Daily Walk with the Holy Spirit

Do you know who you are in Christ?

2009-12-10T21:38:00.003-05:00

I KNOW WHO I AM

I am God's child -John 1:1

I am Christ's friend -John 15:15

I am united with the Lord -1 Corinthians. 6:17

I am bought with a price -1 Corinthians 6:19-20

I am a saint-set apart for God-Ephesians 1:1

I am a personal witness of Christ -Acts 1:8

I am salt & light on the earth -Mathew 5:13-14

I am a member of the body of Christ -1 Corinthians 12:27

I am free forever from condemnation-Romans 8: 1-2

I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant -Philippians 3 :20

I am free from any charge against me -Romans 8:31 -34

I am a minister of reconciliation for God -2 Corinthians 5:17-21

I have access to God through the Holy Spirit -Ephesians 2:18

I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms -Ephesians 2:6

I cannot be separated from the love of God -Romans 8:35-39

I am established, anointed, sealed by God -2 Corinthians 1:21-22

I am assured all things work together for good -Romans 8:28

I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit -John 15:16

I may approach God with freedom and confidence -Ephesians 3: 12

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

I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life -John 15: 1-5

I am God's temple-1 Corinthians 3: 16

I am complete in Christ-Colossians 2: 10

I am hidden with Christ in God! -Colossians 3:3

I have been justified-Romans 5:1

I am God's co-worker -1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Corinthians 6:1

I am God's workmanship -Ephesians 2:10

I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected-Philippians 1: 5

I have been redeemed and forgiven-Colossians 1:14

I have been adopted as God's child -Ephesians 1:5

I belong to God!

Do you know Who you are?

The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you And be gracious to you; The LORD turn His face toward you And give you peace... Numbers 6:24-26

Love found me!

2009-11-25T23:01:00.002-05:00

"And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." Romans 5:5 NIV

Nothing but Love lifted me out of the miry clay.

It is His love that lifted me.

Love Found me!

Nothing but His love.

When you have a love for someone you have a patience for them.

Have we in our hearts learned to live by faith?

I'm not talking about things just here and there, but a lifestyle of faith.

"If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all." Isaiah 7:9 NIV

We live in a culture where faith has been distorted and twisted to serve man rather than God.

Today's culture has set aside God, and exchanged the Creator for the creature.

Faith is believing for the impossible, becoming possible.

Faith is believing and watching God to do what we cannot do.

Have we learned to love by faith?

Does that agape love reside in you?

Agape - the Greek word in the New Testament is translated love.

This love is the active participation of volition and will.

Simply meaning that love, is not only exercised when it is felt like it, it is exercised when we choose to extend God's love, sacrificially.

"And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour." Ephesians 5:2

For me to put a sacrificial love another way would also be to say a love by faith.

God has called us to love even when...
We don't want too
We don't feel like it
We get nothing in return
They don't deserve it
They don't even know it
Whether or not you think it makes a difference.

We are called to love by faith.
Love your enemies by faith
Love your neighbors by faith
Love fellow believers by faith
Love family members by faith
Love unruly teenagers by faith
Love spouses by faith
Love in-laws by faith
Love those who are ill and bitter towards us, by faith

Love by faith, not by feeling.

If we loved by feeling we would not be loving in obedience to God's Word.

Too me this is one of the hardest things in which I think I have been tested in.

The very nature of love is sacrificial, we are not to offers a self centered human substitute or a strong fire before God, only sweet aroma.

Love is a fruit of the Spirit of Christ within a believer that surfaces when they filled by Him, and yielded to His authority.

When we get aggravated cause nothing is happening it is because we use resources of our own emotions, rather than relying on our Heavenly Father's love to flow through us.

Living love by faith takes a daily commitment to not let self and affections get in the way.

We must step out of the way, and ask for the love of God to fill us.

When we let His love come in and fill us, then and only then will we begin to love by faith.

Faith and love are inseparable.

Lord, strengthen our hearts by your glory.

"And now abideth faith hope and love, even theses three: but the chiefest of these is love."
1 Corinthians 13:13 Geneva Bible of 1599

Just Breathe

2009-11-16T13:54:00.002-05:00

"Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10 NIV

Are you just going through the motions?

Are you giving everything to Christ?

Is He your everything?

So what has your focus?

We as Christians have become so busy in today's society or world that we lose track of the One thing which should be priority in our lives.

One quality of a true Christian is that they can admit their struggles, their failures, sin and even their emotional weaknesses.

A true Christian can admit when they are wrong and seek help when they need it.

A true Christian does not have to pretend they are always on top of the world.

A Christian should be the same no matter where they are or who is watching.

Are you real?

Are you vulnerable?

Vulnerable is the ability to risk rejection by laying out all that we are or are not before others.

If our faith is in God, we need not be fearful of being real.

Is it what others think of you, so important to you?

It is what God think of us that should be what is most important.

Knowing that God has accepted us, is far much more important than being accepted by others, and can face rejection by others.

""Who are you that fear mortal man, the sons of man, who but are but grass, that you forget the Lord you Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, that you live in constant terror everyday because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction." Isaiah 51:12-13 NIV

"The fear of man bringeth a snare; but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe." Proverbs 29:25 KJV

Even with those busy to do lists, things going haywire, we still need to sit at the feet of Jesus!

When we learn to be still, He will teach us, and lead us to become men and women He intended us to be, before the foundation of the world.

He has a role for each one of us, just as we are.

God knows how to smooth out the rough edges.

Just look at Joseph, and all that he went through before his destiny came to him.

"Then Joseph said to his brothers, Come close to me. When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. " Genesis 45:4,5,8 NIV

We need to ask God, when things happen that appear to be opposite of what You have promised, help me remember Joseph's life.

Lord, give me courage to trust that You will work in every situation for my good and do all that You promised, regardless of circumstances.

Start thanking Him that His promises will never fail.

Thank Him even during the storm, not just when you are through it.

When He establishes a task or mission in our life, we should not be surprised when opposition comes, which it will, it just goes with the territory.

Lord give me courage to stand strong in faith, trusting that regardless of opposition, Your purpose will be done as long as I remain committed to it.

