Ruth

Are you a Ruth? As we go through the book of Ruth lets see what we can do to better our lives as Ladies serving the Lord. I'm not sure how many lessons will come from this but I goal is for it to not be my words but what the Holy Spirit would have me write.

Naomi and Her Daughters-in-Law
Ruth 1

1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

² And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.

³ And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.

⁴ And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.

⁵ And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.

⁶ Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.

⁷ Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.

⁸ And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.

⁹ The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.

¹⁰ And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.

¹¹ And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

¹² Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;

¹³ Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.

¹⁴ And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

¹⁵ And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.

¹⁶ And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

¹⁷ Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

¹⁸ When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

¹⁹ So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?

²⁰ And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

²¹ I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?

²² So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

 

I love this passage of scripture. Let's look at the daughter-in-laws. Naomi told them to return to their land and to their gods. Of which Orpah did but Ruth on the other hand refused. This is where I want to look at verse 16

 

First Ruth says, "whither thou goest, I will go" There's a lot of devotion to her mother in law to do this. Do we have that type of devotion to the Lord, to our husbands, as Ruth did to the Lord and to her mother-in-law?

 

If your husband says, "We're packing up and moving to 10 Buck 2 are you going to go willing? I believe that even though Ruth wasn't following her husband, she was following one who knew the Lord.

 

The next thing is still in verse 16, "thy God my God" Did you notice when Naomi told her daughter-in-laws to return to their land she said gods not God. In the land of her husband and sons they, I believe served false gods but because Naomi had returned home she specifically said, "Call me not Naomi, call me Mara; for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me." verse 20. I believe that she knew the Lord and that she knew she gone against what he wanted for her.

 

Does this mean that Naomi had married a non believer. I do not know but seeing how God had dealt bitterly with her I would say she knew she had done wrong; after all Moab was not a good place. So why would she send her daughter-in-law back? As we go through the book of Ruth we will learn more about Naomi and Ruth.

 

My question to you, are you willing to serve the God who created you, who disciplines you when you do wrong, the one who blesses us, you beyond measure? Ruth apparently saw something in her mother in law and she wanted a part of that.

 

Going back to verse 16 we should be willing to go where the Lord leads, to sleep where he provides no matter the niceness of it, to serve the people he leads you to, and most importantly to serve Him the one whom we put our faith in.

 

As I started really looking at this and really thinking on verse 16, that is what Missionaries, Pastors, Evangelist anyone who's willing to say Lord, I'll go where you lead, we do. I think back to Christmas of 1990 when my then boyfriend, proposed to me. Before he asked if I would marry him, he asked will you willing go with me to Poland? Without hesitation I said, Yes! Now we didn't end up in Poland but I believe the Lord knew I would go no matter where my husband was called to. The People my husband has been called to serve are wonderful people and they not only are his people, his flock, his congregation but they are mine also. No I don't preach, but I'm there if they need me. I also serve the same God, the Only God that my husband serves! So friend are you going to be a Ruth like is talked about in verse 16?

 

My prayer is that if you were saying, NO I won't go to Africa with you or What you want me to leave my home to serve a people I don't know, that this will help if only a little.

One step forward, two steps backwards

Do you ever feel that way? Like you take a step forward in life, on a project or anything and then it's two steps backwards.  That's about how I've felt the last few months..... Especially with us moving. But that is where I go to Proverbs where it says, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding, in all they ways acknowledge Him and he shall direct thy path.

See if I were to lean on my own understandings and if I were to say OK it's not going my way, I'm going to just give up on everything and everyone! Would that help me when I go those 2 steps backwards? No it wouldn't, it might make me feel better for a day but in the end I'd be miserable.

So rather than depending on Me, I trust in the Lord. Do I do this all the time? No because I'm human but You know I do try to and as I mature as Christian an as I grow, and as I learn more to trust in Him, the one the only who can, does and will take care of me; I trust more and more in the Lord.

What is it that you are going through that you feel it's one step forward and two backwards?
It is a struggle in you your daily prayer life?
Maybe you struggle in your Bible Reading?
Maybe in Soul - Winning?
Maybe it's a struggle in your relationship with God, a friend, your spouse?

Friend I'm not an expert and I don't claim to be, but I do know if you are struggling in an area, go to the Lord, Trust in him to direct your paths. You trust in the pilot to fly the plane, you trust in the conductor to keep the train going, you trust in floor you stand on to stay where it is and not collapse so why can't you trust in the Lord?!  I know this is a short not very deep or long lesson but it's something that we all need to learn to do ALL the time. That is: "Trust in the Lord!"

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.

What path are you unsure of? Trust in the Lord to lead, yea, you might go forward a step and slide back 2 but God is there to lead you and guide you all the way. All you need to do is hold on, trust the Lord and well the rest will be History.

Never Alone

Good Morning, I am sitting here this morning I hear the dishwasher running, the washer and dryer are going an other than that total silence..... I was thinking awe.... ALONE, Peaceful Quiet, no distractions. No, "mom what can I eat?" or "mom would you tell ___________ to stop bothering me." Yes even teen boys still do that LOL Like I've told many people just because our family has been given the title "Pastors Family" doesn't mean my kids are any different from the next families kids.

Anyway, Then I got to thinking, you know really I'm not alone none of us are ever really truly alone. If you are saved, and the Holy Spirit lives with in you. You are Never Alone!

No never alone, as the Bible tells us the Lord will never leave us nor forsake us. Do you feel lonely? Do you feel you've been left all alone? I have 7 passages of scripture that will help you. I will give all references and some of them give the verse here. But friend, you need not feel alone or lonely, the Lord is there by your side day and night.

1. John 14:18 "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."
2. Isaiah 58:9
3. Isaiah 43:4
4. II Corinthians 6:18
5. Genesis 28:15 "And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of."
6. Colossians 2:10
7. Psalms 40:17

As Christians we are not alone, but friend if you say I don't understand what you mean by never alone. Let me share with you the simple truth of salvation and you too can have the Holy Spirit live within you and you can also; Never be alone, never have to fear what tomorrow may hold.

We need to know somethings but friend we need not worry about it. God is in control and he knows our every sorrow, our every need and our every tomorrow. So please continue to read the following verses if you are not 100% sure of your salvation.

