tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17769122153193433012024-03-13T00:43:58.739-07:00From Barb's Spiritual JournalsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08563892811221295801noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776912215319343301.post-10475642249469936442016-02-21T09:38:00.000-08:002016-02-21T09:38:29.271-08:00<div class="columns-inner">
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<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sunday, Feb.21, 2016</b></span></span><br /><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
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<span style="color: blue;">From my 2001 Spiritual Journal</span><span style="color: blue;"><span><br /></span></span><span><span style="color: blue;"></span><br /><br />"Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick."<br /><br />Many
of us are like Mary and Martha when it comes to our health issues, or
the health issues of loved ones. We're somewhat surprised, sometimes
angry after praying for improved health only to find ourselves or our
loved ones exactly the same. <br /> The Scriptures reveal that Jesus
suffered in His lifetime. Why then does it come as a surprise that we
who love Him suffer too? <br /><br />The Lord never promised we'd not suffer. He made it a point to let us know that we <i>would.</i>
Being covered by his grace does not guarantee that sickness or death
will never touch us. The Bible is full of the names of people greatly
loved by the Lord, and every one of them suffered. Our illnesses, as
much as our trials are actually blessings in disguise. Truly! They not
only bless us, but others as well.<br /> <br />When we're bogged down by
health problems, and pain, bogged down by trials that overwhelm us,
we're driven to our knees, causing us to, perhaps for the first time in
our lives, recognize how desperately we<i> need </i>the Lord; that without Him we can do <i>nothing. </i><br />
In the dark of night, in pain, and unable to sleep, we're confronted
with uncertainty, fears and doubts. We find ourselves crying out to He
who gave us life. Our pain serves a purpose; it can turn a bitter,
unkind, selfish, impatient person into a more gracious, more
compassionate person.<br /><br /> Sickness, especially if it lingers, can be
a most precious blessing because it places us at our Savior's feet,
teaches us to "Be Still And Know I Am God. <br />We must remember too, that oftentimes it is the observing of faith in the <i>suffering ones </i>that leads others to Christ. <br /><br />We
can tell Jesus anything, ought to tell Him everything, whether it be a
good thing, bad thing, or fearful thing. We can tell Him what is
disrupting our lives, what's erecting walls between Him and us- and ask
for His help. He is not only our Savior but our brother, our friend, so
we can approach Him confidently. He loves us, desires our company,
wants desperately for us to <i>trust</i> in His WORD, in what He says.<br /><br />Jesus
has not changed. He's the same One who raised Lazarus from the grave,
who turned water into wine, healed the sick, the blind, parted the ocean
and walked on water, and if He so chooses, He can create a miracle for
me- for you. But if we pray for one and are left with a thorn in our
side, let us not complain; let us instead, remember that the Lord loves
us and does what He <i>knows</i> to be best. He loves us more than we
love ourselves, and in the end, we shall all be with the Lord forever.
That wonderful day is not that far off.<br /> <br />Revelation 3:11</span><br />
<span><br /></span><span><span style="color: red;">"Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take they crown."</span></span><span><br /><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span><br />Philippians 4:5<br /><br />"Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand."<br /><br /><i>We
have no greater blessing than that of knowing the Lord is ever with us;
that the decisions He makes for us are always for our good. We have to
cope with our aches and pains, with the asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart
problems, and all the other ills mankind suffers till the Lord returns.
But after that?<br /><br /> After that it's a piece of cake. We have so much
to look forward too. May today find each of you, and me too, viewing
our health issues in a different way. We must of course, be proactive,
do the best we can to maintain good health. When we do that, we can
remind ourselves that whatever happens to us is for our good, for the
good of somebody else, or for God's glory.<br /><br />Remember dear ones, it
doesn't do much good to have faith if it's not being used. Faith not
used becomes nothing more than a five letter word.<br /><br /><br />Have an awesome day. Don't forget to watch for those SHINY moments.<br />Love you much,</i></span><br />
</b><span><b><i>Barb </i><br /> </b> </span></span></span><br /><div class="widget BlogArchive" id="BlogArchive1">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08563892811221295801noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776912215319343301.post-10251629401953859912015-06-25T07:36:00.000-07:002015-06-25T07:36:31.426-07:00God Says Don't.<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>October 25, 2014</b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">Psalms 37:8 (RV) "Fret not thyself, it tendeth only to evil doing."</span></b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">Fret not thyself? It is easy not to fret, worry, or become discouraged when all is going </span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">well, isn't it; easy to remain relaxed, hopeful and happy? On a morning, when we're doing</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">our devotions and read the above verse, the verse doesn't make a ripple in our calm </span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">emotions does it? <br /><br />But what happens if we read this verse when the life we've created for ourselves,<br />and perhaps a family, just unexpectedly got turned upside down? Suppose our </span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">spouse wants a divorce or dies? What do we do when we lose our job, find our</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">child is addicted to drugs or alcohol? What do we do when the partner we've</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">loved for many years wants a divorce? What do we do when we are diagnosed</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"> with a horrible disease? It is not so easy then, is it, to do what God tells us to</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">do, to <i>not fret.</i><br /><br />I can testify from my own life experiences that God is not asking something too</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">hard. I know from experience that His (don't fret) works in both days of </span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">perplexity and days of peace. It's just that sometimes we get things backwards; </span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">we start fretting instead of turning the problem over to the Lord when it first</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">comes up.</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><br /> Our fretting reveals how childlike we can sometimes be- how little we trust </span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">the Lord. We are fine when all is going smoothly. But when confronted</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">with change, when something rips a hole in our comfort zone, we go right</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">into the fretting mode; become miserable, sad, angry, resentful, unhappy, </span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">and fearful. <br /> Our goal is to be like Jesus, who never fretted or worried. Why</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">didn't He? Because He never started a single moment of his life without first</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">seeking His Father. He was never seeking or wanting something for himself;</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">but was always focused on what He could do for others. </span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></b></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">We talk a lot about "resting in the Lord." talk a lot about "trusting Him, and</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"> being patient." but how we react to stress shows we do not fully comprehend</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">what he is asking us to not do: either that, or we simply do not trust Him as we</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">claim too. Which is it? I'm not saying it is easy, and certainly not claiming it is</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">something I have mastered. I haven't, but am working on it. And I am finding that</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">when I <i>remember</i> to <u>run to the LORD the moment I am confronted with something</u></span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><u>that troubles me,</u> I don't fret. And when I don't fret? Well, seeing the difference</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">in how I am able to cope with things motivates me to break this bad habit. </span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><br />It isn't easy to to <i>not fret.</i> But if it were not possible, the Lord wouldn't be</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"> telling us not to do it. And He tells us not to do it because<u><span style="color: blue;"> </span></u></span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><u><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">there is no need for us too</span></span></u>: no need because He is willing and able to</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">carry all our burdens for us. It saddens our hearts when we tell our children</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">not to worry about a problem they have, yet they continue to worry any way;</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">keep asking "Did you do what you promised you'd do for me? Did you really?"<br />Have you ever thought about how hurt the LORD must be when we do this</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">to Him?<br /> </span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><br />Part of Psalms 37:8 says ..."it (meaning our fretting) tendeth to evil doing."<br /><br /> Our fretting raises our blood pressure, upsets our stomachs, gives us</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">headaches and causes sleep to become as elusive as a butterfly. But it does</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">even more than that. If not nipped in the bud right at the start. Before long,</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">our fretting becomes a thorn in our flesh; something that causes </span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">us to do that which we don't wish to do. We lose our tempers, say things we </span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">don't really mean, things we wind up regretting. We take our frustration out</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">on those around us. Our fretting, out of control now, has made what <i>could</i> have</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">been managed, had we turned to the Lord, seem to us so gigantic, so </span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">impossible, that we are overwhelmed and totally discouraged. We are worse </span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">off than when we first began to fret.</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></b></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>I have people tell me that what I often say doesn't make sense, that certain </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>things are just too hard for ordinary people. My reply is always,"Yes, but</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>nothing is impossible to God." The trick is remembering these words-</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>memorizing them. <span style="color: red;"> "NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GOD."</span> </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Our problems, whether the smallest, or largest, matter to the Lord; He </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>loves us. We are His children. He is constantly telling us in His Word, to</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>not be afraid, reassures us over and over, that he will never leave or</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>forsake us, that he will be with us to our last breath.<br />He is our Rock, our safe place. If we have the LORD, we are rich,</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>have all we will ever need to make it through this life.</b></span></span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08563892811221295801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776912215319343301.post-6762197642264879832014-12-06T14:15:00.006-08:002014-12-06T14:49:19.271-08:00Jesus, Our Good Shepherd<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;">December</span></span><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"> 6, 2014</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;">John 10:11</span> </span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;">"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep."</span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Life is not as it used to be when I grew up, or when you did; is no longer as safe or secure. As well, we cannot trust strangers as easily as we could then, have to be extra alert, as to where our children are and who they are with. I can testify, from my own life experiences, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">how foolish a thing it is to place my trust in people, places or things; all will disappoint, though people not always on purpose.</span></span></span></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My life, being quite difficult, found me constantly searching for something to make me feel safe, something that would make me feel better about myself, something that would change the way I woke up every day, which was waking up only to start my day in fear, wondering what is the next horrible thing that will happen to me? How am I going to get my daily needs met? Who can I trust? Who is next to abandon me, to criticize me, make me feel horrible about being me? Who is next to toss me aside like garbage, leaving me feeling dirty, ashamed, unlovable, unwanted - undeserving of anything good? <br /> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> <br /> I am sharing today's post because I have received mail from so many friends throughout the past twenty years, friends whose emails sounded exactly like what I just shared. They asked me questions like: "Barb. Why is life so hard for me when I always do my best? Why, after giving my best, loving my best, sharing all I had, did the love of my life abandon me just like my father did? What can I do in order to feel safer, Barb, to not be so fearful? Why does nothing work out for me, and how can I feel good about the person I am when I get put down so much, when nobody tries to understand? Barb, what can I do to not be so afraid? Am I truly that unlovely friend? "</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /> </span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> Life is very hard these days, harder than it has ever been, is far more dangerous and painful. The tsunami's, earthquakes and other national disasters we have been experiencing have been the worst in the history of our world.<br /> Along with these scary things, we're having to deal with the ever rising number of murders, rapes, child abuse cases, school shootings, and domestic violence, and this is the <i>short </i>list. Is it any wonder that fear stalks everybody? </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Where are we to find help? The answer is that our help comes, and will always come, from above, from <span style="color: blue;">JESUS, OUR GOOD SHEPHERD.</span> </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What is good about the fact that Jesus is our Good Shepherd? Have you ever thought about all that a good shepherd does, or maybe you have just forgotten.