What type of Garden are you?

As my boys were mowing the lawn earlier they came in ask their Grandpa if they could mow one area that had flowers in it. He had told them to go ahead because those particular flowers won't bloom again this year. Gardens are beautiful to look at and walk through In Genesis it talks of the Garden of Eden which all we've ever seen is what one may think it looked like. Where as we can go outside an walk through a garden or we can even sit in a beautiful garden and take in all the beauty.Then we have vegetable gardens that we plant to feed our families and friends out of.

                                                                 

                                                    

There's also tree gardens. Which I think are really neat to walk through.

 

These are different types of Gardens people can have but what kind of Garden are you?  Read in Genesis 2:8-25 and that will take you further into the Garden of Eden. God, the very first gardener, plants his garden with love. See how he kneels to create flowers that will delight his people with wonderful colors and intricate designs. Watch as he sows seeds that will grow into plants for his people's nourishment.

 

But notice - the garden was dark with sorrow, yet filled with love and purpose. It the Garden of Gethsemane. In this garden a loving God continues to provide for his people in his Son, Jesus. In this garden Jesus willingly submits to his Father's will and sets his eyes purposefully on the cross. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

 

As you read your Bible God is your gardener he leads you to grow in area's you need to grow in. Just as you plant a flower garden and use Miracle Grow, or special food for your plants, God uses special food prepared by Him to help us grow. One of my favorite passages to read when I'm down or even if all is going well is Psalms 139.

 

In Psalms 139 it tells us in verse 14 "I will praise thee: for I am fearfully and wonderfully made...."  See with God as our "gardener" he planted us, he made us in the way he wanted us. As I've heard people say, there's only one mold of me and after I was made the mold was broken. We laugh at that sometimes, but you (put your name here) are made as YOU! You have your own area's of growth that ONLY you and Lord can work on, nurture, "water" and harvest.

 

So as to my question, What type of Garden are you? Are you a garden that sows bitterness, deceit, hate, anger, and so on and so forth? OR Are you a garden that sows love, patience, kindness, tenderness, mercy, understanding etc.?

 

I want to be able to do as the Psalmist said, "Search me O God and know my thoughts," Search me O God and know my heart." Let your garden be one that you can sincerely say, "God search me, let me know if there be anything wicked, wrong, ungodly in me."

 

So as you go about today plant the garden of love, understanding, forgiveness, patience, mercy, happiness, joy, peace and so on and so forth.                              

The Right Way in Marriage

Ephesians 5:33 "Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband."

Do you reverence your husband? Do your children see that you love him and that you have a desire to do as he ask? I know it's not the easiest thing to do. We are all human and we all make mistakes, however it doesn't excuse us from honoring, submitting, showing reverence to our husbands.

I've been married almost 22 years and trust me it's not always easy to do these things. BUT what does make it easier is that we are both Christians, we both want to serve the Lord with our whole life, we both want, what God wants.

So how can you do as Ephesians 5:33 says:

1. Notice your husband. Notice when he comes home, notice when he does something for you. He will want to be there and do more if you take the time to Notice him!

2. Make sure you show consideration for him. One way of doing this is through your appearance. If he doesn't like an outfit don't wear it.

My husband I have what I guess you would call, codes for outfits.
Your wearing that again - I know to get rid of it.
That's ok - he really doesn't care for it.
That's nice - he likes the outfit.
You look GREAT - he loves the outfit and then he also has other sayings when he really likes what I'm wearing.

Your hair even take into consideration if he likes it. Before I get my hair cut I have pictures of what it will look similar to, and if he likes it I will go with that cut. You ask why do you do that? Well, He is my husband and I want him to have say in how I look.

3. Honor Him! If you are married, engaged or even dating, you should honor that man and as married people your children need to see that you Honor their dad!

I Corinthians 8:1 "Knowledge puffeth up, but charity {love} edifieth."  Learn to brag on your husband build his ego, let him hear you tell people how great a job he did at this or that. Don't down grade him.

4. Be courteous and polite. You know in today's world I see so much rudeness and I really feel for our husbands/wives and children. If you expect your children to be courteous and polite they NEED to see mom and dad being courteous and polite to each other!!

Proverbs 25:11 "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver."

A little saying Mrs. Rice put in her book that I really like is:

Hearts, like doors, ope' with ease

To very, very little keys.

