It takes only One "1"

It only takes One to make a difference.
One to make a change for better or worse.
The Value of One! This song says it so well....

Could it be that up in heaven,
God is sitting on his throne
Anticipating another sinner
will soon become his own.
Years of wasted living and
years of toil and strife
are just about to be over
as he receives the gift of life.

Go sound the horn
strike up the choir.
A sinner is saved.
Saved from the fire
no more in darkness
he's received my son
all heaven rejoices
that's the value of one

the holy spirit has been working
to soften up a heart
all he needs is a willing servant
to simply do his part
can you imagine up in heaven
the joy there is that day
as a sinner bows his head to pray
can't you hear the father say...

start construction on the mansion
there on hallelujah street
he doesn't know yet what is waiting
when the savior he'll meet... he'll meet

go sound the horn
strike up the choir
a sinner is saved
saved from the fire
no more in darkness
he's received my son
All heaven rejoices 
That's the value of one.

In Ezra we see how it only took 1 to make a difference, just as it only takes one to witness, it only takes 1 to take a stand, it only takes 1 to speak out.

"Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore."

He, Ezra, prayed for the people to come. Started off only Ezra praying! Just 1 person.
God wants 1 - Ezra stepped up! Will you?
When 1 steps up, when 1 prays, when 1 serves there is Hope!

You ask, how can I make a difference? Well, my friend as a Christian be willing to step out.... Back in 1982 I made a decision to step up and go to Mexico. I worked hard in my Youth group to be able to go on that trip. Now there was I believe around 70 of us who went on that trip, but each of us as individual teen girls and guys had to make a decision to do our part or not. While in Mexico we were challenged to give our lives to Christ. Not as a group but as individuals. Many of us did that very thing. As 1, You and I can make a difference in the world.

You can make a difference as an Interpreter for the deaf, as a choir member, as a nursery worker, as a wife to a missionary or Pastor, as a bus worker, as a teenager, as ANYONE!!! The Value of One being saved depends on the ONE that steps up and says not my will but thine Lord!

Will you be that ONE "1"?

Are you Pleasing God through study and work?

We are nearing the end of the month, are you up to date on your Bible reading? It's not to late to start... on the right hand side of my blog is a schedule your welcome to print off and use.

Remember we are to study the Bible, meditate on His word and through that we will grown in the Lord.

~~~~~~~

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed...."
Ok, honestly who likes to study? I will be honest with you, I don't especially Science and Math. As kids we had to study our lessons or we didn't pass our classes, and might I add, that was one thing that my parents were really hard on me for, Studying!  I didn't like it at all! Unfortunately my grades showed it too. However I eventually got the idea if I wanted mom and dad happy I better study :)

We can take that same word, Study, and apply it spiritually as it is used in the verse. We are to study Gods Word! When we do this we are making God very pleased. Just as when I finally realized, that spankings, or being grounded was not worth not studying, I took and study to be "approved" of by parents. Study the Bible, memorize it, let it become you. Just as you read any book and many times you can quote word for word what you read, make your Bible even more so that way!!

"...a workman that needeth not to be ashamed...." When you work, are people amazed by your work or the lack of work? Over the past 19 yrs my boys have been taught to work. I love the idea that my 19 yr old who's living away from home now, still works and does as he was trained. Did they always work as they should? Of course not, they are children. Some time ago, one of my boys was asked to do a job, and because it was a job he didn't care for he didn't do his best. The person who had asked 3 of my children to help him came to us and said, I would ask 2 of your children to work for me again, but I will not have this one. Now this particular child has since changed the way he works. Why? Well one he knew that as a Seavey child and considering who his daddy is that was a bad thing! Now that same child is looked to by friends, family and others as a hard worker and he has no reason to be ashamed because he works hard and does his best.

Our work for the Lord should be the same, to where we need not be ashamed or worried about what others will think, mostly what the Lord thinks. So when you go about your day, and an opportunity arises that you can witness to someone be a workman of God and do as he would have you do. As a choir member, piano player, nursery worker, evangelist, missionary, pastor work to where there no need to be ashamed. We are to be "A workman that needeth not to be ashamed"

So lets all "study to shew thyself approved" as well as "a workman that needeth not to be ashamed."

Chocolate Chili?

This is from an insert that was in our bulletin in December... I wanted to share it with you:

Genesis 1:29 "And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat."

It has been written against, outlawed, and is the original "food of the gods." Modern science is finding that chocolate seems to offer some positive health benefits.

When Cortez and his soldiers came to the New World, Montezuma offered them his people's favorite hot chocolate. But Montezuma's people didn't add sugar to the chocolate. Instead, they added ground-up hot peppers. This was real hot chocolate! The Spanish thought it was terrible stuff. Luckily for chocolate lovers, they did take some of the beans back to Europe. There it dawned on someone to leave out the peppers and add sugar instead. By the eighteenth-century, chocolate houses had become so popular that brewers of alcoholic beverages demanded legal restrictions against chocolate because it was ruining their business.

Today, Americans eat an average of 10 pounds of chocolate per person per year. Chocolate also contains a mild anti-depressant as well as theobromine, a unique substance that perks up up and clams you down at the same time. And contrary to popular thought, chocolate is not addicting.

While chocolate may seem a trivial subject, it has given those who like it a lot of enjoyment. It is one of those gifts God has given us that makes life a little more enjoyable - but is totally unnecessary. And this offers us a lesson about His gracious thoughts toward man.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, You made all that is. I thank you that You have made some things which we don't require, but which cause us to rejoice in Your generosity. Help me never to misuses Your good gifts. Amen.

