Monday, July 28, 2008

Shining Light





2 Peter: 1;19

And so the words of the prophets are made more certain; and it is well for you to give attention to them as to a light shining in a dark place, till the dawn comes and the morning star is seen in your hearts;

Have you ever had the electrical power go out in your area? We have due to all these bad thunderstorms we have been getting. It is not only inconvenient, it can cause some serious issues. Such as air conditioning, or refrigerator/freezer products. But the light, that is what we miss the most. When darkness starts to come, that light is something we really want in our homes.

Have you used a flashlight during these situations? You see how it spreads light out before you to a certain distance so you can see to walk where you are going?

This is what God's word does for us. It brings light into our situtation. It lights the path, and makes our way clearer to go. AMEN, AMEN!

A Christian should be drawn towards light everyday. We shouldn't want to walk in the despair of night, or the darkness of the soul. WE should be drawn to the light so we have peace. So we find our way. So we can be a light to others.

What if no one was a light in this world? What if Christians were suddenly taken out? What kind of light would be left?

So while you are here on this earth, fill yourself with the light of Christ, and let it shine upon all men so they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. The word of God says we are called from darkness into light. Think about this... you can not be in both.
When you are in the light.. there is no darkness and when you are in the darkness there is no light. We either walk with God and let his light shine through us. Or we trudge along without him, with no light, and seemingly no hope. We really do make a choice everyday whether to walk in His light (word, prayer, strength, hope) or to reject it and try to make it on our own.

We go about our duties, our habits, with our friends, and falter along the way, blindly because we cannot see two minutes ahead, much less a day or two. But God can.

"He has the light."

"Do you?"

Ephesians 5:8

For you at one time were dark, but now are light in the Lord: let your behaviour be that of children of light.

John 3:19-21

And this is the test by which men are judged: the light has come into the world and men have more love for the dark than for the light, because their acts are evil.
The light is hated by everyone whose acts are evil and he does not come to the light for fear that his acts will be seen.
But he whose life is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his acts have been done by the help of God.

Friday, July 25, 2008

Are You Fooling Yourself?


Are you fooling yourselves. If a person just listens and doesn't obey, he is like a man looking at his face in a mirror; as soon as he walks away, he can't see himself anymore or remember what he looks like.
Who/What do you see when you look in the mirror?
"Mirror, mirror on the wall ... lie to me!" Don't we sometimes wish?

Unfortunately, mirrors don't lie. Unless, of course there is a flaw in the mirror maybe it's distorted. If so, its reflection will also be distorted. And if I am not true to my word and do what I say I am going to do, there is something distorted within me.
Keeping one's word and promises is a character trait to be highly valued. It is being authentic and maintaining integrity.
Unfortunately, it seems that keeping one's word for many anymore doesn't amount to too much. Sadly, a person who doesn't keep there word or there promises can not be relied upon. Neither can they be trusted. And a person who claims to be a Christian and doesn't genuinely and consistently seek to keep and obey God's Word cannot be relied on either.
James says, "Don't fool yourselves.
James 1:22-25
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
If we are mature, we will act in a mature fashion. If we are responsible, we will act in a responsible manner.
And if we are sincere and genuine, we will act accordingly. We should also be quick to listen, slow to speak.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Guidance


When I meditated on the word Guidance, I kept seeing 'dance' at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing Lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other. My eyes drew back to the word Guidance. When I saw 'G': I thought of God, followed by 'u' and 'i'. 'God, 'u' and 'i' dance.' God, you, and I dance. As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead.


One thing I'd like to do is, after asking for forgiveness, and receiving forgiveness - I'd like to dance while singing. You ask why? Let me tell you… There is nothing more exciting for me. I am free, because Jesus paid the price for my short-comings. Not that I want to sin, I just do. No matter how good I try to be - I am still sinning. But Jesus knew that I couldn’t keep the law in its entirety. Because of His great love for all of us who trust in Him, He still paid the penalty.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful, and just, and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” ~ 1 John 1:9
Do I dance all the time. Actually depends on the ’service format’. If contemporary - yes — traditional - nope. I am afraid of what my worshipers think of me. You see, there is a problem. I let the world influence me — yeah even the Christian world. “You have to be reverend” I am told. If I were a little girl, people would say “How cute”. Since I am a 48 woman “I am weird”…
Yes - I would love to be my Heavenly Father’s little girl here on earth when it comes to worship, but I guess I have to wait until heaven…


What an Honor to dance for the King of Kings. Of course the song, "I Can Only Imagine" came to mind…I don’t know why, but the lines “Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still? Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?” give me a picture of ‘perfect’ worship…pure and true adoration. When we get to heaven, we will be able to worship without interruptions. Without being smiled upon because we dance for Jesus…


I Hope You Dance!!!


Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Let Go, Trust God


I guess most of us feel like complaining about our problems from time to time. We tell anyone who will listen, and then we expect sympathy.

Something I have noticed lately, is such a dramatic change in the way people react to each other's problems. To be honest, most people have their plate so full, and feel so overwhelmed, they have little sympathy left for others, that last more than the few minutes to say "oh I am sorry to hear that". They might give a polite response, oh I will be praying for you.. and then walk away and say whew.. glad that is over.. and then go back into their own mentality of how in the world am I going to deal with my own situation. I have seen alot of this happening in church lately. It is important to remember, we are a body of Christ, we are to strengthen one another, pray for one another. And if we are "really" lifting our needs to God in prayer, and "really" trusting him our minds and hearts should be burden free, as we leave it in our hands and go about our business, being a witness and testimony for Him.

