that we decide to put aside differences and hang out with family members that we have not communicated with all year? Did you wake up this morning? Are you clothed in your right mind? On a simpler scale, do you have a computer making it possible to read this post? That alone calls for praise to God!

"I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving." Psalm 69:30

Some of the most amazing gifts that God has given to us are life, salvation, eternal life, family and friends. When is the last time that you thought to give God thanks for just one of them? On a smaller scale, when is the last time you thanked your mother or your father for anything? When is the last time you thanked your spouse for anything? When is the last time you thanked your children for anything? When is the last time you thanked a sibling for anything? When is the last time you thanked a friend for anything?

Take the time today and start to thank God for all of your blessings. Start with the simple things and you'd really be surprised at all of the things that you take for granted every single day. Then reach out and thank those in your life that God has blessed you with.

Most importantly remember-Thanksgiving is an action word; a verb. Thanksgiving is not just a noun! Find it in your heart to give thanks everyday!

"Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen." Revelation 7:12

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LOVE IS AN ACTION WORD

2008-11-24T12:00:00.002-05:00

Three weeks ago, my father died. Even though Daddy had been sick for some time, he really did not start to appear to be ill until he started losing weight within the past year. The weight loss was a result of one of the side complications of his illness. Up until the very night that he lost consciousness, Daddy drove himself around, walked on his own strength, had his right mind, and was not shy about giving you a piece of it in an articulate manner. He was becoming a little forgetful though…

On October 19, 2008, Sunday morning, his wife could not wake him. Daddy was determined to be in a diabetic coma by the paramedics, and confirmed by the hospital doctors. The doctors were aggressive and did everything humanly possible to help him. He stayed in ICU for 12 days, and then was moved to hospice for his remaining days with us. We prayed without ceasing, looking and believing that God could send a miracle if He so desired. That was not to be God’s will. Daddy never recovered from the coma, and died peacefully while my youngest son and I were at his side on November 2, 2008.

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15

When I got home, I called a dear friend of mine at the church, and briefly told her what happened. She evidently called some other church members, and they began to pray for me and my family. I asked my husband to call two of my girlfriends to tell them the news also. They in turn spread the word, and I actually felt love all around me. I slept peacefully that night.

“The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them.” Ps. 34:7 (NAS)

My dear husband called my job the next day and spoke to my employers. He was told to relay to me to take my time coming back, and not to worry about anything. Soon, my phone started ringing off the hook with condolences, people checking up on me, and sincere offers of help.

Beautiful flowers and plants suddenly started arriving at my house. My living room became so flooded with cards, that I do not have a place to put even one more card! Friends started coming over with food. That’s when I first started to experience the self sacrificing love of others, and the love of God in action for myself. The Love Outreach ministry members at my church continuously called with a word of encouragement and prayer, but they also brought over food for my family and the out-of-town guests.

At the funeral home viewing, my family, extended family, friends, and even former co-workers that I have not seen in eons came out to support me during my time of bereavement. All of the hugs, love, support and encouragement that I received that night from everyone, including my family, extended relatives and friends, my Pastor and loving church family, my dear small group members, past and present co-workers all showed me very clearly one thing: That God’s love is a verb…LOVE IS AN ACTION WORD. God used everyone there to fortify us…build us up….and His love gave me the strength to carry on through the next day….the day of the funeral.

“He answered: 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, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27

At the funeral, many people came out to support me and my family during our time of loss…and their love held us up and made us strong.

My Daddy was eulogized by his Pastor, who was also a personal friend of his for 35 years. By the time the Pastor was done with the eulogy, you would have thought that in addition to all of his real life accomplishments and accolades that Daddy could walk on water too! :-)

Which brings me to today…three weeks and one day after my Daddy was called home by God. My support system is still just as strong as ever. My friends and extended family still call and check on me, they email me, cards are still arriving, and those wonderful hugs are still given to me freely. I’ve been told that several small groups at my church are specifically praying for me and my family!

And through all of this, I wonder I how do I pay anyone back? Thank you is not enough. I‘ve been there for some in their time of need, but I could not know how much it meant to them…and for others I have to admit, I was not there for. Now I truly see the importance of extending oneself, truly sacrificing myself for the needs of someone else…Out of gratitude, I am indebted to be diligent to pay it forward for the rest of my life...

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

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God's 26 Guards

2008-10-16T07:17:00.004-04:00

Have you ever felt the urge to pray for someone and
Then just put it on a list and said, "I'll pray for them later?"

Or has anyone ever called you and said,
"I need you to pray for me, I have this need?"

Read the following story that was sent to me and
May it change the way that you may think about prayer and also the way you pray. You will be blessed by this....

A missionary on furlough told this true story while
Visiting his home church in Michigan.

While serving at a small field hospital in Africa,
Every two weeks I traveled by bicycle
Through the jungle to a nearby city for supplies.
This was a journey of two days and
Required camping overnight at the halfway point.

On one of these journeys, I arrived in the city
Where I planned to collect money from a bank,
Purchase medicine, and supplies, and then begin
My two-day journey back to the field hospital.

Upon arrival in the city, I observed two men fighting,
One of whom had been seriously injured.
I treated him for his injuries and at the same time
Talked to him about the Lord.

I then traveled two days, camping overnight, and
Arrived home without incident....

Two weeks later I repeated my journey.
Upon arriving in the city,
I was approached by the young man I had treated.
He told me that he had known I carried
Money and medicines.
He said, "Some friends and I followed you into the jungle, knowing you would camp overnight.

We planned to kill you and take your money and drugs.
But just as we were about to move into your camp,
We saw that you were surrounded by 26 armed guards."

At this, I laughed and told him that I was
certainly all alone in that jungle campsite.
The young man pressed the point, however, and said,
"No, sir, I was not the only person to see the guards,
My friends also saw them, and we all counted them.
It was because of those guards that
we were afraid and left you alone."

At this point in the sermon,
One of the men in the congregation jumped to his feet and interrupted the missionary and asked if he could tell him the exact day this happened.
The missionary told the congregation the date, and
The man who interrupted told him this story:

"On the night of your incident in Africa ,
It was morning here and I was preparing to go play golf.
I was about to putt when I felt the urge to pray for you.
In fact, the urging of the Lord was so strong,
I called men in this church to meet with me here
In the sanctuary to pray for you.

Would all of those men who met with me on that day stand up?" The men who had met together to pray that day stood up.

The missionary wasn't concerned with whom they were,
He was too busy counting how many men he saw.

There were 26.

This story is an incredible example of how the Spirit of the Lord moves in behalf of those who love Him. If you ever feel such prodding to pray, go along with it, you don't know what it can mean for that person.

Nothing is ever hurt by prayer except the gates of hell.
I encourage you to share this with as many people as you know.
If we all take it to heart,
we can turn this world toward God once again.
As the above true story clearly illustrates,
"With God all things are possible."

More importantly, it illustrates how God hears and
Answers the prayers of the faithful.

After you read this, give God thanks for the beautiful gift of your faith, for the powerful gift of prayer, and for the many miracles He works in your own daily life... And then share your testimony with others...

Who says God does not move on the earth today?

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Human Being vs. Human Doing Part III

2008-06-30T17:57:00.002-04:00

Please start at Human Being vs. Human Doing - Part I"

As I was saying in Part II, to be an effective Christian as God planned, you MUST spend time talking with your Heavenly Father in prayer...get to know His Son through the Word...let the Holy Spirit move in your life guiding you daily. To be a victorious Christian in your daily walk, you must be armed with the armor of God to defend yourself against the wiles of the enemy.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Ephesians 6:10-18

If you are not being armed with the armor of God by doing reading and studying of the Word, how do you plan to defend yourself against the enemy? What is your plan of attack? Or are you still being a being still resting doing nothing?

Does any of God's Word seem to indicate that we are to be "resting" while God is doing all of the work? NO! This requires active participation on your part! I challenge you today, to stop being a lazy Christian and get busy getting to know God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit!

O God, how I love You, and thank You that your transforming words are sweeter than honey to my mouth, and life to my bones!

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Human Being vs Human Doing - Part II

2008-06-29T17:54:00.003-04:00

Please start at Human Being vs. Human Doing - Part I"

In spending time with Jesus in the Word, the Bible becomes more than a mere book, it becomes LIFE...it becomes ALIVE in your heart and in your life in a way that is literally unexplainable...you have to experience it for yourself! Jesus is the Word made flesh...how else would you get to know Jesus intimately unless you made a concerted effort to spend time with Him by reading the Word, getting to know Him?

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

As you start spending time in the Word, the Spirit of God has this lovely way of transforming your thoughts and your heart, causing your spirit to be convicted when you are not behaving properly in the will of God. This Holy conviction in turn brings about willing self correction with the help of the Holy Spirit to different areas of your life that God wants to make more Christ-like.

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1, 2

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" II Timothy 3:16

Now, if you adopt the attitude that "God is in me doing the work" without any "doings" on your part such as reading the Word, spending time in prayer, spending alone time to hear from God, just how do you expect to grow mightily so that you are equipped for the great commission? (I'll expound on that thought later in Part IV or V).

The Apostle Paul says that we are to:

"...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Philippians 2: 12b-13

So it seems that we are continuing to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (in full reverence of the Most Holy God) because He is working in us to fulfill his good purpose for our lives.

To be an effective Christian as God planned, you MUST spend time talking with your Heavenly Father in prayer...get to know His Son through the Word...let the Holy Spirit move in your life guiding you daily. To be a victorious Christian in your daily walk, you must be armed with the armor of God to defend yourself against the wiles of the enemy.

Please continue on to Human Being vs. Human Doing - Part III"

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Human Being vs. Human Doing - Part I

2008-06-28T01:45:00.010-04:00

I will preface this by stating that some of you are going to be offended. I am sorry about that, but the truth of the Lord shall prevail. Please read, and be willing to let God guide you in taking action for change.

I am sick and tired of hearing the lame excuse that "Jesus did all the work, and now all I have to do is rest in Him" "God created the earth, then He rested" "We're human beings, not human doings"...I heard someone one say that again recently, and all I could do was walk away, because I knew I would lose their friendship over our clear disagreement in bible doctrine. But I will not walk away again. The truth of God is the truth, and I will not hold back ever again.

"And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved." Matthew 10:22

Yes, God did create the earth, then He rested...but He did not rest forever! He has been intimately involved in our daily lives from day one! Start reading from Genesis through Revelation to see for yourself!

By God's design, Jesus did do the work on the cross that created the way for us to have redemption for our sins, healing for our bodies, victory over the enemy, and the gift of eternal life.... these same people think that all they have to do is accept Christ, and that is it...they have no more responsibility for their spiritual growth and maturity in Christ!

That doctrine seems to mean that you can do anything that is considered un-Christian-like or ungodly, (risking losing others to the faith who are watching you) but have the lame excuse of "I am a human being, not a human doing...God is doing the work in me!"
My goodness, dear ones how you are being robbed of a rich and deep relationship with Christ! The enemy is blinding you terribly!

Granted:
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." II Corinthians 5:17

So in their defense, no, you are not obligated to do anything else, but in your thankfulness as a new creature in Christ, why wouldn't you? In any relationship on earth with mere people, don't you get to know the folks involved by talking with them? By spending time with them? In spending time with them, you learn all about them, to the point where you develop an intimate knowledge of what makes that person tick. Why would you not desire that same type of intimate relationship with the God who created you? The Jesus who saved you from your selfish self? The Holy Spirit who made you into a new creature?

Please continue on to Human Being vs. Human Doing - Part II"

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My Heart Overflows With JOY!

2008-06-25T08:15:00.004-04:00

My heart overflows for You Lord...

I thank You for Your presence,

Your inhabitation, Your love,

Your grace, Your mercy, Your

Wonderful, Holy Spirit that resides in me,

and fills me...

Thank You for continuously changing me

to be more like You...

Purge me, dwell in me, burn in me...

empower me to share Your love with others...

Let the enthusiasm that You've given me

for You, (like fire shut up in my bones),

run over with contagion to others...

Freeing them of their inhibitions...setting them free

to truly worship You for who You are!

For there is NO ONE else like You,

for You ARE GREAT, You are MORE than

worthy to be praised...

I love You, Lord...Halleluyah!

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Beware of the 'O' Factor

2008-06-10T17:25:00.003-04:00

In this video clip from The Oprah Show, you can see Oprah ask "What about Jesus?" and other anti-believer statements. It takes one's breath away when you consider her vast sphere of influence.

Beware of the 'O' Factor
By Andrea D. Hedlund
CBN.com Producer

CBN.com – Oprah, perhaps the most influential woman in the world today, has undeniably left a stamp on modern culture. Her talk show has been number one for 21 consecutive years. She is the first African-American woman to become a billionaire. We love Oprah’s big giveaways and flock to the bookstore to pick up the latest selection for her book club, which has approximately 1 million members. An endorsement by Oprah is golden. Her show has thrust the likes of Dr. Phil and Rachael Ray into mainstream America.

I have never been a devoted viewer of The Oprah Winfrey Show, but I always seem to catch some of her most memorable TV moments. Who can forget the infamous day Tom Cruise proclaimed his infinite love for Katie Holmes by jumping up and down on Oprah’s couch?

I remember how Oprah gushed over Barack Obama during an interview with him on her show before he rose from his obscurity to emerge as the charismatic figure of "change" for our country. It wasn't surprising to me when she stepped out and publicly endorsed him.

Like it or not, Oprah has great influence on our society today, and with that power comes responsibility. But a huge question remains: is her personal spiritual agenda leading the masses astray?

According to some CBN.com viewers and author Carrington Steele of Don’t Drink the Kool-Aid: Oprah, Obama, and the Occult, the answer is yes. The deeper Oprah delves into new age philosophies, the more dangerous she becomes. This doesn’t mean these skeptics are Oprah-bashers or think she is a “horrible” person. Instead, there is a genuine concern for the state of her soul, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”(Matthew 16:26).

Stop Embracing the Church of Oprah

Oprah came from humble beginnings, overcame many obstacles, and has sought to be a positive voice in the world. She encourages us and is like a loyal childhood friend.

Like a chameleon, we have also watched her spiritual colors shift over the years. Raised in a black Baptist church in Mississippi, she rebelled against the establishment after being sexually abused by her own relatives. Later, she repented and returned to her spiritual roots. At one point she was linked to Obama’s former (controversial) place of worship, Trinity United Church. More recently, a 2005 Washington Post article called Oprah’s popularity the “Church of Oprah,” or the church of possibility. Self-help and self-awareness became her faith of choice.

Every so often while watching The Oprah Winfrey Show, do you get that feeling in your gut, “the spirit of discernment,” that urges you to flip the channel? If so, you may not be the only one.

Steele writes that she first had that feeling about 10 years ago. She wrote, “Oprah was interviewing a guest named Gary Zukav, author of the book, The Seat of the Soul. I decided after hearing some of the conversation, that since it didn’t seem to correspond with my Christian beliefs, I would just not watch that day.”

But how many unsuspecting Americans don’t change the channel? What happens when the Holy Spirit whispers to Christians and we don’t listen? Are we contributing to the demise of our society?

“My comfortable, familiar routine was now the source of something that is on the brink of changing America. It has slithered into our homes and we are not even aware of it, in fact…we’re embracing it,” Steele admits in Don’t Drink the Kool-Aid.

Search Oprah on GodTube or YouTube to watch video clips from her show where she openly states “there are many diverse paths leading to what you call God.” She argues with several audience members who say Jesus is the only path to God. Christians understand that worldly success doesn’t equate with true victory, nor will good works earn us a spot in Heaven. We know Jesus is the ONLY way (John 14:6).

We should be alarmed by Oprah’s increasing hostility toward the truth of the Gospel and recent embrace of New Age philosophies like Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth and “The Secret.”

“Oprah has developed an open philosophy for learning and delving into spiritual matters,” Steele writes. “It appears on the way to her quest to find the answers, her ‘truths’ have come from a variety of sources that complement each other because they ultimately come from one source; the deceiver, Satan.”

New Age Philosophies Exposed

In Don’t Drink the Kool-Aid, Steele offers a quick overview of some of the pervading philosophies presented by Oprah to her audience. These supposedly "new" ideas are really just old schemes of the devil wrapped in pretty packaging. New agers recycle the same idea that every man is a son of God, man can be like God, and that we are the source of our salvation.

Most recently, and arguably most lethal, Oprah launched a virtual classroom to promote and encourage Tolle’s A New Earth, which is a selection for her book club. Ten million-plus students met online once a week for 10 lessons earlier this year and became “awakened,” or mind trained by Tolle and Oprah. This interactive teaching is still available on Oprah.com.

Basically, Tolle teaches:

* A glimpse will initiate awakening, which is irreversible.
* We are the light.
* Sin means missing the point of exit.
* We have a choice: evolve or die.
* Heaven is not a location but an inner realm of consciousness.
* The source of all energy is within you.
* Jesus is an archetypal figure. He is every man and woman.

Of Tolle’s A New Earth, Oprah says, “Being able to share this material with you is a gift and a part of the fulfillment of my life’s purpose.”

Unbelievable! Did you know Oprah’s name was supposed to be Orpah, a biblical name meaning “stiff-necked” and “turning back?”

We must step in and intercede for Oprah and others of the new age philosophy and pray that their eyes and ears would see and hear the Gospel and no longer be deceived (2 Timothy 4:3, Mark 13: 5, Romans 12:2).

Pray specifically for those who practice new age beliefs, such as:

* Rhonda Byrne, author of The Secret who believes we think things into existence.
* Eric Butterworth, author of Discover The Power Within You, who says we are each God and sin is “self-inflicted nonsense.”
* Gary Zukav, author of The Seat of The Soul, who considers Jesus the most evolved of our species and mixes Hinduism with everyday beliefs.
* Marianne Williamson, author of A Return to Love, who says we are all sons of God, it is our destiny to be as Jesus, my holiness is my salvation, my salvation comes from me, and there is no sin.

We cannot allow false prophets and those with great power to lead us astray any longer (1 John 4:1). Let’s pray for our broken nation to once again stand on the rock of true salvation.

Do you have a relationship with Jesus Christ? Meet Him today.

Comments? Email Andrea D. Hedlund, the author of this article.

You are free to comment here on this blog also.

Yes, you can....

2008-06-09T10:13:00.007-04:00

This is a true story about Dick and Rick Hoyt, who together comprise 'Team Hoyt'.

The son asked his father Dick, 'Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?'. The father who, despite having a heart condition, says 'Yes'. They went on to complete the marathon together.

Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying 'Yes' to his son's request of going through the race together. One day, the son asked his father, 'Dad, let's join the Ironman together.' To which, his father said 'Yes' too.

For those who don't know, the Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever. The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile (3.86 kilometer) ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile (180.2 kilometer) bike ride, and ending with a 26.2 mile (42.195 kilometer) marathon along the coast of the Big Island Father and son went on to complete the race together.

View them together in the Ironman race below. This is an incredible video about the relationship between a father and son.... and if you think about it; God's incredible relationship with us.

This goes a long way to prove that, "I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENETH ME!"

Yes, you can....Halleluyah!

\0/

The beautiful song playing in the background of the video is 'Redeemer' by Nicole C. Mullen. Thanks Lucy, for sending this moving story our way to be shared with countless others !

Do you REALLY Love Me?

2008-06-06T14:49:00.006-04:00

Think back to when you met that special person that you just knew would be 'the one.'
Remember when you realized and admitted to yourself that you really loved him/her.

Now remember how much you wanted to act like you were in a movie, and proclaim out loud to everyone in the football stadium 'I love (his/her name here)!'

You told all your family and friends how perfect he/she was; he/she was just what you were looking for.

Well, I told THE LORD that I loved Him today.

And He said to me, “How MUCH do you love Me?
You haven't told anyone how good I've been to you.
You haven't shared how perfect My love with anyone.
You haven't spread the Good News in your circle of influence.”

“You haven't told your family how I helped you pay your bills when you didn't have a high paying job, or even how you knew it was Me who got you a better job…”

“You haven't shared with anyone how I took away that addiction that would have cost you not only your job, but also would have cost you that man/woman whom you felt was the perfect one that you were looking for.”

"So I must ask you again, HOW MUCH do you REALLY LOVE ME ?"

So I told Him for starters, that I would share with my family friends just how wonderful, perfect, merciful, understanding, patient, loving, unselfish, considerate and I know God to be.

He has blessed me with a family that loves me and friends that I can confide in.

But even more than that, He has saved me from destruction I couldn't even see coming...and gave me the gift of salvation through His son, Jesus Christ.

He gave to me the peace of knowing Him, the surety of my future, and the assurance that He will never break a promise, for He is not a man that He should lie.

Truly He is the BEST thing that ever has, and EVER will happen to me!

And I stand in my stadium today (this blog) to tell to you all,

“I LOVE THE LORD!”

BE BLESSED and PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

This was written by an Unknown Author, but I took the liberty of making some amendments.

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Zion is Calling Me (and You!)

2008-06-02T20:47:00.017-04:00

Zion is Calling Me by Clint Brown

"Zion is calling me, to a higher place of praise, To stand upon the mountain, and magnify His name To tell all the people and every nation that He reigns, Zion is calling me to a higher place of praise."