~~~ This was just a fun insert that I wanted to share with my friends :) I hope though that maybe through this you do realize and remember all that the Lord has given us and that we should be thankful for all things.

Love one another

I've been doing a study on Love and how we are treat one another. Now personally I usually have no issues getting along with others, and eventually I grow to love them. The last 2 moves we've made first to WV and then ME it took me longer to learn to love the people where I was. One would probably say why? it was just another move for you. You traveled the US and Canada for almost 4 yrs you loved all you met. This is true, however our move to WV was different then our move to ME well that was really different too.

I'll back up to 2007 when we first moved to WV. I won't go into detail but our family had been hurt, we were exhausted not only physically but emotionally. It seemed a door was being closed and we didn't understand why. We were serving the Lord raising support but the door was closing...

There was a group of young ladies at Shenandoah Bible Baptist that well they were excited. Michelle H, Alisha H, Michelle H, and Stephanie M. Now these girls weren't and are not your normal teen girls. They are excited, they LOVE people and they wanted to make sure that we knew we were welcomed at church that Sunday evening we joined. As I think back to the Sunday in March of 2007 and I think about those 4 young girls, I John 4:7 comes to mind, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God: and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God." These girls love God and they were be examples of this verse.

As time went on we, my husband and I, joined the Deaf Ministry and fell in love with Bro and Mrs Ken D and the deaf that attend SBBC. As I watched Bro Ken, Mrs Johanna, Mrs Carmen work with the deaf it was evident that they had taken I John 3;11 and were living it, "For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another." They loved the deaf and they wanted them to know about the love of God and how they to could have Jesus as their Saviour.

I could go on and on, Bro and Mrs Ed H, Bro and Mrs Mike B, our Preacher and his wife they loved and they knew how to love! Now I'll not belabor what happened last yr as in a past post I talked about our move to ME. I just want to say that the love I have received from our friends and family in WV and then the love that has been shown us here in ME is amazing! God knew I couldn't take a full yr to love the people of Second Baptist Church, that I needed to learn to love them sooner. John 13:34 "A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." In the past few months I have grown to love the people here in ME, the weather NO :) but the people YES!

The kids song, The love of Jesus is so wonderful, oh the the love of Jesus is so wonderful, the Love of Jesus is so wonderful oh, oh, wonderful love! It's higher than the mountains, deeper than the ocean and wider than the universe, oh, oh, wonderful love! Is so true and although I can't love higher than mountain or deeper than the ocean and yes wider than the universe I can show God's love in the way I know how.