We have got to come to the place where we get out of His way.

With God in control, we have nothing to lose!

Our faith must begin and end in God.

I urge you to experience His love and acceptance.

Grow closer to Him, and make Him the focus of your life.

"For I am the Lord, I change not:" Malachi 3:6a KJV

What does the flag mean to you?

2009-11-10T18:35:00.005-05:00

There was a time when the American Flag meant pretty much the same thing to all Americans.

Freedom, Justice, Liberty and Love were all lumped together into one emotion, all wrapped up together in Red, White, and Blue. Colors that don't run. There was a respect that was synonymous with devotion to God and country alike. With that respect came unquestioned dedication to keep our country's independence.

The American Flag will always symbolize the basic freedoms guaranteed all by our Constitution and heritage.

The American Flag has no party, only the ideology of that of the Constitution of the United States of America.

The United States was founded on One Nation Under God with Judea Christian Beliefs.

There are those who say they want to reform our social government, and financial institutions, but the truth is their objective is total destruction.

They reveal their hatred for everything good and great in our country.

America is a land of justice, opportunity, compassion, bravery and freedom.

If we care about our country, our freedoms, we must work to make it right.

We as a nations need to bring back God into the center of our lives, our everything.

"If my people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

The American Flag represents the finest country in the world.

The United States of America - Have you forgotten what I stand for?

United we stand - Divided we fall.

Temptation to idol?

2009-11-03T23:29:00.003-05:00

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye maybe able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

What has your focus?

Temptations is the same as going through a test of possessions held by a person.

A test of will, strength and endurance.

So when your circumstances change are you going to stay with Jesus or are you going to side with the world, flesh or the devil.

Some of us wear the badge of Christian, but that badge does not make you a Christian cause you are wearing a badge that says so.

Did you know that temptations turn to idols?

An idol becomes idolatry when that something becomes more important than God in your life.

When that something becomes more important to you than God, you are worshipping it.

Whatever has your attention, your time, your constant thoughts, bowing down to it, or even living for it, this is considered idolatry.

What do you look at?

What Are you running to do every chance you get?

Is it sexual, pornography, self gratification, recognition, always on the Internet, shopping, drugs, alcohol?

The list goes on, there are more idols than anyone can imagine.

So what has you attention?

Who or what do you worship?

How important is that relationship to God in your life?

"Wherefore see we also are compassed about with such a great cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." Hebrews 12:1

When we are worshipping the idols in our life, we tend to confirm or deny what we already believe about ourselves.

The battle is in us, because sin is in us.

We can't create or achieve great value as that value was given to us already.

God loved us before we ever accomplished anything!

When we worship that value, or even believe that we created that value, we have just involved ourselves in idolatry.

When we worship anything other than the King, Almighty God, we are giving place to idolatry.

With each trial or testing that we go through we need to let our hearts be humbled, and our faith be deepened.

"Temptation is a suggested short cut to the realization of the highest at which I aim - not towards what I understand as evil, but towards what I understand as good." -Oswald Chambers

When we let that temptation over take us that becomes idolatry, and idolatry is sin.

Sin is a parasite, feeding greedily on the goodness of what God has made.

Sin distorts, perverts, and corrupts everything.

Life is hard enough, but some go around putting band aids on gaping wounds of this world.

That is just plain wrong, it is being in plain denial.

Other have found out that life in the real world is far more complicated, so they go to those man made idols.

It is true that the demand of living in a complex world is overwhelming at times, but there is no need that can not be taken to your Heavenly Father.

It is when we allow these desires to become idols of worship, instead of altars of sacrifice.

We break the heart of the Father.

All of us have idols, just are we willing to admit that?

If you are truly sorry and want to change - cry out to Him.

Tell Him that you are sorry and that you have strayed from the path.

Ask for His forgiveness, let him wash you clean.

Go and sin no more.

If you get tempted again, tell the enemy that the greater one lives within you.

Put in some worship music.

Get you Bible out, look up some scriptures to fight back with, write them down, put them where they are before you - tape them to your bathroom mirror.

Read the Word on a daily basis.

Don't give into the enemy's lies.

Be accountable to a good Godly friend.

Watch your life be slowly changed, transformed by His hand.

"Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and present you faultless before the presence of His glory with joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power both now and ever. Amen." -verses 24 -25 of Jude

Determinedly Discipline...

2009-10-29T23:37:00.003-04:00

"We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5 NKJV

This is another difficult aspect of the strenuous nature of sainthood.
Paul said, according to the Moffat translation of this verse,"...I take every project prisoner to make it obey Christ."

So much Christian work today has never been disciplined, but simply come into being by impulse.

In our Lord's life every project was disciplined to the will of His Father.

There was never the slightest tendency to follow the impulse of His own will as distinct from His Father's will. - "the Son can do nothing of Himself" John 5:19 NKJV

Compare this with what we do - we take "every thought" or "project" that comes to us by impulse and jump into action immediately, instead of imprisoning and disciplining ourselves to obey Christ.

Practical work today for Christians is greatly overemphasized today, and the saints who are " bringing every thought [and project] into captivity" NKJV are being criticized, and that thy lack zeal for God, or zeal for the souls of others. But true determination and zeal are found in obeying God, not in the inclination to serve Him that arises from our own undisciplined human nature.

It is inconceivable, but true nevertheless, that saints are not "bringing every thought [and project] into captivity," but are simply doing work for God that has been instigated by their own human nature, and has not been made spiritual through determined discipline.

We have a tendency to forget that a person is not committed to Jesus Christ only for salvation, but is also committed, responsible, and accountable to Jesus Christ's view of God, the world, and of sin and the devil. This means that each person must recognize the responsibility to "be transformed by the renewing of [his] mind." Romans 12:2 NKJV
-Oswald Chambers -

I ask you?

2009-10-28T13:18:00.004-04:00

"Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear His voice, Harden not your hearts,..." Hebrews 3:7-8a

Has your heart been hardened by circumstances beyond your control?

We are to depend upon God for everything.

We are to depend on God for what He has already done for us.

When we truly see the great truth, we will never again try to save our self by our good works.

