All week I have had family on my heart. Family is the second most important ones to me. Jesus being the first. As a mom, I wish above all things that each one of my kids, daughter in laws, grandkids, and husband, will come to know Jesus and we will all spend eternity, in peace, in heaven together. Karen Wheaten sings a song that is called "Just Be There". It is a mom telling her kids that one day when she stands before the Throne, she wants them to "just be there" too.
That is my hearts cry also.
In this world today, there is so much division in families. Of course, this is exactly what Jesus said would happen in the last days. I think alot of it is because of how the world, especially America, has gotten away from the foundation that it was built upon and that was the Bible and Christian values.
Through the years, as the parents began to get away from the morals and values that once was held so high, the children too are falling away. Sin is not sin anymore. People think it is fine to do whatever feels good to them. After all, look what is on TV, in music, on the Internet and even in the schools today. You can look at the actions of kids and pretty much see how they are raised and what they are around. Adultery, fornication, lying, cheating, drinking, jealousy, bitterness, anger, divorce, and the list goes on and on. The sad thing is too, that alot of this is even in the church.
Children learn what they live. If they are around those who yell, scream, fight, lie, cheat, gossip, self centered, controlling, etc. then why are we so surprised when the children act that way?
I often tell my kids when their kids are doing something that they get in trouble for is, "They get it honestly". One was throwing a temper tantrum once and I looked at her parents and said, "Now you know what you look like".
Isn't it time for us as parents and grandparents to get back to the morals that God wants us to live by? There are things that we do that make a huge impact on the kids that we don't even think about. For example, talking about other people, telling "white lies" (which all lies is lying),
holding grudges, gossiping, selfishness. Things that we may not even think our children would even pick up on.
I love my family and I know there are things in my life that I am changing because of my grand kids. I want my family in heaven with me one day and if I am not the example that I need to be then how can I expect them to be one in this crazy mixed up world? I want to be different. I don't want to fit in. I want people to see Jesus in me and that will only come to pass by the way that I talk and act.
How about you? Will you DARE TO BE DIFFERENT?
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Saturday, March 22, 2008
HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY
This weekend is the greatest among Christians. It is the weekend we celebrate the death, Good Friday, and the resurrection, Easter Sunday, of Jesus.
I am so thankful that God never gave up on me. He loved me and you enough to send His Son to die a cruel death so we could have life here on earth and then eternal life in Heaven. He died so we could have hope, joy, comfort, peace and love. He died so we would have a way to get through the hard times while we are alive. We have the Holy Spirit to guide, teach, comfort and direct us. We were not left alone when Jesus went to be at the right side of the Father in heaven.
I want to wish all of you a very happy and blessed Easter, or as I like to call it, Resurrection Day. Take the time to worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords before you bring out the Easter eggs. I pray if you don't know Jesus personnally that you will come to know Him during this blessed time of year. He loves you unconditionally and wants to be your Best Friend. He will be the One you can always depend on and trust. He will never leave you and never let you down.
Then we have the promise that those who know Him, will one day be with Him in Heaven. Never to be apart again. I pray you will be there too.
Jesus died for you, will you live for Him?
Have a Blessed Resurrection Day in Jesus.
I am so thankful that God never gave up on me. He loved me and you enough to send His Son to die a cruel death so we could have life here on earth and then eternal life in Heaven. He died so we could have hope, joy, comfort, peace and love. He died so we would have a way to get through the hard times while we are alive. We have the Holy Spirit to guide, teach, comfort and direct us. We were not left alone when Jesus went to be at the right side of the Father in heaven.
I want to wish all of you a very happy and blessed Easter, or as I like to call it, Resurrection Day. Take the time to worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords before you bring out the Easter eggs. I pray if you don't know Jesus personnally that you will come to know Him during this blessed time of year. He loves you unconditionally and wants to be your Best Friend. He will be the One you can always depend on and trust. He will never leave you and never let you down.
Then we have the promise that those who know Him, will one day be with Him in Heaven. Never to be apart again. I pray you will be there too.
Jesus died for you, will you live for Him?