Just so you know, my blogs are extremely soul baring for me...yet I am expressing my core essence to you in hopes to encourage you to in turn share some of your own experiences with God with others. Your relationship with God is personal yes, but it does not have to be the world's best kept secret! With people being proud to "come out" and everything else going on these days, it sure seems that anything pertaining to God and the wonderful news of the gospel, is worthy of discussion.

Have you ever stopped to consider the wonderful aspect of belonging to a God who actually desires a relationship with us? In all of His Supremacy, Omnipotence, Purity, Holiness, the mere thought that He loves us so much that not only would He provide a way for our salvation and bridge the gap between us and our sin, but that He actually wants to be a part of our everyday lives! I know this to be factual based on the Word, and my own experiences, but the mere thought of this still gives me goosebumps in wonderment at times.

"It becomes my highest praise, When all that I am, responds to who You are"

We sang this particular song two Sundays ago in church, but this past Sunday, as I was singing praises thinking of His wonderfulness, this experience mentioned here in the lyrics again became alive in me! In the midst of praising Him, forgetting about myself and others, it feels like my soul somehow connects to God! It is really unexplainable...words cannot express it, but it is a phenomena actually occurs when you are focused solely on Him!

"It becomes my highest praise, Just to know You Lord."

I am continuously bowed over by His grace and love that He has for me that He would make a Holy provision to allow me to get closer to Him day by day....

"Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near." Isaiah 55:6

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." John:14:18

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Clay Balls

2008-05-28T12:54:00.006-04:00

A man was exploring caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake.

They didn't look like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave with him. As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could.

He thought little about it, until he dropped one of the clay balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone!

Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left. Then it struck him.

He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have taken home tens of thousands, but he had just thrown it away!

It's like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel It doesn't look like much from the outside. It isn't always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it.

We see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person.

There is a treasure in each one of us. If we take the time to get to know that person, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.

May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay.

I am so blessed by the gems of friendship I have with each of you. Thank you for looking beyond my clay vessel.

\0/

Author Unknown

REVELATION

2008-05-09T18:33:00.005-04:00

I can remember the time
When I was at church all day

And I wondered what my friends used to think
Used to think about me

Can you remember the time
When service it seemed like it lasted so very long
If I knew what I know now
I would have stayed all day

Come take me back
Where I come from
Haven't you heard that
Revelation is here

I'm so glad this revelation is here
I'm so glad this revelation is here
I'm so glad this revelation is here
I'm so glad this revelation is here

"REVELATION"
- YELLOWJACKETS: Shades (1986), Live Wires (1992)
Lyrics: Lorraine Perry / Music: Russell Ferrante

=======================================

I remember the first time I heard this song...I had just gotten married...the year was 1988. This song resonated within me the sentiments I held as a child, and also then as an adult. I had never heard of the Yellowjackets before, but my new husband introduced me to their music.

Fast forward twenty years later: I have missed 3, soon to be 4 church services consecutively, due to my recuperation period from major surgery...and boy am I missing it all! Strains of this song came to my mind today, as I had wistful memories of the singing, the music, the wonderful worship atmosphere, fellowship with my friends, and last but not least, the sermons that I am missing at church...sigh!

Boy, I wish I could be there, and if I could, just like the Yellowjackets, I would stay all day!
\0/

Resurrection Day!

2008-03-23T15:31:00.004-04:00

For me, Good Friday, through today, Resurrection Sunday are the holiest, most sacred days of my faith...from the day that my Lord and Savior suffered on the cross, taking on all the sins, suffering and shame of the world, to the day that my Savior rose up victoriously from the grave, transcending death, pain, suffering, heartache and disease.

What a wonderful God we serve! That He would sacrifice His only Son, for the likes of me and you....would you do that for me? Honestly, I have to admit that I would not sacrifice one of my sons for you!

But in my great love for my own sons, if necessary, I would gladly sacrifice myself to save either of them...and that is just an inkling of the great love that God has for ALL of us! It's mind boggling to realize that He could love all of us, sacrificing His only Son for us, as if there were only one of us to love, isn't it?

What a wonderful and mighty God we serve. Have a blessed time of remembrance and celebration! \0/

This Day is Coming...

2008-03-18T09:54:00.003-04:00

It seems like any other ordinary day. You are in your car driving home from work. Your thoughts wander to the show on television that you want to see and the meal you want to eat, when suddenly a sound unlike any you've ever heard fills the air. The sound is high above you. Is it a trumpet? A choir? A choir of trumpets? You don't know, but you want to know.

So you pull over, get out of your car, and look up. As you do, you see you aren't the only curious one. The roadside has suddenly become a parking lot. Car doors are open, and people are staring at the sky. Shoppers are racing out of the grocery store. The Little League baseball game across the street has come to a halt. Players and parents with their faces turned upward are searching the skies.

As if the sky were a curtain, the drapes of the atmosphere part. A brilliant light spills onto the earth. There are no shadows. None!

From every hue ever seen and a million more never seen, riding on the flow is an endless fleet of angels. They pass through the curtains, myriads at a time, until they occupy every square inch of the sky.

North, South, East, and West.

Thousands of silvery wings rise and fall in unison, and over the sound of the trumpets, you can hear the cherubim and seraphim chanting, Holy, Holy, Holy! The final flank of angels is followed by twenty-four silver-bearded elders and a multitude of souls who join the angels in worship, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come!

Presently the movement stops and the trumpets are silent, leaving only the triumphant triplet: Holy, Holy, Holy. Between each word is a pause. 'Holy' has suddenly become so much more than just a mere adjective. With each word, you sense a profound reverence, more than the word itself can contain. You lift your voice to join in the chorus. You have joined in the proclamation as the Spirit has now given you utterance.

And suddenly, the heavens are quiet. All is quiet. The angels turn, you turn, the entire world turns and there He is: Jesus.

Through waves of moving light you see the silhouetted figure of Christ the King. He is atop a great stallion, and the stallion is atop a huge, white, billowing cloud. He opens his mouth, and you are totally consumed by his declaration:

I am the Alpha and the Omega.

The angels bow their heads. The elders remove their crowns. And before you is a Figure so intensely permeating that you know.you instantly you know: Nothing else matters. Forget the stock markets and school reports.the sales meetings and the football games. Nothing else is newsworthy Nothing else has ever really matteredall that you wasted time on, matters no more... For Christ has come.

My question to you the reader: Are you ready for this day? Are you ready to meet the King of Kings? Your day to meet Jesus may not be the Day of His Second Coming, but sooner! So again, I ask you, are you ready to meet the King of Kings?

\0/

Author Unknown/Author of this blog made contributions

Drug Problem??

2008-03-18T07:24:00.002-04:00

The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a
Meth lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining
county and he asked me a rhetorical question.

'Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing
up?'

I replied, I had a drug problem when I was young: I was drug to
church on Sunday morning. I was drug to church for weddings and
funerals. I was drug to family reunions and community socials no
matter the weather.

I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults. I was
also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie,
brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke
ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn't put forth my best effort
in everything that was asked of me.

I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with
soap if I uttered a profanity.

I was drug out to pull weeds in mom's garden and flowerbeds and
cocklebur's out of dad's fields.

I was drug to the homes of family, friends and neighbors to help
out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the
clothesline, or chop some firewood; and, if my mother had ever
known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she
would have drug me back to the woodshed.

Those drugs are still in my veins and they affect my behavior in
everything I do, say, or think. They are stronger than cocaine,
crack, or heroin; and, if today's children had this kind of drug
problem, America would be a better place!

God bless the parents who drugged us!

\0/

Author Unknown

Steve Harvey Introduces Jesus Christ...

2008-03-10T00:29:00.000-04:00

Falling in Love With Jesus

2008-03-09T23:17:00.002-04:00

The best thing I've ever done....Halleluyah!! \0/

Just Breathless...

2008-02-17T22:31:00.011-05:00

God is so wonderful, so good, so tangible!

To be given the gift of life, the gift of salvation, the gift of mercy and grace, and to experience His endless streams of unconditional love, just makes me weep for joy!

To be given the Holy Spirit as my Comforter, who dwells within me, leaves me awestruck...

Singing praises before Him leaves me just breathless at times...

To be allowed the privilege to worship the only living God, leaves me extremely humbled...

Heaven is unimaginable!!!

Zion is Calling Me by Clint Brown

Zion is calling me, to a higher place of praise,
To stand upon the mountain, and magnify His name
To tell all the people and every nation that He reigns,
Zion is calling me to a higher place of praise.

It becomes my highest praise,
When all that I am, responds to who You are,
It becomes my highest praise,
Just to know You Lord.

Halleluyah! Amen!

\0/

Victorious at Last!

2008-01-17T13:36:00.000-05:00

A great man has left us. My dear father-in-law went to be with our Lord and Saviour last night. He did not want prayers for healing, as he was ready to meet Jesus face to face. He was at peace with dying and was very much looking forward to going to Heaven. I can envision him now singing with a big smile in his beautiful high tenor, leading the heavenly choir, rejoicing!

The hospital staff commented that it was very rare these days to see a family surround a loved one for their final moments like we did "Pop." Our family was all around him when he left this earth and his earth tent behind, for his new eternal home with Christ.

Pop quoted to me the words of Paul, a couple of weeks ago:

"For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:6-8

What a testimony for Daddy, Carroll, Brother Carroll, Pop, Pop-Pop and Mr J. (the different names we knew him by) to have!

Are you spiritually ready to face Christ right now?

What will your life say about you?

\0/

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me....

2008-01-17T13:19:00.001-05:00

Awesome!! We complain about the cross we bear but don't realize
it is preparing us for the dip in the road that God can see and we can't.

Whatever your cross, whatever your pain,
there will always be sunshine, after the rain....

Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall;
But God's always ready, to answer your call....

He knows every heartache, sees every tear,
a word from His lips, can calm every fear...

Your sorrows may linger, throughout the night,
But suddenly vanish, dawn's early light...

The Savior is waiting, somewhere above,
to give you His grace, and send you His love...

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

Author Unknown

\0/

A Poem To My GIRLFRIENDS

2008-01-17T12:09:00.000-05:00

Someone will always be prettier.
Someone will always be skinnier.
Someone will always be smarter.
Some of their houses will be bigger.
Some will drive a better car.
Some of their children will do better in school.
And some of their husbands will fix more things around the house..
So let it go, and love you and your circumstances.
Think about it!

The prettiest woman in the world can have hell in her heart.
And the most highly favored woman on your job may be unable to have children.
And the richest woman you know, she's may have the car, the house, the clothes~~~~ but still might be lonely.
And the Word says, 'If I have not Love, I am nothing.'
So, again, love you.
Love who you are.

Author Unknown

"1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

1 Corinthians 13

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Troubles...

2008-01-09T07:14:00.000-05:00

Paul says troubles are light afflictions. We need to remember that in our daily lives. Here is an acrostic my Pastor shared with us this past Sunday.

T - Times to trust God!

R - Remember: I am not self sufficient (Psalm 100:3).

O - Opportunities will do things for you that nothing else can do. It makes you be more creative, and seek fresh solutions.

U - Unbiased: Trouble is an equal opportunity provider. Trouble rains on the just and unjust alike.

B - Blessings in disguise, trouble opens up doors that you do not usually go through in good times.

L - Lessons: Each lesson becomes your teacher if you learn from the lesson. Listen, be observant let the lesson teach you.

E - Everywhere: Trouble abounds everywhere...

S - Solvable - Every trouble that you go through has a solution. The question is, are you going to find it? Are you going to be open, and be available to God to give you the wisdom, and to be attentive to hear the solution from Him?

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."

II Corinthians 4:7-11, 14-18

\0/ Happy New Year, Halleluyah!

We Three Kings of Music Are...

2007-11-27T21:00:00.000-05:00

Bearing luggage we traverse afar...

On Sunday night in the airport, I ran into these three kings in their own right in the music industry! From right to left: Wayman Tisdale, a former NBA star, now mean bassist, Dave Koz, the cutest little saxophonist alive, and Jonathan Butler, singer and guitarist all the way from South Africa! They all were very nice and personable! A very nice quality to find in *stars* these days. They were also traveling with a beautiful young lady named Kimberley Locke (you may remember her from American Idol) for the Dave Koz and Friends Christmas concert.

On the Breath of God...

2007-10-27T18:34:00.000-04:00

Not too far from my job, there is an airport park that I have been wanting to visit for quite some time. After work, all I want to do is get home, so I have not been there in several years. On the weekends, my family is not interested in watching those boring planes come and go. So today, I decided to treat myself to this relaxing past time, and when I got home, I jotted this down. Maybe one day, I'll rewrite it and flesh it out...

On the Breath of God...

You give a lioness roar down the runway, and as you ascend, your wings turn gracefully towards your destination.

Unlike the eagle, you soar to heights beyond the clouds, over the mountains and over the seas.

Carefully you align your wings on the breath of God, balancing dreams, hopes and lives.

Into the gleaming rays of the sun you leave, sometimes returning home on the extended beams of the moon.

Like a lioness, you protect those you carry from the elements, whether tropical, wintry or somewhere in between.

When you descend, bringing forth expectation, you gently release your powers, turbines whirling, acquiescing to the powers that be.

As I stand and watch you grow from a small speck in the distance, to the speeding, vibrant, airplane coming in for a landing in front of me, I can't help but wonder: How do you work? How do you stay airborne?

I am glad that you were conceived and borne from the seed of "why not" within the fertile minds of Orville and Wilbur.

I am just glad that you are.

The Littlest Intercessor

2007-10-17T07:32:00.000-04:00

My daddy has always had my heart. I can’t explain it, but he always has. Admittedly looking back, he has not always deserved it, but no matter what, I always unwaveringly loved and prayed for my daddy. A recent prayer for him brought back a flood of memories that I never thought about.

We were raised in church, so I knew to pray to God when I had a need. So as a child, my prayers were selfish in nature. “Lord, give me this, give me that. Don’t let the bully pick on me today.” You know- the kiddie type of prayers. The only non-selfish prayers I ever prayed as a child, were those on behalf of my dad. My mom was a stay at home mom, so I was secure in her safety and well being, but my dad worked as an insurance salesman, and he even had a short stint as a cab driver too.

Whenever Daddy was late coming home at night, I was praying for him. Whenever it stormed outside, I prayed for his safety. Whenever it snowed, I prayed, and I did not stop looking expectantly out of the window for him until he arrived home. I could not go to sleep until I heard his key in the door, and I saw him or heard him walk past my room. I always pretended to be asleep when he came home, so my mom and dad never knew about my practice.

I’ll never forget the day I was playing outside, and I saw Daddy driving down our street, and the WHOLE driver’s side of his car was smashed and caved completely in!! He only had a tiny scratch in the elbow area of his left arm. Even though I never expressed it out loud, I marveled at the fact, and was so excited that God took care of my dad! I did not think at that time, that my constant prayers on his behalf had any hand in saving him.

When I heard reports on the news about robberies and shootings in the city, I prayed even harder and more earnestly for my dad’s well being. He worked as an insurance salesman in the city, in districts that were not so nice. One of his co-workers was shot in the head, and paralyzed in one of these street attacks. Dad’s cars got broken into, and several of them were even stolen, but he was never harmed in any of those events.

One day we were riding our bikes as a family when Daddy was going too fast and he lost control on the loose sand on the pavement, and he fell head first over the side of his bike. I saw him losing control of the bike, and I can still see him in my mind falling in slow motion. That evening, all through the night, my only thoughts were of his health and well being as he sat in the emergency room with my mom. I sat on the front steps waiting all evening for them to return. When the sun went down, and it got cold outside, I sat inside at the front door looking out, praying unceasingly, waiting for my mom to bring Daddy home.

At one point in time, my family had a huge paper route-so huge that it took 3 of us driving (me, my mom and my dad) to make it work, and the other 3 non-drivers (my brothers and sister) assisted the drivers in folding papers, etc. Every night I had a practice of praying for everyone and even went so far as to pray for our jeeps that we used to deliver papers. One night I was really tired, and I forgot to pray…and that was the night that someone stole the battery out of Daddy’s jeep. At that point, I was old enough to see and start to wonder about the power of prayer.

When Daddy first told me about his battle with bone cancer, I was strong in front of him, but I cried my eyes out to God in private on his behalf. Dad has fought a valiant battle with the cancer, and looking at him, you would not suspect that he was ever touched by the disease. God has preserved him!

Right now my dad is going through another health trial. He has upcoming surgery to fuse his back and fix slipped discs that were causing him tremendous pain, to the point where he could not walk, or even stand and support himself unaided.

What brought this flood of memories to me the other morning? A couple of mornings ago, when I was before God on my dad’s behalf for his surgical procedure and his healing afterwards, I had this thought: You have always interceded for him ever since you were a little girl. You have faithfully prayed for Daddy over the years, and he will come out of the surgery fine, and he’ll be alright. Wow. Then I felt an overwhelming peace come over me about the whole situation, whereas up until that point, I was very nervous on his behalf. The thought of being in place just for the purpose of praying for another, being used by God, was humbling to say the least.
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Praise Report: Dad had the surgery a week ago today, and he came out of the surgery with flying colors. He is at home recuperating, and he is working on getting up and about like he used to. His spirits are great, and he is ever thankful to God foe everything. He told me yesterday: “In all things give thanks!”

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18

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Bryan Duncan, Anointed, and Crystal Lewis. - One Voice

2007-10-12T21:21:00.000-04:00

I love this video because it showcases three of my favorite Christian artists several years ago on their Big Voice Tour:
Bryan Duncan, Anointed, and Crystal Lewis.

Enjoy!

'The Fool Says in His heart, There is no God

2007-10-09T11:41:00.000-04:00

Have you heard about this case? Great answer from the judge!

In Florida , an atheist became incensed over the preparation of Easter and Passover holidays. He decided to contact his lawyer about the discrimination inflicted on atheists by the constant celebrations afforded to Christians and Jews with all their holidays while atheists had no holiday to celebrate.

The case was brought before a judge. After listening to the long passionate presentation by the lawyer, the Judge banged his gavel and declared, 'Case dismissed!'

The lawyer immediately stood and objected to the ruling and said, 'Your honor, how can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter and many other observances. Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah...yet my client and all other atheists have no such holiday!'

The judge leaned forward in his chair and simply said, 'Obviously your client is too confused to even know about, much less celebrate his own atheists' holiday!'

The lawyer pompously said, 'Your Honor, we are unaware of any such holiday for atheists. Just when might that holiday be, your Honor?'

The judge said, 'Well it comes every year on exactly the same date---April 1st! Since our calendar sets April 1st as 'April Fools Day,' consider that Psalm 14:1 states, 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.' Thus, in my opinion, if your client says there is no God, then by scripture, he is a fool, and April 1st is his holiday! Now have a good day and get out of my courtroom!!

Way to go, Judge!

FATHER KNOWS BEST!

2007-10-04T19:41:00.000-04:00

Some of you may remember the radio show (starring Robert Young of later Marcus Welby, MD fame), that came on during the late 40's, and then the television show, that came on the 50's and ran into reruns into the early 60's. I for one, am too young to remember either rendition of this show! ;-)

I just wanted to use the title of that popular show for my thought here...."Father Knows Best." I am not speaking of our earthly fathers but of our heavenly Father, Yahweh. Only our Heavenly Father knows what is best for us in all situations at all times. Only God is capable of knowing the number of hairs on your head, or the number of days that you will draw breath while on earth. Only our Heavenly Father saw us in the secret place, and created our inmost being, knitting us together in our mother's womb.

Only our Heavenly Father could think ahead and make provision for our future salvation the way He did, to make room for us with Him in eternity. They say that hindsight is 20/20, but is not true in the case of God, but only for us humans. How many times have you lamented going through a certain situation or exercise in frustration, only to find out (much later) that it was necessary and mandatory preparation for your next stage of development, whether emotionally, mentally, physically or spiritually?

I just went through a long arduous ordeal where I had nothing but faith in God to stand on....but I was prepared for this exercise of faith, by the bible reading, prayer and devotion time I had invested long before this situation manifested itself. The Holy Spirit was able to sustain me, and continuously filled my mind and heart with His promises, His Word, and with my own previous testimonies in my life of how He came through for me.

God really surprised me! He blessed me far beyond what I dreamed of for myself this point in time in my life, and for that I am so thankful. Just mention God, and I am ready to testify! Father truly knows best.

"Seek ye first the kingdom of righteousness, and all these other things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33

"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 hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. Y ou will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13

www.Godtube.com

2007-08-22T19:55:00.000-04:00

You've got to watch this video...Simply heart wrenching!

Scroll all the way down and watch the video first, before you read the following paragraphs....and if you are a bit confused after watching it, read my summary below, then watch the video again.

My summary:

This video portrays the delight of a young woman who accepts Christ and becomes a new creature in Him. She relishes in her newfound joy in Christ! Satan decides enough is enough and he jumps into the mix and starts toying with her mind. She is manipulated into turning her back on God, and subsequently struggles with the temptations of satan and his minions, but Jesus is a gentleman--He gently tugs at her, but He agonizes for her soul from the sidelines.