Knowing that we cannot save ourselves, should give the believer a certainty, a security that we are not to depend upon what we do, but what God has already done.

If I did not believe in the Holy Spirit is real...

If I did not believe that the Holy Spirit is in my heart, my friend, I would not be writing to you.

I believe that the Holy Spirit will come and minister to you right where you are.

God's Spirit talks to the human heart,

If you are sad, lonely, depressed, upset, no matter how you feel good or bad, He will come and talk to you.

the Holy Spirit is no respecter of persons, race, color, or creed.

The greatest book that has ever been written.

The inspired Word of God.

The Bible is one of God's eloquent tongues.

If you will just read it, you will find that there is something uncommon about it.

I read it now as if I have never read it before.

It means more than it ever has meant before.

It is a good feeling.

You see, my friend, when I read it now it has meaning, it is God speaking right to my heart.

The Holy Spirit speaks through the interpretation of God's written Word, to the hearts of men and women.

Do you read God's Word?

You should read God's Word.

You should read it in your homes.

Keep in mind that it is not just for Wednesday and Sunday, it has daily treasures to be uncovered.

You are not a Christian just because you go to church twice a week, neither is a mouse a cookie if he be found in a cookie jar.

We need to read God's Word to help with our daily walk with Christ.

We need to read to our children, or better yet, let them read to us so that their understanding can grow.

There is no better time than having family time in the Word of God.

There is no sweeter moment in any home than when a family gathers to give thanks and to hear the reading of God's Word.

God's Holy Spirit speaks to us through the fellowship and association with others.

It is not meant for you to stay away from the church.

God is not foreign in this world.

God does not speak through lightning and thunderclaps.

God does not shuffle around in the dew mist of the morning.

God does not come at anytime of the day as a phantom ghost.

He lives where you and I live.

He lives where men live.

Deity is closer than our hands and feet.

He is a close as you breath.

He is a God that is close, not faraway.

The Holy Spirit speaks to us through the Bible and Christian fellowship.

I ask you...

Is He speaking to your heart?

"The reason why I believe that this is the inspired Word of God is that when I read it, it finds me. It takes hold of me. It does something to me." - President Woodrow Wilson -

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness;" 2 Timothy 3:16

God's righteousness in demonstration....

2009-10-19T10:21:00.006-04:00

I saw one hanging on a tree
In agonies and blood,
Who fixed his languid eyes on me,
As near His cross I stood.

Sure never til my latest breath,
Can I forget that look;
It seem'd to charge me with His death,
Though not a word He spoke.

My conscience felt, and own'd the guilt,
And plung'd me in despair;
I saw my sins His blood had split,
And help'd to nail Him there.
---------------------------------
Another look He gave, which said,
"I freely all forgive,
This blood is for thy ransom paid,
I die that thou mayest live."
- John Newton

This is the righteousness of God!

This is what my hope is placed in.

My hope is not placed in the government, or man, or even the president.

My hope is in God.

Where is your hope?

Is your hope placed in Jesus Christ?

One can see the righteousness of Christ more clearly when you see that God was in Christ, even on the cross, reconciling those that are His unto Himself.

There was no other way in which it could have been done!

Jesus Christ in His sinless living climbed upon that cross for you and me, my friend.

When Jesus came out of the grave, manifest Himself to show that He had triumphed over death.

When He ascended to the right hand of the Father.

All of the acts are found in the righteousness of God.

This is where our salvation comes from - through the righteousness of God in Christ.

"For ye were dead and your life is hid with Christ in God." Colossians 3:3

Right there is the righteousness in God.

When the Holy Spirit convicts one of their sin, it is because of the righteousness of God.

The conviction is through what God has done for us.

We cannot save ourselves.

We cannot atone for sin.

We cannot redeem the world.

We cannot make right what is wrong, pure or impure, or what is holy or unholy.

Only the Sovereign God can do all those acts.

He already has made the perfect atonement.

The redemption of Christ is not an experience, it is an act that was performed when Jesus went to the cross.

Our Lord and Saviour died for you, do not be afraid to trust Him who loved you enough to die for you.

The Holy Spirit is the interpreter of God's Word.

The Bible is the eloquent tongue of the Holy Spirit.

If you my friend, have any fears as to the outcome of the Kingdom of God and of His righteousness, you simply do not know your Bible.

The prince of this world has already been judged, already condemned.

The serpent has already received the mortal wound upon his head.

"And the God of peace shall bruise satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen." Romans 16:20

Regardless of what happens in the world, I am not going to be a pessimist.

I am simply going to look to Jesus.

Let all the nations collapse and fall.

Let America fall.

The reason that America will/has fallen is that we have taken God out of our lives.

We are no longer to pray in school, they have taken the ten commandments out of the public view, they even have taken "in God we trust" off the new money.

No wonder we are in such a pickle.

There should not be anything that can shake your faith.

Whatever happens, I pray that my faith will hold strong, the harder that it is shaken.

When all happens, and it will, everything will point to God.

It will demonstrate the fact that the Holy Spirit is still seeking to convict the depraved human race; and that the prince of this world is condemned.

"And when He is come, He will convict the world of sin..." John 16:8 Ryrie Version

Does He know me?

2009-10-15T14:42:00.004-04:00

"And He calleth His own sheep by His voice, and leadeth them out." John 10:3a

Have you ever thought that you know all there is about God, that you don't need what He has to offer you?

Do you know that it is possible to know all about doctrine and still not know who Jesus is?

Our soul becomes in very much danger when doctrine heavily outweighs that intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

Why have we doubted?

We all at one time or another have doubted something about Jesus.

Could it have been an experience with Jesus that others have previously had, but you have not had?

When He comes, When He touches, we know not when, but when they do, oh how precious they are!

Have you ever thought that there is s preacher alive that could not make a appeal for your heart?

My friend, do you not realize what kind of confession that you just made by saying that.

God's Holy Spirit strove with you, but over the months you have refused Him.

You would not hear His voice when He spoke to you.

God's Spirit has left you.

God's Spirit will not forever dwell, strive with man.

"And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man," Genesis 6:3a

You my friend have grieved the Holy Spirit.

I pray that there still may be grace for you.

