Have I hurt others? ?

I have had many blessings from various Christian folks by way of prayer, encouragement, love and correction.My life has been enriched by having these people surround me. But right now I am thinking of the topic "What have I done or said to discourage a brother or sister along the way? ".You see, we as believers can still allow ourselves to be used by the devil to discourage one another. We say and do things we ought not. So I want you to search your heart right now and repent. I am going to do the same thing. We as believers can act horrendously at times. Our mouth can say cutting things that destroy others in a second. We must repent and then ask the Lord to make us sensitive to others feelings. A little more of others and a little less of me. Or a lot more of others and a lot less of me.

Do I value Myself?

Jesus said that we are to love our neighbour as ourselves. Wow, that wouldn't go very far for a lot of us. We have to therefore love ourselves ! ME MYSELF and I !! But we look in the mirror and find so many flaws with our face and our body. So we change something by coloring it or excercising or Botox ! We hate ME !. I am not saying don't do the change. I am saying WHY am I doing the change? Cuz I hate the way others view me and I want to look different for others so they will respect me or value ME? So I can look in the mirror and say Hey Baby You look Great ! I am so proud of you . What about if I can't change anything? What about when I am sick? Can I love Me then? What about if I have tried to lose those 10 pounds and it won't go ? Can I love Me then? Pimples, blemishes? Or what about my personality ? Oh I wish I had the charisma of so and so . I wish I could do public speaking like so and so. I wish I could pray for people like she does. Wishing, hoping but never accepting Me for Me. God made you to be like you. He expects you to use what He gave you, not what He gave someone else. Maybe you need to do some devil rebuking to those evil thoughts when you demean yourself, and berate yourself. Yes it's not all the devil's fault but he does bring evil thoughts and then we go ahead and entertain those thoughts. We invite those thoughts to come in and stay awhile. Come for dinner. Why don't you stay for awhile. Then the thoughts get hold of you and like an overgrown weed, they attach to you. I know first hand about this for myself. When Craig and I first got married, I blamed myself for any little thing that went wrong. It was all my fault. After he went to work I would punch the walls and call myself all sorts of names. One day he came home early when I wasn't expecting him. I was upstairs screaming into my pillow. He came in and said What is going on? He sat down beside me and I started to pour out memories from my childhood. He asked me Why haven't you ever told me these things? I said Because I didn't remember them ! He had to get back to work but he prayed for me first. After he left , I felt a peace. I wrote in my diary every day about this peace I still felt. peace I had never had even though I am a born again Christian. After 2 weeks I wrote in my diary..I guess this Peace is here to stay ! One note extra I want to say about that is that the Lord closed my memory again. I never remembered later what I told Craig. Not even the next day. So..Now I always love myself? Well, it's an ongoing job. But the strangle hold is gone . Yes I am thinking of getting a perm for my long hair. Maybe! I think it would be fun but I do like my hair straight too. The question is Do I love Me? Do you love you? When we love ourselves, we will love others in a new miraculous way.

Give me Fruit

We all, at least most of us, like some kind of fruit. Bananas, apples , oranges are liked by most people. Godly principles, like fruit, are also very welcome in our lives and in society. When your neighbour is kind to you, or the driver beside you on the interstate, uses his signal light and kindly waits for an opening before changing lanes, you are happy, because it makes for safer driving. Society benefits when godly actions are used . War wouldn't start. There would be no greed. But Fruits of the Spirit are exactly what it says...Fruits that the Spirit gives. these Fruits you cannot conjure up because we are a sick sinful people. We want our own way right from childhood. Some of us are still screaming to get our own way...tantrums just like the terrible two's. When you come to Christ and give your life to Him, God expects you to walk, talk and be like Jesus. How in the world can we do that? No way in the flesh. But we are a new creature, aren't we? We have the truth. We have allowed Acts 2:38 to start us on the road of following Jesus. Sometimes it's almost like we are Jekkyl and Hyde. Remember the poem..."Two natures beat within my breast. The one is cursed, the other blessed." When we are in Christ, we still can't live for Him unless we allow Him to rule. Unless we yield to Him. Yielding and submission is NOT what we like. That old flesh wants to rule and reign. Pride. Living for Jesus is yielding to His will, His desires and His plan. These are already stated in the scriptures. The Fruits that the Spirit gives are...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, meekness, gentleness, self control.. How do I get these ? Yielding and submitting and then there is another way, that I just read this morning. Another thing we don't like. Hebrews 12:11..."Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby." So, chastening will come. We can remember also, that He will never put on us more than we can handle...as we are leaning on Him. Also, He will never leave us nor forsake us. So, the question is 'Do I want Fruit?' another question is, "Am I bearing Fruit?'

The Beggar (poem)

There once was a Beggar , who went through the town By day asking pennies, by night a whole crown He never had slept neath a fine feather bed Nor lay his head down on a fluffy bedstead. To no one he talked, To no one laid bare His trials and heartaches, His troubles and care. At death no one missed him, A small spot was gone The night would not miss him, And nor would the dawn 9/17/08

What does "Tongues" do?

1 Corinthians 14:2 speaks to God not to men :4 edifies the speaker :2 speaks mysteries in the Spirit :5 if it's interpreted, it edifies the church. Otherwise it doesn't :6 Doesn't profit the hearers because it's between you and God :12 Spiritual Gifts are to edify the church, so tongues is only one on one, you and God, unless interpreted :14 My spirit prays to God ( often I had forgotten, didn't know about eg. other people or situations or things tucked away in my subconscience , but it came out during praying in tongues) .This is when the understanding becomes fruitful because God interprets the tongue :15 I will pray with the spirit :22 tongues are a sign to unbelievers. In church believers must seek to edify the Body :28 speak to himself When you are used to Heal, to speak knowledge or wisdom , to help someone, to perform a miracle, to prophesy, to discern spirits, you do all that in your own language and you, yourself may be thought of as someone great or that you are really someone. When you speak in tongues, you're thought of as a weirdo ! You speak words God gives you in a language not your own. You become just like one in the upper room. It's a humbling experience to yield your unruly tongue to the Holy Spirit. Our tongues do so much mischief, but God can use it to glorify Him ! But, we must let go of pride. No church can operate in the 9 Gifts of 1 Corinthians , until they've been to Acts 2 ! Some churches have teachings on how to operate in the Gifts, but it's impossible to operate in the Gifts of the Spirit unless you have the Baptism of the Holy Spirit like in Acts. ! Corinthians was written to Spirit filled Believers who had all been filled with the Baptism of the Spirit . That is the initial step. Totally apart from operating in the 9 Gifts. First you must start in Acts 2:38 and be Born Again. Repent, Be Baptized in water in Jesus' name and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Every time in Acts when a group or individual was filled with the Spirit, they spoke in tongues. Then God will use you in one or more of the 9 Gifts.

Is hell real ?

Many people don't want to talk about or think about hell. Of course it's an awful subject. But it's real. I wish no one would go there but many chose to when they rebel against God. There are only 2 masters. God or Satan. You have to chose. In not deliberately choosing to follow Jesus , you have chosen to follow Satan . Satan leads you to death, destruction and ultimately to the place destined for only him and his angels, which is hell. He wants you to go there with him. He hates God. He was so delighted when Jesus was nailed to the cross, but when Jesus rose from the grave, Satan' s hold on death and hell were loosed. So now, you can choose Jesus ! He came to give you Life and Peace and Joy and much more. He brought salvation so you can choose Jesus and get forgiveness of your sin and then be in right relationship with God. Jesus is God in the flesh. Immanuel God with us. God Himself took on flesh so He could save you because He loves you. You are His creation. He made you to love and worship Him but He gives you the choice. Hell is real. You can read about it in the Bible. The Bible is God's Word. The only book completely True with no falsehood whatsoever.

ME (Pride)

I live in my little world I look at Me, Myself and I All revolves around Me All on Me depend and rely. If I would disappear Become obsolete and not The earth would stop rotating The air grow stale and hot I am the center , the median All depends on Me No other can accomplish No other so beautifully.

