At a loss for words....

A word fitly spoken....

Have you ever been at a lose for words but yet something needed to be said. Maybe it's with a family member, a friend, a co-worker, your boss it could be anyone. Friend whoever it is makes sure it's a word fitly spoken!

Proverbs 25:11   

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

 

Proverbs has so much wisdom, how the Lord could put so much wisdom in just 31 chapters is beyond my understanding, but yet it's not just in Proverbs it's the whole Bible!

Proverbs 15:23  

A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it.

 

Do you stop and think before speaking? Is what comes out of your mouth Good??

 

Friend, it doesn't matter who you are, what you do, if your words aren't fitly spoken there is a problem. Do you curse? Do you use slang (which by the way can be just as bad as the curse words)? Do you criticize? Do you take the Lords name in vain? What are you doing that isn't fitly spoken?

 

As my parents told me and as we have told our children, "If you don't have anything nice to say, Don't say anything at all!" Stop! Think! THEN Speak. Do we really practice this?

 

One of my boys has to stop, think then speak he will mumble what he's trying to say. I honestly believe because he has to naturally do this that much of what he might say doesn't get said because he has to think about it first. Now none of my boys curse, they are typical boys and they do say things sometimes that isn't right, but I've noticed with my one son, there's less because he has to think about what to say. He's very smart just has to slow down when talking. Why not even if you can speak eloquently still Stop, Think and THEN Speak? Just remember "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold...."   

 

So Friend, if you feel something needs to be said, make sure it's GOOD and Fitly Spoken!

 

 

 

I'll Live for Jesus

 

This was my practice session yesterday

 

Healthy or Not

I Corinthians 6:19 "What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"

Do you treat your body like it's the Temple of God? What are you putting into your body that is destroying what really isn't yours?

Recently I decided that being over weight was no longer an option. Now because I've only just begun the journey of weight loss, there's not a whole lot to "prove" yet. However the fact that the Bible tells us that our bodies are not your own, is enough for me to want to take better care of myself. I have a dear friend who's really encouraged me in doing this, just by what she's told me and how much better she feels.

Ladies, you know what there's really no excuse either. I'll be truthful for years I've used the excuse of, "I had 5 children I have a right not to be thin." NOPE that doesn't give the right to not take care of myself.
First off who are my children from? God - he gave me 5 wonderful children and I raised them and taught them to be healthy so shouldn't mom also be healthy.
Secondly God tells me my body is the temple of the Holy Ghost.
Another excuse I hear is "I'm over 40" ok yea maybe that is a good reason BUT not really good enough. Why? YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY GHOST.
I've heard my health, I just can't do it..... Come on ladies part of the health issue is what? WEIGHT! and what does God's Word tell us? YOUR BODY IS NOT YOUR OWN.

Men, if there are men reading this - You of course can't use the excuse of having a baby, but I know one that I've heard was, "sympathy growth on my part for my wife" Well.... ok that maybe but still YOUR body is also the Temple of Ghost. I'll not labor the topic so much towards men because most of you don't want to hear that from a woman anyway :) :) especially one who's not your wife.

So in all seriousness, Young people, men and Women if you are overweight do some research, find out what is best for you and LOSE that weight! I actually have 3 different things I'm following because I can't afford to do just one plan so I'm implementing a few different things that each one kind of go together at some point of the plan. I believe with much prayer, determination and work I WILL become healthier.

If you want someone to pray for you as you start the journey post a comment and I will pray for you. If you need some help finding or getting started on what is right for you, I'm willing to do what I can.

So rather than giving the excuses that the Devil WILL provide go ahead step out there and start making your body healthier after all, YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY GHOST.

:) :)

I shoulda, coulda, woulda..... I did, have, will

Have you ever thought I shoulda done this? I coulda done that. I woulda gone there but.......

OR

I did do this and feel great about it. I have finished that, thank you Lord. I will be starting this.....

 

Which one are you as a Christian? The shoulda, coulda, woulda OR the did, have, and will.

 

I was thinking about a few things this afternoon that I was like, I shoulda done that instead of checking e-mail. There's even been times I've said, I woulda gone to that church function but I'd rather not because of this or that. Yes, I've even said, I coulda been there but I just didn't feel like it. Now what Blessing did I miss because I said, I shoulda, coulda, woulda!

 

Then there's been the other way where I've said, Yes I did that, I went soul winning. Maybe it was I have had my daily devotions. OR Yes, I will be starting that today or the near future. The key is that your "will" doesn't become I shoulda, coulda or woulda.

 

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

 

By keeping this verse in mind - you won't need to say any longer that I shoulda, coulda or woulda, BUT rather You can say through Christ I did, I have or I will.

 

Why Lord?

Have you ever wondered what the Lord was trying to show you? What you were missing? Were you in the right place? Did you misunderstand his leading? Well, I can say in the last 6 hours all these questions have gone through my mind.

 

I won't go into details and I won't say a whole lot about the past but 2 years ago a series of events took place which lead to us leaving Maryland/West Virginia area. That move brought us to Maine. Today almost exactly 2 years later the exact same thing the loss of  a job took place. The difference we are in the Ministry as Pastor and family, but our income was the second job. I home school our children 1. we believe that we should 2. it saves a lot of money. I don't work out of the home because my husband and I feel that my place is at home as wife and mom. So therefore my husband pastors and did work a second job till 4:30 afternoon.

 

The question now is, How will God take care of our needs? Simple "But my God shall supply all my NEED according to His riches in Christ Jesus"

 

Are we missing something? maybe but we'll wait and see what God has in store for us and our church.

 

What is the Lord trying to show us? "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as Eagles...."

 

Are we in the right place? We believe so - just have to trust in the Lord. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding...."

 

Did we miss understand something? Maybe BUT It will be worth the struggle, the hard ship and maybe even the rough road ahead to learn what we missed.

 

God is with me, my husband, my children through the storm!!! As long as we continue to serve him and win souls for Christ and don't give up God WILL NEVER EVER FORSAKE HIS OWN!!

 

I may not of used a lot of scripture, and there may not be a great truth typed out here but God brought us to it, HE will lead us through it! IF you are going through ANYTHING it's ok to ask questions but then go to God's word find the answer and continue on with your life.  

 

He Holds the Key

Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth...."

 

The Creator of ears can hear your cries

Yes the Maker of eyes can see,

Every broken and wounded heart

For the Teacher of Life holds the key.

 

The key to peace and contentment

To help you through turmoil and strife,

The key to strength and assurance

The key to eternal life.

