Let the challenge make you strong....

What challenge would make you stronger?
Reading your Bible? Meditate Day and Night on God's word.
Going Soul winning? Go tell others about the Lord
Praying daily? Pray without ceasing, have a prayer list to pray for people.
Helping someone in need, being a servant? We are his workman, it's good to serve others.

I loved what a former Pastor use to say, "when you're depressed or down do something for someone, such as a shut in, or someone in the hospital" For some this would be a challenge for them because they aren't social people. Step out of your comfort zone.

A challenge for me or it could be said, stepping out of comfort zone is going to Nursing Homes. You say, why would that be a challenge for you? Well, to be honest and I'm not sure why, but I have a hard time going into a Nursing home. There have been times I've gone to a nursing home but I was completely out of my comfort zone, it was a challenge, so to speak, for me to walk in and spend an hour or so there. Now, don't miss understand I will go and I will talk to the people there but I'm very uncomfortable at a nursing home. One of the things I have to do, is remind myself many of these people never have anyone visit them. That is what gets me through the visit many times.

What is something you do that is a major challenge for you?

I challenge my children to work harder and do more than they think they can do. Our son Paul IV has a huge challenge before him over this week. He graduates on this Friday but has a lot of English to complete. This is a challenge that is set for him. We are so very proud of him!

 So may I ask: What is something in your life that is positive will make you stronger today? What challenge in your life can be used to make you stronger?

Praying before you go to do something an asking the Lord to help you will make the challenge that is before you easier to do. Maybe it's an exercise challenge, the Bible does tell us our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost and we are to keep that temple pure and clean. Maybe it's a challenge for you to stay healthy and keep your weight where it should be.
I have several 30 day challenges I'm going to do, of which I'm working on one now. Is it easy? NO but I want to be healthy for my family and for myself. So therefor I do these challenges.

So remember "I can do all things through Christ...." you go through your day saying this verse you will go far!!

 

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!"