So to all those wonderful people at Grace Baptist in Wilmington, NC; Highland Park Baptist in Chattanooga, TN, First Baptist of Hammond, IN, Hillside Baptist in Hixson, TN, Shenandoah Bible Baptist in Martinsburg, WV and Second Baptist of Palermo, ME. THANK YOU for loving me and teaching me how to love others!!

We serve a loving a God and I through him will love others as close to what he loves as I can!

Obedience

Obedience brings God's blessings. This statement was in my sons History Pace and while he was doing the work he said to me. "Mom, you know this is so true." Now my son is 13, and when he was 3 we moved into an RV where his bed was table top when collapsed. ALL of his toys went into a little box that was not very large. I forget the dimensions now, but out of the 5 children Jason learned at an earlier age about blessings from God.

Now I don't mean that the other children didn't see blessings from God but Jason learned about blessings in a different way at the age of 3 than the other 4. The others had seen God bless our family but not the way they and Jason would see over the next 4 yrs of living on the road. Living by faith and depending fully on God to provide what we needed from day to day.

So in accordance with Obedience brings God's Blessings what are some things that God would bless you for?

tithing

Reading your Bible

Praying Daily

Following His will not yours

Obeying your elders

 

The list could go on but these are the ones that came to my mind immediately upon thinking of this topic. Joshua 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth: but thou shall meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therin: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."  We can receive blessing from God through meditating on his word.

 

"Pray without ceasing." Through prayer we not only see prayers answered but we receive blessings from those prayers. For example when we were on deputation my children were praying for Bikes since we had the RV they could be stored and the kids would have something to do when we were parked. Well, our first Christmas on the road we were in NC. They had prayed from Thanksgiving to Christmas for bikes. Christmas eve a man at a church came up to my husband and I and said, "I noticed your children don't have scooters or bikes." We replied yes sir, however they are praying they'll get something for Christmas. This gentleman handed my husband an envelope and said there's enough money for 5 scooters!!! The children Jason at the age of 3, Samuel 5, Caleb 8, Paul 9 and Tabitha 10 all saw their prayers answered!!! See they prayed without ceasing they believed in their God that he would answer their prayers. We as well as the man who gave us the money got the blessing of seeing 5 very happy children Christmas morning!

 

Have you ever questioned, Why do I need to tithe? Well, the Lord has things he wants to give you but if you don't tithe he can't bless you. If you don't give that which is God's to him, he Can't bless you! My husband has a story he has shared many times about when he worked for Bath Iron Works (now this was before we met) Bill had gotten saved, started tithing as he was taught. Well this particular wk he thought he had deposited his check into his account..... before I get ahead of myself let me back up. Bill paid his bills that wk but had told the Lord I can't tithe to you this wk because I have an unexpected expense. The next wk he took his pay check and went to the bank. The banker says Mr Seavey we are so happy to see you. Bill was like ok, well I come in every wk, the lady says no sir we didn't see you last wk and your account is overdrawn. Bill preceded to explain how he cam in opened his wallet and deposited...... WHAT? there was his check from the wk before in wallet! His over draft fees was EXACTLY the amount that his tithe would have been that wk. See the Lord can't bless if we don't give our tithe, but he will get his tithe one way or another. What blessings did he miss out on that wk or what could God of done through him that he didn't because he didn't tithe? We receive our blessing from God by Obedience.

 

Following God will. Now in a post a few days ago I talked about this. So I'll not belabor this point. But just think of all the blessing you could be receiving but aren't because your doing your will and not Gods. Just something to seriously think on.

 

Obeying our elders.... "Children obey your parents in the Lord for this right" I think this is pretty clear, but obedience to your parents, your pastor, your elders, God! well, it's pretty important. You want to receive blessing or be a blessing? Obey your Elders.

 

Friends, Obedience brings God's blessings is true!!

My children at ages 10, 9, 8, 5 and 3 saw that because Dad and Mom were obeying God they were being blessed, they were being faithful, they were obeying the Lord.

 

What can you do to show your children that you want God's blessings on your life?



Keepers at Home

Titus 2:3-5
The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things:
That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children.
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

The top picture here is our dining room table at this very moment clean wiped down ready for the next meal or to just sit around and talk. However what if if was covered with papers, clothes, coats, dirty dishes. trash.... It wouldn't be right. We are to be keepers at home keeping our home in order. This will teach our children to keep things done decently and in order as the Bible teaches.