Full Cupboards

A kitchen full of groceries is a good feeling. You've just come home with bags of canned goods, fruits, vegetables and frozen items. You bought three types of bread, plus many milk products...and all those sweet things, that not only the children, but you also, love. You have then put away all those things in their proper places. You sit down for a breather and think, " Ah, a kitchen full of groceries and very full cupboards ! Our personal lives are often depleted, too. We need a fill-up in our hearts and spirits. How do we get this ? How do we get the needs of our hearts met ? We're sad, we're lonely, we want peace with God, we want to have peace with others, we want to have a home in heaven, we want to see God, we want forgiveness from God and from others when we do wrong, and we want to be "good" and do the right thing. Jesus said, " Blessed are the poor in spirit, for they shall see God. Blessed are they that mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they be sons of God. " He also said, " Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven ; and forgive men when they sin against you (so that) your heavenly Father will also forgive you ." When we treat others as God wants us to treat them, we will in return also receive a blessing. Jesus promised that we would. When we show mercy, forgiveness, weep with those who weep, rejoice with those who rejoice, we will also receive those things back to us when we need them. Our cupboards in our heart, will not be empty, but full. When we pour ourselves out, so to speak, for the things that are dear to God, He will see to it that when we have need, we can open our cupboards and find them full. Remember when He said," Give and it shall be given unto you". If we are stingy, unmerciful, unforgiving, haughty, not praying for others, not being sad and caring for those who are sad, we do not get a blessing back. We have not given, so we won't receive. They say that when we are depressed, we should not stay locked up in our home, but go out and find someone in need and help them ! I have found that this really gets me out of my depression. Praying for the needs of others and concentrating your heart of them, really helps. I love to cook when there are alot of things in my kitchen cupboards to chose from ! Full hearts - Full cupboards ! There's the old faithful saying - Do unto others as you want them to do unto you !

Love fulfills the Law

Romans 13:10 says that Love worketh no ill to his neighbour, therefore love is the fulfilling of the Law. THE LAW ! Must be the Law of Moses from Exodus 20. I looked that up and put the word Love in place. Love has no other gods before Me. Love does not make unto yourself any graven image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth. Love does not bow down thyself to them nor serve them, for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God , visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me, and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments. Love does not take the name of the Lord they God in vain. Love remembers the Sabbath day to keep it Holy. Six days love labors and does all it's work. But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God . In it Love shall not do any work, You nnor your son nor your daughter, your manservant nor your maidservant nor your cattle nor the stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth , the sea, and all that is within them and rested the seventh day. Wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. Love honors his father and his mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God gives thee, Love does not kill. Love does not commit adultery

Is Jesus in the Eucharist?

What a phenomenal thing for Jesus to say to us Protestants! " Take, eat, this is My Body", during the Lord's supper; and, " Drink of it , all of you, for this is the Blood of My Covenant," This is found in the book of Matthew, Mark and Luke.
Here they were, dining together, the 12 disciples and Jesus. it was the Passover, and they were keeping the feast in obedience to the Law of Moses.
The Passover meal of lamb, etc, was eaten at twilight, and so, here was this group, eating, while reclining at the table in the evening.
The lamb part is important because Jesus is the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.
Jesus took bread (unleavened, because yeast is a symbol of sin), blessed it, and broke it. Then, the cup of wine. He said that it was His Blood poured out for the forgiveness of sin.
He kept the Law and then He fulfilled the Law of Passover in Himself. If you, in Moses day, had not put the blood of the lamb on your doorpost and lintel, then your firstborn son would die. Jesus is the unleavened Bread since He has no sin, and He also called Himself the Bread that comes down from Heaven. He is the firstborn son of Mary, and also the only begotten of the Father, and yet He chose to die for all those who do not have the blood of the lamb on their doorposts, or their hearts, so that we can have His Blood applied. The sinless died for the sinners.
The bread and the wine that they had that Passover evening, was to be done in remembrance of Jesus. The Body of Jesus would soon be given for us, on the Cross. The Blood of Jesus, would soon be poured out for us. 1 Corinthians says, "As often as you eat this Bread and drink this Cup, you proclaim the Lord's death, until He comes".
So, what about those today, who say that when we have the Lord's Supper or Communion, the bread becomes His Body and the wine becomes His Blood?
First of all, when our Lord was breaking the bread and passing out the wine, there He was, in person, with His Body passing out the food, and with His Blood inside Himself!
After His resurrection, (Luke 24) He was walking on the road to Emmaus, with 2 disciples. After He broke the bread, when they were eating, the 2 disciples suddenly recognized Him. Yet, His body was in complete form, before them, and what was not spilled at the Cross, of His Blood, and during the beatings, was flowing through His Body.
They who believe the bread changes into His Body, and the wine changes into His Blood ( the word is transubstantiation), believe it in actuality. It actually changes after it has been blessed. All over the world, at the Mass, everyday, there is the Body and Blood of Jesus being eaten by all those celebrating the Eucharist .Now, we must be careful, because Christ died Once and for All. Let's go then to Hebrews.
Many lambs and goats died in the Old Testament sacrifices, to atone for the people's sin. So, here comes Jesus and He is called " The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" Hebrews 9 says that Christ entered the Holy Place, Once and for All, by means of His own Blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. Approxiametly 2000 yrs ago, Christ died, only Once, shed His Blood at that time only, for us, so that we , who lived at any time through history, could receive forgiveness of our sin. The shedding of His Blood brought forgiveness of sin.
Look at verse 25. "Nor was it to offer Himself repeatedly..verse 26.. for then He would have had to suffer repeatedly, since the foundation of the world. But, as it is, He has appeared Once for All, at the end of the ages, to put away sin, by the sacrifice of Himself. And just as it is appointed for man once to die, and after that comes the Judgement, so Christ, having been offered Once, to bear the sins of many, will appear the second time.
Eat My Body! Drink My Blood! It means something! Jesus didn't use meaningless words just to hold a conversation. Jesus came for a purpose. He had His whole Self fixed on that purpose.
So, how do we partake of Jesus? How do we take on Christ? How do we become members of Christ? He ascended to Heaven so how can we eat of Him now?
Down to the very basics...first you must believe. John 6:34 says , " There are some of you who do not believe." Believe on what? "The words that I have spoken unto you are spirit and life." So, believe what Jesus is saying...and that is, not only the words in red, but the whole Bible.
Concerning blood, let's look back into Exodus, where all the children of Israel, were to apply the blood of the lamb to their doorposts and lintels, so their firstborn would not die, when the angel passed over. Therefore the name Passover. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission, or washing away , of sin. Christ's Blood must be applied to our lives, or else we will die for our own sin, and not have eternal Life. "The Blood of Jesus His son, cleanses us from all sin." " In Him we have Redemption, through His Blood. the forgiveness of sins, according to the richness of His Grace" Ephesians 1 ."Ransomed ...through the Blood of Christ " 1 Peter 1 .
Back to believe. If the Israelites hadn't believed that they were to apply the blood to their doorposts, of course they would not have done so. First, you must believe. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." You go no where unless you believe in something or Someone. But, that is not applying the Blood. You cannot apply Christ's Blood yourself, because His Body and Blood are in Heaven, and He is coming Bodily, later, for the second time. His physical Blood is not on earth, and is not being kept in any vial in Europe, and since He is the High Priest, there is no priest on earth who has the power to change bread and wine into His Body and Blood. That's magic. God is not into magic. There is also no "miracle" involved at the Mass, since the bread and wine stay bread and wine.
So, the next step is to apply the Blood.." Drink My Blood"! ! Cor 6:11...but you were washed....in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ." Hebrews 10:11.." Our bodies washed with pure water." The Corinthians and the Hebrews had already been washed. Washed? Took a bath? Look at Acts 2:38. "Be Baptized, everyone of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission (washing away ) of your sins."
We all believe, if we say we are Christians, that Jesus name is above All names. We believe that Jesus died and rose again. So, in Baptism, Jesus name is applied to our lives. Jesus name (when we are Baptized by immersion, under water, like as He went down into death and rose again) applied to you, is when our High Priest applies His Blood to you. The Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. There's the washing. But, it's not magic either!. The water you get Baptized in, is WATER, before , after and during. the change that happens...the Big Miracle that happens, is a spiritual one, and happens inside of you.
Where is your spirit? It's inside of you. Where does your sin dwell? Inside you. Outwardly, we do junk that started inside of us. This inside, needs to be made new.
Acts 4:12 "No other Name by which you must be saved." But, the Name must be applied, and that is done only through being Baptized in Jesus Name.
So very much of scripture, is taken away when you believe and practice, the catholic Eucharist.
Peter preached the first sermon! We hold up Peter so much! Then, why don't we obey what he taught under God's anointing? In Acts 10:48, Peter commanded them " to be Baptized in the name of Jesus Christ". Commanded! people say that, that was THEN and this is NOW, so it's not for today. Well, then forgiveness, grace, mercy, Joy etc are not for today either. If it's all for THEN, why do we read the Bible? Why do we preach it? All the different groups, like the Ephesians, the Galatians, the Corinthians, had all been Baptized in water, in Jesus Name, after repenting of their sin. To all these groups, and the rest, like the Philippians, Paul, Silas and others had gone and had preached and had started churches. The salvation message is in Acts. It started there, for ALL of them, and so it must start there for us!
Eat His Body .Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness , for they shall be filled. ( Matthew5:6). "Come, buy and eat. Come buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money on that which is not bread and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to Me and eat what is good and delight yourself in rich food...Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near." Isaiah 55:1-6
"Whoever feeds on this Bread, will live forever" John 6:58 Then He says that the Spirit gives Life and that the flesh is of "no avail". Jesus is not talking about eating His physical Body. He is talking spiritually.
So much of what we are in the kingdom, is done through our spirit connecting with His Spirit. First...salvation is a gift and happens in your spirit. Second...the fruit of the Spirit is exactly that - in your spirit from His Spirit. Third...His Mercy, Grace, Forgiveness, etc, all are free from Him and happen in your spirit. All, from First to Third are gifts. None can be earned through penance, saying the rosary, lighting candles, praying for the dead, praying to Mary or any saint (Mary and the saints do not answer prayers, since it is only the Son who intercedes for us to the Father...only He can stand in the gap for us between Satan and the Father), nor doing Good deeds and giving alms. We CANNOT earn our salvation. Our righteousness is as filthy rags.
You want to be "full" of Christ? Be filled with the Spirit...like they did in the book of Acts...in Acts chapter 2...the evidence being speaking to God in "tongues", another language that God gives you to use in prayer, so you can commune in your spirit with His Spirit and have Him inside of you giving you power to live the Christian life. This is also something we cannot earn, but when we are Baptized in His name, He promises to give us His Spirit.
Then, eat of the Word...the written Word...which is Christ...daily! Then walk as a Follower of Christ, learning from Him and learning from others whose aim is also, to be a disciple and a Follower of Jesus.