I must remind you that the Holy Spirit is God.ly

Unlike man we can not insult and turn Him aside forever.

My suggestion for you, my friend, would be to fall upon your knees and cry out to Him seeking Him earnestly!

I pray that God's Sprit has not left you forever, but that He may come back to you in redeeming grace.

I know that if I were out of church, were not a professing believer, or of a hardened heart, I would pray to the living God to give but one more moment in which you could settle the matter.

You have that opportunity here and now to settle that question.

Now, is the time for you to respond!

You do not know what will happen if you choose to walk away this time.

This could very well be the very last time He will call you.

Will you not respond the speaking, the calling of God's Spirit?

Will you not allow Him to work regeneration in your heart through the truth of the living God, while making you a new creation in Him.

The new testament teaching on regeneration is that when a man is struck by a sense of need, God will put the Holy Spirit into his spirit.

Your personal spirit will be energized by the Spirit of the Son of God, until Christ be formed in you.

Until you start looking like Christ.

"Just as the disposition of sin entered into the human race by one man, so the Holy Spirit entered the human race by another man; Redemption means that I can be delivered from the heredity of sin and through Jesus Christ can receive an unsullied heredity, viz., the Holy Spirit." - Oswald Chambers

You are the only person who can judge whether or not God's Spirit has spoken to your heart or not.

You can just laugh or you can swallow a few times and choke it down.

You have the power to walk out into that darkness, while choosing to leave God out of your life.

Won't you choose the light.

Won't you choose the one who is speaking to your heart right now?

Is He talking to your heart?

2009-10-12T20:21:00.002-04:00

"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation." 2 Corinthians 7:10

Do you ever feel that church is such a bore?

Would you rather be out and about doing anything but being in church?

Was there ever a day when you were interested?

Was there ever a time when the preached Word of God made an appeal for your heart?

Has there ever been a time when you felt you were a sinner, and you needed the grace of God?

Have you ever felt like you ought to be doing something about those heartstrings that are being torn apart?

Conviction has got a hold upon you, my friend!

Conviction of sin is when the Holy Spirit rouses a man's conscience and bring him into the presence of God!

In other words, it is not the relationship with others that bothers you - it is your relationship to God.

Repentance is when a man comes to the point and says: I have sinned, I have sinned against Thee.

Repentance is not an emotional thing necessarily.

Sometimes deep emotions do attend repentance, but it means a change of mind and heart on the part of him or her.

The surest sign that God is at work is when a man or woman says it and means it, anything less is just remorse for what he or she has done.

True repentance is when he or she acknowledges one's misdeeds, errors, and failures, one's sins. He or she is in deep regret for all past sins, and enters upon a course of life.

Our sin is against God!

Repentance toward God is the only way to get it removed.

Each one of us have come into the Kingdom of God through a variety of experiences.

Some have deep emotions and some have seemingly no emotion at all.

Is it not wonderful what God has done for us.

Just drifting along with a cold membership in church is just wrong, downright treachery.

"And why call Ye me Lord, Lord and do not the things which I say?" Luke 6:46

One must say with his mouth and believe in his heart that Jesus died upon the cross, and that He is who He says He is.

There is no need for anyone to go out into eternal darkness.

God has made it so plain, so simple for you and I.

Won't you believe on Him today?

a piece of cake

2009-09-27T22:53:00.008-04:00

Ever wonder, What did I do to deserve this?

Why did God have to do this to me?

Here is a wonderful explanation!

A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.

Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack.

The daughter says, Absolutely Mom, I love your cake.

Here, have some cooking oil, her Mother offers.

Yuck - says her daughter.

How about a couple raw eggs?

Gross, Mom!

Would you like some flour then?

How about maybe baking soda?

MoM, those are all yucky!

Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves, but when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!

God works the same way.

Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times.

But God!

God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good!

We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!

God is crazy about you.

He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.

Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen.

He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart!

Carrots, Eggs and Coffee

2009-09-16T10:21:00.011-04:00

A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee...

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 and how things were so hard for her.

She did not know how she was going to make it 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 hard boiled 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 coffee bean ?

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 breakup, 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!

Will you?

2009-09-13T17:11:00.003-04:00

After contemplation and soul searching...

I have decided to reach out to my friends and relatives and ask you to do something that has been troubling me for a long time.

Our nation is and has been on the slippery slope for a long time.

If you take a good look around you will find corruption, greed, moral decay, and a steady move away from the things that made us great.

The principles upon which this nation was founded are no longer our backbone.

We were found on Christian principles.

However, we can reverse this trend...

"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their Land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

I am convinced that we must pray for our nation and its leaders and ask for forgiveness.

I ask you to join me in this plea.

Would you please pray EVERYDAY.

Let me just add a quote from Ronald Reagan...
"If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."

I truly believe this is why the United States of America is in the shape that we are in today.

Most people have forgotten that we are one nation under God!

Let us as Christians stand up and remind people of this.

Do you have faith to praise Him?

2009-09-07T13:29:00.006-04:00

"By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name." Hebrews 13:15

The mouth is the center of all spiritual warfare.

The weapons of God are launched here.

Praise is the ordained strength of God.

It is the backbone for all we are, what we do.

We were created to praise God.

"I will praise Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; and I will shew forth all Thy marvellous works. I will be glad and rejoice in Thee; I will sing praise to Thy name, O most High." Psalm 9:1-2

The ordained strength of God's people in battle is perfected through praise.

Our mouths must be watched over, because no matter what one says we are launching weapons of one sort or another.

"Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile." Psalm 33:14

We are to practice not deceiving each other.

Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching.

"If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is n vain." James 1:26

If and when we don't use our mouth's correctly, we simply make it impossible for us to win the battle.

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat of the fruit thereof." Proverbs 18:21

It is so important that we watch what we say.

It is so important to watch what comes out of our mouth.

Our mouth is the way that we cast our vote.

So, when we praise God, we are casting our vote for God, not the enemy.

When we start casting our vote for God, the atmosphere will start to change.

The mouth is the center of spiritual warfare.

When our heart is filled with the Word of God...

When we are standing in faith on What God's Word says, then that faith will be expressed out of our mouth.

