You've Hit "The Spot"

Songs on my mind today

2009-04-09T11:48:00.002-05:00

Brooke Fraser
SHADOWFEET

Walking, stumbling on these shadowfeet
Toward home, a land that I've never seen
I am changing
Less and less asleep
Made of different stuff than when I began
And I have sensed it all along
Fast approaching is the day

When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
When the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees
When time and space are through
I'll be found in you

There's distraction buzzing in my head
Saying in the shadows it's easier to stay
But I've heard rumours of true reality
Whispers of a well-lit way

When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
When the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees
When time and space are through
I'll be found in you

You make all things new

When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
When the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees
When time and space are through
I'll be found in you

When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
Every fear and accusation under my feet
When time and space are through
I'll be found in you
When time and space are through
I'll be found in you
When time and space are through
I'll be found in you

Addison Road
HOPE NOW

If everything comes down to love
Then just what am I afraid of
When I call out Your name
Something inside awakes in my soul
How quickly I forget I'm Yours

(PRE-CHORUS)
I'm not my own
I've been carried by You
All my life

(CHORUS)
Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
This love sets me free

When my life is like a storm
Rising waters all I want is the shore
You say I'll be ok and
Make it through the rain
You are my shelter from the storm

(CHORUS)
And everything rides on hope now
And everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
This love sets me free

You've become my hearts desire
I will sing Your praises higher
Cause Your love sets me free
Your love sets me free
Your love sets me free

(PRE-CHORUS)
I'm not my own
I've been carried by You
All my life

(CHORUS)
Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
This love sets me free

This love sets me free
Your love sets me free
This love sets me free
Your love sets me free
Your love sets me free
Your love sets me free

Where's the Swiffer when you need it?

2009-04-09T10:02:00.002-05:00

Wow, I really need to dust this place off...the deal is, I haven't written a while, not on the blog and not IRL.

I have been working off and on, mostly on since 2006. Alot has happened during this time and I just haven't been as faithful to writing as I once was.

But I hope to get back to writing, I certainly have been studying and reading and listening to good teaching.

Keep watching for updates...I'm sure I'll write something soon!

I had a "But God" moment when I heard this song

2007-08-15T14:27:00.000-05:00

I updated "my playlist" today

I'd love to put all my newly downloaded songs on here....but I'm sure there's some sort of copyrights laws about that...

Here is an oldie but a goodie:

BE NEAR

You are all
Big and small
Beautiful
And wonderful
To trust in grace through faith But I'm asking to taste
For dark is light to You
Depths are height to You
Far is near
But Lord I need to hear from You

Be near O God
Be near O God of us
Your nearness
Is to us our good

Your fullness is mine
Revelation divine
But O to taste
To know much more than a page
To feel Your embrace
For dark is light to You
Depths are height to You
Far is near
But Lord I need to hear from You

Be near O God
Be near O God of us
Your nearness
Is to us our good

By Shane and Shane

Stagnant Waters

2007-08-15T13:46:00.001-05:00

Not much has changed from my last post....I still feel stagnant. Surrounded by mosquito infested water. I guess there's not much comparision between a mosquito and a lion but what came to mind immediately was:

The advesary is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. (I peter 5:8)

Thats kinda like a game of Mother may I, right? The advesary has to have your permission to devour. Seems like these days I've given out alot of permission. **SIGH**

How does one get that back?

Back to I Peter....

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

8 Be sober, be vigilant; your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

10 But the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, will perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

Looks like a path one can follow....

Humble Yourself.
Cast Your Care.
Be Sober Greek Word: Nepho

to be sober, to be calm and collected in spirit
to be temperate, dispassionate, circumspect

Be Vigilant. Dictionary: keenly watchful
Resist.
Be Steadfast. Dictionary: strong, firm, immovable, solid, hard, rigid

I like what the greek has to say about this word being used in a bad sense:
"cruel, stiff, stubborn, hard" thats descriptive of steadfast in a bad way.

And then the best two words (in this case three) in the bible.

But God.
Thank God for the "but Gods" in the bible, in my life....otherwise I'd be pretty hopeless.

Climate Change

2007-08-08T10:34:00.000-05:00

The climate changes here quite frequently, the old adage about Texas weather is if you don't like it just wait 15 minutes...it'll change.

This summer has been "off". Normally our summers are scorchers. 100+ degrees. Who of us can forget the summer of 1980? Who still has the T-Shirt? But this summer has been lacking in heat. Its rained and rained and rained. What was once a land in drought, has become flooded.

Our lakes are full, our streams streaming, our rivers flowing, yet I feel stagnant. I feel like I can't get enough water, although over all that I survey, we're at flood level.

I started off "the summer" with the intention of getting all the uncomplete bible studies completed. Starting with the ones I had purchased most recently and work my way back. The good news is, I got that one done. I loved it. I was on the mountain with God. The bad news is, not a one since has been touched. They are still collecting dust.

I did a summer study at church with kept the fires going with a little kindling, but that's about it. Its as if the passion of the blazing sun of summer was gone and so was my Passion for the Blazing Son. No, I've misspoken. My passion isn't gone, its under the water somewhere. Or the rain waters washed it down stream. Maybe what I need is a search team....rescuers! (hey isn't that a Disney movie??)

Anyway, what i need is a place to dry it off, to get in from the weather, to enjoy a cup of tea and begin the process of being reacquainted with Gods Word....with God. The pages of my prayer journal have been empty for too long. So I sit here...at the computer.....wondering what to say, yet being filled with so many things.

Thirsty in a flooded land. The opposite of one of my favorite Psalms.

Psalm 63
A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.

1 O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.

2 I have seen you in the sanctuaryand beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.
7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
9 They who seek my life will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth.
10 They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals.
11 But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God's name will praise him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced.

Maybe not so opposite. My soul feels like a desert land. Dry and in need of water.
I like it that its titled: A Psalm of David, while he was in the desert of Judah.

Judah meaning Praised, Celebrated. That's fitting. Wow, God never stops surprising me with His Word.

In the Desert of Praise. That's the key really. Praising. Praise Him and raise up out of the pit. Praise Him and be filled. Be satisfied.

There is a song we used to sing at church about this Psalm.

You are my God I seek You
my soul thrists for you
you are my God I seek you
my flesh faints for you

*in a dry and weary land
you are my wateryou are my water*

you are my God i need you
you have been my help
you are my God i need you
let joyful lips sing

*in a dry and weary land you are my water
you are my water*

your steadfast love is better than life
your steadfast love is better than life

Does any of this make sense, I don't know, its just where I'm at today.

Stress Management

2007-06-14T15:48:00.000-05:00

I got this in my email today and its worth passing on!

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, "How heavy is this glass of water?" Answers called out ranged from 8 to 12 ounces.

The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it.

If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem.
If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.
If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.
In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

He continued, "And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, As the burden becomes increasingly heavy, We won't be able to carry on.

When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden. So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow." Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

* Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue .
* Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
* Always read stuff that will make you look good for you may die in the middle of it.
* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.
* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.
* Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
* The second mouse gets the cheese.
* When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
* Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
*Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
*A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

I am my Mothers Daughter, but I am my Fathers Child

2007-06-14T15:38:00.000-05:00

I recently spoke at a ladies event, these are my notes:

I am my mothers DD, although I act more like my grandmother, I am my mothers DD. I look like her, I sound a lot like her, I used to think a lot like her too, until I came to the realization that I am my Fathers Child. Yes I am a product the past, but the past is not my product. It is not who I am. It doesn’t have to produce in my life what it has produced in the lives of my ancestors. Deut. 30 God says I have called heaven and earth against you as witnesses and I have set before you LIFE and DEATH, CHOOSE LIFE! So that YOU and YOUR descendants my live!!

I grew up in a household of fear. Fear everything, Trust No one and if God existed, He was out to get me! Its been a long journey, but one I’d like to share with you today. Out of the fear and into faith.

It has been said that there are no more than four generations on the earth at one time.

Try it for yourself. Example.

My example. Kids, Me, Mom. Kids, Husband, His Mother, Her Mother. Who has five??
With that in mind lets get to our text.

Exodus 20. The 10 commandments. People put a lot of emphasis on the 10, when there are in fact 613. Thank God for justification huh! But these we consider to be “the important ones”. I’m discussing Commandment #2 tonight.

INIQUITY = That’s a better word than sin. Sins are forgiven, iniquity is more like lingering consequences for sin. Some call is generations curses, some call is sick cycles, some call it dysfunction, God calls is iniquity.

Lets talk about MY generations….

Gr. Gma Married alcoholic, remarried an alcoholic (prohibition), illness and depression. Sent children to church, no legacy of Christ
G’ma Married an alcoholic, remarried an alcoholic, was an alcoholic, depression and illness, did not send her children to church and left no legacy of Christ
Mom married an alcoholic, remarried an alcoholic, is an alcoholic, depression and illness, she got saved in 1980 and made her children attend church faithfully. Read them the bible every day at breakfast. My parents left me a legacy of faith…bring up a child….will not depart.
Me married, remarried (neither are alcoholics) I am not an alcoholic, I do not live a live of illness or depression. I attend church, my children attend church. My college age son attends church by himself, without any coercion on my part!

What happened? What changed? I chose life! I changed my focus. Because I wanted to live…I wanted my children to live. Not in a bubble, not in fear, not afraid of God. I had to decide to DO something different. I wanted something different so I had to do something different. I had to change my view of God and see him for who he really is And I have to change my view of me and stop seeing myself thru the eyes of others.

How did that happen. Well I had to make Gods voice louder than any of the others in my head. Read the bible, study the bible, meditate on the word, apply it to my life.

One of the stories I read made an impact on my life, its the story of Ruth.

Moab was considered a "cursed" of Lot, and his two daughters They hid out in the mountains after Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed they were the only people left alive; the daughters got their father drunk on two successive nights and each had sex with him, they became pregnant by him. One of the children born out of this incest was named Moab. His descendants were the Moabites. Ruth,was a Moabite. The mentality of all the Moabite people was distorted by idolatry. A society that had very little value for life and family.

SOUNDS LIKE A NATION WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE. I saw this done recently and I’ll do this experiment for you today….speaking of the US. Take out some money and look at it as I read Psalm 115.

Idol Worship. Ruth was familiar with Idols All of these things (idol worship, child sacrifices, death of her family, her husband, her father in law) had an impact on her. Shaped her, thoughts, her words her actions. There was something great about Ruth - she rose above her past. She had an ability to look at her past and present and say "I want no more of this. I want something better. I want something more."

I recognized I had the same ability. I was a child of the Most High God and I had the same ability as Ruth. I wanted no more fear, no more depression, no more illness, no more victim mentality. I kept reading….

After the death of the men in this family, Naomi (her mother in law) heard that the famine was over (was no more) in Bethlehem, and she decided to return home. She began her journey with both her Daughters in law by her side, but along the way, she stopped and told them to turn around and go back to Moab - to return to their people and their gods. One daughter in law agreed. But Ruth loved Naomi and "clung to her" DAW-BAK To Cleave (Ruth 1:14) Naomi told them "I am going to a place that is unfamiliar to you, go back to your traditions and customs."Ruth said "INTREAT ME not to leave you...." Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die,And there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.”

Ruth recognized that she had already experienced her past, and she didn't like it. She made a choice. Her tomorrow didn't have to look like her yesterday. Many people today base on their ending on their beginning. They do it to themselves and they do it to others. Based on my beginnings, I should be fearing for my life to be talking to you today! The MOST important thing is life is where you finish!

God does not use your past to determine your future....SO WHY SHOULD YOU?? I had to stop doing that. I had to stop consulting with my past. I had to stop using it as the barometer for life. I had to make a decision to LEAVE and CLEAVE.

Leave and Cleave Its a biblical principle that applies to every part of your life. You must leave your past and cleave to what God has for you today. Cleave means …. To Cleave means to adhere closely, to stick, to remain faithful to follow ones principles despite persecution. Leave yesterday and cleave to today.Leave your failures and cleave to Gods Promises.Leave your old sin and cleave to the forgiveness God gives you.

God had a plan and a purpose for Ruth....Ruth married her Kinsman Redeemer Boaz and Ruth gave birth to Obed, Obed was the father of Jesse, Jesse is the father of David, David is the direct bloodline of Jesus! Which means Ruth is the direct bloodline of Jesus. Ruth - who was marred, scarred, stained, tainted, distorted and warped by her environment - lived out her life in greatness!!8 God will do in your life too what he did with Ruth!

You must allow God to do His work, His changing in you. You must be willing to disconnect from your past and move toward the presence of greatness in your future.The truth is You are not final product of a fatal beginning. The wagging of tongues DO NOT change Gods Mind or Change His Purpose for you. God doesn’t form His opinion of you based on anything other than HIS thoughts. Jer 29:11 I know the thoughts that I think towards you. You ARE who God says YOU ARE!

And God says you are loved with an everlasting love (Jer. 31:3), you are purchased with a preciousness (I cor 6:20). You are justified (rom 3:24, Romans 5:1,9, Rom 8:30, rom 10:10, I cor 6:11, Titus 3:7) you are righteous. Not self righteous, you have right standing (rom 1:17, rom 3:21-22, rom 4, rom 10, rom 14:17, eph 4:24, eph 5:9, eph 6:14, II tim 3:16, Do you know what that means? A condition acceptable to God. God says you can succeed. God says you have a future that is a blessing and fulfilling and eternally rewarding. God loves you completely. God knows you completely, everything you have done, haven't done, will do, will say, think....and he loves you completely, wholey, created you and chooses to be in relationship with you.

To walk that out we have to make choice….remember Deut. 30 . 1) Go back to how you always do things. Go back to your customs and traditions and past. OR.... 2) Go to a place you have never been to create something you've never had....we can choose life.

God says, he’s doing a new thing…forget the former things…do not dwell on the past. Isaiah 43

Jesus said: DWELL IN ME! John 15
To dwell means to live or to continue in a given condition or state

Paul said ONE THING I do…ONE THING…forgetting what is behind and STRAINING toward what is ahead I PRESS ON toward the goal…..

Something else Paul say just above that in Chapter 3 vs. 10-14
10[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [[a]which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]
11That if possible I may attain to the [[b]spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].
12Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.
13I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
14I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

It is up to us to Press on….toward a supreme and heavenly goal. Not the goals of others, but Gods purpose and plan for our life.

Yes its true, I am my Mothers Daughter, But I am my Fathers Child. I don't know anything about traveling pants, but I know we are part of a sisterhood of the Most High God. Who calls us by our name, not by our shame. We are to wear our crowns with confidence and leave a legacy of Christ for the next 999 Generations!!

Scripture Study Ps 51:6

2007-05-17T10:19:00.000-05:00

Surely you desire truth in the inward parts, you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

I'm working on a bible study that really really makes you dig into WOG. Of course you probably don't have to do it as much as I do, but you know me....constantly searching for the meaning of WOG and making it personal.