First friend realize that we are all sinners. You are a sinner
Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

Here we see that with our sin we can't see God in Heaven. We are not worthy to see him. BUT
Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

First well look at "...wages of sin is death...." we must pay for our sins. As one who is not saved you will pay for sins. Jesus made it so that we don't have to pay for our own sins because He died on the cross for you, for me, for the whole world! He Jesus Christ PAID for ALL (YOUR) sins that faithful day on the cross!
Romans 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Friend you don't need to pay for your sins, Jesus did that for you. Now lets look back up to Romans 6:23b "...but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Earlier I mentioned there's a payment for our sin and that payment is going to be Hell. BUT (contrasting conjunction means there's good news to come) there's a FREE gift! What kind of Gift? The gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ!

Romans 10:13 "For whosoever (put your name there friend) shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

It doesn't say might, or could it says SHALL. Have you ever accepted Christ as your personal Saviour? Jesus has a FREE GIFT of eternal salvation through Him. This isn't works to get to heaven, it's not if I'm good, it's Eternal and YOU can know for sure that you will be in Heaven. Have Faith in the God of Heaven, the one who created Heaven and Earth, placed the stars in the skies, gave us the sun to warm us by day and the moon to guide us at night. Trust in the One the Only True God who loves you so much that he gave His ONLY son to die for you.

If you have accepted this free gift, Please leave a message on the this Post and let me rejoice with you in knowing that you Are now a Child of the King. You also can rejoice in that you are Never alone now.

Yes, as I sit here typing this blog post, physically there is not another soul around but in my heart is the Holy Spirit and he is ALWAYS with me and wants to be with you also!

Comments

I have decided to open the comments back up.... As long as things remain appropriate this option will be available. You do not have to be a blogger to comment at this time I have it as anyone may post. This is apt to change if I find things that are not Christ honoring.

Have a Great Day or evening wherever you may be :)

Moving & Rejoice in the Lord

Due to packing and moving I won't be posting much over the next several weeks. If you want to see the progress of our move I'm going to keep my blog http://7isheavenforus.blogspot.com updated as I can on how it's going.

As soon as we get Internet at our new home, I will get right back to posting here. In the mean time enjoy reading what I have posted and remember in all things give thanks!

This is the day that the Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.
What are you rejoicing about today?

Yes I'm rejoicing that we're able to move into our own home, but I'm also rejoicing in that the Lord provided a way for us to do this. Without Him this would have never happened. Living by Faith and depending on God to provide my every need isn't always easy but sure is worth the wait.

Have a great day all! I'll post as I can and I said above you can keep up with our progress on my other blog.
 

Old things pass away

II Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Old things pass away..... hum Yes as we get older and pass away. Yes, things will go away when they become old because we can no longer use them. BUT in II Corinthians it's not talking about that when it says, "...old things are passed away...." what is it meaning there?

Lets look at the verse as a whole. If we are be in Christ we are a new creature.... This means we have put the old man aside and want to live in Christ making us a new creature. So when we say old things passed away what we are meaning when you get saved you should want to put away:

~Rock music and listen to Good Godly Christian Music
~Smoking and maybe in place of that chew spearmint gum :)
~Drinking Alcohol change that to coffee, water, tea, etc.
~Maybe you need to change your friends.
~Maybe the books you are reading you need to change to the Bible and books that don't have the garbage in them. (If you need a list I can give you a list or I'm sure your Pastor, Parent or someone could help you with that.)

These are just a few things that can pass away. What is it in your life that you know is an "old man" or something that is "old and needs to pass away".

So friend you need to:
1. Live in Christ and become a new creature
2. put away old things
3. let new things become new in your life.

We all will make mistakes but we have the Bible that will help us stay on track, we have church and friends. My prayer is that through this someone sees the need to make these changes and become a new creature in Christ :) :)


 

Pastor Fred Adams and his choir singing

Injure Your Sin; Then Kill it....

Do you have a sin in your life that just seems to have a hold on you? Why not injure it; then kill it.... If you look at David and Goliath he was a bad thing in David's life.... with the strength given by God the stone hit Goliath in forehead and then David cut off his head.

If you take your sin and say, "YOU have no hold on me anymore!" Then take and "kill" that sin by first getting rid of the source, then replacing it with good. YOU CAN have Victory over your sin!

I Corinthians 10:13 says, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

When there is a temptation don't allow it get the best of you or take control of your life. God has made a way of escape and as individuals we each need to remember that!

Romans 6:6 "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."

Friend there is so much out there can drag us into sin, the world with it's enticing ways through billboards, commercials, radio, and yes the people you are around. Be careful what you do and what you allow yourself to do.

This topic actually came from a message my husband preached yesterday on "Getting Victory over your sin". He made the statement at the end injure your sin, then kill it. I thought that is a good title for a post. I was reading and praying this morning in I Corinthians when I read I Cor. 10:13. I love how the Lord will lead you to a verse and then it all just opens up and becomes clear :)

Friend is the sin controlling your life - TV, Rock music, Drugs, Alcohol, Smoking or maybe something else much worse. Decide today that the sin IS NOT GOING TO CONTROL YOU BUT YOU ARE GOING TO CONTROL IT!!  How will you control it, cut off the source and replace it with GOOD Godly clean fun and Spiritual things!

The Test of Life

With us being at the beginning of our testing for the end of the year I thought about test of life. We are faced with things daily, whether it be school, work, health, finances, medical bills whatever it is that may pop up in your life. Do we pass those test or do we fail?

Today as the boys were taking their test one of them was really getting flustered with the subject he was on. I told him, because it's achievement test, if you do what you can first then come back to work on the ones you aren't sure of you'll get more done in the time you have. Well, as anyone knows many times it's the trials of life we learn from the best if we allow the Holy Spirit to teach us. This child didn't want to listen because "he hates to skip problems" that is OK but because he didn't listen he was more upset over the fact he couldn't finish than if he had of followed the instruction. How many of us are like that in our daily walk with God? If we would ONLY listen to the Holy Spirit what could he do with our life.



We are told in the Bible to study to shew ourselves approved unto God. Do we do that? Just as the young person in school who must study to learn so must we study to grow in God's word.

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."



Do we study and learn as we should? I'm not talking just when we're students in school, but as Christians who should be growing constantly in the Lord.

If we heed and follow the Lords leading and study, what is it that the Lord could do with us? So friend rather than becoming flustered, overwhelmed, frustrated or upset depend on the Holy Spirit and be one that studies and learns from what you are taught and what is in the Bible.  WE all make mistakes but we can all grow in the Lord also.





So friend if your down in the valley with trials and temptations, remember God's right there with you carrying through back up to the mountain top. WE can't live life on the mountain all the time or we wouldn't be growing as we should.

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."