"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." Luke 6:45

Faith looks to God, who is limitless.

Faith looks up and over opposition.

Faith sees a way out.

Faith believes that God is alive.

Faith believes that God can do it no matter what it is, no matter what.

Faith is the power in which you believe God.

Faith is when there is nothing inside other than a knowing that you know that you know- in that moment of knowing you have no doubt.

If you can get a hold of a little faith in your heart, anything is possible.

"For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that the things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith," Mark 11:23

Put your faith in God, not in man!

We need to lose ourselves to the limitless power of God, whether we understand it or not.

Many ties our heart tells us to do things we don't understand or can't see how they can work.

This is when we must totally trust in God!

Each morning we have two choices when we first wake up...

You can say good morning Lord

You can say good lord it's morning.

So which do you say?

Do you make statements like....

I'm fine under the circumstances.

I'm under the weather.

I'm under a lot of pressure.

Do you make statements like...

"Greater is He that is in me, than He that is in the world." 1 John 4:4

"I can do all things through Christ which strengthenth me." Philippians 4:13

Your destination is determined by the fruit of your lips.

Each person is responsible for what they say and how they say it.

One day each of us will stand before the Almighty God and take account for our actions - which includes what comes out of our mouth.

Each person must come to God personally.

If a man believes in his heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, and confess with his mouth, he shall be saved.

I'm talking about a heart experience, a whole heart, a response that we say with our mouth.

A confession we make with our mouth.

It is not just positive thinking, but thinking that has turned positive believing because you have mixed faith with it.

You can think about something all day, but if you don't mix faith with it, you might as well forget it.

If you believe it, you can hear it when you speak it.

You are setting you faith to it.

The most important thing that a Christian to know is who God is, and to know that you are in Him, nothing doubting.

We need to be steadfast in our faith.

We need a steadfast faith, and unshakable faith, an immovable faith.

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

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." Romans 10:17

Have you cleaned house lately?

2009-09-03T13:06:00.002-04:00

Last Week I threw out WORRYING,

It was getting old and in the way.

It kept me from being me; I couldn't do things God's way.

I threw out a book on MY PAST(Didn't have time to read it anyway)

Replaced it with NEW GOALS,started reading it today.

I threw out HATE and BAD MEMORIES,(Remember how I treasured them so)?

Got me a NEW PHILOSOPHY too, threw out the one from long ago.

Brought in some new books too, called I CAN, I WILL, and I MUST.

Threw out I MIGHT, I THINK and I OUGHT.

WOW, you should've seen the dust.

I ran across an OLD FRIEND,I hadn't talked to in a while.

His name is God , and I really like His style.

He helped me to do some cleaning and added some things Hmself.

Like Prayer, Hope, Faith and Love,

Yes... I placed them right on the myself.

I picked up this special thing and placed it at the front door.

I found it-it's called Peace.

Nothing gets me down anymore.

Yes, I've got my house looking nice.

Looks good around the place.

For things like worry and trouble there just isn't any space.

It's good to do a little house cleaning, get rid of the things on the shelf.

It sure makes things brighter; Faith is: Not believing that God can, it is knowing that God will!

Too Busy for God??

2009-08-28T14:45:00.004-04:00

This was sent to me from a friend and I wanted to share....

WOW, THIS IS VERY DEEP. PAY ATTENTION TO EVERY WORD.

Satan called a worldwide convention of demons.

In his opening address he said,We can't keep Christians from going to church.

We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth....

We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship withTheir SAVIOR.

Once they gain that connection with JESUS, our power over them is Broken.

So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners, BUT steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a relationship with JESUS CHRIST.

This is what I want you to do, said the devil...Distract them from gaining hold of their SAVIOR and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!

How shall we do this? - his demons shouted.

Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds, he answered....

Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow.

Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles.

Keep them from spending time with their children.

As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!

Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice.

Entice them to play the radio or I-Pod whenever they drive.

ToKeep the TV, DVDs, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical musicConstantly.

This will jam their minds and break that union with CHRIST.

Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers.

Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day.

Invade their driving moments with billboards.

Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes.

Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives.

Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night.

Give them headaches too! ""If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin toLook elsewhere.

This will fragment their families quickly!

Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children theReal meaning of Christmas.

Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about HIS resurrection and power over sin and death.

Even in their recreation, let them be excessive.

Have them return from their recreation exhausted.

Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation.

Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead.

Keep them busy, busy, busy!

For when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences.

Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek Power from JESUS.

Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause.

It will work!

It was quite a plan!

The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there.

Having little time for their God or their families.

Having no time to tell others about the power of JESUS to change lives.

I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes?

You be the judge!

Take a long look at your life.

Does "BUSY" mean: B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke?

The Word is light....

2009-08-22T13:00:00.009-04:00

"The entrance of of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." Psalm 119:130

When we read God's Word it enters our heart, it brings light and understanding with it.

God's Word gives us a new birth or the experience of being a new creation in Him. ie.. Born Again

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." 1 Peter 1:23

This verse means that we are born again by the power and working of the incorruptible Word of God.

When we attend to His Word, when we incline our ear to hear the Word, when we keep His Word ever before our eyes, when we meditate on His Word, then the Word of God becomes life and health to us.

The healing flows to us through the Word of God.

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever." 1 Peter 1:23

The Word of God is liken to a seed.

The seed is the divine incorruptible, eternal Word of God.

When one sows a seedling into the ground, life is resident in that seed.

That life will express itself in a plant that grows forth from that seed or seedling.

The same is true of the Word of God.

Only the seed - The Word of God is sown into our hearts, the hearts of the believer.

Once it is sown into a believers heart, there it grows and brings life to the believer.

This is the great working of the Word of God in every believer.

Every true Christian who has been born again of the incorruptible seed of God's Word has the ability to lead a life of victory over sin.

How?

He or she has within them the seed of the nature of God.

Only the power of the Word of God can liveth and abideth forever.

God's Word bring light and revelation to the believer.

When the Spirit of God has transformed you within, one will show signs of Divine characteristics.

We will no longer be as human life trying to be Godly.

As a believer the supernatural is made natural in him, by the grace of God.

