Respecting your Elders

Have you noticed that in today's world there is less respect for people than say in the 70's or even 80's?
Think back to when you were a child. If you told your Dad "no" you got a good ole fashioned whipping. If you talked back to your Mom, be assured if she didn't spank you Dad would! One thing I didn't like to hear was, "Paula, you just wait till your dad gets home!" Oh man.... when I heard that I KNEW I had not been respectful. See when I was disobedient I got disciplined. You know what? It didn't ruin my life!!!

I can't get over how people say, you spank your child they will turn out to be a thief or murderer... What? That isn't true!!! The Bible clearly teaches, "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it."

Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. What has happened to our families who don't make their children learn these verses.

If you don't work, you don't eat! Today our children think that things should be handed over to them without responsibility.

You may ask what does this have to do with Respect? ALOT!!! If we don't train our children now they won't have respect for you, they won't, want to work and earn their way. They will hurt you, and depend on the government to care for them. Is this what we want? I know I don't, I'm sure you as a parent don't want this either!!!

So as parents lets raise our children to be hard workers, to obey those in authority over them, and to Respect their elders. This was no elaborate devo but in watching how kids to day act I believe it was just a lesson to remind us about our children.

How's your walk with God?

As we near the end of 2011, can you look back on your walk with God and say, "I've grown?" Or do you look back say, "I've backslidden." Or are you satisfied with your where you are?

As I looked through a book I purchased for this up coming year keeping notes and things in from my devo's I wanted to share this with everyone.

The Basics of the Bible

II Timothy 3: 16-17

1. The preservation of the Bible

     A. The Bible is inspired by God (II Peter 1:21)

          1. The Word was dictated by God (Exodus 20)

          2. The Word came to the prophets (Jeremiah 1:2)

          3. God spoke His Word through dreams (Daniel 2:1)

    B. The Bible is called the Word of God.

         (Ps 119;9, Jeremiah 15:16, Revelation 1:2)

    C. The Bible is preserved as the Word of God.

         (I Peter 1:23-25, PS 119:89, Isaiah 40:8, Matt 5:18, Matt 24:35)

        

II. The Power of the Bible

     A. The Bible has the power to save sinners (I Peter 1:23)

     B. The Bible has the power to develop faith (Romans 10:17)

    C.  The Bible has the power to bring growth to Christians (I Peter 2:2-3)

    D.  The Bible has the power to change your attitude (PS 119:7)

    E.  The Bible has the power to keep you from your sin (PS 119:11)

III. The purpose of the Bible (Heb 4:12)

      *The Bible was written to be used.

      A. Hear it (Romans 10:17)

      B. Read it (Joshua 1:8)

      C. Study it (II Tim 2:15)

      D. Memorize it (PS 119:11)

     E. Meditate on it (I Tim 4:15)

This last point is why I have this devo blog, so we can "hear, read, study, memorize and meditate on God's Word!

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



Are you Bitter or Better?

At our ladies conference last month we had the privilege of hearing Mrs Buchanan speak. I'm going to share a little of what she taught. It was a BIG help for me and my prayer would be it would be a help for you.

First lets begin by reading I Peter 4:12 - 16; Genesis 50:20 and Romans 8:28

So how can we be better and not bitter? How can you be a Joyful woman?

1. Learn to forgive! Do you hold grudges against friends, teachers, parents, sisters, brothers, grandparents??? If you do you NEED to forgive.
2. Become a better person not a bitter person.
3. Require a higher standard for yourself. If the others say this is ok, set your standard above that so you aren't on the line.
4. Have joy through your trials! YES I said have trials through your trials.
5. The person who dies to self has no life of his own
II Corinthians 8:5
6. Become a better wife and mom by reading the instructions - The Bible! The ONLY book to correctly lead you in being the wife and mom you should be. The other books out their are ok, and I do recommend some of them, but first I will recommend that the Bible be your KEY instruction manual.

B - Basic
I - Instruction
B - Before
L - Leaving
E - Earth

Phil 4:8 and Ps 27:10

Read your Bible
Rest in the Lord
We have daily battles why not allow the Lord to fight them for you. Don't fight your own battles.

Friends, are you a bitter person? or a better person?
Do you hold grudges?
Do you turn people off because things don't or can't go your way?
God loves you and wants you to be a better person!!!

Are you clean or Dirty?