It becomes struggle of her heart, soul and mind as she tries to find her way on her own without Christ. She journeys through the elusive pursuit of happiness satan's way; through the love of money, drunken carousing, and sexuality. Through all of this, God never stops loving her. He continues to woo her to Himself. In her confused state of mind, she feels alone and forsaken, as she listens to the prince of darkness whispering suicidal thoughts. She comes to the point where she contemplates it, and even tries to take her own life.

Jesus continues calling her to Himself, beckoning to her spirit. She finally decides that life is worth living, and she wants to return to God. She feels the Holy Spirit calling her, and tries to turn her life around. Satan and his minions engage in a fight to the death trying to destroy her before they will willingly let her return to Christ.

As hard as she tries to return to Jesus, she becomes engaged in spiritual warfare, but she is not armed with the Sword of the Spirit (the Word) or any other part of the armor of God. She is not connected to a body of believers to pray her through this. Throughout this battle, Jesus has not left her, or given up on her. He is pulling for her, helping her make it through the spiritual warfare, back to Himself, her first love.

She is in a vicious fight fore her life and her soul. Jesus finally steps full body into the midst of the battle and takes on all the demons at once for her, just at the moment she falls to her knees and repents to return to Christ. He knocks satan and the demons out of the picture. Jesus raises her from her knees, comforts her, and loves on her, as she rejoices in Him. Once again, she is free! They walk offstage into a wonderful life in Christ.

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My thoughts:

This play is a glamorized, and very compressed version of a young (and possibly a more mature) Christian's struggle to walk with Christ. Hopefully, you will glean from the video that God loves you, (enough for Jesus to die for the atonement of your sins) and that He will never leave you or forsake you. You can't hide from Him either. He will continue to call to you.

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39

Whatever you've done, no matter what satan told you, you can come back to Him. He has open arms, and He loves you more than you could ever possibly fathom. We also need to realize that it is up to us to develop and become mature Christians, learning who God is for ourselves, developing a personal relationship with Him, and how to be armed with the whole armor of God to be able to fight the attacks of the enemy.

"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit..." Ephesians 6:11-18a

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The church and the actors portrayed in this video are unknown at this point.

Flying High with the Angels

2007-07-15T00:32:00.000-04:00

I have posted several times over the years in this blog how I do not like flying in airplanes...there was in point in my life where fear made me REFUSE to get on an airplane. But now I will get on a plane, but I still can't say that I totally relax and ENJOY it as I would like to be able to.

This week at the last minute, I accepted my friend Jacquie's request to come and help her out with her computers in her new budding business. Jacquie lives in Virginia Beach. I did not want to drive, as I absolutely ABHOR the traffic jams on the way there...but unless I were to grow my own personal wings overnight, that only left one solution for me to be able to get there and back QUICKLY...an airplane!! SIGH!!!

On my way to Virginia, this older gentleman named Richard M. sat down next to me and regalled me with stories of his youth as a professional musician in New York. His nickname in one of the bands he traveled with was "Polka dot" later affectionately shortened to "Polk" because he was the only white member in an all black band! At another time in his musical career, he played with a Spanish band too, and was the only non-Spanish person in that band because at the auditions he was the only trumpet player who could read new music on the spot, and play it flawlessly.

At one point in his career as bandleader and trumpet player, he even entertained the troops in WWII. He told me about a raid on Hitler's bunker, and how he found Hitler's top hat. He even showed me a picture of him as a young man posing with this top hat. This particular hat has been on display in museums! This guy spoke with such clarity and detail, that it was if I were watching a video of his stories on the spot! I was there!

Richard was headed to Virginia Beach for a reunion of his musician friends from that era. He was a bit concerned that a lot of his buddies had passed, or their health would not allow the to make the trip. He said he had mastered the trumpet, and was playing professionally at age 17, which was much younger than all of the other musicians.

He said his wife had encouraged him to go on this trip to the reunion. He was a little reluctant because he was now 81 years old, but his friends would have been much older than he...and he was hoping to recapture some of the memories of his youth with the ones he made them with...if they were still alive and well enough to travel.

His eyes crinkled merrily when he chuckled as I pulled the window shade down when I just could not bear to look out the window when we were at maximum altitude...but before I knew it, we were at my favorite part of any flight...we were landing! Yaay!

One my way back to my hometown, a young, clean cut family man named Brian P. sat down next to me. He greets me with a big smile, and immediately starts telling me about himself, and asks about me. He was very proud of his family--a 4 year old daughter, and a 10 month old son.

When we get the green light to unbuckle, he pulls out his laptop, and shows me lots of pictures of his lovely wife and adorable children. He told me all about his stay in Virginia Beach, how his trip was a business trip, (he was in the wine business) but his wife left the children with her parents, and flew in to have time alone with him without the kids. I asked why she was not on our flight, and he explained that she had already flown home to Kentucky earlier in the day, because he had to continue his business trip, and fly on to a further northern state.

He too, smiled and chuckled, when I lowered the shade when we were in the fog--ugh! It was just too much nothingness...give me the little dots for houses and trees, and square patches of fields! At one point when the turbulence was getting to be a bit much for me, in his calming southern drawl, he reassured me that it actually was not that bad....and he was right. And before I knew it, again, we were at my favorite part of any flight...we were landing! Yaay!

My friend Jacquie had pointed out to me at the airport, before I boarded the flight on my way back home that I always get a "talker" next to me, and now that I think about it, she is right. Every time single time I choose to fly instead of driving, God sends the right person to come and sit down next to me, and just talk me through the entire flight. I had been prepared to work my way through my anxiety on my own with such distractions as music cds, my bible, and even a dvd about worship that I like, but God sent angels my way to help me instead.

I don't know why I am still struggling with this anxiety...I know Whose I am, and Who is in charge, yet, I still wrestle with not being able to look out the window at all times, and not being able to fight or control the flipping and turning stomach everytime we experience turbulence...sigh!

But I am thankful that God is patient with me, and is helping me through this, as I continue to fly and continue to place my faith and trust in solely in Him.

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"What do you want on your Tombstone?"

2007-07-03T11:02:00.000-04:00

What do you want on your Tombstone?," the executioner asks a condemned man. "Cheese and pepperoni," the man replies in a memorable television commercial for Tombstone Pizza, the fastest-growing frozen pizza manufacturer in the United States.

Hmmm...I am sure not too many of us have considered at this point in our lives what we'd want on our tombstones... I know I never did...and now that I think about it, I don't care what it says!

To me, what matters MOST is what God thinks about my heart. God knows my heart, and He knows that my heart's truest desire is to live Him, breathe Him, and drink Him in every second of my life.

Consider the words of David:

"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple." Psalm 63:1-8, Psalm 27:4

That is how I'd want to be remembered in how I lived my life! I'd want my funeral to be a gathering of family, friends, and acquaintances CELEBRATING God in a Praise Fest! There has to be music, food and festivity! No open casket, because then people would be focusing on my shell...it is not me! My spirit has returned to The most High.

No tears of sadness for me...I am with the Father! I'd want folks to openly share stories of how God used me to encourage them, pray with them, lay hands on them, or how I led them to Christ. That would be my eulogy...true words of how I allowed myself to be led by the Holy Spirit to reach outside of myself as an extension of God to help others. This also would serve as an encouragement for others to crawl out of their comfort zones to take on the serious commission that we were given as ministers of the Word. People have to step out in faith and allow God to use them outside of their comfort zones.

I'd want a compelling altar call to be presented, so that if there are any in attendance that do not know Christ as their Savior, that they make the decision for Christ right then and there. I'd want prayer counselors on hand to answer their questions, and have plenty of Bibles (NIV) on hand to hand out to those who need a bible.

And then after the funeral/celebration, I'd want this challenge issued: For people to seriously consider how they could turn their everyday lives into a true life of worship....and act upon it....remember--you are as close to God as you want to be!

So now that I've thought about it, I do know what I want on my tombstone, for the sake of my sons:

"She loved God with ALL of her heart, and she loved her neighbor as herself."

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The Lifter Up of My Head

2007-06-28T22:59:00.000-04:00

"But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head."

Psalm 3:3 (KJV)

I have been going through a really rough patch in my life for the better part of a year...but you know, I have found that it is those rough patches in my life that smooth out the "rough around the edges" areas in my core being...this in turn brings forth the ripeness of blossoming fruit on the branches... that are connected to the Vine, our Life Source.

Water, as it appears in a running brook, seems to be a non abrasive substance--yet hard, sharp edged rocks are transformed in the smoothest, roundest pebbles, over the course of time. So it is with us...it takes time to smooth out our rough edges, and while we are in the midst of the process, "going through" it is not a pleasant ordeal. Lest one think that once he goes "though the fire" that he is done with such trials for life, au contraire! There will be many periods in our lives where we will feel the need to cry out, " How long O Lord, how long?"

"How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O LORD my God."
Psalm 13:1-3a

I can't tell you how many nights big fat tears barrelled down my face, soaking my pillow, as I went to sleep crying out to the Lord. This sounds like a cliche, but I had to endure the weeping during the night, to experience the joy in the morning. I wish I could be more specific, but this is a public forum, and I can't share specifics online.

God has revealed Himself to me in a way that I knew was possible but I had never experienced quite like this before. All I can say is Hallelujah! This deeper revelation of God has spurred me to want to get to know Him even deeper.

"And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD." Psalm 27:6

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Purposefully, It's All About God!

2007-06-07T07:16:00.000-04:00

Hail, hail, the gangs' all here! In our 40 Days of Purpose small group we have 8 regular members (male and female) ranging from 31 years old to 84 years old. I was very pleased that we have such a broad age range, because we are able to glean insight into different generations' ways of understanding life, and we are privvy to pearls of wisdom from everyone...especially from our elder stateswoman in the group.

The small groups were initially were put together by the church according to your proximity to the host homes. God definitely had a hand in that! I did not know where I was going to be placed until 3 days before my small group was to meet! I ended up being placed as the facilitator of a small group being hosted at the home of a former classmate of mine from college! We've not been close, but we've certainly been friendly up until this point...and now as the weeks go by, we are getting closer and closer, praise God! Our group members have admitted that they look forward to our weekly group meeting...and last night several wonderful things happened, but I'm only going to share one right now.

Last night was week 4...the midpoint in our 40 Days of Purpose small group session, and I'm telling you, it was the bomb....literally! We had several things shared by members last light, but let me relay this one to everyone:

I can't remember what exactly led to this, but at one point during the meeting, one member shared with the group how something another member of our group said at a crucial time in his life that had really hurt his feelings. We all knew that the member who had said the offensive statement had been an old friend of his for many years. I was glad for his candor, but I was wondering, "Where is he going with this?"

He went on and shared more details of the incident, and other members asked non-accusatory questions trying to ascertain why different things were said....especially to the member at that particular time in his life. The wife of the member who had been offended was passionately explaining about her husband being hurt by his friend when she felt that her husband needed to be able to depend on his friend the most...to the point of tears welling up in her eyes.

We asked non-judgemental questions, of the member who had allegedly offended him. He continued to offer why he said what he did to his friend, but something about it just wasn't adding up. What he said to his friend, did not equate with why he said what he said at all....but he continued to stick to his guns as to why he said what he said.

Oh my...ebonically speaking, what did he do that for? Suddenly, our youngest member was set off ....literally! Like a cannon ball, she was out of her seat and across the floor, very passionately expressing her point of view about why he should have never said what he said to his friend or to anyone else!

We all understood where she was coming from...but watching this exchange I was mindful that this had to remain a controlled atmosphere where God was in control, and this meeting was purposefully about Him. And you know what? It was. She went back to her seat, everyone remained peaceful, but it seemed that her outburst gave him something more to think about. Using scriptural references to back up what was said, several other members chimed in.

Finally, our elder statewoman spoke up with well seasoned words after hearing everything. I'm sure she does not realize what she did, as it was a natural instinct for her, but she reached over, and patted him on the leg, and told him that what he said was indeed wrong, and that he had to stop justifying it, simple as that! He accepted her advice with grace and turned to apologize and hug his friend. The friend accepted it all.

What we witnessed was incredible evidence that our small group was being effective....We were careful not to gang up on our brother, but fellowshipping in the spirit of sharing truth in love, we were able to listen to intimate information, share information and our points of view, and get a resolution, without residual hurt feelings and bruised egos. And all this from a group that has only been fellowshipping together for 4 weeks now! Wow...like I said before, world look out!!! The members of FCF are on the move, charged, and empowered by God to change the world!

FCF does 40 Days of Purpose!

2007-05-18T14:58:00.000-04:00

This year my church decided to undertake the “40 Days of Purpose” initiative. When I first heard the news, I was extremely excited, because I really enjoyed the book, “The Purpose Driven Life.” After so many years of church drudgery in years gone past, this book, along with my membership at my current church were among the first steps in the Word becoming alive for me again!

Well, this past Sunday was the kick off day for our 40 Days of Purpose! Our church has approximately 75 small groups set up to meet weekly in members’ homes over the course of six weeks to learn more about God’s Word.

As a side note: We have moved into our new FCF Family life Center building, and we have merged the two congregations (the 9:00 am and the 11:00 am) together. As a result, a lot of the people attending the same church may not even know each other. I believe this 40 Days of Purpose initiative will also help foster a better sense of community among the members of the church who do not know each other.

My group meets on Wednesday nights, and I was looking forward to it all day! One member brought her 84 year old grandmother with her, and that vibrant, little woman lit the table up! Paraphrasing her, here is one thing that she said that cracked us up, “I thought I was all that and a bag of chips, until I met the Lord!” We were just about in tears with her inflection of how she said that line, and many other jewels of wisdom.

As I has hoped, night did not disappoint…we listened to the lesson on the DVD, and the people shared what was on their hearts…and we were able to encourage each other with scripture, and our own life experiences. God is surely doing a work in my group, and I am sure He is in all of the groups that are participating in this initiative! Watch out world! FCF is lighting Owings Mills and the surrounding areas up!!

I'll keep you posted!

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God Speak to Me.....

2007-04-20T12:15:00.000-04:00

The man whispered, "God, speak to me." And a meadowlark sang. But the man did not hear.

So the man yelled "God, speak to me." And the thunder rolled across the sky. But the man did not listen.

The man looked around and said, "God let me see you." And a star shined brightly. But the man did not notice.

And, the man shouted, "God show me a miracle." And a life was born. But the man did not know.

So, the man cried out in despair, "Touch me God, and let me know you are here." Whereupon God reached down and touched the man....

But the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on.

Don't miss out on a blessing because it isn't packaged the way that you expect.

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A dear friend sent this to me today, and I thought, Wow! How true...we tend to "package" God up only in the way we believe and conceive Him to be in our minds...How could we possibly determine how God chooses to move and speak at any point in time? We can miss out on many blessings by these preconceived packaged notions.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8,9

"Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near." Isaiah 55:6

You Make Me Feel Brand New....

2007-04-10T10:08:00.000-04:00

If you are one of my personal friends, then the chances are high that you are old enough to remember this huge hit song from 1974 - "You Make Me Feel Brand New." Being a young and naive teenager at the time this song hit the charts, I enjoyed the tune's melody, but I had absolutely no idea what the lyrics meant! Here are the lyrics:

You Make Me Feel Brand New
as sung by The Stylistics

My love,
I'll never find the words my love, to tell you how I feel my love. Mere words, could not explain.

Precious love,
You held my life within your hands, created everything I am, taught me how to live again.

Only you,
came when I needed a friend, believed in me through thick and thin, this song is for you, filled with gratitude and love...

(Chorus) God bless you, you make me feel brand new, for God blessed me with you, you make me feel brand new, I sing this song 'cause you, you make me feel brand new.

My love,
When ever I was insecure, you built me up and made me sure, you gave, my pride, back to me.

Precious friend,
with you I'll always have a friend, your someone who I can depend, to walk a path that sometimes bends.

Without you,
Life has no meaning or rhyme, like notes to a song out of time, how can I repay, you'll find heaven, faith and me...

(Chorus) God bless you, you make me feel brand new, for God blessed me with you, you make me feel brand new, I sing this song for you.

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Like most people, when I hear a song from the past, I am immediately transported to another place and time when that song was memorable in my life in some way...the memory could be as insignificant as listening to it on the radio, but in my mind's eye, I can "see" myself sprawled on the carpet, listening to my little transistor radio while doing my homework, or listening to the song blaring from the school bus speakers with my girlfriends while bouncing along on seats on the way home in the afternoons....all of us listening to the music, wistfully wishing that we had boyfriends. Hahaha!

But it's funny....now as a more spiritually minded adult I find it interesting how my brain likes to re-associate some of these memorable songs of the past with new memories and new associations. As was thinking of how to convey Pastor's message to you about Ressurection Day, this particular song, "You Make Me Feel Brand New" came to mind. To me, it seemed like a natural fit.

As you know, when we open our hearts and "spiritual ears" when hearing a message coming forth, we allow the Holy Spirit to minister to us in ways that are important to our own individual lives personally. How I "receive" the message may be completely different from how you "receive" the message. I try to do my best to curtail what I feel are the personalized portions of the message I receive, and only share the generalized message given. Anyway, just be open to allow the Spirit to speak to you, and be blessed!

Lyric: God bless you, you make me feel brand new, for God blessed me with you, you make me feel brand new

Scriptural Truth: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Corinthians 5:17

Lyric: You held my life within your hands, created everything I am, taught me how to live again.
Scriptural Truth: For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

Scriptural Truth: Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2
Scriptural Truth: 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." I Peter 1:15-17
Scriptural Truth: Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16
Lyric: Only you, came when I needed a friend, believed in me through thick and thin
Scriptural Truth: Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:13-15

Lyric: Whenever I was insecure, you built me up and made me sure, you gave my pride, back to me. Precious friend

Scriptural Truth: If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load. Galatians 6:3-5

Lyric: Without you, Life has no meaning or rhyme, like notes to a song out of time, how can I repay, you'll find heaven, faith and me...
Scriptural Truth: But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. Exodus 9:16
Scriptural Truth: The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever— do not abandon the works of your hands. Psams 138:8
Scriptural Truth: For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Phillipians 2:13

What hyperbole!! Isn't amazing when you examine those types of lyrics that we like to attribute to the one that we loved at that particular time of the song's popularity, that those memorable lyrics really could only be completely true of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ... our "first love?"

Only the blood shed by our Savior for our sins can make you not only feel brand new, but make you actually be brand new, Halleluyah!" Remember this scripture?

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Corinthians 5:17

This is the whole story about the ressurection....making us brand new creatures in Christ. As part of God's divine plan to save man from himself, God sacrificed His only Son for us! He turned His back to the cries of His Son pleading,"Father, why have You forsaken Me?" in order to fulfill the perfect plan for atonement for us!

It was only the precious blood of Jesus Christ that could have bridged the gap for me and you. Without the sacrifice of the only perfect Lamb without spot or blemish, (God's Son, Jesus) there could not be a means for our atonement and reconciliation. It is through God that we are made brand new, and our sins are washed as white as snow!

To understand the extent of His sacrifice, you must also understand that God is one, yet, He is three persons existing in the Trinity. The Trinity consists of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Understanding this, you see that God sacrificed a part of Himself in sending His Son to earth to be born of a woman, to become subjected to all temptations common to man, yet remaining sinless, to share Word of God the Father and sharing the good news of our coming salvation, to ultimately becoming the fulfillment of supreme sacrifice for our salvation. What love!

"But with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." I Peter 1:19-23

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

As Pastor Doolin explained, the resurrection of Christ symbolizes even more than the wonderful gift of salvation, but a whole new beginning to a new life.

Christ Wants to Set You Free From:

1. The Pain From Your Past

Pain from your past can manifest itself in your life as resentment and regret, from mental, physical or sexual abuse, abortion, a failed marriage, failed business ventures etc....We are to stop looking at the past, but look ahead at what God wants to do in our lives.

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:32, 36

2. Freedom From the Negativity of Tomorrow.

Don't live in the prison of regrets and shoulda, coulda, wouldas. God specializes in new beginnings and complete recoveries. Focusing on circumstances such as the condition of your marriage, your kids' disobedience or insolence, your financial situation, declining health of family members, especially aging parents, and lastly but certainly not least, not knowing the purpose of God in your life can wreak havoc in your life. Dwelling on any type of negativity is the opposite of what God instructs us to do.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

Father God, we thank You that Your Holy Word is true...there is absolutely no hyperbole concerning Your love for us, and Your awesome sacrifice for us. We thank You for Your unconditional love...You first loved us so much, that You shed your precious blood covering our sins to make way for us to accept salvation, and have kinship, with You, becoming Your sons and daughters. We thank You O Lord for this wonderful fellowship that we now enjoy in Your Holy presence. As brand new creatures in Christ, we thank You that Your Holy Spirit continues to dwell in us, leading us, and guiding us into all truths on the path of righteousness. In Your Holy name, we praise You, for it is in You that we live and move and have our being! We thank You Lord, and praise You forever more! In Jesus' name we pray, Halleluyah! Amen.

Amen! Be Blessed! \0/

Magnificent and Holy

2007-04-02T20:30:00.000-04:00

Here are the lyrics as "Israel Houghton" and "New Breed" actually sang them on "Magnificent and Holy." As far as I know, this is the first time these actual yrics have been posted on the internet. Israel's lead vocal is interpersed with the background vocals. As they overlap it would have been too confusing to read his lyrics if broken apart from the background singers separately.