And don't forget that two of these,

Are "Thank you, sir" and "If you please."

 

5. Love Him!! Why did you marry him? Because you LOVED him! I've heard said, a woman can hate and love their husband at the same time and mean it when they say both. :) Make sure that man you are married to KNOWS you Love him! Just as you want to hear those 3 wonderful words, Your husband wants to hear them also.

 

 

You know we're not perfect and we all make mistakes but we all should keep God in the center of our marriage and in the center of our relationship. You will have the Right Marriage if you do! 

Marriage

One MAN and One WOMAN is what God defined as marriage! With our daughter getting married in exactly 1 month and 1 day she and I have talked and we are so very proud of Tabitha Jane as she has done as EVERY young lady should and kept herself for the one she's to marry, Thomas Robert!

Back in 1981 when I was just barely a teenager, my bus captain in NC gave me a book titled "The Right Romance in marriage" By Cathy Rice. At first I thought I'm only 13 why are you giving this to me, but I'll never forget what Bro Harry told me. He said, "Paula, I know right now you don't need this book, but one day you will meet the man you are to marry and I want you to have this for that time." Well, I gave the book to my mom to hold on to for me, and shortly after I graduated High School my mom gave the book back to me. You ask why after high school? Well, I was going to college and many times that is where you meet your husband/wife and this was and is a GREAT book.  This was upon my request that she hold it till then. I have read the book several times now and you know, Not once did it say the romance between 2 men or 2 women, it ALWAYS mentioned having the right romance between a MAN and WOMAN!

Proverbs 18:22 "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord." 
When you get married yes you are happy but the word/or act of marriage isn't all that will make you happy. Why not be happy in your marriage through the Lord. Have the Lord as part of your marriage.
When you and your spouse are together, do you pray together? Do you read God's word together? Do you share things you learn from your personal devotions together? These things will make your marriage stronger.

If you are single reading this, this next part is for especially for you. I adopted several things as to what My Man should be when I was "searching" for Mr Right :) Now, Mr right didn't come along for a long time, but I knew when I saw William Paul IV walk by that he was the one. I didn't know his name let alone anything about him, but somehow I knew he was the one. Mrs Rice had 20 things she looked for in her man,  I'm just going to list some of the one's I used for myself.

My Ideal Man

 

1. He MUST be saved.

2. He MUST be truthful.

3. He Must not be idle, lazy.

4. He Must be a leader among men and in our home.

5. Have high regards for women - especially his wife.

6. He should have ambition.

7. He must not curse, drink or smoke (these are 3 combined)

8. He MUST be dependable.

9. He must have faith and trust in me.

10.  He must love me through good and bad.

 

Again these are just a few things, of course there was the He must be handsome!

 

All these things above are important but let me ask you, If your husband were to say to you one day, we are going to Africa as Missionaries would you go willing or would you complain about all you will have to leave behind?

 

Ruth 1:16 "Whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God,"

 

Would you say this to your husband or would it be: Whither thou goest I'll go BUT  it has to be here, and where thou lodgest I will lodge as long as there's a queen size bed, in a two story house, 2 car garage, fenced in back yard and beautiful flowers, thy people, well they will be mine IF I like them, thy God yea he will be God too.

 

Which way would you Honestly go with? Ruth 1:16 or what I wrote below it?? See I have been in this position where, Ruth 1:16, I had to decided, that was what I would follow not what I typed afterwards. However I had to decide this BEFORE I said, "Yes" to marry my husband. See, he at the time we were dating felt the Lord was leading him to Poland!! Yes I said Poland, well shortly after we married Dr. Maurice Paulson a very dear Missions teacher, asked my husband to pray about Canada. When we finished college we were headed to Canada. BUT when I married my husband I married him knowing I would follow him to Poland, to love a people that would become his people. I to this day believe the Lord allowed him to have a burden for Poland, to see if I would have the Ruth 1:16 testimony or the "Paula" way.... Let me say, as any girl would, I had my dreams of where I would live and what I would drive, and trust me the car was a lot nicer than what we are driving, and well, the house was mine not my Dad in laws house. That is another story. Which just so there's no confusion the Lord has put us in Maine to serve. There are earlier post that tells about our ministry here in Maine. So....

 

Have I always wanted to follow? Honestly, no, but through much prayer and God being my God and my husbands God he helped me to get through those times I didn't want to go.