What is it about Shiloh

I have not found out a whole lot about Shiloh through history..namely Google...but I was reading about it in the Bible. Shiloh was the place where the Tabernacle was set up after the land was divided. Joshua 18:18 . Also they were before the Lord in Shiloh Joshua 19:51 . In I Samuel , the Tabernacle was still in Shiloh when Hannah took Samuel to live with Eli in the House of God. I Samuel 1 . I Samuel 4 , Israel goes to fight the Philistines and loses , so they decide to take the Ark of the Covenant out to battle along with the sons of Eli , who were priests, so they would win. They lost ! The Ark of the Covenant was taken by the Philistines. Hophni and Phineas , the sons of Eli, were killed. Up to this point Shiloh was the Holy City. The Ark was there. The High Priest Eli was there. Shiloh was the chosen city. So then what ? Eli hears the news about the Ark and his sons, and he falls over and dies. The Philistines have lots of trouble with this Ark. They get very sick! They know it's because they have this Ark so they send it back on a cart being pulled by oxen. No man on the cart guiding it. So where do the oxen go ? To Shiloh? No ! They go to Bethshemesh! Then it goes to Kirjathjearem. I am not sure where it went after that, but not to Shiloh. And Shiloh wasn't even chosen after that. Jerusalem was chosen as the center, the place for the Temple. Some say Shiloh means peace or rest or peaceful. What happened in Shiloh actually? Remember Hophni and Phineas killed in battle? And that the Philistines won the battle ? Here's what those 2 priests were like. They committed adultery with the women who gathered at the the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. They were called sons of Belial. They took of the sacrificial meat for themselves, that which was meant for the Lord. They hated the offering of the Lord. It says that the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord. How about the father, Eli? God said Eli honored his sons above honoring the Lord. He knew about the sins of his sons and did not stop them. Nobody repented! God forgives those who repent but in this case nobody repented ! There was drastic punishment not only for Eli and his sons but Israel . What happened to Shiloh itself. Well, it's gone. All I could find out is that perhaps the Philistines destroyed it after they conquered Eben Ezer but that has not been proven. Shiloh is hardly talked about today. The all important city of the east is Jerusalem. The Bible talks about it alot. Jerusalem became the city of David, the chosen city of God for the earthly Kings to dwell and then the coming real KING to dwell in the Millenium. So, what is the point of my little writing ? The point is DON'T try to get away with sin. You may be OK for now and it may seem that you are getting away with sin but there is always punishment or consequence. Jerusalem today, is definitely not a holy city as far as their lifestyle. God sees ! Their time of punishment is coming which God calls The Great Tribulation or Jacob's Trouble. Yet, there is Good News ! Jesus is the Good News! He has a plan of Salvation all set up for us to be forgiven and have a relationship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He came to bear the sin of the whole world. Salvation is a gift and yet we must receive it. (click on the empty picture and a picture of Shiloh will pop up).

Lest we forget...

We,as an American Church,have forgotten that God is a Judge. We preach Love, Mercy,Grace, but we leave out Judgement and that God is also a God of Wrath. He is coming to purify." Behold,I will send my Messenger, and He shall prepare the way before Me, and the Lord whom ye seek,shall suddenly come to His Temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in; Behold He shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who shall abide the Day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? For He is like a refiner's fire and like fuller's soap; and He shall 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 of Righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in the former years. And I will come near to you in judgement; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless and that turn aside the stranger from his right and fear not Me, saith the Lord of Hosts. For I AM the Lord, I change not." This is written to the Jews, but the book of Revelation and other books talk about God's Judgement of God's people , the Church. Paul says that The Christians, born again, filled withe the Holy Ghost, Baptized in Jesus name, are now the true Jews, the chosen, the Royal Priesthood. When you read the Old Testament you find that while it always seemed that people were getting away with sin, judgement always came. God is patient, waiting for you to repent, but then then time is up. Many pastors in America no longer preach this. They don't preach about sin, the Blood of Christ, Christ's death and all it implied. They preach a soothing gospel. Really you could call them inspirational teachers, but not preachers of the Gospel. They sprinkle a little in from the Bible to make it appear that they are preachers, but they are FALSE and are leading you to Hell. They teach that you are a little god and you are on the same level as Jesus. They teach that you can name it and claim it. You know those health and wealth teachers?? Those are lies and those preachers have forgotten to "teach your children the Holy ways". They sooth your life, but do not lead you to Jesus. We are not to forget Who is the Holy One...that is Jesus! We are not to forget who is the sinner...that's you and me! ALL have sinned. All have come short of the Glory of God! All..All! Even the Pope is a sinner. God is coming to purify. Let us not forget!

45 YEARS of WAITING

Who am I talking about? Caleb...in the Bible. He was at Kadesh Barnea the first time when the 12 went into C

anaan to spy out the land. In fact, he and Joshua were 2 of the 12 who went in to spy! Them 2 came back with a good report. They said the land could be taken. They had faith. The other 10 did say that the land was good but they built up fear in the children of Israel. So everybody wandered about in the wilderness, until all those who had feared, were dead ! Now 45 years later, Caleb said, "I want that mountain that Moses promised me, and I am fit, so I have faith that God will help me take it!" 45 YEARS LATER ! Do I, Do you , have faith in what God has promised us ! Do we give up or do we keep believing even tho the promise is not here yet? Over and over in the book of Joshua, and even before God says "Do not fear. Be of good courage!" What will I do? What will you do? Caleb got his mountain because he kept believing the promise...even tho he was old and even tho it was 45 years later!

You have been in this rut LONG ENOUGH

Deutoronomy 1: 6 says...The Lord our God spoke to us in Horeb.." You have dwelt LONG ENOUGH in this mount" !!! Then in Deut 2:3 it says..."You have compassed this mountain LONG ENOUGH. ". Now it doesn't call it a rut, but to me it said "Change something! You have been doing the same old thing LONG ENOUGH !" Doing the same old thing often leads to boredom, apathy and a lack of zeal for life or even for the things of the Lord ! So, today I had a really neat talk with a lady while I was shopping. I actually reached out ! Wow ! And it made me do a lot of thinking. And how she reacted (in a good way) stirred me up ! So, ladies let's get OUT of our ruts, that sometimes we ourselves have created, and stop going round and round the mountain...and stop "dwelling"in the mountain ! there!