"Magnificent and Holy"
by Isreal Houghton and Tim Hughes

Magnificent and Ho-Holy, Ho-Holy,
Ho-Ho-Holy, You are, Holy and joined with Heaven,
that Heaven kissed the earth as we sing

Ho-Ho-ly, Ho-Holy,
Join with angels singing Holy, Ho-Holy,
All He is is, the One who is, and is to come,
Ho-holy, You are, Ho-holy

(Music Crescendo)

Singing Holy, Ho-Holy, Hooolyyyy, Ho-Holy, heeeeey, Ho-Holy,
You are Holy, morn' and night, Ho-holy

Sing He's worthy, singing worthy is the Lamb,
Wor-worthy, worthy is the Lamb slain before the foundations of the earth,
Wor-worthy worthy, worthy Wor-worthy,
Worthy, worthy, wor-worthy

You are the Lord of the Breakthrough
You are mighty, mi-ighty,
God of the Next Level, the God of a New Season, mi-ighty,
The God of Another Dimension with (not sure what he says here)
Mi-ighty, oh, mighty, mi-ighty,
Once again let a roar go up, let a roar cry out from the earth!
Yeah, yeah, yeah, holy

One more time before we go tonight Holy, Ho-Holy Sovereign and Holy
You are, Ho-holy, just Once again say Holy, Ho-holy, Holy Lord, Ho-Holy
Hallelujah, (Spontaneous praise chorus)

===================================================

hey my peeps,

i'm really sorry that i have not posted in quite a while...been busy, then God got busy... working a number on me. whew! gold and silver both have to be purified and refined by what? FIRE!

i still don't know what He is doing, nor what He has in mind for me...all i can say is whatever it is, it must take an enormous amout of perseverence and strength to get through it, because I have been going THROUGH the FIRE, in just about EVERY way imaginable. the only respite i get is when i have my personal time with God, when I know for a fact that my focus is not on myself or the turmoil swirling all about me...but only on Him. i absolutely adore my time alone with Him...it's so nurturing...honestly, sometimes, it is hard to be thankful when in the midst of the fire, while here on earth, but paul told us to rejoice, and again, he said, rejoice, no matter what the circumstances.

when i enter into that Holy of Holies place in my worship time, i find the love, peace, joy and relief that keeps me going....all because He is so magnificent and HOLY!

i wish i could put real tangible words on God....but He is really too 'big' for our little human vocabularies to adequately explain... He is so filling... so much substance... sustanance for my spirit, my mind, my heart, my soul, and my body. my heart aches to be more like Him, my spirit longs to commune with Him, my mind yearns to learn more of Him, even the fibers of my being-- my cells, cry out for nourishment from Him....the Give of Life. He is Magnificent and WHOLE. and it is through Him that i find completeness...and become whole.
Halleluyah.
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Oh Me, Oh My!

2007-04-01T17:51:00.000-04:00

I wrote this on February 18, 2007, but for some reason (unknown to me now), I did not publish it to my blog. Oh well, here it is:

Oh me, oh my, I'm a fool for you baby
(Fool for you) Oh me oh my
I am crazy (crazy baby)
Oh me, oh my (me oh my)
Yeah I'm a fool for ya baby
C'mon let your love light shine on me
(Shine on me)

That was one of Aretha Franklin's hits.

Heh, heh! Not typical lyrics of what you've come to expect from me, huh? That song just popped into my head while I was thinking about what I was going to write about today. I'll be a fool for Christ anyday for sure...and a little thing I did today made me think of that song.....

Today, a girlfriend of mine called me when I was on my way to church to tell me that she could not make it to church today. Her daughter was sick, and she needed to stay home with her. I always save a seat for my friend, so that is the main reason why she called me...to let me know to free up the seat she knew I would be holding for her.

In the course of the conversation she stated that she really did not want to miss the song portion of the worship service. She wished that she could be there and sing along with everyone else during the songs.

She said, "Yeah, I wish I could listen on your cell phone to the service." I said, "Yeah right...I'd have you on speaker, and a call would come in on the other line, and everyone would hear my phone, and I'd be busted!" She said, NO! Only have the phone on for the singing portion of the praise and worship service, and the music will drown out any sound your phone could possibly make!"

Wow! Okay! I can relate to her unwillingness to have to miss out on the whole service! Man! I know how it feels to miss out on the corporate worship service when you really want to be there but circumstances dictate otherwise. :-(

So what did I do? Heh, heh! I called her just before the music started, and handed my phone to another friend several rows away. (I did not want the close proximity of my tambourine praise to drown out everything else. She listened on her headphones at home and praised God right along with us! A little unconventional? Well, maybe...but I've seen people do it at concerts plenty of times....so why can't we "plug into" church?

Before you write me and start criticizing everything, just know that we all already know that we are the church, the body of Christ....not the edifice. We already know that you can worship God with music and without music. We also know that you do not have to have corporate worship to experience the blessings of God. Corporate worship should enhance your personal relationship with God.

I don't know how many times in my blog I have said this, but I know I have mentioned it numerous times: I LOVE my church! The people, the worship, the teaching, the fellowship! I thank God for it all!

"We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!" I Corinthians 4:10

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2007-01-24T12:14:00.000-05:00

I subscribe to an email list called Primetime with God that sends out a daily prayer as well as a daily devotional. This was in my in-box today and was pertinent to myself and for most of my friends who work in other offices on campus. It was the pick-me-up that we all appreciated to remind us of thoughts to keep in mind, when we are ‘going through’.

Today's Prayer

Dear God,
Your Word does not return void. Oh, how I have seen this truth. Thank You for Your Word...and thank You for using me right where I am to do Your work. Thank You for using me in "my little Jerusalem" to influence lives for You. ("...and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" Acts 1:8.) Please forgive me of lost opportunities and help me to see when opportunities of service and ministry are in front of me. Please stir up the gift that is within me that I will take action and do Your will. Thank You for spiritual blessings that fill me with joy. I praise You, Almighty God. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Today's Devotional

Seeing a Greater Purpose in Adversity
TGIF Today God Is First, by Os Hillman

But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" - Acts 16:28

Paul and Silas had just been thrown into prison. An earthquake erupted and the jail cell was opened. It's Paul and Silas' opportunity. "Deliverance! Praise God!" might be the appropriate response. But this is not what Paul and Silas did. In fact, rather than leave, they sat quietly in their cell area. The guard, in fear of his life, knew that it would be automatic death if prisoners escaped. Paul and Silas did not leave because they saw a higher purpose for which they were in prison. They were not looking at their circumstance; they were much more concerned about the unsaved guard. The story goes on to explain how Paul and Silas went home with the guard and his family. Not only did the guard get saved, but his entire household as well.

What a lesson this is for us. How often we are so busy looking for deliverance from our circumstance that we miss God completely. God is looking to do miracles in our circumstances if we will only look for them. Sometimes as workplace believers we become so obsessed with our goals we miss the process that God involves us in, which may be where the miracle lies. What if that bill collector who has been hounding you is unsaved and he is there for you to speak to? What if a problem account has arisen due to something God is doing beyond what you might see at this time? Our adverse situations can often be the door of spiritual opportunity for those who need it.

I saw this personally when God allowed me to go through a number of adversities. It took some time, but I saw some great miracles as a result of those adversities. When God said that "all things work together for good for those who are called according to His purposes" (see Rom. 8:28), He meant all things. It is up to us to find the "work together for good" part by being faithful to the process. In the next adversity you face, tune your spiritual antennae and ask God for discernment to see the real purpose for the adversity.

Our God is an AWESOME God!

2006-12-25T23:30:00.000-05:00

To quote the late Rich Mullins' chorus from his song, 'Our God is an Awesome God':

"Our God is an awesome God,
He reigns from heaven above,
with wisdom, pow'r and love,
Our God is an awesome God! "

Have you ever looked up at the sun, and wondered how is it that it can heat the earth from so far away? Did you ever stop to think about how is it that it never overheats to burn us up to little black crisps?

How is it that we have day and night regularly timed each day? How is it that Spring and Fall comes regularly? How does the tide know not to come in too far, and how does it know when to recede? Why do the waves turn and return to the ocean once they reach a certain point on the sandy beach?

Why do birds sing so beautifully? Why are the clouds and skies so beautiful? Why are flowers so beautifully captivating? Why are Spring and Fall so breathtaking? Why is the ocean and all of her creatures so wonderfully made?

How is it that in the billions of people that are living/have lived on the face of the earth that no two of us are or ever have been exact duplicates?

The answers to these little questions to prove that our God is an awesome God, He reigns from heaven above, with wisdom, power and love, our God is an awesome God!

After looking around, and I can't help but quote another Rich Mullin's song, "Everywhere I go, I see You!" ('You' - referring to God).

Today is the day that we have designated to celebrate the birthdate of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who was born to die. I am beyond humbled and honored that God the Father loved me so much that he devised a plan to send His son to earth, to teach me about Him, and to ultimately offer Himself for me as a bridge between me and the Father for my salvation.

God had no other perfect way but to offer and sacrifice His perfect, without blemish Son for the redemption and atonement of my sins to bridge that great divide between me and His holiness.

After the Son was seated at the right hand of the Father, God sent His Holy Spirit and inspired His Holy Word to lead me and guide me into all truths. And the truth of the matter is, everywhere I go I see Him. God is everywhere!

I feel that I should remember, recognize and celebrate the birthday of our Savior everyday...not just on Christmas Day! Have a good day celebrating the most wonder gift ever given to mankind: The birth of our Savior. Share His love!

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...And What About You?

2006-12-21T19:43:00.001-05:00

This has been in the back of my mind since 12:30 pm today, and I am going to burst, if I don't unload my mood. I apologize in advance for this post...it's a downer.

Today during lunch time, I was sitting among people I know from another office at work. We were kind of trying to fill time, because we were waiting for another person to rejoin us so we could continue with our listening to our friend play her cello, while we sang Christmas carols. I take it that most of them did not know she was a cellist. I knew, because I knew this was her true life's passion.

During this down time, my cellist friend started mentioning about all of these wonderful discoveries she'd recently made about some of our colleagues and co-workers. She shared the fact that out of the people in the room, she'd just learned that one person used to be a history teacher before she gained her position she currently has, another was a state champion badminton player, and another was a champion tennis player.

Then she turns to me, and asks me to tell everyone in the room something about myself. If I were white, I would have been as red as a rotten tomato. I could not think of anything to say. So to save me, she volunteers that I can make beautiful jewelry....I felt SO stupid!

Actually, there is NOTHING spectacular about me or any of my life's contributions. I even doubt my abilities to be a good mother and wife on some days...plus that is just an ordinary achievement. Just about everyone in the room was a parent....and I am sure they all consider themselves to be good parents and spouses.

I had to leave not too soon after that, so her question gave me something to reflect upon...what have I done with my life? Nothing. How has my life benefitted the world, society, my community, or even my neighborhood? Yeah, right.... Just as I thought. It has not....not one bit.

What can God do with my life? I dunno. It's up to Him at this point. As Rudolph the Reindeer just sang, "Why am I just such a misfit? I am not just a nitwit." But now I really feel like it.

As Clarice (the girl reindeer that Rudolph liked), sang, "There's always tomorrow for dreams to come true, tomorrow is not far away...."

Hmm...maybe even one day for me.
:-(

Cell Phones vs. The Bible

2006-12-10T23:00:00.000-05:00

I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible
like we treat our cell phones?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we flipped through it several times a day?

What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?

What if we gave it to kids as gifts?

What if we used it as we traveled?

What if we used it in case of an emergency?

What if we upgraded it to get the latest version?

This is something to make you go...hmmm...where is your Bible right now?

Oh, and one more thing. Unlike your cell phone, you don't ever have to worry about your Bible being disconnected because your Lord and Savior has already paid the bill!

Halleluyah!! \0/

(This has been making the rounds in emails, therefore the original author at this time is unknown).

I Can Only Imagine

2006-12-10T03:15:00.000-05:00

Have you ever given thought to what your response may be, at that appointed moment in time, when you meet our Saviour face to face? We can only imagine what a glorious experience that may be like. Here on earth, one moment you may laughing, the next, you may be crying, or filled with awe, or maybe speechless in His presence. To have the privilege to worship face down at His feet, surrounded by His magnificent glory... Wow....

I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me

I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk
By your side

I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When your face
Is before me
I can only imagine

[Chorus:]
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine

I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the Son

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever
Forever worship You
I can only imagine

[Chorus:]
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine

I can only imagine
I can only imagine

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship you

Oh, How He Loves You and Me

2006-12-07T09:24:00.000-05:00

I visited a friend's church last night. When they sang this song, the reality of what God has done seemed to hit people with a sudden reality of the magnitude of His love. People were freely worshipping Him in love. It was wonderful.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:16

Oh, how He loves you and me,
Oh, how He loves you and me.
He gave His life, what more could He give;
Oh, how He loves you, Oh, how He loves me,
Oh, how He loves you and me.

Jesus to Calv'ry did go,
His love for mankind to show.
What He did there brought hope from despair.
Oh, how He loves you, Oh, how He loves me,
Oh how He loves you and me.

Oh, how He loves you and me,
Oh, how He loves you and me.
He gave His life, what more could He give;
Oh, how He loves you, Oh, how He loves me,
Oh, how He loves you and me!

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I AM a Friend of God!!!!

2006-12-07T08:17:00.000-05:00

The Song: I am a Friend of God
by Israel Houghton and Michael Gungor

Israel Houghton sings "I am a Friend of God"

The Lyrics:
Who am I that You are mindful of me
That You hear me when I call
Is it true that You are thinking of me
How You love me it's amazing

(Chorus)
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
He calls me friend

God Almighty, Lord of Glory
You have called me friend

(Repeat Chorus)
He calls me friend
He calls me friend...

We sang this song at church two Sundays ago, and it has been on my heart and on my lips every day since! The words just sank in down and stirred within my soul as the meaning of the lyrics seeped into my bones! It just boggles my mind to think that the Almighty God has called us His friends! You don't believe me? Let's look at what the Word says:

"Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness and he was called the friend of God." James 2:23

Jesus says, “You are my friends if you do whatever I command you.” John 15:14, 15

By living a life of obedience in love, we demonstrate to others that we are friends with God Almighty.

“This is my commandment: Love each other.”
John 15:17

Did you notice that Jesus’ friendship with us is characterized by full disclosure on His part? During the days He walked in the flesh, Christ revealed everything he learned from the Father to His disciples, and ultimately to us.

"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends for everything that I have learned from my Father I have made known to you." John 15:15

Jesus gave us the best knowledge we could ever want from Him...the knowledge of the Father Himself, shared with us through the Word! He hasn’t kept secrets from us, but instead has given us an intimate peek into God as our Father through His Word. He generously gives us wisdom in understanding the Word, and how to live according to His Word. He willingly reveals his mind and character to us through the Word too! Isn’t genuine friendship built on disclosure and trust? It is amazing to me that our Savior would reveal Himself to us in such an intimate and full way!

Jesus also models true friendship for us in scripture. He shared the thoughts, desires and hopes that God our Father has for us. He disclosed the ways of God through His life. He shares His sacrificial love for us. He demonstrates His love for us in a way that could never be duplicated or surpassed.

He wants the same honest disclosure from us too...about everything. Why try to hide anything? Does that make sense? He knows about everything in us anyway! He can see deep into our hearts where we try to hide our ugliest secrets from everyone. And we may be successful hiding it from everyone else…but not Him. So why be a hypocrite and hold back the truth about our feelings from Him? Let it out!

Even what you think may be viewed as audacity in your full disclosure to Him, God views as authenticity. Express yourself, unburden yourself, and experience freedom in Christ like never before as the strongholds of secrecy and unconfessed sins are lifted!

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9

What do we have to lose? We only lose our egotistical self pretenses in front of God. He is not going to love us any less! In the process of shedding the useless false pretenses, unhindered by guilt or fear, in being completely honest about everything, our relationship with our heavenly Father deepens and becomes intimate.

“…Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” Hebrews 13:5

He has spoken nothing but truth to us…can we do the same in return?

These are the lyrics to a song called "You Called Me Friend” by Fred Hammond.

Perfect and true,
Pure in all Your ways,
Oh Lord, there is none else like You,
no one like You,
and all these things,
keep me in awe of You,
and I'm overwhelmed that you would,
call me friend.

I guess I still find it utterly amazing that the perfect, omniscient God would want a friendship with me…obviously His grace, forgiveness and the blood of Jesus covers me beyond measure ever so completely!

“The Son of Man came … a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” Matthew 11:19a

Halleluyah! \0/

Are YOU Ready?

2006-12-01T20:57:00.000-05:00

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."
Matthew 25:12-14

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."
Mark 13:31-33

"Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee." Revelation 3:2-4 (KJV)

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Oh, How I Wish I Were There....

2006-11-27T19:47:00.000-05:00

I remember the night I saw this clip on one of Oprah's specials. I was watching from a girlfriend's house...and suddenly everyone in the room could sense the presence of God in her house... It certainly was a night to remember....

On this clip, various famous singers were singing two old Hawkins Family classics. First you'll hear a snippet of "Changed" by Tramaine and Walter Hawkins, and the Hawkins family. (Too bad Tramaine was not there to sing her song!)

The second song you'll hear is a snippet of the first gospel song to ever crossover into everyday popular music: "Oh Happy Day" by Edwin Hawkins. Enjoy! \0/

What Am I Thankful For?

2006-11-23T00:01:00.000-05:00

For me, Thanksgiving is every day...but I'll address what is at the top of my list. I have to say at the top of my list of what I am thankful for most is the gift of God's salvation. Only because of the sacrifice of His only Son for our sins, can we experience His love, mercy and grace, and have a relationship with Him. Even though I have been listening my Pastor's Sinner's Prayer every Sunday for three years, the awesome reality of the gift of salvation still brings tears to my eyes.

The first time I heard "A Heart Like Mine," it was on a compilation CD by various CCM artists. I loved the CD, but I was burning a hole through Bryan Duncan's "A Heart Like Mine." At this particular point in my life, I was just beginning to come into an understanding (as much as we can humanly comprehend anyway), of God's grace and mercy....even though I had been saved for 17 years! Needless to say I was overwhelmed.

Before I started to experience His love for myself, I remember feeling that God loved me, but what was so special about that? Didn't God create and love everybody? So God loves everybody, what was so special about the fact that He loved me?

Here is an often quoted quote from St. Augustine, Confessions, Book 3, chapter 11, 19: "O Thou Good Omnipotent, who so carest for every one of us, as if Thou caredst for him only; and so for all, as if they were but one."

David comes to mind, when I think of His special relationship with God. David understood that He could have an intimate relationship with God. God called him a man after God's own heart. Wow! That same special relationship with God is available to each of us as individuals...not as a collective worldwide group. Isn't God awesome?

Here are the lyrics that take me right into a spirit of adoration and worship.

A Heart Like Mine

by Bryan Duncan

Of all the hearts in the world
I've only one to give
So insecure, a desperate pulse
Racing to Your embrace
That You could want me and seek me
Is more than words could ever say
That You would love me and see in me
A pearl of price, thrown away

A heart like mine
How could it be worthy that You'd find
A way to redeem this hardened clay
Twisted and broken
Oh Father God above
The wonder that You'd love a heart like mine

Your holy hands hold me still
Shaping my heart anew
Once vacant shell now reclaimed
Offers its praise to You
The one who searched till You found me
A wounded lamb whose gone astray
You stopped the world to recover me
Oh Lamb of God, the price You've paid

A heart like mine

How could it be worthy that You'd find

A way to redeem this hardened clay

Twisted and broken

Oh Father God above

The wonder that You'd love a heart like mine

I make my promise to

Do the one thing I can do with abandon
I can give every heartbeat to You

A heart like mine
How could it be worthy that You'd find
A way to redeem this hardened clay
Twisted and broken
Oh Father God above
The wonder that You'd love a heart like mine

A heart like mine
How could it be worthy that You'd find
A way to redeem this hardened clay
Twisted and broken
Oh Father God above
The wonder that You'd love a heart like mine

\0/

"He Will Sit as a Refiner and Purifier of Silver..."

2006-11-22T06:50:00.000-05:00

I know this one has made the email rounds in the past, but in case some haven't read it here it is again:

Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi,and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness."

While reading Malachi chapter 3 this verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. They were perplexed about the remarkable expression in the third verse: "And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

One woman spoke up and said she thought the verse was intended to convey the sanctifying influence of the grace of God. Another woman offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study. That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest so as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.

The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy - it's fully refined when I see my image in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you. Someone needs to know that God is watching over them and that He will not leave them in the flame one moment longer than necessary to see His image.

And, whatever you're going through, if you can find gratitude for His Master Plan you will grow spiritually and become more like JESUS! How awesome is that?!

Author Unknown

\0/

I Will Say

2006-11-20T19:35:00.000-05:00

The words to the song, "I Will Say" just really clicked today. I've listened to it a million times, but today was different. It is kind of a long song by today's standards, but if you get a chance to listen to it, it's on Fred Hammond's "Speak Those Things: POL Chapter 3 " CD. This is my favorite Fred Hammond CD. But then again, I love just about anything Fred Hammond! :-)
Here are the lyrics below. The bold emphasis is mine.