SURELY: Firmly, without missing, undoubtedly, certainly, without fail.

DESIRE: Long for, a longing, a craving as for something that brings satisfaction

TRUTH: Agreement with a standard or original. (this was was a few down on the list of definitions, but I thought it stood out as what God meant, agreement with the original, the maker!)

INWARD PARTS: Hidden Recesses, farthest inward, most intimate and secret.

TEACH: To impart knowledge

WISDOM: Knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgement as to action.

INMOST PLACE: Synonym of INWARD PARTS.

So lets review:

Without FAIL, God longs, craves for our most intimate secrets, in order to impart the knowledge of what is true and right coulple with the judgement to act on that knowledge into the hidden recesses of our hearts and minds and spirit.

How I got out - Part Two

2007-05-03T08:33:00.000-05:00

Recently I have been in a pit. I went back to the pit I decorated so nicely and got so comfortable in. I threw a pity party, I invited all my old friends.

Poor pitiful (me)
Neglected (me)
Abandoned (me)
Bad mom (me)
Bad wife (me)
Undeserving (me)
Ugly (me)
Abused (me)
God doesn't love (me)
Depressed (me)

And the devil for entertainment. He told me what a stupid person I am and if it weren't for me so many of these things wouldn't be true. I've done so many bad things that God doesn't love me and never will. I won't make it into heaven, I'm not good enough. While I sat in the corner of my pit crying, he heaped piles of condemnation on my head.

Good Times
Good Times

There have been times in my life where this has gone on for days and days. The wailing the crying, you know the ugly cry. You know what I mean...you know.

The kind of day where you eat left over easter candy and feel guilty because it reminds you of how you deserve hell. And the devil does another dance for you; so to get your mind off that you eat a bag of chips and wash it down with a 2 liter soda? You know what I mean.

Then your kids come home from school and your cranky from all the carbs and you have a headache so you snap at them and then the devil comes in and does another dance for you.

Good Times.
Good Times.

Somewhere between the candy and the chips though this time, I snapped out of it. I wiped my tears decided NO MORE!

God doesn't look at my past to determine my future and why should I! What was I doing looking at the past anyway? And HOW did I get in this pit?? Ugh!! Its decorated poorly anyway and there's not enough light in here! Its dark and damp and cold. And hmmmm......In God there is no darkness.. AT ALL!

Wait a minute!! This is not where I belong!! How did this shovel get in my hand??

JESUS!! I need you!! And he appears....gives me His hand and I'm out.

I put on some praise music and raised up the Name of my Lord.

I am reminded again....

I am not what I went thru
I am not what happened to me
I am not what they say about me
My experience is not who I am
I am not defined by my circumstances.

I am chosen by You, my Father. (Eph. 1:4)
I am holy and without blame. (Eph. 1:4)
I am Your child according to the good pleasure of Your will. (Eph. 1:5)
I am accepted in the Beloved. (Eph. 1:6)
I am redeemed through the blood of Jesus. (Eph. 1:7)
I am saved by Your grace. (Eph. 2:5)
I am Your workmanship. (Eph. 2:10)
I am a new creation. (Eph. 2:15)
I am strengthened with might by Your Spirit. (Eph. 3:16)
I am rooted and grounded in love. (Eph. 3:17)
I am light in You. (Eph. 5:8)
I walk circumspectly. (Eph. 5:15)
I am filled with the Spirit. (Eph. 5:18)
I am more than a conqueror. (Rom. 8:37)
I am an overcomer. (Rev. 12:11)
I am Your righteousness in Christ Jesus. (1 Cor. 1:30)
I am healed. (1 Pet. 2:24)
I am free. (John 8:36)
I am salt. (Matt. 5:13)
I am consecrated. (1 Cor. 6:11 amp)
I am sanctified. (1 Cor. 6:11)
I am victorious. (1 John 5:4)
Everything You say about me is true, Lord.

Take the shackles off my feet
So I can dance I just wanna praise Ya
Just wanna praise
You You broke the chains
Now I can lift my hands
And I'm gonna praise You

Some truths about relationships:

2007-04-12T10:23:00.000-05:00

1) If a person wants you, nothing can keep them away; if they don't want you, nothing can make them stay.

2) STOP making excuses for people and their behavior.

3) STOP trying to change yourselves for a relationship that's not meant to be.

4) Don't settle

5) Don't stay because you think things will get better, you'll only be mad at yourself a year from now when things are not "better".

6) The only person you can control in a relationship is you.

7) Maintain boundaries in how people treat you, if something bothers you, speak up!

8) You cannot change people's behavior, change comes from within.

9) Never let another person define who you are.

10) People will only treat you the way you ALLOW them to treat you.

11) Compromise is a two way street, you shouldn't be doing all the bending.

A journey, not a destination

2007-04-06T09:15:00.000-05:00

This Christian life is a journey...we sojourn together....the Psalmist says, a pilgrimage.

NOUN: 1. A journey to a sacred place or shrine. 2. A long journey or search, especially one of exalted purpose or moral significance.

INTRANSITIVE VERB: Inflected forms: pil·grim·aged, pil·grim·ag·ing, pil·grim·ag·es To go on a pilgrimage.

The Hebrew Translation of Pilgrimage is: sojourning place, dwelling-place, sojourning lifetime

Psalm 84
1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD ; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young- a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
7 They go from *strength to strength*, till each appears before God in Zion.
8 Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob.
9 Look upon our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed one.
10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
12 O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.

This also stuck out today....they go from strength to strength The hebrew for that word and who knew there where over 20 definitions for the word Strength. T

his particular word is used in this way: Definition strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army, ability, force So how does that look?

They go from *might to might*,
till each appears before God in Zion.
They go from *efficiency to efficiency*,
till each appears before God in Zion.
They go from *wealth to wealth*,
till each appears before God in Zion.
They go from *army to army*,
till each appears before God in Zion.
They go from *ability to ability*,
till each appears before God in Zion.
They go from *force to force*,
till each appears before God in Zion.

II Corinthians 3:18 says we go from Glory to Glory.

Forced to Restore (repost)

2007-04-06T09:10:00.000-05:00

I studied Psalm 69 and in the first few verses David says. "I am forced to restore what I did not steal"

That jumped off the page at me, because of my background. Product of the times, statistics? I don't know the answer. I'd say alot has been stolen from me. And now, I am forced to restore it, myself. I felt that way for a long time. I had to be restored, I had to do it.

Memorial Day Weekend 1995. I made a commitment to God and started praying. I had some prayer books which really helped cuz they were full of scripture. So I could look them up and do a little reading.From that time on I didn't always live right. I thought *I* needed to clean up my act. *I* needed to get myself right, before God would accept me.

It has taken years to figure out that God is For Me. God Loves Me - as if there were no one else. He's not couting the hairs on my head...He Knows the number and it changes daily. He knows me that intimately. It is His desire to bless me, He's not out to get me. I finally "get it."

In the past 5 years I have read my bible alot and prayed. In the past 2 years I have really prayed for change. Change me. What I really meant, now I see....Restore me.

In the past year or so I have listened and learned from various teachers. One things I learned was how to study the bible. I definately learned to read beyond the Psalms. There was a time in my life where all I could do was say "help me God, please, if You're really there, help me." Now I say....Restore me, God I know you're really there, restore me.

The psalmist says...I am forced to restore what I did not steal. All kinds of things have happened to me in my life, physical and sexual abuse, abusive relationships, divorce, abandonment, rejection....SO WHAT! *shrug* THANK GOD! Thank Him that I can shrug. It is the past, its over, I am indifferent. Now, I have a story to tell of restoration, reconciliation. My life can be a testimony to other who have been me, who are me. The me of yesterday.

I started doing some research on "restore" God says He Restores. He will restore.Over and Over:

I will restore the ruins....Isaiah 44:26
I will restore so that you may serve.... Jer. 15:19
I will restore you to the promised land... Jer. 16:15
I will restore you to health and heal your wounds.....Jer. 30:17
I will restore your fortune, your home, I will rebuild you....Jer.30:18
Six places in Jeremiah God says I will restore your fortune

"I will restore Davids fallen tent, I wil repair its broken place, restore its ruins and built it as it used to be, so that the remnant of men and all the nations that bear my name may seek The Lord " Declares the Lord, who will do these things. Amos 9:11-12I will restore twice as much and make you strong....Zechariah 9: 11-136

"I will strengthen the house of Judah and save the house of Joseph. I will restore them because I have compassion on them. They will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them. Zechariah 10: 6

Gods Word tells me....He is in the restoration business.

Borne (repost)

2007-04-06T09:05:00.000-05:00

I think this says it all....

Borne of dust, I get so dirty, But You pick me up, brush me off. Send me on my way. Borne of flesh, I get so caught up in my story, It's so human to concern myself with. Everything that I seem to be going through. But Lord, where would I be. Without this flesh to remind me.

Chorus 1: I was borne to breathe, Borne to be broken, Borne to realize that it's not I, But the You in me. Borne to live, AND Borne to love You. I was borne to die. Knowing that my life is not mine.

Hook: So Lord, thank you for the thorn, I've had to bear. From the day that I was borne

Borne of love, Love so perfect. You are Heaven's thought, gift of God. Come to save the world. Born of flesh and born of Spirit, My sweet Savior it's so like You. To concern Yourself with, Everything that I seem to be going through. Oh Lord, where would I be, Without Your love to remind me.

Chorus 1

Hook: So Lord, thank you for the thorn, I've had to bear. From the day that I was borne.

Bridge for 2nd Chorus: You were borne to breathe, Borne to be broken.....

Chorus 2: You were borne to breathe, Borne to be broken, Borne so that I would realize, You are all I need. Borne to live, Borne to love (save) me. You were borne to die so that I, Could be completely free.

(Repeat)

Hook: So Lord, thank you for the thorns, for the thorns, you chose to bear, So that I could be... I could be borne. I could be borne.

Scriptural References:(John 3:16, Psalm 46:1, 2 Cor. 4:7-9 & 12:9, 1 Peter 5:7, Romans 8:26)

Only Be Strong and Courageous!

2007-04-06T08:39:00.000-05:00

God gave the Isrealites 30 days to mourn the loss of Moses and to move on to position themselves to cross the Jordon!!

The LORD Commands Joshua 1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: 2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

GET READY!! God is calling you out of the desert and INTO His Rest!! WILL YOU TAKE HIS HAND???As I was with Moses SO I will be with you!! I will NEVER leave you nor forsake you!! You don't have to have things or people, but YOU have to have GOD!!!

6 " Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous . Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.

8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." What are you supposed to do???Be strong and courageous!! Do not be terrified!!! Do not be discouraged!! The Lord will be with you wherever you go!!!

10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: 11 "Go through the camp and tell the people, 'Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own.' "

Go Get ready!! Get ready to Cross the Jordan and enter into Gods Rest!!

12 But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, 13 "Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: 'The LORD your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land.' 14 Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men , fully armed, must cross over ahead of your brothers. You are to help your brothers

15 until the LORD gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise."

Get ready too for the fight!! Bask in the word of God.....meditate on it day and night!! Until the fight is over....you may occuply the land!! IOW...enter into Gods Rest and Stay in the shadow of the almighty!!

16 Then they answered Joshua, "Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey your words, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!"

Be Strong and Courageous THE LORD YOUR GOD THE GOD WHO CREATED THE UNIVERSE WITH THE SOUND OF HIS VOICE IS WITH YOU FIGHTING FOR YOU!

He has called down the hosts of heaven to fight on your behalf!! Not even a SPARROW goes unnoticed!

Strong: to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore

(Qal)
to be strong,
grow strong
to prevail,
prevail upon
to be firm,
be caught fast,
be secure
to press,
be urgent
to grow stout,
grow rigid,
grow hard (bad sense)
to be severe,
be grievous to strengthen
(Piel)
to make strong to restore to strength
give strength to strengthen
sustain
encourage to make strong
make bold
encourage to make firm to make rigid
make hard
(Hiphil)
to make strong
strengthen to make firm to display strength to make severe to support to repair to prevail
prevail upon to have or take or keep hold of
retain
hold up
sustain
support to hold
contain
(Hithpael)
to strengthen oneself to put forth strength
use one's strength to withstand to hold strongly with

Courageous: basically means, feel the fear, the aprehension and do it anyway!
to be strong, alert, courageous, brave, stout, bold, solid, hard
(Qal)
to be strong, brave, bold
(Piel)
to strengthen, secure (for oneself), harden (heart), make firm, make obstinate, assure (Hithpael)
to be determined, to make oneself alert, strengthen oneself, confirm oneself, persist in, prove superior to
(Hiphil) to exhibit strength, be strong, feel strong

do not be afraid: Afraid implies inner apprehensiveness a disquietedness.

to tremble, dread, fear, oppress, prevail, break, be terrified, cause to tremble

(Qal) to cause to tremble, terrify to tremble, feel dread
(Niphal) to be awesome, be terrible
(Hiphil) to regard or treat with awe, regard or treat as awful to inspire with awe, terrify

do not be Dismayed: to be shattered, be dismayed, be broken, be abolished, be afraid

(Qal) to be shattered, be broken to be dismayed
(Niphal) to be broken, be dismayed
(Piel) to be shattered, be dismayed, be scared
(Hiphil) to cause to be dismayed to dismay, terrify to shatter

I'm not dead, so I should act ALIVE!

2007-04-05T15:22:00.000-05:00

If the enemy can get you to stay in the past, you won't fulfill the DESTINY God has for you!!

Don't fall for it!! The Word of God is powerful!! The confession of broken strongholds was supposed to work The First Time! AMEN?!

What you have to do it line up your thinking with the Word of God. I still have to do it...3-4-5-50 times a day! Keep a journal of your thoughts. See where it doesn't line up with WOG. Then get in the WOG and find scripture that you can quote.

Now I don't mean....blab and grab...ok. What I mean is RENEWING your mind. Changing the tapes.

1) What is your goal? Do you still want to be where you are in 6 months? 1 year? 2 years? 10 years?

Give yourself a time limit. God gave the Isrealites 30 days to mourn the death of Moses. I'm not saying you have 30 days or that you will never struggle again, but give yourself a time limit.

What is your goal? Healing, Deliverance, Restoration? WRITE IT DOWN! God says...My people perish because of a lack of vision. What is your dream? What is your vision of healing and wholeness? WRITE IT DOWN!

2) Believe God. I don't mean about Him, In Him. BELIEVE HIM!

3) Renew your mind. I learned alot about scripute thru some books called "prayers that avail much" by Word Ministries. Germaine Copeland. The prayers are backed up with scripture and I could look up the scripture.