Have a Blessed Resurrection Day in Jesus.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
DAY TO REMEMBER
Sometimes there are things that happen in our life that we never forget the date it happened. Maybe the birth of a baby. The death of a loved one. an anniversary, birthday, a special event. One year ago today, my life changed dramatically.
I volunteered at a ministry for almost 3 years. I was there 3 days a week and at most of the special events. I loved every minute of it. With my physical limitations, this was something I could do. I helped out the ministry wherever I could and also got to encourage and pray for other people. I looked forward to each day that I went in there. It was my life and I knew it was what God had called me to do at that time.
On March 18, 2006, one year ago today, I received an email that said I need not to come back to the ministry. There was no reason given. No for warning. Nothing. To this day, I don't know what happened. I felt like someone had opened me up and ripped my heart out. I was devestated. I felt as if my life was over. I was in total shock as if I had a loved one die unexpectedly.
The last 12 months has been a long grieving time and transitional period for me. It still hurts but God has gotten me through it. There are days that someone will say something or I will think of a call that I received when I was there and I fall apart again. God will help me back up and I will go forward again. I think of the times that the people at the ministry helped me so much. When I was going through a very hard time, they were there for me when nobody else was. People that I didn't even know would call me there, pray for me and encourage me through that time. People would even stop by just to pray for me. I know God had placed me there for a reason and also a season.
The other day I was looking out the window at the buds coming out on the trees. I was thinking about the new life that is about to come forth. A new and fresh beginning is taking place. The buds were already growing in the tree branches even though we couldn't see them. Now in the right season, springtime, they are coming out into the open and sprouting where we can see and enjoy the new life.
God has a way of doing that in our own life. There are seasons that we go through. Then during those down times between seasons, God is still working in us, preparing us for the next season we are going into. Yes, there is a grieving period when one season ends but we have to let it go and allow God to get us ready for the next level of our life. We need to listen carefuly to His instructions and prunings. His next plan for us is always more than we could ever imagine.
Have a wonderful spring!!
I volunteered at a ministry for almost 3 years. I was there 3 days a week and at most of the special events. I loved every minute of it. With my physical limitations, this was something I could do. I helped out the ministry wherever I could and also got to encourage and pray for other people. I looked forward to each day that I went in there. It was my life and I knew it was what God had called me to do at that time.
On March 18, 2006, one year ago today, I received an email that said I need not to come back to the ministry. There was no reason given. No for warning. Nothing. To this day, I don't know what happened. I felt like someone had opened me up and ripped my heart out. I was devestated. I felt as if my life was over. I was in total shock as if I had a loved one die unexpectedly.
The last 12 months has been a long grieving time and transitional period for me. It still hurts but God has gotten me through it. There are days that someone will say something or I will think of a call that I received when I was there and I fall apart again. God will help me back up and I will go forward again. I think of the times that the people at the ministry helped me so much. When I was going through a very hard time, they were there for me when nobody else was. People that I didn't even know would call me there, pray for me and encourage me through that time. People would even stop by just to pray for me. I know God had placed me there for a reason and also a season.
The other day I was looking out the window at the buds coming out on the trees. I was thinking about the new life that is about to come forth. A new and fresh beginning is taking place. The buds were already growing in the tree branches even though we couldn't see them. Now in the right season, springtime, they are coming out into the open and sprouting where we can see and enjoy the new life.
God has a way of doing that in our own life. There are seasons that we go through. Then during those down times between seasons, God is still working in us, preparing us for the next season we are going into. Yes, there is a grieving period when one season ends but we have to let it go and allow God to get us ready for the next level of our life. We need to listen carefuly to His instructions and prunings. His next plan for us is always more than we could ever imagine.
Have a wonderful spring!!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
SOWING AND REAPING
I have so many thoughts going on right now, I don't know which one to write about. I think I have to write on giving and receiving. Sowing and reaping. After all, isn't that the one that everyone loves to hear about the most? It really should be.
I have always believed in tithing and giving offerings. God said to do it and that is enough proof for me. The government says to pay taxes and we do. Yet, so many Christians say they can't afford to tithe or give offerings, and this is from the Lord. Seems like something is wrong with this picture. To me, I can't afford NOT TO obey what God says and tithe.