<br /><br />1- A good shepherd <span style="color: blue;">leads his sheep</span>, sees what they sometimes miss, or are </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> unaware of. He walks ahead of his sheep, encounters every danger (before) his </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> sheep do. Jesus, our good shepherd, went before us, so knows all the dangers </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> we must pass through before the end of our lives. It won't be easy, going the</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> rest of the way. But if we will just walk in his footsteps we will be safe.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>2- A good shepherd <span style="color: blue;">pastors his sheep,</span> nurtures them; provides their daily needs. </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> We can trust our Good Shepherd.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>3- A good shepherd <span style="color: blue;">names his sheep.</span></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> In the Bible, it tells about a night two shepherds were tending their<i> flock,</i> (meaning they had merged their flocks together). When morning came, and it was time to separate the sheep, the shepherds only had to call out to the sheep in order to separate them; the sheep knew their shepherds voice, knew to whom they belonged.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> Jesus said <span style="color: red;">"I am the good shepherd, and know my <i>sheep,</i> and are known of mine."<br /> -John 10:14</span><br />He knows where we live, who we live with, how old we are, whether we are sick or well. and what our needs are. We don't worship or love an impersonal God, but one who desires our company, who loves nothing better than to spend time with us.<br /><br />4- A good shepherd <span style="color: blue;">protects his sheep.<br /> <span style="color: black;">A shepherd always goes ahead of his sheep, watching for wolves, snakes, or</span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"> anything that might harm them. Jesus, having already gone ahead of us to </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"> prepare the way, knows all we will experience in this life. Does he understand</span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"> our feelings and frustrations?<br /> <br />He most certainly does. He was persecuted, misunderstood, criticized. He was betrayed, and humiliated. He know how it feels to have friends disappoint you, to let you down. He knows how it feels to be hungry, tired, sick, hurt, and</span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">rejected. He went ahead of us, and still, though we cannot see Him, is beside us</span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">every day, paving our way, making our paths easier.</span></span></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"> 5- A good shepherd <span style="color: blue;">loves his sheep</span></span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"> <span style="color: black;">Jesus, Our Good Shepherd, loves us with all his heart. Unless we make the </span></span></span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"> choice to leave him, He will hold us fast, keep us at his side. If we fall, and get </span></span></span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"> lost, he will search for us until he finds us. He will never, not EVER, give up</span></span></span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"> on us, but will, as he promised to do, finish the work he began in us.</span></span></span></span></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"> I would like to point out something in the book of John. Jesus says, in</span></span></span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"> <span style="color: red;">John 10:17<br />"Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again." <br /><span style="color: black;">He l<u><i>aid down His life</i></u> for my wretched, miserable, unlovely one. There is no love</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">greater than that. No wonder our Heavenly Father loves Jesus so very much.</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Knowing all these things, dear ones. Knowing how greatly he loves me, and you,</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">I ask you, how then shall we live? </span><br /><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Be happy, Be healthy, Love one another.<br /><br />Happy holidays,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Love you much,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Barb </span></span></span><br /> </span></span></span></span></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08563892811221295801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776912215319343301.post-29649790259476007902014-11-01T14:49:00.002-07:002015-06-27T10:00:31.192-07:00What Are You Looking At?<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">November 1, 2014</span></b></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every day, I hear people tell me how afraid they are, how worried, sad and discouraged. They say "I can't fix my life; it's too messed up." They ask "Barb, How can I be happy with so much going wrong in not just <i>my</i> life, but in the lives of my family, my neighbors, and the world too?"</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I can relate to what they are saying, and feeling, for most of my life I lived in fear. I suffered from depression, worried all the time, and was sad and almost always very discouraged, believing that what my life <i>was</i>, was all it would ever be. Like many people, I found it difficult to be happy. But when I was twenty-six I discovered how wrong I was, that though it <i>is</i> hard to be happy, it is not impossible. What made the difference?<br /><br />What made the difference was <u><i>What I was looking at and How I was looking at it. </i></u>Have you ever thought about the definition of the word look? I ask this because sometimes we live life according to the one definition we are familiar with. And if we go by only one definition of something, we oftentimes miss out on other definitions that if rightly understood, could improve the quality of our lives.<br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: blue;">LOOK</span>:</span> To look is to: fix one's eyes upon, to stare, give attention to, to study.<br /><br />If we want to be happy in this world, to be able to experience peace no matter what is going</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">on around us, we have to learn to do that which makes it possible. And that which makes it possible is paying attention to HOW we are looking, and WHAT we are looking at.<br /> <br /> If our eyes are fixed mostly upon the evil and unrest in the world, upon our trials, sorrows, and other negative things, happiness will never enter our door. Why not? Because while our minds, hearts and energies are focused upon these negative, painful things, the door to our hearts remain closed. And if our hearts are closed off because of fear, discouragement,</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sorrows and worried, how can The God of All Comfort even began to comfort and uplift us?<br /> How can He, if we're not looking at Him, not paying attention to Him? </span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His arms are always reaching out towards us, are wide open. He is forever doing what He can to guide, strengthen, lift up, bless, and encourage us; is always working hard to fill those empty, hurting places within our hearts. But while He is waiting for A LOOK from you, a LOOK from me, so that He can help us, our minds, hearts, thoughts and energies are upon the very things that are making us so miserable. We have to change some things if we want to be happy, to experience that promised peace of Christ. What must we do?<br /> </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">We must LOOK BACK.... .to Calvary. </span><br />We must take a backward look, (fix our eyes on the Cross) reminding ourselves that Jesus gave His life for ours. We will stumble sometimes, will fail and feel guilty, but don't have to </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">worry about it. From the Cross, our Lord and Savior tells us our sins have been forgiven,</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">we have been pardoned, washed clean. He says "I love you. I will never abandon you but</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">will be with you forever. Mercy, Grace, Forgiveness and Power all flow from the Cross.</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="color: blue;"> Hebrews 2:9</span><br />"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death,</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">crowned with glory and honor, that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man."<br /><br /><span style="color: blue;">We must LOOK UPWARDS......To the living Jesus.</span><br /><br /> Looking upwards takes our focus point away from the negative stuff that keeps us miserable and unhappy, and sets it upon Jesus, who is our perfect example. Keeping our eyes fixed upon Him keeps us strong, courageous, hopeful, and at peace. As long as He is our point of focus we won't fall back into depression, or walk through each day being fearful and worried. <br /><br /><span style="color: blue;">We must LOOK FORWARD.....TO THE COMING KING.<br /><br />Titus 2:13 "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God</span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">and our Savior Jesus Christ."<br /> <br /><span style="color: black;">Looking forward should fill us with excitement, should remind us of all the wonderful things we have to look forward too, especially being able to actually be with, talk with, and interact with the ONE who loved us so much he gave His life.</span></span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"> I love gazing at the stars, always imagine how far away God is. I like to imagine what the throne room looks like, and the mansion Jesus built for us. I love to imagine what the voices of the angels must sound like, am eager to hear them singing.<br /> <br />Mostly, when I take my upward look, I almost always cry a bit. How could I not? Jesus is</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">coming soon. And when He does, I will never have to experience pain again, no tears, no aches and pains. I will no longer have to lose loved ones or suffer abuse. All that hurts us today will no longer exist. God will wipe away our tears.<br /> All around me I see crime worsening, children being harmed, murders, rapes, domestic violence. People lie, steal, betray their spouses, abandon their children, do all kinds of horrible, cruel, evil things. But seeing it no longer makes me afraid. The worse it gets, the more settled I am within my heart, for I know that the Lord's return is closer than most people think. <br /><br /> If you, the reader, are struggling with some of the same things I am, and most people are, I encourage you to change the way you LOOK at things. I want to encourage you to, from this</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">moment to:<span style="color: blue;"><br /><br />Look Back daily to the Cross,</span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">Look Upwards...to the living Jesus,<br />Look Forward...to the Coming King<br /><br /><span style="color: black;">Gracious Father,</span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><br />Bless us this day, Lord. Touch our hearts that we may desire better things for ourselves,</span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">not material things, Lord, but those things that will make us better men and women, better parents for our children, better friends to the lost and hurting in the world. Help us be kinder, sweeter, more patient, more tolerant, more merciful, slower to anger and quicker to forgive..<br /> Help us change the way we <span style="color: blue;">LOOK <span style="color: black;">at things from now on.<span style="color: blue;"> <span style="color: black;">Help us keep our eyes steady upon Jesus, for He is the only ONE who can give us the peace we so desperately need.<br />I ask your blessings especially upon those whose marriages are falling apart, those whose children are in trouble, those whose faith is fading, and those who are seeking You. Please, Lord, let me be one who helps them find you, like somebody helped me.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><br />Thank you for the gift of your precious Son, for the many things you do for me each day.<br />The days are not easy Father, nor the nights, which sometimes seem without end. Yet, no matter how lost I feel sometimes, I always know I will be okay because you love me, and know where I am. <br /><br />Be with each of my children, their families, and the many friends I have who are so kind,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">loving, and supportive. I ask these things in Jesus name. Amen. </span></span></span></span> </span></span></span><br /> </span></span></span></b><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08563892811221295801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776912215319343301.post-86424616564827492232014-09-27T13:51:00.002-07:002015-06-27T10:02:29.463-07:00Are You Midst A Storm?<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;">September 27, 2014</span><br /><br />After trying to decide what to share with you, the Lord put it upon my heart to</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> share about the storms of life; those unexpected trials that come our way. No</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">storm is pleasant. Each one is stressful, difficult, and painful. Each one causes</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> us to at times become fearful, worried, depressed, and discouraged. <br /> </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">While trying to cope with <i>my</i> latest trial, I heard a story that not only lifted </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">my spirits, but clarified my vision and got me back on track. I hope it does </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">the same with you.<br /><br /> The Canary<br /><br />There was a lady who had a beautiful yellow canary. She loved that little</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">bird, especially loved hearing it's beautiful song, because hearing it always</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">seemed to make her hard life easier- her burdens not quite so heavy.<br /> </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Every morning, rain or shine, the first thing she did before breakfast, </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">was to vacuum the carpet, because it was always full of bird seeds below </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">the bird cage. On this particular morning, she'd finished doing the carpet</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> and switched to the small hand vacuum she owned. <br /> <br /> Her intention was to quickly clean the bottom of the bird cage. </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">She opened the cage door and turned the vacuum on. The canary began</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> flitting about and making shrieking sounds.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> <br /> The phone rang! While reaching for it, the hand holding the vacuum </span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">swung up a little. She heard a whooshing sound and then, there was no </span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><i>sound</i> from the bird. It had been sucked up by the vacuum cleaner.<br /><br />Horrified, she quickly turned the vacuum off, tore open the vacuum bag,</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">and was relieved to see movement midst all the dirt, dust, and</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">seeds she'd vacuumed up.<br /> She rushed to the sink, filled it with dish soap, gently put the bird into </span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">the water and began washing it as best she could.<br />Once she got the canary rinsed off, she saw that it was shivering.<br /> "Oh, you poor thing." she muttered, and went to get the hair dryer.<br /><br />She'd mentioned her experience to a neighbor, who told the local </span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">newspaper. A reporter, following up the story, went to ask how her </span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">canary was doing.