When fear would come I would say.I rebuke this lying demon of fear, in the name of Jesus, I cast you back into the pit of hell, I say to this lie, you will not complete your assignment agaist me! It is written: God has NOT given me a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

I love this quote by Beth Moore: Can you think of anything in your life that would take more power than God exercised when He raised Christ from the DEAD??? ME NEITHER!

My thoughts on that is:

I'M NOT DEAD!! So I should act alive!! AMEN?!

I want so much for women to be DELIVERED from oppression, abuse, strongholds and God is no respector of persons, he delivered me...He'll deliver you too!!!

God delivered the Isrealites from Egypt, but they had to pack up their past and move into their future! They had to walk across the desert into the promised land. They had to face doubts, fears, and giants! But they did it!! When the pillar moved, they moved...when the pillar settled, they settled!! The pillar of God is NOT in your past!! The pillar is in today!! If you want to have something different in your life, you'll have to DO something different.

If you want to go where you have never gone, you'll have to do something you've never done.

If you've never trusted God. TRUST HIM TODAY! If you've never read the bible to feed your spirit man..READ IT TODAY! Don't skim over it...ask God for revelation!

How I got out!

2007-04-05T14:26:00.000-05:00

of bondage.

1) Recognized my issues. I had to say out loud, to God.

I am bitter.
I am angry.
I do blame you.
I am unforgiving.
I am unkind.
I am spiteful.
I seriously listed them out.

2) I Repented (confessed it all). One by one. I got honest with God about how I felt, about Him, toward Him, about me. I let Him have it. But I trusted Him that He could handle it. He's been mad...we see it in the bible over and over. He's been rejected. His heart has been broken.

3) I renounced/released it.

I am not bitter.
I am not what I went thruI am not what happened to me
I am not what they say about me
My experience is not who I amI am not defined by my circumstances.
I am willing to let go.
I release.
I let go.
I release all tension.
I release all fear.
I release all anger.
I release all guilt.
I release all sadness.
I let go of old limitations.
I release and let go of the limitations of my parents. I can love them and go beyond them. I am not their negative opinions nor their limiting beliefs.
I am not bound by any fears.
I am at peace with life. I easily and comfortably release that which I no longer need in life.
I lovingly forgive myself.

4) I Replaced it. I took the Word and began to replace the old tapes.

I have the mind of Christ and hold the thoughts feelings and purposes of His heart.
I have the Holy Spirit living in me and I call things that are not as though they were.
The Fruit of the Spirit is growing in me!
I am loving.
I am patient.
I am kind.
I am gentle.
I am not harsh, hard, sharp or pressing, but useful, good, comfortable, gracious and pleasant. (Matt. 11:30)
I am blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. (Eph. 1:3)
I am chosen by You, my Father. (Eph. 1:4)
I am holy and without blame. (Eph. 1:4)
I am Your child according to the good pleasure of Your will. (Eph. 1:5)
I am accepted in the Beloved. (Eph. 1:6)
I am redeemed through the blood of Jesus. (Eph. 1:7)
I am a person of wisdom and prudence. (Eph. 1:8)
I am an heir. (Eph. 1:11)
I have a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ. (Eph. 1:17)
I am saved by Your grace. (Eph. 2:5)
I am seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Eph. 2:6)
I am Your workmanship. (Eph. 2:10)
I am near to You by the blood of Christ. (Eph. 2:13)
I am a new creation. (Eph. 2:15)
I am of Your household. (Eph. 2:19)
I am a citizen of heaven. (Eph. 2:19)
I am a partaker of Your promises in Christ. (2 Pet. 1:4)
I am strengthened with might by Your Spirit. (Eph. 3:16)
I allow Christ to dwell in my heart by faith. (Eph. 3:17)
I am rooted and grounded in love. (Eph. 3:17)
I speak the truth in love. (Eph. 4:15)
I am renewed in the spirit of my mind. (Eph. 4:23)
I am Your follower. (Eph. 5:1)
I walk in love. (Eph. 5:2)
I am light in You. (Eph. 5:8)
I walk circumspectly. (Eph. 5:15)
I am filled with the Spirit. (Eph. 5:18)
I am more than a conqueror. (Rom. 8:37)
I am an overcomer. (Rev. 12:11)
I am Your righteousness in Christ Jesus. (1 Cor. 1:30)
I am healed. (1 Pet. 2:24)
I am free. (John 8:36)
I am salt. (Matt. 5:13)
I am sanctified. (1 Cor. 6:11)
I am victorious. (1 John 5:4)

QUILTS

2007-04-03T12:31:00.000-05:00

This is a quilt top I made mostly by hand (piecing) for my cousin. Its a gradation of pinks from very light to magenta from Top Left Corner to Bottom Right Corner.

I'll probably hand quilt this one too, but its on the bottom of the pile for quilting at this time.

This quilt I pieced by machine, but hand quilted. I made this for my youngest son. I purchased the fabric in march 2005. I finished if by Dec 2006.

TESTIMONY

2007-04-02T12:41:00.000-05:00

Testimony: My parents married in their mid-teens and had me 4 years later. Divorced 4 years later. My mom remarried twice and was with the person whom I call my step-father the longest.

They would be the kind of people who in a poll would say they are Christian, but weren't. They got caught up somehow in http://www.tm.org/ I remember the day we went to the TM place vividly. We were taught how to chant and meditate. It was all very strange. We didn't go back but that was our "new religion".

There was also a neighborhood friend who was a buddist, or at least her parents were, they chanted, we chanted...I was intrigued.Its been another four years, so...my parents divorced.

I was sent to live with my grandma and then my bio-dad (who is an addict). About 9 months later I moved back with my mom, who had reconciled with my stepfather. Then something happened....my mom was friends with a lady down the street who was Christian, I'd say she is Jesus with skin on.

We started going to church. I wouldn't say anyone "found Jesus" we just went to church. They "found legalism". Then they went to seminary and were ministers and missionaries.But the abusive behaviour hadn't changed. Now my parents used the bible as a means to threaten us, and abuse us in the “name of God.”

Basically by the time I am 19-20 (four years later) what difference does it make if I do bad on my own, God won't forgive me....if I do bad against my will, God won't forgive me. I may as well life whatever kind of life I want.....and I did.

Sex, drugs, rock and roll, abortions.

1995 (four years later) I have a live-in relationship, he's cheating, I'm searching for answers. I flipping thru channels and find of all people Benny Hinn preaching. I stopped and listened. Gave my life to Jesus. Its been a battle.....does God forgive? Does he really love me? Can I really do enough good? How can I be good and gain Gods forgiveness?

Four years later, I marry an awesome guy, we have a child. Its been a struggle to come to know the truth. God loves me no matter what, and God love covers a multitude of sin. Even my sin. Even the sin of my parents. (who I have forgiven)I have tried to read my bible enough, be good enough, do all the right things, I have tried to focus on ONE commandment per day of the week. Its sorta crazy all I have done to try to BE saved, win Gods approval.

Its taken 10 years for me to say....I can't do it. I am saved by grace thru faith alone.

In the words of Watermark:You come as You areAnd I come as I amAnd grace covers shameYou come in Your pow'rAnd I bow downAnd grace covers shameYou come like a flood and I'm lost in this "Hallelujah!"You come as You are and I come as I amAnd grace covers all of me... All of me...

Being Good Enough - By Corabee

2006-04-03T08:11:00.000-05:00

Here is a friends take on "being good enough" and "the law".

What people tend to lose site of, is that God does not want us to follow a set of rules for the sake of following the law.

A Christian is meant to trust in Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to guide them and guide their desicions. If your focus is on Christ and you are open to his leading, you don't try to keep the rules and laws to be "good" or "christian". People who are trying to be good to make Jesus happy are completely missing the point.

We all have purposes on this Earth and it takes the guidance of Christ to follow the path that was set in place for each of us. That does not include being a good person for the sake of being a good person, that naturally follows the sincere following of Christ.

All of the laws in the Bible were put there for a specific reason. It was so that sin would Increase rather than decrease, and therefore God's grace would also increase. The law was put there so that people would realize that it is not humanly possible to never sin. It is only by the grace of God that we are saved. You can try so hard to be good all the time, but it is just not possible.

The law was put there to show us just how much we need Jesus. When Jesus died, people were no longer under obligation to follow the law as a means to get to God. Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice to wipe out our sins completely. In the New Testament it goes so far as to say that following the law for the laws sake is like having a yoke around your neck. It weighs you down and is not important to God.

What is important is having the open relationship with Him and trusting Him completely. We are not to judge people and no one is perfect. We just have to realize that our focus should not be on following the rules to be good. Our focus should be on Jesus Christ and allowing him to lead us in the way we should go. Being good is not good enough to save one single person. Only Jesus can do that.

The Story of Ruth

2006-04-03T08:05:00.000-05:00

God doesn't consult your past to determine your future!!!

Moab was considered a "cursed" of Lot, and his two daughters They hid out in the mountains after Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed they were the only people left alive; the daughters got their father drunk on two successive nights and each had sex with him, they became pregnant by him. One of the children born out of this incest was named Moab. His descendants were the Moabites.

Ruth,was a Moabite. Moabites worshipped a god named Chemosh. Part of this very lewd form of worship involved the sacrifice of young children. The mentality of all the Moabite people was distorted by idolatry. A society that sacrifices young children is a society that had very little value for life and family. The atmosphere of her childhood and teenage years that Ruth was exposed to was highly perverse culture and the worst forms of human behaviour.

Ruth, who had lived under the shadow of death all her life, had encountered even more death. She who has known bitterness and dissappointment now found herself living with her Mother In Law who was bitter and dissappointed.

All of these things (idol worship, child sacrifices, death of her family, her husband, her father in law). Experiences such as the ones she had, and the atmosphere of the environment in which she lived, must have had an impact on her psyche. Although, in light of her past and the events of her present, there was something great about Ruth - she rose above her past. She had an ability* to look at her past and present and say "I want no more of this. I want something better. I want something more."

*And you do too! Greater is He who is in You than he that is in the world!!

After the death of the men in this family, Naomi (her mother in law) heard that the famine was over (was no more) in Bethlehem, and she decided to return home. She began her journey with both her Daughters in law by her side, but along the way, she stopped and told them to turn around and go back to Moab - to return to their people and their gods. One daughter in law agreed. But Ruth loved Naomi and "clung to her" (Ruth 1:14) Naomi told them "I am going to a place that is unfamiliar to you, go back to your traditions and customs."

Here is the good part!! Here is where you are in your life. 1) Go back to how you always do things. Go back to your customs and traditions and past. OR.... 2) Go to a place you have never been to create something you've never had....

Ruth said "INTREAT ME not to leave you...." Ruth recognized that she had already experienced her past, and she didn't like it. There was nothing left that had any value to her. She made a choice. Her tomorrow didn't have to look like her yesterday. Too many people today are predicting their endings based on their beginnings. In life the MOST important thing is not where you start, but where you finish! God can interrupt your life and change your life.

God does not use your past to determine your future....SO WHY SHOULD YOU?? It is a tragedy to plan your future by comparing it to your past! Ruth made a decision to leave her past, and it was the most important decision of her life. It's one of the most important decision you can make too.

Leave and Cleave**. Its a biblical principle that applies to every part of your life. You must leave your past and cleave to what God has for you today.

Leave your yesterday and cleave to today.
Leave your failures and cleave to Gods Promises.
Leave your old sin and cleave to the forgiveness God gives you.

You can't look backwards and forwards at the same time. God had a plan and a purpose for Ruth....Ruth married Boaz and Ruth gave birth to Obed, Obed was the father of Jesse, Jesse is the father of David, David is the direct bloodline of Jesus! Which means Ruth is the direct bloodline of Jesus. Ruth - the heathen born woman from a place that murdered babies - became the ancestor of Jesus, who died to give "born again" life to the heathen! Ruth - who was marred, scarred, stained, tainted, distorted and warped by her environment - lived out her life in greatness!!

God will do in your life too what he did with Ruth! You must allow God to do His work, His changing in you. You must be willing to disconnect from your past adn move toward the presence of greatness in your future.

You are not a product of your past.
You are not a product of your environment.
You are not who other people say that you are.
You are NOT what people says about you.
You ARE who God says YOU ARE!
You ARE who God is calling you to be!!

God says you can succeed. God says you have a future that is a blessing and fulfilling and eternally rewarding. God loves you completely. God knows you completely, everything you have done, haven't done, will do, will say, think....and he loves you completely, wholey, created you and chooses to be in relationship with you anyway.

** CLEAVE: to cling, stick, stay close, cleave, keep close, stick to, stick with, follow closely, join to, overtake, catch
(Qal)
to cling, cleave to
to stay with
(Pual) to be joined together
(Hiphil)
to cause to cleave to
to pursue closely
to overtake
(Hophal) to be made to cleave

April 3rd....I'm not a good blogger

2006-04-03T07:52:00.000-05:00

I do better with a written journal....

Yesterday was a high and a low...I feel alot like Paul....why do I do the things I shouldn't do!!!!!

On my way to a shower I'm crying and singing....

You are the Son of light
I can't be left behind
No one else will do
I will take hold of You

I need You, Jesus
Come to my rescue
Where else could I go?
There’s no other name by
which I am saved
Capture me with grace
I will follow You

My heart is Yours for life
I need Your hand in mine
No one else will do Lord,
I put my trust in You

I need You Jesus
Come to my rescue
Where else could I go?
There’s no other name by
which I am saved
Oh capture me with grace
I will follow You
This world has nothing for me
This world has nothing for me
This world has nothing for me (I will follow You)
This world has nothing for me

I need You Jesus
Come to my rescue
Where else could I go?
There’s no other name
by which I am saved
Capture me with grace
I will follow You

Oh I need You Jesus
To come to my rescue
Where else could I go?
There’s no other name
by which I am saved
Capture me with grace
Won't You Capture me with grace
I will follow You
I will follow You
This world has nothing for me
This world has nothing for me

Then I get there and fall back into the same issues!!!!!!!!!!!! UGH!! Not so much the way I was before, I tried to handle myself with grace and have the mindset of "I'm not gonna let you bother me today!" And I did OK...ho-hum...

Here I go living in condemnation and I need to MOVE ON! I just want to do better....BE better....I know I can't do it alone....I need Gods help....

So, in that light, this is a fitting song....

I NEED YOU JESUS!
COME TO MY RESCUE!
WHERE ELSE COULD I GO?
THERE'S NOT OTHER NAME
BY WHICH I AM SAVED
CAPTURE ME WITH GRACE....
I WILL FOLLOW YOU.....
(this world has nothing for me)
I WILL FOLLOW YOU.....
(this world has nothing for me)
I WILL FOLLOW YOU....
THIS WORLD HAS NOTHING FOR ME....
I NEED YOU JESUS!!!!