 

He knows everything about you

Your thoughts, your motives and plans,

He knows when you're hurt and discouraged

And don't have the strength to stand.

He won't ever leave or forsake you

He'll reach out if you start to fall,

Holding you firm and securely

Ready to answer your call.

 

For he holds the key to your victory

That He will gladly impart,

He holds the key to your hope and joy

Because He holds the key to your heart.

 

I Corinthians 1:9 "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord."

 

 

*I'm not sure where the poem came from but it has A LOT of great truth! 

 



Love Thyself as Thy Neighbour

Mark 12:30 "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment."

One way we can grow closer to the Lord is not only through Praying and Reading our Bible daily, and by being a witness for him. I realize that going soul-winning maybe a scary for some, maybe you are shy (like me) LOL or maybe you don’t like to talk to strangers. That’s ok, you can go with a lady/man that is comfortable talking and witnessing.

So now how can we obey Mark 12:30 which is the first commandment?

1. Make sure you LOVE the Lord that all you do is to please the Lord - Making sure YOU are saved.
2. All thy soul – We can’t keep this or that because we don’t want to give it up. We need to Love the Lord with our whole soul.
3. With thy mind – is your thinking right? Do you look to be Christ honoring in your thoughts?
4. So we are to Love the Lord with WHAT? Our WHOLE being.
5. Strength – I wondered before How can I love the Lord through my strength? Well, he gives us the strength to go forward, to live daily for him. So through our strength we can LOVE the Lord.

 In Matthew 22:39 "And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

Our neighbours – who are they? They are the ALL the People who live here in Palermo! They are the people who live in Germany, Canada, the Philippians, the 1040 Window, throughout the world, and our Military.

We need to decided right here and right now that we are going to make a difference. You can make difference, I can make difference, if you make a difference to JUST 1 person that’s one more person reached for the Lord. It only takes 1 person to make a difference but if ALL of us make a difference in a person, then that person a difference in another before you know it, we have made a difference NOT only in Palermo, but Liberty, China, Windsor, or where ever you may live in the world.

What do you expect?

Luke 6:31 "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise."

Core Values, do you expect these things? 

Respectful

Peaceful

Truthful

Patient

Honest

Kind

Gentle

Joyful

Loving

Helpful

Prayerful

Compassionate

 

 

These are things we expect from others. If we expect it we should also treat others this way also.

 

Just a little thought of something we should all probably work on in 2014. 

School fun :)

I thought I would do a few days of stories/devotionals for children. If you have little ones, grandchildren or maybe you babysit. This would be something you could share with them.

Some of this story will come from a book I've read to my children and it will include animals to make it a little more fun.

The setting is at school and it's Monday morning. As we all know Monday's can be rough, because we were at church the majority of the day before and we're tired from a late night. However don't think it was bad to be in church, because that is where we learn about the Lord and how we grow closer to him.

So, we are now at school with our teacher, Mrs Squirrel is calling class to order. Scamper, who's a Porcupine, comes in late and is NOT in a good mood. He did NOT want to spend another week sitting in his desk, listening to the teacher and learning about Math, English, History, Science, Reading and art, but his favorite subject was Recess!  Well, this particular day, Scamper as I mentioned was not in a good mood, when Scot, the Raccoon, jokingly pulled on Scampers hair that made him mad!

In an instant, before Scamper thought, he hauled off and hit Scot right in the eye! OUCH! Yelled Scot why'd you do that? As Mrs Squirrel comes over to them, she had already seen what happened, she asked, "Scamper, why did you just hit Scot? Scamper with his head down, said, "I'm tired and I didn't think and besides he pulled my hair, so he deserved it!"
"Now hold on Scamper", said his teacher, "we don't hit people out of revenge."
"Scot, you know better than to be pulling hair" said Mrs Squirrel.
You both need to apologize to each other and shake hands! I'm sorry, said Scot. I-I-I I'm sorry too said Scamper.
That's better now both of you are going to write a Bible verse to help you remember to be kind to one another. As she turns to the class she says we are all going to learn a lesson from today.

So Scamper and Scot for your homework you will write the verse out 10 times but for now everyone sit down in your seats and open your Bible to: Ephesians 4:32, Nancy, the Rabbit, would you please read this for us? "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

Boys and girls, the Bible clearly teaches that we are to be kind, not being mean to one another.
Who can tell me what tenderhearted means?
Chipmunk, Sue raises her hand I think I know. Ok go ahead, "it means that we are to um..... be understanding of how people feel right?'
That is part of it, Sue. Tenderhearted means, being kind and gentle in nature.

So class, how can each of you be tenderhearted?
I know says, Scamper, we can be kind by realizing others may not know your having a bad day when they pick on you.
Sue, or we can be gentle in how we treat others.
Nancy, we can even be kind and gentle at home by not being mean to our brothers and sisters.

So our verse for this week is going to be, Ephesians 4:32 class. Lets see if we can have a better day and week in our class.

So kids of all ages, yes animals really don't talk and yes they don't know these things but in this little story we can learn how to be kind, gentle, and not be mean just because or hurt someone because they hurt us.

I hope you enjoyed this little story today. 

Psalms 139

verse 1-3 "O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path, and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways."

As I read through this passage of scripture once a month I'm absolutely amazed what the Lord shows me. To think out of ALL the people in the world he knows my down times, when I'm up, he understands my thoughts that are unspoken. He compasses my path and protects me. Just the idea that the Lord cares enough for us as individuals can be overwhelming, but you know ever since 2008 when my former Pastor, Bro Jeff Owens asked me to read this chapter ever day for one month it's been amazing what I've learned not only about myself but about how God DOES care for me!

Skipping ahead to another verse, verse 14 "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works: and that my soul knoweth right well."

You, not the person next to you, not your brother or sister, but YOU are fearfully and wonderfully made! You are someone! You are Loved by our Lord! You are Perfect in God's eyes! What more do we need to know. Live daily for the Lord and know that no matter what people say, YOU ARE FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE!

Verse 23 and 24, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

This should be every Christians prayer to ask God to search your heart and to know your thoughts. Look for that which you can change in your life. We are not Perfect, we make mistakes and we need to be willing to change no matter what. God loves us and wants the best for his children!

 

Psalms 57

Verse 1 - "Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast."

The Lord keeps us under wings just as the momma chicken keeps her little chicks under wings to protect them and comfort them.

Verse 2 - "I will cry unto God most high: unto God that performeth all things for me."

Pray! Even when you can't say a word, God knows your heart Pray!

Verse 3 - "He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth."

His mercy endureth forever.