<br /> "He's not the same really,"she said. " He mostly sits on the perch </span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">and stares. I no longer get to hear his song."<br /><br />And that, dear hearts, is just how it is with you and me. </span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">We are confronted by an unexpected storm, and before we know it,</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">like the canary, our song too is silenced. Our trials change us too.</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">They steal our zest for life. We find we no longer sing, whistle, or</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">hum like we used too. We become spectators in life instead of participators.</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Trials weaken our faith, destroy our confidence, drain what little bit</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">of strength we have, and too often leave us with little, or no </span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">hope. </span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><br />How do we make it through a storm? We make it by remembering not</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">who we are but WHOSE we are. We make it by feeding on God's Word,</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">memorizing the promises he made to us. It is those promises that </span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">will get us through the rough waters, will see us safely to the shore.<br /><br />We make it by helping one another; by not allowing ourselves to</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">fall back into the habit of isolating ourselves. We make it by taking</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">the Lord at HIS Word, remembering that His promises are never</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">broken. Unlike the promises <i>we </i>make, HIS are dependable; are</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">promises we can always depend upon.<br /><u><br /></u></span></span></span></span><u><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"Deuteronomy 31:6 "</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></u></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of </span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">them for the LORD thy God, he <i>it is</i> that doth go with thee; </span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."</span></span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">One of my favorite Bible verses is "Joshua 1:5<br /><br />"There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">of thy life: as I was with Moses, <i>so</i> I will be with thee: I will not</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">fail thee, nor forsake thee."</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> How can I possibly be worried, fearful, sad, depressed, or anything </span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">else negative with this promise to hold onto? I depended upon, </span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">and leaned on my mother and father. They died! <br /> </span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">I leaned on my sister. She died! I leaned on, and depended upon people </span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">I believed loved me ,and had my best interest at heart. </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><br />Some died! Some betrayed me - turned out to be my enemies.</span></span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> I have friends and family that love me very much.</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> But I know better than to depend upon them for those things <br />I hunger for like: inner peace, a strong and mighty faith, a</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> relationship with Jesus, and one day- eternal life.</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> Nobody can give me that except He who </span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">created me. </span></span></span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>Storms of life will come; many of them. But we do not have to</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>fear them. If we are the Lord's, we will never...<u>not one time,</u> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>have to face a trial alone. No matter where it is, no matter what</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>the trial is, how painful, how sad, how overwhelming...even</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>death; Jesus has promised that he will be with us to the very end.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>We cannot trust many people. But we CAN trust the LORD. If we</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>cannot trust the one who created us...who then can we trust?<br /><br />Stay strong my friends. Hold tight to the Lord's hand when in </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>trouble and he will not fail you.<br /><br />Memorize Joshua 1: 5 and this one:<br />Joshua 1:9 </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>dismayed: for the LORD they God <i>is</i> with thee</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>withersoever thou goest." </b></span></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> <br />May you every day experience the honor of HIS presence,</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">the warmth of His love, and the tightness of His embrace.<br /><br /> Love you much.</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Barb</span></span></span></span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08563892811221295801noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776912215319343301.post-83595607353571647502014-09-07T07:34:00.005-07:002014-09-07T07:58:08.044-07:00God's Grace And You- and Me.<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b><span style="color: red;">September 6, 2014</span><br /><br />I do not usually start my Spiritual entries with a story, but am today.<br /> I chose to do it this way because I think sharing the story first will <br />help us to remember what is important; help us to remember<br /> <span style="color: red;"><u>that which the Lord would not wish us to ever forget.</u></span></b></i></span></span><u><br /></u><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />There was a man whose neighbor was an elderly woman. She'd been a very<br /> good neighbor- he knew her well. This woman was without a husband or <br />children. Her only companion was a dog, a dog she loved more than anything </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">else in the world. One day, this man was driving home, was very tired, so not</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">quite as attentive as he should have been and ran over her dog. He felt terrible!</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Shaking, feeling heartsick over what he had done, he dreaded facing the woman.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> But, after taking a few deep breaths, and giving himself a few minutes to regain</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> control of his emotions, he picked up the dog and carried it to the neighbor's</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> house.</span></span></b> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>Being in poor health, it took a few minutes for the woman to come to </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>the door. When she finally did, there stood the man, her dead dog cradled in</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>his arms.<br /> "I am so sorry." he told her, tears filling his eyes, his voice shaky.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> "I was very tired, was not as alert as I should have been and hit him. "<br /> "It's alright." the woman said. "I keep telling him not to chase cars, but</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> he did it anyway. If you hadn't hit him somebody else would have. But I can't</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> bury him. Would you help me do that?"<br /> "Of course. "the man said, and promptly dug a hole and buried her beloved </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>dog next to the Oak tree. The woman, seeing how distressed the poor man still </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>was, patted his shoulder and said," Really. It is alright. "<br /><br />The man went home, and that night could not sleep; he kept thinking of what</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> a horrible thing he had done. He was weighed down with guilt over it; kept </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>thinking of how this dear lady would now be forced to go through life without</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> her beloved companion.<br /> "She must have been in shock." he said to himself. "I don't think she knows</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> her dog is really dead." He went to the big Oak tree, where the dog was buried,</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> dug it up, and carried it back to the house. When the woman came to the door</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>he held the dog out to her and asked, "Do you realize what I did? I mean <i>really</i>?</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> Do you understand that your dog will no longer be with you?"<br /> " Yes." she said."<br /> The man buried the dog again, went home, and again started thinking about</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> the woman, about how lonely she'd be without her dog. "Surely, she doesn't</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> realize her dog is dead." he told himself. "She is quite old now, and obviously</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> in denial. I have to make <i>certain </i>she knows he is gone. I<i> have </i>too! </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>He returned to the Oak tree, dug the dog up and once again showed it to the</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> woman.<br /> "I am so <i>sorry</i> I killed your dog." he said. " So sorry you will be without </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>him now."<br /> The woman, old as she was, saw the sadness weighing upon him. Again </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>she tried to reassure him. "You don't have to keep saying you are sorry</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> I know you didn't mean to kill him. And I forgive you." <br /> Even after hearing she forgave him, the man dug that dog up for two weeks.<i> </i></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> This story is about you- and about me. It is about God's grace, and how </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>too many of us don't truly understand what it i<i>s,</i> and how it works, which</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> is why so many of us are still carrying around so much shame, worry, fear,</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> guilt, insecurities. Sometimes we don't even recognize when grace is at </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>work in our lives. For instance: The times we've made a mess out of our lives,</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> or something really tragic happened, and we keep praying about it, keep </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>saying to God "Please Lord, fix this for me. I can't handle this. It's too hard.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> Too much!" <br /> <br />We have not understood that God is trying to work out some things</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> within us. Sometimes God can't answer our prayers because we keep</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> talking, pleading, getting in His way, telling him just how we need, </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>or want this problem<i> to be fixed. </i>We seldom heed his WORDS to</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> "Be still and know I am God."<i><br /></i><br />God is so patient while working with us; has to put up with our fears,</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> our doubts, our worries, our need to control, our constant "But Lord,</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> what if's?" Think about some of the trials He has seen <i>you</i> through. </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>Messed up as you were (as we all were), He brought us through, didn't he? </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>That is because of God's great love for us...HIS GRACE.<br /><br />Grace creates masterpieces out of the mess we make of our life.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>Grace so changes a man (or woman), that people who have known </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>them all their lives scarcely recognize them.<br />Grace forgives, comforts, directs, restores.<br />Grace holds us steady and at peace midst the chaos in the world.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>Grace is <i>love in action, and there is no love as great as the Lord's.</i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><i></i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><i><br />I shared this story with you because I know that many of you are as </i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><i>this man, still carrying around guilt and shame over past mistakes. </i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><i>I was this man for many years. It was about three years ago that I realized</i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><i> what I was doing. I can't tell you how horrible that made me feel. </i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><i> Jesus gave his life for me, covered my sins by his love- his grace, and yet</i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><i> I continued to grieve over all I'd done. My constant grieving, constant</i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><i>pleading for forgiveness was as bad as spitting in his face, acting as if</i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><i> his sacrifice was worth nothing.<br /> <br /> Nobody enjoys reminding us of the horrible things we've done more</i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><i>than Satan. I determined not to let him do this to me any more.</i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><i> Not ever! There are times still, when he tries to imprison me again by </i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><i>reminding me of the, horrible mistakes I made. But each time he </i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><i>does, I remind myself about the man and his dog. <br /> <br /> It is my prayer that this story helps some of you realize what I did, </i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><i>that the Lord's words are not as ours. When HE says I forgive you </i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><i>HE means it. And not only does he forgive us, God says once he</i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><i> forgives us he will not remember our sins; they are forgotten.<br /><br />Hope this story is as great a blessing to you as it was to me.<br />I pray you may always experience the warmth of God's love, </i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><i>the honor of His presence, and the tightness of his embrace.<br /><br />Love you much,</i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><i>Barb</i><br /><i><br /></i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> <br /> <i></i><u><br /><i> </i></u><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> </b></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08563892811221295801noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776912215319343301.post-48768776527627384442014-08-30T10:17:00.000-07:002014-08-30T19:11:48.283-07:00God desires us to be strong- to trust Him.<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hebrews 12:12-13<br /><br />"</span>Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed."</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />The above verse gives me a mental picture of a very sad, fearful, weak and insecure person, somebody who has made the mistake of giving discouragement too big a welcome. If you read through the words carefully, I'm fairly certain you will see yourself there, if not now, then perhaps in the past. I say this because every one of us has been confronted with trials: some huge,<i> </i>very painful and intimidating- almost always causing us to be afraid. Most of us, if we're honest, will admit that when the trial is unexpected, and something that is going to <i>drastically </i>change our lives, we are tempted to avoid it, to find an easier way out.</span></span></b><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There are numerous ways of avoiding <i>the crisis,</i> rather than facing it, and too often, when we are up against something that we're fearful of, we say "I am not ready to deal with that just now." We say this because, at the moment, we feel inadequate, not strong enough. And why do we feel this way? Because we gave discouragement too big a welcome, which is not good. Discouragement makes a man physically, mentally, morally, and spiritually weak: it becomes a comfy blanket, one we find difficult to discard.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What God is saying in this verse is "Lift up the hands that hang down." Don't let this latest problem get you down. It's not as if you're facing it alone.<u> I AM WITH YOU. </u></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Get up- Stand tall. Turn around, and without hesitation <i>face</i> that which you fear. As soon as you take that first step I will lead you to victory.<br /> </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Don't let your feet "be turned out of the way." (cause you to walk in the wrong path),but let your body " be healed," your faith made strong again. Open your hands and let go of yesterday's failures, and all that troubles you today.<br /><br /><i><br />I have binders full of my favorite quotations. The two I am sharing below are two that have kept me strong midst my darkest, most painful moments.</i> <br /><br /><span style="color: blue;">"Go right ahead and leave no Jericho behind you unconquered, and no place where Satan can say that he was too much for you."<br /> A.B. Simpson<br /><i><span style="color: black;"><br />This quotation has been a huge help to me. Every time I became overwhelmed, fearful, or felt too intimidated to move forward I thought of this quotation. I do not ever wish to give Satan opportunity to say he was too much for me. I wish him to know that no matter how tough my crisis, or how painful, I know that whether I live or die, I am, and will always be, the Lord's, so either way I win.<br /><br /><br />I pray for each of you every day, asking God to keep you happy, healthy, and close to His heart, which is the most wonderful place to be.</span></i></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="color: black;"><br /> </span></i><br /><br /><br />"Pay as little attention to discouragement as possible. Plough ahead as a steamer does, rough or smooth--rain or shine. To carry your cargo and make your port is the point.<br /> -Maltbie D. Babcock</span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /> </span></span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08563892811221295801noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776912215319343301.post-50585948348363016542014-08-16T14:10:00.004-07:002014-08-31T12:59:36.485-07:00Regarding Promises <span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">FROM MY SPIRITUAL JOURNAL</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="color: red;">JUNE 9, 2000</span></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: red;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ecclesiastes 3:14<br />"I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing be taken away from it; and God doeth it, that man should fear before him."<br /><br /><br />What an impressive thought that is; knowing that whatever God does -or says- stands for ever- is something we can rely upon.</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Titus:1:2 "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began."<br /><br />How many times have we heard the anguished <i>cry (but you promised)?</i> How many times have we seen marriages dissolve because of broken promises? How many times have we witnessed the heartache and devestation caused by a broken promise? Husbands walk away from wives and wives from their husbands, over minor disagreements. Children run away from home, get into drugs, drinking and promiscuity because of promises not kept.<br /><br />We fall in love, marry, and promise to love for ever- but do we? We make friends with somebody, share everything for long periods of time, promise to always be there for each other- then aren't. We seem to have no true understanding of what permanence is- and except for Christ, we have no good example.<br /> We say we love our children, yet when they get out of hand, when we can no longer handle them- we turn our backs on them. The children of the world need permanence; need to <i>know</i> that when Mom, Dad, sister, brother, friend, pastor, or teacher says "I love you. I'll always be here for you, no matter what." they mean it.<br /> In our dealings with one another, we need to <i>think- </i>before speaking. It is far better to promise nothing and do our best, than to constantly promise things- and break that promise. We give our love- then take it away as if it were a trinket of some kind, a toy to be used for emotional blackmail.<br /><br />I had a wonderful friend who got cancer- lost both breasts. Until the day that happened her marriage seemed solid. But her husband, upon hearing the news, did not even visit her after her operation; just left a note with her mother. It said."I'm sorry. I just can't deal with this." As many years ago as that was, I still remember how heartbroken my friend was, how long and hard she cried. I was so angry at her husband, so resentful of how he'd abandoned her after promising to love her forever. <br /> For the longest time after that experience, I found myself listening to what members of my family said to one another, what neighbors said, what friends and their families said about love- and what they promised. I was amazed- and bitterly disillusioned with what I saw and heard. And to be perfectly honest with you, not much has changed. If anything, it's worse.<br /><br />Today mankind still lacks understanding, still fails to realize the sacredness of a promise; whether that be in marriage, a friendship, or between brother and sister. The death of a loved one, a difference of opinion, incompatibility, major illnesses, finances, loss of a job, betrayal, or just a simple misunderstanding: all of these seem to be cause these days for people to remove themselves from what they once made a commitment too. All of these caused separation between good people who claimed to love one another. But NONE of these things, or anything else can ever separate us from the love of Christ. No matter our circumstance he is enough!<br /><br />Psalms 19:7-9</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">(7) The law of the LORD <i>is</i> perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD <i>is</i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">sure, making wise the simple.<br />(8) The statues of the LORD <i>are</i> right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD <i>is</i> pure, enlightening the eyes.<br />(9) The fear of the LORD <i>is</i> clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD <i>are </i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">true <i>and </i>righteous altogether.</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I</i> think sometimes of how lost I was before Christ found and rescued me from myself. Before Christ I was so different than how I am now: breaking my word, drinking and smoking, caring for myself before others. I was constantly disappointing or disillusioning people - always hurting so deep in my heart, not liking the person I was becoming, but ignorant as to how I could change- how to help myself. I had nothing to offer others! I could not give them courage, teach them patience, show them what trust was. I could not reveal what love was like, or tell them how it felt to be sure of something. I could not offer them encouragement because hope scarcely existed for me at the time.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"> When Jesus came into my heart I discovered what it meant to truly be alive. I learned how it felt to be loved for myself- flaws and all, to have somebody in my corner who not only loved me , but liked me; somebody I could count on to be at my side till my very last breath. I discovered that trials were nothing to be afraid of any more, because it didn't matter how weak I was, or how insecure or unsure of myself. I had Christ now, and HE was all I would ever need.<br /><i><br /></i>I have had, as all you've had, some really rough waters to wade through. There have been some pretty rough, painful, heartbreaking storms in my life too. Many times I wanted to quit! I used to say to myself, "My heart can only be broken so may times and this is it." But I realized my heart would be just fine as long as I kept close to Jesus, as long as He held the number 1 place in my heart. </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"> <br />My time with the Lord in the morning, is my most favorite time. It's where I get all the good stuff that helps me be able to bless others. It's where I discover over and over again, how much God loves me. When He says "I will never leave you or forsake you." he means it. So if you are having a rough time in a relationship, remember that you can just do your best. If the other person works hard on it too, that's great. If not...you have the Lord in your corner. He is all you will ever need.<br /><br />My prayers are with you...and with those you love.<br />God bless you,<br /><br />Barb<br /> </span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08563892811221295801noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776912215319343301.post-14462083005513374972014-07-30T10:20:00.000-07:002014-07-30T18:15:06.735-07:00Do You See Your Trial...or God?<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">July 30, 2014</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Our sufferings, sorrows, trials, cannot be avoided. We will all experience them.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> But it is not something anybody looks forward too. Our burdens can feel so</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> painful, so <i>heavy t</i>hat we feel isolated from God. Our faith falters,</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">sometimes disappears for awhile, as if it never existed. Doubts follow </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">suit, washing over us like the ocean against the shore.</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We see our trials as a bad thing, either forgetting, or not realizing that it</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> is midst our darkest, most difficult moments that God is the nearest- as</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">close as our breath. <br /> </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I used to believe that God allowed trials in my life in order to teach me </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">something. I never grew spiritually until I understood that I had it backwards:</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">he didn't want to teach me something. What he wanted was for me to recognize </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">that I needed to <i>unlearn</i> something; wanted me to understand that because </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I was going about something in the wrong way, nothing in my life</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">was going right. He couldn't set the crooked paths of my life straight until</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I understood that.</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Every time a new trial confronts me now, I know to look for God in it;</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">rather than be intimidated by the trial. The more I do this- the larger, more</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">strong my faith becomes.</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>Whatever your burden today, however heavy or painful, look for God in it,</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>and peace will return to its rightful place in your life.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><br />God bless you</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>Barb </b></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08563892811221295801noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776912215319343301.post-92167633070658674592014-05-19T12:38:00.000-07:002014-05-19T17:20:25.368-07:00The Lord is Always With Us<span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Romans 8:35<br />"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? <i>shall </i>tribulation, or distress, or</span></span></b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: blue;">persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?</span>"</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />God does not keep us immune from troubles; did not place an invisible shield about us to protect us from being hurt. But he says "I will be <i>with</i> him in trouble." So many of us would experience more peace if we'd remember what he said. WITH US! How awesome is that? What else would we need in times of trouble, no matter what kind, if we'd only<br /><i>believe</i> these words as our children believe what we tell them.<br /> <br />Some people mistakenly believed that once they became a Christian nothing bad would ever happen to them. When something did, they were overwhelmed; their faith wavered, and their trust in God was shaken.<br /><br />Jesus said in John 16 verse 33 <span style="color: red;">"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."<br /><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">We have read the above words many times, haven't we? Yet I know that many of us have either skimmed over the words...<span style="color: red;">"but be of good cheer." <span style="color: black;">or read them, but didn't allow ourselves to <i>think</i> about them because to us, they simply don't make sense. Be of good cheer when facing a divorce, loss of a job, my child has run away or is on drugs? Be of good cheer when I'm going blind, have cancer, or I just found out my child is gay? <br /> YES! That is exactly what Jesus wants us to do..how he wants our attitude to be.<i><br /></i>Did you by any chance notic<i>e how</i> he strung his words-the order in which he placed them? <br /> 1- <span style="color: red;">These things I have spoken unto you, that in me <u>ye might have peace.</u></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><u> </u><span style="color: black;">2-<span style="color: red;">In the world ye shall have tribulation.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"> <span style="color: black;">3-<span style="color: red;">but be of good cheer.<br /><span style="color: black;"> 4-<span style="color: red;">I have <u>overcome</u> the world.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;">"In me ye might have peace."</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Knowing us, he knew we'd worry, fret, become anxious<span style="color: red;">, <span style="color: black;">fearful and discouraged</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">when trials came. He wanted to comfort us, to let us know <i>ahead </i>of time that </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">there was no need to become overwhelmed. In simple terms he was saying.<br />" Remember now. When things get hard for you, when you hit a really rough spot, <br />you don't have to worry or be afraid. I am with you, will always be with you, <br />both in good times and the bad. Lean on me when bad times come.<br /> I am the God Of All Comfort. I will be your strength, your courage,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">your energy- whatever you need. I am your Peace. <br /><br />The trick is to keep this in order. If Jesus is our point of focus </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">we'll always experience his peace. And because we have his peace,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> when tribulations come, we, instead of falling apart from worry and fear,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> will thank him for loving us so much, and praise him for giving us </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> that peace in the first place.