The Ten Commandments The Dos as well as the Don'ts

2006-01-05T10:56:00.000-06:00

The 1599 Geneva Study Bible
Chapter 20

20:1 And God spake all these words, saying,
(a) When Moses and Aaron were gone up, or had passed the bounds of the people, God spoke thus out of the mount Horeb, that all the people heard.

20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
(b) To whose eyes all things are open.

20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a d jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me;

(c) By this outward gesture, all forms of service and worship to idols is forbidden.

(d) And will have revenge on those who condemn my honour.

20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

(e) So ready is he rather to show mercy than to punish.

20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

(f) Either by swearing falsely or rashly by his Name, or by condemning it.

20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

(g) Which is by meditating the spiritual rest, by hearing God’s word, and resting from worldly labours.

20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

(h) By parents it is also meant all that have authority over us.

20:13 Thou shalt not kill.

(i) But love and preserve your brother’s life.

20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

(k) But be pure in heart, word and deed.

20:15 Thou shalt not steal.

(l) But study to save his goods.

20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

(m) But further his good name, and speak truth.

20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that [is] thy neighbour’s.

(n) You may not so much as wish his hinderance in anything.

20:20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.

(o) Whether you will obey his precepts as you promised in (Exodus 19:8).

20:26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.

(p) Which might be by his stooping or flying up of his clothes.

The Festival of Lights

2005-12-20T10:20:00.000-06:00

I did not write this, oh that I had the knowledge to do so. :) ~~Shelly

Most of the world celebrates December 25th as the birthday of Jesus, however this is not the time of his birth. God established a celebration hundreds of years before Jesus came in the flesh to be the time of the birth of Christ. God also established Passover as the time of Christ’s sacrifice for mankind hundreds of years before he came in the flesh. The key to understanding the actual birthday of Jesus is in the bible. There are two separate studies both of which use the bible to establish his actually birthday. The first is a simple method and the second much more detailed. Both agree his birth was in the fall of the year.

To understand how the date of Christ’s birth was incorrectly established we must first understand the Hebrew people did not celebrate birthdays. Since the actual date was not celebrated, it was not known. This is how all this confusion started. As you know, the first followers of Jesus were Hebrew. Over time, gentile numbers began to grow and during the time of Constantine the gentile influence became very strong. The gentiles desired to establish a date to represent the birthday of Christ. They decided to use December 25, as it accommodated the Roman pagan festival of Saturnalia, which celebrated the winter solstice. The birth of Messiah was said to be compatible with Saturnalia’s themes of light returning and hope for the upcoming year, howevert it is a pagan holy day honoring a pagan god. Daylight increases from this day forward, but the bible shows this is not the day of Christ’s birth.

God picked a very different day. A day that would be significant to his Hebrew people. After all, Jesus was Hebrew and was sent to the Hebrew People, so we could expect him to pick a very important Hebrew day. The following is a Hebrew short form summary, the actual full length Hebrew detailed analysis of the bible follows. You will see why it took an extensive amount of Hebrew knowledge to figure this out from the bible when you read the long form.

We start in Luke. Mid-June: During Zacharias’ term of service, Gabriel tells him he will father a son (John the Baptist). Zacharias was in the division of Priests called Abijah, who served one week in the month of Tammuz (mid-June) and another week in Kislev (early December).

Luke 1:5-16 5There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

7And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

8And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

9According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

10And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

11And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

12And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

13But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

14And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

15For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

16And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

In early to mid-July, Elizabeth becomes pregnant

Luke 1:24

24And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, KJV

In late December to early January, during the sixth month of Elisabeth’s Pregnancy, Mary conceives through the miracle of the Holy Spirit.

Luke 1:26-31 26And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

29And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. KJV

In early January, Mary visits Elizabeth who is six months pregnant.

Luke 1:39-45 39And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

40And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

41And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

42And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

43And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

45And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. KJV

In early April, Mary returns home after John was born.

Luke 1:56 56And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house. KJV

In April, Elizabeth gives birth to John.

Luke 1:57 57Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

Nine months after Mary conceives, she gives birth to Jesus. This is either late September to early October.

Luke 2:1-8

2:1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Shepherds were tending their flock on the birth night of Christ. Bethlehem is located on a high ridge between Hebron and Jerusalem. This is a very cold region in winter and may receive snow fall. There is also little foliage for grazing sheep in this area in the winter. It is however a good place to graze your flock in fall. This places the birth of Christ during the Hebrew season of Sukkot. The feast of the Tabernacles. Sukkot is in the seventh major biblical holiday in the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. This Hebrew celebration is when God “dwells” in harmony with mankind. It is during this time God commanded the Hebrew people to dwell in temporary booths (tents) or Tabernacles. It stood for the days when the Hebrew pitched tents and wandered in the wilderness and reminded them of their deliverance from Egypt.
Although the Hebrew people did not know it, Sukkot also stands for the exidous of God’s people from this world through the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Allowing only branches for a roof, a sukkah allowed the light of the stars to pass through as a sign the ultimate dwelling place for God’s people is with God. The light shinning through is also symbol of God dwelling with them. Also during the week, seventy bulls (one for each nation) were sacrificed, showing God provided the sacrifice for all nations, not just for the Hebrew nation. The birth of Christ ussered in the the coming of the golden age - the Millennial Kingdom, when King Messiah returns to Earth, to Jerusalem His special city, gathering into God's kingdom the redeemed of all the nations, as all Jews were required to come to Jerusalem from all nations. CHRIST WAS THE TEMPLE OF GOD, IN THE FLESH

John 2:19-21 19Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?

21But he spake of the temple of his body.

God dwelled in the Holy Temple of God in Jerusalem. God told Soloman he would dwell amoung the sons of Isreal, but because of the wickedness of the Hebrew people, God allowed the Babylonians to overthrow the city and pilliage the temple and destroy it, in 586 BC. Seventy years later, the Hebrew people rebuilt the temple, however the Ark of the Covenant was no longer there, plus the other sacarid things to God. The temple was not manifested in the same manner as before. It was a shell of itself and what it previously represented. Around 500 years later God manifested His presence once more, and in the supreme way, on Earth.

The Son of God, who lived with the Father from eternity, came to Earth. Christ took on a body, became flesh, and dwelt among us. Jesus became the temple of God, Jesus was the dwelling place of God. In doing so, He embodied of the dwelling presence of God on Earth. He was the true Temple of God, the place where God dwells. "Destroy this Temple," He told a group of Jewish leaders, "and in three days I will raise it up..." speaking, of course, of the Temple of His body. When Christ died, the veil, which blocked man from the Most Holy Place in the Temple, was torn. This is because Christ’s death now allowed for God to dewll with and in his children, and for us to become his temple. Fifty days after the death of Christ, the Holy Spirit was given to his followers at Penticost. There, they became the temples of God on earth. Today, we are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit and we are the temples of God. Amen.

Upon Chrit’s return, there will be no doubt he is God and he will dwell in Jerrsalem on Mount Zion. On Sukkot, all nations will again go to Jerusalem to worship God. In New Jerusalem, we won’t need to build a temple. Christ will be there. . Moses understood this when he declared: "Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were born, or You gave birth to the Earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God." Rabbi Paul told us that in God "we live, and move and have our being." Christ said "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to Him, and make our home with him" (John 14:23). This actually should say, make our home “in” him.
Not only did the birthday of Christ have great special meaning in the Hebrew culture, but Christ also reviled God’s desire for fellowship with man on this event during his ministry. Sukkot, which also is the date the dry season ends and the rainy season starts. During this week, there was a daily poring of water in the temple. On the Seventh day, Hoshana Rabbah (the Great Hosana), a priest went to the Pool of Siloam to fill a golden pitcher of water. Upon returning to the temple, he would poor it into a basin while the other priest blew trumpets and sang Hllel

(Psalms 113-118). This was a demonstration of Israel’s dependence on God for sending the rain for their crops. It was during this event that Christ said”

John 7:37-41 37In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

40Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.

41Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?
There is also another custom on Sukkot. It is the burning of bright lights. People brought torches to the temple. There were lamp stands with bases 50 yards high placed in the temple courtyard. Priest would climb ladders to fill the cups and light the used worn out garments of the priests as wicks. It is said the light was so bright, all Jerusalem was lit by them. The celebration lasted all night with singing and dancing. On the day these lights were put out, Jesus said:

John 8:12 12Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Also during Sukkot a traditional prayer is said: Imagine what Christ thought wile he heard this. A voice heralds, heralds and saith: Turn unto me and be ye saved, today if ye hear my voice. Behold the man who sprang forth, Branch is his name, David himself. Stand up! Be buried in the dust no longer! Ye who dwell in the dust, wake up and sing. Glad will be the people when he ruleth. The name of the ungodly shall perish. But to his anointed, the Messiah David, he giveth grace. Grant salvation to the people, To David and his seed forever, The voice heralds and saith. Amen.

We can see how important it is to know the Hebrew people and their customs. The special events God gave them to celebrate directly point to Christ. Sukkot shows us God wants to dwell with us. That the Christ brought the light to the world, inorder to harvest mankind. It not only shows how God delivered man from egypt, but also how Christ delivered us from our sins and into salvation, so that he may dwell with us, forever. Amen!

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The Messianic writing about Christ's actual birthday.

As I mentioned before, the Hebrew people at the time of Christ, did not celebrate birthdays.
Anything that drew attention or honor to yourself was considered improper. So they did not celebrate the birthday of Jesus, they did not celebrate anyone's birthday. Birthdays were a gentile celebration. Constantine and others wanted to celebrate the birthday of Christ, but no one knew the day. Dec. 25 was determined as it was a festival of lights, being it was the shortest day of the year, but it is also a pagan holiday. I think we should celebrate the correct day, without gifts to each other, honoring only the Birth of Christ. Something December 25 does not do. I hope you have already read the short version.

By Greg Killian Doug Dolly in his book, "Messiah Our Passover is Sacrificed", wrote the following summary of Messiah's birth:

THE BIRTH His birth, about AM 3750 - 3756 (10 - 4 BC), was expectantly awaited. because within about 40 years Daniel's prophecy concerning Him must be fulfilled. The prophet Mikha (Micah) wrote that He was destined to be born in Beth-Lechem (Bethlehem) - the House of Bread. [God called Him the Bread from Heaven, though men say Manna - [What is It?] It was because of this prophecy that King Herod had the children of Beth-Lechem killed, to protect his throne against the coming promised king. The rabbis who translated the Septuagin taught from the prophet YeshaYahu (Isaiah) that He would be born of a virgin and would be called Immanuel - God with Us. In the expected time and place, on the Festival of Succoth (Feast of Tabernacles), in a succah (tabernacle, temporary dwelling) where Passover lambs were raised in the city of the shepherd David, a Son was born to a virgin descended from that Messiah David. At an angel's command, He was named Yeshua, meaning "The LORD is Salvation." God would dwell with us in a succah of humanity that would be bruised by the serpent, then crush that old serpent!

When Zekharya (Zechariah) was ministering in the temple, he received an announcement from God of a coming son. The eighth course of Abia, when Zekharya was ministering, was the week of Sivan 12 to 18. If Zekharya's promised son Yochanan (John the baptizer) were conceived soon thereafter, then Yeshua's conception, which was six months later, would be late Chiselev to early Tevet, near Chanukah (the Feast of Dedication); His birth would thence be at mid Tishri, the Feast of Succoth (Tabernacles).

The month of Tishri (in the fall) also fits with the season of shepherds being out with their flocks by night, as they were when Yeshua was born; during winter the lambs are kept indoors. The apostle Yochanan (John) tells us that the Word (of God) became flesh and "dwelt in a succah" (tabernacled) among us. L'CHAIM / CELEBRATING LIFE Later in His life, Yeshua celebrated His birthday on a mountain with three of His disciples. In contrast to birthday parties, such as Herod's, where people were killed for entertainment, His was a celebration of life.

On the Festival of Succoth, Moshe and EliYahu (Elijah), from centuries past, representatives of the Torah and the Prophets, appeared and talked with Yeshua. One disciple, Kepha (Peter), suggested building three succoth for Yeshua, Moshe, and EliYahu, because it was required for the festival, but he did not understand that these three were fulfilling that which the festival symbolized: they were dwelling in their succoth (temporary tabernacles) of flesh, awaiting their eternal resurrection temples.

The Pagan Mass for Tammuz celebrated on the 25th day of Thebeth, which centuries later became Christ's Mass (Christmas) on the equivalent 25th day of December, has no Biblical connection with Yeshua's birth. In this part of our study I will attempt to show how we can learn the birth date of Yeshua from the Bible. Our starting point is: Luke 1:5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.

From this we learn that John the Baptist's father was part of the Levitical priesthood group known as Abijah. Next we learn when Abijah served during the biblical year: I Chronicles 24:1 These were the divisions of the sons of Aaron: The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did, and they had no sons; so Eleazar and Ithamar served as the priests. With the help of Zadok a descendant of Eleazar and Ahimelech a descendant of Ithamar, David separated them into divisions for their appointed order of ministering.

A larger number of leaders were found among Eleazar's descendants than among Ithamar's, and they were divided accordingly: sixteen heads of families from Eleazar's descendants and eight heads of families from Ithamar's descendants. They divided them impartially by drawing lots, for there were officials of the sanctuary and officials of God among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar. The scribe Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded their names in the presence of the king and of the officials: Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites--one family being taken from Eleazar and then one from Ithamar.

The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah, The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, The fifth to Malkijah, the sixth to Mijamin, The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah, The ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah, The eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim, The thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab, The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer, The seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez, The nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel, The twenty-first to Jakin, the twenty-second to Gamul, The twenty-third to Delaiah and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah. This was their appointed order of ministering when they entered the temple of the LORD, according to the regulations prescribed for them by their forefather Aaron, as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded him.

As for the rest of the descendants of Levi: from the sons of Amram: Shubael; from the sons of Shubael: Jehdeiah. As for Rehabiah, from his sons: Isshiah was the first. From the Izharites: Shelomoth; from the sons of Shelomoth: Jahath. The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third and Jekameam the fourth. The son of Uzziel: Micah; from the sons of Micah: Shamir. The brother of Micah: Isshiah; from the sons of Isshiah: Zechariah. The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The son of Jaaziah: Beno. The sons of Merari: from Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zaccur and Ibri. From Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons. From Kish: the son of Kish: Jerahmeel. And the sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth. These were the Levites, according to their families. They also cast lots, just as their brothers the descendants of Aaron did, in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites.

The families of the oldest brother were treated the same as those of the youngest. There were 24 courses. Abijah was the eighth course. David divided them and gave them instructions concerning the time they were to serve. God's Spirit showed David how he was to divide the Priests and how they were to serve: I Chronicles 28:11-13 Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement. He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the LORD and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of God and for the treasuries for the dedicated things. He gave him instructions for the divisions of the priests and Levites, and for all the work of serving in the temple of the LORD, as well as for all the articles to be used in its service. The following verse indicates that the length of service for each course was seven days: I Chronicles 9:1-26 All Israel was listed in the genealogies recorded in the book of the kings of Israel.