Over the past week this verse has been one I've thought of often. Our children are growing up, and they are starting their own lives. As a momma this is a bitter sweet time. I was given these children to raise, nurture and train and now they are reaching the age that they will, if the Lord allows raise, nurture and train their children. If you have looked at my other blog, you would have seen our daughters Graduation pictures. These past few days have been full of joy, tears and well..... we are just very proud of our children.

Tom and Tabs will going to Texas soon to see a church and then if they accept the position they will be moving there. One may say so they are doing what they are to do. Well, Yes that is true they are following the Lord's leading and I do not and will not stand in their way or the will of God. As a mom it's hard to see her only girl move literally to most the Southern point of the US when I'm in the most Northern state of the US.

We have trained, lead, prayed, shed tears, laughed, praised, disciplined, and so much more for each of our children. We have trained up our children in the way they should go. Was it easy? No. With the Lords guidance, the Bible and prayer, I believe we have succeeded in raising them now it's up to them to follow Proverbs 22:6. Will they depart from their training when they are old? We don't know, but our prayer is that they remain faithful to the Lord. That they remain faithful to what we taught them and they remain faithful to His word and constantly seek His face.

The picture below consist of 3 generations. One of our children is missing because he had to work and wasn't able to be at the graduation. In the photo are : Grandparents - The Nofsinger; Our children -- in the back Paul IV, middle - Tom, Jason and Samuel; Front Tabitha. Then Bill and I.
Tom and Tabs know they are to serve God and they are following what they believe to be God's leading. Are we to question that? No Do we want them closer? Yes But we followed Prov 22:6 and therefore they must go and do what they have been trained to do. Our oldest boy Paul IV is at college and training further for his future. Caleb (not pictured) is going to college in the fall.



Our prayer is that as each of our children step out into the life meant for them that they remember their training and that they follow the Lord.

You may ask how is this for us in Train up a child? Well, friend as Christians we are instructed by God to train our children. If we don't heed this instruction, How will our children know? Yes in some cases they still end up doing what the Lord has for them, but you also have those who don't.

I'm not saying we're perfect because we're not and we made our fair share of mistakes in raising our children. The Lord however, even through our mistakes has kept our older children in the path they were brought to.

In closing may I ask that you not only pray for your children but for their future. Our children are the future of America and if we don't train them in the way they should go, who will lead our country in the way it should go. I know America is in trouble already, but as Parents of the upcoming generation I beg of you to follow Prov 22:6 and train them so when they are old they won't depart from it.

"Train up a child; and when he is old, he will not depart from it." This should be every Dad and Mom's prayer today and not only their prayer but the verse that they keep before them as they train their children.

The Prodigal 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."

Luke 15:25 - 28 "Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him."

Friend do you have a child you are concerned for? I mean one that seems to be going opposite his training? Don't give up on them! The Bible teaches that if we train up a child in the way he should go that when he is old he'll not depart from it.

If you have a child that seems to be taking the wrong path let me encourage you to Pray, to fast, to be there at all times for that child. To many times when a child goes astray they get pushed out of the family or they are told never to return to their parents home. This is wrong, God gave you that child to raise and nurture, if you did what God said to do through his word, Yes, the child may go wrong but as we read in Luke 15, A son came home. So who's to say your son/daughter won't come home.

This isn't going to be long but if you have children young or old you should be praying for them daily. This world has so many things to "offer" that our children see as fine, even when taught it's not that we need to bathe them in prayer and as they leave home cont to bathe them in prayer.

Friend if you would like me to join you in prayer for a child I'm going to put my e-mail here which I usually don't do. But Our children are our countries future if we don't train them to serve and follow God who will?

You may e-mail me at: our7isheaven@yahoo.com I will pray if you send me a note.

I have a Request....

I don't believe I've ever done this but I'm going to ask you to Pray for our Big Day May 11th.

Here are the specifics that we are praying for and that I'm going to ask you to join us in prayer for:

1. Souls to be saved
2. The Lord to receive the Honor for that day
3. That we'll have 100 in attendance

It's not a lot that I'm asking you to join us in prayer for, but this is Big for the Second Baptist Church of Palermo, ME.

See this is not only Mothers Day, but we are Dedicating our New Sunday School Building to Mrs. Susie Potter the lady whom 20 yrs ago was an intricate part of the re-opening of SBC! She went home to be the Lord a few yrs ago and it was decided if there was ever a Sunday School building built it would be dedicated to her!


As a side note - you may not see much posted this week but that's because we'll be busy finishing up things for this coming Sunday! May God Bless each of you!

This is the Day that the Lord hath made I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Just a thought......

When you are having a rough day..... Read your Bible.
When you are crying and just can't stop.... Pray.
When you seem to just not be able to make it another day, Remember God is good he made you and He KNOWS YOU!

Weak - Psalm 18:1 - 29
Need Direction - Psalm 73:21 -26
Upset - John 14

God loves you and he knows..... I know this isn't my usual post but some of these scriptures has been what helped me through some hard times.

This is the day that the Lord hath made I will rejoice an be glad.

Rejoice in the Lord alway and again I say Rejoice.

Prayer

Philippians 4:6-7 "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

As I was reading this morning in my devotions in Philippians which goes with a book I also use for my devotions titled "A Heart Devoted" this really touched my heart. The story in this book for today is :Grandchildren Need Prayer" but as I was thinking about it, not only do the grandchildren of today need prayer but the children. There is so much garbage out there, when I was growing up we had no cell phones, computers, I pads, I pods, and all the other technology that's out there. As a matter of fact we had a small screen TV, a radio, a tape player and record player. OK, I know I'm telling my age with this :) ;)

As a child I played out side and I could say, "Mom, I'm going for a bike ride around the neighbor hood." Mom was fine with it she knew I would be back in about 2 hrs. Today children can't do this and this is why Prayer for our children and grandchildren is so very important. Now I don't have grandchildren yet but as a Parent of 5 children I'm praying constantly for them.

Here's  little excerpt of the story I read this morning.....  It ISN'T POSSIBLE! He can't be old enough to enlist in the Army Reserves! Why, I remember when he was just a little lad and ran through puddles and got all muddy.... He almost took us by surprise when he showed us his picture on his drivers license.... Then the car accident and we prayed all the way to the scene that no one would be badly hurt and they weren't..... Then the day he received Jesus Christ as his Saviour. We thank the Lord that all 12 grandchildren have been saved "by grace through faith"..... Then he told us he was joining the Army Reserves, now a 6'2" young man, this had been his dream and now his choice to do this. We prayed through the basic training, then we prayed when we heard he would possibly be deployed overseas.