 

After I took this picture I realized 2 things were not where they were suppose to be. Now most would look at this and say it's ok. However you have cups on the counter that should have been either in the cabinet or in the sink if not being used. There is also papers on the toaster oven. Now generally one would say this is clean and perfectly fine. I'll say yes, this does look ok but there's a hazard and by it being there the children are being shown you can lay anything anywhere. The paper on the oven is not safe. See little things that we do make a difference in our lives and we are to be the teachers of the younger. Someone is always watching and as the verse in Titus says, "keepers at home" If we as Christians make sure everything is in order in our lives, our homes, our families things would be much better for us.

See I've done a lot of thinking over the past few days, since my husband was voted in as the Pastor at our church. A Pastor is to have his home in order, his family in order.... don't you think as his wife I should make sure that things are in order?! See when it says his home in order doesn't mean he cleans the house, does the laundry, sweeps and mops the floor (although he may help it's NOT his responsibility). So as the wife and mother I'm to make sure of that after all who's the Keeper at home?

Ok the next picture I just took and today is laundry day so I'm waiting for bedding to dry and then this room will be in order again. Does this look orderly and neat done in a way that is pleasing?

 

I started not to use this picture but you know it's messy, it looks awful, unorganized. YUCK!! What if I left it like this ALL the time? Now the bed would have to be made but I mean the clothes on the foot of the bed, things falling off the bed. It wouldn't be right. I wouldn't be doing what the Bible teaches as far as being a Keeper at home.

 

Ladies, I know we are busy especially if you home school but there is NO excuse for a home to look like a pigs home. So, why not right now decided I'm going to be a keeper of my home. I'm going to get up earlier to make sure things are done right. Maybe decide that you'll not go on facebook till your home is clean. I mention that because I too am on facebook and it's easy to say I'll do that later. When really later you know won't happen.

 

So lets remember what our mothers taught us and what we should be teaching our children and be the Keeper at Home God intended us to be.

The River of Life

I've got a river life flowing out of me,

Makes the lame to walk and the blind to see.

Open prisons doors sets the captive free

I've got a river of life flowing out of me.

 

 

Where does the rivers of life take you? Do they take you through trials, tribulations, in the valley.

Or do they take you through victories, triumphs and to the mountain tops.

 

 

Psalms 23

The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a Table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

 

 

I don't know about you, but as I go through the valleys the mountain tops are even more exciting and more refreshing. The Lord has taken our family through many valleys but the mountain tops are just that much more blessed!

 

So where ever your river life takes you

Remember God is with you through it all!!

 

When you feel you're all alone, God is there to carry you through.

 



Your will, not mine

John 4:34
"...to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work."
Mark 3:35
For whosoever shall do the will of God....
Philippians 2:13
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

In August my husband was approached about taking the pastorate of a church, at the time we weren't sure what we were doing exactly. We had just left WV and alot had happened there. We were literally heartbroken and simply didn't know what God was doing in our lives. From Jan 3, to May 31 was one struggle after the other, then July brought heartache, then August we made the decision to move all our belongs to Maine, leaving a son still in high school in WV and my daughter who was already a long way from home going further away from her. This literally was making me an emotional wreck.

As a woman, I needed security and honestly didn't feel I had it. We didn't have our own home, we technically didn't have a vehicle, we had to move in with my husbands dad, so many things were happening. Our world as some would say had been turned upside and shaken like a milk shake :)

I have a very dear friend back in WV whom, I texted or talked to regularly about what was going on. She was such an encouragement to me, as well as a Pastors wife here in Maine whom I've known for many yrs. These two wonderful ladies were such a tremendous help, as well as my husband who did all he could to help me through even though he also was struggling with not knowing God's will.

Well in, I believe, October we had a fall revival at our church. After the revival I really struggled with giving in to Gods will. I knew in 2003 when we left Bible college that we were going to Canada. Then in 2007 that door was closed for several reasons of which I'll not go into. Then our life seem to settle down and things seemed to be "normal" again. From 2007 to May of 1012 I would of told anyone, we are serving God here in WV the rest of our lives. Our children were very actively involved in our church there and all was going GREAT!! THEN as you've already read things literally turned our world upside down.