Hope in God

I read something incredible today in the book of Romans. Romans 4 : 18 In hope, he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be !" This is talking about Abraham. And then it says that Abraham believed! Who told him that his offspring would be greater than the stars of the heavens? It was God who told him that...and then Abraham believed what God said. It looked impossible, because Abraham was old, Sarah was old, and they as yet had no children. But God had spoken and Abraham believed. God had called Abraham way back when Abraham was in Ur of the Chaldees...I think that's in Iraq...and Abraham at that time, believed God and obeyed by leaving Ur and going on a very long journey to the land of Canaan. Ur was a very sinful, idol worshiping city at that time, but God wanted Abraham to worship the One true God. God had already seen belief and obedience. Has God told you something? Do you know it was Him? Test it out to make sure...ask Him to repeat His command to you 2 or 3 times, so you are sure its not your own idea. So now, what are you going to do? Believe? OK...but how about the acting on that believing! What good would it have done Abraham if he had believed in God in Ur and then not gone on the journey? In the same way he needed to believe God for this new WORD from God. So, I ask also myself, "Susan, what has God told you that has not YET come to pass? Are you, Susan, holding on to the promises? Are you, Susan, working toward the fulfillment of the promises and as much as you can, getting ready for the fulfillment? Are you, Susan, still believing and NOT doubting?" Put your name in there, for you. And may we, together go forth believing in the mighty hand of God on and in our lives!

What is troubling you?

Reading the book of John, I found that Jesus was troubled about various things, at various times. I wondered about that, because I had memorized "Let not your heart be troubled". Looking further, around the verses, it seemed that there were things that you can be troubled about. John 14 says "Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you" So , there, He is trying to comfort us in that, there is a place for us, so don't get all under the weather and start worrying about your life down here ( look at the birds of the air...I provide for them, Look at the Lilies, I provide for them), for I am going to prepare a place for you, so that you can be with Me forever ! Yes, life down here is not always sweet, with roses at every corner, but I GO to prepare a place for you !! He says "Can you or will you decide to trust Me?" That is His question to you. Can you or will you decide to trust Jesus? Yes, Jesus was troubled about some things...but not whether He would have enough to eat, or a place to live or even have a job. He was troubled about UNBELIEF ! Troubled about it then, and I am sure He is troubled about it now. UNBELIEF ! And it's getting worse in our world today. But the question isn't "What is everybody else thinking or doing? The question is "Can you or will YOU trust Jesus?" Be troubled about lost humanity who are going to an eternal damnation . Pray for them. But, let's not let our heart be troubled about all the petty occurances of our life. Let's chose to be troubled about what Jesus was troubled about...what matters for eternity.

Homosexuality

I want to know what is going on in American churches ! I have been reading up on famous Christian writers, and what they believe, and , frankly, I am shocked ! One said that he has been to many gay churches and finds that their worship is much more enthusiastic than the straight churches ! First of all, ladies and gentlemen, there is no such thing as a gay church. The 2 words don't go together. The church of Jesus Christ is made up of Born again Believers, who have been washed by the blood of the Lamb and then have gone on to practise a new life of purity. Of course we fail, as David said in the Psalms, "though I fall 7 times, I will rise". But, we "Go and sin no more" as Jesus said. We don't go on living in sin, but in newness and when we fall, we ask the Lord's forgiveness and ask someone who is close to the Lord, to pray for us. I will now go to the scriptures. I Corinthians 6:9 "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor men who practise homosexuality...will inherit the Kingdom of God" Then he says, " But such were some of you, but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our Lord." Then Romans 1 says people first decide not to believe in God the creator, then they become foolish and worship other things, then " God gave them up to the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is Blessed forevermore. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature and the men , likewise, gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error." Then God gives them up to a debased mind. Read Revelation 21:8 and Rev 22:15 . You cannot be gay and Christian at the same time. The only way for a gay person or a lesbian or a transexual to get into the kingdom of heaven, is to be Born Again, by the power of the Holy Spirit and strive, with God's help, to live a Holy life and flee evil. God has Grace...Grace to help you in your time of need.

Marriage Bed undefiled vs Pre-Marriage Bed defiled

The scriptures of God say that marriage between a man and a woman , is God's design. He has a lot to say about fornication and adultery, which are major sins, disallowing you from inheriting the Kingdom of God. Revelation 21:8. Paul talks about these sins entering the church. People say we are living in a modern world and "times have changed" ! God and His Word have NOT changed. Do we really want to inherit the Kingdom of God? Do we really want to go to Heaven? Then we must live by God's laws and not question His decisions. His way is not a way to thwart us from a joyful life, but a way to keep us pure and undefiled and frankly...even to keep our physical bodies from getting Sexually Transmitted Diseases. I can understand the people of the world , who are not Born Again, doing as they please, because their minds and hearts have not been renewed by the Holy Spirit, but the Born Again Believer must live above his carnal desires, must live to please the Lord and not himself, and must live above reproach to those around them,who are watching, viewing them. But, as I was told, "He is so nice and he cares for me and is helping me!" So you throw away your relationship with Jesus, allowing an ungodly man to move in with you..."shacking up" ! That is idolatry as well, because you then have placed a man above Jesus! You say, "He has been a family friend all our life"! What other excuses do you have to excuse your sin? Will your excuses fly when you stand before the Lord? Will you have a white garment or a stained one? You may say that your sins have been washed away by Christ's blood. Paul said (by the Holy Spirit) "Shall we sin that Grace may abound? " God forbid ! My prayer is that you may come out of this delusion before it is too late!

The Day of the Lord

I just started reading Zephaniah in the Bible. It is a pretty strong book talking about the Day of the Lord and all the wrath of God that will be felt at that time. Usually, we hear about the Love of God and about the Mercy of God, or that the Lord wants to Bless you and give you a good life. Of course the Lord loves you. The Love of God is plainly and often stated in the Scriptures. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever Believeth on Him, will not perish, but have everlasting Life." Of course that is true! But, God has other attributes and one of them is that He is a God of wrath. Oh dear...wrath? Yes! The Bible says that God is angry at the wicked every day. EVERY DAY ! Does that mean that , that negates His Love? Absolutely not! He is perfect, and He is Holy. He is the One who created the world and the universe etc. He made the rules. We are the ones who broke His rules, so we need to be punished. But herein He also is the One who made a way out for us, so that we can escape from His anger on the Day of Wrath and everyday. In chapter 2 of Zephaniah, it says "Before it comes, Before the Day, Before the anger comes, Before the Day of the Lord's anger..." . What about the Before? Chapter 2:3..: "Seek ye the Lord". That is up to YOU. You can change your whole destiny by you choosing the Lord. It also says, Seek the Lord , all you MEEK". It requires meekness and humility to Seek the Lord. You have to acknowledge that you are a sinner and that you deserve the wrath of God on your life, because you have broken His rules. Your sin is standing in the way of His holiness. He cannot stand our sin and cannot allow us into heaven with sin. So what shall we do? God gave the solution by sending His Son, who is God Himself in flesh born of a woman, dying on the cross, rising from the dead and then sending His Spirit to live in us. yes, He did all that but, it's not an instant application on our life unless WE chose it! "He came that we may have Life" , yes but again I say You and I must chose to humble ourselves before the Lord. Does He look at you and see you covered with blood of Christ or does He only see your sin? Remember the story of Moses leading the people of Israel out of Egypt? Remember that last day when the Israelites killed a lamb and applied the blood of the lamb to the doorpost of the houses? That night the death Angel passed over Egypt. Whichever house did not have the blood applied on the doorpost, the firstborn son was killed by the angel. Why? It was a symbol of Christ, the lamb of God coming to die. And now we need to apply His blood to our lives. How? What does it say? First SEEK HIM ! If you don't set your heart to Seek the Lord, you will not find Him! Next, Peter in Acts 2 said "Repent". That means to acknowledge you are a sinner worthy of death. Then Peter said, "Be Baptized, everyone of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the washing away of your sin." That is when the blood of Christ is applied on your life by God Himself. You won't see blood...but God sees it.. and will change your direction from death to Life. After that, you are ready to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit(evidence is speaking in tongues), and living a Holy life , with His help. You may not ever see the actual time that is called "The Day of the Lord", but you still have only this life to chose Him. He is Love but He is a God of anger. Come to Him . Seek Him! You will find that loving and serving the Lord Jesus, is the whole fulfillment of your life and heart, that you have been seeking.