"I Will Say " by Fred Hammond

(Verse 1)
The hills are steep and rough is the road
Nothing to fear as long as I know
I'm not alone, Lord, You're here with me
I'm in Your care yes this I believe
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah

(Chorus A)
To encourage my soul
I will say
In Him will I trust
And I will say
You're God and You will never change
And I will say
You're more than enough

(Channel 1)
To hurt or to heal
To break or to mend
Power is all inside
And since You gave the power to me, yeah
That's what I'll say, yeah

(Verse 2)
And when my walls come tumbling down
Shadows of death just hanging around
I will not fear 'cause You're here with me, yeah
I'm in Your care yes this I believe

(Chorus A)
To encourage my soul
I will say
In Him will I trust
And I will say
You're God and You will never change
And I will say
You're more than enough

(Channel 2)
To fall or to fly
To stand or to hide
You know the choice is mine
So by the power given to me
I'm gonna say

(Bridge)
My fountain of joy
My river of life
My maker and my redeemer
My rest and my peace
My rock and my truth
And all of these things I will say

(Chorus B)
To encourage my soul
And I will say
In You will I trust
I will say
You're God and You will never change
And I will say
You're more than enough

(Vamp)
I will say, I will say, I will say
Speak life into my soul
I'll speak life
(Repeat-Out)

======================================

It would behoove us to do what Jesus did...He SPOKE LIFE!

"This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words." 1 Corinthians 2:13

"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord," Ephesians 5:19

"If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. " 1 Peter 4:11

\0/

On Level Ground

2006-11-08T10:39:00.000-05:00

My Lord and Father,

I can only imagine how sad You may be when one of Your children falls prey to the principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, resulting in the spiritual wickedness of sin and evil. There is nothing any one has ever done that we are not capable of doing ourselves. So when we pray for our brother, Ted Haggard, we pray not out of pity or self-righteousness but with a humble spirit because we know that we are standing with him on level ground before the cross. Your Word tells us if we confess our sins You are faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse of all unrighteousness.

Father, give this man and his wife the gift of your grace. Protect them from the constant accusations of the evil one who will seek to torment them, deny them sleep, tempt them to talk too much to the public, and arouse conflict between them as a couple and with their children. Send the right people into their lives who can provide the correct mixture of hope and healing love. Deliver them from people who will run to tell them things that they should not hear. Please restrain Ted and his wife, Gayle from making poor judgments in their most fearful of moments.

Lord, be ever present to the leaders and people of the New Life Church. Lord we ask that You comfort the NAE leadership which has to live with the side effects of this tragedy for years to come. Show Yourself strong to the people in the evangelical tradition who are now wondering who they can trust. Lord, I don’t know what else to pray for, but You know all things. We know so very little, but in You we trust and believe completely, for we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
In the name of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ we pray,

Amen.

\0/

Authors:
Pastor and author Gordon MacDonald is chair of World Relief and editor-at-large of Leadership, and L. Johnson, author of the blog, A Heart of Worship-To My Sisters in Christ.

Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord....

2006-11-03T11:50:00.000-05:00

Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord
by Paul Baloche

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

To see You high and lifted up
Shining in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy, Holy, Holy
Holy, Holy, Holy
Holy, Holy, Holy
I want to see You.

\0/

"...Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."
Revelation 4:8

Be Holy....

2006-11-02T08:26:00.000-05:00

I was led to share this scripture with you this morning.

'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."'

I Peter 1:13-16

\0/

God is Bigger

2006-10-26T20:08:00.000-04:00

Just thought I'd share a little thought with you from www.rhema.org:

Do you know why we get “stuck in the mud” in our faith and why we “spin our wheels” at times? Because we take our focus off God. We lose sight of the fact that God is bigger than our problem and that He can deliver us. He is able! Yet, how often in the midst of a problem do we wring
our hands and say, “Oh God, what are we going to do now?”

When you’re faced with a test or trial, it would help you to say out loud, “God is bigger than my problem!” If you get hold of that simple truth, it will change your focus from your problem to your answer and from the negative to the positive.

The best thing you can do when overcoming life’s problems is keep God’s Word ever before you. Focus on God’s Word by reading it, quoting it, and praising God for it. It’s better to praise than to panic, because praise brings the answer!

\o/

This posting is copyrighted by The Word of Faith - Kenneth Hagin Ministries - www.rhema.org

To My Sisters in Christ....

2006-10-16T09:00:00.000-04:00

i wrote this little poem(?) after a sister shared with me her reluctant feelings to confide any of her tough problems in life with other sisters in the fold.

Bearing Up One Another

i want to share, i need to talk so bad
how do i know they won’t run and tell sister so and so
exactly what i said?

totally betraying my trust, masked as a prayer request... the gossip...the rumors...

how will we ever be transparent and be able to help each other
without the basic element of trust?

silently we stew, silently we cry
hurting and aching inside
fearful to share our burdens

knowing the judgement that is sure to come
the possible betrayal, and stigma of isolation...

the cycle continues... silently we stew, silently we cry
hiding our private pain under our public masks of joyfulness

sigh! when will all this viciousness end?
we need each other...

oh my sisters, oh my sistas, just when will we begin to to love each
other with the true love of Christ?

© 2005 A Heart Of Worship. All Rights Reserved. © 2006 LJMinistries All Rights Reserved.

Called and Sent

2006-10-10T10:05:00.000-04:00

Called and Sent

by John Fischer- author of the Purpose Driven Life Devotional

You are where you are for a reason. Your vocation, your neighbors, your community, and your many associations are a world you inhabit to which you were sent. Every one of us has a sphere of influence that touches many lives and that involvement makes our relationships eternally significant.

If you ever heard about God sending people to the mission field and assumed that if you didn’t go you are somehow without a mission, this is simply not true. There is absolutely no difference between you and me and a missionary heading out to some dark corner of the world. We are all sent. (Besides, dark corners are everywhere.)

Wherever you go you represent Christ because you know him, and your mission is to introduce him to people who haven’t met him yet. The opportunity to do this is generated by respect. As we walk through our communities and workplaces, we can generate an interest in Christ by extending the same respect for others that Christ has extended to us.

We do this regardless of whether we like someone or not, or whether they have been mean or unfair to us. Respect is something every human being deserves, regardless, because everyone is made in the image of God and as such reflects something of the Creator’s likeness. Peter wrote to us about always being ready to explain our hope, but to do it “with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:16 NIV)

And if it is hard to respect someone, remember Christ initiated a relationship with us while we were dead set against him and still in our sin (Romans 5:6-8). None of us started off this relationship very well, in other words, and yet someone reached out to us through Christ’s love; we can do the same. And we do this – each of us – in the context of the particular cluster of people we know and operate in. No one else has your exact circle of influence. That is an influence all your own – like your own entire mission field.

So never think lightly, or negatively, of your position or your place in life. We’ve all been called and we’ve all been placed right where we are for a reason. And the people around us are that reason. May God open our eyes to the importance of our place in the world and the importance and great value of everyone we encounter today.

Amen. \0/

Just Another Statistic?

2006-09-09T23:58:00.000-04:00

In order to graduate as part of the required curriculum, I have to take a Statistics course and actually pass it. (What how was I going to manage that?!) Well, human nature dictated that I procrastinate forever and save this delicious course for last.

The Monday before Labor Day was my first day of the dreaded Statistics class...and boy did I feel stupid! By the way, just so that you know, the only prerequisite for this class was to have taken Algebra I and II in high school...well I did take them...but I took Algebra II 29 years ago!!!!! Just how much recall do you think I had? Try nunzio!

This instructor dryly droned on and on with a multitude of statistical definitions, without a break. Then he gave us algebra problems that we were supposed to be able to do with a snap of the finger! Ha! By this time, my brain was frying, sizzling and emitting smoke. But he did not even try to see the students with the blank-deer-in-the-headlight stares. He just forged on ahead like a bullet on a mission. Too bad my name was not on the bullet. I missed the lesson even though I was there.

Not wanting to bring the class to a grinding halt, I waited and asked the instructor for assistance after class, but he torpedoed through that so fast that it was not any help at all. Totally useless. SIGH! I left class feeling quite dumb and helpless. Was I going to be another statistic? How on earth was I ever going to pass this class? I needed at least a "C" in order to graduate.

I knew I was headed for trouble in this class, but I did not know what to do. A guy in my class evidently saw my distress, and offered to tutor me, but I declined...his face betrayed his words. I was able to read him like a book....he had my figure on his mind rather than the numerical kind.

The only good thing that came out of this class experience for me was that the instructor mentioned a special session of tutoring at the ARC (Academic Resource Center) that would help with learning the SPSS software that is also necessary to use in this class. I meant to call the ARC all week to sign up for this class...but somehow I kept forgetting to take care of it during the day. Finally, the Thursday after Labor Day when I was down at the school taking care of some business, I finally remembered that I needed to go to the ARC to sign up for this class.

Talk about perfect timing! They were open! I went in to sign up and one of the tutors overheard me signing up. He came over and told me about this Statistics class offered on Saturday right after the SPSS tutoring. He explained that this class would be full of people like me without extensive math backgounds, and were kind of rusty on the procedures. He also sang the praises of this particular instructor. The only thing was that I had to drop my Monday night class and swap it for the Saturday class. It sounded too good to be true. With a little trepidation I did drop and add the classes. I'll have to admit that I was more than a little worried that I was jumping from the pot into the fire in terms of the instructor and his teaching method.

Well, today was the first class of my Saturday class....and guess what?! My new instructor is a dream come true! He is more patient, thorough, helpful and sincere than I ever thought an instructor could ever be. In one class session I actually learned the algebraic formulas that I had forgotten or maybe never learned! This more-than-patient man did review during the class using everyday examples to explain his points, and taught us new stuff and then stayed an hour and a half after class with me and several of my classmates (in the same boat as me - having taken algebra eons ago) doing review to bring us up to speed.

I can't believe it! I am actually excited about a Statistics class! Wow! And I am excited when I think about how it came about that I found out about this class...I kept forgetting to sign up for the SPSS tutoring over the phone...I dropped the Monday class and signed up for the Saturday Statistics class upon the advice of an unknown ARC tutor (unknown to me) who just happened to overhear me signing up for the SPSS class.

This Statistics class is da bomb! Boy am I glad I was advised to take this class! This instructor meets my instructional needs by teaching in a style that I actually learn from...by showing examples and reviewing them...not just talking and droning abstractedly into the air.

And just think...I was very nervous and scared walking into that classroom today....it now seems that I will not be a statistic...a Statistics class dropout...

"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:1-3

"I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears." Psalm 34:3-5

\0/ Halleluyah!

Carrots, Eggs and Coffee...

2006-08-21T21:03:00.000-04:00

(You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again...)

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life andhow things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to makeit and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen.

She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners.

She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see."

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hardboiled egg. Finally the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.

The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?" Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity - boiling water. Each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.
The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.
The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffeebean?" Think: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a break-up, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy. The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches. When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life!

So at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying. You might want to share this message with those people who mean something to you (I JUST DID); to those who have touched your life in one way or another; to those who make you smile when you really need it; to those who make you see the brighter side of things when you are really down; to those whose friendships you appreciate; to those who are so meaningful in your life.

It's easier to build a child than repair an adult. This is so true - may we all be COFFEE.

\0/

Unknown author

A Minister's Prayer

2006-08-13T23:37:00.000-04:00

Dear God, You are great, powerful and awesome, and I thank You for Your bountiful blessings. As You order my steps, show me this day the way; give me the insight, and help me to know what to do and say to reach the lost around me. May I be fresh in mind and spirit this day to follow through on leading of the Holy Spirit. I pray for Your wisdom, for boldness, for the right words to say, for understanding of their cultures, their situations, and their needs.

Please give me the means and the knowledge to influence their minds, to stir their emotions, and engage their spirits, so that Your Holy Spirit might prick their hearts and move upon them that they will call upon You to save their souls.

Please examine my life and show me any unclean thing that I have need to repent for and ask for Your forgiveness. I do not want anything to stand in the way of Your working through me to make a difference in the lives of those lost and dying. I do not want to quench the Holy Spirit. Instead, I want to be a clean and willing vessel, ready for Your use at all times for the "God appointments" that You send my way daily.

I thank you for Your endless love and Your everlasting mercy Lord. In the most precious name of Jesus I pray, Amen

\0/

Take me to the water...

2006-08-10T18:02:00.000-04:00

It's been a year since this day, (July 24, 2005) and today, I recieved a new photo that I wanted to share with you. Here is my original post with my new picture.

"Take me to the water
Take me to the water
Take me to the water
To be baptized
None but the righteous
None but the righteous
None but the righteous
Shall be saved
So take me to the water
Take me to the water
Take me to the water
To be, to be baptized..."

Guess what everybody?! I was BAPTIZED today! It was absolutely awesome!

Ok, enough already...I heard your thoughts, " What, chile? You ain't been baptized yet?" Well, I was baptized when I was a 10 year old little girl, who had no idea whatsoever as to what I was doing or what I was doing it for. I don't even know who signed me up to be baptized. But I remember that cold and dreary week night service pretty well. I remember waiting in my seat for my turn. And it was already freezing cold in the church's basement in the old side of the building, where the baptismal pool had to be located! ;-P

My cousin Demetria was in line right before me, but when it was her turn to get into the water, she kicked and screamed to the high heavens for several minutes before someone finally had enough sense to remove her from the line! Then came my turn...and I remember nothing from that point forward. Now that's strange.... I remember the moments preceding the baptism, but nothing at all during or afterwards.

But I will remember today as long as I live! We were baptized after the 11:00 am service was over, outside in a huge outdoor tub on the grounds behind my church. The sun was shining brightly, the grass was a beautiful green waving ever so slightly as one body, the choir was singing, the music was heavenly, the people around witnessing us being baptized were seemingly all on one accord.

Before I knew it, my turn was next. Here I am, seated in the tub, ready to be baptized!

"The water chilled my natural body, but did not disturb my soul..."
"Be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit!"

And then I was fully immersed in the water. It was almost as if time stood still for a minute. I looked up through the water's surface seeing the sun shining down brightly, while feeling a quiet peacefulness. After I got out of the tub, I remember jumping to my feet and lifting my arms in sheer joy! Yes! Now, I've finally been baptized in water with full knowledge and awareness of what I was doing! I am publicly proclaiming to be a follower of Christ! Then I was suddenly conscious of my now cold and wet, dripping body, so I grabbed my towel and scampered off to change. It was just a wonderful moment in time that was over much too quickly.

After I dried off and changed, I scurried back outside to the church's backyard to witness others getting baptized. Watching it turned out to be a emotional experience that snuck up on me and caught me by surprise. Me and my friend Nicole watched some of the others being baptized, and we both could seemingly feel their excitement and joy, and we were genuinely happy for them.

When I was leaving the grounds when the service was over, as I approached my car, unexpectantly, a dam suddenly burst inside...I can't explain it really, it was too many sensations to put to words, but I'll try to explain in a few words what I experienced. A huge wave of love, thankfulness, joyfulness, a cleansing, that welled up from deep inside. The river of tears were the only outward expression that an onlooker would have seen, not seeing the inner works. I sat in my car for a good while on the church parking lot basking in this wonderful experience, and the significance of my baptism.

Just a reminder to those reading this blog--Baptism doesn't make you a believer. It's an OUTWARD symbol of an INWARD commitment. It shows that you already believe. Baptism doesn't get you into heaven. Only a personal faith in Jesus Christ does that. Baptism is the "wedding band" of the Christian faith meaning that it's the outward symbol of the commitment you've already made in your heart.

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19, 20

A total of 67 of us were baptized that day! As always, let me hear from you!

Love ya! \0/

*A big 'ol thanks to Donn Waddy for the photo where I am coming up out of the water! Another big 'ol thanks to Ricci Turner for the photo of me right before I went under! My before and after pix! LOL!

Guess What I Got!

2006-08-01T13:33:00.000-04:00

Okay so this post is not gonna be super spiritual...well maybe not spiritual at all...I'm going to be discussing a material object I have in my possession.

My place of employment has this awesome program for its employees to obtain computers, hardware and software. And I finally got off the pot and took advantage of it! I got my very first and very own laptop!!! Oh, shut up! I heard that yawn, " Been there, done that!" ;-)

As a student, I have been needing one for a very long time...this way I can work on assignments for school AWAY from my desk at lunch time, and not be interrupted! YEAH!!! Do you know how frustrating it can be, to have an assignment due after work, and trying to work on it during lunch time getting interrupted every few minutes by, "Whatcha doin?" or "What class is that for?" or "How many more classes do you have to go?"

This thing is too awesome! I can write on the "tablet" and convert my own handwriting to text!!! No more typing up of my classnotes by hand! Can I say awesome again?!

I did some research, and determined that I did not need the ones made for gamers, or the ones made for people into multi-media stuff, but one a little more advanced than the average basic word processor.

And here I am during my lunch hour tucked into a quiet little secluded corner at my workplace, picking up the wireless internet connection, but still where no one really sees me, writing to you...awesome! ;-)

I praise and thank God for technology, when it is used in a positive manner....and for the place where I work, and its awesome program!

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I Can't Live Without You

2006-07-26T00:01:00.000-04:00

The lyrics to the song "I Can't Live Without You" have really blessed me. I found myself humming and singing this song most of the day while I was at work today.

It is almost as if Darwin Hobbs could read my heart and penned these lyrics to the Lord just for me! I looked high and low on the internet for these lyricsso I could share them with you, but I could not find them, so here they are typed by my little fingers just for you!

"I Can't Live Without You"
by Darwin Hobbs, Cedric Caldwell, Victor Caldwell, Angie Winans

You are the true and radiant King
Your love for me inspires me to sing
Songs of thanksgiving and praise I am bringing
To you true and loving Lord

I lift my hands in worship to You
With holiness in spirit and truth
The angels cry holy and reverence You only
My God, my King, my Lord.

Hey, I know You are the reason
You really are the reason
You're the reason I live and move
The reason I have my being

Hey, I know You are the reason
You really are, You really are
You're the reason I can go on
The reason I wrote this song

I cannot live without You, Lord
I cannot live without You, Lord
Only by Your grace
Can I face every day
I cannot live without You, without You, Lord

I can't live without You
Just can't live without You
I can't live without You
Never wanna live without You

I can't live without You
I can't move without You
I can't breathe without You
I can't live without You
===================

This song speaks of complete and utter dependence on God for life itself. Surrendering to His love, His will for your life; recognizing and honoring His Holiness in every aspect. Accepting His magnificent grace, worshipping Him with a bowed heart full of praise. Halleluyah! \0/

This is The Day

2006-07-25T08:09:00.000-04:00

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! Psalm 118:24

In this day looking around us, is it always easy to rejoice? We see the wars, the killings, the bombings and all types of mayhem brought to our homes via our televisions sets or our internet service each day. How can we see this and say that God is in it? Hmmm....may we be reminded of these verses:

"Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?" Lamentations 3:37-39

Uh, oh! I know I am in the doghouse with some of you now by quoting that verse! Help me, Lord! So then, what about these verses?

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17

"In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will" Ephesians 1:11

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9

Is the Word not true? Of course it is. So are the people involved in the war, walking with predestined steps? Are their steps determined by the Lord? Or do these scriptures only pertain to believers? Are you confused? Even if you aren't, I am. But even though I don't understand, at all, I will still "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4

God said, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8,9

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Everywhere I Go, I See You !

2006-07-22T17:00:00.000-04:00

Here is a beautiful picture of God's beauty at Lake Powell In Arizona.

Photo Credit: Rich Davis

As Rich Mulllins penned, "Everywhere I Go, I See You!" (referring to God, of course!) You'd think after seeing God in motion day after day that I'd cease to be amazed by now. Nope, au contrair! God moves around me everyday, and it is just so humbling to be privvy to witness His majesty in action.

Anyway to catch you all up to speed on me: I just finished my grueling summer semester of 2 classes! Yaaay! I now have a breather between now and my fall semester start date.

I sincerely thank you all for emailing me and calling me during my hiatus from the blog. I did not plan it that way, but something had to give...as I was truly pressed for time! But all was not lost! God sent each and every one of you sharing His love, and encouragement with me...and hopefully me with you.

Have you ever been speechless? That's how I feel...just absolutely bowed over.... spilling over with praise.

"I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever." Psalm 86:12

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Hey, how y'all doin' ?!

2006-07-22T09:33:00.000-04:00

Hey! Guess what everybody?! I AM still out here, alive, kicking, doing well, and BLESSED! I have been way too busy for my own good, but that is going to change soon.

I'd like to share a picture I took with you. I went to the Maryland Metro Festival where Frankin Graham was the speaker. His dad Billy Graham was supposed to speak on Sunday night as his last crusade speech. The festival was held at the Orioles Baseball Park, at Camden Yards. Kinda hate to admit this, but I only went to worship with the featured singers....one in particular! On Saturday night, the featured singers were:

FFH

Paul Overstreet

Joy Williams

Israel Houghton

Out of all of the places I could have chosen to sit in the stadium, I was sitting right where Mr. Houghton passed by with wife Meleasa on their way to the stage. Israel says, "Hey, y'all!"

