Consider not things of old

Isaiah 43: 18

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

As we all know today is January 1, 2016! Hard to believe that we're in the 21st century let alone in the 16th year of the century.

What will we do with our life during this year?

Will you dwell on the bad of last year?

Will you let bitterness and anger set in on what didn't go your way?

OR

Will you look to the Lord for a better year?

Will you grow closer to the Lord?

Will you begin new friendships?

Will you Pray more?

Will you Read your Bible more?

What exactly will you do?

I'll not share ALL that I plan to do but I because many of you have followed the events of the last 13 months for us, let me say, I plan to go forward. With the Lords help I will put the past behind me. Why should I hold onto that which is no longer. See, although I don't understand past events I know that I can, have and will learn from it. Not only will I learn but I can, have and will grow because of it. I have a God in Heaven who cares for a little sparrow that falls and he cares for me to!

I have lots to look forward to in this year anyways why dampen that excitement by dwelling on the bad of the past. So as the Bible says, "Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old."  So 2016 I'm ready for you! Who will join me?

Giving Thanks :)

Hello on this bright, windy, cool Monday Afternoon :) Leaves are falling, everything is turning brown but yet it's so pretty out! Have you stopped to just thank the Lord for his beauty?

I've not been doing the daily Thanksgiving on my blogs this year rather on my family blog I'm posting Thanksgiving Scripture and I thought today I would Post the list of verses and let you who only follow this blog enjoy some of what I'm sharing other places as well.

In Psalm 119:18 it says,

"Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wonderous things out of thy law."

A friend sent this to me and I wanted to share with you also. There's nothing like reading scripture first thing each morning or any time and praying thanking God for all he's done.

We're on day 9 today but I'll include all the verses in case you want to go back and read the others :)

Psalm 95: 1-7
I Corinthians 1: 4-7
II Corinthians 4: 15-18
Isaiah 12: 2-6
Colossians 3: 12-17
I Thessalonians 5: 12-18
Psalm 107: 1-9
Philippians 4: 4-9
Psalm 100
Psalm 136: 1-12
Psalm 136: 13-26 
I Chronicles 16: 8-14
I Chronicles 16: 23-26
Psalm 116: 12-19
Psalm 147: 1-7
II Corinthians 4: 13-18
II Corinthians 9: 6-11
II Corinthians 9: 12-15
Psalm 28: 6-9
Psalm 69: 30-36
Psalm  107: 28-32
Psalm 9: 1-2, 7-12
Lamentations 3: 22-27
James 1: 17-18
Psalm 118: 1-7
Psalms 118: 8-14
Psalm 118 15-21
Psalm 18: 25-29
Psalm 105: 1-7
Last Day choose your own verse

We have so much to be thankful for! :) Praise God for his Word!



                                     

Isaiah 40:31

"But they that wait upon the Lord...."

As I sit here this evening, and I think of the things I have posted over the years and especially the last 4 months, I know that through the years I have waited on the Lord and done all I could to be positive here.

I waited for him to show me the college to attend.
I waited for Him to show me the man I was to marry.
I waited for Him when things were rough while in college.
I, with my husband waited on the Lord while on deputation from 2003 through 2007.
We waited on the Lord when we didn't understand why, and ended up in WV.
We though hard waited on the Lord when all seemed to be falling apart and we had to move Maine in 2012. I said had, because at the time that was what it seemed to be. Then we got here and through the love and help of some very dear people we made it through a very rough time.
Then November 2014 came, yes I know I have mentioned this before and I won't labor on it, but after a counseling session the other day, lose of sleep and lots of prayer I believe sharing the following with you may help someone out there who, as I, feel you are failing. Or maybe you feel as I do, that you have let people down or been a disappointment. Maybe you feel as I do, that I'm constantly having to say I'm Sorry (which I'm not saying to one particular friend cause I'll get in trouble :) ) Have I waited on the Lord through all this? Probably not as I should have but I did cont to serve him through the church he's allowed us to join and be a part of.

Friend when you have been through anything no matter how painful it may be. As I finally figured out I Needed help! Yes, the former Missionary wife, the former pastor wife needed help. We are all human and we all at times need to step back and say, "please help me".

If you are reading this and if you know me, you know that I'm not a complainer, I don't whine about my life and the last I thing I want anyone to think as they read this is that I'm whining or complaining. That is not how I'm wanting it to come across. I simply want to say, if you have been, are or in some cases you could end up going through a life changing situation. Remember to Wait on God. Isaiah 40:31 was put in the Bible for a purpose. Now let me say, I'm NOT a patient person. I don't wait patiently and as I learned from my counseling session I have to be patient with myself as well.