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Did you notice where he placed the words <span style="color: red;">"be of good cheer?"</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">He placed them right between our tribulations and "<span style="color: red;">I have overcome."</span></span> </span><br />This reminds us that we don't have to worry about how inadequate we are,<br /> how weak, weary, or worn down we may be when those trials come. <br />We'll lean on Jesus, and through Him we'll overcome too. <br />We'll come through just fine. Pretty terrific, if you ask me. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />Nothing can ever separate us from the love of Christ. Nothing! <br />Tribulation, however exhausting and discouraging it is cannot<br /> come between us.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Famine? No matter how weak and weary we become, <i>it</i> cannot come <br />between us and God.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Anguish? We've all experienced this, know how rough it can be: <br />sleep becomes an elusive thing, our appetite fails, we are nauseous;<br /> The anguish burns like fire- is salt upon an open wound.<br /> Yet <i>it </i> cannot come between us and Christ. Not ever!<br /><br />When we hold on to the love of God, when we're at the lowest point in</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> our life, something <i>miraculous</i> happens, something that strangers,</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> neighbors, friends, and sometimes even family members are unable</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">to comprehend: which is how we're able to carry on with our life as </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">though nothing is wrong.<br /> <br /> I've had people ask" Barb, How do you <i>do </i>that ? How can you be </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">so calm when you have so much on your plate, when everything is</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> such a <i>mess</i> right now?"<br /> My reply is always "By God's grace." <br /><br /> God continues to surprise and amaze me at how <i>quickly</i> He comes<br /> to my rescue<i>, </i>and how he <i>truly</i> does what he promises to do: <br />make us <i>strong</i> in His strength, <i>empower us</i> to do </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">what must be done, <i>fill </i>us with that promised peace of Christ.<br />And he never fails to bless me by letting me experience the honor of<br />his presence, the <i></i>warmth of His love, and the<i> tightness </i>of his embrace.<br /><br />It is not just knowing Jesus but <i>believing</i> Him that keeps my life</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> more stress free than it has ever been. He is <i>trustworthy</i>.<br /> None of us have to be afraid, worried, or discouraged. </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Oh, these things will settle upon us from time-to-time.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> But they won't linger, unless they get to warm a</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> welcome. <br /> I don't give them any! I always let Jesus answer the door.<br /><br />Have a blessed day.<br />Love you much,<br /><br />Barb</span></span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08563892811221295801noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776912215319343301.post-62581180554861426262014-05-17T13:25:00.003-07:002014-05-17T16:17:10.948-07:00God's Amazing Grace<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">John 8:9-11<br /><br /> (9) And they which heard <i>it</i>, being convicted by <i>their</i> own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, <i>even</i> unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.<br />(10) When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her,<br /><span style="color: red;">"Woman, where are those thine accusers, hath no man condemned thee?<br /><span style="color: black;">"She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her. <span style="color: red;">"Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."<br /><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">The definition of GRACE? <br /><br />Unmerited favor, divine goodness, mercy, pardon, leniency, forgiveness.</span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">The Bible tells us that <i>GRACE </i>is all sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9) 1 Cor. 15: 10 tells us </span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">a truly awesome thing, which many of us fail to remember, which is as follows:<br /><br />"But by the GRACE of God I am what I am: and his grace which was <i>bestowed </i>upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."</span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">We've read about the adulterous woman many times, but fail to realize we are watching <u>Grace in action</u>. To read a definition of grace is one thing; to attempt to describe what in truth it <i>really is, well, there just are no words. Amazing comes the closest, in my opinion.</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><i>How does Grace work? What does Grace do? Let's observe.</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><i><br />In ver</i>se 4 of John 8 the scribes and Pharisees brought to Jesus, a woman caught in the very act of adultery. It has always amazed me, the nerve these people had, to say to Jesus, as they set her in the midst," Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?" Their implication was if MOSES said it..well, that was all that mattered. The Lord's opinion didn't' really count, didn't matter at all.<i><br /></i>They were, of course, wanting to tempt him, eager to be able to accuse him of something.<br /> <u>The beginning of grace in action</u><i><u>:</u> Verse 6 ".....</i>But Jesus stooped down,<i> </i>and with his finger wrote on the ground, <i>as if he heard them not.<br /> </i>Grace did not react as we would have. Jesus did not shake his finger in their face, did not raise his voice and shame them by naming their own personal sins aloud. Instead, he remained quiet, chose to ignore their words, though they did not yet silence themselves. <br />We could learn much by his example. How well we control our tongue reveals to the world just how much we have really learned by spending time with Jesus, or how much we truly lack....how much more we need to grow.<br /><br />Verse 7 says ...." So when they continued asking him, he lifted himself, and said unto them. <span style="color: red;">" He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone. at her."<br /> <span style="color: black;">Being convicted by their own conscience, all of them departed, leaving the woman alone with the Lord.<br /><br /> Sometimes that is what Jesus has to do with us too, has to allow things to happen that force us to be alone with him. Sometimes that is the<i> only </i>way he can get us to listen to him, sad as that is. We have our spouses, our children, our hobbies, our studies, our work, our friends.<i>..everything </i>taking up so much of our time HE gets none of it. And if we are never alone with him there is no way he can educate us, instruct us, guide us, comfort us, uplift us, strengthen us, or embrace us. It is that one-on- one time alone that can empower us to do as he asks.<br /> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> He asks us to do something; sets it upon our heart and mind so strongly we <i>know</i> it is HIM talking. And what do we do? We say things like "But Lord... I can't..."I have no time." I don't know how." What if this, or what if that? " He will put up with this for only so long. Then he'll turn away, and leave us to do whatever we wish. When that tall a wall gets between us and the Lord, it's not a wall of wood, but <i>steel- </i>and the only thing that can bring it town again is a repentant heart, a sincere heart, one like David's who recognizes how far we've wandered away -- how truly horrible our sins, how desperately we need a new heart.<br /><br />Grace <i>redirects us. </i>Verse 10 Jesus asks the woman where her accusers are, if none have accused her. "No man, Lord." she says. Verse 11, "And Jesus said unto her. <span style="color: red;">"</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;">Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." <br /><span style="color: black;">Verse 12. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying.<span style="color: red;"> "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Once Jesus touches our life; once he forgives us and sends us on our way we'll fall again, will still make mistakes. But that's okay. He says that "<span style="color: red;">he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness..."<br /><span style="color: black;"> This means we no longer will have to live as we were <i>before </i>his grace touched us; we'll never have to be <i>stuck </i>in the dark again. We can, in his strength, and with his help, walk on the right paths, following after him...in the light.</span></span></span><i><br /></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><i></i><br /></span></span><span style="color: black;">Jesus (grace) did not condemn the woman, nor does it condemn us. Instead, he forgives us, is merciful, loving, lenient. Jesus could have humiliated the woman further, could have made her feel more sad, discouraged, worthless. But he didn't. And he treats us with the same kindness and gentleness as he did her. God's grace pardons us, embraces us, heals us, binds up our wounds, and somehow, miraculously changes us into the person we have always wanted to be. God's grace sets us free from the things that have held us in bondage. <br /><br /> God's grace <i>fills us</i> with something we lacked. It so changes our hearts that we are able, through Christ, to no longer walk in darkness but in the light.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><br />We all have things in our past we'd rather forget, things we'd not want anybody else to know about. We forget at times just how amazing a thing God's GRACE is, until Satan reminds us of something we did, and guilt and shame overwhelm us again. We run to the Lord and say "Lord, I am so sorry. Please forgive me."And what does he say? He says "I don't remember that sin. I don't know what you are talking about. AMEN! Thank you, Lord.<br /><br /> When we ask for forgiveness- he <i>gives </i>it, and gives it not only, but <i>reminds u</i>s that it is now forgotten. Our problem is that we don't take him at his word. I determined awhile back, to get into the habit of reminding myself of that fact. It's helped a lot; has added quality to my life as well as given me the peace that the Lord desires his children to have.<br /><br />It is the desire of my heart that we all come to rightly reflect Jesus Christ, so that</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">those who have yet to know him may desire to have that which <i>we</i> have, so that they may share in our JOY.</span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: blue;">Have a blessed day.<br />Love you much,</span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: blue;"><br />Barb </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08563892811221295801noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776912215319343301.post-5306060378801159562014-05-07T06:32:00.000-07:002014-05-07T06:32:15.071-07:00<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span><span style="color: #333333;">Romans 8:28<br />
<br />
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love<br />
God...."<br />
<br />
When I was nine, I was bored and becoming a pest to the adults around
me, so my uncle gave me an old clock to tinker with. I held it to my
ear, while listening to it's soft ticking sound, and then, being
curious, I took it apart. I was to young to understand what made it
tick, but did discover that it took many different parts to make the
clock work.<br />
<br />
Like the clock, a man requires more than one part if he is to function
properly and be able to cope with the realities- the harshnes of life. He could not
possess just one part and be complete; could not, for instance just have
patience. If patience was all he had, what would he do if he found
himself in a situation that required courage or faith? What if he were
to need compassion, or understanding. wisdom, mercy, or strength? We
need a lot of parts in order to not just cope with the <i>harshness</i> of
life, but to be able to <i>appreciate </i>and <i>value</i> it as well.<br />
<br />
The world our wonderful God created is made up of opposites:
night-day, sorrow-joy, spring-winter, etc. We could never appreciate
the more colorful things, the things that make us happy, unless we've first
tasted the bitterness of the trials we've experienced. God does not always send
the trials we're confronted with. But he most definitely allows them.
How else could He make sure that we have the parts we'd need in order
to overcome the difficulties in our lives, as well as be a blessing to
those around us who are hurting? Yes, there is a harshness to life;
much pain and enormous sorrow, but there is always their opposite.<br />
<br />Whenever I see a rainbow, I see the darker colors as the trials I've been through,<br /> the brighter colors as joy; the <span style="color: blue;">JOY</span>
God gave me for trusting Him during the darkest moments of my
life: the death of my parents, a betrayal, a failed marriage, having a
child in an abusive relationship for years, the loss of a very dear
friend, a job, two precious children in trouble, the loss of my Johnny. My greatest <span style="color: #33cccc;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">JOY</span></span> fills me up, and that <span style="color: #3366ff;">JOY</span> comes from HE who believed in me, loved me, forgave me, when nobody else could- or would.<br />
<span style="color: #333399;"><u><span style="color: black;"><br />"All Things Work Together For Good To Them That Love God."</span></u><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><br />
What a powerful blessing, what reassuring words to a troubled person,
somebody not understanding what it takes for us to function properly,
not understanding what we <i>need,</i> in order to cope with the hard side of
life.<br />
<br />
It says all things (WORK), which means everything has been checked out;
nothing will break down and leave us stranded. It means all things are
working <u>now</u>, at this very minute...and for our good, because we
love God. It means we have no reason to doubt, or be troubled about the
trials in our lives.<i> Each</i> part is necessary in order for us to be successful; to grow, and become the kind of people God desires us to be.<br />
<br />
AND WE KNOW ( we are positive)<br />
THAT ALL THINGS (every single thing)<br />
WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD.<br />
<br />
Let's not worry and fret any more, but give our burdens to the Lord. We
have but to say, "Father, this is just to heavy for me," and he takes
care of it.<br />
<br />
I hope every </span></span></span></span><span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #333399;"><span style="color: #333333;">one of you has a blessed day, and that no matter how <i>steep</i> the hill, you'll keep climbing. The view at at top is more than worth it. I speak from experience. Like</span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #333399;"><span style="color: #333333;">many of you I have a lot on my plate these days, so many unfamiliar things I have to become familiar with- and to accept.<br />. I
don't sink, though my heart is heavy, because I truly <i>believe</i> what I
have told you. Everything, in the end, works out; not always as we wish
it would, but the way God knows is best. He doesn't give us what we
want...but what we need.<br />
<br />