I haven't had income of my own to give tithes or offerings. My husband is the one working and he doesn't believe that way. So when I make any money of my own, I make sure that I tithe first and then gave offerings. A couple months ago, I received some money and I gave from that. I knew that God will return it back to me, pressed down, shaken together and running over. He has done it over and over in my life. So many people take Philippians 4:19 out of context. It says that God will supply your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Yet the qualifier for that promise is right before that verse where Paul was talking about how the Philippians helped those in need and that was why God was going to supply their needs. The giving and receiving, sowing and reaping principle.
People had been on to me to sign up for social security disability. I didn't want to do that because of all the hassle it was and I wasn't going to fight for it. Finally I gave in and went to the social security office on Feb. 19 to sign up. That day I prayed and ask God to take care of it. I wasn't going to fight for it and go through all the hassle that people has to go through for months and even years. Then usually have to get an attorney in the end, to get it. It wasn't worth it. I believed that God is going to continue to take care of me like He has been.
On Feb. 29th, I got a disability check in the mail. I wasn't notified of my eligibility or anything. 10 days is all it took and I had a check. That is unheard of. I did get the letter of eligibility the following week!
It still amazes me how fast this happened. God knows what I have been going through the last 2-3 years. He knows there have been times I didn't know where the money for my medicine was coming from. He knew there were times I couldn't go to the Dr. when I needed to because of no money. He knew the things I had to do without. He had not forgotten and He saw that I was faithful in tithing and giving offerings when I received money of my own. I believe He said it was time for a breakthrough in that part of my life. Only after testing me to see if I would remain faithful no matter what.
I had someone tell me the other day that they won't watch TV preachers because all they do is ask for money. I do agree that there are some that are that way. I told them that they better stop watching TV at all then because all they want is your money. What do you think commercials are for? If only they knew the principle of sowing and reaping and believed what God says in His Word. Not to give tithe and offerings is disobedience to God. Why is it so hard for people that call themselves "Christians" to believe what God says? Yet they will hold tight to what the world thinks or says is the right way to do things.
When you are faithful to God and His Word, He IS faithful to you all the time!!
Test Him in this. He will show you!
Have a blessed week and weekend.
I have always believed in tithing and giving offerings. God said to do it and that is enough proof for me. The government says to pay taxes and we do. Yet, so many Christians say they can't afford to tithe or give offerings, and this is from the Lord. Seems like something is wrong with this picture. To me, I can't afford NOT TO obey what God says and tithe.
I haven't had income of my own to give tithes or offerings. My husband is the one working and he doesn't believe that way. So when I make any money of my own, I make sure that I tithe first and then gave offerings. A couple months ago, I received some money and I gave from that. I knew that God will return it back to me, pressed down, shaken together and running over. He has done it over and over in my life. So many people take Philippians 4:19 out of context. It says that God will supply your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Yet the qualifier for that promise is right before that verse where Paul was talking about how the Philippians helped those in need and that was why God was going to supply their needs. The giving and receiving, sowing and reaping principle.
People had been on to me to sign up for social security disability. I didn't want to do that because of all the hassle it was and I wasn't going to fight for it. Finally I gave in and went to the social security office on Feb. 19 to sign up. That day I prayed and ask God to take care of it. I wasn't going to fight for it and go through all the hassle that people has to go through for months and even years. Then usually have to get an attorney in the end, to get it. It wasn't worth it. I believed that God is going to continue to take care of me like He has been.
On Feb. 29th, I got a disability check in the mail. I wasn't notified of my eligibility or anything. 10 days is all it took and I had a check. That is unheard of. I did get the letter of eligibility the following week!
It still amazes me how fast this happened. God knows what I have been going through the last 2-3 years. He knows there have been times I didn't know where the money for my medicine was coming from. He knew there were times I couldn't go to the Dr. when I needed to because of no money. He knew the things I had to do without. He had not forgotten and He saw that I was faithful in tithing and giving offerings when I received money of my own. I believe He said it was time for a breakthrough in that part of my life. Only after testing me to see if I would remain faithful no matter what.
I had someone tell me the other day that they won't watch TV preachers because all they do is ask for money. I do agree that there are some that are that way. I told them that they better stop watching TV at all then because all they want is your money. What do you think commercials are for? If only they knew the principle of sowing and reaping and believed what God says in His Word. Not to give tithe and offerings is disobedience to God. Why is it so hard for people that call themselves "Christians" to believe what God says? Yet they will hold tight to what the world thinks or says is the right way to do things.