The people of Judah were taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. Now the first to resettle on their own property in their own towns were some Israelites, priests, Levites and temple servants. Those from Judah, from Benjamin, and from Ephraim and Manasseh who lived in Jerusalem were: Uthai son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, a descendant of Perez son of Judah. Of the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn and his sons. Of the Zerahites: Jeuel. The people from Judah numbered 690. Of the Benjamites: Sallu son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah; Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi, the son of Micri; and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah. The people from Benjamin, as listed in their genealogy, numbered 956. All these men were heads of their families. Of the priests: Jedaiah; Jehoiarib; Jakin; Azariah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the official in charge of the house of God; Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malkijah; and Maasai son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer.

The priests, who were heads of families, numbered 1,760. They were able men, responsible for ministering in the house of God. Of the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, a Merarite; Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal and Mattaniah son of Mica, the son of Zicri, the son of Asaph; Obadiah son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun; and Berekiah son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites. The gatekeepers: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman and their brothers, Shallum their chief Being stationed at the King's Gate on the east, up to the present time. These were the gatekeepers belonging to the camp of the Levites. Shallum son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his fellow gatekeepers from his family (the Korahites) were responsible for guarding the thresholds of the Tent just as their fathers had been responsible for guarding the entrance to the dwelling of the LORD. In earlier times Phinehas son of Eleazar was in charge of the gatekeepers, and the LORD was with him. Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Altogether, those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds numbered 212. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. The gatekeepers had been assigned to their positions of trust by David and Samuel the seer. They and their descendants were in charge of guarding the gates of the house of the LORD--the house called the Tent. The gatekeepers were on the four sides: east, west, north and south. Their brothers in their villages had to come from time to time and share their duties for seven-day periods. But the four principal gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the responsibility for the rooms and treasuries in the house of God.

The week of service began and ended on the Sabbath: II Chronicles 23:1-8 In the seventh year Jehoiada showed his strength. He made a covenant with the commanders of units of a hundred: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zicri. They went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites and the heads of Israelite families from all the towns. When they came to Jerusalem, The whole assembly made a covenant with the king at the temple of God. Jehoiada said to them, "The king's son shall reign, as the LORD promised concerning the descendants of David. Now this is what you are to do: A third of you priests and Levites who are going on duty on the Sabbath are to keep watch at the doors, A third of you at the royal palace and a third at the Foundation Gate, and all the other men are to be in the courtyards of the temple of the LORD. No one is to enter the temple of the LORD except the priests and Levites on duty; they may enter because they are consecrated, but all the other men are to guard what the LORD has assigned to them. The Levites are to station themselves around the king, each man with his weapons in his hand. Anyone who enters the temple must be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes." The Levites and all the men of Judah did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one took his men--those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were going off duty--for Jehoiada the priest had not released any of the divisions.

So, the week of service began and ended on the Sabbath. In addition to their normal service, the Priests, all twenty-four courses, served for three extra weeks during the year:17 Deuteronomy 16:16 Three times a year all your men must appear before the LORD your God at the place he will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles. No man should appear before the LORD empty-handed: Now we need to do some arithmetic: 24 courses times 1 week equals 24 weeks that have been served by the twenty-four courses. Then we add the three extra weeks when all 24 corses served. We now have covered 27 weeks. A biblical year consists of twelve lunar months, of 29.5 days, which total 354 days. This is eleven days less than a solar year, of 365 days. This means that we have to cover 24 more weeks. Thus we can deduce that each course served a week at the beginning of the year, and a week at the end of the year. The Mishna agrees with this conclusion.1 (The number of days that differ from a lunar and a solar calendar, are made up by adding a leap month every two or three years. I do not yet know how the priests served these extra days.) Each course, therefore, served for one week twice a year, and three weeks a year they all served. Each course, therefore, served a total of five weeks during the year. Between the first and the eighth week of the year, two of the three times when all twenty-four courses served, intervened. The eighth course would, therefore, serve during the tenth week having allowed for the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Weeks, which both occur during the first eight weeks of the year. This is the second Sabbath of Sivan, and the week that follows (approximately Sivan 12-18). Elizabeth conceived John the Baptist AFTER Zechariah had finished his Temple service. So, she would have become pregnant after the third Sabbath of Sivan (approximately Sivan 19-25): Luke 1:23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home.

After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. If you go forward forty weeks, for a normal pregnancy, we see that John the Baptist was born on Passover. We would expect that this pregnancy would be perfectly normal because this is the mark og God's handiwork - perfection! It is interesting that John the Baptist was born on Passover, because one of the rituals of the Passover is to set a special place setting, for Elijah, and to open the door to welcome Elijah. Messiah said that John the Baptist was the Elijah who was to come!

Matthew 11:7-15 As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about

John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings' palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: 'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. He who has ears, let him hear.

Exactly six months after John's conception, Mary conceives Jesus: Luke 1:23-33 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people." In (Elizabeth's) sixth month (of pregnancy), God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, To a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." If John the Baptist was conceived in the eleventh week, the third Sabbath week of Sivan, Yeshua would have been conceived six months later in the month of Kislev. Mary would have conceived Yeshua after the third Sabbath of Kislev, approximately Kislev 19-26. Kislev 25 is Chanukah. It is noteworthy that our Messiah, the "light of the world", was conceived on the festival of lights (Chanukah)!

So, six months after John the Baptist is born, Yeshua is born. Therefore, since John was born on the 15th day of the first month (Nisan), Yeshua (Jesus) would be born on the 15th day of the seventh month (Tishri)...six month later. The 15th day of the seventh month is known as Succoth, or the Feast of Tabernacles. Yeshua (Jesus) was born on Succoth (The Feast of Tabernacles)!

We find an allusion to Yeshua's birth during Succoth in John's gospel: John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling (succah) among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Remember that a major theme of Succoth is JOY!

With this in mind ... Luke 2:4-11 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. And ...

Matthew 2:7-12 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

10.17 Notes

2005-11-19T10:40:00.000-06:00

Ps 19:14, 40:1-3, Leviticus 11:44-45, 19:2, I Peter 1:14-16

14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 40
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

44 I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves about on the ground. 45 I am the LORD who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

2 "Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.

14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

Be Holy.....H O L Y....

What does that mean? I'm holy, alright, holEy. There are so many holes in this soul....I have alot of patchwork. I wonder if God sees that sometimes. I"m sure there's a hole somewhere that my foot fits in....probably my mouth. It really needs some patchwork of its own.

As I contemplate the taste of my shoe....Jars of Clay ring in the background.

A promise or a dare
I would jump if I knew you'd catch me
Staring over the edge
I can't tell if you'll be here for me
I close my eyes and make a wish
Turn out the lights and take a breath
Pray that when the wick is burned
You would say that it's all about love

CHORUS: You were there when I needed you
You were there when the skies broke wide, wide open
You were there when I needed you
You were there when the skies broke wide, wide open

You were never here
I remember you said Love was more than your good intentions
Empty boxes on the floor
Things I never asked you for
I pray that when the wick is burned
You would say that it's all about love

And I can't see the promise of
Excuses you fall upon I pray to God not holding on
To things you've left undone

You were there when I You were there when I You were there when I needed

Interesting Choice of Words....

A promise or a dare
I would jump if I knew you'd catch me
Staring over the edge
I can't tell if you'll be here for me

There is a sense of doubt. I would jump if I Knew....

I think I feel that way sometimes...er...alot.....more often than I would like to admit. I stare over the edge fearing I'll be pushed. Like a mother eagle pushes her young out of the nest, a lesson in flying. I think do I really want to fly? Fly in terms of rapture...ok, yes. Fly in terms of lessons...sipping my coffee to get the shoe taste out of my mouth...the answer is NO.

But then, HOW do I learn, I do I know You'll Catch Me? The peace I have right now is scarey...I peer around the corner...stare over the edge. Please don't push me, PLEASE don't push me...PUL-EASE don't push me.

Off I go......

Did I miss the part where I say Geranamooooooo?

To be continued.....

10.11 Notes

2005-11-19T10:25:00.000-06:00

Hebrews 3:1, Hebrews 13:8, Joshua 1:7

These are my thoughts today....

1Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.

8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.

In my journal here I write. "May I" May I be strong and courageous.... Yes I May...but can I? will I? Is more the question. Again today, I petition for renewal, development, change.

I listen to Creflo Dollar for a while....he is teaching on Who Am I in Christ. Do You Know WHO You Are?

*Made in His Image
*Gods Princess
*Seed of Abraham
*Joint Heir
*Righteousness of God
*MORE than a conquorer

Jesus came to give us [back] the Authority.
Adam had the authority and gave it away
Jesus came to take back the authority and give it to us.

Satan likes to attack your identity....your authority.

You have the authority...some things God won't do for you because YOU have the authority.

So tell me, WHO ARE YOU?

David and Goliath

2005-11-11T23:50:00.000-06:00

Then as I'm reading I hear Casting Crowns....the voice of truth...

Oh what I would do to have The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant With just a sling and a stone Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors Shaking in their armor Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand

Then I GOT IT again!

Its OK to shake in your armor, so then I read the familiar story of David and Goliath. And notice a few things about Goliath...he had on armor and he had a shield bearer.

David was obedient to his father...delegated the shepherding, packed his supplies, went on the journey, gave his "baggage" to the appropriate person when he arrived, didn't let the "talk" of his brother bother him and RAN to the battle.

The reward was that his family wouldn't have to pay taxes to Saul...hhahaha, little does Saul know!

Also I kept thinking about The Armor...what went thru my mind over and over was "feet shod with the preparation of the gospel"

Shod....what does that mean? So I looked it up.

From the root word: Deo
to bind tie, fasten
to bind, fasten with chains, to throw into chains
metaph.
Satan is said to bind a woman bent together by means of a demon, as his messenger, taking possession of the woman and preventing her from standing upright
to bind, put under obligation, of the law, duty etc. 1b
to be bound to one, a wife, a husband
to forbid, prohibit, declare to be illicit

The Metaphor is what caught my attention. That is exactly how I have felt over the past few weeks. But I kept praying and seeking God and doing my bible study and reading the word.

10/20

2005-11-11T23:47:00.000-06:00

YIKES I need to update this place!

This is from my journal October 20th

have studied and prayed and studied and cried out to the Lord. I got a revelation the other day. It just HIT ME!

I started reading colossians...which for some reason led me to Phillipians 3.

We all know it....say it with me...
12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

yada yada yada....we can all say it forwards and backwards.

For some reason I have not seen this before....I guess cuz I have focused so much on "not that I have already obtained this.....or fogetting what is behind....straining...I press on....

This jumped off the page yesterday.

15All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Ok so all this stuff that I haven't attained.....don't try to live up to that.

I am not Prov. 31 Woman. (not yet)I am not who I want to be (not yet) who I will be come is still "becoming". The full of me hasn't been "attained".

Only live up to what I have attained. I GET IT!

How Could I Ask For More - Cindy Morgan

2005-09-28T08:08:00.000-05:00

There's nothing like the warmth of a summer afternoon
Walking to the sunlight, and being cradled my the moon
Catching fireflies at night
Building castles in the sand
Kissing Mam's face goodnight
And holding Daddy's hand

Thank you Lord, how could I ask for more

Running barefoolt in the grass
A little hide and go seek
Being so in love, that you can hardly eat
Dancing in the dark, when there's no one else around
Being bundled 'neath the covers, watching snow
Fall to the ground

Thank you Lord, how could I ask for more

So many things I thought would bring me happiness
Some dreams that are realities today
Such an irony the things that mean the most to me
Are the memories that I've made along the way

So if there's anything I've learned
From this journey I am on
Simple truths will keep you going
Simple love will keep you strong
Cause there are questions without answers
Flames that never die
Heartaches we go through are often blessings in disguise
So thank you Lord, oh thank you Lord
How could I ask for more

09/22 Journal Notes

2005-09-28T07:44:00.000-05:00

Joyce Myer Notes:

She says every time she goes to a new city.

I bind the strongholds in Jesus Name! Satan I will go in and rob your kingdom today. Souls will be saved, people will be filled with the Holy Spirit. I plead the Blood of Jesus over myself that the enemy can't come against me and do me harm. No demonic activity can be successful against me, as I go in and rob satans kingdom! I am covered in the Name of Jesus!! AMEN!

SAY IT!!

I RESIST YOU
I BIND YOU
I REBUKE YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS!

* Be determined not to be talked out of the will of God! Don't go to people for something you can get from God!

* Don't fall into the trap of spening your life being mad at people.
* Hurting people - hurt people
* Somewhere along the line someone has to draw a blood line [of Jesus] and say IT STOPS WITH ME!! ITS NOT GOING TO THE NEXT GENERATION!!

I AM NOT GONNA LIVE WITH HATRED
I AM NOT GONNA LIVE WITH BITTERNESS
I REFUSE TO LIFE OFFENDED ALL THE TIME!!

1) Recognize that God is your source and He uses different resources. Just because something is drying up in your life doesn't mean there is sin, its means there is CHANGE!

LET GOD BE GOD AND YOU BE YOU!
You can't be the Holy Spirit to yourself!

2) Trust God with your future.

GOD IN LIGHT AND IN HIM THERE IS NO DARKNESS!! AT ALL!!
You CAN trust God.
Trust in the quality of his Character!

Give it all to God.
Your marriage, your kids, your finances, your relationships.

* If fear stays in your life, your fears will come true.
* Where there is fear - there is confusion and strongholds and that is ABMORNAL for the believer!

* Behaviour comes out of our belief system. Fear damages your relationship with God.
* Fear fosters torment.

Causes of Fear:

1) Sin - to miss the mark
2) Learn behaviour - from parents, superstitions, school, society
3) Ignorance - False arrogance
4) Imaginations - False Evidence Appearing Real

Change comes by the Word of God!

09/16 Journal Notes

2005-09-28T07:38:00.000-05:00

Fear is anything that moves you from a stability in faith - the Word of God acting in your life.

Fear causes you to panic, to abort the Word over your life and look at your circumstances.

REMEMBER - Wes King

Remember
Oh, I never will forget
My Ebeneezer
Is the day You paid my debt

So tender
Was the way that we first met
I thought I heard the angels singing
I thought I heard my mama cry
As I walked down the aisle
And I will...