Supernatural is anything that comes from heaven, or that is not man made.

Many of us are afraid of looking at God's standpoint.

We as believer's must emerge farther on, than one has accepted.

For most of us we have gotten far away from that intimate contact with God.

Most of us are still leaning on our own religious understanding.

Most of the time we only come to Jesus the comforter.

We will come to Jesus the sympathizer.

Most if not all will not come to Him as the Almighty.

We deprive Him of His strength, riches, His ministry the very moment that we forget He is the Almighty.

We might have Christian attributes, but there is no abandonment to Jesus Christ.

In other words we withdrawal from Christ.

We need to get in the habit of looking to Him.

Many of us make decisions out of our own knowledge and ask God to bless them.

When we do that we are basically saying we are superior than God.

We have put our sense of duty on the throne.

We are to walk in the light as God is in the light.

"But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us all from sin." 1 John 1:7

We are only a child by regeneration.

We aer only good when we walk in the light.

Are you walking in the light.

Are you walking according to the standards of another person?

We are not to walk in the light of our conscientiousness, but in the light of God.

To walk in the light means that everything that is in darkness, drives one closer into the center of the light.

"Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee." Psalm 119:11

A note of encouragement.....

2009-08-08T00:45:00.003-04:00

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." II Timothy 2:15

What better way to get to know God than through His Word.

Ya know recently I was reminded that God's Word is His handbook for life.

We have to decide to apply the scriptures in every situation, and follow the examples and teachings in the Bible (Handbook for life).

For this, I realize it is not easy but life is a daily learning experience and since His mercies are new every morning, it is a new chance each day to improve and get it right.

That is what walking by faith is.

We have a problem today with communication.

God sends us a message through His Word, but when we read it we interpret it from our own perspective.

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." Isaiah 55:8

Our own perspective of things has turned this world topsy turvey.

Every man is doing what is right in their own eyes, whether it is good and pleasing to God, and in most cases don't even care.

When we are left to our own devices we are man most miserable.

We are to read and enjoy His Word.

Just ask God to enlighten His Word to open your eyes so you can see, open your ears so you can understand and open your heart to receive all that He wants to tell you through His word.

When we let God permeate our being, we will gain a deeper understanding of God.

We are all responsible for what we believe.

I just wanted to encourage you to study the scriptures for yourself.

The purpose is to get a deeper, better understanding of the Scriptures.

I too am a student still learning and growing as a child of God.

"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

Thoughts to ponder....

2009-08-02T03:39:00.005-04:00

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a very bad situation, and someone said to you, Well, the only thing left to do is to pray?

How did you react?

Did you think, Oh my goodness, has it come to that?

Are things really that bad?”

Unfortunately, that’s how most people in today’s society feel about spiritual things.

Many people never turn to God until they have absolutely nowhere else to turn.

God is usually their last resort.

So many times, Jesus has to wait until the deepest, darkest hour because that’s when people finally turn to Him.

Some people actually believe that God put them in the hospital just so He could talk to them.

The truth of the matter is many people never look up until they are lying flat on their backs!

God had the answer for them all the time, but it wasn’t until they were forced to lie still and get quiet that they would listen to the voice of God.

God doesn’t knock people down just so He can help them get back up!

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow or turning.” James 1:17

God does not send sickness and poverty and misery just to teach us something.

He sent Jesus to die on the cross for us because He wanted to set us free from the curse of sin!

Some of us have the wrong idea about God and spiritual things.

Many people don’t understand God.

It’s a natural tendency for people to fear what they don’t understand.

What kind of images pop into your mind when someone mentions the spiritual realm to you?

What kind of words would you use to describe the spirit realm?

Most people use words like dark, eerie, cold, mysterious and spooky to describe the spiritual realm.

Whenever you mention spiritual things, they automatically get flashbacks of horror movies they’ve seen.

Many associate the spirit realm with death, because the only time they think about it is when someone they know dies.

This is a great victory for the enemy of our souls, Satan wants to keep our attention fixed on the natural and physical side of life. Only in the most painful moments of grief do most people consider spiritual things.

It’s no wonder people have a dark picture of the spirit realm.

Just like we associate a doctor with sickness and pain, we also associate the spirit realm with death, which causes people to respond to spiritual things with death in the forefront of their minds, this should be the fartherest thing from death as possible.

But God!

God sent Jesus so that we could have LIFE!

God doesn’t want you to turn to Him as a last resort!

He doesn’t want you to be afraid of Him.

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:18-19

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.” Romans 8:14

God wants to lead you and guide you from the very beginning.

God wants you to put Him first!

If we would learn to look to God first, then we wouldn’t get ourselves into the messes that we do.

God is a merciful God, and He will always help you with your problems when you ask Him to.

God never wanted you to go through that problem in the first place, for He has a better way!

He shines His light on & in times of confusion.

2009-07-21T22:39:00.010-04:00

"If I say surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee." Psalm 139:11-12

What kind of God do you believe in?

Do you believe that God knows what is going to happen to you before it ever happens?

Do you think that God does things to you on purpose?

When the darkness closes in do you think that God is mystified about the location or condition of your whereabouts?

Do you lose your vision of God when darkness closes in on you?

Does that darkness bring fear?

Have you ever known a fear that churns, and tears right into your gut?

Unfamiliar things, surroundings can cast strange shadows upon your life.

A new adventure, or phase of life can often look more black than light.

Darkness or light, night or day it is all the same to God.

God sees no better in one condition than in the other.

God sees it all. Everywhere, all the time.

"If I say, surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee." Psalm 139:11-12

David is not speaking of literal light here.

David is talking about the hardships and difficulty of life.

In this passage David is using the metaphor of darkness to show us how his heart recoils in anxiety and fear.

I'm sure that at one time or another something has happened and the plans that you've made went sour.

Something has crumbled right through your hands that you had been counting on.

Life happens and things don't go our way as we had planned.

Did your hopes and dreams go down the drain too.

When these times come we almost always ask....

Why God?

How could you have allowed this to happen?

Maybe you even go farther and ask yourself if you even really knew Him.

We really need to know in whom we trust.

Do you know Him as the One, whom the night shines like day?