 

So see friend, marriage isn't just a ring on your finger, it's a whole lot more! I've barely touched on what we as wives should be or do for our MAN, but if you truly want to be the wife, God intended you to be, you will follow Ruth 1:16 "Whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God,"

 

Will it always be easy? Nope!

Will you always want to go? Nope!

The next question is though, Will you? ONLY YOU can answer that!

 

In days to come I will share  more on this subject of Marriage. By no means am I an expert on this subject but I know a book, The King James Bible that has ALL the answers! I will have books I recommend for reading also on Marriage, but at the top of that list will be the Bible!!

 



Grace

God's grace is sufficient! Have you noticed how when things happen God gives us the grace needed to get through the situation?! Tonight my husband, which by the way is the GREATEST Preacher there is :) , Just a little side note there :) preached on Grace. I had been thinking about Grace through the week and how God gives us grace to get through whatever our situation. I've really needed grace as my daughter has struggled with a friend dying, finals, work, and wedding preparation. Then my oldest son who's in WV, being sick, lots of schooling, work and graduation quickly approaching. I've needed God's grace to keep things together so that when I talked with my children I could encourage them.

On Mothers Day several families that I've heard off/know had things to deal with where they needed God's grace to make it through. We just learned of a family who, on Friday were told they will never be able to have children, another family their mother had a stroke and had to spend Mothers day plus in the hospital, another family had a future father in law go into a diabetic coma on Mothers day..... don't you think that these families need God's Grace?! We should them grace? How can you and I show others grace?

Well, as I my husband preached tonight we can be understanding of their situation.
We can as friends, family and church family realize that they may not say, or do, what is "right" in our book. However we can show grace to that person by not getting upset or letting the past events affect our decisions on how we could be of help to them. God's grace is sufficient for ALL!!

II Corinthians 12: 9-10
"...My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness...."
"...for when I am weak, then am I strong."

God is our strength when we are weak, friend who can't have children, friend who's wife/mom had a stroke, friend who's father in law is in a coma, God will be your strength in weakness. He giveth Grace that is sufficient!

So although you maybe weak, although you maybe worried, maybe you are heartbroken, maybe you are needing a friend, maybe you feel no one cares.... God is there! God gives grace! God Loves you!!

I Peter 1:2 "...Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied." God gives grace and peace to get through that trial.

As a mom I want to jump in the car and run to WV and KY to be with my oldest 2 children during their hard times. BUT they are young adults and they will get through this with Gods grace. Is it easy on mom? NO! BUT God gives me the grace and peace to know they will be alright because they serve the exact same God I serve and his grace is the same for me as it is for Paul IV, Tabitha and ALL who need Gods grace!

So friend as you read this, just remember "God's grace is sufficient" He loves you and he wants to give you His grace.

Where can you go?

Matthew 28:18-20
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. AMEN."

Have you ever thought there's no place to go. There's no one to talk to. There's no need for me to go out they won't listen. Well guess what? You can witness or pass out a track at the grocery store, in the parking lot, leave a track for your waitress/waiter when you go out to eat. You have neighbours right? Whenever you see them you could witness. There's always someone, someplace that hasn't heard or maybe that's waiting for YOU to talk to them.

I love hearing stories of people getting saved. As a matter of fact I'd love for you some of you who read my blog to share a time you witnessed to someone.

I'm going to wait a few days then I'll share one of my soul winning experiences.

Just a reminder that we are go soul winning and we need to let others know of Christ!

 

I can't OR I can?

Good afternoon :) Phil 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ...."

How often do you hear, "I can't"? I tell you as a parent I've heard it many times. We'll I think it was about 4 yrs ago, my husband had heard "I can't" one to many times from one of our boys. Well that evening he called a family meeting and "I can't" became a curse word in our home along with shut up, idiot, dumb, stupid and many other words that through out the years of having children it was determined in our home that would be a curse word. If you were caught saying it you were disciplined just as if you had cursed.

So any way, back to the topic, of "I can't OR I can" as I go about shopping, or visiting even reading blogs and face book. I see the words I can't! Well my question to you is why can't you? What is stopping you? Don't you have a God that's big enough to make it an I can? Today, one of my children was asked to do something and the words I can't came out..... well true to his Dad's word he was disciplined. Then the question was why can't you do this particular thing? As in most cases there wasn't a reasonable answer. The I can't quickly became I can, Dad!