Verse 4 -6 "My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. Be thou exalted, O God, above, the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth. They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves."

Be thou exalted..... Looked to God exalt his name!

Verse 7 - "My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise."

Whenever you are down, discouraged or hurting sing unto the Lord. Your heart will be fixed.

Verse 8 - 12  " Awake up, my  glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, O God above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth."

Friend no matter what the trial, or calamity God is there he wants you to Praise him, sing unto him and exalt his name by telling others of Christ!


 

Bro Bill Glazier

I usually try to keep this blog as Devotionals/lessons but I have a very special Man I want you to meet.... Bro Bill would have been 72 on Dec 26, but he went home to be with the Lord on Nov 26. He was saved for 4 yrs but to talk to this man you would have thought he was saved for 30 or 40 yrs! He was such a wonderful man of God! I'm posting the link to his memorial page.

Mrs Bonnie, his wife, is a wonderful sweet lady who needs your prayers at this time. She is a godly Lady and someone if you ever met her you would love her instantly and she's such a blessing to so many!

http://www.plummerfh.com/

You will look for William J Glazier when you go to this web link.

 

The Grieving Heart

This post is going to be different from most of my blogging..... With Thanksgiving and Christmas quickly approaching there are many grieving and hurting hearts because of the passing of a loved one during this time of year. Whether it's been years or just this year that your loved one passed it is still painful. The reason for this post is today as a Pastors wife, my husband received a call that a member of our church had Graduated to Heaven. I then got the call from my husband that I needed to be get ready to leave so we could go to be with his wife.

While waiting for my husband to come and get me I started looking for scripture that would be a blessing and a comfort to Mrs Bonnie. Although I don't have all those verse right here there are some that I wanted to share with you. Pretty much the rest of this post will be scripture without much from me personally. I just want to say, God is good and He love you more than you'll ever know. As a Pastors wife I'm learning a lot about God's love and how he can use me, and not only me but YOU.

Psalms 23:4 "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou are with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

Romans 8:38-39 "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Psalms 46:1-3 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea:
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof."

Psalms 18:2 "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower."

Psalms 27:14 "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord."

Colossians 3:15 "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."

Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

 

Organization

Are you organized?

1 Corinthians 14:40  "Let all things be done decently and in order."

Decently - in a decent manner;
Order -  the arrangement or disposition of people or things in relation to each other according to a particular sequence, pattern, or method

When I think of being organized I think of things being done decently and in order. Am I good at organizing? On some things yes, on others no.

We're going to look at organization first in our Christian life. Now if you arent' saved you may not understand why as a Christian we should be organized. If we have our life and the things we do, in an organized fashion then we are more likely to follow the Bible in having things done decently and in order. Some may call this prioritizing which is a good thing also. But today we're going to use the word Organization.
If you are organized when you get up the morning you'll make sure things are done right.
For example: 1. Have your devotions (now this one people vary on and I understand that) however I believe in order for your day to run properly you need to have your devotions first thing off.
2. Clean your room which should only be making your bed and putting away a few things. (I will admit I don't do well at this one)
3. for us (feed the animals then we eat) Just as the Bible teaches you should work before eating. We use this with the farm animals, they can't get the food themselves so we feed them, then we feed ourselves.
4. school etc. everyone has a different thing they need to do after the basics of getting ready for the day is done. Some go to work others off to school, some home school so many different things.

As you see if you have an order in how you do these things you will have a better day because it's Organized!

Now on to Organization of things, your home etc.

I recently asked a very dear friend, who is also a Pastors wife, about this topic. I asked her a few direct questions and I will be sharing some of that with you. She and I both have large families, not as large as the Duggar family LOL but good size :) So here's some of what she said in relation to my questions:
She LOVES the topic of Organization!

My first questions for her was, "Which room do you make sure is Organized and neat first?"

1. For the first several years of my marriage I lived by and taught that the first room I would organize.....and the first that I straightened each day......was the room that you enter when you first walk into my home. So currently for me, that would be my kitchen. My thinking on that was.......this is where guests enter my home and I want to be company-ready at all times.
At some point I heard a lady speak and she talked about that for a married woman, the most important room in our home is our bedroom. I got to thinking about that and realized that is true for many reasons. One reason that really convicted me was that it is my husbands room! He works so we can have a home......I am privileged to be married to him......and I am more worried about what company thinks about my house keeping skills than what my husband thinks! Soooooo.......I now always start with the bedroom! If I am organizing, spring cleaning or doing my daily house cleaning routine I start with my bedroom first. It is no longer the room where piles accumulate for me to get to later! (I used to put things there so the rest of the house looked good.)

I love what she said about the married ladies bedroom! He needs to have the comfort of that room being right.

My second question was, About the scripture to use.

2. That is the verse I use. But I also use lots of illustrations that show Gods very orderly.

Days of Creation......he created everything in order so everything could survive.
He gave us order in our time and seasons.

Our lives have natural order to them.....we are young, we are teens, we are young adults, we are parents, we are grandparents, etc. Can you imagine if that was out of order? LOL!

Our bodies are organized! We would not work so well if our nose was on the bottom of our feet and we had a knee on top of our head!

These thoughts that she gave on "decently and in order" were/are perfect! Can imagine your nose being on top of your head? or a foot where your hand is? We are made decently and in order!
I used these answers here because I believe the Lord had me ask my dear friend for a reason about this. As I will share this others I wanted to share it with you.

Lastly something that was added and I've decided that this week will go into action is:

My all time favorite organizing tip that I teach my ladies.....cannot remember where I first learned it....is that of allotted space.
Everything in my house has allotted space......if something out grows the space I have allotted for it then I need to organize and clean out that item. For example......the bottom of my bedroom closet holds my shoes. If I get so many shoes that I can no longer neatly contain them, it is time to lean out my shoes since they have outgrown their allotted space.
I do also teach that every family should have a FEW ...very few though.....exceptions. My daughter collects books, so when she outgrows her space we buy another bookshelf. But I do that for few planned areas.......not every area.

Friends I will be the first to admit, cram it in, if it stays GREAT if it falls find a place for the over flow! Not any more! Now the shoe one I'll have to really, really work on :) BUT I know that if I wasn't wanting to learn more I wouldn't have asked my friend whom I know is VERY Organized!

Today as you have read through this, I pray that it will help in your Spiritual life and in your daily life. I'm going to put many things into play and I hope you will also.
 

What's in Your Barn?