Friend do you pray for children, your grandchildren? We never know when they will die. The reason I felt this needed to be shared is in the last several months I've been hearing of children dieing before their parents. A most recent passing is a little girl named Reagan, I never knew her personally but this precious child is now with the Lord. Her parents loved her, prayed for her and although we do not understand why, God took her home to be with Him. Her parents will and are missing her greatly, but they have the peace of God that she is in Heaven. Friend if we don't pray for our children, pray for salvation, pray for God's hand of protection on them, Satan will step in and there's no telling what will happen to them.

So my question to you is are you praying for the young people of our nation? The current generation and generations to come will have it much harder than we did growing up. Today's world is NOT the same as it was when I was 10 years old or when you were 13. Yes, there's always been temptations, but not like there is today!

Pray with out ceasing!

 

Are you A Turkey or An Eagle?

I know this sounds like an odd question, but if you'll read through and stay with me you'll see why I'm asking this question.

I attended a Preachers Conference this past Saturday, 4/26/14, that our church hosted and heard some GREAT preaching, one of the Pastors that spoke talked spoke about going on your strength  or in God's strength. Now as we know a turkey really isn't very smart and they don't fly well, where as an Eagle is Large he has a huge wing spans and he will let the wind carry him. So now I ask, "Are you a Turkey or an Eagle?"

In Isaiah 40 verse 31 we read "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles...."



See if you've ever seen a turkey he tries and tries to fly  but really doesn't get that far up off the ground. We as Christians can try and try in our own strength to get up, to serve God, to be what "I" want to be but as the turkey we're not going to get very far. Here in Maine we are seeing wild turkey's all the time. They are so funny but yet reminded me of the Christian life. You have a group of 10 or 20 turkey's and something comes upon them to cause a scatter and there's usually 1 or 2 who can't decided who to follow. Just think how as Christians we sometimes do that. A road block comes into our Christian walk and we all of a sudden don't know who to follow. Self? or God? Now lets look at the Eagle.



The Eagle is a strong bird, he's very large and if you think about could let lots of things slow him down. But have you ever noticed the Eagle when the winds are strong he doesn't fight it, he lets it carry him along. As Christians when those winds, trials, hard times come into our life do we let Christ carry us through or do we fight it as the smaller birds do, going backwards and then gaining a little and repeating this step over an over. The Eagle will ride along on his wings gliding and going letting the wind carry him, so shouldn't we allow our Saviour do the same for us, carry us along through those trials and hardships.

Is it easy to do as the Eagle? No not always, but I think I'd rather be an Eagle than a turkey. The flesh would tell us it's easier to just follow the crowd as the turkey does most times that would be easier right?! But as Christians the Bible tells us to wait on the Lord to be renew our strength, mount up with wings as an eagle. Is it always easy to wait on God. :) NO, I can attest to that myself. By waiting on the Lord though one of our prayers has come to be!

So my question is Are you a Turkey or An Eagle?

Be Not conformed to this world....

Good Morning! I started reading a book last night and I'm only in chapter 1 but oh my the knowledge and wisdom of the 4 young ladies who wrote the book! You ask what book are you reading? It's, "Growing up Duggar" Yep I'm one of those people who enjoy the Duggars. Nothing wrong with it and if you ever really watched it or read the book you know they are good solid Christians. I'll not go into all that I've gotten out of just the first 1/2 of chapter 1 but I there is one point that I thought I would expound on, on my blog.

The girls, Jinger, Jana, Jessa and Jill are wise beyond their years. I say this because they not only as children said, This is Dad and mom's rule so I'll follow it, but as they became teens and now young adults they have chosen to make those rules, standards and way of life their own. I admire them for that and I can say even our children thus far have said the same thing. Praise the Lord for families who not only train their children but their children see that their training is what they want in their own lives.

Romans 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

"..be not conformed...." what exactly does that mean?
The Dictionary says conformed is:

1. To correspond in form or character; be similar.

2. To act or be in accord or agreement;

3. To act in accordance with current customs or modes

 

"..be ye transformed...." means:

1 a :  to change in composition or structure

   b :  to change the outward form or appearance of

   c :  to change in character or condition :  convert

2:  to subject to mathematical transformation

 

Ok we now have looked at the meaning of conformed and transformed. So as Christians we are told to not be conformed to this world which means we are not to be in accord or agreement with the world. Rather we are to be transformed which is changed in our appearance an structure.

 

So in order to be transformed by the renewing of your mind, you need to determine that you are going to separate from the World. You're not going to go to the movies, the bar, hang out with those who smoke or drink etc. Being transformed is dressing like a Christian modest in your dress, not doing that which is NOT Christ honoring.

 

Something that I read in the Duggar book was as we look in the mirror what do we see? The young lady, the teen, the woman who looks are in the mirror are you happy with what you see? You should be! You should be able to look in the mirror and be able to say, I am fearfully and wonderfully made, God has a purpose for me and I'm going to NOT be conformed to the wiles of the world but rather be transformed in my mind, my walk, my dress, my attitude, anything that would make one be different.

 

Friend you don't understand what I am talking about maybe your first step to be transformed is salvation. If you aren't 100% sure that you are saved you wouldn't completely understand what I'm talking about. I will be more than happy to show you or talk to you so that you too can be transformed.

 

Are you weary? Are you heavy hearted?

God has blessed us with a wonderful group of people! It was a blessing to see 35 in church on Easter Sunday. We had been praying for 30 and the Lord gave us 35!!! Where two or three are gathered together in my name.... God answers prayer even when things are rough and you feel you can't make it another day.

The Lord knew on Thursday what we needed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday! Friday our family had a blessed day spending time together as a family, Saturday was a GREAT day working at the church and soul winning, Then Sunday all our efforts were rewarded.

Matthew 11:28 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Isaiah 40:31  "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

If we give our burdens to the Lord he WILL give you rest. I know it's not always easy but that's what we need to do. It doesn't matter if the burden is emotional, physical, mental or whatever your burden may be. "Come unto me... are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." 

This past Thursday was one of those days that emotionally I couldn't go on, on my own. I had some pretty harsh things said to me. Some things in my 40 plus years of life I had never had said to me in the way it was said that day. I've had to really pray and lean on the Lord to get through the past few days. Weary is what I had become but by Sunday I knew I needed to "...wait on the Lord...." Why? I had to be what our church people needed and I needed to be what the children needed for what is a VERY special day, RESURRECTION Sunday!