I Corinthians 3:9 - 10, 16 and Isaiah 3:8 - 9

The inner thoughts and desires will eventually come to the outside.
The best thing is getting your inner thoughts cleaned up!
What do I mean by this?
Do you have the right attitude? Are you an angry person? Do you hold bitterness in your heart? Do you have people you haven't forgiven? Are you discontent?
Read Prov 4:23 Have a guard around your heart!
Psalm 19:14 and Jeremiah 17:9

Heart Attitudes that we need to not have:
1. Anger - If you controlled your anger imagine what you do with your life.
How could you change your marriage, your home, your children?!
Anger can even destroy your health.

2. Bitter - Are you a bitter person. Do you hold bitterness against a family because they treated you wrongly? A sister? A grandma? An Uncle? you know who that person is.
If you are bitter you're also bitter with God! Hebrews 12:15

3. Unforgiving - You need to be able to forgive. Luke 6:38

4. Discontent - This isn't pleasing to God. Decided I'll be happy when  _______!
Phil. 2:13 God knows our life. Hebrews 13:5

5. Depression - Self Pity
Remember we are fearfully and wonderfully made we have no need for depression.
If you feel yourself slipping into this one, get out do something for another person!!!

3 Steps to prevent the above from happening.
1. Decided that you will guard your spirit and the spirit of those you're around.
2. Prepare, be ready - We need to "eat" Read our Bible! It will keep you healthy.
3. Ponder - Ponder on God's Word!

From the second you wake up, until the day you take your last breath you should be in fellowship with the Holy Spirit!! We are the temple of the Holy Ghost and we need to protect that fellowship with him.

I pray as you have read this that it will in some way touch your heart and that you will allow the Lord to show you what you as an individual needs to change in your life.

Are you Negative or Positive?

I was talking with my boys today about being negative and how it begins and how we can change that. Now before you close this page please read on. Negative people can destroy not only a person, but a couple, a family, a congregation YES negative people can destroy more than they realize.

Last night our preacher spoke on "Are you Revival Stopper?" Well one of his many many points was being a negative person. That hit at home, are we negative, have we been negative so much that we don't even realize we're being negative? A person can lie so much that they believe their own lies. So that could go with being negative also.

Nehemiah 6:3 "And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?"

When you have gossip or negative talk to spread and you call or go to a person who is working and serving the Lord you are actually preventing the work to cont. It takes the one you want to pull down, listening to you. If the person continues in what they are doing and you stand there a talk they are hearing and the negative you are spreading is hurting them. Satan can then use what you have said to pull them down, and then they if they don't stay in their Bible and prayer to do as you did to them.

I have several friends that I love dearly, but I have to be careful how much time I spend with them. Why? when they decide to complain, gossip, and be negative I can't be around it. Why? I have a husband and 5 children I need to protect and make sure they are not hearing that from me!

So, the thought for today, "Are you a negative or Positive person?" How do you influence those around youJ?

Good Morning everyone!

How are you this fine and beautiful day!
This is the day that the Lord hath made I will rejoice and be glad in it.
What about today can you rejoice in?

Oh rejoice in the Lord!
It's amazing what Praising Can do.

Just a few thoughts to think on today!
Rejoice in the weather, your health, your family, your SALVATION!!!
Have a wonderful day friends!!!

More to be desired....

What do you desire?
Psalm 19:10 "More to be desired are they than gold, yea than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb."

In school we started learning Psalm 19: 7-11 which has been put to song (you don't want to hear me sing *smile) but I was going over the verses with my boys and we were discussing a few things, when one of them, being a boy, made a rather un-desirable sound. One of his brothers was like, you know there are other things that are more desirable than what you did! I got to thinking about that.
What things do we say, do, par-take in, listen to, that is less desirable than what God would want us to say, do, listen to etc?

My son was being your regular 13 yr old boy making disgusting noises with his arm pits. To me an one of his siblings it wasn't desirable. When I spoke with him later about it, I asked him what about that is desirable to you? He simply said, "It's fun."
Friend, soul-winning, reading our Bible, praying, going to church, working in a ministry should be "fun" it should be desirable!

We are told in the Bible "to go out and preach the gospel to EVERY creature!" We are told to go into the highways, and byways to tell others of Christ. Is it always something we desire to do? Nope! I'll be honest when it comes to some things, it's NOT in my comfort zone so therefore it's NOT a desire! Teaching is a desire, I'm in my comfort zone, sitting a doing my blog is desirable, I'm in my comfort zone.
Going out knocking on a total strangers door to ask him if he were to die to day, yes it's desirable BUT it's NOT in my comfort zone. So what do I do?