Remember
When a sea was in between
Me and where I needed to be free
And then there
In the moment of my need
The ocean floor went dry
And You divided the sea
And saved my life

Remember
Wont' you tell me one more time
Just to be here
Is in iteself a glorious sign
Consider
And let it ease this weary mind
Every thing has worked together
There's a purpose in the pain
These trials are not in vain

HOLD ME JESUS - Rich Mullens

Well, sometimes my life
Just don't make sense at all
When the mountains look so big
And my faith just seems so small

CHORUS:
So hold me Jesus,
'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace

And I wake up in the night and feel the dark
It's so hot inside my soul
I swear there must be blisters on my heart

CHORUS

Surrender don't come natural to me
I'd rather fight You for something I don't really want
Than to take what You give that I need
And I've beat my head against so many walls
Now I'm falling down, I'm falling on my knees

And this Salvation Army band
Is playing this hymn
And Your grace rings out so deep
It makes my resistance seem so thin

CHORUS

You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace

Journal Notes - Songs on my mind

2005-09-28T07:34:00.000-05:00

Sept 12. Joyce Myer Notes:

* When God saves you, He doesn't change your personality.

* The input of the Word of God will have the output of a changed life.

Jill Phillips - STEEL BARS

So this is how it feels at the rock bottom of despair
When the house I built comes crashing down
And this is how it feels when I know the man that I say I am
Is not the man that I am when no one's around
This is how it feels to come alive again
And start fighting back to gain control
And this is how it feels to let freedom in
And break these chains that enslave my soul

CHORUS: I refuse to be locked up in here like a prison cell
Where all I ever get is a meal and four walls
I used to be just fine in here but not anymore
Gonna break through these steel bars

So tell me how it feels when the tables start to turn
And you find yourself at the losing end
Tell me how it feels, you're not welcome here
'Cause I'm tired of pain and I'm tired of sin

CHORUS

I won't let you win
I have no doubt
I don't want you in
So get out, get out

CHORUS I refuse to be locked up in here like a prison cell
Where all I ever get is a meal and four walls
I used to be just fine in here but not anymore
Gonna break through these steel bars

Borne - Words byt Naomi Thompson

2005-09-14T17:07:00.000-05:00

I think this says it all....

Borne of dust, I get so dirty, But You pick me up, brush me off. Send me on my way. Borne of flesh, I get so caught up in my story, It's so human to concern myself with. Everything that I seem to be going through. But Lord, where would I be. Without this flesh to remind me.

Chorus 1: I was borne to breathe, Borne to be broken, Borne to realize that it's not I, But the You in me. Borne to live, AND Borne to love You. I was borne to die. Knowing that my life is not mine.

Hook: So Lord, thank you for the thorn, I've had to bear. From the day that I was borne.

Borne of love, Love so perfect. You are Heaven's thought, gift of God. Come to save the world. Born of flesh and born of Spirit, My sweet Savior it's so like You. To concern Yourself with, Everything that I seem to be going through. Oh Lord, where would I be, Without Your love to remind me. Chorus 1

Hook: So Lord, thank you for the thorn, I've had to bear. From the day that I was borne.

Bridge for 2nd Chorus: You were borne to breathe, Borne to be broken.....

Chorus 2: You were borne to breathe, Borne to be broken, Borne so that I would realize, You are all I need. Borne to live, Borne to love (save) me. You were borne to die so that I, Could be completely free. (Repeat)

Hook: So Lord, thank you for the thorns, for the thorns, you chose to bear, So that I could be... I could be borne. I could be borne.

Scriptural References:(John 3:16, Psalm 46:1, 2 Cor. 4:7-9 & 12:9, 1 Peter 5:7, Romans 8:26)

September 8 - MORNING TEA!

2005-09-09T22:55:00.000-05:00

DO IT ANYWAY

'Let every detail in your lives - words, actions, whatever - be done in the name of the master, Jesus . . .' Colossians 3:17 TM

When Bishop Abel Muzorere was asked to lead the African National Congress, he prayed as he had never prayed before. Most of his predecessors had been killed or imprisoned, so he struggled with the decision, until a friend handed him these life-changing words:

'People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered - love them anyway!

If you do good, they'll accuse you of selfishness or ulterior motives - do good anyway!

When you're successful, your friends may be false, your enemies will be real - succeed anyway!

The good you do today may soon be forgotten tomorrow - do good anyway!

Honesty and frankness will make you vulnerable - be honest and frank anyway!

The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest minds - think big anyway!

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs - fight for the underdog anyway!

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight - build anyway!

Give the world the best you've got and the chances are that you'll still be despised - give your best anyway!'

You say, 'How is such a lifestyle possible?' Listen: 'Let every detail in your lives - words, actions, whatever - be done in the Name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God . . . every step of the way' (Colossians 3:17 TM). Now, that's the way to live!

Sept. 6 thoughts on forgiveness

2005-09-06T17:14:00.000-05:00

I have dealt with alot in my (nearly) 37 years of life. As I have allowed God work in my life, really trusted him with my pain, I have seen miracles. I have been delivered. I have been freed from bondage.

What I had to do was write down a list of people who hurt me, wounded me, used me, abused me or abandoned me in any way. At first I had to start with a small list. The things I thought I could handle. As I wrote the names down, I prayed for that person and then I said outloud. I FORGIVE YOU. Sometimes I had to say, By the Grace of God, I forgive you. Others were easier. I would do this once a week. I'd have a list fo 3-4 people and I would pray for them that week and pray for the stregnth and courage to forgive. I have had to work on an attitude of forgiveness. Just this week I was faced with a serious offense. I had to decide to forgive. I had to decide I wanted that person to hear God say, "....this is what you did to shelly, and she chose to forgive you almost instantly..." I want my reward to be in Heaven.

Forgiveness is really a choice. Holding onto the past is really a choice. A choice that causes one to be bitter, jealous, harsh, resentful and unforgiving. Its like taking poison hoping it will kill your enemy. It never works. Forgiveness is more about you and your reward in heaven, than it is about the other person.

A bigger thing for me was to forgive God. Not that He needs it or that it is even mine to give to God....but I knew I harbored so much resentment....so many questions....if you are really God then THIS or THAT...But as the years went on that I had to see that was me telling Christ...if you are really the Son of God, get down from the cross. Who am I to do that? Jesus stayed on the cross FOR ME. In that while I was still a sinner, Christ died for me. Said forgive Shelly, for she knows not what she does.

I had to get out of an attitude that I had to make people pay for what they had done to me. That I didn't see God doing anything, so far He hadn't struck anyone down with lightening....WHERE WAS GOD? WHERE? Why hadn't He come to my rescue? What kind of God would let me be treated like this, over and over and over..... I can tell you this...What Satan intended to for evil, God has turned it into good, in my life.

I had an opportunity to be pressed the other day, to have another rough spot buffed out....it was unpleasant. It was just another feable attempt by the enemy to try to make me tell him who I am....define my worth..... I'll tell you one thing, the DEVIL IS A LIAR! God doesn't consult my past to determine my future! Satan can only back me up to my last experience with God...The more often the experience, the less I go one step forward, two steps back.

Who Am I? He says??? I AM A CHILD OF GOD! Creator, Maker, Life-Sustainer, Comforter, Healer, My Redeemer, Lord and King, Beginning And The End.....I AM THAT I AM. Maybe satan is familiar with Him...but that's a sermon for another day... :)

I heard Joyce Myer say a few weeks ago...Nothing is trusting God more than going thru something that you could change, but knowing it is Gods will for you to be uncomfortable. Let God work in your life.

He is trustworthy, He is faithful, He is able, your issues are not too big for Him, He'll meet you where you are, but you have to ask Him to come to you....Not tell Him what you want and what you want Him to do, he's not a menu....allow His will to be done in your life. You will receive, healing, freedom, recovery, restoration, rest...

Morning Tea!! ITS BACK!

2005-08-18T11:42:00.000-05:00

I receive this from my dear friend Cheryl, who gets it from her sister in law. Whoever writes this is awesome. This always speaks to me.

Are you responding to pressures or priorities?

"He shall . . . wear out the saints." Daniel 7:25

One day a caterpillar met a friend at the psychiatrist's office and asked, "Are you coming or going?" His friend replied, "If I knew that, I wouldn't be here!"

Satan's goal is to wear you out until you don't know whether you're coming or going! He does it by weighing you down with things that aren't necessarily sinful, but drain you physically and emotionally. Daniel says in the last days the enemy will "wear out the saints." If you doubt it, look at the pressures you face every day - work, finances, church commitments, and family. No wonder you're frazzled!

Paul says, "Let us lay aside every weight . . . and . . . run . . . the race . . . set before us" (Hebrews 12:1). Knowing what to pick up and what to set down is your job - not God's.

Establish priorities, then discipline yourself to live by them. Nobody was more dedicated to God's work than Jesus, but even He needed time alone with His Father. One of the first priorities set by the New Testament church leaders was to dedicate themselves to God's Word and prayer. How? By assigning others to handle the administrative load. (See Acts 6).

Learn: (a) what to offload, (b) what to delegate, (c) what not to pick up in the first place. And saying, "I don't have time," doesn't cut it. Everybody gets the same 24 hours to respond to either pressures or priorities. Decide what to set aside for now, and what to unload for good. Don't get so involved with the work of God that you neglect the God of the work!

More Journal songs...

2005-08-18T11:25:00.000-05:00

As I sit in my prayer time and bible study each day I have music on....as things bless me or are relavent to what I am studying, I write it down. Each time I hear this...I am convicted....by the words...."Did I point to you ENOUGH to make a mark on things...."

Nichole Nordeman (my hero - although I don't know her, I think I want to be her when I grow up)

I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me
And I enjoy an accolade like the rest
You could take my picture and hang it in a gallery
Of all who's who and so-n-so's that used to be the best
At such'n'such ... it wouldn't matter.......much

I won't lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights
We all need an 'Atta boy' or 'Atta girl'
But in the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides
The temporary trappings of this world

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love?
Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

I don't have to look too far or too long awhile
To make a lengthly list of all that I enjoy
It's an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon enough destroy

Not well traveled, not well read, not well-to-do or well bred
Just want to hear instead, "Well Done" good and faithful one...

by Nichole Nordeman 2002 Ariose Music

If ever there were an anthem or a prayer for my life, this is it...

MISTAKEN By Warren Barfield

I shouldn’t have to tell you who I am
Cause who I am should be speaking for itself
Cause if I am who I want to be
Then who you see won’t even be me
Oh the more and more I disappear
The more and more He becomes clear

Chorus:
‘ Til everyone I talk to hears His voice
And everything I touch feels the warmth of His hand
‘ Til everyone I meet
Sees Jesus in me
This is all I wanna be
I wanna be mistaken
For Jesus
Oh I wanna be mistaken

Do they only see who we are
But who we are should be pointing them to Christ
Cause we are who He chose to use
To spread the news
Of the way the truth and the life
Oh I want all I am to die
So all He is can come alive

‘ Til everyone I talk to hears His voice
And everything I touch feels the warmth of His hand
‘ Til everyone I meet
Sees Jesus in me
This is all I wanna be
I wanna be mistaken
For Jesus
Oh I wanna be
Oh I need to be mistaken
For you
Oh I wanna be mistaken

BRIDGE:
May He touch with my hands
See through my eyes
May He speak through my lips
Live through my life
I want Him to
I want Him to live

More journal songs...How Could I Ask For More?

2005-08-18T11:21:00.000-05:00

I am always touched when I hear this song and I am thankful for simple blessings....the sun, the moon, the grass, the sand, the snow, nature around me....trials, heartache, the smile on my childrens face...

HOW COULD I ASK FOR MORE - Cindy Morgan From Real Life

Running barefoolt in the grass
A little hide and go seek
Being so in love, that you can hardly eat
Dancing in the dark, when there's no one else around
Being bundled 'neath the covers, watching snow
Fall to the ground
Thank you Lord, how could I ask for more

So many things I thought would bring me happiness
Some dreams that are realities today
Such an irony the things that mean the most to me
Are the memories that I've made along the way

So if there's anything I've learned
From this journey I am on
Simple truths will keep you going
Simple love will keep you strong

Cause there are questions without answers
Flames that never die
Heartaches we go through are often blessings in disguise
So thank you Lord, oh thank you Lord How could I ask for more

Shane and Shane still ROCK!

2005-08-18T09:10:00.000-05:00

Songs in my journal from August 16th

yearn by shane barnard
holy design
this place in time
that i might seek and find my God
my God

Lord i want to yearn for You
i want to burn with passion
over You and only You
Lord i want to yearn

Your joy is mine
yet why am i fine
with all my singing and bringing grain
in light of Him

oh You give life and breath
through Him You give all things
in Him we live and move
that's why i sing

mercy reigns by shane barnard

she hides her face, it seems too good
for Your embrace to find her
and say, "my dove, your voice is sweets
how me your form... your form is lovely"

Your mercy reigns
Your mercy comes
Your mecy falls
and rises with the sun
Your mercy reigns
Your mercy comes
Your mecy falls
and rises with the sun
its new every morning
its new every morning
its good enough for me

no ear has heard a melody
as sweet as yours for her
it seems too good, so undeserved
my heart faints now, for we are her

Your mercy reigns
Your mercy comes
Your mercy falls
and rises with the sun
Your mercy reigns
Your mercy comes
Your mercy falls
and rises with the sun

i will abide in Your love, Your love(song of solomon 2:14, lamentations 3:22-23)

AUGUST 17th I got a new brother!

2005-08-17T13:00:00.000-05:00

Today 29 years ago, I got a new sibling. My brother. He is such a charmer. He is so kind and generous. He is so tenderhearted. He is humorous, he has been the source of a lot of laughter over the years.

He is such an awesome person and I love him.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! BUB!!!!!!!

What is Grace?

2005-08-17T12:03:00.000-05:00

This is a question in my study for this week.

What IS Grace? What is it?

Goodwill, Lovingkindness, undeserved favor....sure.

Here is the Websters version:

1. A characteristic or quality pleasing for its charm or refinement.
2. A disposition to be generous or helpful; goodwill.
3. Mercy; clemency.
4. A favor rendered by one who need not do so; indulgence.
5. A temporary immunity or exemption; a reprieve.
6. Divine love and protection bestowed freely on people.
7. The state of being protected or sanctified by the favor of God.
8. An excellence or power granted by God.
9. A short prayer of blessing or thanksgiving said before or after a meal.

Our feable English language doesn't come close to defining what God's Grace is to us.

Ephesians 1: 1-2

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace to you....this is not just a salutation...for as much as Paul loved this church I think this is what he had in mind when he said....Grace to you from God...

grace:
1. that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech

2. good will, loving-kindness, favour
of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues

3. what is due to grace
the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace
the token or proof of grace, benefit
a gift of grace
benefit, bounty

4. thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward

So I say to you today.....GRACE! to you from God our Father....

I am forced to restore....