Sunday as I put on that smile, that was yes, forced and I as watched the teens, the children and the little ones run and get the special things Pastor and I had for them, it was a Joy to watch. Before that as I sat and listened to my husband Preach Because of Jesus dying on the cross and raising again is why you and I can get through these tough times as Christians.

Are you weary? Are you heavy hearted?
Are you burdened with burdens you can't share? Give it to Jesus.

Lay your burdens at the cross, he will take it for you!

Friend I know at times life gets hard, things become unbearable however, With GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!

Trust Him

How often do we honestly trust the Lord?
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 paths."

When the Lord says to you that you should do this or that, do you trust Him and do that thing or job? Today people seem to have an issue with trusting the Lord or anyone. Why is this? Even when we know the Lord is ALWAYS one we can trust, we don't. We hear to much in today world, that it's all about "me" just like in movies everything is fine I can do it, I don't NEED anyone. Stop an really think about it. We NEED Christ! We can't live a prosperous, joyous life without Christ. So are you going to Trust Him or Yourself?

What are things we need to trust the Lord with?
1. Our lives
2. Our spouses
3. Our children
4. Our ministry
5. Our everything!

This isn't a long lesson but as we go through our daily life we need to TRUST the Lord. He knows our tomorrows and he knows what we need.

So trust in the Lord with all THINE heart and lean NOT unto thine own understanding!
When we try to lean our own understanding we fail but when we trust in God he helps us to get through whatever he's asked us to Trust Him for.
 

Be content

OUCH! Be content your told.... is that always easy? I don't think so. Contentment -

a state of happiness and satisfaction.

In general I would say we are all happy, usually satisfied. But being content all the time. Is it easy? No it's not but the Bible tells us in: 

 

Philippians 4:11  "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."

You will notice that I have underlined, made bold, highlighted and italicized the phrase "...therewith to be content." Why you ask? Well, there have been events in our lives that we, you and I, may not be content with but have you ever stopped to think, God brought us to it, be content because, He WILL take you through it.

This won't be long or elaborate but let me share with you, if you don't do as Philippians 4:11 says and be content, you will be miserable! I realize that when it says "state" it doesn't mean the 48 continuous states. But in this particular situation I'm going to use state, as in where you live.

Has God placed in the balmy, warm Southern states? Has he placed you in the Midwest in Tornado alley? Has he placed you out west where there's desert and lots of wild fires? Or has he placed in the North where there's more cool days than not? No matter what part of the US you are in, if you are there because God sent you there BE CONTENT!

I'm talking to children, teens and adults. You may have struggles which we will all have. You may feel no one understands your situation. Maybe you feel that you've been forgotten by all. Friend, God hasn't forgotten you, he understands your situation and he wants to be there for your struggles. Are you going to allow him to be the God of god's in your life.

I'm currently dealing with a situation that if I'm not careful could make me as an adult to become discontented. However, with God's help and with prayer and the Bible this girl isn't going to become discontented because I know without a doubt that God has placed our family in the state of Maine and there's a purpose behind it." What's that purpose, to be a witness for him and to plant the seed of salvation in as many lives as we can. If our family allows discontentment to set it, who will have won? Satan! That is something I DO NOT WANT!

Friend, "...whatsoever state I am therewith to be content." Are you going to follow the scriptures?
Just a thought for each and everyone of us to consider and ponder.

Bored? Really?

If boredom walked up to you and introduced itself would you really know what it was?
We say, "I'm bored" "This is boring" "I'm going to be bored if....." Well some say these things but you know as a child and as a parent I wasn't allowed to say bored and I've not allowed my children to get into that habit either. A friend told me I would probably be giving boredom jobs to do if it did walk up and introduce itself to me :)

What does bored mean? Bored is and Adjective; means: Feeling weary because one is unoccupied or lacks interest in one’s current activity:
she got bored with staring out of the window
they would hang around all day, bored stiff

I can understand sometimes we have a lack of interest in our activity, BUT shouldn't we enjoy what we are doing ESPECIALLY if it's for the Lord?! With this wonderful world the Lord has given us, with all the things that we can do to improve this or that, or even to serve the Lord... WHAT? Serving the Lord isn't boring?! OH MY I never knew! Guess what friend serving the Lord is FAR FROM boring.

"...whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory God!"

1 Corinthians 10:31 "Whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do, do ALL to the Glory of God!"

1 Corinthians 14:40   "Let all things be done decently and in order."
Idle hands and minds will bring forth things that are NOT Christ honoring. That is where people start saying, "I'm Bored!" If you find yourself with free time, Fill it with good!

Make the word bored a word you really don't know if you would recognize it.
As I mentioned in the beginning I would probably give out jobs if boredom walked up to me. Here's a sample of what I do on a daily basis...
up by 6
Devotions done by 7
boys are up and doing chores
by 8:30 we are sitting down having school
while the boys work independently I'm either helping them, blogging, working on church things or doing household chores.
At noon we take a break for lunch
90% of the time by 1 we are either done with school or taking test for the day.
Once school is done the boys have things they enjoy to do or they will do required jobs for that day.
 
Saturdays aren't wasted in front of the TV - we are either working at the church, soul winning or working on things at home that we didn't finish that week.

Sundays we're are in church. Now on Sunday afternoon the boys play on their iPods or computers even take naps sometimes. We do keep our Sunday afternoons open for changes that way if we are needed some place or there's something that needs to be done we're not tied to anything BUT church in the morning and the evening.

You say, wait a minute I didn't see family time in this. Oh don't worry we get our family time and besides I said this was rough draft of what I do. As you can see I don't allow boredom to take over. We don't allow our children the opportunity to say I'm bored. Do they? Yes they are human and they do forget. They also know that saying I'm bored gets a job. So we don't hear it often. :)


 

Who Do You Follow?

I was looking at my last post and thought I'd add something to that -- Bible Characters that we should follow....

1. Solomon - If you read through Song of Solomon there are lots of good things we can follow.
2. David - Psalms Oh my the Psalms has so much good in it and so many things that we can follow through praising God and so much more!
3. Paul - The book of Acts
4. Dorcas (Tabitha) Doer of Good Deeds!

These are JUST A FEW people we can look to as the right kind of people to follow.

Follow, follow I will follow Jesus anywhere, everywhere, I will follow him. 
In the case of my husband I have sang many times
Follow, follow I will follow Bill anywhere, everywhere I will follow him -- Have I always wanted to follow my husband no, but I have because we are serving the Lord and wherever the Lord leads my husband, I will follow.

Matthew 6:24 "No man can serve two Masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

So today Lets look at the people in the Bible and our lives whom we want to follow!
 

Who Do you Follow?