Thank you again, for all the loving support, prayers and good wishes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #333399;"><span style="color: #333333;">Love you much.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08563892811221295801noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776912215319343301.post-68147438852695292752014-05-03T14:04:00.001-07:002014-05-03T19:41:15.376-07:00Jesus, Mary and Martha<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>John 11<br /><br /><br />I was amazed this morning, to realize that I'd read this chapter many times, yet somehow managed to miss so very much; things that would not only improve the quality of my physical life, but would add real substance to my sometimes <i>lukewarm</i> life. Perhaps these are things you may have missed too. I pray that if, like me, you missed these points, that reading them now will cause you to rethink how you live your days. </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lazarus was very sick. Mary (the one who who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair), and her sister Martha, both being <i>extremel</i>y concerned about their brother, sent word to Jesus, saying "Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick). verse 3. <br /><br />Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. But when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he did not depart to Bethany from Jerusalem, which was only about two miles away, but remained where he was for two days. When he<i> did </i>go to Bethany, he found that Lazarus had lain in the grave four days already.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Martha, upon hearing he was coming, went to meet him; was agitated, grieving <i>deeply</i>, not slow to empty out the pain within her heart. The first words out of her mouth when she saw Jesus were not "How are you?" were not "I'm so glad you're here. " No...the words that came out of her mouth were heavy with pain- and I'm quite certain, laced with a bit of resentment and frustration. She said " Lord, If thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that <i>even now, (</i>showing her faith in spite of her grief), whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give <i>it</i> thee."<br /> <br />Mary, grieving as deeply as Martha, did not go to meet Jesus, but sat <i>still</i> (my Bible reads). in her home.<i> Still</i>, to me, in this sense, means numb with grief. When reading this for the very first time, I remember wondering why Mary, loving Jesus so much, hadn't <i>run</i> to meet him. But...back to Martha now:<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">"Thy brother shall rise again." <span style="color: black;">Jesus says to Martha.</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">"I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day."Martha replies.<br /> <br /> Jesus said unto her <span style="color: red;">"I AM the resurrection...."</span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">I used capital letters for the word Am because that is how it appeared when I read them this morning.</span><br /><span style="color: black;">Those four words are something I missed, though I read them many, many times. Having them sink in THIS time was almost like being newly baptized. We think of the resurrection and think of receiving eternal life. But what we overlook sometimes, what we fail to get from His words is the awesome <i>reality</i> of His Words, the Truth in them, that in HIM we have LIFE. Without Him we cease to be. Before He became Lord of my heart and life I did not live...but existed. After baptism, I came out of the water filled with JOY i'd never experienced in my previous life.. Amazing! I live- move- and breathe, because I am HIS.<br /><br />Now back to Mary:</span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><br />Mary, now having left the house, was followed by the Jews who had been comforting her, believing she was going to the grave. When Mary saw Jesus, she fell down at his feet, saying "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died."<br /><br /> When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews weeping, which came with her, he groaned in his spirit, and was troubled (verse 33).<br /> </span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">verse 35 says "Jesus wept."<br /> <br /> Powerful words "Jesus wept." Everybody reading them has their own opinion as to <i>why </i>he wept. Some say because he loved Lazarus so much. Some say because of death, though death to Jesus is nothing. He is LIFE, which is one reason I no longer fear death. I personally believe that he wept for the living; for those who were hurting, agonizing over what their life has become- desperately wanting to change- to possess something better. I think He wept then, just as He weeps now, over you and me, and all those in our world who hurt so much, who struggle to understand what is beyond their comprehension. I think he wept because his love for mankind runs so <i>deep.</i>He brought Lazarus forth from the grave, gave him life again. And one day he will do</span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">the same for you and me...and that day is not to far off.<br /><br />I skipped around a bit on this post, am writing it as it flows in my mind. It is how I remember things that are important to me.<br /><br />Two things I learned in this chapter that will improve the quality of my life are:<br /><br />1- That not all of us are like Mary (quiet, shy, loves the truth, needs to spend a lot of time at the Lord's feet). Not all of us are like Martha ( positive, hospitable, assertive).<br /><br /> Remember when Jesus was visiting at their house? Remember how Mary sat at his feet, while Martha rushed here and there, doing all she could to take care of everybody?<br />Feeling frustrated because she too wanted time with Jesus, Martha asked him to tell Mary to help her.<br /> Jesus did not rebuke Martha for wanting help. But instead explained that Mary <i>needed</i> this time with him. She had been abused, harmed in ways only Jesus could understand. What he was giving her, nobody else ever could.<br /> Some of us are Mary's. We have been abused, tossed aside by our fathers, uncles, mothers, sisters, friends, etc. We have spent our lives feeling dirty, ashamed, totally lost and out of place. We <i>need</i> to sit long at the LORD'S feet, <i>need </i>that extra time and mentoring. <br /> <br />2- Some of us are like Martha. We're hospitable, outgoing, eager to be of service. But sometimes, like the Martha in the Bible, <i>we forget how blessed we are, fail to remember, as Martha did </i>how strongly rooted in the truth she already was, and what a solid relationship with Jesus she had.<br /> </span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> We don't need to be Martha..nor just a Mary. What we <i>need</i> is to try to become a bit of both: To be quiet sometimes, become better listeners, like Mary. We need to spend more time at the Lord's feet, listening- rather than talking. We need to, after we've spent time at the Lord's feet, become more like Martha then. We can't take in all the Lord teaches us and keep it to ourselves; can't accept the blessings without sharing them- giving some away. We need to spend out all that the Lord puts in. It is only by loving as the Lord loves- by blessing as we are blessed, that lives are changed. <br /><br />May the Lord richly bless you today. May you always know the honor of His presence,</span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">the warmth of His love- the tightness of His embrace.<br /><br />Love you much,</span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Barb</span></span></span></span></span></span></b> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08563892811221295801noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776912215319343301.post-68882541915215712302014-02-10T09:28:00.000-08:002015-06-25T07:40:30.423-07:00Are You Guarding Your Heart?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>We think we know ourselves (or at least I thought I did), until I began looking up what<br />God says about the heart. I discovered rather quickly just how blind I'd been, just how off the mark when it came to "keeping my heart." The scripture tells us that the heart is deceitful, that none can know it. Studying what God says about the heart showed me the truth in this, which is the reason for this post. I am hoping it blesses those who read it as greatly as it has blessed me.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />It is only by being <u>honest with ourselves--about ourselves </u>that we can began to grow, </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>to become the men and women God desires us to be. It is i<span style="color: red;">n our hearts<span style="color: black;"> that we first </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">began to lose our closeness to the Lord. Like a boat without a captain we little-by</span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">little, unawares, start drifting away from the Lord, from all that is good- real- true. It is</span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">here that backsliding begins.<br /><br />We failed to observe the red flags: How the world was getting our affection instead of the Lord, how we failed to keep our promise to meet the Lord every morning, to sit at his feet and learn from Him. We failed to notice that we'd slipped back into the former</span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">way of depending upon ourselves, overlooked the fact that the only time we prayed any more was when a crisis arose. We no longer prayed as we once did, prayed simply because we loved HIM and it made us happy to spend time with Him. We did</span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">not notice that reading His Word we now see as a chore- rather than a pleasure.<br /> Is our faith constantly in motion? Are we living it? Is our love for the Lord hot, as once it was -or worse- lukewarm? Does the world see patience in us, and love, kindness, self-control, joy? Or does it see hatred, greed, envy, bad tempers, impulsiveness?</span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><br />We are "<u>to keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."<br />(Proverbs 4:23)</u>To keep the heart means to guard it, protect it. We are to keep heart and mind <u>walking</u></span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><u>a straight line. </u>A heart cannot be set right unless it is SET right, programmed, in a way. <br />Think of it as a clock. To set it correctly we have to turn the hands from hate to love, from sin to holiness, from love of the world to love of Christ, from self love-to love of others. <br /><br />We cannot go through life living solely upon the occasional highs received from a song, sermon, an unexpected blessing, if those high moments do not change us, if</span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">they do not put within us a desire to give out the good that God has put within. <br />It does no good to read God's Word, and understand it, if we are unwilling to do as <br />He asks us to do, if we remain unwilling to change.</span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><u> </u> </span></span> </b></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08563892811221295801noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776912215319343301.post-11220700441929459282013-06-29T19:55:00.002-07:002015-06-25T07:39:09.428-07:00Do We Really Trust Jesus?<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Psalm 37:5<br /><br />"Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass."</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Oftentimes we believe ourselves to be trusting in the Lord, when in truth, we're really not.Why do I say this? Think about it for a minute. Can a man look at both sides of a penny at the same time? Of course he can't. Well, he can't be trusting in the Lord, yet be worried at the same time; he's either trusting- or not.<br /><br /><br />In John 14:1 Jesus said <span style="color: red;">"Let not your heart be troubled." <br /><span style="color: black;">If we read this verse correctly, we'll see that the Lord is not giving us options here, but a <i>command.</i></span></span></span></span></b> <span style="color: red;"><i><b>"LET NOT,</b> </i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;">which means, put another way<u>, DO NOT LET your heart be troubled.</u> I'm not sure how we manage to miss this, but we do. We start our day with prayer, have the best intentions probably, yet first time something disturbs our comfort zone,we fall right back into the worrying and being afraid mode.<br /> <br />How different our lives could be, if we would just take the Lord's Words to heart; if we would, from this moment on, view this verse in the way He <i>desires </i>us too. He promised us peace; it is ours for the taking, but we fail to embrace it. Our years of worrying, fretting, being anxious and fearful are <i>deeply</i> rooted. But dear ones, just because they are, we don't have to remain enslaved by them.<br /><br />God is not going to do <i>anything</i> to keep our hearts from being troubled. That is our job. How do we manage to do it? We manage by every single day, asking for the Lord's help. We do it by being absolutely <i>honest, </i>about how we've not truly believed in Him enough, how we've claimed to- yet continued to let worry and fear be the master of our lives.<br /><br />If we ask the Lord to help us break this despicable habit of distrust; if we ask Him to enable us to have the faith of a little child, He will give us that faith. But we have to do our part; which is pulling ourselves up by the bootstraps every time we're discouraged. It means doing it over and over <i>again, </i>whenever fear, worries, insecurities, any negative thing threatens to get in between us and the Lord.</span></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><u><br /></u><i>May He strengthen and bless each of you. It is always my prayer that you may always know the warmth of His love, the honor of His presence, and the tightness of His embrace.<br /><br />Love you much,<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">Barb</span></i></span></span></span></b></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08563892811221295801noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776912215319343301.post-58097620775889456222013-06-17T07:49:00.001-07:002013-06-17T07:49:13.357-07:00I Understand<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>Song I wrote on October 3, 1967</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><span style="color: red;">(saved it in my 1967 Spiritual Journal)</span>.</b></span></span></span><br /><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>I Understand</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br /><b>I understand how you feel when things trouble you,<br />I know that some things just seem to hard to bear,<br />When I knelt in the Garden of Gethsemene</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I could not feel my Father's presence there.<br />I know the way your heart fills with grief - with sorrow,<br />That it feels to much for a mere man,<br />When I carried that big cross, I felt then just like you,</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>So you see, I do really understand.<br /><br />I understand how you feel with many burdens,<br />My shoulders too carried some so hard to bear,<br />And when the ones I depended on deserted me,</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I felt alone, nobody with me seemed to care.<br />I too have known the agony of endless waiting,<br />And for you who are just a mere man,</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Shouldn't lean on your own understanding, </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Lean on me, you can see, I understand.<br /><br /><i>Have a blessed day, my friends. Remember how faithful, how dependable our Lord is. He is coming back: He promised -always keeps His word.<br /><br />Be good to others- and yourselves too.<br />Love you much,</i></b></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08563892811221295801noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776912215319343301.post-47792214604673238752013-06-15T08:58:00.000-07:002013-06-15T08:58:11.309-07:00Seek And Ye Shall Find<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>From my July, 2003 Spiritual Journal.</b></span></span></span><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Luke 11:9</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;">"And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you: Seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."<br /><span style="color: black;"><br /><br />Throughout the past few years I've had many people write me regarding their unanswered prayers; serious prayers about serious problems. They couldn't understand why so many of their prayers were left unanswered. For many years I wondered the same thing.<br /> I believed in God. I loved Him. Yet, when i was facing problems that were overwhelming me and turned to Him for help, there was nothing but silence.<br />I went through some difficult years, years of crying myself to sleep, of being discouraged and sad, of feeling extremely inadequate. I felt myself to be a failure as a Christian- just could not get it right.