When you are faithful to God and His Word, He IS faithful to you all the time!!
Test Him in this. He will show you!
Have a blessed week and weekend.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
NEW BLOG
It has been several months since I posted a blog. I decided to start a whole new one so here it is.
I hope you will be encouraged and uplifted as I share what God is doing in my life and in the lives of others. After all, if we don't have Jesus, we don't have life. Please leave a comments and let me know what you think. That way I will know someone is reading.
The last several months have been a season of preparation and transition for me. Due to health problems, I have been pretty much homebound most of the time. This has given me all the time in the world to spend with Jesus and to get to know Him more and more each day. He has been doing a work on the inside of me. Each time I think He is done, He finds something else that isn't quite right. Have you ever noticed that? I have come to the conclusion that we will never be totally clean of all the impurities and imperfections that are in us.
I have come to know Jesus on a whole new level. It has been so amazing and so worth the time I have been "out of commission". No, it hasn't been easy at all. There are days that I get so aggrevated at how my life is right now that I want to quit. Then I will pick up the Bible, or hear a song, or hear a preacher say something to get me back on track. I thank God that He never gives up on us and how He gives us His Spirit to direct and guide us. I also thank God for all the times He has jerked a knot in our tails to get our attention!
So much has went on just the past couple weeks. There is no way I can write it all. I will say this much, God NEVER fails. He knows what you are and have been going through. He hasn't forgotten about you. It may seem that He isn't there and not listening to you. It may look like everthing is over. It is at that point that God steps in. It is at that point when you are at the end of your rope that God will turn things around completely. (That is if you have tied a knot in your rope and hanging on!!) It is at that point where your jaw drops to the ground in amazement. You know what God will do and you have seen Him do things over and over, yet each time it still amazes us when He steps into the situation.
I just finished reading a book by Judy Jacobs on Standing Strong. When you have done everything you know to do, STAND. You may have to stand there for days, weeks, months or even years. The main thing is that you stand and do not give up. If God said He will do something, He WILL do it. You can take that to the bank.
So my word to you for today is this, stand strong, keep your head held high and your focus on Jesus. He is literally all that you need.
I hope you will be encouraged and uplifted as I share what God is doing in my life and in the lives of others. After all, if we don't have Jesus, we don't have life. Please leave a comments and let me know what you think. That way I will know someone is reading.
The last several months have been a season of preparation and transition for me. Due to health problems, I have been pretty much homebound most of the time. This has given me all the time in the world to spend with Jesus and to get to know Him more and more each day. He has been doing a work on the inside of me. Each time I think He is done, He finds something else that isn't quite right. Have you ever noticed that? I have come to the conclusion that we will never be totally clean of all the impurities and imperfections that are in us.
I have come to know Jesus on a whole new level. It has been so amazing and so worth the time I have been "out of commission". No, it hasn't been easy at all. There are days that I get so aggrevated at how my life is right now that I want to quit. Then I will pick up the Bible, or hear a song, or hear a preacher say something to get me back on track. I thank God that He never gives up on us and how He gives us His Spirit to direct and guide us. I also thank God for all the times He has jerked a knot in our tails to get our attention!
So much has went on just the past couple weeks. There is no way I can write it all. I will say this much, God NEVER fails. He knows what you are and have been going through. He hasn't forgotten about you. It may seem that He isn't there and not listening to you. It may look like everthing is over. It is at that point that God steps in. It is at that point when you are at the end of your rope that God will turn things around completely. (That is if you have tied a knot in your rope and hanging on!!) It is at that point where your jaw drops to the ground in amazement. You know what God will do and you have seen Him do things over and over, yet each time it still amazes us when He steps into the situation.
I just finished reading a book by Judy Jacobs on Standing Strong. When you have done everything you know to do, STAND. You may have to stand there for days, weeks, months or even years. The main thing is that you stand and do not give up. If God said He will do something, He WILL do it. You can take that to the bank.
So my word to you for today is this, stand strong, keep your head held high and your focus on Jesus. He is literally all that you need.
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