Here is one of the pictures that I took of Israel Houghton and his lovely wife Meleasa.

Discovering God for Myself..... Part I

2006-04-25T09:00:00.000-04:00

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13

Okay y'all, at the risk of sounding exceptionally stupid...I'll admit, before I started going to my current church, (Faith Christian Fellowship World Outreach) two and a half years ago, I had no idea what "worship" really was. I had been brought up in the notion that you went to church to worship God, and it was there that you worshipped Him...at church. But what it was exactly at the church service that entailed worship, I really could not have told you if you had asked me.

It was frustrating as heck for me going to church, coming home, and still feeling no difference, seeing no differences or changes in my life or in those around me. Week after week after week, year in, and year out of faithful church attendance. Still no fulfillment. Life's hollow emptiness weighing me down. Just what was this worship/church thing all about? What was I missing? What was I doing wrong? What did I just not understand?

Why did a few people some churches I visited seem to have something special? What was it that they had? Why didn't I have it, and what was it? Why didn't the preachers seem to have it? How do I go about getting it...that special glow, that just shone forth from a just few of the old ladies? What I did have was a big ol' case of ignorance!

Looking back, I see that church was only something that was expected of me. You were expected to go to church. Over the years it became a ritualistic deed....and even a social outlet, but devoid of special meaning or function or purpose. My church defined me as a Christian...but only because I belonged, nothing more.

Even though I owned a Bible I barely read it anymore. (I had started voraciously reading it when I first became "saved".) No one carried bibles at any of my past churches anyway. (Well, except for a few of the old ladies). And what for? The devotional responsive readings were included in the bulletin each Sunday. We knew the preacher was going to "take a text," that he or someone else would read for him, and we'd listen to him scream and hoop, holler and scat like James Brown for the next 45 minutes to an hour. Sometimes, it was enterainment at its best.

The preachers/pastors of my past never encouraged any of us to chew on the Word on our own, and being of the stupid sheep mentality, we did not think to venture off to true green pastures for ourselves. We had been led and left to graze in the pseudo green pasture of "Ignorance is Bliss." Baa-aaah!

It wasn't until many years later when I came full circle, to the end of myself--when I stopped relying on myself, other people, and things for the answers to fill the voids in my life....(well, I thought there were several voids, but it turns out that there was only one), that I started getting answers.

Enter my new church. Immediately, when I came in, even though I did not know any one, I felt comfortable. After a couple of months, I even felt like I was a part of the family! Right away when I started attending, I noticed a certain "spirituality" that was new to me; a sincerity and genuineness that was startling. I saw people unabashedly worshipping God. The praise and worship leader had such a deep sincerity, that I could feel it from my seat. Wow.

No phony showmanship, as in "cutting a step," better than Sister Soandso at this church. It was awesome to see people worship throughout the service, and not be concerned about how they looked to someone else; focused solely on God....wow. I really admired that. But I could not bring myself to join in. How could I? From years of spiritual abuse and neglect, I now felt too unworthy to even really pray...much less worship. To mask my real feelings, me and my girlfriend "ragged" on other people in attendance. Yeah, I felt a little guilty about it, but so what? It was funny...until the sermon came....

Imagine my surprise when the Pastor gave his message and it seemed as if the message was tailored soley to me and my situation. The title of the message alone was enough to knock my socks off! I was BLOWN AWAY! But by mid-week, I had all but written it all off as a fluke...but still I came back the following week to test the waters again. Nah, it couldn't be God! Gee, could it be God?

"A double-minded man is unstable in all of his ways. " James 1:8

And that indeed I was. A part of me wanted change, and desperately needed change. Another part of me wanted to remain just as I had become: selfish, hard, cold, unfeeling, that way there be no guilt when I did or said something completely contrary to God. (The fire and brimstone messages of my past had thoroughly smoked my brain, and I knew absolutley nothing [comparatively speaking] of His merciful love and grace).

The next week, the very same thing happened. I asked my girlfriend who was with me, "How could this be?" We both felt like the Pastor was talking directly to each of us within our own separate situations. Weird! Whew! It suddenly started to feel very hot in there! (Somebody turn up the air!) I was still confused as to how the Pastor could be speaking directly to me. How could this be? This had NEVER happened in all my years of 'Churchanity' before. This was somewhat unsettling...what would be next?!

The third Sunday, I went to church arms folded, and eventhough I was thinking, "Okay, ain't no way this is God, I'll prove that today when the Pastor says some off-the-wall stuff does not pertain to me." Unbeknownst even to myself at the time, I was secretly hoping deep down inside that God was speaking to me. I needed Him like never before...That maybe the past two Sundays had not been a fluke of a fluke. Besides, there was no way a fluke could happen a third Sunday straight. If it happened today, then it had to be God. And guess what? (Drum roll please....) Again, on the third Sunday, as the Holy Spirit filled words from the Pastor resonated within my spirit, all I could do was cry, and weakly ask, "Um, okay, God...is that You?" (Doh!) Then my words became, "Okay, God, I know it's You. Tell me what You want me to do."

I later discovered when you listen with spiritual ears, you allow the Holy Spirit to take the Pastor's message and minister to you revealing the precise area(s) that you need for your life. Oh! So that's what's been going on!

To settle this once and for all, I made a date with God. I told Him I was going to meet Him early one sunrise on the beach, and we were going to have 'words' with each other. I could not wait for our date. When the appointed morning came, I went to the beach alone. It was cold and dark but I was not afraid. I found a spot and sat down, and immediately poured out. "Okay God, here I am, where are You? Well God, I know You are here, and You know why I am here, so just listen to me". I talked, I cried, I confessed, and towards the end of our talk something unexpectant happened...I submitted my whole life over to His will for my life. I had not planned on doing that! It seemed that it was me that did all the talking... out loud anyway, but God communicated with His Spirit. As I left the beach that morning, I went away anew with a peace that I had never experienced before. I also had the answers to some burning questions embedded deep into my spirit. It is amazing how God can do that.

"I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer."
Psalm 17:5-7

"Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me." Psalm 71:1-3

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled, and do not be afraid." John14:27

Please click here for Part II when it is available.

God is MORE than worthy to be praised! \o/

The Easter Blessing Revisited....

2006-04-20T23:03:00.001-04:00

Some of you may remember this story originally posting as:
"The Story Of This Little Piggy... "

My Testimony on April 16, 2006:
To give you an update, this past Easter marked two full years since my toe healing, and I have not had an episode of ingrown toenails since my healing!!! Yes, I have been COMPLETELY HEALED!!! Keep in mind that previous to my healing, I was plagued with this ingrown toe nail problem with different toes on both feet at least 3-4 times a year. It was awful.

Here's the original posting:

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." 2 Corinthians 1:3, 4

This past Easter was a very special one year anniversary for me. One that I will never forget, and will continue to share with others all of my life. I will 'wee, wee, wee, wee wee', all the way home! (I will squeal about it until I get to Heaven!)

All my life I had been plagued with ingrown toenails. It was something that I just became used to throughout my life. My mom says that even as an infant I had this problem. As an adult, I’d just get out my cuticle nippers and go dig in there to pry out the little piece of nail that was piercing my flesh! I usually would get it out and have total relief in about 2 - 4 days depending on just how difficult it was to remove.

Last year at the very beginning of my spring vacation from work, when I woke up on April 3rd I experienced that familiar pain in my right big toe. I figured I could take care of it, and poof! It would be gone! I was not going to let this thing spoil my vacation. After all, I had places to go and people to see! A little nip and tuck and a prayer, I’ll be fine! (So I thought!)

Well this one was a stubborn one…more so than I had ever had before in my life! I could not seem to recover this teeny piece of nail that had evidently embedded itself deep down into my flesh. Day in and day out…the pain would not go away…it only got worse.

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness..." 2 Corinthians 12:8, 9

A whole week and a day had passed by and the next thing I knew it was Easter Sunday- April 11th. I woke up and boy, was my toe UGLY! It was black and purple and oozing puss and throbbing painfully. Ebonically speaking, I was literally “‘toe up’ from the flo’ up!” I guess a person with common sense would have carried themselves to the doctor by now! As I said, I was so used to taking care of this myself that going to the doctor never even occurred to me...not even when I saw how it looked on Easter morning.

So now, the plot thickens: It is Sunday morning, Easter morning no less, and I am wondering what shoes am I going to wear? It was cold and rainy outside, but I had to settle for a matronly low heeled, pair with the toes out just so I could manage to squeeze my feet inside the shoe, but have my toes out, so I would be able to walk- and keep the shoes on! I am glad I still had those shoes (from when I broke my little toe), because otherwise I may have been barefoot save for some house slippers or something! But I was torn…I really needed to stay home to work on this toe, because I had to be able to go to work on Tuesday. But then I really wanted to go to church too- after all, it was only the biggest celebration in Christianity --Resurrection Sunday! And I wanted to be there! What should I do?

I got dressed, gathered up my family, and hobbled off to church! The service was wonderful. What I received spiritually through the music ministries, the drama/dance team and through the Word, I was sure had I made the right decision to attend church that day. But oh! There was one more thing!

Near the end of the service, Pastor Doolin asked the people in the audience to stand up if they needed healing for their bodies. This is where it got quite interesting to me, listening to the loud raucous of a debate going on inside of my own head as if I were a passive onlooker:

Oo, oh! I can get healed of this painful toenail!

Shut up and stay in your seat. Don’t be so dumb!

But God is concerned about my life....

There are people here with issues much more serious than a stupid ingrown toenail!

But God loves me and He said He is concerned about the most minute details of my life.

You’ll look like a butthead if you stand up now. The people who were going to stand have already stood up.

But I have to get healed by God. I have tried everything I know humanly to do.

Suppose the Pastor comes around and asks you what you need healing for? You know the microphone is on! You’ll look like an idiot! People will laugh and think you are stupid when they hear what you want healing for!

If he actually asked what I need healing for, I think he would turn the microphone off. If not, then I’ll just have to look like an idiot! I need healing and I believe in God’s powers to heal me.

"...the devil...for there is no truth in him...for he is a liar and the father of lies." John 8:44

And with that, I stood up. At that point, Pastor Doolin was instructing the members still seated to reach out and touch in agreement and in faith, the people who were standing for healing. I felt two warm hands on me.

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in their midst." Matthew 18:20 (KJ)

My boys later told me, that as the Pastor prayed, he went around to the people closest to the front of the auditorium, and laid hands on them. I was one of them. I remember feeling my hand being touched, and a slight warming sensation travel up my arm and down my back at that time.

Later on that afternoon, when I got home, I noticed that my toe felt better! Wow! Anything short of that throbbing pain that morning was a miracle! Well, I believed in my healing, and I just could not wait to see how God was going to do this work!

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

The very next morning, when I woke up, the very first thing I noticed was the absence of pain! What? Could it be? Already? I squeezed it, jumped up and down on it, and walked on it, and then I ran as fast as I could, to tell my family the good report! My husband was still at work, so my kids became the targets of my joy! I’m hollering and screaming excitedly through the house, “Guess what? I’m healed, I’m healed! I’m healed! Halleluyah! I’m healed! God healed me! Halleluyah!

"Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you..."Mark 10:52

I was so happy that this little piggy was healed! Wee, wee, wee, wee, wee, all the way home! My boys heard the commotion and came running to meet me at the bottom of the stairs. After they understood what happened, they smiled, patted my arm and shoulders, and went on back to their breakfast. Kids! If I had said I was buying a puppy, they’d be excited, then! ;-)

Looking back, I can clearly see that the enemy was trying his best to rob me of God’s blessing of healing for me. He threw up all kinds of reasons for me to stay in my seat; all of them appealing to my ego not wanting to appear stupid. If I had given in to that who knows how this would have turned out? My toe was severely infected....

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

I still have questions about this incident to ask God when I see Him. Why didn’t He answer my prayers, when I prayed for myself? Why did this have to drag out so long, essentially ruining my whole vacation? Was it to keep me from being active on the road going places, thereby preventing me from being in harm’s way somehow? Was it to show the power of His healing? If I can believe Him for small stuff like this, and see His power in action, then surely I can have faith to believe Him for bigger stuff later on, right? (That's another testimony!) Was it to show me to never to listen to enemy, because he is a liar? Was it to give me another testimony that may one day encourage someone else? Was it a demonstration of His healing power for someone else who does not believe that He still heals today? Man! I have a running list of questions in my head to ask Him. I hope He does not mind! ;-)

Testimony on Easter, March 27, 2005:
*Another facet to this praise report: In the whole year since the original healing, I have not had one ingrown toe nail! Isn’t God wonderful?! Halleluyah!

Anyone want to share a praise report of their own healing? We'd love to read it, and praise God along with you!

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posted by A Heart of Worship @ 4/30/2005

7 Comments:

At Sunday, May 01, 2005 4:01:57 AM, markwashere said... Sister L... ;-)You and your beautiful feet have brought me joy twice today. Your comment on my blog brightened up an already beautimous day and the little piggy testimony had me laughing out loud! I love the scriptures you chose and especially where you put them. So look... your kids might not have thought it was too special, but I'll run around my own house and rejoice WITH you! GIRL, PRAISE HIM WIT THE PINKYTOE!!Catch a blessing,Mark C.

At Monday, May 02, 2005 9:54:48 PM, upwords said... L, I doubt I can say it better than Mark, but this is a beautiful blog and your toe testimony blessed me all up and down. All I can say is...stay on the good foot! LOLMary

At Monday, May 02, 2005 11:02:37 PM, Paula said... Had to check you out since two of my favorite bloggers, ragamuffin and upwords, connected with you! Loved the piggy story! Praising God with you!

At Wednesday, May 04, 2005 7:02:50 PM, Heather Diane Tipton said... L, thanks so much for your comment on my blog. I love this post. and God used you to confirm a scripture to me. a couple days ago He spoke John 10:10 to me in a dream. Reading it here confirms it for me. Thanks. I see that I'm in good company on who comments on your blog. I read all three of their blogs.

At Thursday, May 05, 2005 10:05:32 PM, spiritual ingenue said... L- Thank you so much for the comments on my blog! I came right over here and read your pinky toe story and HAD to share my own "toe healing" :)...I was teaching VBS last year and had a toe that had a HUGE blister on it. It got to the point where I could only fit a big ol' house slipper on it (you know the ones you wouldn't let anyone see in public) so I taught that way all morning.

When my older kids came in, they saw my slipper and I told them what happened.One of their group leaders, a missionary from China, said "Let's lay hands on our teacher's toe and pray for God to heal it!" She called a litte boy from the front row and they prayed a simple two line prayer. I'm not kidding you when I say that God healed my toe right then and there, to the point where I PUT MY SNEAKER ON in front of the kids to show them it was true!!!

Was it the radical faith of a missionary? Was it the innocent faith of a child? Was it to witness to that group of 30+ kids AND their teen leaders? He was glorified on so many levels that day.I totally praise God with you today that HE IS TRULY AN ALMIGHTY TOE HEALER!!! How beautiful is our God that He cares about our littlest worries.I am looking so forward to connecting with you my friend-Blessings, Jan :)

At Friday, May 06, 2005 6:21:21 AM, A Heart of Worship said... Wow! What an awesome testimony! Instantaneous healing, seen in the flesh! God is so magnificent and wonderful! There are no limits to what He can do!Thank you for sharing your 'toe healing' story with us...hopefully someone will be blessed, and realize that God's healing powers are REAL! \0/

At Friday, May 06, 2005 10:01:42 PM, Paula said... L, Thanks for visiting GraceReign. Isn't the unconditional love of God amazing? I struggled today with some stuff and while I was processing that thought hit again--the thought that no matter how I feel about myself or my "performance" God always loves me and treasures me. It just blew me away all over again.The devotional series you mentioned is actually found at Soulscents.us (It's linked on GraceReign).

Mountain Highs to Valley Lows....Part I

2006-04-19T09:50:00.000-04:00

We all know that our living and being is supposed to be a form of worship offered to God right? Remember the scripture that says:

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:11

Well, two weeks ago on my new job, I had the awesome opportunity to be able to just close my eyes, look to the heavens, bow down, pray, raise my hands or do anything I wanted to do while worshipping our Father... while I was at work! (Well, actually I was on my lunch, but nevertheless, still at work, and on my job!) And no, 'they' did not come to cart me away! ;-) I know you are wondering, just how did this awesome opportunity come to pass?

I now work at an institution that has a chapel on the grounds! I had been so busy becoming acclimated to the job, meeting new people, finding my way around, etc, that I had sort of forgotten about the existence of the chapel...in fact I did not even know where it was. And in fact, it turns out that I had seen it everyday through unknowing, and unseeing eyes...DUH! For Pete's sake, it has a steeple as big as day on the roof!! Just goes to prove that sometimes we can't always see what is right in front of us, around us....like God's presence, who is always there.

"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

Anyway, initially I went over to the chapel out of curiousity. It was a huge cavernous chapel, with high arching ceilings. The dark wood interior wall was interpersed with a light brown stone wall covering. The stain glass windows held depictions of bible heroes and events we all learned about as children.

I settled into my pew on the far left, far away from the other two worshippers on the right side, who were lost in their own personal conversational streams with the Father. As I focused on God, my curiousity quickly melted into an overwhelming flood of thankfulness and gratitude, cocooning me warmly within the knowledge of being extremely blessed.

Okay, so what's the big deal you may ask? Granted, I can always talk to God at my desk, or wherever I am, and I can worship Him through my pursuit of excellence on my job or in whatever I am doing. But to be able to have the freedom and liberty to lose the 'professional face' and just 'be real' with God on my knees in the middle of the workday in a quiet, peaceful, serene place like this chapel, is just an awesome opportunity that I never dreamed of having come true.

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33

On my other job, I would have seek out lonely places during my lunch time to commune alone with God. Sometimes, I so desperately needed that mid-day connection, the recharging that took place during those times alone, while focused on Him. Sometimes I'd just end up in my car....and it was okay....but I always 'dreamed' of a place (nowhere specifically) where I could go on my job at lunch time to just pray, tune in, focus, and realign myself with His Word.

"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. " 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19

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

I am tickled pink about God placing me here in this job, finding this chapel and the mission statement of this institution which seeks to increase our spiritual relationship with God. Well, alright!!

Be Blessed! Check out Part II of Mountain Highs to Valley Lows....
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Mountain Highs to Valley Lows....Part II

2006-04-18T12:59:00.000-04:00

As high as I was from the experience in the previous post, "Mountain Highs to Valley Lows....Part I," that very same evening I came hurtling back down to earth, left to crash and burn in the "Valley of Bestillandknow."

Here is my story:

In my Counseling Psychology class, the few Christian students in the room openly admitted that they would feel uncomfortable counseling an openly homosexual person if it were not a Pastoral counseling situation where you could address the Biblical perspective on this. (The instructor has asked each one of us divulge this private information to the class, as part of getting to know yourself, and as establishing a 'confidentiality' between us all...to me it was just a false sense of intimacy). One of the students in the class took great offense to the Christians' disclosure, and she proceeded to lamblast the Christians in front of the class. She finalized her statement by reading this whole diatribe on Dr. Laura Schlessinger off of the internet....and the instructor let her!

Here it is:

For those of you that are not following the recent controversy that has to do with Laura Schlessinger: she is a radio personality who dispenses Advice to people who call in to her radio show. Paramount Television Group is currently producing a "Dr. Laura" television show. Recently she has become a convert to Judaism and has made some statements about homosexuals that have caused the Canadian anti-hate laws to censure her. The following is an open letter to Dr. Laura penned by a US resident, which was posted on the Internet.

Dear Dr. Laura,
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can.

When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to best follow them.

a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev. 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanness (Lev. 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.

d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?

g) Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27. How should they die?

i) I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot.

Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them (Lev.24:10-16)? Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws (Lev. 20:14)?

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging. Your devoted disciple and adoring fan.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Throughout the reading of this, the non-Christians in the class just hooted and howled in laughter....along with the instructor (who before this whole situation had stated that he is a Christian!)

As she was reading this letter, denigrating the Bible and what the Word actually means, I kept my head down and I prayed. I was angry for His sake. How dare they laugh like this. "Remember, be angry and sin not. "

"Lord, give me the words to say." Silence. "Father in Heaven, You are not to be mocked! Please, tell me what to say in Your defense." Deafening silence. "Lord, PLEASE, tell me what to say!!" Silence. "Lord, they need to know the truth...what should I say to them?" Silence.

And then she was finally finished reading the letter and the class was still falling all over themselves howling, trying to regroup. And I could not respond in God's defense. God had not given me anything to say, so I had no choice but to be silent. My own silence was eating me up alive. I was so angry about their mocking laughter towards the Holy Bible, that I noticed that my hands were trembling.

I just shut down. I did not hear anything else that girl had to say. I got lost in my world with God. "How could You not give me something to say? How could you let Your Word get toyed with like that? How could you let the Christians in the room be belittled like that? Just how could You let our faith be laughed at and scorned like this? I was confident that You would tell me what to say!"