Knowledge

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." That's in the book of Hosea. But what does that verse mean? It says also, that they reject knowledge. Well, we have lots of schools of higher education, and here in Chicago, we just had a big teacher's strike, so we have lots of opportunity to learn here in America. We can even take online courses in zillions of subjects. What kind of knowledge was Hosea talking about? Was it a head knowledge that you can learn by taking various courses? David in the book of Psalms said "Blessed is the man...whose delight is in the Law of the Lord." He also said the Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul, and the testimonies of the Lord are sure making wise the simple. Psalm 19. So you are thinking that reading the book of the Law will do the trick! Reading and knowing are not the same. Reading is a definite start because you cannot know about God unless you first read His Word. When Jesus came along, He accused the Pharisees of many things...but they were keepers of the Law and teachers! He said they were like graves with a nice headstone on the outside ,perhaps, but still dead on the inside. They did have knowledge! Daniel said that in the end times, many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall increase. Look around you, and at yourself. We are so busy running everywhere to make money , to pay bills, to stay ahead of tax time in April ( which sounds like it will get tougher than ever for those with children), and knowledge is increasing. We have unmanned drones, and new types of cell phones every time you turn around, plus surgical equipment is far beyond 50 years ago. Are we better off? Are we more peaceful ? Are we happier? My people are destroyed for LACK of knowledge! Paul said "To know Christ and Him crucified" "and to know the Love of Christ, which passes knowledge that we may be filled with all the fullness of God." " But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yes, doubtless, I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness,which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death." Phil 3. Knowing Christ is the knowledge that you need. But reading about Christ in the scriptures, is good, but still not enough. Look back to what Paul said in Philippians. He called Jesus "My Lord!" There is a huge difference between knowing about Christ and knowing Him ! HUGE ! I can say that for myself. One time when I was much younger, the Lord spoke to me and said just that ! He said "You have known about me these past 17 yrs but now I want you to know Me" Repentance is first. If you can't recognize that you are a sinner and that Jesus is the only Savior to set you free, then just forget it! You are still proud. Repentance is the recognition of your sinfulness and the asking Jesus to forgive you and take over your life...going a brand new direction. Then Peter in Acts said to all the people that after repentance, you need to be Baptized in water in Jesus name. This is a fulfillment of Matthew 28. Jesus is the name with all power and so we MUST be Baptized in His name. Then, you pray to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit where the evidence is speaking in tongues, just like they spoke in tongues in the book of Acts. Now what? Remember the song " Take my life and let it be, always only all for thee" You have a new Lord...but this Lord loves you and wants the best for you. We get to know Him in prayer, and reading His Word and by learning to say "Yes, Lord". Pride can still try to overtake you, but come back to Him and yield to His direction daily, hourly. As time goes by and you feed your spiritual life with His Word, good Christian books and good Christian music etc, you will fall in love with Him more and more. There's another song, "To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus, I only ask to be like Him." It's a journey...but we have The Good Shepherd, who Loves His sheep.

What Can We Learn From Sorrow

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM SORROW? There was a knock at my door, so I hurried to open it. When I looked through the window of the door, I saw who it was. I quickly locked the door, and secured it with a bolt. I even got hold of some furniture and pushed it in front of the door! My fears at seeing who was at the door somewhat subsided, but only somewhat…because Sorrow then started speaking to me from the other side of the door. Why won’t you let me come in? You will learn so much from me and from experiencing me in your life and in those around you. I will teach you many things, if you will let me! I can teach you Mercy, Compassion, Patience, Love, Kindness and Forgiveness. You cannot learn these things any other way. Are you sure you want to keep the door locked?” Mercy, Compassion, Patience, Love, Kindness, and Forgiveness, were standing in back of Sorrow. I could see them out there on my front sidewalk. There was something keeping them from getting past Sorrow. Something! And yet, they didn’t even want to get past Sorrow. So, I pondered and waited and wondered and prayed. “Yes, Lord, I want all you have for me, and if this is the only way for me to learn those wonderful things, then I will open the door.” I pulled away the furniture, unlocked the bolt, unlocked the door, and opened it. Sorrow flooded over me, and unseen with her, was Grief and Pain! I cried, “Lord, is this the only way? Are You sure? Are You with me? I cannot bear this alone, Lord! Please help me!” Then His Peace came and I felt His Everlasting Wings underneath me. The Sorrow, Grief and Pain were still there, but also Assurance of His Love, I said, Thankyou, Thankyou, Thankyou, Lord” As I yielded to Jesus, in this way for me, I started seeing that Mercy, Compassion, Patience, Love, Kindness, and Forgiveness were coming through my front door. I embraced then All…All! For I knew that I would not learn the last things without the first. Then I remembered what the Lord said…Sorrow, Tears, Death, Crying and Pain will someday pass away. (Rev 21:4) Thankyou, Lord!

Hannah...A Great Woman of God

I got distracted while reading Ezekiel today, and looked up a reference in 1 Samuel 2. Then I got further distracted, and just had to read about this great woman...Hannah. How absolutely incredible she was ! First she has to endure the tauntings of the other wife...year after year ! Hannah had no children, but the other wife did! The other wife was also jealous because Elkanah, the husband , loved Hannah better than her. So, at the yearly trip to the temple, Hannah makes a vow. "If you will give me a baby boy, Lord, I will give him back to you." Wow! Could I do that? It definitely would be hard. So, she gets pregnant, gives birth to a baby boy. The child gets weaned and then Hannah takes the boy (probably at age 5), back to the temple to live with the priest. What a heart break most women would feel to do such a thing. And besides that, Eli's house was not really holy. It says that his sons were sons of Belial or the devil. So, the boy grows up in an unholy household. Hannah comes each year with a new coat for her son. Then Eli prays a blessing on her and she has 3 more sons and 2 daughters. She was blessed for her obedience to the Lord. Who is the son? Samuel ! He becomes one of the greatest prophets that ever lived ! Who knows what will happen when you and I trust the Lord God completely ...and do not lean on our own understanding! Who knows what great things will happen in the kingdom of God. It's high time ladies, that we stop living in our fears, and throw ourselves into the arms of our Saviour and say, "Here I am Lord ! Take me and do with me YOUR will, and help me trust you always."

If Jesus Came to your House (poem)

If Jesus Came to Your House by Red Sovine If Jesus came to your house, I wonder what you'd do. Yes, if Jesus came to your house, to spend a day or two, If He came unexpected, just dropped in on you. I know you'd give your nicest room to such an honored guest, And all the food you'd serve to Him would be the very best. And you would keep assuring Him you're glad to have Him there, That serving Him in your home is joy beyond compare. But when you saw Him coming, would you meet Him at the door With arms outstretched in welcome to your heavenly visitor? Or would you have to change your clothes before you let Him in? Or hide some magazines and put the Bible where they'd been?

Would you turn off the radio and hope He hadn't heard? And wish you hadn't uttered that last loud hasty word? And would you hide your worldly music and put some hymn books out? Could you let Jesus just walk right in, or would you rush about? And I wonder if the Savior spend a day or two with you, Would you go right on doing the things you always do? Would you go right on saying the things you always say? Would life for you continue as it does from day to day? And would your family conversation keep up it's usual pace? And would you find it hard each meal to say a table grace? Would you sing the songs you always sing, and read the books you read, And let Him know the things on which your mind and spirit feed? And would you take Jesus with you everywhere you'd planned to go? Or maybe would you change your plans for just a day or so? Would you be glad to have Him meet your very closest friends, Or hope that they would stay away until His visit ends? And would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on? Or would you sigh with great relief when He at last was gone? Oh, it might be interesting to know the things that you would do, If Jesus came in person to spend some time with you.