Follow, Follow I will follow Jesus, anywhere, everywhere, I will follow Him.
Or do you sing
Follow, Follow I will follow the world, where ever and everywhere, I will follow the world.

You and I have a choice - Will it be to follow Jesus or follow the World?

Matthew 6:24 "No man can serve two Masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

I'm going to use something that many of use enjoy that's following our friends on Facebook. Do you follow the friend who is critical, negative, curses, post things that are not proper? OR Do you follow the one who is uplifting, encouraging and not afraid to say things about the Lord, church and the Bible?

As Matthew 6:24 says we CANNOT serve 2 masters. You must chose who you are going to follow.
The Lord will lead you in the direction that is straight and narrow. He will give you strength, wisdom and knowledge in what to do with your life. Where as when you follow the world, Satan, he will offer you things such as money, ungodly things etc.

So friend, whom will you serve?


 

Everything's alright in my Fathers house!

If you knew Dr Jack Hyles, or if you attended his church or college you will know this song. Whenever things were hard or something was happening I remember Bro Hyles coming in and singing with us,

Everything's alright in my Fathers house

in my Fathers house

in my Fathers house

Everything's alright in my Fathers house

Where there's Joy, Joy, Joy!

 

Come and go with me to my Fathers house

to my Fathers house

to my Fathers house

Come and go with me to my Fathers house

Where there's Joy, Joy, Joy!

 

As a college student, as worker in the deaf ministry, as a wife, mom, teacher, then later as a Missionaries wife and now a Pastors wife, this song has meant a lot to me! Today is one of those days where, If my former Pastor hadn't of cared for his college students and if he hadn't of been there for us and yes taught us this song; how many of us wouldn't be where we are today.

 

Life isn't a bed a roses and even when we have rough times we can always remember "Everything's alright in my Fathers house!" Now if you are asking who's your Father, in this song it's referring to our Heavenly Father, and yes EVERYTHING is alright in his House! Praise the Lord that I have a heavenly Father who loves me, an earthy daddy who loves and a husband who loves me!

 

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave His ONLY begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should perish but have everlasting life."

 

See if everything wasn't alright in my Fathers house, do you think he would have given His ONLY son to die for you and me? No, I don't think he would because then he wouldn't be perfect. Heaven wouldn't be perfect. Friend if you are having a rough day, going through a trial please know with Christ, "Everything's alright in my Fathers house."

Casting your care upon, whom?

Friend who do you cast your cares upon? Do you depend on self? Do you go to your peers? Or do you go to the Lord?

I Peter 5:7 clearly states that we can cast our cares on the Lord and he will care for you. Now I don't know about you but I'd rather go to one who cares for me than to depend on self or another person.

A dear friend of mine has been through the fire, and she realized that the only one who could truly help her was her Saviour. In a few months I'm going to be asking her to share her story here on my blog. She and I were raised basically the same, but our choices lead us different directions. However a little over a year ago, the Lord allowed our paths to cross again. I praise the Lord that my dear friend has come back to the right choice. I will not go into details but she needs prayer things aren't all roses for her, but her future is bright. So friend what are your concerns, worries, fears? Let me suggest that you "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."

If you are unsaved and don't understand how God could care for you, please message me and I will be more than happen to share with you the Gospel. We serve a mighty God, a loving God and God who wants you in His family!

I'm a child of the king! I've been adopted into his family and wouldn't trade it for the world!!

*The picture above was done by Paula Joiner Chapman
 

Be Grateful! Be Thankful!

 

Thank you Lord for saving my soul

Thank you Lord for making me whole

Thank you Lord for giving to me

Thy great Salvation so full and free!

 

Thank you Lord for family and friends

Thank you Lord for house and warmth

Thank you Lord!

 

 



Are you going willingly or being dragged?

Good afternoon, well as I was on Facebook earlier I was reading various post some by Pastors, some by Pastors wives and others by what we call lay people. I read this one comment that I thought to be very interesting. When I went back to find it I couldn't I find it so I'm going to try and give this little story as best as I can.

A little boy was visiting his grandma and saw people walking their small dogs. The little boy wanted to walk a dog but his grandma didn't own a dog just a cat. When he asked if he could walk the cat, grandma said yes but she didn't think the cat would go. Well, he found the cat put a string around his neck and carried him outside. After some time grandma was getting worried because her grandson hadn't returned. As she looked out the door her grandson comes around the corner pulling a cat that is clawing and grabbing at anything it can. When she asked why it took so long he replied, I was determined that the cat was either going to go for a walk or be dragged. 

Is that how God feels about us? He wants us in His will even if he has to drag us? As a 13 yr old, I went to Mexico on a Missions Trip and I had a great time. I learned a lot though on that trip and one of them was God's will for my life. I knew at the age of 13 that the Lord either wanted me to be a Missionaries wife or Pastors wife. The summer of 1981 I surrendered to God's will. Yes I was only 13 but God knew my future. I don't have the testimony of coming out of some deep sin, or being raised by parents who didn't love me, or even being raised by a single parent. At one time I use to think wow my life is pretty dull.... I was raised by my biological parents, they loved me, they cared for me, I was put in Christian School, my parents although unsaved at the time raised me in church. My parents did get saved, they attended church regularly closer to my teen years, my dad ended up being a Pastor, I went off to Bible College, met the one the Lord had for me.... what more could I ask for. That's not a dull life that's living the life God had for me. Have I slipped out of His, I would say, yes I probably have.  I admire those who come from rough situations and get saved and serve the Lord in His Will! I don't know everything and I trust me I don't claim to know everything, but I've heard preached that there are different levels of God's will. God has you in the  part of His will that He wants you at, don't fight him, trust him, depend on him and he WILL carry you through.

Deuteronomy 13:4 "Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him."

Following the Lord is the greatest thing any of us can do or you can be like that poor cat and be drug along until you decided to submit to God's Will. I don't know about you but I think I'd rather willingly go than to be drug. As Christians being in the center of God's is 150% better than being outside His will. If you're not sure if your in God's Will today, pray, seek God's face, ask Him to show you His will for your life.

 

Are you on the right path?

Good afternoon friends, what a year we have had! You say but it's ONLY March 6th. Yep you are right and thus far we have had a year of...... Before I go into that I want to ask, "Are you on the right Path of serving God?"

In a few minutes I will finish my statement but first lets look at some scripture:
John 15:1-5  "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."