Going back to a week ago, my husband/Preacher came to me and said, "honey next week May 5, I will need you to play the piano for church." My natural response in my mind was, "What?! You know I can't play well!" Then as I sat quietly, he looked at me and said I know YOU CAN do this!! Well, my piano skills aren't that great but guess who's going to be sitting at the Piano at Second Baptist Church tomorrow morning?! You guessed it, ME! I have contacted everyone I can think of to ask questions, get suggestions, and yes basically to hear from others who had been in my position You CAN do this.

So Christians, in your walk with the Lord, when something is put before you what do you say? I Can't OR I Can? Did you know You Can read your Bible, you can pray daily, You can serve the Lord in many area's. Need an idea of an area you can serve in? How about choir, Sunday School Teacher, Nursery worker, bus worker, bus driver there's so many area's of service at church that all you need to do is ask your Preacher, where you could be of service. I'm sure that he'll have many things you can do. Or like in my situation, I learned to play the piano years ago, but just haven't used it probably just as long as I what I took lessons, but when my husband became Pastor I knew I should get to where I could play. I wasn't expecting it to be like this where both our piano players would be gone on the same Sunday, but you know what I can do this, with Christ help and I've practiced and worked hard. I believe that is what the Lord would want.

So next time your asked to do something that you are talented in or have a knowledge of, don't say, "I can't but Yes I can do my best!"



Nail it to the Cross

I LOVE this song and wanted to share it with you!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAwcXItEDRA

Great Changes

The things I use to do I don't do them any more,
The things I use to do I don't do them any more,
The things I use to do I don't do them any more,
There's been a great change since I've been born again,

There's been a great-change since I've been born,
There's been a great-change since I've been born,
There's been a great-change since I've been born,
There's been a great-change since I've been born again!

What is that thing you use to do, say, wear that you don't do any more? Did you stop because Mom and Dad said you couldn't or shouldn't do, say or wear that? Or have you decided in your heart that it's YOUR conviction, Your desire, Your want to that has made that GREAT Change in your life.

In Proverbs 24:21   it says,        

My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

Are you meddling in a change that you know wouldn't be good for you? I love Proverbs and this verse as I was reading the other day in my devotions jumped out at me. See we're going through some changes as a family. Our daughter is getting married, our oldest son is going to college, our third child is getting his permit, we are new in the Pastorate and so many other things. These are good changes which is different from what the verse is replying to, but what changes are coming into your life or are you allowing in your life?

As things happen and as things come about, you need to watch out, some one or something could cause you to meddle in that which would be a bad change. You want to be able to say there's been a Great Change in my life, not there's been a bad change in my life.

Are you allowing sinful thoughts by watching bad tv shows?
Are you saying things you would of never said, because of people you talk to?
Are you allowing ___________________ you put in whatever it may be. Is this making you make the Wrong change OR a GREAT Change?
 

Lord Prepare me....

Matthew 11:10          

For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Luke 7:27           

This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Mark 1:2           

As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

In all three of these verses we see the same words. "...which shall prepare thy way before thee."

I was going over choruses with Caleb, my middle child and we found the little chorus that I really, really like!

Lord Prepare Me

 

Lord prepare me, to be a sanctuary.

Pure and holy, tried and true.

With thanksgiving, I'll be a living,

Sanctuary, for you.

 

How many teens, children, adults can say this? How many will mean it and live it? We hear so much in the news of abortion, shootings, suicides, and so many things, that I often wonder.... If that teen girl had of decided to live Pure, Holy, Tried and True keeping her body and life like a sanctuary. How many news reports would we hear about her?! We wouldn't hear anything, BUT God knows you were pure, holy, tried and true, yea temptations come but that's the trial to see if you'll stay true.

 

I ask you, no matter what your age will you say and mean it in your heart, "Lord prepare Me"

 

Maybe he wants to prepare you to serve Him in Africa, China, Mexico, Canada, Maine, West Virginia, Kentucky, it doesn't matter where God puts you, if you have decided that wherever you are you'll go with Thanksgiving, you be a living Sanctuary, for Him, you'll go far in life!

 

See God has already prepared your way, you just need to follow.

 

Sharing my Heart.... Please don't Quit!

A friend of mine shared something with me that made me think about some things. So I'm going to share a little bit of my heart with you on a subject that IF I were to let it eat at my heart, I probably would not be in Maine as a Pastors wife today.