You know living on a farm I've learned a little bit about farm life. In general I'm a city kid that doesn't like to get dirty. I ONLY wear tennis shoes when my other shoes would be ruined. I like my jewelry, dresses, hills, and well dress shoes in general. But not that we live with my dad in law and are on a farm, well I learned really fast when you go out to the barn it's best to not wear nice shoes or even some types of jewelry. I wasn't really into jean skirts before but being on a farm has changed that too. You are probably wondering what's up with the question, "What's in Your Barn?" Well, your barn isn't a physical one like we have here on the farm. The barn I'm referring to is your brain or your thoughts maybe even your heart. What knowledge has the Lord given you that you have filled your "barn" to the roof but yet it just sits there never being used to bless others, never being used to see souls saved, never being used to be a comfort, a help in time of need.

See when my dad in law brings in the fresh hay we have to take out the old because it eventually becomes useless. Well, if your barn is full of the wonderful things you have learned about but never share, it's kind of like the old hay, it's useless. Yes, it helps you BUT after awhile the Lord has more he wants to give to you but can't because you are just hording all the blessings and knowledge he's given you and not allowing others to grow also.

In II Peter 1: 2 "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God...."

Verse 3 - "...through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:"

Verse 5 - "And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;"

We can only multiply in our knowledge if we share with others what we have learned. Just like we can only grow in our knowledge by studying the Bible, reading our Bible daily, going to church and hearing the gospel preached and taught.  In II Timothy 2:15 we are told to study to shew ourselves approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. In order to not be ashamed we need to study God's word, put knowledge into our "Barn".

Acts 17:10 "...in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."  Search the scripture know what your Bible teaches! Increase in knowledge so you can be help to others. However while increasing in knowledge don't let your barn be so packed that you can't get one more thing in there. Spread and share your knowledge.

See we can bring in 100  or 200 bales of hay into the barn, but if we let it just sit there never using it, never feeding the animals what good is it going to do? It won't they will be hungry. Just like us we learn, we study, we take in but never put out, others are searching but we are keeping all our knowledge to our selves. Just like if we didn't fee the animals it would be bad, it's bad that we don't spread the gospel, and knowledge God has given us.

So what is in your barn today that maybe you could share with another?

 

Where is your heart?

 

Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel. God tells us to go, does that mean to another country, no not necessarily. We are to take the gospel to Jerusalem (your neighborhood), Judaea (your state), Samaria (your country) and the utter most parts (foreign field) of the earth. We find where this is talked about in Acts 1:8.

So where is your heart? Is it focused on me, myself, an I? Or is it focused on what can I do for the shut in's of my area, or what could I do for that new family in town, maybe what could you do for the state you live in or the country you live in. There is so much you and I can do without leaving our country such as giving to a Missionary in Zimbabwe or in Africa.

Where is your heart? "Ye are the light of the world...." If we don't tell of others of Christ how will the know, how will they go?

Here's a few things that you as Individual can do for others:
~Pray
~Read your Bible for guidance
~Give to Missions
~Send a card/care package
~Take a meal to a shut in
~Take someone to the store who doesn't have a car.
~Pray for all~

This is just a few things, if your church has a Missionary Society/Circle be a part of it.
These are just a few things that we can do and have our Heart in the right place!  

A Matter of the Heart

Good evening friends, I've heard this statement "A matter of the Heart" several times and then I'm also reading a book that part of the title is this. You know the Lord gives us the free will to make choices. Are choices made by the heart or the head?? 

This particular topic is one that in today's world is so very touchy. As a matter of fact when I gave me lesson in our ladies Conference last week, I was actually leery of speaking on this topic because of the ridicule and the harness of words I've seen and received for talking about it on face book, in person, over the phone. But yet after my lesson several ladies Thanked me for letting it be known that I take a stand, that I believe what the Bible teaches about, "MODESTY."

Psalm 19:8 "The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes."  If we as Christians don't take a stand and if we don't teach what the Bible says about this topic, how will the world know? How will they know if we don't tell them? How will they know if we don't go? How will they know if we hide what we believe?

After our Ladies Conference that is when I decided that I was going to go ahead and do a full post or maybe 2 or 3 on Modesty. Some of my material will come from Mrs. Kathy Murray's book, all scripture will come from the King James Bible and then whatever the Lord lays on my heart to share.

First I want to start with a little of my testimony, I was raised in Church and in Christian School. My parents though not saved at the time believed I needed to be raised this way. In some ways we had standards of a Christian home, but not in the way mom and I dressed. As a child though I realized that my dress wasn't like the other children at school or church. I had really good friends who wore dresses all the time. At either 8 or 9 I stopped wearing shorts. Then when I was 12 I stopped wearing pants. At first when asked why I don't wear pants it was because, Dad and Mom said I couldn't. But eventually it became a matter of the heart. It became something I wanted so I would please my Lord.

Deuteronomy 22:5 "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God." 

Now, I've heard that's the Old Testament, it doesn't apply to us today. *laughing Well, the last I knew the Bible in it's entirety is for us today!

James 1:22 "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."

Friends this is why I am talking about Modesty. I'm suppose to be a doer of the word. If I'm not doing as God says, and I'm hiding the Light of God so that they can't learn, I'm wrong.  Our theme this past week at the conference was "Ye are the Light of the World" our of Matthew 5:14. 

One of the ways I'm a light is by my dress. If I look like a bum, I'm going to act like a bum. If I'm dressed like a boy I'm going to act like a boy. You say, but they had "dress" pants. I challenge you to take a pair of "dress" pants and hold them up to a mans pair of slacks and tell me there's a difference.
Men's suit pants are NO different.

Girls, Ladies, Teens - when I'm walking through the store and I can't tell if there's a male or female in front of me, that's sad! All the way from the hair cut, to the clothes.

I Peter 3:3&4 "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel: But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."

*The Lord referred to the hidden man as having great price (worth). We ladies buy little gadgets for our homes. Now and then, I find some little object that turns out to be worth its weight in gold. For instance, I have a little square rubber gripper that helps me open those unruly jars when no one else is around. It cost me little and has no beauty, but it is most valuable to me. When we buy the fancy, decorative item that we just adore; often, as soon as the newness wears off, that wonderful item is now doomed to be sold in our next yard sale for little or nothing. The things that are most valuable to us are not necessarily the pretty ones, but rather, the useful ones. In God's sight, it is of great worth for a woman to have a modest spirit. The virtuous woman has a worth far above rubies (Proverbs 31). I have seen women who by the world's standard have unattractive features, yet their spirits radiated a pure loveliness that is rarely seen in our day. A woman like this affects others around her to the glory of God. On the other hand, I have seen women who had natural beauty, yet their spirits were domineering, loud, pretentious and disgraceful.