<br /><br /> One day, I was meditating upon my life, and the sorrows connected to it. I determined that I would <i>not accept</i> that God didn't care what happened to me; decided to study His Word at great length; study <i>harder</i> and <i>longer</i> than I ever had. My former method of study was to read a verse and do a lesson about what I felt God wanted me to learn from it, what He was telling me. But while studying one day I came across Luke 11:9; found myself reading it over and over again. I studied it totally different than I had before. I took each individual word in the verse and made a mental note of its definition. Doing this opened my eyes for the first time; enabled me to understand (why) so many of my prayers had been unanswered.<br /> "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss."<br />I'd definitely asked amiss. I'd prayed about my problems, my needs, which at the time were all about myself. I wanted help with my children, wanted extra money so I could better care for my children. I prayed to <i>feel</i> better, for a good nights sleep, prayed for my family and friends and my enemies too.<br /> <br /> ...<span style="color: red;">SEEK AND YE SHALL FIND.</span><br />I was overlooking the most precious gem in the universe. My prayers were not bad prayers, and God DID want to help me. But I'd narrowed my interest to what concerned me- not God. If we want prayers answered we must first get our priorities straight. We must first (seek to find God); we may know Him and love Him, but how often do we seek His company? We may do our lessons, attend church, pay tithes, pray regularly , help the poor, and perhaps even attend some seminars, but how excited do we get when we know it's time for our 1-to-1 with the Lord?<br /> Are we still thirsty for His Word, like when we first asked Him into our hearts, or have we become smugly indifferent- so satisfied with our spiritual life that we don't miss our private time with Him? We must not allow indifference to settle upon us. We can never give another person that which we have found, but we can make him desire to have what he sees in us.<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">"Knock And It Shall Be Opened Unto You"</span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> We must draw nearer to God. It says Knock...so the door is <i>closed.</i> We get nervous while waiting; become aware of what's really going on within us. We might not kill, but we're gossipers and liars; we might not steal, but we commit adultery; we might go to church and pay tithe, but we're stubborn, rude, unkind, and self-righteous; we might do our Bible lessons and pray at the family altar, but we have these hidden things nobody knows about except God.|We start to think how <i>dirty</i> our hands are; how <i>dark</i> our hearts, and now we began to truly desire for the door to open, truly <i>desire </i>to be closer to God, recognize now, while facing ourselves just how <i>desperately</i> we need Him.<br /><br /> We knock a little louder- the door does not open. We stand there, sick at heart, so discouraged the river has begun to rise in our eyes. "I must purify my heart" The words float across our mind and we began to pray, more earnestly than ever before. We begin to think about ourselves differently; with honesty, perhaps for the first time in our lives. Now we gaze inwardly- deeply, at our true self. HE sees us with l<i>oving </i>eyes, but we are ashamed and disgusted to discover we're not what we've always believed ourselves to be. We, in our honesty, began to grieve for the darkness of our hearts, for the hypocrisy we've lived with, and began to cry aloud for the door to open.<br /> <br />It does not come easy, knocking at the door, having discovered the man/woman, we really are. But we dig deep within ourselves to find courage, and having found a small measure of it, we knock as loudly as we can, and mercifully the door opens.<br /><br />Faith honors God- God honors our faith.<br /><br />I've written this entry out in this manner because it is what I experienced this week.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08563892811221295801noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776912215319343301.post-26479618171878221712013-06-12T14:12:00.000-07:002013-06-12T14:12:11.074-07:00The Bread of Life<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Matthew 4:4<br /><br />"But he answered and said, <span style="color: red;">"It is written. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."</span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> Deuteronomy 8:3<br />"And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live."</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><br />Bread of itself does not feed the whole of a man; it keeps him alive only. To live means to be <i>alive, </i>to have movement in our lives; to think, plan, act out. God does not say we need only bread; he says man shall not live by bread <i>alone, </i>which indicates that a man needs something more.<br /><br />The Scriptures say (every word), so we know that we need God's wisdom if we are to understand how we are to live.<br /><br />Proverbs 3:1, 2 tells us to keep God's commandments so that he can bless us with long life and peace. We are to hold <i>tightly </i>to mercy and truth; to bind them upon our necks, to write them upon the tables of our hearts.<br /><br />Proverbs 3:5, 6 tells us to trust in the Lord with <i>all</i> our heart; to trust in Him, not ourselves. It tells us that if, in all our ways we acknowledge Him, he will direct our paths.</span></span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> Fear is one of Satan's favorite weapons, and for many years he used this weapon against me. <br /> I've always been, before finding the Lord, a fearful, insecure person. When I <i>was</i> that fearful person, I found night time very frightening- sleep an elusive thing because of the nightmares. After Jesus became Lord of my heart and life? Well, everything changed. I discovered the truth about his WORD, that there <i>is </i>LIFE in it..literal life. <br /> As I began to memorize Bible verses, the fear began to fade. One day I realized that fear was no longer running my life. It no longer runs my life but does raise its ugly head once in awhile. Since Johnny's death, seven and a half months ago, I began having trouble sleeping again- the horrible dreams began to return. <br /> I was prepared this time. As soon as I began to feel afraid I'd say Proverbs 3:24 out loud "When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and they sleep shall be sweet." My sleep was.<br /><br />Isn't God wonderful? I love him so very much. He remembers our frame, that we are but dust; has provided an exit door we can use when we feel hemmed in by life's trials.<br /> When we find ourselves afraid, discouraged, lonely, feeling rejected, angry, resentful- any negative thing, we don't have to remain in that state. All we have to do is walk away from what we're feeling, just have to <i>use</i> the exit door (Christ).<br /><br />Let's remember, when we prepare our meals, that God felt it necessary, to make us <i>know,</i> that bread alone is not enough to sustain us. If we find ourselves unable to cope with the trials of life, perhaps we've forgotten what God wanted us to <i>know.</i><br /><br />Hope each of you had a wonderful day today, that you didn't miss the SHINY moments God sent you. I'm appreciating, and praising God, for the freedom that is mine through Christ, and thanking Him too, for those who gave their lives to protect us- and for those, who are at this very moment, at the other side of the world, doing what they have to in order to keep us safe. Please don't forget to include them in your prayers.<br /><br />Love you much,<br />Barb</span></span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08563892811221295801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776912215319343301.post-37122372488354692702013-05-02T18:52:00.000-07:002013-05-02T19:11:19.194-07:00Thou Remainest<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hebrews 1:11<br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">If we <span style="font-size: small;">tr<span style="font-size: small;">ave<span style="font-size: small;">led throughout the world, we'd see numberless indi<span style="font-size: small;">viduals sitting alone in bed, in a rocking chair, <span style="font-size: small;">in a mansion, a motel room, on a park bench, or perhaps in a cardboard box shoved against a tall, cold building<span style="font-size: small;">, and each <span style="font-size: small;">individual<span style="font-size: small;"> is crying.<br /><span style="font-size: small;">You and I cry too when life <span style="font-size: small;">becomes unus<span style="font-size: small;">ua<span style="font-size: small;">lly difficult, when <span style="font-size: small;">we're dealing with heal<span style="font-size: small;">th<span style="font-size: small;"> issues, when we've lost a loved one, when <span style="font-size: small;">our deepest hopes and dreams <span style="font-size: small;">disapp<span style="font-size: small;">ear like sand between our fingers.<br /> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">On these darkest of times, I love to <span style="font-size: small;">go to my Bible<span style="font-size: small;">. <span style="font-size: small;">The Lord never fails to speak to my heart, never fails to <span style="font-size: small;">fill up those empty, hurting places so deep within me. <span style="font-size: small;">I was reading Hebrews <span style="font-size: small;">1:11 and those two words <span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thou<span style="font-size: small;"> Re<span style="font-size: small;">mainest<span style="font-size: small;">,<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: black;">in the middle of the <span style="font-size: small;">verse glittered like stars on the blackest of night. <span style="color: blue;">Thou Remainest <span style="color: black;">and doesn't HE? Hasn't he always, just as promi<span style="font-size: small;">sed? He <span style="font-size: small;">has<span style="font-size: small;">!</span> It's just th<span style="font-size: small;">at we <i>forget</i> he is beside us<span style="font-size: small;">. <span style="font-size: small;">Our aches and pains, the <span style="font-size: small;">crazy weather, the lack of sleep, our blue moods<span style="font-size: small;">, all these have our attention. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">How different things could be, if we'd not forget that just beyond our vision i<span style="font-size: small;">s the <span style="font-size: small;">One who loves us so dearly, the God Of All C<span style="font-size: small;">omfort<span style="font-size: small;">. <span style="font-size: small;">What a wonderful realiz<span style="font-size: small;">ation<span style="font-size: small;">, to know that even as we're needing the Lord, HE, kn<span style="font-size: small;">owing h<span style="font-size: small;">ow </span>much w<span style="font-size: small;">e'd<span style="font-size: small;"> need him<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>remained.<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> How different things <span style="font-size: small;">would </span>be if we'd <span style="font-size: small;">not forget <u><span style="font-size: small;">where the Lord is.</span></u><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> If we <span style="font-size: small;">would remember, <span style="font-size: small;">our peace would be <i>true</i> peace, would be a pond without a ripple in it.<br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">May <span style="font-size: small;">that promised peace of Christ be yours today and every day. May you<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">continue to be honored by His presence, to experience the w<span style="font-size: small;">armth<span style="font-size: small;"> of His love and the tightness of His embr<span style="font-size: small;">ace.<br /><br /><br />Love you <span style="font-size: small;">much,<br />Barb</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /> </b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08563892811221295801noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776912215319343301.post-87660707216708685322012-08-10T11:33:00.000-07:002015-06-27T10:04:23.224-07:00REGARDING PATIENCE<b><span style="color: blue;">From my Morning Devotion diary</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">May 8, 1998 </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br /><b> Psalm</b></span></span> <b>37:7<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /> "Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him..."<br /><br /><br />Have you prayed and prayed - waited and waited, only to have your prayers unanswered? Are you getting discouraged now, finding that flame of hope within your heart flickering? If we are not waiting in the <i>right</i> way, with the right attitude, our faith an <i>active</i> thing, we'll find ourselves in the <i>wrong</i> place, a place where the Lord cannot meet us.<br /> <br /> Romans 8:25> "With patience wait."<br /> People who are patient not only worry less, but cry less too. They don't worry, for they know God's promises are sure: if He says "For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee." he <i>will.</i></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i> </i>They don't cry, because they know God knows their needs better than <i>they</i> do; they <i>believe</i> that, their faith is active- constantly moving. <br /> <br /> Patience is not something we are born with. We can only obtain it through trials- through <i>enormous </i>testing. It is through trials that we come to truly understand what an amazing thing patience is- how beautifully it can change us- how many lessons we learn from it, like how not to <i>wobble. </i>God's foundations are <span style="color: blue;">steady; and when His patience is within, we are steady while we wait.<br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><i>Lord, thank you for the trials in my life. Had I not experienced them I'd never have learned compassion, and empathy, would still be a lost fearful, insecure soul, friendless, lonely -with no self-esteem. </i>I have never seen you but love you with all my heart.</span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><i> </i></span></span><br /> <br /> <i><br /></i></span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08563892811221295801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776912215319343301.post-32554338733668651922012-08-02T21:47:00.001-07:002012-08-03T18:16:28.370-07:00LUKEWARM OR HOT?<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>From my morning lessons diary,<br />one I shared with family & friends.<br />November 5, 2001</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><br />Good morning,<br /><br /> I am not feeling my best today so won't be doing this lesson in the manner you're accustomed too. I thought I'd just share some of my thoughts and feelings, if you don't mind. I've been thinking about the word <i>lukewarm</i> and what it means. We might not give much importance to the word but God does, in Revelation 3:16 "So then because thou art <i>lukewarm</i>, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth."<br /> I recall reading that verse many years ago; the importance of it went right over my head. I missed its importance because at the time, I believed myself to be firmly planted spiritually. I failed to realize just how<i> lukewarm</i> I was. I didn't realize it until many years later, and I didn't discover it myself; Jesus had to point it out to me, had to help me see just how<i> terrible </i>a thing it is to be <i>lukewarm. <br /> </i>For example: Take the husband and wife relationship. What if the man works hard, pays the bills, mows the yard, takes out trash and maintains the house properly but does not give his wife affection, takes no time for his children- pretty much does what he pleases?<br /> Or what if the wife washes her children's clothes, cooks their meals, takes them to and from school, but never attends parent/child appointments and doesn't interact with her children?<br /> Spiritually, to be lukewarm is <i>dangerous.</i> It's a condition that can, if we are not careful, cause us to drift away from the Lord. We may be enjoying a day at the beach, for example, and decide to swim in the ocean. If we are not alert we could be pulled out by the tides and drown. Charles Spurgeon, a famous preacher in the 1800's, described it this way:<br /> "They were not cold, but they were not hot; they were not infidels, yet they were not earnest believers; they did not oppose the gospel, but neither did they defend it; they were not seeing mischief, neither were they doing anything good; they were not disreputable in moral character, but they were not distinguished for holiness; they were not irreligious, but they were not enthusiastic in piety not eminent for zeal: AND > Good things were maintained among them, but they did not make too much of them; they had prayer meetings, but there were few present, for they liked quiet evenings at home."