Are you a fruit bearing Christian? Do you tell others of Christ, do you serve the Lord through your church? How about in your speech, actions etc. See if we as Christians aren't bearing fruit we aren't on the right path. What Path? The Path that is narrow and straight that leads to great things being done for the Lord. None of us are perfect and we all back slide BUT we can all turn around and get back to the right path.

Now, the reason for this scripture is to go back to my the statement I didn't finish at the beginning. You are right that we are barely into the third month of 2014 however after talking with my husband/Pastor this morning we started thinking about what has happened thus far. I'll start with our church and the progress there:

At church we had many things given, I mean Free, to the church to help with our finishing the Sunday School Building. People who didn't want to work on it before have been there almost weekly working and getting things done. We've had former members return. We have seen people saved. Now these aren't just from our family this is our church family as a whole.

Now to look at what has been going on with our family - At the first of the year we decided to daily Thank the Lord for just one thing he had done for us that day. To be wise in our spending and save for future things our family would like to do. A few of us had decided in January to change our way of life as far as health is concerned. Naturally that will take a little more money but we decided that we wanted to do that. We decided to start the WMS (Women's Missionary Society) at our church, To start a Bus Ministry in the Spring, and many many other things...... The biggest decision was when Preacher announced to the church that he had a goal of 100 in church for our Dedication service in April/May. (If you would like more information on that message me and I will get that) all this to say;

In January my husband was laid off of his second job, which was the income that we paid our bills and bought groceries with. Blessing here - The Lord has given us EVERYTHING we need to make it from week to week. Then at the end of Feb (as many already know) I flipped the truck - which incurred many hospital bills, doctor bills AND put us down to 1 car and it doesn't run the greatest! Now you say so? What's the big deal? You are serving God. Yes, we are bearing fruit and ole Satan doesn't like it! Then just last night 3/5 we had a chimney fire! It could, just like the accident, have been fatal, but Praise the Lord it wasn't.

Some look at this as "bad luck" well friend I look at it as a test, a trial, to see if we are serious about serving our wonderful Lord and Saviour here in Maine. I will be the first to admit, I'm not settling in fast to the "way of life' in Maine. As I said in my last posting, maybe I've not done something or should have said something, I don't know but I do know, "I love the Lord and I want to serve him with all my heart, and if having what seems like tragedy to some, happen in my life to make sure I stay on the right path, I will accept it. Is it easy to accept? NO the pain, the sleepless nights, are not easy to endure but through God's grace and the peace and rest he gives I/we make it. I have days with no pain and nights with good sleep which I praise the Lord for.

So even though we are only on March the 6th, it has been a Year! A Year of hardship, Yes. A Year of trials, Yes. A Year of aches and pains, Yes. A Year of Blessing, Absolutely! A Year of seeing our church members grow, Absolutely! A Year of first, Absolutely!

So as you read my blog don't pity me, Pray for my family, Pray for Second Baptist Church, God's NOT FINISHED WITH US YET!

A Heart that's Devoted

Are you devoted  to God? I know the last few post I've done on either of my blogs I have mentioned my recent accident, but may I say that accident although I don't understand why God allowed it to happen if for no other reason it was to bring me closer to Him. I have been questioned how in the world can you say God let you be involved in something that could have been so fatal and in the same breath say it was to possibly or it was to bring you closer to him.

First let me say, although I don't understand it all, especially on the vehicle end of it all, why I had this accident, I don't know. Why, what would have been our 2nd vehicle was totaled, I don't know. Why, my seat belt didn't hold, I don't know. Why God allowed me to live but not even 2 miles away a family lost there 24 yr old son in a car accident just hours after I had mine, I don't know. Yes, I have questioned why? BUT friend a long time ago I gave my life to the Lord. Have I always done right, no. I'm not perfect, but I have tried to be pleasing to my Saviour in several ways. The key being my topic, "A Heart that's Devoted!"

See, I'm not 100% the Proverbs 31 lady (at least in my eyes, I don't think I am) I do all I can to be that Proverbs 31 lady but it doesn't always happen. Reason being, I'm HUMAN!

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies" Proverbs 31:10
I'm going to give a few points on how I believe that I'm "A heart that's devoted."

1. I'm devoted to my husband - When I said "I do" I meant it. It was and still is this day till death do us part. We joke that death will be because of this or that but I LOVE my husband and you know I pity the person who tries to break up our marriage. Reason being HE IS MINE! I am devoted with my whole heart to William P III!

2. I'm devoted to my children - ALL 5 by birth and #6 through marriage :) I love my children and I'm devoted to them to be there when they need me. To listen when they need a listening ear. To discipline when they need correction. I LOVE Tom, Tabitha, Paul IV, Caleb, Samuel and Jason

3. I'm devoted to my Lord - Do I fail him? YES but I'm devoted to serve him, to love him and to Praise him!

4. I'm devoted to my Bible - THE KING JAMES BIBLE

5. I'm devoted to my church - Second Baptist Church is MY CHURCH! I'm devoted Not to the building but the church, THE PEOPLE! I love the members of my church!

6. I'm devoted to my friends - You say friends? YES Friends are important and I'm devoted to them.

See my heart is devoted to several people and things. Why? God wants me to be devoted, not half hearted about life but to give me all and to be what He created me to be. Am I perfect LOL NO.
Am I better than others NO. Do I think because I write these things on a blog for the world to see that I'm some great scholar, NO! I am simply Paula Micheal, born and raised in the South, grew up in church and Christian school, attended Bible college had some of the greatest Men of God as my Pastor through the years. Who met a Godly man who wanted to/and is serving God.

See on Thursday 2/20, which I don't remember, but maybe I said/didn't say or should have done something different, who knows, except the Lord. However, that accident sure has set me thinking, I wasn't going to share this but I feel the Lord would have me share this. On Sunday 2/23, my husband and boys had come in from church (I had gone but needed to return home early) my boys were in their rooms and my husband was going over his evening sermon. I walked into the room and burst into tears, all I could say to him was, "I could have Killed us all Thursday!" I believe I said it two or three times. My dear husband just hugged me and kept saying, "But you didn't, God has a great things planned for our family." He even assured me that it wasn't my fault and that I was one of the best drivers he knew. Friend things that happen in our lives isn't always our fault, sometimes it's allowed to happen for a reason. I believe with all my heart that, 11:45 A.M. Thursday, of Feb 20th was for a reason. What? I really don't know yet except that I decided to:
1. Be more devoted to God
2. Pray more for those who live their lives in Pain and hurting EVERY day.
3. To serve my God like I've never served him before.

So friend, let me ask you, "Are you fully devoted to God with your whole Heart?'


 

Are you 100% you're saved?