*In Psalms 1 is speaks of the blessedness of the person who refuses ungodly counsel. "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." Before we will resist the counsel of the ungodly, we must recognize it for what it is. Women lower their worth when they follow after the vanities of this world. A wise woman will seek and follow the counsel of godly influence and God's word. "...But his delight in in the law of the Lord; and in his law doeth he meditate day and night. And he shall be lie a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

*When you look at your clothes to determine what you will wear for the day, we should start by putting on the new man which is created in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24) God will bless you for it.

This is cute, but not modest. Now if you added a cute jacket with it, it would possibly be ok. However you still have the low cute. It's bringing attention to a part of the body that ONLY your husband should see.

 

 Very modest not low cut, not to short. You can dress modestly but be appropriate. Now I'm not saying you have to wear long sleeves all the time, or where you see NO skin. But this outfit doesn't point out one area of the body when you look at this lady you see her beautiful smile.

 

Very immodest! When a mans attention is drawn to your thighs, your legs, your chest you are saying look at me! You are causing them to lust.

 

Here a little v in the neckline is fine. As long as it's in moderation. If you aren't sure ask your Pastors wife or someone who will lead to dress right.

 

 

Our daughter recently got married. She had a VERY modest wedding dress! A few moderation's and she had a gorgeous dress. Short sleeve but where when she raised her arms you saw nothing.

 

 The front view, very modest and nothing showing that would be inappropriate.

These are just a few things on how modesty is meant to be. God made woman for man BUT only through marriage. That's a whole other topic, ladies, teens I care about what happens to you, and if you are saying, "Hey! Look at what I have!" Bad things can happen! But if you are dressed to please God you will look sharp and attractive, BUT not in the wrong way.  I realize things can happen even to those doing right, but you rarely hear of the modest women being raped. It does happen but not nearly as much as with those who advertise.

In closing remember - The Lord warned us to consider our ways. Haggai 1:7
He proclaimed "...my people doth not consider." Isaiah 1:3
When we are careless God isn't pleased.
You have to determine to Live a Modest life.
In Joshua it says, "...Choose you this day whom ye will serve."
When you dress:
1. Do you consider your choices and correct them if they are not pleasing to the Lord?
2. Who are you exalting? Ourselves, Man or the Lord?


*Modesty a Matter of the Heart Chapter 5

Whatsoever things.....

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Good morning! As I am preparing for a lesson I'm teaching on Saturday this verse was one I came across for one of my points. Last night as I read it I thought of each "Whatsoever".  Since My lesson is on Ye are the Light of the World even though I won't be able to touch on each point of this verse, unless the Lord takes me that way, I wrote down some things I wanted to share here on my blog.

1. "...whatsoever things are true...." Do you speak true thoughts? Are the things you say around saved or unsaved the truth? As Christians or unsaved we should ALWAYS tell the truth. As Christians if we are known by the truth we will and are a Light to this world.

2. "...whatsoever things are honest...." Of course truth and honesty go hand and hand. Being honest is by telling the truth. Train your children, your young people to ALWAYS be Honest and truthful. They maybe young but they too can be a light to our sin sick world.

3. "...whatsoever things are just...." In today's world there's not many things that are just. But You and I can be just in our doings and show this world that it may not always be fair but being just is ALWAYS the right thing to do.

4. "...whatsoever things are pure...." WOW! This is one that we are seeing less and less of. Staying pure till your wedding day, Young Man AND Young Lady! The world thinks being pure is no big deal BUT it is! We are to be a light to the world and stay PURE!! One way we as young girls and women can be sure of our staying pure is by dressing right. Not wearing those clothes that cause men to lust after you. Purity and Modesty go hand-n-hand!

5. "...whatsoever things are lovely...." Friendships, families, Marriage all these things are lovely!

6. "...whatsoever things are of good report...." Again a point that goes back to being true and honest! As I read through this I was thinking the Lord wants us to be truthful, honest and give good reports it must be pretty important for us when in 3 different ways we are told "whatsoever things are true, honest, good report" I believe we should heed what is being said. Our speech is so important in this sin sick world. If  you are walking around cursing, swearing, taking the Lords name in vain, back biting, being disrespectful we aren't much of a testimony to the unsaved. We can't be a light to world acting and speaking like this.

As the verse ends "...if there be any virtue and if there be any praise think on these things."
As Christians we need to do these things and be the light, the testimony that God wanted us to be.

Who are you?

Psalms 139:14 "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."

Who are you? You are a child of God whom he has made. You were fearfully and wonderfully made. Why? God knew you _______________ before you were ever born! The Lord made you as a  beautiful, lovely, talented person. But you say, I have no talent! Wait a minute..... Can you bake? You can be a blessing through your "talent" of baking. Maybe you sing, you can use that talent in a choir or as a special in church, better yet at a nursing home or a shut in's home. Everyone CAN do something. In God's eyes it's not big or small it's all the same.

 

When God made you, YOU were one of His marvelous works. There is No one else out there like you. It matters not if you short, tall, thin, fat, speak eloquently or stumble across your words.

The title Who are you came from a text yesterday, I had sent a friend some information and when I thought I was doing a private message it went to who knows how many people. One lady, text me and asked Who are you? Was this text meant for so an so? I replied back that my name is Paula and yes it was meant for the other person. Well, after several text she asked if I was a Pastors wife?
Yes, I am we've been here in Maine for 7 months as Pastor and family and I told her our names, Bill and Paula Seavey. Well, if she hadn't of asked who I was and if I hadn't of responded we would of never known that we knew each other. We had met several years back and our husbands were in college together.

Are you a house wife? God made you to be that man's wife and to be what you are meant to be for HIM. Not for your friends husband, but for Your Man! The Lord made you! It doesn't matter your height or weight, God made you for the Man you married and you are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Did you know that as wife, mom, soul winner, or whatever you do No one can do the job the way You do it?! Why? God made you the way you are and Only You can do what he had for you!!

So Who are You? You are special in God's eyes, he made you the way he wanted you. "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."

No matter who you are, Remember you are important in God's eyes and he made you exactly as he wanted!





 

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Hello friends!

I've updated and added another page. Hope you enjoy.

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Let go and Let God

Have you ever held on to something so hard and so long that you felt it would never end, or never come, or never get over with? Well, I'm going to give a little bit of a personal testimony here. We have been living with my husbands dad since June of 2012 and at first it was temporary then in August of 2012 my husband, after almost a full yr of no work was hired on as a Sub contractor for the state. This was good it was going to get us back home to WV. So we thought.