And then He spoke:"Be still and know that I AM God. When the time is right I will speak to them. I do not need to be defended. The Word does not need to be defended.Tonight My Words would have fallen on deaf ears. Besides, you were too angry to be my mouthpiece. My true message would have been lost in your emotions. Thank you for honoring Me with your silence."

And then there was silence. So there huddled down in the the "Valley of Be Still and Know," I finally got my answers. I got up, dusted myself off, and smiled. God in His magnificent wisdom knows all...and yes, He is in charge.

"If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. But rejoice that you participate in the suffereing of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name." I Peter 14, 13, 16

Halleluyah ! \0/

I Just Can't Get Past the Evidence....

2006-04-17T09:10:00.000-04:00

I was simply dumbstruck. This past Saturday morning, I was on my way back home having been relieved of my taxicab duties for the morning. As I drove along through the quiet, sunlit residential streets, with their nicely manicured lawns, I looked in wonderment at all of the trees and bushes bursting forth with spring's delicate ripeness.

The trees were proudly displaying the fruit of their winter's pregnancy, each having given birth to the fullness of their labor; the offspring of spring blooms. It was almost as if each individual blossom beckoned in song, calling me by name, competing for my attention!

I was captivated by their beauty; lost in the colors, their scents, getting mired in the the form of the blossoms. Looking from my car windows at the stop signs was not enough. I had to stop the car, get out and just stare. And admire. And worship God.

All of these of these trees pointed to the One who is much greater than I....greater than us. I soon realized their songs of beauty were not calling my name, but singing their individual praises in unison to the Gardener, our Creator, our God who created them and us. As a child of God, whose identity is found in Christ, I had related.

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." John15:4,5

"Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens." Psalm 148:13

"Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness." Psalm 29:2

How can His existence ever be denied? As I pondered this question, the chorus of this song came to mind.

"Can't Get Past The Evidence" by 4Him on the WOW 1999 CD.

CHORUS
And I can't get past the evidence,
I can't get past the proof,
I can't get past the evidence
It's impossible to do
I can't get past the evidence
and I can't deny the truth
I can't get past the evidence of You

As I got back into my car, and proceeded on my way home, I was still thinking about that thread of thought, when my thoughts turned to the meaning of Easter Sunday; the day we commemorate as "Resurrection Day." I started wondering about non-believers and what Easter possibly meant to them. Then my thoughts wandered downtown to school...

I sit through inner turmoil week after week, while I am in my Anthropology class. We are being taught that in society today 'civilized and educated' peoples consider evolution as the only viable, rational and logical means of man's existence. What?! Give me a break!!!! There are so many missing links, unknown variables and holes in these evolutionary theories, that it astounds me that these 'civilized and educated' people believe them rather than the Bible!! Why would you use your faith to believe in these man-made theories rather than use your faith to believe in the inerrant Word of God?

"It is written: " 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.' " Romans 14: 10-12

"...and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phillipians 2:10-12

SIGH! Oh well. As you have probably ascertained from reading my blog for some time now, that scriptures and songs come to mind alot of times when I am thinking, and this time was no exception. The lyrics to this next song came to mind as I was pondering the non-believer's point of view versus my point of view. I thought this song was very befitting considering the Holy Day we are in the midst of celebrating.

"Lord, I Believe in You" as sung by Crystal Lewis, which is also on the WOW 1999 CD.

Lord, I Believe inYou
copyright Tommy Walker

Verse 1
Though I can't see Your holy face
And Your throne in heaven above
It seems so far away
Though I can't touch your nail scarred hands
I have a deep and unspeakable joy
That makes my faith to stand

(Chorus)
Lord, I believe in You
I'll always believe in You
Though I can't see you with my eyes
Deep in my heart
Your presence I find
Lord, I believe in You
And I'll keep my trust in You
Let the whole world say what they may
No one can take this joy away
Lord, I believe

Verse 2
Born from above
You are Gods only chosen one
Youre the one and only true way
To the Fathers heart
You died for all sin
Then you rose and now live again
Conquering death and the grave
So that I might live

(Chorus)

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10

"Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." Luke 24:45-47

"While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy." Luke 24:51, 52

"We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life" 1 John 5:20

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John3:16

May the Lord add a blessing to the reading of His Word! \0/ Halleluyah! Be Blessed!

It's Not About You!

2006-03-25T18:20:00.000-05:00

Yesterday a friend asked me if I ever got discouraged and distraught because people did not always comment on my blog; especially when I post stuff that is personal or really serious. Funny he should ask me that yesterday-- the very day I got positive and encouraging affirmation from a friend about my blog.

My answer was, "No, not any more." To explain the whole story, when 'I' first started this blog, I did it because 'I' wanted to create a spiritual network online for some of my close girlfriends. And that was to be the extent of my network. But that is not what happened.

My girlfriends did not understand what 'I' had in mind, and they passed the link out through the vast world of email. I remember being very upset when I found out the close circle of girlfriends that I had envisioned, had gone on and shared the blog link with their girlfriends and they with their friends...some of those friends being men!!!! Now I did not know who all was reading my stuff, and I was feeling a little itchy about it.....not that had I put anything so personal out there that I wanted to retract, but I still wanted to control who was reading my thoughts online.

I was lamenting about this to my husband one day, and he looked at me real puzzled, and asked, Why are you trying to limit God? Why are you trying to limit your ministry? Evidently God is expanding your ministry to reach and help many more people than you know yourself." Ha! Then it was my turn to look puzzled. "Limit God? Ministry?"

Then it hit me. "Wow, Tish this is not about you!" I thought it was 'my idea' to start this blog, but I soon realized early on, nope, it was God's plan all along....to spread the gospel online and to encourage others in the faith.

This little blog has turned into a ministry that blesses people not just here in the tiny little state of Maryland, (like my little mind had envisioned) but God has blessed me with regular readers from different countries all around the world!! They must be getting blessed, because they keep coming back to read the blog! I have no idea who these people are, or how they were led by God to the blog, and I don't know why they don't comment but that is really is not of consequence to me. The mere fact that all these people are continuously reading and being blessed by the blog is indeed a blessing to me!

But I must admit in the early stages of this blog, a little more than a year ago, at one period when it seemed that no one was submitting comments, I allowed myself to fall in the ego trap of wondering why no one was commenting...essentially validating what I said and felt...and God had mercy on a sista and 'helped a sista out'. He sent other 'sistas and brothas' to me in person, precisely at the right time to encourage me concerning my blog.

That was the last time I ever needed that type of affirmation...and surprisingly God was right there to meet my need to encourage me to plod along with this blog. But then again, I should not have been surprised....God always knows what we need when we need it, and supplies our need. Since I know all things are from God, I was really blessed that He sent so many people my way to encourage me at that particular time in my life. And I still am blessed by that...the encouragement was so strong, and so profound, that I know it was of God, through God, and by God, just for me! Whew!

When I wrote my friend privately who commented on the blog yesterday, I thanked her adding, "I don't do it [the blog] for positive reinforcement from others, but it is always nice to hear that God IS using me/my blog to help others."

Believe me, it blesses me, it is absolutely wonderful to hear news of how the blog has ministered to someone, helped and encouraged them in their situation, actually clarified something about the Word for them, or even how it painted a more vivid picture of this awesome God we serve!

But as wonderful and humbling as those testimonies are, what really matters first and foremost to me, is that I follow the leading of the Spirit, and do as I am asked by God. If God leads me to continue to blog, I'll blog. If no one ever comments on my blog again, it is okay. God is reaching the people He wants to reach through me around the world and I am very honored to be His vessel.

It seems to me, the looking for and seeking of self validation and positive reinforcement at this point in my walk would take away from the validity of who I am in Christ, and take away from the aspect of this blog being all about Him. My positive affirmations of who I am, come directly to me from the Word of God. I believe that God is in control, that I live and move and have my being in Him, and that I am doing what He asked....and that is ALL that matters. After all, it is all about God. It's God's blog. \o/

"For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen." Romans 11:36

*Check out a snippet of Smokie Norful's "It's All About You" (referencing God of course!)

Sometimes He Comes in the Clouds...

2006-03-22T19:31:00.000-05:00

Yes, God has it all under control....really....whether we believe it or not! And (I think) sometimes it is good that we don't believe, because when the whole scenario at hand finally plays itself out, then our eyes are opened to what God was doing all along that we could not see, and we get to knowingly experience God's omnipotence in the form of His unending and merciful love, peace, gentleness and justice for ourselves.

Only then does God gets all of the glory when we see the whole picture, or part of the picture of what He was doing in our lives! It is absolutely amaaaazing to me when I look back at various situations in my life, and see how the puzzle pieces fit together in how it was orchestrated, due to no contrived effort on my part. 'For in him we live and move and have our being...We are his offspring.' Acts 17:28

It is a shame that we usually don't have blind trusting faith in Him at all times, because scripture tells us 'Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:29

This scripture applies to our faith concerning our whole lives...not just the application mentioned here in the book of John where it illustrates Thomas only believing because he saw with his own eyes Jesus in the flesh after He was raised from the dead.

This reminds me of a great song by Steven Curtis Chapman called,

"Sometimes He Comes in the Clouds."
It is on an awesome compilation worship CD called "My Utmost For His Highest," by several Christian recording artists. Click here to listen to a snippet.

Video courtesy of www.kyeshung.com and www.ynem.org

These are the places I was so sure I'd find Him
I've looked in the pages
And I've looked down on my knees
I've lifted my eyes in expectation
To see the sun still refusing to shine, but...

[Chorus:]
Sometimes He comes in the clouds
Sometimes His face cannot be found
Sometimes the sky is dark and grey
But some things can only be known
But sometimes our faith can only grow when we can't see
So sometimes He comes in the clouds

Sometimes I see me, a sailor out on the ocean
So brave and so sure as long as the skies are clear
But when the clouds start to gather I watch my faith turn to fear, but...

[Chorus]
Sometimes He comes in the clouds
Sometimes His face cannot be found
Sometimes the sky is dark and grey
But some things can only be known
But sometimes our faith can only grow when we can't see
So sometimes He comes in the clouds

Sometimes He comes in the rain
And we question the pain
And wonder why God can seem so far away
But time will show us
He was right there with us, and...

[Chorus]
Sometimes He comes in the clouds
Sometimes His face cannot be found
Sometimes the sky is dark and grey
But some things can only be known
But sometimes our faith can only grow when we can't see
So sometimes He comes in the clouds

Just a little something to think about....

BE BLESSED! \0/

Hey, Hey, Hey!!!

2006-03-19T21:47:00.000-05:00

Shalom Y'all!

As you know, God is good all the time, and all the time God is good!

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Philippians 2:13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Colossians 1:10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

Man, o man, o man! I'm getting my shout on!

As you already know, if you know me personally, or if you've read my last two posts, I have undergone a new change in my life....from one job to a new job at another local educational institution.

All I can say repeatedly is God is good! I had been in His face about a new job for some time now....but it was not until I finally stopped being stubborn, and exercising faithlessness in one area in my life that He permit it to come to pass.

Let me digress and address one thing for clarification: Whether or not I got my prayer answered about a new job, did not change the character of God, or my opinion of Him. He is and will always be good and perfect. And if a prayer did not seem like it was being answered did not stop me from being in an attitude of praise and worship. It always propelled me to seek Him more.

Looking back, (hindsight is usually 20/20) I can see some of the reasons why it took so long for God to be able to move me on. It was my own doing. I tied His hands so to speak. I had to learn some valuable lessons first listed in no particular order:

"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 hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come to and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord..." Jeremiah 29 11-13

I needed to learn tolerance and develop love and patience for the hateful acting people that I worked with and came into contact with everyday.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23

I needed to work on maintaining a non-judgmental/non-pious attitude to the non-believers I worked for and with

"For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:2

I needed to learn how to let others see God in me without necessarily saying a word- unless prompted by the Holy Spirit to do otherwise

"The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just." Psalm 37:30

"My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the utterance from my heart will give understanding." Psalm 49:3

"Do not speak to a fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your words." Proverbs 23:9

I needed to learn that I was supposed to work as if I were working for God himself
I needed to learn how to work as if I were working for God

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men..." Colossians 3:23

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship." Romans 12:1

I needed to learn that worship is 24/7 - It does not stop because you are at work or anywhere else!

"From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised." Psalm 113:3

"I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips." Psalm 34:1

"Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always." Psalm 105:4

I needed to step out in faith and learn how to trust God completely for everything

"You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did." James 2:22

"God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."
I Corinthians 1:9

"We walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7

I had to learn to ALWAYS keep my mouth SHUT and never allow myself to be caught up in the office gossip...and not let them come bringing tales to me either.

"Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies." Psalm 34:13

"If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." James 1:26

"Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." James 3:4-6

"My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long." Psalm 35:28

I needed to have faith and bring my treasures into the storehouse, trusting God (tithe).

" 'A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD." Leviticus 27:30

"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings." Malachi 3:8

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." Malachi 3:10

It was amazing... when the last of the lessons was finally learned within, BAM! Things started happening so fast in my life that it seems that my world still seems to be spinning! ;-)

I know you will think it is too early to say, but I love my new job and the people. It is so wonderful to know that you know that you are where you supposed to be, concerning part of His will for your life, that everything is beautiful! Hey, I did not intend to write nearly this much, but sometimes when I start typing, the fingers just start to flying, and I can't stop them!!

On another high note, church service was 'off da hook' today. Well, to me every Sunday is 'off da hook', but this service was extra special! The traditional service that we normally have, went out the window as Pastor Doolin was led by the Spirit, and went into prayer and praise mode instead of the usual life application sermon.

He invited people who desired prayer for any area of their lives to come forth to the altar and down the aisles. After he shared some things with us by the Spirit, he called a member to the pulpit to share her testimony concerning faith, and it was a blessing indeed! His wife came up and she also confirmed what the Spirit was saying concerning faith to the congregation.

Pastor then led the congregation into a spirit of prayer, praise and ushered in an outpouring of the Holy Spirit!! People were healed, got prayers answered in faith, and were touched by the Spirit of God! Witnessing and participating in this service was miracle enough, but it further confirms for me that absolutely nothing is impossible for God.

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." John 15:9, 11

Blessings to you all,

~God is more than worthy to be praised~ \o/

The Excitement Revealed........

2006-03-05T09:30:00.000-05:00

Whoa! It's been a whirlwind! Let me catch you up to speed!

Remember in my last post, "Like Fire Shut up in My Bones," I spoke about this burning excitement in my spirit, but I didn't know why? It's amaaaaazing how this has all panned out...you can call it whatever you want to call it, but I am calling it GOD!It's all about Him! He was moving in my life (as always), but I couldn't specifically see what He was doing, but I could definitely feel it!

Some of you know that I had been wanting a new job for various reasons for a little while now....and some of you know that job-wise I wanted to stretch my wings and have a little more responsibility, and a little more pay.....and some of you know that I wanted a job that offered more benefits in terms of tuition. But that seemed to be something that wasn't happening because I have not completed my undergrad degree, and the opportunities seemed to be very limited if they were even existant at all. The opportunities were not presenting themselves to me. And the few times that I did get an interview, I was not offered the job. ;-( This was a brand new experience that I was not taking too well....to get an interview and not get the job?! Well!! I never!!! In the past, anytime I applied for a job I got it! What happened to change that?

So I was starting to allow myself to wonder, "Okay Lord, when is it gonna be my turn?" to "Is it ever gonna be my turn?" And believe me, He knew exactly what I wanted, because I ran it down to Him numerous times reminding Him of it just in case He had somehow forgotten me. Yeah, right! :-)

Now, looking back, I see that nothing changed until I changed. Through continuous dousing of the Word, my mindset became, "Lord, wherever You want me to be is where I'll be." "Whenever You move me is when I'll move." And I left it at that. And I had faith in that. I put a stop to the spirit of fear and trepidation that was trying to rule my life and overtake it concerning every area of my life...including my giving....(I'll have to write about that aspect of this story another time.)

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."Romans 12:2
"I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."Lamentations 3:24
The last job I applied for was in September. It seemed to be good a good one....to me anyway. It was less pay than I was currently making, but to me after assessing the costs of the benefits offered, if I had to pay for them versus receiving them for free, then the benefits solidly outweighed the lesser pay. Evidently God had other plans for me...............because I did not get that job...I didn't even get an interview! (Hmmmph! Imagine that!) ;-) But I remember telling a girlfriend of mine at work, that evidently God had something better for me, and that I was waiting for it to come forth. In His time it would be revealed. She agreed with me.

"In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." Psalms 5:3

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

I continued to look at job postings online at different places, asking God to lead me and guide me in my search. I asked Him to impress upon me, the job He wanted me to apply for....Then one Sunday night I saw it. Immediately, I KNEW in my spirit that this was the job for me...and as soon as I 'knew it was for me' the enemy immediately came right away and snatched that thought away by immediately sprinkling a myriad of different seeds of doubt....and so much so, that I did not submit my resume at that time....but I did print the job description out, and I looked over it from time to time. 'Something' kept tugging at me internally, but I was ignoring it....for some reason I 'wasn't hearing it!'

When I mentioned the job posting to girlfriend at work the next day, (Monday) expressing my newfound doubts about the position, she immediately encouraged me to apply for it anyway. (Looking back, she was definitely being used by God.) After talking to her, I still sat on my resume, but I was still thinking about what she said to me about submitting my resume through out the next couple of days.

On Tuesday, during lunch, I felt led to share with another girlfriend at work about the job I applied for, and I even showed her the job description. She read it, looked me square in the eyes, and said, "That's your job, girl! You know that is your job! That's what you've been asking for!" To make a long story short, both of these women were confirming what I already knew, but I was hesistant to accept.

This sweet women volunteered to be a reference and suggested several other 'key' people on the job that I should ask to be references. I followed her instructions to a 'T' and asked them as she suggested that same day and on Wednesday morning. They all agreed very willingly.

After hearing the Word of God at Bible Class the next night, something resonated within me, (can't put a label on it, other than God) and I went on and sent in my resume online that very same night. That 'something' I mentioned in my last post was starting to resonate within my spirit even stronger....and I felt it, but I still did not know what to make of it. That was Wednesday night.

That Friday of that same week, the institution where I had just submitted my resume on Wednesday night, contacted me for an interview! (Wow! Already?!) We set it up for first thing Monday morning. That Monday we were snowed out, but that was okay. I remember thinking, "What God has for me, can't be blocked...not even by 20 inches of snow!" The institution contacted me the next day for a second interview date. We set it up for the following Monday.

Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:16

Meanwhile, on the following Friday evening, (the Friday before the second interview appointment) I happened to mention to the lunch date girlfriend that I did not have anything to wear like a nice dark professional suit with a skirt instead of pants, or nice business heels to wear with this yet to be found suit to wear to the interview. I had been combing the stores and the internet relentlessly all that week trying to find them....and reasonably priced too! She asked me what I was doing on Saturday morning. I told her, and she asked me to stop past her house on my way back home. "Okay," I said wondering what she had up her sleeve.

On Saturday morning she called to confirm that I was coming...of course I was coming....I said I was! my curiousity was really piqued at this point. I get to her house, she takes me upstairs to her bedroom, and laid out on on the bed was a huge heap of business attire!

Okay, you have to picture this: I kinda figured that she was gonna try to lend me something for the interview...but in my mind, I figured that would never work...we are not the same size and we are built differently. But I went to her house anyway because she was sweet enough to offer to help me. I decided to appease her, (figuring nothing would fit) so I tried on the suits first, then the dresses, pants and blouses. With the exception of 2 or 3 tops, everything fit like they were made for me. Can you believe that?!?

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us," Ephesians 3:20

She had gone on a strict exercise and dietary regimen, and none of her clothing fit her right anymore, and instead of giving her things to a faceless entity, she decided to bless me with the clothes...and I am talking designer labels here, folks!!! AND we both wear size 11 shoes!!!! Finding shoes in our size in really hard, and to have someone bless me with business attire and the slingback pumps to match also, is awesome, awesome, awesome! I left her house loaded down so heavy with clothing and shoes, that I could barely get the huge duffel bag into my house from the driveway....it barely could fit onto the back seat!! That blessing was nothing but God!!

"Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!" Isaiah 30:18

Interview Monday finally came, and the interview went very well. You know how you 'know that you know?' That's what I felt when I left the interview. I feel that it went well because I was relaxed knowing that God is in control! There was nothing to fear. If it is ordained by God for me, then it is ordained by God for me! Nothing can change that! I told God that I knew that He was the giver of life, of all blessings, even of jobs and promotions...and that I DID NOT want this job just because I wanted it, or just because of the benefits...but I only wanted this job if it was His will for my life, His plan, and part of the next step of growth spiritually for my life....and only if those conditions were met did I want this job.

"For in Him we live and move and have our being..." Acts 17:28

That Wednesday of the same week of the interview, they called and offered me the job. I was excited about the job offer....but I was much more excited about the prospect that finally I knew this job part of God's intricate plan for spiritual growth my life. To me, that was much more exciting than anything else!!!

"I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry." Psalm 40:1

In fact, I remember praying a similar prayer (but not as conditional) before I was blessed with the job I currently have. My current job was definitely the preparation ground for the new job, all across the board in many areas. The things I have learned spiritually, has definitely played a role in preparing me for the next step in my life that God has planned for me.