The Bible teaches that we are to forgive seventy times seven. It also teaches that we are to love one another even as Christ loved us. So if we are suppose to do these two things, which the Lord clearly states in His word; why would we let people change our attitude, standards, beliefs or anything from what is true?

I'm going back many years to share this with you. Now so you know I, we, have forgiven the person and we hold No grudges or distain against any group of people. We maybe disappointed or feel for them but please know we Love and care deeply for those who wronged us. As I said this takes us back many years we had gone to someone to seek council and advice while on deputation. We were told that we were a liability and that our family would NEVER do anything in full time ministry. We, my husband and I, were really hurt because of this. We offered to do certain things but were told NO they didn't want us to do anything, but we may want to think about quiting!

Well my husband I Never Quit! We may and have felt like it but to Quit is not in our dictionary. I remember Dr. Hyles saying to cut it out of your dictionary. To this day we have several dictionaries but you won't find Quit in there. We have raised our to children to Never Give Up to Never Quit. Do we feel like at times? Oh Yes! Well, we continued on serving the Lord, we didn't change what we believed, we didn't change our religion, we didn't change the way we were raising our children, we didn't change our standards in case it's not clear, We Did NOT Change!!

The words, the actions, being told to our family wouldn't make us stop, being told to Quit all that did was make us want to serve more and be even better for the Lord.

You may ask, Paula, why are you sharing this? Well, recently I've heard and personally know of  people who have decided, because 1 church or 1 person failed they no longer needed to go church, they no longer needed to keep the standards that they know are right, they no longer believe in God, they no longer see a need to raise their children in church and so much more. It really is sad that a place, a man would have that affect on anyone.

See because my husband an I continued on, our daughter is in Bible college about ready to graduate. She will be marring a young man who's been called to Preach. Our oldest son is heading off to Bible College this summer. Our other 3 serve in our church right along with their dad and I. Do you think they would be doing this if we had of Quit and changed all our beliefs? Probably not, but there is a chance what we had taught them would stick and they would still go on an serve the Lord. Praise the Lord we won't have to ever know what could have happened. Were we hurt, were we wounded, were we shot in the foot, were our hearts bleeding? Yes to all these questions. Did it take time to heal, did it take time to get back on our feet, did it cause us to question what God wanted? Yes, It did. Did we let it stop us, did we say well he said....... so it must be true, did we decided that the standards of the Bible were no longer our standards and convictions. NO we did not. We picked ourselves us, we joined hands, we pulled together as a family, and we went on? Yes we did, because we knew that was God's will and that we wouldn't be happy any other way. Did we end up in Canada? No but we did end up where we believe God wanted us without a doubt. We are now in Maine and trust me at first we were questioning as I have mentioned in another post on my blog, however we Know without a Doubt that God wants us here as Pastor and family serving at the Great Second Baptist Church of Palermo, ME!!!

So friend I know there's not been a lot of scripture, there's not been a lot of funny sayings, or cute pictures, but I wanted to share my heart with you. If God moves, allow him to use the situation to better you, Not to make you bitter. I forget exactly how my former Pastor Dr. Jeff Owens said it, but get better not bitter.

Our family loves the Lord and he's allowed us to go through things that personally I didn't think we'd ever make it through. But You know, God never gives us more than we can handle. If something small, medium or large has come into your life, allow the Lord to use that to make you more Christ like. I don't claim to be some spiritual giant and a know it all, but I do claim the Promises of God, and with God's help I do what he wants me to do.

If you have been hurt forgive that person seventy times seven.
Love that person as Christ loved you.
Show that person that even though you are hurt you will continue on, doing what God would wants.
Don't, what ever you do prove the person right about whatever he/she said concerning you.

God loves you and He wants you in His perfect will!! Will you destroy that will by turning your back on Him because of another human? I certainly hope not!





Do you peck at your Christian life or jump in with both feet?

Good evening! This afternoon, my husband and I were talking about different things and as we were talking, I noticed one of the chickens scratching and pecking at the ground. I was laughing at him because of the fact, the way he bob his head and pecked while kicking/scratching the ground.

I was home today with 2 of my boys because of the flu and while sitting at the table going over some things the thought, "Do you peck at your Christian walk or jump in with both feet?" came to me. It's really interesting to think about....