2005-08-17T11:08:00.000-05:00

I studied Psalm 69 and in the first few verses David says. "I am forced to restore what I did not steal"

That jumped off the page at me, because of my background. Product of the times, statistics? I don't know the answer. I'd say alot has been stolen from me. And now, I am forced to restore it, myself. I felt that way for a long time. I had to be restored, I had to do it.

Memorial Day Weekend 1995. I made a commitment to God and started praying. I had some prayer books which really helped cuz they were full of scripture. So I could look them up and do a little reading.

From that time on I didn't always live right. I thought *I* needed to clean up my act. *I* needed to get myself right, before God would accept me. It has taken years to figure out that God is For Me. God Loves Me - as if there were no one else. He's not couting the hairs on my head...He Knows the number and it changes daily. He knows me that intimately. It is His desire to bless me, He's not out to get me. I finally "get it."

In the past 5 years I have read my bible alot and prayed. In the past 2 years I have really prayed for change. Change me. What I really meant, now I see....Restore me.

In the past year or so I have listened and learned from various teachers. One things I learned was how to study the bible. I definately learned to read beyond the Psalms. There was a time in my life where all I could do was say "help me God, please, if You're really there, help me." Now I say....Restore me, God I know you're really there, restore me.

The psalmist says...I am forced to restore what I did not steal.

All kinds of bad things have happened to me in my life, physical and sexual abuse, abusive relationships, divorce, abandonment, rejection....SO WHAT! *shrug* THANK GOD! Thank Him that I can shrug. It is the past, its over, I am indifferent. Now, I have a story to tell of restoration, reconciliation. My life can be a testimony to other who have been me, who are me. The me of yesterday.

I started doing some research on "restore" God says He Restores. He will restore.
Over and Over:

I will restore the ruins....Isaiah 44:26
I will restore so that you may serve.... Jer. 15:19
I will restore you to the promised land... Jer. 16:15
I will restore you to health and heal your wounds.....Jer. 30:17
I will restore your fortune, your home, I will rebuild you....Jer.30:18
Six places in Jeremiah God says I will restore your fortune

"I will restore Davids fallen tent, I wil repair its broken place, restore its ruins and built it as it used to be, so that the remnant of men and all the nations that bear my name may seek The Lord " Declares the Lord, who will do these things. Amos 9:11-12

I will restore twice as much and make you strong....Zechariah 9: 11-13

6 "I will strengthen the house of Judah and save the house of Joseph. I will restore them because I have compassion on them. They will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them. Zechariah 10: 6

Gods Word tells me....He is in the restoration business.

Debt of Gratitude By Andy Chrisman

You brought me back to life
You healed my broken heart
You've given me my sight
You've taken me by storm

You gave it all away
To come and rescue me
And day after day
Your love delivers me

What can I ever do to thank You
What do I owe You
What can I pay
My debt of gratitude
Grows everyday
And all I have to give
Is an offering of love
A sacrifice of praise

Held - Natalie Grant

2005-08-03T08:07:00.000-05:00

In light of the recents deaths in my family I dedicate this to them.

Two months is too little.
They let him go.
They had no sudden healing.
To think that providence would
Take a child from his mother while she prays
Is appalling.

Who told us we'd be rescued?
What has changed and why should we be saved from nightmares?
We're asking why this happens
To us who have died to live?
It's unfair.

[Chorus:]
This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held.

This hand is bitterness.
We want to taste it, let the hatred know our sorrow.
The wise hands opens slowly to lilies of the valley and tomorrow.

[Chorus:]
This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held.

[Bridge:]
If hope is born of suffering.
If this is only the beginning.
Can we not wait for one hour watching for our Savior?

[Chorus:]
This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held.

August...August and everything after

2005-08-01T22:45:00.000-05:00

Its the name of a great album...a great album by a good band. Its the name of the album because the writers birthday is in August.

Mine isn't...but thats still a good title.

August is here. I have had a new revalation...I should write. DUH!! How many times do I need to hear that, from friends, family, thoughts rollin' around in my head....hey jot that down...I should write about this or that.

okay
OKay
O-KAY!

How do I start it...what do I say...what do I write about? My life?

"Huh? I am not a bum. I'm a jerk. I once had wealth, power, and the love of a beautiful woman. Now I only have two things: my friends and... uh... my thermos. Huh? My story? Okay. It was never easy for me. I was born a poor black child. I remember the days, sittin' on the porch with my family, singin' and dancin' down in Mississippi."

Ok, not me...lets start over...

well, i guess you'll have to read the book. pray for me that I have direction, words, time, and good grammer...grammar? see I need help!

Again this is on my mind...it seems to be a theme these days.

Casting Crowns The Voice of Truth

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat
I'm in On to the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out His hand

But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again, "Boy, You'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"

But the Voice of Truth tells me a different story
The Voice of Truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
And the Voice of Truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand

But the giant's calling out my name and he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again, "Boy, You'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"

But the Voice of Truth tells me a different story
The Voice of Truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
And the Voice of Truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth

But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves aren't looking so high
From on top of them lookin' down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus Singing over me

3rd Day Show Me Your Glory

I caught a glimpse of Your splendor
In the corner of my eye
The most beautiful thing
I've ever seen
And it was like a flash of lightning
Reflected off the sky
And I know I'll never be the same

Show me Your glory
Send down your presence
I want to see your face
Show me Your glory
Majesty shines about You
I can't go on without You, Lord

When I climb down the mountain
And get back to my life
I won't settle for ordinary things
I'm gonna follow You forever
And for all of my days
I won't rest 'til I see You again

Show me Your glory
Show me Your glory
I can't live without You

GREAT QUOTE:

God doesn't consult your past when determining your future!

oooh adding pix is easy!

2005-07-26T10:52:00.000-05:00

This is me with my VBS kiddos!! We had a great time!!

I"ll have to get back to this...but

2005-07-26T10:14:00.000-05:00

We are doing a study of Esther in our small group and wow...the story is awesome. Some days I think, I know this story forwards and backwards and it bores me.

But in studying it yesterday I saw it in another way.

The first way that I have always looked at it as us...according to Hebrews 4:15-16

15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

She put on her royal robes and paces (probably with panic in her heart) the hallway of the throne room, to be noticed by the King. From Esther 5

When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

3 Then the king asked, "What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you."

I have seen this passage at us...approaching the throne of grace with confidence....

Today I saw it as God standing in the doorway of our heart...our throne room....control room.

Will we say "I am pleased with You" and hold out our control so that The Lord can approach.....Will we really listen to His Request. Will we even offer him half our kingdom?

Whats in the heart defines....the Measure of a Man....

Songs on my mind today.....

Measure of a Man - 4Him

This world can analyze and size you up
And throw you on the scales
They can IQ you and run you thorugh
Their rigorous details
They can do their best to rate
And they'll place you on their charts
And then back it up with scientific smarts
But there's more to what you're worth
Than what their human eyes can see

CHORUS:
Oh I say the measure of a man
Is not how tall you stand
How wealthy or intelligent you are
'Cause I found out the measure of a man
God knows and understand
For He looks inside to the bottom of your heart
And what's in the heart defines
The measure of a man

Well you can doubt your worth
And search for who you are and where you stand
But God made you in His image
When He formed you in His hands
And He looks at you with mercy
And He sees you through His love
You're His child and that will always be enough
For there's more to what your worth
Than you could ever comprehend

BRIDGE:
You can spend your life persuing physical perfection
But there's so much more than ever meets the eye
For God looks through the surface
And he defines your worth by what is on the inside

BRAVE:

Brave(Nichole Nordeman, Jay Joyce)For Charlie, who rearranged my fearful heart.

The gate is wide
The road is paved in moderation
The crowd is kind and quick to pull you in
Welcome to the middle ground
You’re safe and sound and
Until now, it’s where I’ve been
‘Cause it’s been fear that ties me down to everything
But it’s been love, your love, that cuts the strings

So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave

I am small
And I speak when I’m spoken to
But I am willing to risk it all
I say your name
Just your name and I’m ready to jump
Even ready to fall…
Why did I take this vow of compromise
?Why did I try to keep it all inside?

I’ve never known a fire that didn’t begin with a flame
Every storm will start with just a drop of rain
But if you believe in me, that changes everything

©2005 Birdwing Music / Birdboy Songs (ASCAP)

And because I love Nichole...and I swear she rights my thoughts...
Were we seperated at birth??

Started rubbing sticks together
I thought a spark would take forever
I never dreamt this fire would appear

When Moses saw the Bush in flames
And heard the branches speak his name
I wonder if he felt this kind of fear

CHORUS:

'Cause I'm burnin'
Yeah, I'm burnin'
And I know I'm gonna blister in these flames
So I'll stay here 'Till this smoke clears
And I'll find you in the ashes that remain

Used to be that I could say
My faith was one arm's length away
From any flame that ever felt too warm

Asked for matches, but I recieved
A gallon full of gasoline
Now my cozy campfire days are gone

'Knock with caution at the door'
They said, 'Beware of what you're praying for'
So I'll stand here with my whole desire
In the middle of this forest fire
'Till I've nothing left to show
And new life begins to grow...

song on my mind today

2005-07-18T09:16:00.000-05:00

WHY Bethany Dillon

This house s echoing
With the sound of You knocking at the door
But with three locks
And the shades down
You are easy to ignore
I put You on like an old pair of shoes
I’ve put You off, but now I need You

Why, this love that never leaves me
Why are You holding me tonight
Can’t deny this love that is given me
Why, this love will never leave

You’re a good strategy when I need one
An angle when there is none
Like a doormat
That always says welcome
No matter how much dirt I rub on
But when I am tired and run through
Look over this hill, I’m running to You

Another from SHANE AND SHANE!

yearn by shane barnard

holy design
this place in time
that i might seek and find my God
my God

Lord i want to yearn for You
i want to burn with passion
over You and only You
Lord i want to yearn

Your joy is mine
yet why am i fine
with all my singing and bringing grain
in light of Him
oh You give life and breath
through Him You give all things
in Him we live and move
that's why i sing

Assurance of Salvation?

2005-07-17T18:12:00.000-05:00

Todays lesson was great and our teacher always has a personal story to tell. I really appreciate what he said today. I did some more research and I asked a few questions here and there.

Here is what a few people came up with in response to my question.

Lurk:

The short answer is that there is no support in the Scriptures for such a view. Possibly the best way to deal with this is to ask where and what verses the notion came from. A correct explanation of a Scripture passage clarifies such a problem.

The fruit of the Spirit is the result of a believer living under the filling of the Holy Spirit and growing to maturity through the intake of the Word of God--spiritual growth. Lack of spiritual growth and/or lack of manifesting the fruit of the Spirit does not in any way imply loss of salvation. The Bible teaches once saved, always saved. The believer out of fellowship is barren, does not produce fruit, and is under divine discipline, especially if the status is prolonged; but he does not lose his salvation.

Menwhile, here are some points to consider regarding eternal security:

Eternal Security Approaches
1.Positional Approach: Romans 8:1; Ephesians 1:3-6; Jude 1. Every believer is in union with Christ—Romans 8:38, 39.

2.Logical Approach: Romans 5:9, 10, 15, 17, 20 with 8:32. God did the “most” for us when we were His enemies and will do “much more” for us as His sons. Romans 8:38, 39.

3.The Hand Approach: John 10:28; Psalm 37:23-24. The believer is held by God’s hand, and He will never let go.

4.Experiential Approach: 2 Timothy 2:12-13. Though a believer may say he no longer believes, God remains faithful, because He is immutable. The Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit indwells the believer and He cannot deny Himself.a)2 Tim. 2:12 speaks of rewards. “Deny us” (believers) rewards. When a believer denies Christ, he is out of fellowship and therefore not producing.b)2 Tim. 2:13, “believe not”—stops believing. A believer denouncing Jesus Christ, yet He keeps on abiding faithful—He cannot deny the unconditional quality of our salvation.

5.Family Approach: Galatians 3:26; John 1:12. We are born into God’s family, we cannot be unborn.

6.Inheritance Approach: 1 Peter 1:4,5, based on Omnipotence. Heirs of God.

7.Body Approach: 1 Corinthians 12:13, 21. Christ, the head of the body can never say to any member of the body (a believer) that He does not need him.

8.The Sovereignty of God Approach: 2 Peter 3:9; Jude 24.

9.Greek Tense Approach:
b)Aorist tense: (once and for all) Acts 16:31.c)Perfect tense: (saved in the past with the result that you keep on being saved forever). Ephesians 2:8,9; Colossians 2:6; Romans 8:1.

10.Sealing ministry of the Holy Spirit Approach: Guarantee for protection and safe delivery at destination (heaven). 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30; 2 Timothy 2:19.

11.Title Deed Approach: Jude 24, 25; 1 Peter 1:5—God will keep any promise made.

12.God’s Essence Approach: God never goes back on His character. Romans 8:35, (love); 8:38, 39; 14:4.

13.Marriage Approach: Revelation 19:1-10 (Eternal Relationship).

14.God’s Faithfulness Approach: 2 Timothy 2:11-13; 1 Corinthians 3:4, 5; Revelation 19:11.

15.Jesus Christ’s Work on the Cross Approach: Hebrews 10:14. Denying eternal security is to deny the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ and reduces the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to the level of offering bulls and goats. The sacrifice of Christ abides: John 5:24; Hebrews 10:14.

16.Fact of New Creation Approach: Colossians 2:10 “… ye are complete in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:6.

17.Assignment Approach: Assigned eternal life, Acts 13:48 (Greek).

18.How a Believer is Described Approach: Colossians 3:12; elect, holy, beloved.

19.The Verse Approach: Passage upon passage, verse upon verse screams eternal security. Proverbs 24:12, 14; 1 Corinthians 3:11; Psalm 37:24, 28; Colossians 2:6; John 5:14-16, 36; Romans 14:4; Colossians 2:13; John 5:24.

20.The Father Undertakes fore the Believer Approach:
b)The Unconditional Covenants: Abrahamic, Palestinian, Davidic & New.c)Infinite power of the Father to set free, save, keep: John 10:29; Romans 4:21, 8:31, 38, 39; 14:4; Ephesians 1:19-21; 3:20; Phil. 3:21; 2 Tim. 1:12; Heb. 7:25; Jude 24.d)Infinite love of God: Romans 5:7-10; Ephesians 1:4.e)Influence on the Father of the prayer of the Son of God—John 17:19-20.

21.The Holy Spirit undertakes for the Believer Approach: a)Regeneration: Entrance into that which cannot be removed. John 3:4-6; 1 Peter 1:23; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 3:9.b)Indwelling: Holy Spirit is given, Romans 8:15; 1 Corinthans 2:12; 6:19; 1 John 2:27.c)Baptism: Spirit, not water, by which the believer is joined to Christ as to stay eternally in new creation. 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27.d)Sealing. Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30.

22.God the Father Cares Approach: John 3:16

23.God the Son Cares Approach: John 10, 11, 15, 17.