"The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God, thy glory." Isaiah 60:19

God delights in taking the worst that the enemy can throw our way, and transforming it though His grace for His glory and for our benefit.

What more of a reason could we want?

This is a God to worship.

Do you believe in the living God?

To God, the night is as day.

This God who breathed the stars into existence.

"By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the hosts of them by the breath of His mouth." Psalm 33:6

"By His Spirit He hath garnished the heavens;" Job 26:13a

If then this is your God, no matter where you go, no matter where life's road takes you, no matter how dark the skies seem to get...You, My friend, will always be at the very center of His love and concern.

"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards Him." 2 Chronicles 16:9

America where are your roots

2009-07-03T18:19:00.002-04:00

This is s reprint, but is worth reading again.

Monday, July 03, 2006

America - Where are your roots?
America - Land of the free - Home of the brave!
America- Where we were grounded and founded on God's Word.
America - What has happened to your values?
Has the values that we have grown up on gone out with the dish water?
America where all come to live because of the freedoms that we have.
America was attacked on 9/11 because we have gotten away from God.
America needs to turn from her wicked ways and turn back to God!
America - God will heal our land when we turn back to Him.
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14
America - God is calling you back.
America we must pray together.
America even in the midst of our confusion we can find hope.
Prayer can change things.
The question is how bad do you want things changed?
America we must take a stand for that which is ours.
Our country was founded on God - but today we have gotten so far away from God it is no laughing matter any more.
Children are not allowed to say the pledge.
People are afraid of stepping on another religion's toes.
America is in fear, and fear is not of God!
People are married to the same sex- God intended it to be Adam and Eve; not Adam and Steve.
You can not even let your children play in the front yard, or play with the neighborhood kids as we did without worry.
Road rage on the rise.
Sex, drug and violence on the rise.
All one hears in the news is bad things, there is never anything good.
America what has happened to your values?
What happened to the family that prays together?
What happened to praying for those in charge?
We have gotten to busy with other priorities and God is the last priority.
God should be our first priority.
As we put God first, He will change our circumstance.
We need God more than ever before.
It is not time to play games anymore, but to get serious.
We are on the way to self destruction if we do not turn back to the One whom created us.
We need to praise and give Him the glory.
God has set us a part uniquely, as everyone wants the freedom that we have.
If we do not turn back to God who is to say that we will stay free?
I know that as I write what is on my heart today, that it might offend someone, I take that chance. If this offends you, maybe then you need to check your spirit to see if you are right with God. I know in whom I believe and where He has brought me from. I can but look at the anniversary of our great nation tomorrow and say thank you God for allowing me to be apart.
Each one of us are here right now as that is what God has ordained for our life. We are here in the now to take care of what He has for us to take care.
Our whole lives were planned before the foundation of the earth. "According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love." Ephesians 1:4
Prayer can change things, we must not get weary in well doing.
God is love!
God is all things.
We are and we created to worship Him.
We must put our trust in Him.
"I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliver; my God, my strength in whom will I trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the name if the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies." Psalm 18:1-3
Everything that we have and are comes from God.
Why not give honor to whom honor is due?
Do you love Him?
He loves You!
America - Won't you come back to God?
America - We need God!
posted by Gail @ 8:31 AM

Mom's Empty Chair

2009-06-20T15:25:00.002-04:00

A woman's daughter had asked the local minister to come and pray with her mother.

When the minister arrived, he found the woman lying in bed with her head propped up on two pillows.

An empty chair sat beside her bed.

The minister assumed that the woman had been informed of his visit.

Guess you were expecting me, he said.

No, who are you?' said the mother.

The minister told her his name and then remarked,

I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew I was going to show up.

Oh yeah, the chair, said the bedridden woman.

Would you mind closing the door?'

Puzzled, the minister shut the door. All of my life I have never known how to pray.

At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it went right over my head.

I abandoned any attempt at prayer, the old woman continued, until one day four years ago, my best friend said to me..Prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus.

Here is what I suggest..
Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair.

It's not spooky because he promised, I will be with you always.

Then just speak to him in the same way you're doing with me right now.

So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day.

I'm careful though.

If my daughter saw me talking
to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm.

The minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old woman to continue on the journey.

Then he prayed with her, anointed her with oil, and returned to the church.

Two nights later the daughter called to tell the minister that her mama had died that afternoon.

Did she die in peace?

Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock, she called me over to her bedside, told me she loved me and kissed me on the cheek.

When I got back from the store an hour later, I found her.

There was something strange about her death.

Apparently, just before Mom died, she leaned over and rested her head on the chair beside the bed.

What do you make of that?

The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said,
I wish we could all go like that.

Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive.

I asked God for water, He gave me an ocean.

I asked God for a flower, He gave me a garden.

I asked God for a friend, He gave me all of YOU...

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

Happy moments, praise God.

Difficult moments, seek God.

Quiet moments, worship God.

Painful moments, trust God.

Every moment, thank God.

What do others see?

2009-05-13T08:21:00.004-04:00

It was only a quarter or so I thought.

Several years ago, a preacher from out-of-state accepted a call to a church in Houston, Texas .

Some weeks after he arrived, he had an occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area.

When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change.

As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, "You'd better give the quarter back.

It would be wrong to keep it." Then he thought, "Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter.

Who would worry about this little amount?

Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it.

Accept it as a gift from God and keep quiet.

When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, "Here, you gave me too much change."

The driver, with a smile, replied, Aren't you the new preacher in town?

I have been thinking a lot lately about going somewhere to worship.

I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change.

I'll see you at church on Sunday.

When the preacher stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, "Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter."

Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read.

This is a really scary example of how much people watch us as Christians and will put us to the test!

Always be on guard and remember that you carry the name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself "Christian."

Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

I'm glad a friend forwarded this to me as a reminder.

God bless you; I hope you are having a wonderful day!

There are two ways of spreading the light.

One is to be the light; the other is to be the mirror that reflects the light.

Who are We?

2009-05-12T21:01:00.003-04:00

President Barack Obama said in Turkey : "We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values." I found this very interesting. Do you know the Preamble for your state? . . Be sure to read the message at the bottom!