So along with the sweet comes the bittersweet....I have to leave behind so many friends that I grown to love, cherish, respect along the way for the last six years. Once I started thinking about all of my goodbyes, it was mind-boggling to think of the number of people that I can count as friends. I am definitely rich in friends....and that too is a blessing. So now I am in the process of saying all of my "goodbyes and seeyalaters". This week coming up will be my last week here, and I am happy, yet I am sad. I guess what I heard is true: 'Growth usually involves a little bit of pain.'

Thanks for all of your prayers for me job-wise over the years. God knows what's good for me, I don't. This go 'round I hope not to be such a slow student. ;-)

"I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry." Psalm 40:1
Halleluyah, Amen! \0/

All In One List...My Favorite Blogs!

2006-03-01T23:16:00.000-05:00

These blogs listed below are some of my favorite ones I've written. Some are favorites because of the experience or my lessons learned, and some because of how the blog has impacted others. I believe all of these blog stories come to me from the Holy Spirit, and He gets the glory, honor and praise for all of them. Happy reading!

For Mothers ONLY!!!

Tish of Woodstock

God is *Not* your Magic Genie!

Adamma and Eva?

The Story of This Little Piggy...

A White Christmas

The "F" Words----Faith, Fact and Fear!

A Prayer for my Married Sisters

Can God be ANY CLEARER Than This?

What's Joy Got To Do With It?

My Manchild

My Manchild Again

Ode to Dr. J. Part I

Ode to Dr. J. Part II

Frustration and Temptation Part I

Frustration and Temptation Part II

Did I Really Forgive?

He Really Cares - Wow!

Mired in it and Needing a Bandaid

They're Watching....

Serendipity They Say

Time...What Is The Essence of It?

Why Do We Even Ask For Advice- What Constitutes Being a Good Friend? Part I

Why Do We Even Ask For Advice- What Constitutes Being a Good Friend? Part II

Why Do We Even Ask For Advice- What Constitutes Being a Good Friend? Part III

Life and Death Musings....

Like Fire Shut Up in my Bones!

2006-02-08T23:02:00.000-05:00

Hey Y'all!

Have you ever woke up with a certain burning excitement in your spirit, but you don't know why? Ever gone to bed with that same excitement, still not sure about exactly what it is you are excited about, but nevertheless you are? And you can't do anything about it...it is just there? And it lasts...and lasts? And you just can't put adequate words to it (like I am desperately trying to do now) trying to explain it to someone?

It feels like I am on the brink of something exciting....a breakthrough of some sort....but I have no idea what! That in itself is a little unsettling, but I can live with it...I guess I don't any choice, but to live with it, until God decides to reveal to me whatI am sensing.

The last time I had an acute experience of this type was after I was slain in the Spirit. This internal fire that I am trying to convey to you was one of the lasting results- for several weeks later! Remember how Mose's face shone bright with the glory and the people could not look at Him because He had been in the presence of the Lord? (Nooo, I am not comparing myself to Moses!) But it feels like maybe the glory of the Lord is inside of me, and is just BURSTING to get OUT!! Okay, okay! I'll admit to it--I do have an active imagination, but I am trying to convey my experience to you, so that you can better understand what I am trying to say.

I know my joyfulness is driving certain people nuts. You can see it in their faces. You know the ones I am referring to-- the dried up prunes that would rather sit around and complain about everything that is wrong all the time! Alot of times people seem to like wallow in their own misery! Why is that? And why does misery love company? Why? I really don't understand! I would rather be joyful any day! My thoughts are this: Show me the light! Set the captive free! He who is free is free indeed!

"To say to the captives, 'Come out,' and to those in darkness, 'Be free!' "They will feed beside the roads and find pasture on every barren hill. They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat upon them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water." Isaiah 49:9, 10

"To open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness." Isaiah 42:7

"Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:35-37

Amen, amen! Gettin' on the good foot! Holla! \o/

Adamma and Eva?

2006-02-04T17:00:00.000-05:00

Okay dokey now....like I said before- this semester started off with a BANG! (This BANG is me hitting the floor onto my knees in prayer!) Last night in my Literature class, the instructor was sharing information about the overall theme of all of our readings for the semester was to be about the concept of 'Family.' "Great!" I thought, I can get with this!

After lecturing a bit she asked us to write on these large index cards that she had passed out earlier, what our own personal definition of family was. Okay piece of cake...I wrote about Adam being lonely, and being given Eve by God, and their reproduction creating the first family. I wrote about family being a place of nurturing, acceptance, unconditional love, sharing a set of common values based on biblical principles (in my house), raising children into moral, ethical people, etc... you get the drift. I also notated a list of social ills that are destroying what fibers we have left of family and the importance of family in today's society...okay so you get where I was going. She stopped us after about 5 minutes of writing, so wherever we left off in our writing was it.

The instructor asked for volunteers to read their cards. On the first day of class, I am always quiet- observing the instructor and my classmates, so I said nothing. The instructor randomly picks several people who have raised their hands to read their cards. I am surprised that my classmates want to read at all. Several other classes I have been in, the instructor usually always had to call on people to read, because getting volunteers was like pulling hen's teeth. Last semester, the guy who sat right next to me in my "Arts and Ideas" class actually blew up at the instructor about being called upon to read aloud in class, (imagine my shock during his implosion explosion) but that is another story!

I had noticed this well dressed, and neatly coiffed African American woman (there are only 2 of us in this class) sitting directly across from me. The seats are arranged in a huge 'U' shape formation. We are both seated at the top of the 'U' on opposing sides (in more ways than one). This woman was animatedly waving her hand to get the opportunity to read her card. And I had noticed the instructor looking over and past her to pick other people. (Hmmm...what's up with that?) The instructor had commented on everyone's definition of family as they read theirs, and was about to move on to the next part of her lecture.

You shouldaseenit! This woman sitting across from me slips into fourth gear flapping her index card and waving wildly to get an opportunity to read her card. I'm mildly amused thinking, "Good grief woman, what else could be said about family?" Heh, I had no idea. The instructor obviously cannot ignore her now, so she calls on her. This woman happily echos what several others had said about their families consisting of people who are not biologically related...blah, blah, blah, then I heard "alternative family." My mind laments, "Oh, BLANK! Here we go."

I'll admit, my monolithic ideas of family never once mutated to think about the families that are created of people who are not biologically connected. Nor did I think of those who have made themselves 'families' consisting of the same sex. But, but, but the BIBLE SAYS that God made Adam and Eve..... NOT Adam and Steve and certainly NOT Adamma and Eva!!! HOLLER!

I managed to somehow find my way out to the edge of my opaque mindfog only to hear the instructor ask this woman if she did not mind sharing what kind of alternative family she belonged to. "Lord, why, oh why, did she have to ask her that? Who gives a care about details?!" Obviously, the whole class did...you could have heard a daggone pin drop. "Oh," she chirps, "I'm a lesbian, and so is my partner!" (Big 'DUH' there!) "We have cats as our children right now, as we don't have any human children yet!" "Blah, blah, blah... about whatever...," she droned on, and then the instructor says something meaningless and trivial, and thanks her for sharing.

I'm thinking, "Yeah, right...a big THANK YOU! That was knowledge that we all could have done without. Why do we need to know her sexual preference?" Isn't that akin to any of the others stating their favorite sexual positions? What difference does it make to any of us who have to deal with her on a casual basis in a classroom setting? Why do we need to know? I just don't get it!

Then all of a sudden I felt something. Why, was it that this woman was the one giving up the full disclosure, yet I felt and THEN confirmed with a full sweep of my eyes about the room,that ALL the OTHER EYES in the room were on me?!? Just because we are both well dressed, and both well coiffed, and both females, and both black, and both about the same age, does not lump us into the same cotton pickin' category of anything!!! What kind of jacked up logic is that? I felt like screaming and pointing, "HEY, I AM NOT A LESBIAN! SHE JUST TOLD YOU THAT SHE IS!! STOP LOOKING AT ME, DOGBITEIT!!!" I was angry enough to spit nails.

Hmmm....am I judging? How do you determine right from wrong if a 'mental judgement' is not made?

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." Luke 6:37

Oh help me Lord! I see that I really need your help and your guidance in this situation!!!Obviously this woman (and others in her camp) need guidance too, but this is a case of the blind (me not wanting to see) leading the blind (those who really can't see)!!!

If I had only read my card, they would know I was not in the same camp as she! Through the peering of their eyes, I felt as if my character, my moral fiber, my values, my integrity was being tested and subsequently assassinated, and I had done nothing to deserve it! As a child of God, I felt that He within me was being persecuted too! To make matters worse, I could not even clear my name in this court of persecution by similarity, without drawing more attention to the issue of homosexuality....or appearing to the unchurched to be a mere 'homophobic'. The instructor had moved on. Oh, it is on up in here! And I am reminded that the battle is not mine, it is the Lord's.

But still, my blood was boiling....and I am ashamed to admit that it still is....can you tell? To be clear, this has nothing to do with 'homophobia' as they call it. For three days in a row, in three different classes I have been slapped in the face with issues that are directly against what the Word of God teaches us. This is war....all out war! As a minister of the Word of God, I WILL get the Word of God out in these classes in some kind of way.

God give me the strength...

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song." Psalms 28:7

"With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall...It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect...You armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries bow at my feet. He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever." II Samuel 22: 30, 33, 40, 51

for the ensuing battle...

"All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands." I Samuel 17:47

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12

and the Words to say....

"Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue. The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD ? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." Exodus 4:10-12

The Word of God is not to be mocked, disbelieved or toyed with:

"Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous, that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know." .... Then he (Abraham) said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?" He (God) answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it." Genesis 18: 20, 21, 32

"Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. 25 Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land." Genesis 19:24

"Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts.

Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.

Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.

They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless." Romans 1:24-31

"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. " Romans 1:18, 19

God loves us all and extends His infinite mercy:

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:9-13

"For God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you. For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all." Romans 11:29-32

And I find solace in...

"For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen." Romans 11:36

Amen? Amen. \0/

Apes 2 Men

2006-02-02T08:07:00.000-05:00

This semester has sure started off with an unexpected bang. (No pun intended!) I am taking 3 classes this semester, still plunging towards my goal of finishing up before this year ends, God willing. Well, my first class this week was a biology class...well, technically it was 'Physical Anthropology'. (sigh!) Our text books and lab books were not in stock yet, so depending on whether or not I believe the bookstore or the instructor, one of them is at fault as to why we don't have our books at the start of class.

Anyhoo, this is a class where I have to keep my own personal beliefs and opinions to myself if I want to pass. The instructor has made it pretty clear that he is expecting us to parrot back his teachings and the book's views on the tests, quizzes and essays from our 'good notetaking' to get 'good grades'. This is very disturbing to me. What about independent thinking? Isn't that what learning is all about? I have to think what he thinks to be assessed as a learning student? In one of my classes last semester, I went against everything the instructor said within my essays, and backed it all up with supporting evidence and got nothing but A's.

And that's where the problem lies...the subject matter of this class really cannot be PROVEN without doubt by him nor his books, but he is the one teaching the class, expounding his views to us, the poor ignorant students. My proof is the inerrant Word of God, but I was told several semesters ago by another instructor at the University that I could not use the Bible as a reference for a fact based paper, because it was not a factual, non-fiction source. WHAT?

One of the main topics in this class will be the 'evolution of apes to man'. And this instructor wholeheartedly believes his theories, and those 'great anthropologists and scientists' who have come before him. I feel duped, because this stupid class is a requirement to graduate. I don't want to compromise what I personally believe for the sake of a grade. (But grades are important when seeking scholarships, etc...waaah!) I know that my personal views will not be viewed as 'viable' based upon my sources, to use as substantial evidence to back up my claims. I could just suck it up, and spit it all out right back at him, and get my good grade, but that is rubbing me the wrong way too under my skin. A girl in my class mentioned that she was an atheist, and wholeheartedly believed in evolution, etc....barf! Arrrgh!

What do you think I should do?

Second question of the Day: How come if we evolved from apes there are still apes here today?

Overheard: A co-worker was bragging yesteday that she won tickets through her church's raffle to see the Rolling Stones in concert last night. Huh? Anything about that situation seem a little incongruent to you? Maybe it's just me....I dunno.

\0/

For Mothers ONLY!!!!

2006-01-15T16:54:00.000-05:00

To those of you who are not mothers, or you know that your sensitivities are heightened concerning those things of a personal nature, this first line serves as your first and last warning to click away--NOW!

I must admit that this is a blog posting that is a little 'out of character' for me, but hey, this blog is about life, and I am writing about my life's experiences, right? To those of you that think that after reading this blog that it is of "common" subject matter, oh well....I warned you.

Okay to those of you who are brave and strong enough to have read thus far, guess what I am in possession of.....a MAGIC TOILET SEAT!!! It seems that just about every time my posterior touches the seat, before you can even say "Abracadabra!" a plaintive voice will suddenly materialize, yelling from the other side of the bathroom door "Maaaooom!" Or that urgent knocking reverberates through my door, that can only mean that someone has been suddenly hurt and is near death.

Now, I must admit, silly me, I thought these days would be over by now. My kids are young men now- almost 16 and 14 years old....but just about everytime I touch that seat...I can count the seconds before I hear my name being called from the other side of the door, or that urgent incessantant knock starts.

So this morning when it happened again, it happened just one too many times. They have to stop this! When I saw them in the hallway, I told them that I just realized that I had in my possession a magic toilet seat. And they both looked at me with puzzled expressions only blinking. I explained to them that when I touch it, one or both of them suddenly appear with urgent questions and requests of me that were not of consequence only seconds ago. I told them that I did not want a Magic Seat, and that I wish its powers would leave. They chuckled, and said, "Okay, Mom we get it." My husband who was coming up the stairs, and heard the whole thing, just looked at me and did his face like, "You've lost it now, dear!" Okay, whatever. But the kids got the point.

So while I was in my room getting ready for church I was thinking about the blessings these two boys are. I am so blessed to have been given the privilege and gift of motherhood. If I had it all over to do again, I'd pray for God to bless me with a couple more! I have family members and friends that cannot have children for whatever reason. I do thank God everyday for these two young men that I am blessed with. It is a very sobering thought for me to think that in 2 years my oldest son will be in college, possibly away from home, and my youngest son will already be in high school.

We've realized that our times now with them are even more precious, thus we've instituted "Family Night." Several times a month we are committed to do something as a family having fun and laughing with each other. In a few years, my kids will be busy with lives of their own, and these nights will be but a fond memory in my mind...thoughts that I will look wistfully back on wishing I could relive again.

So as for the Magic Seat, I kinda hope its powers are now gone, but if it is not, and its powers fade in and out, I know it will lose it powers permanently in a few more years.....so for now, its okay. Really.

Enjoy your kids...I am! Be blessed! \o/

To My Sisters......

2006-01-14T23:11:00.000-05:00

HEAR WHAT OPRAH HAD TO SAY ABOUT MEN

If a man wants you, nothing can keep him away.
If he doesn't want you, nothing can make him stay.
Stop making excuses for a man and his behavior.
Allow your intuition (or spirit) to save you from heartache.
Stop trying to change yourself for a relationship that's not meant to be.
Slower is better.
Never live your life for a man before you find what makes you truly happy.
If a relationship ends because the man was not treating you as you deserve then heck no, you can't "be friends". A friend wouldn't mistreat a friend.
Don't settle. If you feel like he is stringing you along, then he probably is.
Don't stay because you think "it will get better." You'll be mad at yourself a year later for staying when things are not better.
The only person you can control in a relationship is you.
Avoid men who've got a bunch of children by a bunch of different women.
He didn't marry them when he got them pregnant, why would he treat you any differently?
Always have your own set of friends separate from his.
Maintain boundaries in how a guy treats you.
If something bothers you, speak up.
You cannot change a man's behavior. Change comes from within.
Don't EVER make him feel he is more important than you are...even if he has more education or in a better job.
Do not make him into a quasi-god. He is a man, nothing more nothing less.
Never let a man define who you are.
Never borrow someone else's man.
If he cheated with you, he'll cheat on you.
A man will only treat you the way you ALLOW him to treat you.
All men are NOT dogs.
You should not be the one doing all the bending...compromise is two way street.
You need time to heal between relationships... there is nothing cute about baggage... Deal with your issues before pursuing a new relationship.
You should never look for someone to COMPLETE you...a relationship consists of two WHOLE individuals... look for someone complimentary... not supplementary.
Dating is fun... even if he doesn't turn out to be Mr. Right.
Make him miss you sometimes...when a man always know where you are, and you're always readily available to him - he takes it for granted.
Never move into his mother's house.
Don't fully commit to a man who doesn't give you everything that you need. Keep him in your radar but get to know others.
Share this with other women and men (just so they know)... You'll make someone smile, another rethink her/his choices, and another woman prepare, and a man aware.

Hmmm.....any comments?

God Filled Acronyms!

2006-01-14T23:00:00.000-05:00

ASAP= Always Say A Prayer
BA = Born Again
BIBLE= Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth
BIRD FLU= Believe In Redeemer Deeply, Fear Leaves Us
BYE = Bless You Eternally
CASH= Christians Always Say Hallelujah
CHRISTMAS = CHRIST.. My Annointed Saviour
COLD= Call Our Lord Directly
CRASH= Come Rejoice And Sing Hallelujah
CROSS= Christ Redeemed Our Shameful Sins
COOL= Christ Our Only Lord
FAITH= Forsaking All, I Trust Him
FEAR= False Evidence Appearing Real
FISH= Forever I'll Serve Him
FROG= Faithfully Relying On God
GLUE= God Loves Us Eternally
GRACE = God's Riches At Christ's Expense
HIGH FEVER= Healed In God's Hands, Faith Empowers, Vitalises, Edifies & Restores
HELP = His Ever Loving Presence
JOY = Jesus, Others, Yourself
KFC= Keep Following Christ
KISS = Keeping It Simple, Spiritually
LOVE= Live Out Victory Everyday
MRT = Must Rest Today
OOPS= Only One Personal Savior
PEACE = Pray Expectantly, Adore Christ Everyday
PHD = Practicing Healing & Deliverance
PUSH= Pray Until Something Happen
RICH= Rejoice In Christ.. Hallelujah!
REST = Rooted Everyday, Simply Trusting
TGIF= Thank God I'm Forgiven
TITHE= The Investment That HE Endorses

I gleaned these cute little acronyms from an online friend in Singapore!
For a complete listing please visit his site: CyberRanger.

\O/

O Death Where is Your Sting?

2006-01-10T21:25:00.000-05:00

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38, 39

Halleluyah! Halleluyah! Halleluyah! NOTHING can separate us from the love of God! Isn't that wonderful beyond words?! Isn't that a promise worth dying for?

"Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." Romans 8:17

I thank and praise God daily for His Word that sustains me...if it were not for God and His continuous love, mercy and grace, I don't know where I'd be. The Word lifts me up, buoys me, carries me, feeds me. strengthens me, teaches me and encourages me....it is LIFE to me! David expressed it perfectly:

"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me." Psalms 63:1-8

Between mid December and now (mid January, I have known nine people who have left this earth and their spirits have moved on. I find comfort in knowing that all of these people actively proclaimed their faith, with the exception of two. Even though these two people never explicitly said anything about their profession of faith to me, I know that these two had accepted Christ as their Savior at one time in their lives.

"But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you." Romans 8: 10, 11

It makes one think....what happens if you reject Christ daily, incorrectly assuming that you have many more years to live? What happens when your time runs out? What goes through your mind when you find yourself looking at your dead and empty earth bodysuit and now your spirit and soul now need new permanent homes? We know that your spirit returns to God...but where will your soul go?

I certainly don't want to be in that predicament, and I do not want to be a 'death bed Christian' either! You know, one who suddenly sees he is not going to live much longer in his earthsuit, and decides to finally give a death bed confession out of fear. Eeking into Heaven by the skin of my teeth...no, no that won't be me! How about you?

I find too much joy in serving Him an a daily basis! The glory of the Lord is much too wonderful to ignore while I am here. Heaven is simply unimaginable.

"However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." I Corinthians 2:9

Why miss out? God has prepared a wonderful place for His children. Why miss out on learning about the riches of our Father's love while here on earth, by remaining a babe in Christ? Please don't miss out. If you are 'saved', learn about your Heavenly Father, through the Word. If you are not 'saved' you can accept Christ today. If you'd like to accept Christ into your heart and life today, just recite this prayer below:

Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin.

You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if I confess with my mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in my heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, I will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. I thank you right now for your salvation. I thank you for your Holy Spirit.

Thank you God for the ultimate sacrifice of your Son Jesus, for the forgivness of my sins and giving me eternal life. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited love, mercy and grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore, Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to You alone and not to myself. Amen.

If you have confessed this prayer, please tell 3 other people today as your public witness and confession of Christ. Don't worry if you did not feel something. Salvation is not based on feelings, but upon your faith in God and His word, and facts of his Word contained in the bible.

Please seek out a church where you can start learning about this wonderful God we serve. Get a bible, and read, read, read learning about your loving Father. Be blessed! \o/