I've not arrived by no means -- I'm still healing from a situation. That is why I finally asked my Pastors wife for help. Yes, it took me 4 months but that's not because I didn't trust her, or feel she could help I honestly didn't want to share things at the time. Others can jump right in and say, this is wrong, this is the situation and care for it immediately. Don't judge one who make take longer.

Our lives are all so very different if you have lost a loved one, a friend, gone through loosing a church, loosing your pastor, being told you won't ever make it in the ministry or whatever it is..... It takes time to heal. God is good and as His children he is there for us all the time.

Now I don't know how much of this will help anyone and if you are reading this I decided to post this. There are things I'll never share here and there are things that if I'm asked privately I may open up for discussion. I just want you to know as a blogger I want to be a help and encouragement to my readers not a discouragement.

May God bless you and know you are Loved by our Heavenly Father.

Isaiah 26:4

"Trust ye in the Lord for ever; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:"

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!

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?

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!

Helping Others

Good Afternoon! I was reading in Isaiah this morning talking with my son Caleb whom gave a devotional last night to the JV Basketball team.

We need to help others or work as a team. In Isaiah 41:6-7 it says,
"6. They helped everyone his neighbour: and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.
7. So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering; and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved."

The key part is "They helped everyone his neighbour...."
1. Do your part
Do you help those who need help? In your home do you help one another? When your out and see that someone could use help with groceries or a package; what do you do? You know another way we can help and do our part is through serving Jesus!

Here I'm going to put in a small part of my sons devotional, He was talking of working together as a team. He took a bag with 50 lb weights in it, and had one of the smaller boys try to lift it. He used that as, without the team he can't do it, but when we join him (calling up a few other team members) he can carry the bag with no problems. It takes helping and working together as a team to win, or even to make it.

2. Encourage one another
Are you one that encourages others? So many times I see and have seen where one is down and rather than encouraging that person you just join them in complaining, or being negative. Is that what we're to do? NO, Be an encouragement to those who are down, or in need.
I have this one particular friend that I can be having the worst day, and if I call or her or even text her by the time we're finished talking I feel so much better! Why? She is an encourager. I know if she reads this she'll know who I'm speaking of.
At the same time though there's this one person here that I know NOT to go to because I'll feel worse once I'm done talking with them.
Which do you want to be an encourager or discouraged?

I pray that in some way, this will help or encourage you to do something for special for someone!
This is the day that the Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.
Rejoice in the Lord alway and again I say Rejoice!

S-N-O-W

Have you ever thought what SNOW could stand for?
Did you know that snow is in the Bible 24 times?

I am sitting here at my desk looking out the window, it's beautiful, clean, pure and white! This can be applied to the Christian life in so, so many ways.

Beautiful - we are beautiful in God's eyes. He made us in His image!
Clean - Our hearts our clean (if you've asked for forgiveness of your sins)
Pure - this is what we are to stay for your future mate (if not already married)
White - Simply White as snow!

Mt 28:3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Just 2 of the 24 I found today :)

Well, if you are getting snow I pray all stay safe and enjoy the beauty of if. If you don't have snow, we'll pray you get some :)
Merry Christmas
Paula

24 Fallacies Seen and Heard

In our Church paper that we get once a month this was listed and I thought I'd share them with you:

24 Fallacies Seen and Heard on 24 Hours of So-Called "Christian Television" By J N Hamblin
1. Any version of the Bible is okay from which to read, memorize and study. (Psalm 119:89)
2. A believer can be saved today, then do something wrong and be lost tomorrow. (John 10:28)
3. Fundamental churches are not the supportive base for the Christan to be taught the great tenets of the faith. (I Corinthians 13:10)
4. Speaking in an "unknown" tongue is for today. (II Timothy 4:3)
5. Teaching is always placed on a higher plane than preaching. (Matthew 13:42)
6. Pope Benedict XVI, Benny Hinn and Billy Graham are all great spiritual heroes and leaders (Ephesians 5:19)
7. Hell does not have scorching, literal flames. (Matthew 13:42)
8. The world's music must be brought in to the church if the church is going to reach the world. (Ephesians 5:19)
9. Tithes and offerings should be sent to the jewelry-draped false prophet living in the lap of luxury. (Romans 10:17-18)
10. Pragmatism is the touchstone by which everything is perceived. (II Samuel 6:3)
11. The teacher you watch in the morning will be contradicted by the preacher that you watch in the evening. (I Corinthians 14:8)
12. Fundamentalists are "mean" and Narrow" people. (Galatians 4:16)
13. You can be a "great" Christian and still play in the stadiums on Sunday mornings and sing in the nightclubs on Wednesday evenings. (II Corinthians 6:17)
14. Dancing is an approved practice, even in a church service. (Mark 6:22)
15. It is absolutely all right to replace your "prayer closet" with a "prayer line." (Matthew 6:6)
16. Apostasy, false teaching and heresy are always embraced. (Jude 3)
17. Trends, not truth, are the banner for "Christian" dress and demeanor. (Romans 12:2)
18. All your sickness is because of your lack of faith. (John 9:3)
19. Emotionalism, not the Eternal Word of God, is the measuring stick for every sermon and service. (John 4:24)
20. A "preacher" can wear a wig, a dress and even carry a purse to the pulpit. (I Timothy 3:2)
21. Television "preachers' never attack drinking, immorality or gambling. (Isaiah 58:1)
22. The Roman Catholic Church is a Christian Church. (Revelation 17:1)
23. You won't need to turn to 24 Bible verses in 24 hours of watching so call "Christian" television. (John 5:39)
24. Salvation is so complicated that it resembles asking a blind man to drive an automobile in reverse from Juneau, Alaska to Key West, Florida. (Romans 10:13)