I take PS 19:10 More to be desired (those going to heaven whom I witness too and accept the free gift; that's desirable)
are they than gold (salvation is better than spending money on earthly possessions when someone could live in Heaven for eternity)
yea than much fine gold (all the gold in the world won't be desirable after the rapture)
sweeter also than honey (the desire of God are sweeter than honey!)
and the honeycomb. (I love a good honeycomb, but that won't matter if I'm not desirable for me Lord)

This is pretty simple, basic thought, but are you desirable?
Is what you say, do, the way you dress is that desirable to the Lord?
Let's be "MORE TO BE DESIRED!"

My God is so Big....

My God is so Big, so Strong and so Mighty there's Nothing (I mean Nothing) my God can not do.
My God is so Big, so Strong and so Mighty there's NOTHING my God can not do.
The Mountains are His (When you're on the Top of a Mountain hes right there!)
The Valley's are His ( are in a valley, hard times, family issues, financial issues? Guess what He is right there!)
The stars are His handiwork too. (as a child an maybe an adult you have wished on a star. God is there to hear that wish!)
My God is so Big, so Strong and so Mighty there's NOTHING (Nothing at all) My God can not do! FOR YOU!!!!

PS 23
1 The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and they staff they comfort me. (God is with you in the Valley)
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Now if God isn't Big, Strong and Mighty; How could he do all that?!

Growing on the Go....

I'm important to God! Matthew 19:14 "Let the little children come to me"
Jesus wants each of us to know we are important to Him.

We are so important to God that he died on the cross for us, forgave us our sins, rose again and is now waiting at the right hand of God to come back and take us home! WOW!!!
Have you gone through somethings in your life? Don't keep dwelling on it. Why? You are important to God and you give it all to Him.
Do you wonder at times if you are loved? Guess what? No matter what God loves!! Why? You are important to God!

This past wkend I was at our Ladies conference and one of the speakers talked about forgiving. If we forgive and submit to God he can do so much more with our lives. Don't hold on to the "baggage" in your life. Give it to God and let him do a work in you. Why? Because you ARE IMPORTANT TO GOD!!!!

Growing on the Go....

I know in today's world we are always run here and run there. Do we take time to make sure our children are growing Spiritually when we get busy? Over the next several weeks I'm going to post some on the Go things that anyone can do to help their children through the days, weeks, and months of going all the time.

Growing in My Awareness of God. Now
~ Teach your child about God's love. John 3:16
~ Help your child to understand the TRUE way of Creation Genesis 1 & 2
~ Teach them how people are different
~ Teach your child about God's plan, and that he has a plan for each of us.

These are a few of many things we can teach our children.
On teaching our children about Gods love you can read
Psalm 107:1
Psalm 73:1
Luke 1:37
I John 4:10

Remember always to pray with your children it doesn't matter how young or how old they are, we should pray with them.

Do You know where you'll Spend Eternity?

Today in church our Preacher, preached a sermon on "Say So". What are we to say so about? We are to say we are Christian, we are to tell other about Christ. I know it's been awhile since I posted the plan of salvation on my blogs. I try to keep everything uplifting and positive.

This is so very crucial that you know where you'll spend eternity.
Let me share with you how you can know that you'll spend eternity in Heaven not Hell.
I John 5:13
"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."

First we need to realize we're all sinners. Romans 5:12
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned;" (One man - the first man, Adam)

Revelation 20:14
" And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death."
My friend if your not saved you'll die here on earth, but then there's a death that is far worse which is the 2nd death. We're referring to Hell in this verse.

However God has paid that price for us already if we only accept him as Saviour.
Romans 6:23
"For the wages of sin is death; BUT the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

How can we avoid the 2nd death, Hell?
Romans 5:8
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 10:13
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Romans 10:9-11
:That if thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, "Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."

If you only ask and believe in Faith that the Lord died for your sins and that he is ready right this very minute to take you as his own and has and will forgive you of your sins!!
Hebrews 11:6
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

If you want to have this free gift say (read) this prayer:
Dear Jesus,
I know that I am a sinner, if I died now in my sin, I would go to Hell Right now, by faith, I am trusting You as my personal Saviour and my only hope for Heaven. Thank you for dying on the cross for me and for saving me from an eternity in Hell. In Jesus name, Amen!

"Shall We Gather at the River"

Think of gathering at the River in Heaven after the rapture! Wow!!! Wonderful thoughts of heaven and being in a perfect place!