<br /><br />Too often we fail to speak out for fear of offending, even though we know something should be said. We do the right things, but not always with all our might. Some examples might be:<span style="color: blue;"> Our prayer time:</span><br /> How much time do we spend in prayer? When we say to somebody "I will pray for you, do we really pray, and if we do, how <i>earnest</i> is that prayer? Do we pray from the core of our hearts, pleading for that friend or loved one as earnestly as when we prayed for <i>ourselves?</i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span><i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></i><span style="color: blue;">Our family time:</span></span></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"> <span style="color: black;">How involved are we really? Do we do the right things with all our might and soul and strength? What a difference it would make if we determined, this very day, this very <i>minute,</i> to love with all our might and soul and strength, and to do the same when we cook, play with our children, or are spending time with our spouse. <br /> In one of his sermons, Spurgeon used a bath to show just how dangerous remaining in our comfort zone is. He wrote:<br />"Cold makes us shiver, and a great heat causes us pain, but a tepid bath is comfort itself. Such a temperature suits human nature."<br /> His statement was profound and right on the mark. We<i> have</i> created a comfort zone, and have invisible limits to keep us safe. We may go to church but just can't give a testimony; we're too shy. We may give to the church but only that tenth, nothing more, because we can't afford it. Where is the trust in God? Compromise seems to be the order of the day. <br /> In the light of the Scriptures.... we cannot profess to love God while holding onto resentfulness and hatred, cannot really think because we call ourselves Christians that we indeed are. Lukewarm is more than distasteful to He who created us. It is vile and nauseates Him to the point He says "I will spew thee out of my mouth."<br /><br />I ask for your prayers, regarding my spiritual life. I ask that you pray for me, most earnestly and sincerely, that God may enable me to see with clarity of vision the errors in my life, that he may point out to me the areas where I am lukewarm.<br /> When you think of life without Christ in it, it would be no life at all, and when you think of the word <i>lukewarm</i> and then think of CHRIST and how <i>he</i> lived HIS life, you will see what it is to NOT be lukewarm.<br /> <br />I wish to thank all of you for loving me, for your deep understanding and support. Life is hard for us all, but if we will humble ourselves unto God, and repent of our sins daily he can, and will, create in us a new man, one whose life will reflect Christ in the way it should.</span></span></span></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><br /><i> </i></span></b></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08563892811221295801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776912215319343301.post-37770293735333847142012-07-29T19:21:00.000-07:002012-07-29T19:21:05.412-07:00<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>From my Spiritual Journals</b></span></div>
<span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">November 25, 2000<br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"> Ministering Hope<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: blue;">"The word which God has written on the brow of every man is hope." <br /> - Victor Hugo<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: black;">Victor Hugo was right about that. When trials come, the first thing that seems to disappear from the discouraged soul is hope. If we, who call ourselves the Lord's are living right, these dear ones will not be left feeling miserable and wretched.<br /> If we're living right, when our paths cross they will see <span style="color: blue;">HOPE</span> shining from our eyes, and will soon realize that the hope they see is not a <i>thing</i>,<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><i> </i> but a very <i>real </i>person- Jesus Christ.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: black;">Every one of us has opportunity to bless others, to bring Christ to others by a gentle touch, with encouraging words, a lift <i>up (</i>a helping hand without judgment). The Lord ministered in this way, and still can through us. <br /><br />"1 Peter 4:10-11"<br />Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.<br /><br />"Hebrews 6:19<br />"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure."<br /><br />The world we live in is a very scary place. Millions of people get up each morning and start their day in fear, without friends, are homeless, hungry, in desperate need of a lifeline. Those of us who love the Lord ought to be doing our very best to reflect that <span style="color: blue;">hope </span>is Christ.<br /> At our best we will disillusion others, will disappoint them: at our worst we shall <i>surely </i>do this. But if Christ is at the core of our hearts, if we start our mornings asking for him to guide our speech and actions, we can count on Him doing that. He will bless our efforts to bless others.<br /><br />People coming towards us, I always tell my husband, either know the Lord, or are desperately searching for him. If they know him we'll be blessed with their company; if they don't, we have opportunity to make them rich by allowing them to discover hope through us. Let us not fail the Lord. He is counting on me..on you, on us all.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></span></span></span></b></span><br /><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></b></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrel-Qm1ox1Sb1gzwAJBUZDNUguwcZf1J_gp0-XmtRs0PHPLF1SyYQ32tEN9ZzYPGrzioPebyZj4g2ynfPTkgUCwpKpQkRJ9hLbIfFz6Cl5Uv97wxAChMGfon8yGSM-T4bf-uyXTKpkxcD/s1600/dovegodblessyou.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrel-Qm1ox1Sb1gzwAJBUZDNUguwcZf1J_gp0-XmtRs0PHPLF1SyYQ32tEN9ZzYPGrzioPebyZj4g2ynfPTkgUCwpKpQkRJ9hLbIfFz6Cl5Uv97wxAChMGfon8yGSM-T4bf-uyXTKpkxcD/s320/dovegodblessyou.gif" width="320" /></a><br /><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Barb</span></span></span><br /> </b></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08563892811221295801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776912215319343301.post-15497363702164568102012-07-27T11:31:00.002-07:002012-07-27T11:31:50.894-07:00<b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">From my morning devotion<br />lesson (shared in April-2001<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: black;">Matthew 28:20</span></span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">"Lo, I am with you all the appointed days."<br /><br />We don't have to fear the changes that enter our lives. Our tomorrows will find the Lord beside us just as he was the day before- and is today. He has walked with us to this present moment and will be with us at our last.<br /><br />The years of our lives will contain many experiences: marriage, divorce, births, deaths, new jobs, the loss of a job, a new home- the loss of a new home. There will be happy families and dysfunctional families, and God will be there to rejoice with us, or grieve with us, as He has always done.<br /><br />"Lo, I am with you.." What comfort; what reassurance. God with us doesn't mean what it means when a <i>man </i>says this. When the LORD says it it means we'll not be betrayed, won't be abandoned, will always have somebody trustworthy in our corner. It means we have somebody on <i>our</i> side, somebody who won't bail out on us when things get rough. It means no matter how bright our day- or how dark the nights, we can depend upon him. His WORD is better than gold.<br /><br />One of my sons, as a small child - about four years old, feared the dark. Even with a night light on he'd have trouble falling asleep. Every night, I'd tuck him in and reassure him that I'd be in the next room, so he didn't have to worry or be afraid. Yet every night, until sleep found him, he'd call our at regular intervals "Mommy, are you there? Are you still there?"<br /> This is how we are with the Lord, when the stress of life has hemmed us in, leaving us discouraged, weary, and afraid. It does not seem quite good enough that God says to us "Lo, I am with you all the appointed days." We still call out to him when we are in trouble, in the dark of night- and yes, sometimes in the bright of noon-day. "God, are you there? Are you still there?<br /> Jesus promised to never forsake us. Let's believe him ; let's praise Him for his faithfulness rather than be a doubting Thomas. <br /> <br />Create some wonderful memories today. Be good to others- good to yourselves too. Be patient with yourselves. Don't become discouraged when considering your imperfections but instead, set about remedying them. Every day= a new way. Every day begin the task anew.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-cx2f__DTKIHw_OYahx7vuMIpHQBYmcjukzsYaz9S9i4-u04zReAGo4V9fSerZj9l0cT0YFdP7QdHvr685304r_wGIKClogPvvcLCNRvXBJZdt0y1_DWjjcchHsP6x9qG2U8Lt0rWnk/s1600/pic%253Fid%253D5ae0DFaEW*jRh5YC1AmUOxG5LPnxt03wEMKzv4xQp5Fd3Ig%253D%2526size%253Dm" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-cx2f__DTKIHw_OYahx7vuMIpHQBYmcjukzsYaz9S9i4-u04zReAGo4V9fSerZj9l0cT0YFdP7QdHvr685304r_wGIKClogPvvcLCNRvXBJZdt0y1_DWjjcchHsP6x9qG2U8Lt0rWnk/s1600/pic%253Fid%253D5ae0DFaEW*jRh5YC1AmUOxG5LPnxt03wEMKzv4xQp5Fd3Ig%253D%2526size%253Dm" /></a><br /><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"> <i><span style="color: black;">Barb</span></i></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08563892811221295801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776912215319343301.post-78261735779696306072012-07-18T20:00:00.000-07:002012-07-18T20:00:53.519-07:00<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b><br /><span style="color: red;">Entry from November 23, 2000</span><br /><br /><u>GOD CREATED HOPE</u><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></span></b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>God created our eyes-<br />and we looked for alternatives.<br />He formed our ears-</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>and we listened to the wrong voices.</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>He gave us feet-<br />and we walked away from Him unto</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>loss, loneliness, and despair.<br />So God created<br />A Light through the darkness-<br />and He is the Way.<br />A Promise amid lies-</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>and He is the Truth.</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>A Hope at the graveside-<br />and He is our Life.<br /> <br />But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive<br />with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions- it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus...For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.<br /> -Ephesians 2:4-7, 10<br /><i><br /><br />To study carefully all of the above is to discover how greatly our Creator loves us. It bothered me to realize how negligent I was for awhile with my Bible lessons; how I put of doing them sometimes, took no time to truly search for the hidden wealth within the pages of Scripture. But now that the Lord has enabled me to get back on track, I realize the value of what I'd almost thrown away.<br /> We sometimes look at things without really seeing them. Our vision is often clouded by hostility, anger, resentment, sadness, frustration, confusion, and ignorance. We forget that the choices we make keep us close to the LORD, or cause us to get lost. God is Life. It is HE who provides our daily breath, HE who enables us to walk and talk, love and laugh. To choose to remove ourselves from his presence places us again into the dark valleys of despair, loneliness, fear and loss.<br /> We have the precious gift of Christ to fill us with warmth, joy, peace and <span style="color: blue;">HOPE</span>. <span style="color: blue;"></span> He, through the Holy Spirit, guides and directs our lives. If we will but trust him with everything, we'll be amazed at all that he will do for us.<br /><br /> To those of you going through hard times I wish to remind you that you're never alone, not even midst your darkest of moments. And if you ever feel as if you're alone, remind yourself that you're alone with God, and there is not a safer, or more wonderful place to be.<br /> <br /> If you are having a wonderful day, remember that all good things come from above, from HE who created us-created all that exists.<br /><br />May the warmth of God's love be with you throughout your days and may your sleep be peaceful</i></b></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Barb</i></span><br /><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><i><br /> </i></b></span></span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08563892811221295801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776912215319343301.post-48416014214660900122012-05-28T13:41:00.001-07:002012-05-28T13:41:16.749-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>From my 2000 Spiritual Journal</b><br />
<b>June 8, 2000<br /><br />What Might God Tell Me ...after my prayers?<br /><br />Because you have believed in me, trusted me for your daily needs I have blessed you beyond measure, as many are blessed. Do you not have peace, though your life is as a tangled ball of string? Is not your mind at rest and no longer fearful, doubtful and full of thoughts that discourage? Seeing that you, of your own accord did not make this possible, give thanks to the God of mankind, the God who being just and merciful, loving, and wise beyond mans comprehension does what he promises to do - rewards the patient and faithful, the loyal and obedient, those who believe as a child believes.</b><br />
<b> You <i>do</i> have reason to be joyous, for the dark that held you in bondage all your life no longer holds you. Fear is of the devil, and will not be found within those who have learned to trust me. <br />These are solemn times, though most of mankind remains blind. Their eyes and ears remain closed as were the eyes and ears of past generations, who refusing to see and hear- did <i>fall.<br /> </i> Do not take back that which you gave to me, and in all manner of things, remember the destruction and pain that wrong choices and a rebellious heart put into your life. Be faithful and true unto the God, who out of love for you untangled your life and set you on the right path again- <i>lit it,</i> and granted you wisdom to better understand things. Be open in heart and mind, receptive to the Holy Spirit, who will reveal things you're ignorant of. He will plant your feet and enlighten your mind, enabling you to see with clarity of vision.</b><br />
<b> Be not lifted up by men, whose affection for you blinds them to their lack of trust in me, and to the rebelliousness of their hearts, that same evil that rested upon your own heart in times past. Lift Christ HIGH before men. Tell everybody about the Savior who loving them so deeply, willingly laid down his life for them so that they could live.<br /> Encourage all who will listen to abide in me. Encourage them to pray for the removal of all that now exists between us so that no wall is in the middle; so that they may come boldly to ME, asking with faith those things I desire to give them.<br /> There is light that fills the inner man, granting him power to do all manner of things, but my people fear that which they are <i>unsure</i> of. Their doubt grieves me, for if a child of mine asks for bread why would I give then a stone?</b><br />
<b> You are loved, as are all those who love me, whose faith is a steady, dependable thing. Be patient, loving, and kind to those with a weaker faith; for did you not at one time have difficulty letting go of the negative things Satan put upon you?</b><br />
<b> <br />Many people begin and end their days in fear. Do not do as they do, but continue to trust me and in my promises. Leave your loved ones with the God you trust. All men have to make their own decisions regarding life. Look to Christ and nevermore away, for darkness comes and I desire your safety- the safety of all who love me.</b><br />
<b><i> </i></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08563892811221295801noreply@blogger.com0