Think about it as a chicken walks around the farm yard he's scratching and pecking at the ground. For him, he's going at it with all his might. However, for a Christian if you just peck at being a Christian you may not grow as you should.

One may say, I'll peck at soul winning once a week. Or I'll peck at studying the Bible once a week. Do you think you'll grow doing that? You will grow some but not as God intended for us to grow spiritually.

The Bible tells us to meditate on his word day and night. We are to "eat" God's word. In order for us to grow and become more like Christ we need to study his word. In order to do as God commands we need to not peck at our ministry but jump in with both feet. If you sing in the choir put your whole heart into it. If you teach a Sunday School class give it all your worth. Those little children, teens or adults need you to give it your ALL. When you go soul winning, make sure you've not pecked at prayer and being led of the Holy Spirit but that you are filled with Holy Spirit Power. Don't be a barn yard Chicken but a Spirit filled Christian!

So I leave with you: Are you pecking at your Christian life or jumping in with both feet, to make a difference?
 

Make me a Blessing

Ezekiel 34:26
"I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing: and I will cause the shower to come down in his season: there shall be showers of blessing."

Our former Pastor here in Maine is now on deputation and we've enjoyed hearing from them how the Lord has blessed them. We, my husband and I, have an understanding of being on deputation and it's not always easy. Well, what brought this particular topic on for today is a church I've never attended, however I know the Pastor very well and I probably know all of his congregation also.

The Barnes family went to Grace Baptist in Kearneysville, WV yesterday and their daughter Kimberly was a little down because it was her birthday and she wanted to be with her sisters in Maine. From what I've been told they usually really go all out for Kimberly on her birthdays. Yesterday, 4/14 she turned 15. Well, our church sent her package that she had no idea of in the process of Mrs O'Grady setting up things concerning the package with Mrs Bush the pastors wife in WV the Bush family decided to go the extra mile. So yesterday they were a HUGE Blessing to Kimberly and her parents. They threw a surprise party for her with cake, ice cream, gifts balloons the whole thing. God is a God of blessings.

See because the Barnes family is doing the Lord's will for their life, Pastor Bush is and his church were used as a tool to be a blessing to our former Pastor! I just Love how the Lord works!!

Who can you be a blessing to today?
Who could you encourage today by a phone a call?
Who could you send a card with a few dollars in that could really use it?
Who could you fix a meal for that doesn't have a lot?
There are so many things that we as Christians can do to be a blessing to others.
I love the song Make Me a Blessing

Out in the highways and byways of life, Many are weary and sad; Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife, Making the sorrowing glad.
Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love, Tell of His pow'r to forgive; Others will trust Him if only you prove True, ev'ry moment you live.
Give as 'twas given to you in your need, Love as the Master loved you; be to the helpless a helper indeed, Unto your mission be true.

Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing Out of my life May Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Saviour, I pray, Make me a blessing to someone today.

Who can you bless today?

Growing Up

Today I was searching for Photos of my oldest 2 children and thought about this blog... growing in Jesus through His word. Just as my children have grown so much, we should be growing in the Lord. For fun I'm adding pictures of my 5 children and then will apply my topic Growing up.....

Tabitha when she was 3 wks old, such a sweet heart and as my parents called her a snuggle bug!

 

William Paul at 2 wks old

 

 Caleb Robert at 1 month old                               


















 Samuel Maurice at 3 wks old

 

Jason Maxwell at 2 months old

Tabitha Jane 20, William Paul IV 19, Caleb Robert 17, Samuel Maurice 14, and Jason Maxwell 13

 

 

 

As you see if our children have grown up A Lot! They didn't remain little babies dependent on Mom and Dad but rather they are growing up and doing what the Lord would have them to do.

 

Just as a new born baby desires milk so do we as Christians desire the milk of God's word. Then as we get older we start eating things like meat, potatoes, carrots. As Christian we get into the meat of the word of God.

 

We are to grow daily in our Christian walk just as child grows daily in his/her physical growth.

 I Peter 2:2 "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby."

 

Have a time to study your Bible

Have a schedule that you can follow to read your Bible

As you read your Bible have a notebook that you can write down what you learn.

 

 

You know we are to spend time in God's word because that is how we grow spiritually.

Have a prayer time.

Read your Bible

Choose a verse to learn for the wk. By doing this you'll learn 52 verses a wk.