Alabama 1901, Preamble We the people of the State of Alabama , invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution..

Alaska 1956, Preamble We, the people of Alaska , grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land.

Arizona 1911, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arizona , grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...

Arkansas 1874, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arkansas , grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government...

California 1879, Preamble We, the People of the State of California ,grateful to Almighty God for our freedom...

Colorado 1876, Preamble We, the people of Colorado , with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe...

Connecticut 1818, Preamble. The People of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy.

Delaware 1897, Preamble Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences...

Florida 1885, Preamble We, the people of the State of Florida , grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, establish this Constitution...

Georgia 1777, Preamble We, the people of Georgia , relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution...

Hawaii 1959, Preamble We , the people of Hawaii , Grateful for Divine Guidance ... Establish this Constitution..

Idaho 1889, Preamble We, the people of the State of Idaho , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings.

Illinois 1870, Preamble We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil , political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.

Indiana 1851, Preamble We, the People of the State of Indiana , grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to choose our form of government.

Iowa 1857, Preamble We, the People of the St ate of Iowa , grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings, establish this Constitution...

Kansas 1859, Preamble We, the people of Kansas , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges establish this Constitution.

Kentucky 1891, Preamble.. We, the people of the Commonwealth are grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties..

Louisiana 1921, Preamble We, the people of the State of Louisiana ,grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy.

Maine 1820, Preamble We the People of Maine acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity .. And imploring His aid and direction.

Maryland 1776, Preamble We, the people of the state of Maryland , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty...

Massachusetts 1780, Preamble We....the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe In the course of His Providence, an opportunity and devoutly imploring His direction

Michigan 1908, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Michigan ,grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom, establish this Constitution.

Minnesota, 1857, Preamble We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings:

Mississippi 1890, Preamble We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work.

Missouri 1845, Preamble We, the people of Missouri , with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness. Establish this Constitution...

Montana 1889, Preamble. We, the people of Montana , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty establish this Constitution ..

Nebraska 1875, Preamble We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom. Establish this Constitution.

Nevada 1864, Preamble We the people of the State of Nevada , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, establish this Constitution...

New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience.

New Jersey 1844, Preamble We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.

New Mexico 1911, Preamble We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty..

New York 1846, Preamble We, the people of the State of New York , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings.

North Carolina 1868, Preamble We the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those...

North Dakota 1889, Preamble We , the people of North Dakota , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain...

Ohio 1852, Preamble We the people of the state of Ohio , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote our common.

Oklahoma 1907, Preamble Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty, establish this

Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I Section 2. All men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences

Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance....

Rhode Island 1842, Preamble. We the People of the State of Rhode Island grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing...

South Carolina , 1778, Preamble We, the people of the State of South Carolina grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution.

South Dakota 1889, Preamble We, the people of South Dakota , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties ...

Tennessee 1796, Art. XI..III. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience...

Texas 1845, Preamble We the People of the Republic of Texas ,acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God. Utah 1896, Preamble Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we establish this Constitution.

Vermont 1777, Preamble Whereas all government ought to enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man ..

Virginia 1776, Bill of Rights, XVI Religion, or the Duty which we owe our Creator can be directed only by Reason and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity towards each other

Washington 1889, Preamble We the People of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution

West Virginia 1872, Preamble Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God ..

Wisconsin 1848, Preamble We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility... Wyoming 1890, Preamble We, the people of the State of Wyoming , grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties, establish this Constitution...

After reviewing acknowledgments of God from all 50 state constitutions, one is faced with the prospect that maybe, the ACLU and the out-of-control federal courts are wrong!

Please note that at no time is anyone told that they MUST worship God.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

Has fear gripped your hearts?

2009-04-30T18:34:00.001-04:00

We know the medical facts.

We know the media's perspective, but where is God in this situation?

Here is a "different" perspective on the swine flu threat.

What can we do?

While many are fearful of what could happen, I would like to present a strong and powerful course of action we can take as Believers, Christians, Followers of Jesus.

When I am personally faced a crisis, need, or situation, I try to find something similar in Scripture and see what God thinks about it.

Believe me there has been found that connection to this situation in James 5.

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; he Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.

Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. James 5:13-18 NIV

God has given us authority and means to stand against things that affect us.

This references trouble, sickness, a situation that affected everyone living in the region at the time.

Close enough for me.

Elijah's personal prayer changed it all for every-one.

That was Elijah - then; and we are not Elijah - today.

The power of authority is for today, in 2009.

We have the opportunity to pray in the name and therefore the authority of Jesus!

"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. John 14:12-13 NIV

The power of prayer is limitless.

It is as infinite as God for it links the human life to God.

It is limitless.

Prayer touched three worlds.

It touches heaven, earth, and hell simultaneously and instantaneously.

Prayer touches man, and God as nothing else that we can do.

The enemy hates prayer because it throws the battle to God.

Prayer puts the enemy up against all his resources.

Prayer knows no limit in time.

Prayer can have an immediate effect, and reside forever.

What am I saying?

Our response should be to pray FIRST!

Prayer can change otherwise unchangeable things!

We are to use wisdom, take reasonable precautions.

Do what you can do to protect yourself, see a doctor if you are sick.

You common sense man, but pray FIRST .

The prayer of righteous man is powerful and effective.

When you pray in the name of Jesus, you are praying in His righteousness, His authority, and His power.

What does that mean where your prayers are concerned?

According to how I understand the Bible, if you pray in the name of Jesus, you are praying the powerful and effective authority of the ultimate righteous person, Jesus.

Pray for your own health and well being.

Pray for the health and healing of those who are sick.

Pray for those who are afraid and do not have your level of faith.

Pray for those who have your level of faith, just pray.

Pray for those in authority.

Pray for those in government.

Even pray for our leaders.

If you need more strength and courage, pray!

We do not pray out of fear.

We pray in strength through faith in what God has already said.

"You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday."Psalm 91:5-6

"If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your dwelling." Psalm 91 9-10 NLT We do not have to be afraid, and your prayers are powerful and effective.