Don't Fudge it

In the old days, we would say, "You gonna fudge it?". That meant " Are you going to try to get around the issue, or are you going to change the homework or your timecard or your recipe, so that you can get away with something. Some things can be "fudged". You can buy honey with added water that's a cheap price and then make it through life. You can buy storebought fruit and veggies instead of garden organic grown, and still make it through life and have a happy life. You can buy cheap windows that look good and sound good when sold to you by that dealer, and then later have some draft coming in , or pay a higher price for heating than if you had bought a more expensive brand of window. Still you can make it through life and have a happy life. You can do some "Fudging" on some things in life and still go through life fairly happy. BUT.........you CANNOT "Fudge" on eternity. You cannot change the BOOK (meaning the Bible) and write your own plan ! God has set it up His Way for our own good. He has not set up His plan of salvation (as in Acts 2:38) to damage us or control us or to kill our life and make us unhappy! He has done it for our own good because He loves us. You cannot change His Word and make it to heaven. You cannot wash away your sin with any other plan but His! And if you think He is selfish and controlling, think again. "Can the vessel tell the potter how to shape the vessel?" . I hear things these days that are astounding to me! "I am good enough". "I am going to be all right!" You are not going to be all right without Jesus! You cannot get around it, "fudge it" and get to heaven your way. You may be all, right for now! It may seem like you got it together, but honey, Jesus said "I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life. NO man come to the Father but by Me" (and NO woman either). People have so much pride! And all the time, there is a Heavenly Father who loves you so very much and is waiting to shower you with His love and His blessings and make you a child Of God and a joint-heir with Christ. He wants to make you like a first-born who inherits all that the Father has!

Don't "fudge it" with your soul and your eternity. Please give your life to Jesus, now. You won't regret it!

Prescription for O.S. (over-sensitivity)

Definition: touchy, self-defensive
1. You must acknowledge that you are O.S. You cannot be in denial.
2. You must acknowledge that God is a God of Love, and that He loves you.
3.You must look in the mirror, and say, "Since God loves me, I chose to love me!"
4.You must ask the Lord to open up your eyes and heart to recognize when you are becoming O.S.
5.When the O.S. comes on, stop and ask God to give you strength in your weakness.
6.Thank the Lord, and then Thank Him some more.

Active ingredients: Praise and worship
Directions: Adults and children apply prescription daily
Results: Overcoming O.S. through the name of Jesus

The Babysitter (poem)

If I had all the time in the world
I would become a Babysitter .
I would take all the homeless,
the poor and the maimed,
the lost and the lonely,
and those who've been shamed
I would shoulder the crying,
the fearful who doubt
that life has been worthwhile
not worth finding out!
I would cover the dying,
and hear their last prayer
and comfort the old
who have no one who cares.
But...
I can't and
I don't
have all the time!
Only our Savior does
He is the Great Babysitter!

Depression

What a topic! I hate this topic, because I have been there, done that! Many women have! Of course we hate it, but we must talk about it.
First I want to describe it. It's like a deep , dark cave, or a long dark tunnel or another description I find perfect, is that depression is like those deep dark, crevices that some mountain climbers or mountain skiers fall into. I remember watching a documentary of a young man who had experienced such a fall. His partner couldn't find him up top, and couldn't get a reply from any crevice, so he left! How alone the young man felt! The young man thought and thought of what he was to do, and then finally just used all his strength and the tools he had, to go slowly one step at a time , up the steep ice.
Sometimes when we are down, no one knows what to do with us...so they simply leave us alone. They feel they can't help, or maybe they don't want to help because they don't want to bother. So, we feel so alone.
One thing that is important in the beginning of our slow fall into depression, is to recognize what is happening to us. The Bible says to Give Thanks Always. When I am falling into depression, the last thing I want to do is give thanks. That's my carnal self, wanting to wallow in self pity, because , after all, I deserve some show of pity from others, but they won't give it so I have to pity me, myself and I.
Right at the beginning, Give Thanks. Quote or read some Thanks verses...until you drive the devil crazy and until you are really thankful.
Sing !! But you don't feel like singing! Make a joyful noise unto the Lord! Sing a hymn. Hymns have such deep meaning, often. Most of those old hymns talk about the goodness of God, Jesus shed blood, and His great power. Sing...until you feel thankful.
Go talk to someone..even in the grocery store...about the goodness of God. But you say, " How can I talk about the goodness of God when I don't feel that He is being good to me right now?" Talking about God's goodness will change your attitude.
I do not have all the answers...but the Lord and His Word do....and guess what ?...He was touched with the feelings of our infirmaties!! That means that He knows what it is like to be depressed...because He bore all our sins when He was nailed to the cross. Praise the Lord! And do you know what else? Someday we who know Christ, will put off this body with its sins and shortcomings, and corruption , and put on a new self with no corruption! Christ will do that for us.

God is Good Psalm 145

Here in Psalm 145 , it says that God is Good; God is Great; God is Gracious ; God is Merciful ; God is slow to anger ; God is abounding in Steadfast Love ; The Lord is Faithful; The Lord is Good to all ; The Lord is Righteous; The Lord's Greatness is Unsearchable !!
God is All these things and More...no matter what I feel today; no matter what atrocities people do to each other today; no matter what unkind things people do to me today; no matter if I am sick or if I am feeling well; no matter if tornadoes or hurricanes or earthguakes come and take away all I have; no matter if a loved one of mine, or a family member is taken away into eternity today; no matter even when there is famine and starvation in the world; no matter even when the antichrist comes to create havoc in the world ! God is always in control! God NEVER allows anything to happen except that He ALLOWS it or has deliberately caused it to happen. God cannot do evil. He has no evil in Him. He is not a ying-yang God. God IS totally and completely Good. God IS Good.
Help us Oh Lord to remember this Truth, today, and all our tomorrows.

Hide and Seek

"I have gone astray like a lost sheep, SEEK your servant." " All we like sheep have gone astray" " SEEK ye the Lord while He may be found" " Today, if you will hear My voice, harden not your heart". There is this thing in the Bible about you SEEKING and also about the Lord SEEKING you. There is also a time period that the Bible infers, that you will hear God's voice, and after that time period , you will not hear it. SEEKING is a gift from God. That you are allowed to SEEK Him, is a gift from Him. He SEEKS you and SEEKS you, for a certain time. You do not know how much time God has given you. You waste that time and waste that time, thinking you have forever. But God is simply being gracious to you, in even allowing you to SEEK Him. " Do not harden your heart". "The foolish say that there is no God" The Bible talks about Today..not tomorrow. How do you know you will have a tomorrow. Tmorrow He may hide Himself from you. "SEEK Himwhile He may be found."

Fences

Recently, a new friend was sharing some funny memories with me about her childhood. I had told her that we really would like to move to a farmette someday, so she said, "Let me tell you about farm life!". She said, " One day all the cows got out and wandered off! Well, that's what happened when Dad forgot to fix the fence!" "And then there was the time the neighbour's bull got loose! He was so ornery, that it took 5 guys a whole week to catch him!" I said that we would like to have some goats. " You got to watch goats because they will wander off if there is no fence, " she said! It won't be sweet dreams only, if we get that farmette! Yet, my friend's stories reminded me about God. How, in the world would fences and animal stories remind someone about God? Well, God puts fences in our lives too. He has written commandments and instructions in the Bible, but we don't like them! We want to do our own thing...have our own way! We don't want anyone telling us what to do! The Bible says "All we, like sheep, have gone astray". We have all wandered off beyond the fence of God! But, there is no pleasure in that. Why? Because God makes fences so that we can be safe, secure and feel loved by our heavenly Father. He does it because He loves us! And then , because He loves us , He already has sent His Son to die so we can be free from our sins. So, here we are, the wanderers, and God has done everything to make us internally satisfied. He had the book written for us called, the Bible. He sent His Son to buy redemption for us. And He even sent His Spirit so that He can live in us. God's fences are not to inhibit us. When you submit to God's fences, done His way, it brings Joy unspeakable and Life Everlasting. Praise God for fences!

My Commitment (poem)

Why should I give up that which I gained?
Long, long ago when new life on me rained
Why should I give in to earth's deadly lure?
After heaven poured down my spiritual cure?
Satan's defeated. His end's drawing near
Jesus comes quickly...no more sorrow or tear.