How do I know? I had to learn to do this.. I still do daily. Just Let Go, and trust God. You are either taking Him at his word.. or you are allowing doubt and fear to rule your spirit! Why have churches and people changed so very much? Because they are weary, divided, lonely, over-whelmed and too busy.
The strongest people I know are ones who not only have gone through some terrible times, they have learned from them, become wiser, more prayerful, more resiliant, stronger. Those are people we should be around, so we learn from them.. so we may be stronger people.
Problems shouldn't defeat us.. they should make us stronger.

Psalm 1:1-3
My friends, this is the meat.. the things we must
know. Stay in the word, meditate upon it.. let its
strength infuse your spirit. For the word of God is alive, powerful, it goes down to the bones and marrow (the deepest part of our spirit) strengthening boldly that which is tired and drained. God is on the throne, he is not weak, his gifts not ceased, his power not drained, his hope and mercies new each morning.
If you are not dwelling in His provision, chances are ... you have become weak and weary.

God says, come home my child.. I have all you need. I am the great I Am. I Am all you will ever need if you "truly" rely on me, "truly" trust in Me, "truly" cling to Me. Believe me, and don't let go of it. I am God, and no man can come against me. I shall prevail, my word shall not come back void, it shall go forth and accomplish my will and nothing or no man can stop it.

Hallelujah.. Receive that!

Not only can you release those burdens, and be free, you can find joy in sorrow, strength in pain, and wisdom in trials. It is called growing in Christ and in the wisdom of life. It should be making you stronger my friends.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Why Didn't I Tell You


WHY DIDN'T I TELL YOU?
I knew that, like me, you were a sinner in need of Grace. Why didn't I tell you?
I knew that sin, no matter how small, cannot enter Heaven. Why didn't I tell you?
I knew that you were searching, in need of peace. Why didn't I tell you?
I knew that eternity is forever. Why didn't I tell you?
I knew that we can choose where we spend eternity. Why didn't I tell you?
I knew that all roads do not lead to Heaven. Why didn't I tell you?
I knew that if there was any other way of Salvation, Jesus wouldn't have had to die on the cross. Why didn't I tell you?
I knew that Jesus chose to die on the cross for me….and you. Why didn't I tell you?
I knew that you had to accept that free gift which God gave us in order to be saved. Why didn't I tell you?

But now here I am in the presence of God Almighty but I don't know where you are. I was going to tell you tomorrow, but there are no more tomorrows for me or for you. You're not here, didn't anyone tell you? Oh, dear God, forgive me. Why didn't I tell you?
There are so many lost soul's, Remember spread the Word, Share the Gospel
Blessings to All and know you are in my Prayers

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Believe In Prayer


Again the power of PRAYER has been recieved!! A very close friend of mine has been in need of prayer. She called me last night scared, and crying out to Jesus for help. She asked that I please pray for her son, he is in trouble. He has not been on the right road for sometime now. Out of control he has been, and now the police are involved and this could involve in death. I don't want to go into all the things that they have done, but this situation is very bad.

I heard her cry's, feeling all her pain, crying with her, and immediately I started asking the Lord for his help. I called my husband in the room, explained what was going on, then told her I was putting her on speaker phone so that we may pray together, as he sat and listened to her pain, her crying, seeing the tears flow down my face, we began to pray. We asked the Lord to protect them that no harm would be put on them. That this would go smoothly, there be no shooting, we also asked the Lord to slam them down, give up, we asked that they be slammed against a wall to get them to see that Lord is real. we prayed, and prayed, must of lasted 20 min., maybe longer I don't know.


This morning I got the call, it was mom! Her son had called in the middle of the night and had said they were leaving the state. Wednesday morning now, She told me she had just recieved a phone call from the boy who was with her son, the boy was doing the driving! He told her that he doesn't know what happened but that all of a sudden they were going down this road and it was like something hit him, and made him pull off the side of the road, and he went to sleep. They were woken up and had cop cars surrounding them, and mom's son said to the boy what happened, and the boy said I don't know. The cops took them in, and the boy said that the cops were nice to them. They are facing really bad charges----possibly 90 years. Mom told the boy God did this, that we prayed for you guys, and God did this. She had other calls coming in so we couldn't chat anymore, and we will later on this evening. But she knows God, she believes in God, I really haven't talked to her since by brother's funeral, but she remembered me and called me for help with prayer's.


What a awesome God, how he hears our cry's and answers our prayers. There are family's out there with so many problems whether they big or small, But the WORD addresses them all. Whatever the problem, whatever the need, no matter how great the stress or distress, God has the solution in His Word. His Word is Complete. All we as Christians have to do is believe what God's word says and ACT on it in Faith.


Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.


I am so sorry for any mom that has to go thru something like this. I am also greatful she called me, she knows how much I love the lord. How I believe in the word, and I believe in prayer. I Thank the Lord for answering our prayers.


Matthew 21:21


Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. 22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."