Our Bible is:

The Infallible Authority
II Timothy 3:16 "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."

This is such a wonderful thought, that ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God! If we only had man's words to go on. That wouldn't be a whole lot! Praise the Lord that his word is inspired!!
Not only that it's profitable for doctrine! We've been studying Doctrine in SS at our church and I just love it! There's so much that could be said, about doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction! God simply gave it ALL to us through His Word!!

Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

Can you imagine (as Christians I'm sure we can) but can you imagine the Bible being sharper than ANY two-edged sword! WOW!! Our Bible is our Sword!

I Peter 1:23 "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."

Our first birth, of blood and water was corrupt and that is why we are sinners; but praise the Lord our 2nd birth, salvation, is incorruptible! Yes, we are still sinners BUT we are saved by grace AMEN!!!

Our Guide for Life

Psalm 119:105 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

If we would only study the Bible and learn it as we should God says, thy word is a lamp AND a light! We just need to take it and us it!!

Proverbs 6:22, 23 "When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thy awakest, it shall talk with thee.
For the commandment is a lamp and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:"

As I've been going through this and studying it I'm just amazed how God knew what we needed, when we needed it and everything! I grew up in Church, I've had the privilege of attending Christian School all my life, the Lord allowed me to attended Bible college. Now, my children are growing up in Church, attending Christian School and in a little under a yr. our oldest will go off to Bible College! Why am I putting this in? I believe it's all because I gave my life to the Lord to lead, keep and talk with me! I've to the best of my ability kept his commandments, even though I've failed, I still through prayer and Bible reading and asking forgiveness have done my BEST for him! We as individuals can do ALL do this. Yes, we'll fail.....However, God will be there to pick us up and carry us when needed. I love the poem "Footprints" I don't know or remember it all, but there's one part I really loved most and that's where it says, I looked and saw only one set of footprints. Jesus was carrying me isn't that an AWESOME thought!!

II Timothy 3:16, 17 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."

I know I used this verse earlier but again it just shows that God is there for us! No matter what through his word he's there!

Our Strength

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."

This is one of my MOST favorites verses (I know that's not the best grammar) but it carries so much truth! I won't belabored this vrs, because I have done a study on it already, but just imagine; wait on the Lord and he SHALL renew thy strength! WOW!!! He gives us strength when we're weary, faint, it doesn't matter, he gives strength to make it!

Psalm 27:1 "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

With the Lord we have no reason to fear or be afraid! God isn't the author of fear, confusion or any of the things that would cause uneasiness in our lives. He's our Salvation! He died on the cross and rose again 3 days later so you and I could rest and have peace in the fact we have a loving Heavenly father who loves us and cares for us and gives us the strength needed to make it day by day!

I pray as you read through these verses that in some small way, you were encouraged or helped today! May God bless you and Have a WONDERFUL week in the Lord!

Isaiah 40:31

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they mount up with wings as eagles...."
When my husband was in Alaska several yrs ago he was watching the Eagles as they flew up high in the sky. It was a windy day, and all the other little birds were struggling just to get off the ground.
As Bill was telling about this, he said he thought of Isaiah 40:31 and how the eagle mounts up and lets the wind carry them. Just as we should let the Lord carry us in his strength, the Eagle lets the strength of the wind lift him up.
Do we depend on the strength of the Lord or our own? Are we as an Eagle who depends on the strength of the wind?