Revelation 22:1-7
Vr 1 "And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb."

Shall we gather at the river
Where bright angel feet have trod,
With it's crystal tide forever
Flowing by the throne of God?

Soon we'll reach the shining river;
Soon our pilgrimage will cease;
Soon our happy hearts will quiver
With the melody of peace.

Yes, we'll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river,
Gather wit the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God.

We can't even begin to imagine what heaven will be like, but isn't it wonderful to think of all the glories and beauties that are there. The loved ones we have missed here on here on earth will be there and we'll all be gathered there with our Saviour!!!

"It Is Well With My Soul"

Isaiah 48:10-22
Vr 18 "O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea."

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrow like sea billows roll,
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

It is well with my soul;
It is well, it is well with my soul.

And, Lord, hast the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll.
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend;
"Even so" -it is well with my soul.

God gives us His peace when we meet His requirements. Many times He sends unusual circumstances into our lives to make us more like His Son. If all things are accepted as from Him, then His peace is the result.

"My Faith Looks Up to Thee"

Hebrews 11:1-6
Vr 1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not see."

My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Saviour divine!
Now hear me while I pray;
Take all my guilt away;
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!

Pray believing and have Faith that God will answer your prayers. I love watching my children as their prayers are answered! Just recently my daughter, age 19, was praying about a situation. The Lord gave her a job that was wonderful for college, then he took it away. Tabitha was not understanding why this happened. The day she lost the one job, along with 70 some other people, she gets a call from her former job in KY. The Lord took care of her even though it meant she was going back to the college she had attended last yr. He provided her a full time job that will care for her bill and other needs while away from home!! Have Faith in God that he will take care of you!!

May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire;
As thou hast died for me,
Oh, may my love to Thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be,
A living fire!

When ends life's transient dream,
When death's cold, sullen stream
Shall o'er me roll,
Blest Saviour, then, in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!

You can experience things in life that yes, you may not ever become famous from but allow the Lord to use those experiences in your life to change you! Let your Faith look to God! Don't do in doubt what you would of done in Faith!

Reflection of this song: Ray Palmer's faith was not in himself or some "higher power," but in Christ. Our faith also must be in Him. The Bible says that Christ "was in all points tempted like as we are, yet [He was] without sin" Hebrews 4:15. In every situation that we find ourselves in, remember, Christ has been there too. 

"All Hail the Power of Jesus Name"

Philippians 2:1-11
Vr 9 - "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name."

All hail the pow'r of Jesus' name!
Let angels prostrate fall.
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown him Lord of all.

Let ev'ry kindred, ev'ry tribe,
On this terrestrial ball,
To Him all majesty ascribe
And crown Him Lord of all.

I Love this song! In a book I was reading here is what the author said about this song.
" Christ left His majestic position and condescended to provide salvation for lowly human beings. May He enjoy an exalted position in our hearts today. He and only He is worthy to be Lord of all."

WOW!! what a thought!!! Do we give the Lord the exalted position in our hearts? Something to think about and put into action.

Do you worship, praise and give the Lord power in your life and heart?

Good Morning!

Well, we are moved, not settled in by a long shot but I should be able to post a little more. I will be homeschooling so I don't know how much exactly I will get on but I'll get more than I was.

Rejoice in the Lord alway and again I say rejoice.

Living by Faith....

Oh my I have lived by faith in the past but I tell you what, the last wk has been a real test of my faith. For those who may not of known, our life has literally been turned upside down. We started 2 mo. ago planning on a possible move to Maine, packing, letting people know that we may be leaving and so on and so forth.
About a wk after we start this plan, we are told we have to move out of our home because they want to sell and that we have 30 days. OH boy! So we are thinking ok the Lord is leading and things are happening in such a way, it must be God's will.
Then a wk ago yesterday (Friday) we learn we are NOT going to Maine! Now we have no home, thankfully Bill still had his job, but we had ONLY 2 wks to find a place a live. Well we now have 5 days and NOTHING!!
This ole gal's faith is wavering, even though I know through faith God will take care of us.
I just keep trusting my Lord as I go along....
He will never leave me nor forsake me..... this includes he won't leave me homeless.
My faith looks up to Thee,

Are you living by faith? Do you allow God to do with you what is best?
You know, the last 2 months I have cried alot, I have prayed alot and YES I have doubted. You say, You doubted? Why?
I'm human just like you. I doubted that we were really seeing what God wanted us to see. Now though I see it as God wanted to see if we were willing to the comfort we are in. If we were willing to go to another church, and serve as we do here. Once we ALL, myself included said, "Ok Lord wherever you want us we'll serve." Everything changes and we are staying right here where we are a BIG part of our church. I don't understand why things happen the way they do, but I do know by putting my faith in God and letting go of my life, He knows what we need.