Well at the end of August, Pastor Barnes, the pastor of the church we were going to ask my husband if he would consider taking the church. We talked about it and prayed about it for the longest time I was having a hard time accepting the idea of leaving WV, however something had happened there and it seemed the Lord was moving us. I guess it was sometime in September I let go of WV and told the Lord if he really wanted us here in Maine I was giving it to him.

To skip ahead to March 10th my husband became the Pastor of Second Baptist Church, Palermo, Maine. We have now been the Pastor and family for 7 months on October 10. During all this time we are still living with my husbands dad and well...... Patience isn't something I'm good at and I really do have to work at it.

Then a dear friend shared a verse with me and well even though it didn't speak of patience, it didn't speak of being a good wife, or a good mom it didn't even speak of being faithful but it did speak to me!
Joshua 1:9 "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

God put us here in Maine for a reason, yes we were a little fearful of the move, of changes that were happening. My wonderful husband was being strong for us all, while I, well was failing at being strong. But this verse "Be strong and of a good courage..." has been oh so helpful.

Yes, I've been strong for children on certain topics and yes I've had courage to stand by my husband. But I've had to learn to be strong enough to LET GO and have the courage and strength to LET GOD take charge. After almost 16 months of living with my husbands dad, I'll be honest,  I'm not doing well. BUT I decided to turn it over to God! I know he has a house for us, he's already allowed us to start the process of a loan for our own house, now it's just a matter of time. As I said, I'm not patient, so I had to decide to LET GO and LET GOD take control!

I don't know if this will help anyone, but you know it doesn't matter what the situation, it doesn't matter who you are, if you are going through something, just let go and Let God move!! He knows your yesterdays, your todays and your tomorrows! So what are you waiting for? Let God have FULL control, not just partial but FULL control.

If you really want to see God work through you and your life you MUST give your ALL to him. Will you struggle with things? Of course you will, we're all human and that's to be expected. BUT if you, I, hold on to that which will do us no good, HE, GOD can't do what he wants with us, and through us!

This hasn't been a post with pictures and fun things in it. It's been a post from my heart and prayerfully that will help someone get through a time of your life that you are struggling with.

Ye are the light of the World

Are you taking the torch, The Bible, to a sin sick world?

Matthew 5:14, "Ye are the light of the World."
How are you a light? Children? Teens? Young Person? Adult? Senior Citizen?

~Children you can be a light on the play ground, at recess, to your friends.
~Teens you can be a light in your school for Christ.
~Young Person you can be a light in college for your Lord.
~Adult you can be a light at your work for the Lord.
~Senior Citizen you can be a light to the younger by sharing your wisdom with them.

Are you a light through your behavior?
Are you a light through your testimony?
Are you a light through your dress?

These are just a few questions there's so many ways we can be a light to the world.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Shine all over __________ (where you live) I'm gonna let it shine.
Shine all over __________ I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Don't let Satan blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Which are you? Shining your light for Jesus or Letting Satan put out your light.

We can take the Bible/Torch and show the world the way. How?
1. Soul winning
2. Living as Christian FULL time not just when it's convenient.
3. Dressing right.
4. When your with friends and something is wrong, speaking up and letting it be known you don't approve.
5. Walk the walk that you talk!

Did you know that your walk talks and your talk talks, BUT your walk talks louder than your talk talks?!

Friends you can be light to this world and we need more Christians to stand up and shine their light more than ever! If we don't who will?? I believe that our time here on earth is short, though I DO NOT know the day, or the hour. The Bible is being fulfilled and we as Christians NEED to do what is right which is being a light to a sin sick world and taking ole Satan by the horns and NOT allow him to have rule over us! God is our Strength, he through his word gives us Strength, wisdom, mercy, protects us from evil, gives us the zeal we need to be a witness for him.

Just a few thoughts on how we can be a light to the World.

Who Holds Tomorrow?

When shadows fall and the night covers all, There are things that my eyes cannot see

I'll never fear, for the Savior is near;

My Lord abides with me.

 

How can I fear? Jesus is near; He ever watches over me.

Worries all cease; He gives me peace.

How can I fear with Jesus.

This is one of many songs that I just LOVE, the meaning of the song, the lesson that can be learned from the song! How can I fear with Jesus?

II Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

What more could we want? Fear is NOT of God because he is Love!

When I'm alone and I face the unknown, and I fear what the future may be.

I can depend on the strength of my friend

He walks along with me.

 

 

John 14:18 "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."

 

God knows our unknown, he's there to comfort, to lead and be our strength in time of need.

 

 

Jesus is King, He controls everything; He is with me each night and each day,

I trust my soul to the Savior's control;

He drives all fear away.

 

 

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path."

 

 

If we simply trust in the Lord as verse 3 of the song says and as Proverbs 3 tells us we have nothing to worry about.

 

How can I fear?

Jesus is neat;

He ever watches over me.

Worries all cease;

He gives me peace.

How can I fear with Jesus?

 

 

Over the last few weeks maybe a couple of months I've been dealing with a few things. I will admit I worry sometimes when I don't need to, but a few weeks ago this song, "How Can I Fear?" was sung in church. I started thinking about it, making this one of "MY" songs. It's true How can I fear when the Lord is my Saviour! When He hold my Future in His hands and I have no need of Fear or Worry!

 

Then this past Sunday we sang "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow" and as we sang that song in church I was thinking He hold my Tomorrow, he hold MY new home in the palm of his hand and HE knows where it is and when the right time is for us to find it!

 

I don't know about tomorrow,

I just live from day to day.

I don't borrow from it's sunshine,

For it's skies may turn to gray.

I don't worry o'er the future,

For I know what Jesus said,

And today I'll walk beside Him,

For he knows what is ahead.

 

Many things about tomorrow,

I don't seem to understand;

But I know

Who holds tomorrow,

And I know

Who holds my hand.

 

 

Proverbs 21:7 "Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."

 

Yes, I'm human and yes I worry, fret, stew, complain, even get mad sometimes BUT Praise the Lord when I go to him and with all these things I have no of Fear. Why? Because HE Holds my Tomorrow! 

 

 



 



Study to Shew thyself approved.....

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

As we have started our new school year off I've challenged the boys to study harder, to learn more, and to be hard workman that needeth not to be ashamed. I've encouraged them to memorize more scripture this year. Our theme verse will be "Study to shew thyself approved unto God..."

 In these pictures of my children they are studying so that I approve of their work. Which they should do, but they should also be studying to please God. The first picture which is Samuel, he is diligently studying his History. Not his favorite but he knows to pass, he must study.