Friends you never know what will happen. Today 2/20 I was on my way to be a blessing to a dear family, when all of sudden we're sliding, losing control of our truck and then flipping! As I was laying on my back trapped in the truck I was thanking God that I was saved, I was alive, my boys as far as I could tell were ok. Yes, we had injuries and yes I'm in a lot of pain. But God protected us!

Samuel, who is pictured here had presence of mind to climb out of the car, call 911 and start trying to get help. He himself was hurt slight concussion but Praise God he was able to do those things. Below at the hospital a dear lady from our church showed up and was such a blessing... Jason whom we though was had possible back injury came out of this with only a sprained ankle and headache :) We also though I had a broken collar bone, but again Praise the Lord I'm just very sore through my shoulders and neck with lots of pain, BUT nothing is BROKEN!                                           

God is such a merciful God and a God who protects his own. If you friend don't know for sure that you are saved please feel free to contact me through here.

As I sit here with my 2 boys who were in the truck with me, my other son and husband and thinking of my children who live in other states, I'm praising God for life!

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.  Right here in this verse we see, the Love of God, in that he gave His ONLY son, why? so that you and I could have eternal life! 

 

You don't know when your time is, Please be ready as I was today but God choose to leave my sons and I here on earth. Praise the Lord I'm saved and serving in Him where he wants me!! 

 

Are you Bold?

While at church last night my husband was Preaching the end of a series that he's been on for 49 weeks. The whole 49 weeks focused on I & II Peter. There is so much knowledge, truth, and wisdom in these 2 books. As he taught I thought about it and how do I represent Christ, not just because I'm the Pastors wife, but as a person, a child of God. Some of today's lesson is from my Preachers sermon, added into what I believe the Lord wanted me to share today.

Last night though was on listening to the world or God. Are you bold enough to say No to the world and follow Christ as Paul did in II Peter 3? Are you going to follow the world in its lies or be Bold and take a stand for Christ?

II Corinthians 11:20 "I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak, How beit whereinsoever any is bold (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also." If you cont to read through to the end of this chapter you will see "I am bold also" several many times. Paul took a stand, he was bold. How can we as Christians be like Paul?

One thing is we can do is not listen to the worlds music. Now I know you can't totally avoid it, as a matter of fact our Wal-Mart here, has started playing vial, wicked music. One of church members asked that as we come to the store that we complain to the manager. She doesn't want to listen to the garbage (she works there and has no choice) but yet they say we don't want to offend anyone. Take a stand as many of us have, and say but you are offending me and my children by playing the nasty music.

Another area we can be bold is dress differently - You say but I'll look weird! Guess what the Bible tells us that we are peculiar people. Deuteronomy 14:2 "For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth." So be Bold, be peculiar, be different from the world as Paul was.

I just listed two things but you and I both know there are 100's of ways we can be bold! Be bold through soul winning, through your testimony, through your walk with God. Now don't take what I'm saying and say oh so I can stand here or there and yell, your evil, your going to Hell for this or that if you don't repent. No, be civil with your boldness. Christians are under attack enough without someone going crazy and making it worse. If your church has a time where you go down town and Preach the gospel and sing, wonderful be a part of it, that is part of being bold. Maybe you have a Prison Ministry, or Nursing home ministry, Maybe a bus route. You can be bold in your witness without making a scene.

In II Peter 3 Paul wrote to us, that we need to use wisdom, some won't understand and some will. however we need to go in grace, and be bold. Verse 18 "But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen."

Go out be a peculiar people, be bold and witness to others but make sure that in your life you are growing in grace and knowledge so that Christ be glorified through it all, not Look at me, see what I did?! No it's to glorify God.

So as you go out and do the things that need to be done from day to day, will you go boldly, will you look peculiar to others, will God be glorified in all you do daily?
 

What's in your Closet?

WOW! That is such a broad topic. What's in your closet? Well, to step into my clothes closet you would see blouses, shoes, dresses, skirts, shoes, jackets, scarves, shoes, purses, shoes, maybe even if you look deep enough gifts for various people. Oh did I mention you would find shoes?! Heehee

If someone who wanted to view what I wear when not at church, or out in public I wouldn't be ashamed for them to view it. I have nothing to hide. What about when Jesus looks at your heart, soul or mind? Of course we all know that God knows ALL, but using the thought of hiding gifts in my clothes closet. What is in your life that you Don't want ANYONE to know about?

Is it: a TV program you watch, what you view on the Internet, maybe your thoughts, or how you really are in the privacy of your own home. Or can you say, "I've given my WHOLE Heart, Soul, and Life to the Lord" Can you say, "I have NOTHING to hide."

Friend just as I am willing to let anyone see my clothes closet, so should my life be to where I'm not afraid of anything being found out about me. Let me insert here, I'm not perfect but I do my best and through the help of the Lord to keep my life right.

Matthew 22:37   

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Friend can you love the Lord with ALL thy heart, soul and mind if you are saying NO to giving up this or that? No you can't you have to serve either God or Satan. You can NOT serve 2 masters. So friend if you say, "I love the Lord, BUT....." Or Well, I love the Lord with all my heart and soul but he can't have my mind. What do you think that does to the Holy Spirit?

Deuteronomy 6:5   

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Not only are we told in the New Testament to Love the Lord with ALL, but also in the Old Testament we are told the same thing. See if the people of the Old Testament were told to do it, then so shouldn't we.

I was curious how many times in the Bible Heart, Mind and Soul were found, upon searching I found them to be listed  1,246 times in different instances.

I would say when the Lord wants us to do something concerning our heart, mind and soul that maybe we might should take heed and follow what he is saying. Personally if the Lord says it once I believe it should be heeded, but maybe some need a little more re-enforcement.

So is your closet clean? your heart? your soul? your mind?
What are you trying to hide in the corner of your heart?
What about your soul, are you trying to hide?
What thoughts that go through your mind, are you trying to hide?

Remember what's in your heart and mind eventually comes out of your mouth. Do you harbor, bitterness, hatred, fear, cursing, lying, cheating etc. Decide today that you are going to give it ALL to the Lord so that when someone/the Holy Spirit wants to see inside.  You can say, "come on in, anyone is welcome!"

Who's your true Love?

John 3:16 -I Love the way this is done!   Now that is LOVE!!

How people do you know that would give their ONLY Son for you? To be honest I don't know that I know of any OTHER THAN the Lord!



With today being Valentines day, let someone dear and near to you know that you love them, BUT don't let it be just today show them, tell them you love them 365 Days a year!!

 

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