As I close I have a prayer request, we literally have 5 days to find a place to live and thus far nothing has opened up. We do have 1 home that is a possibility. Please if you would join us in prayer that we can find a home within our budget and that it's what God wants us to have.

A blessing to share with you....

Our church had a soul winning marathon for the teens, there was a total of 50 teens and 261 people saved!! The other HUGE blessing is that Samuel my 13 yr old lead his first 3 people to the Lord. Then my 16 yr old, Caleb lead 16 people to the Lord and Paul IV lead 6 people to the Lord. They sent 25 teens to Hagerstown which about 20 min from our church and the other 25 went to Winchester which is about 30 min from the church.

Our Youth Group is serving God and seeing people accept Christ! I'm so pleased and blessed to have a church that trains the young people to care the eternity of others.

Helping Our Teens - What exactly is a teen?

As a parent we here from our teens, "My parents just don't understand me!" Parents, maybe we don't, how do you treat your "young adult" You know when they are 13 they are just leaving childhood, when they are 14 they are maturing a little more, at 15 they really want their independence. At 16 they are very close to being an Adult, at 17 many are going to college and need mom and dad to understand their dreams, at 18 and 19 they are Young Adults!

I personally am at the stages of 13, 16, 17 and 18. Do you know how hard it is to work with all these stages at once? I will admit It does get a little easier as each child reaches the stage another has gone through. Although my only girl is the oldest so I learned one thing with her, and then my 17 was different in that the rest of the kids are boys. I do have to adjust things according to each child. NO two children are the same, I'm constantly amazed at this when all 5 of our kids have the same mom and dad but yet they are SO SO different!!!

Here are some suggestions Dr Jack Hyles gives in his book "How to Rear Teenagers" on how to understand and deal wit these precious people we call teenagers.

1. Remember that a teenager is nearer adulthood than childhood.
They are maturing not only in their actions but their bodies. The young person is becoming an adult.

2. He should be treated more like an adult than a child.
A wise parent will do all they can to resist the temptation to treat him/her as child but rather as a young adult. You say I have a teen who's troubled. If you deal with a troubled teen, your teen WILL say, "I'm treated like a child!' Our children have been our child since birth, we have done all the different things needed as an infant, then toddler, then child, now you have to realize your Child is NOT a child anymore, He or She is teen which is a Young Adult!

3. Exhibit patience with him.
Remember they are learning the ways of being an adult, they have limited experience. A wise dad and mom will do everything possible to exercise the most difficult part of being a parent manners - that of being patient with the teenager.

4. Remember his potential.
What can your teen do? Challenge him to reach his potential! Does he have music skills? Art? Athletic? Whatever it is challenge him to reach his FULL potential in that area!!!

5. Give him proof.
You may say what? Proof for what? Well, Teens want to know why? I was told this one time and I found it to be so true. Think about your son/daughter was 3, what was a favorite question they asked? It was Why? Now look at your teen, what seems to be their favorite question? Why!! So we need to NOT blow off our teen when they say, "Why can't I........ or Why is it that......." Whatever the question you answered

Remember You Are Somebody!!!

I'm copying this directly from the booklet I've used some throughout this series of lessons.

Go go Psalm 139 often, and read that wonderful passage again and again, realizing how much God loves you. You are somebody! God sent His son to die for YOU. You are priceless. You are forgiven of every wrong thing that you've ever done. You don't have to compare yourself to anyone else because you are special in your own right. You can fill a place nobody else can fill.

You need to get up tomorrow and dress one who is going to rule someday - not a dunce, not a nobody, not a person without talents, not a person with no worth, but someone who will rule someday. Self-worth is a necessity of life.

Begin today loving yourself. You will still feel unworthy at times, but you need never feel worthless.

If you fail to plan you plan to fail. Don't plan to fail in this matter of accepting whom you are in God's eyes. Doing so will help you reach out to others because you have accepted who you are in God's eyes. YOU are somebody!

Jeremiah 31;3 b "Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friends, wives, moms, children, husbands anyone who reads this please realize YOU are somebody and you were made by God.

I pray that this short series is help to someone somewhere.