Abandonment to Thankfulness

What if we were thankful in everything? How could we do that..you ask? But, truly, what if we practised thankfulness? An abandonment to thankfulness! What if when things went wrong...car blew a tire..kids are sick...our son hit a baseball through the neighbour's front window...our spouse yelled at us...the frost ruined our garden...a friend gossiped about us , telling lies about us to another , etc. I know we all have feelings. I didn't say, "what if we never cried or were sad"! But , what if we had , through our sorrows, an attitude that I will give thanks to God "in" and "during" and "in spite of" what is happening to me, even though I still have tears! There is a verse in the Bible along that line. "In everything give thanks". So, it says "IN". In the bad times...during the bad times. Exactly at that time. "EVERYTHING". So, we are to give thanks in everything, all things...no exception! Next word..."GIVE". So, we are to give, to bestow upon someone something. To give to another something that belongs to us and that we want them to have. Give what? "Thanks" ! So, I am not expected to give a million dollars! I am only expected to give thanks! That doesn't sound so hard! Until the bad times come! Then, it becomes hard! But, is there not a heavenly Father who will help us? Alone, without the Father's help, I gurantee that you will utterly fail. So, I ask...Is there not a helper in time of need? If we believe that the Bible is true, then we need to say that "In everything give thanks" is true and that "I, ME, and MYSELF" need to practise this verse...with the Father's help! I chose to Abandon myself to Thankfulness...by God's grace.

Why should I give up? (poem)

Why should I give up that which I gained?
Long, long ago, when NEW life on me rained?
Why should I give in to earth's deadly lure
After heaven poured down my spiritual cure?
Satan's defeated, His end's drawing near
Jesus comes quickly, No more sorrow or tear!

God is a Curiousity

Strange word...curiousity. I have always been curious to find out things...but God is a curiousity! Notice how John says" As the living Father sent me". LIVING ! Why would he refer to the Father as LIVING? Remember that every word of scripture has importance.
Jesus said," I am..the Life" John 14. Jesus is LIFE, the LIFE. He said " I am come to bring you abundant LIFE" So He has come to bring us Himself - the LIFE! Yet, He said "the Living Father". Well, it's because Jesus is the Father! What? That's blasphemy! How dare I say that? Look at Isaiah 9:6. It says that the child is "the Father".
Back to LIVING..Jesus said " I am the firstborn from the dead". He is LIVING. How can He say that when Lazarus was raised from the dead before Jesus was ? Jesus said " before Abraham was , I AM ". He said He is the "I AM". Also it says He was slain before the foundation of the world.
Then Jesus said ,"whoever feeds on me will live forever". John 6
You and I can live forever! Feeding and drinking Jesus would mean the He lives inside us, because we have taken Him inside us, or allowed Him inside us, in our spirit.
He is the Bread of Life and the Water of Life.
He is LIFE. He is the Living Father. This Life can live in us by His Spirit.
God is a Great mystery and definitely a Curiousity!

My Typical day

How many times have women asked me to write about my typical day!. so, today I looked over a few typical day things I had written over the years, and realized that some of the things would now be an embarrassment to my children. My old lists were very full, and some of them only went to 2pm...laundry already hung up, cinnamon rolls already in the oven and homeschool done for the day, with the kids now having their nap! Some of my married years, I did not have a car until my husband would get home from work. I always then, wished for a car...if only I had a car! During the last many years I have had a vehicle, but now that has added to the list of my typical day. Football practise, football games, sewing projects needing items, things broken that need to be returned, Awana, youth group, picking up items for my husband's business which often makes for a long drive. The Lord has been so good to us in all our typical days. Sometimes we wonder how we did all we did, plus keeping up with prayer time and Bible reading and church. Keeping up with our spiritual walk with Jesus has been # 1 on our list. But its not just an item on the list..its part of our life style which flows into the rest of our day, affecting how we act, what we teach in homeschool, where we shop, where we go to church. Sometimes our typical day invlves asking forgiveness of others and of God. We as humans make lots of mistakes and sin, so that must be cleared up so bitterness does not set in and so you can have an effective christian walk with Jesus. Right now my typical day in 2010, involves...picking up items for our remodeling job (major addition ), homeschooling, making lunches for the workers, running errands for Jon (his car was finally fixed today)buying more and more epsom salts for Craig to soak his big cut on his leg)and now a determination to finish typing all my posts to this blog!! Soon the kids and I will start recording hymns..after Kurt helps me buy a microphone. We should add baking to our list because its December..oh and do Christmas cards!! How is your day going? Tell me what you do!

Who is the Church? (poem)

Who is the Church? Who is the Bride?
Who someday sits at Jesus side?
Is it the ones who go to church
Day in day out and never search?
To help the Poor The orphaned ones
The Widows, maimed Forgotten Sons?
Forgotten Daughters of our Lord
For Whom He died and will reward?
Who, tell me Who! Who is the Church?

Money Money Money

Let's get rich! Oh, is that what a Christians aim in life should be? Shall we teach a health and wealth doctrine? I Timothy 6:5 men who suppose that gain is godliness: from such men withdraw yourself. Verse 9 They that want to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts. verse 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil which while some coveted after, they have left the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Jesus didn't say money is evil , but the LOVE of money. What is your aim? What is your heart coveting after? Jesus said...Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.

The Witch's Brew!

I am stirring up a recipe. I will tell you the name of it later! Now, here are the ingredients!
First, into my recipe, I'll put in GOSSIP! There, into the big black kettle. Next, I'll put in ENVY!. How about a bit of PRIDE Oh, and we've got to have 6 cups of UNFORGIVENESS That's a major ingredient! Then, we have a pinch of BACKBITING Woa, that pinch will go far, to give my recipe spice!!! Oh yes, we must have DIRTY JOKES! Yes, yes, I almost forgot JEALOUSY !! Never could I forget that one in my recipe. Oh, yes, and ARGUING OVER NOTHING!! That aught to do the trick. And last of all FINGER-POINTING. After all..it wasn't MY fault. I didn't do it. Oh, I see it bubbling as I keep stirring it all around. Its bubbling so wonderfully! Ha ha ha ha ha !! The name of the recipe? It's called "STRIFE". STRIFE ha ha ha ha ha and its a perfect recipe to ruin your family or your church and to ruin YOU !! ha ha ha ha ha. What is that sound I hear? (JESUS JESUS) What are they yelling? (JESUS JESUS) NO NO NO...I HATE that name! (JESUS JESUS)Stop yelling that name! I can't stand that NAME! I can't stick around when you call that NAME! My recipe is failing................nnoooooooooooooooo! I am DOOMED! Goodbyeeeee! AHHHHHHH
written after reading I Timothy 6: 3- 5.

Give that back...it's MINE!!!

How often we hear such a statement in a household where there are children! et, we as adults often act the same way!
God says, " My glory will I not give to another!". He says " What's mine is mine." Yet , He has a right to say that. In fact, He can claim to anything we see or even the unknown because He made it all. All things belong to Him!
We say, " My talent is thus and thus or " I own a...". My gift of the Spirit is... All we have , in ourselves, in our families, and all our belongings, are the Lord's. He's only loaning them to us, to see how we'll use them.
We might say that...so and so..worked hard, that's why he is a millionare! Yes. he worked hard, but who gave him the strength, the brains, the contact persons? He could have so easily been born mentally handicapped. By God's mercy, he was not!
So, the Bible even says, "Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory"! Whose? The Lord's! But, we as church people, even try to take away the kingdom and the power and the glory...from God! We act like usurpers and try to sit on God's throne!
Pride does not belong in the church members and it definitely does not belong in the church leaders. Whatever part you play, in your church, small group, etc, was given you by God. Do you have an anointing? You need it to serve in leadership, but it is Jesus Christ who gave you that anointing! You did not earn it, nor do you have a right to it! God gave it to you as a trust and now expects humility on your part.
All we have belongs to the Lord. All we see, will disappear one day. Our souls will go to stand before the righteous God of all the earth. His name is Jesus, and He is truly wonderful...and very precious...yet He will Judge in righteousness and fairness.

Was Vashti right?