Next is Caleb he was taking a test, He studied though so he could take this test. Then the next one is Jason he's working on hard on his Math. He doesn't want to repeat this Pace :) May I say thus far none of the boys have come to the point we've had to repeat whole Paces. We might have needed to go back and review but they study and they work hard.

The next photo however may show that someone hasn't studied to shew himself approved unto God. Where does your Bible sit during the week? Left on the pew at church? In your car so you don't "forget" next time you go to church? On a book shelf, till time for church? Maybe on a coffee Table where it gets dusted off when company is coming, such as the Preacher.

   It sad that in today's world this is what we would and do see on many Bibles. America was founded on God and the Bible. Now today we can't pray in schools, we can't read our Bible in school, all because it might offend someone! The other day, I thought I would post some things on a page about Modesty. Oh my word the stink that it caused. I literally received a private message from a person telling me that what the Old testament taught on dress did NOT apply to us today! WHAT? 

 

Friend may I tell you, if it was for the Old Testament people it was for us now in 2013! The Lord wanted to people to pray then, he wants us to Pray now. The Lord wanted people to study the scriptures then, He wants us to study them now! The Lord wanted the women to dress like women then, He wants us, ladies, to dress like Ladies NOW! These are just a few things I'll mention but if it's in the Bible, it's God's word we are to head it and obey it! Part of being able to head and obey the Bible is by studying the Bible!

 

I'm studying now for a lesson to present not only to my ladies of our church but to other Pastors wives, and their ladies. Do I want to wait till the night before to prepare for it? No, I need and have started preparing for it already. Why? I want to study to shew myself approved unto God. I want God to have say in what I say.

 

So friend, pick up your Bible, turn Off the TV, the computer, or whatever is keeping you from studying to be approved of God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed.

 

I saw a saying that went something like this:

 

If it prevents you from doing what God wants

Then don't do it!

 

This isn't exact but I have the main point, if what you are doing is keeping you from God, maybe just maybe you shouldn't be doing that. 1. you want grow in the Lord; 2. you are leaving opportunity for Satan to sneak in. Do we want these things to happen, no, none of us do. So stay in the Word, stay close to God and pray daily.

 

22 Blessed and wonderful Years

If you are on Facebook you've seen all the "mushy" stuff I've been posting about our, Pastor Seavey/hubby and myself,  marriage and how it's been wonderful being married to my awesome husband. Well, I want to say, it's not just mushy stuff it TRUE! So many marriages make it barely a yr while others go 20, 30, 50 some even to 75 yrs. My question is if a marriage can last 75 yrs why can't we learn from that couple? Or why can't we observe these couples who have been married ONE time and are still married to that ONE man or woman. Ladies, when the Bible says to leave and cleave guess what that's till death you part!

I saw this posted and Facebook and wanted to share it here because it takes all of my thoughts on marriage and sums it up:  

Each of those points that are listed are 110% true! Today to the exact day and date is my 22nd anniversary. On 8/24/1991 when Dr Jack Hyles said, repeat after me, "in sickness and in health, (and I know I'm not quoting this exact) in poverty and in wealth till death do you part. Guess What? Bill and I meant EVERY WORD OF IT!! Have we had rough times? YES Have we had sickness? some but you know what we stayed right there by each others side. Have we had times where communication wasn't the best? Oh yea but then we're human that's to be expected, BUT we didn't let the issues of life pull us down. We didn't let it make us decided we no longer loved each other. Instead, we let those issues, those hard times pull us closer together. I could go into some things that were, lets say, well, lets just say many couples wouldn't of made it through them. Why? because if you don't have Christ at the center of your home, there are things that you won't make it through.

See when we got married, maybe even before, we decided that word Divorce was not in our vocabulary. To be honest I hate to even type it. When we said, "till death do us part." We meant that.

 We stayed together through the good (top picture) and the bad *I'm laughing* (bottom picture).... It was windy out on the ocean....... so what can I say :D

 



Friends if you are single, when the Lord sends the right person along you will know it! If you are married tough it out! Is it easy? not always. Is it always fun? no Are the trials and hardships worth it? YES! Is God in control? IF you allow him to be and then guess what you maybe in the valley in the marriage but the grass isn't any better in the next valley. IF you don't learn from that valley, the next one could be worse.

Hebrews 13:4a "Marriage is honourable in all...."

Ephesians 4:6 & 7 "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ." 

God is all he is above all, even marriage! That is why Marriage in ONE Man  PLUS ONE Woman! He also gives the grace needed to be with each other. He gives us grace to make it through each day, and I believe in that grace is understanding and getting along with your husband or wife.


 

If God gives it to you, He'll see you through it!

Good afternoon! As I was on a site I use regularly and a good friend was saying how things have been rough for some time now. I, and many people, can understand that. Then someone else says, it never ends! Is that true? NO, See we have the valleys that we must go through, those valleys are there

 in order to have the Mountain tops. If our lives were full of cherries and there was never any pits we wouldn't grow but because we have those pits we have the bowl full of cherries too. *smile*

Psalms 104:8 "They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for him."

See the valley your in has been founded for you! Will you "pass' the test of that valley or will you fail and have to stay in the valley longer. See the Lord knows what we need to grow. This has been a test I have personally failed at many times. I don't, nor does anyone, like the valleys so we need to learn they are there for a reason and God gave it to you, He'll see you through it. In Numbers 24:6 we read, "As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters."  Notice here it talks of the trees by water beds, the garden by the rivers side. Our trials, heartaches, hard times, testing's etc. are for us so we can cont to grow, as the garden and trees grow, in our Christian life.

I heard many Pastors say, "If you are always on the mountain top you aren't growing and you apparently are doing anything for the Lord. Why? The devil isn't worried about you because you've never had to come through the valley!" I don't remember who said that or if I even had it quoted exact but you know there's a lot of truth there. God gives us the Grace needed to get through that which he has given us. In Psalms 138:8 it says, "The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands."

Dear friend, if you have lost a job, had a death in the family or a friend, had financial problems, health issues, or whatever the valley is stay focused. "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you."  Philippians 3:14-16

So next time you have a valley, remember If God gives it to you, He'll see you through it! We have a prize to press toward also!


Written by Paula MN Seavey
 

Taste your words

Is what your about to say bitter? Is it kind? Is it hurtful? Will it bring Peace? Will it bring Sorrow? Taste your words! 

You may say OK how can I taste my words? Well, I'm actually glad you asked because words can be and are very powerful. 