About a month ago I was having a few health issues and I knew, or felt as though God was saying I can make this worse or you can follow through with the Promise you made to me in 1982 while on a Missions trip to Mexico. It was then I remembered while at a meeting with Bro Ashcraft in one of the villages I told the Lord, if you want me to be a Pastors wife or Missionaries wife I will! At that time I also surrendered to be a Teacher. I noticed within a few days I started to get better and things began to happen.

I tell you all this to say, God knows what he's doing with your life. He knows where you need to be and when. He knows who you are going to help. Gods will is 200% better than your will! I told the Lord if he wanted my husband to Pastor in Maine, with his help I would adjust to a culture, a way of life that is totally different from living as a city kid! Which I will say I'm 200% city kid. It was around that time that our current Pastor announced to the church that he would leaving and going into full time church planting for the state of Maine, and that he recommended my husband to be the Pastor.

So.... as some may know who read this. Last wk my husband candidate for the church then today 2/10 the church voted. He was voted as the next Pastor of Second Baptist Church of Palermo, ME. See once you say, Your will not mine, the Lord can do wonderful things through you and your family.

So friend if you are holding onto something, some place, some one that maybe the Lord is trying to say that phase of your life is done. Listen to Him, and he WILL show you His will.

Know How to serve

Philippians 2:3-8
4. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6. Who, being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

How many of us really know how to serve? I don't mean just the Lord but serve others. A dear friend of mine knows what it is to serve others, she serves those who need help but taking meals to them wkly. Another dear friend gives of his time to serve his Pastor in preparation for their new church building.

One of my children (don't be shocked they are human too) said to his brother one day, "Why should I do that for you? I'm not your servant!' Now lets stop right there.... Yes, he's not his brothers personal servant BUT if he had, of had a servants heart he would have willingly done what his brother asked of him.

Do we have the attitude my son had that evening, "I'm not your servant!" Or do we want to serve?
After all God took on the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. If God can put himself in the form of servant, why can't we?

What are some ways we can serve?
1. being helpful
2. cleaning up even though not asked.
3. when asked to do something have the right spirit about it and being a servant
4. Having the mind of Christ and being a servant.

Just to name a few. Trust me it's not always easy to put self aside and serve others. If your a mom you're always being a servant for your children. If your married you serve your husband. If you're a Pastors wife or anyone you will be serving others. Sometimes we fail and sin sneaks in and we say NO I don't want to do that. Just remember God made himself into a servant and if he can do that surely we can!!

S - Serving with Love
E - Everyone needs to know someone cares
R - Rewards aren't earthly things but Heavenly
V - There's a virtue in being a servant
E - Eternal rewards will far exceed your servants heart here on earth!

Just remember this too:

J - is for Jesus he is the way
O - is for Others show them today
Y- is for you my friend why don't you come to him.....

If we show JOY in SERVEing HIM it could open a door for others to know the Lord as their Saviour.

 

Go ye into all the world....

Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel....

Where is all the world? Is it in your neighborhood? Is it in your city? Maybe it is in your state, country or another country. Well, the answer to all these questions is YES.

My world is on Greeley Rd.
My world is in Windsor, Maine.
My world is the United States.
Can I go to all of the US? No but others can.

We can go to Windsor, Augusta, Palermo, Liberty, Summerville all the towns that we are close to.
Another can go to Portland, Rockland, Owls Head, while others can go to Florida, Oregon, or Texas.
Then there's those who can go to Mexico, Africa, Europe.

So we are to do as the Bible says and Go into all the world.... We can go to Europe through our support financially for Missions.

So when I hear a Christian say, I can't go and tell others I'm stuck and where ever they live. It's not true.... we all have our own little Mission field right where we are!

Be a Missionary ever day
Tell the world that Jesus is the way
Be it in the town or country or the busy avenue
Africa or Asia (Maine or California)
The task is up to you!
So be Missionary
God's an Emissary
Be a Missionary today!!!

Go ye into all the world and preach Gospel!!!