As you finish your Bible reading have another short time of Prayer.

 

 

Hebrews 13:15 "...let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually... giving thanks to his name." Thank the Lord for what you learn and what he's done for you.

 

 

See my children are growing up because that is what babies are to do. I fed them, took care of them, helped them, made sure that they were raised properly. Taught them the Bible and how to pray, the importance of growing in Gods Word. Today our daughter is a Sr in Bible College and marring a Preacher! Our oldest Son is graduating from High School and going off to Bible College in June to seek what the Lord would have him to do. Caleb our middle child will graduate High School next yr and he feels the Lord would have him go into Evangelism, so he, more than likely will go to Bible College also. See we trained our children in the way they should go..... Our prayer is when they get older they will NOT depart from it. Will all children do as they are trained? Sadly no they won't but if you as the parent do what you know God wants you to do and you train them, then you have done your part in their growth. Once they reach adult hood then they must choose what they've been taught or not.... My prayer not only for my 5 children but for all the children is that they serve the Lord in the area God puts them in. One of the ways they will stay in God's will is the same way you and I do. By growing in his word and learning daily.

 

Psalm 63:1 "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee..."

 

Read your Bible, Pray every day, Pray every day

Read your Bible, Pray every day and you'll grow, grow, grow.....

 

Neglect your Bible, forget to Pray, forget to pray

Neglect your Bible, Forget to Pray and you'll shrink, shrink, shrink....

 

Which of these do you want to do?? A baby can't shrink he can only grow but as Christians our spiritual growth depends on if we Read our Bible and Pray daily or if we neglect the Bible and forget to Pray daily.

 

May God bless you as you Growinjesusthroughhisword! 

See How Great God is?

Psalm 89
1. I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever; with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
2. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.

My God is so great so strong and so mighty there's nothing my God can not do! For You!

God is a Great God, he's a Strong God, he's Mighty and yet there's NOTHING he can not do! WOW!!! To think that Nothing is to small or to big for God!

How Great is your God?
Can he get you through a trial?
Can he get you through an illness?
Can he get you through financial problems?
Can he give you what you need?

The answer to all these and many other questions, is Yes! He can!! Today was full of heartbreak, hopes, and prayers. See to start our weekend this past Friday, we received a call that one of our members was having added health problems. As a new Pastors wife, I was thinking how am I suppose to be a blessing when I've never been there? We, my husband and I, prayed that the Lord would be with this family. We went to their home wanting to be a blessing and we left on cloud 9, so to speak. This wonderful couple Knows the Lord! They know he's in control! We went to encourage them and to be honest I think we left more encouraged. The let their faithfulness be known, they know they serve a great, strong and might God.

On Sunday after the morning service I check my messages, to learn that a very Dear friend of mine, her husband was taken to the hospital due to a stroke. I'll be honest, I went in my room and cried. This family has been so very dear to me and they have been such an encouragement to me that to hear of this was heartbreaking! You know though, I know this couple knows that they serve a Great, Mighty and Strong God! After praying for them I had a peace that they would be ok, yes there are some problems from the stroke, but God is a God of grace, mercy and strength!

Even through trials, sickness, heartache or whatever you are going through today we can remain faithful to our Lord.

See I serve a Great God! He knew where we needed to be way before we knew. God knew that my husband and I could love and be a part of family here in Maine; while still loving and having friends and family in other states. Yes, the one family isn't here in Maine, but we can and do love and care for them. So:

See How Great God is? He is so great that I have to tell others about him!
See How Strong God is? He is so strong that I need worry about a burden being to heavy to carry, because my God will help to carry that burden.
See How Mighty God is? He's the mightiest of all!

So I ask you, how Great is your God?
Do you believe he will see you through that trial?
Do you believe he will take care of you?

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations!

Are you letting people know how faithful God is? Are you sharing the Love of the Lord, his greatness, his strength with others so that they too may experience his mercies.

So many today are "hoping" that God will hear their prayers and answer them. There's no need to only hope, they can know! Are we going to show them how they can Know? Go ye into the highways and hedges.... Sing of the mercies of the Lord.... Rejoice in the Lord.... I can do all things through Christ.... There really is no reason for us not to share the Greatness of our Lord.

So as you close out your day or maybe begin it, maybe you'll want to sing today:

"My God is great, so strong and so mighty! There's NOTHING my God can not do!!"