What would you do if your living room was filled with men, who had been drinking for 7 days, and your husband, who is one of them, calls for you to spruce yourself up and come into the living room to show the men how beautiful you are? I would climb out my bedroom window and escape!
So, what if you are the type who WOULD go and show yourself off -- prance in, do a little hip-swaying, and a little eye-winking! What do you think would happen after the show? I would say that you have a heart problem...a lust- seeking heart.
Vashti, in the book of Esther,, was the Queen! Her husband was King over all the land from India to Ethiopia. Look on a map. Yhat's huge! Can you imagine the perfumes, the clothes, the jewelery, the furniture you would have as a Queen? Plus all the servants to do your hair, manicures, pedicures...even taking care of your children's diaper changes!
Esther 1:10 says " on the 7th day, when the heart of the King was merry with wine...he commanded..to bring Vashti the Queen before the King with the Royal crown, to show the people and the Princes her beauty, for she was fair to look upon." But, the Queen refused!
I don't think this chapter is a mere chapter about submission. I think it's also on doing what is right in a tough situation.
Vashti had alot to lose by doing what is right, and she did lose her royalty. "Let the King give her royal estate to another who is better than she."
Are you willing to do what's right, no matter what it costs you? God has given us a Book, the Bible, to show us what's right. right, isn't always easy, but there are blessings in it!

The Rare Thing

They came from far
They came from near
to bow at Nebuchadnezzar feet

They said they're wise
They've no disguise
They're pure, Authentic, knowing all

Just tell us King
What is that thing
You. dreaming, dreamed a dreamy dream

Ha, now I know
The King bellowed
You're all a farce, a lie, deceit

You've come to stand
Make a demand
And tell me anything at all

Oh, wait cried one
There's Daniel-Son
He knows a God who knows the truth

Bring him now
BRING him NOW
Or I shall all these men destroy

And so they brought
Whom God had taught
In all books, visions, and wisdom

This Daniel told
And made unfold
The King's whole dream and what it meant

And so it was
Revealed because
Only the God of heaven knows all

He is the One
Who's gone and done
What no one else could ever do

What others can't
He surely can
He is the God of the Rare Thing

Acts: the beginning of the Church

Wow, am I ever learning new things in the Bible. First of all, my neighbour asked me a few Q's which got me to thinking about the setup of the Bible. Specifically, she said that the book of Acts is just history, Right? It is history, bur somewhere, the dividing line came when the church began. So, where did it begin and what were the big changes or differences from the old way. I think all churches of Jesus Christ, would believe that the Big change came after Jesus died and rose and went to heaven. Then He said to wait for the Promise. So they waited and poof...the Baptism of the Spirit came mightily and new churches were born...small groups...the new believers were filled with all this power to speak with boldness, and certain ones went out and started new groups of believers in heathen countries. All these new believers were filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, and all were Baptized in water in Jesus name, as Peter commanded them to do...in fulfillment of Matthew 28...the name. So, here my neighbour asked me.."So you are saying that I can't find the full pattern of salvation in the epistles and must look to the book of Acts". I said"YES". That was the start of the church. The epistles were written to the already started churches. THAT was also what excited me. When I examined Acts, I found all the names of the epistle churches. ALL, and not only once. When you read each epistle...Romans , Corinthians, Ephesians, etc., you will see at their start, that they are written..to the church that is in.. to the saints...to my beloved brethren in Christ Jesus...to my son in the faith ! ALL were written to the EXISTING churches. All were already Repented, Baptized in water in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Spirit speaking in tongues. Many epistles repeat things about those 3 steps, but don't we all repeat things to our children? And don't we all repeat things in our churches? We are like sheep...we need continual reminders of things...BUT...when we don't put the horse in front of the cart, so to speak, we get churches that don't tell us the whole truth. We get imbalanced churches. Jesus never wanted imbalanced churches. He gave us the Bible so we could know the truth and be set free. Take another look at the Book of Acts! Pray ! Ask the Lord if what I am saying to you is the truth or whether I am a liar. Ask Him with an open heart to hear His voice and to learn. May the Lord bless you and keep you on this journey.

Life and Eternity

Life is short
It's slipping by
More moments lost
than moments gained
The things I wanted
where are they?
The things I dreamed
all fled away?
Life is short
twill soon be gone
Fast flys the night
soon comes the Dawn.

"Until the Daybreak, and the Shadows flee away.." Song of solomon 2"17
"Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself; for the Lord shall be thy everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended." Isaiah 60:20
"And (His servants) shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign forever and ever." Revelation 22:4,5

Cutting Down the Beauty

I was thinking today of the various forests that have been cut down in the world. Some say they have cut them down for industrial purposes...to make money, give jobs to people and to make way for economical growth. In the Amazon much of the beauty has been cut away.
We, as individuals, can also CUT down beauty. We can cut it down in our marriages, when we argue with one another and don't deal with our issues in love. We can cut down beauty in other relationships with our friends and relatives. We can have such big disagreements that they are never mended, because we are so stubborn.
Its very important to take care of our earth, but let's value people..even those we don't know so well. Let's build beauty around us by using encouraging words, by apologizing when we hurt others, and by valuing people the way Jesus would.

God IS !!!

God IS !! God IS what? God IS alot of things in scripture. Let's find some of
them.
First off, we will remember that Jesus is God, so , whenever it says Jesus IS or God IS, the scripture is talking about ONE and the same!
I John 4:8 God IS love
I John 3:7 God IS righteous
I John 3:3 God IS pure
John 14:6 Jesus IS the Way
Jesus Is the Truth
Jesus IS the Life
Revelation 1:8 Jesus IS the Alpha
Jesus IS the Omega
Jesus IS the Almighty
Revelation 1:17 Jesus IS the First
Jesus IS the Last
Jesus IS the Living One
Jesus IS the Resurrection
John 6:48 Jesus IS the Bread of Life
I John 1:5 God IS Light
John 4:24 God IS Spirit
John 11:25 Jesus IS the Resurrection
Jesus IS the Life
John 11: 26 has a good question..."Do YOU believe this?"
You see...God IS the total totality of these things, not just half or three quarter, but 100% of each of these, plus many more attributes than those listed.
God IS !! He IS the totality of the verb "IS" and He IS the totality of these nouns. THAT boggles my mind and stirs m heart to say "Praise the Lord ! Thankyou Jesus!!!"

What's YOUR price?

For how much will you sell the Savior?? What is your price? If you already know Him, is there something someone can offer you so that you would sell the Savior like Judas did? Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of lentil stew! Now, I have a great recipe for Lentil Stew, that I just really love..but would I give up all my rights in a family and my rights to inherit from my parents, for a bowl of lentil stew? Now, that's just food. How about your soul. For how much would you sell your soul? For quick momentary pleasure that lasts a night. Would you sell the Savior or your soul to keep a friend you just can't give up? Would you sell your soul for money or for prestige...even prestige in a church. Would you sell it for glory or power? Would you sell it to gain the honor of others so that YOUR name is up in lights and so YOUR name is revered and talked about? I am talking mostly to Christians right now!! You see, the LORD is not going to allow His place to be precidented by any other. People TRY to be great, but they are nothing. I am nothing without Jesus. You are nothing without Jesus. And if you are a pastor or pastor's wife, still, you are nothing without Jesus. And yet, with Him , He is everything in us, and we are mighty through Him! So, why don't we honor Him more and let Him be Lord of ALL! You can gain the whole world, but lose your own soul.

Susan's Testimony

My favorite comic strip has always been "Peanuts" and my favorite character while growing up was Peppermint Patty. Why? Because she would say, " My daddy always calls me his Special Gem"! Well, my own father never called me his special gem . He never called me his favorite anything. My father left our home when I was 6 years old. as I grew into teenage-hood, I longed for a Daddy figure. I repented of my sin at age 15. Mom taught me to pray, simply by her lifestyle of daily prayer.I would time myself for 30 minutes to make sure how long I prayed. Sometimes I would just cry out to the Lord and ask Him to come into my room and just hold me. I longed so badly to sit on His lap and have His arms around me like a Daddy. When I learned about the Baptism of the Spirit, my prayers to receive this got more intense, but nothing happened. I would be loud or quiet, wait on the Lord in silence, kneel, arms upraised, arms down, but nothing happened. There was no Pentecostal church or meeting or anything, in my home town in Canada at that time.I had read about the Baptism of the Spirit, in a biography, and heard about it from Jimmy Swaggert on T.V.. Finally, I laid it all in God's hands, and continued with life, Bible School, missions, choir tours, and singing in various churches. At age 24, I came home from Germany, having been there with the Janz Team. My girlfriend told me she had received the Baptism of the Spirit, and would I please come with her to a meeting in a room above the ice skating rink. That's where I received the Baptism of the Spirit and spoke in tongues. Since my start following Jesus, at age 15, I have come to know that...He is Faithful, He will never leave me, nor forsake me...and...that He is my Daddy and I am HIS SPECIAL GEM!!!