This saying is from facebook and yes very true. I try my best to keep my facebook page, my family blog, and this blog positive. Why? I don't want to be the reason someone falls, or quits or maybe changed a decision to serve God because of me. In Proverbs 16:24 it says, "Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." Are your words as a honeycomb? 

Philippians 4:8 "Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." 

Whenever we speak we need to:

1. Speak the truth

2. Be honest 

3. Speak pure words

4. Be loving in what you say

5. Bear good reports

What do you think would happen if you did these 5 things daily? 

Well, people wouldn't run the other way when they saw you coming. There's a very dear lady friend, I love to see her walk through the door or anywhere for that matter. Why? She's always smiling and has the sweetest spirit and is always positive. What if when I saw her walk into a room I was like, "OH no look who's here!" That wouldn't be good. Instead I'm happy to see her. Which person are you? 

Today as we were traveling from one church members home to another our boys were being typical brothers, but their words became unkind. Yes! Pastors kids, do speak unkind things to each other and to other kids! Shocked? Well, as we have told our children over the past 5 months we know your normal kids but others look at you and expect you to be on a higher level. So anyway, they became unkind to one anther, their Dad also their Pastor, spoke to them. They as any child, should do, had to apologize to the other for what had been said. Their play had turned vicious and although not perfect we try to get our children to always speak the truth, be honest, be sure their words are pure, to love and give good reports. Does this always happen? NOPE! That is where training our children to be Christ-like is so important. 

Parents if your children here you always being negative about your pastor, their teachers, each other, about their friends parents; they will eventually start being negative about their Pastor, teachers etc. 

So Adults, teens, young people, children taste your words BEFORE you spit them out! 

I remember hearing my Grandmother say, "If you can't say anything good don't say anything at all" This is so true but so often never crosses the mind before speaking evil or wrong of someone. 

The kids saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" is WRONG yes sticks and stones may break your bones but words, well they can destroy a person. I won't name any names but I know of a person who all through their growing up years was told, "Your lazy, your good for nothing, you'll never amount to anything  plus a lot of other things." This person to this day has lived up to what they were told from a child all the way through their teen years. Could this person have changed, YES but after hearing those negative comments day in and day out for well over 18 years and the person believes them. Now this person has been saved but is really struggling with this. Is that what you want your friend, your brother, your sister, anyone to be like? I don't think so. 

So lets have words like honeycombs! Proverbs 16:24 it says, "Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." 

By: Paula MN Seavey

Train up a child

Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

This teaches us that we are to train up our children, train them in the way they should go. I would like to think that all 5 of my children will not depart from their training, I am pleased that thus far the two that are already on their own are staying by the their training. God has blessed us with a daughter, 4 sons and now another son through the marriage of our daughter. The following is something that I wrote at 1:30 this morning about our children.....

When each of you were born our world changed just a little bit more, not for the worse but for the best! On August 2, 1992 the Lord gave us, Tabitha Jane to us. For 21 years, tomorrow, we have watched you grow, stumble, fall, get up and keep going. 21 years ago if I had been told that you would be 1200 miles away from me I would have never believed it. You my dear daughter have grown to be a wonderful, beautiful young lady! I'm so grateful that you have followed Proverbs 22:6.

Then when you about 10 months old we learned there was to be another baby in our family. I was told by a few people, "you are turning this childs life upside down by having another." Well, I think we were far from turning your world upside down!! On Dec 14th William Paul IV was born on the 15th when we came home, you went right past your mom to the baby!! He was almost as big as you, but that didn't matter you loved him, fed him, helped me in every way you could. I heard 3 more times you are turning their world upside down with a new baby. Every time you and the brother(s) below you proved that to be wrong! Our world was never turned upside down it was made that much better! Paul IV even as little boy LOVED to work! He has continued through his 19 yrs of life to work and work hard. Again he is living Proverbs 22:6 and we thank the Lord for that!

Then in March of 1995 our 3rd child, Caleb Robert joined our family. Now Caleb is our family clown and he has brought many a laugh into our lives... One time in particular we were in at a hotel everyone was sitting around watching a TV program when out of the blue we hear:
"Move your feet!
I said, "move your feet!" then came the response, Oh those are mine ha ha ha ha...
Caleb can look one in the face and be serious and say, "no you diiiidn't" (misspelled on purpose)  Knowing you hadn't done anything or had just done this or that. Caleb is the son that makes everyone and anyone laugh! As he prepares to leave for college in a year my prayer is that he'll too follow Proverbs 22:6.

Because it had been close to 3 yrs we thought the Lord had given us the children he wanted us to have. As I go into the doctors for a routine check-up she asked are you pregnant? My response is no I don't think so.... Well Jan 23, 1998 brought us baby number 4 Samuel Maurice. He's our tenderhearted child
if someone is hurting Samuel seems to catch on immediately to that. Samuel loves to draw and be creative with his hands.

Well our world would be "turned upside down" just one more time that was May 1, 1999. We will never forget his birthday or the others but Jason well he did sort of turn the world upside down... we were members of First Baptist Church in Hammond, IN at the time. May 1st well, that was a BIG day! If I remember correctly we had, had soul winning all week that week and it might have been one of the wonderful Pentecost Sunday's that Dr Hyles LOVED to have. Well... As we had been told several times, Dr Jack Hyles wasn't happy with someone who rented a bus, parked in the back of the handy capped parking lot and NEVER used it!! At the time NO one knew who was suppose to be driving that bus, UNTIL.... about 1 in the afternoon my husband remembers the bus!!! Well, once Preacher learned of the situation he wasn't as unhappy as he was originally that morning.  So the phrase you will turn their world upside down, might have been true with Jason and the big day at FBC Hammond on that faithful Sunday in May of 1999. Jason is well, he's our talker.... He can talk, and talk, and talk. He's cleaner also, especially in the past few years Jason will see a job that needs to be done in cleaning and do it!

We love all 5 of our children and we are Thankful for each and everyone of them. Our world was changed with each but FAR from being turned upside down!

Friends, if you have 1 child or 19  don't give up on them!! Train them up as the Lord commands. We made mistakes yes. We probably made huge mistakes in their training, but God through his mercy and grace has allowed our good aspects of training out weigh the mistakes!

Never compare your children, one may be strong in an area where another is weak. Don't compare them they are individuals. Yes from the same family but individuals, you say they all have the same parents some attributes of us, BUT they are individuals!  I have 4 boys they are as different as night and day. Even with our daughter I can't compare her to the boys or vise versa. A child is just that a child, he's not his sister or brother! God made HIM to be who? To be himself.

Just trust in the Lord, read his word, us his word to train your children through God you will do just fine!

Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."