24.God the Holy Spirit Cares Approach: John 14:17, 18, 26; John 16:7-14.

25.Unbeliever’s Care Approach: Luke 16:26-31. Even the man in hell had a care for his unbelieving brothers.

26.Angel’s Care Approach. Luke 15:7, 10.

Also here are a few links for you, from Lynn.

http://deanbible.org/Media/Doctrines/A-G/Eternal%20Security.pdf

Lots more great info, including books and recordings at no charge, can be found at:
http://www.graceatlanta.org http://www.berachah.org/http://www.deanbible.org

Evolution

2005-07-12T09:44:00.000-05:00

Anyone who knows me, knows my passion about the things God is revealing to the world! Biblical artifacts being found and cataloged. The truth will be known!!!

However, articles like the one below remind me again of II Timothy 3:7 "always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. "

"Missing Link" Still Missing

Imaginations certainly took flight over Archaeoraptor Liaoningensis, a birdlike fossil with a meat-eater’s tail that was spirited out of northeastern China, ‘discovered’ at a Tucson, Arizona, gem and mineral show last year, and displayed at the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C. Some 110,000 visitors saw the exhibit, which closed January 17; millions more read about the find in November’s National Geographic. Now, paleontologists are eating crow. Instead of ‘a true missing link’ connecting dinosaurs to birds, the specimen appears to be a composite, its unusual appendage likely tacked on by a Chinese farmer, not evolution.

"Archaeoraptor is hardly the first ‘missing link’ to snap under scrutiny. In 1912, fossil remains of an ancient hominid were found in England’s Piltdown quarries and quickly dubbed man’s apelike ancestor. It took decades to reveal the hoax." U.S. News & World Report, February 14, 2000

"Darwin admitted that millions of ‘missing links,’ transitional life forms, would have to be discovered in the fossil record to prove the accuracy of his theory that all species had gradually evolved by chance mutation into new species. Unfortunately for his theory, despite hundreds of millions spent on searching for fossils worldwide for more than a century, the scientists have failed to locate a single missing link out of the millions that must exist if their theory of evolution is to be vindicated." Grant R. Jeffery, The Signature of God

"There are gaps in the fossil graveyard, places where there should be intermediate forms, but where there is nothing whatsoever instead. No paleontologist . . . denies that this is so. It is simply a fact. Darwin’s theory and the fossil record are in conflict." David Berlinsky

"Scientists concede that their most cherished theories are based on embarrassingly few fossil fragments and that huge gaps exist in the fossil record." Time magazine, Nov. 7, 1977

"The evolutionists seem to know everything about the missing link except the fact that it is missing." G. K. Chesterton

July 12 - Its been awhile

2005-07-12T08:40:00.000-05:00

We are back from an awesome vacation! I have been reading but not putting my thoughts on here...

I had an interesting conversation while on vacation about Leviticus 18. I'll get to that in a minute; Today I read some things about Reputation and Walking in Truth today. And again falling before the Lord asking Him to Bind Mercy and Truth around my heart and write them on the tablets of my heart. Most of all the scripture used today was II Timothy 3:7

1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. (are we living in these times or what??)

6They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. 8Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth—men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

What intrigued me about this passage was verse 7. Always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.

I met a person like this. Wanting to argue the word...knowing The Word but not acknowledging it at truth. Quoting the bible and taking it out of context. Testing your faith. These people....they know the truth. They are scared of the change they will be required to make in thier lives. Worried a what their peers will say. Thinking they have to "clean their act up" before they run to the Father. The only thing you can do for them is pray. They want to have a battle of wits, always learning more but never acknowledging the truth.

Like the conversation I had about Leviticus. This particular chapter is about sexual laws. The question was why do people use Leviticus 18:22 against homosexuals.

I confess I didn't know it off the top of my head, but he did.

Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.

Lets look at what that means. A disgusting thing in a ritual sense, as in unclean food, idols, mixed marriages. An act to be abhorred to be detested.

Personally I don't see the issue and that is what I told him. Here is another example of God loving the sinner and hating the sin. I think is verse is a perfect example of Gods love. We love our children and we have rules, boundaries for them. God loves us and had rules for us. He sees things we do not see.

No matter your condition, God wants us to come to him, there is no need to "clean up your act", come to him as you are.

June 28 Thoughts

2005-06-28T07:44:00.000-05:00

Its been a few days since I have written....I've been busy lately. Not enough time to get my thoughts written down.

Today I'll go over a few scripture, I'm not sure I have time to do the past 5 days. I'll just start with Psalm 24, Psalm 23 gets alot of attention, I was glad to see Third Day wrote a song about Psalm 24. :)

Who is this King of Glory
That pursues me with his love
And haunts me with each hearing
Of His softly spoken words
My conscience, a reminder
Of forgiveness that I need
Who is this King of Glory
Who offers it to me

Who is this King of Angels,
Oh blessed Prince of Peace
Revealing things of Heaven
And all its mysteries
My spirit’s ever longing
For His grace in which to stand
Who’s this King of Glory,
Son of God and son of man

His name is Jesus
Precious Jesus
The Lord Almighty
The King of my heart
The King of glory

Who is this King of Glory
With strength and majesty
And wisdom beyond measure
The gracious King of kings
The Lord of Earth and Heaven
The Creator of all things
He is the King of Glory
He’s everything to me

Every time I read Psalm 24, I hear that song in my head. Third Day ROCKS!

Psalm 25, I don't have much to say about it...but it is full of awesome things, I could go on and on about it but I want to talk about Psalm 26. However the kiddo will be up soon and I need to tend to the things of this day. But I will be back!

I'm all over Shane & Shane lately

2005-06-23T10:23:00.000-05:00

What awesome music, such anointed guys, I wish I had half the writing talent!! (not to say I have any writing ability...I just wish I did)

http://www.shaneandshane.com/

Their album Carry Away is great. you can check it out here, there are a few links to listen to samples of thier music.

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product/?item_no=CD12642&p=1006648#curr

Ways to Reduce Stress

2005-06-23T10:00:00.000-05:00

This is cool, it was sent to me from Dana.

"Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."

1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus."
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most.
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36 Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)

June 23 Thoughts

2005-06-23T07:14:00.000-05:00

Today I find myself in reflection of Psalm 23, its June 23rd, the Psalm of the day is that of a shepherd and his sheep.

I got up early today, I wanted time to really study this passage and not dismiss it as a childs memory verse. I heard a great sermon and illistration about Shepherding several years ago. I hope I can find some things today that do it justice.

Shelly's Thoughts

I love this passage. Sheep aren't that bright, they just go where the grass is, but they will eat away at a pasture until nothing is left, they don't have the sense to find new pastures...walk over here...they easily fall, off the mountion, they have no sense of diretion...hehe, my husband will tell you that about me. Sheep have no defense mechanism, they are helpless. They injure one another, they get wounded in the pasture, basically, they can't take care of themselves. They need a Shepherd. I fondly refer to humans as Sheople. We aren't much different than sheep.

Internet Info:

Here is a great commentary on this passage from Matthew Henry:

Many of David’s psalms are full of complaints, but this is full of comforts, and the expressions of delight in God’s great goodness and dependence upon him. It is a psalm which has been sung by good Christians, and will be while the world stands, with a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction.

I. The psalmist here claims relation to God, as his shepherd (v. 1).
II. He recounts his experience of the kind things God had done for him as his shepherd (v. 2, 3, 5).
III. Hence he infers that he should want no good (v. 1), that he needed to fear no evil (v. 4), that God would never leave or forsake him in a way of mercy; and therefore he resolves never to leave nor forsake God in a way of duty (v. 6).

In this he had certainly an eye, not only to the blessings of God’s providence, which made his outward condition prosperous, but to the communications of God’s grace, received by a lively faith, and returned in a warm devotion, which filled his soul with joy unspeakable. And, as in the foregoing psalm he represented Christ dying for his sheep, so here he represents Christians receiving the benefit of all the care and tenderness of that great and good shepherd.

Here is a tip about sheep and how insects harm them and how the shepherd cares for them with oil. In Ancient Israel, shepherds used oil for three purposes; to repel insects, to prevent conflicts, and to heal wounds. Bugs bug people, but they can kill sheep. Flies, mosquitos and gnats can be tortuous for livestock. For this reason, the shepherd annoints the sheep. He covers their head with an oil-like repellent, and the fragrance keeps the insects at bay and the flocks at peace.

Shepherding Tips, in case you were looking into a new profession, some notes from the pastor of Bethan Church in CT:

Sheep will trust and stay close to a shepherd who displays confidence and quietness but they will stay hundreds of yards away from one who appears anxious or insecure. They are pretty stupid creatures and have instead an innate ability to find a good shepherd. They have it because their life depends upon it. Cougars and coyotes will track sheep for days, returning to kill each day if not stopped. Foxes will attack a newborn lamb. Crows will pluck out sheep eyes. And even the ordinary can be dangerous.

Sheep can't tell the difference between poisonous and non-poisonous plants, or between good and impure water, and need the shepherd to lead them to safe pastures and pure water. Left to their own devices they eat and drink all the wrong things and get sick or die. Oh yes, and being creatures of habit, they would graze the same hills and pollute the same ground without moving on even after only dust and rock remained. They need a shepherd who can manage and continually guide them to the places that are right for them.

**Valleys are always a challenge for a shepherd because getting down the hills to them causes great fear in the sheep. So much so that mountain trailing is always a time of silence and even the dogs are trained to respect that. Any yelling, talking, or even signing can cause the sheep to panic, and they will easily fall off the narrow trails to their death. It would be nice if the valley never had to be traipsed, but in David's country, the area is mountainous and to get to new feeding grounds, the shepherd must lead the sheep down one mountain wall and across the narrow ravine or valley of danger, and back up the mountain wall on the other side in order to bring the flock to a new piece of the high country with its good grasses.

Discontented sheep can be a real problem too, because when one goes, the rest are likely to stampede right behind her. So a bell is often hung around the neck of the discontented. A single clang of the clapper at night means she is beginning to wander, and a rapid ring means she is running, sometimes from danger, but usually just because she is discontented and ready to go. The shepherd wants to get to her the minute he hears that bell start to tinkle so out goes the crook on his staff, to catch her by the leg and redirect her path before things begin to happen.

Then there is the problem with cast sheep. Often if a sheep is heavy with lamb or wool it will lie down on uneven ground and then roll over on its back into a shallow recess. When it does it is like a beetle, unable to roll back. On its back, the gasses will gather, the limbs, stuck out straight in the air, will stiffen, and it will die. And it is very seldom that the stupid sheep has sense enough to bleet for help. The shepherd has to notice the sheep is missing form the flock, find it, message its legs, and turn it upright, and use his rod to guide it back to the flock. And he has to pour oil on her head and nose, first as an insecticide and second as a calming, for with this treatment the hated blow flies go away.

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want [be without, be lacking].

2 He makes me lie down[to stretch ones self out] in green pastures, [this does not mean food...this means a place of rest, a habitation] he leads me beside quiet/still waters, [not rushing, the sheep would be swept away, still here means "a state or condition of rest"]

3 He restores [to bring back, to repair, to refresh, to turn back] my soul [we tend to think of this as oh this place deep down somewhere...in this case it means alot more than just some untouched place...self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion, that which is breathing]

He guides [alot of times when we ask for Guidance, we mean we want a Guide...this is it, here, the literal meaning...GUIDE, to lead, to bring to. As in when God led the Moses and his people out of Egypt, with a pillar of fire, this term is used a total of 39 times, all in the old testement] me in paths [to provide a trench, especially for the purpose of fortifying] of righteousness for his name's [reputation, fame, glory] sake.

4 **Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff [support of every kind], they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table [a kings table, private use] before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint [to be fat, grow fat, become prosperous] my head [literally head, but i liked this part, the beginning, the total, the sum] with oil;*see the section about oil and protection above
my cup [to hold together] overflows/runneth over. [when i hear things I think of a little teacup with liquid runnning out and all over the saucer and onto the table and onto the floor, as a mom I think if a mess that will need to be cleaned up...but the literal meaning of "runneth over" is SATURATION]

6 Surely goodness [to be good, be pleasing, be joyful, be beneficial, be favorable, be happy, be right] and love/mercy [goodness, which we just covered, kindness and faithfulness] will follow [not like a lost puppy, but AIMS TO SECURE] me all the days [how many days? A L L] of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Shellys Notes:

The Lord is the one who keeps me close, provides for me, protects me, I am not lacking in any way,
He makes me to stretch out and rest
He brings me back to life!
He Guides me, he brings me to fortification, all for His Glory;
He's with me, silently leading me to the next place of rest, there is not reason to fear that my needs will not be met on the journey or when I arrive, i will be cared for in every way.
I can approach the throne of grace with confidence that I will be protected, prospered and healed;
I am held together and saturated with goodness, kindness and faithfulness, all of my days!

Back In His Arms

2005-06-22T13:23:00.000-05:00

LOVE THIS SONG by Mark Schultz

I see it in your eyes
The pain you keep inside
It's slowly tearing you apart
Though you've run away
Reminded day by day
You've stumbled and you've fallen
Still He's calling

I believe that He loves you where you are
I believe that you've seen the hands of God
I believe that you'll know it when
You're back in His arms again
I believe that He never let you go
I believe that He's wanting you to know
I believe that He'll lead you 'til you're back in His arms again

Glad I found you here
'Cause in between the tears
Something in your eyes shows hope
And I stand before you now
As one that knows about
Coming to Him open and broken

And I know that He's callin'
He's callin' you Home
One life, one love, one way Home
And when you rise and when you fall
He will see you through it all
He is waiting, you are called, back in His arms again.

June 22 Thoughts

2005-06-22T09:22:00.000-05:00

Today I got up with Brave, in my head....right as the power shuts off, what IS it with this town and its inability to keep the power on! Anyway, so no lights...no bible study.

Here is Brave:
Brave(Nichole Nordeman, Jay Joyce)For Charlie, who rearranged my fearful heart.

The gate is wide The road is paved in moderation The crowd is kind and quick to pull you in Welcome to the middle ground You’re safe and sound and Until now, it’s where I’ve been‘Cause it’s been fear that ties me down to everything But it’s been love, your love, that cuts the strings So long status quo I think I just let go You make me want to be brave The way it always was Is no longer good enough You make me want to be brave Brave, brave
I am small And I speak when I’m spoken to But I am willing to risk it all I say your name Just your name and I’m ready to jump Even ready to fall…Why did I take this vow of compromise? Why did I try to keep it all inside? I’ve never known a fire that didn’t begin with a flame Every storm will start with just a drop of rain But if you believe in me, that changes everything

But yesterday I finished Ezra....I told you I would read Ezra and get back to you...
Well, I think the only way we can be Better Than Ezra is to be Christ.

Ezra comes on the scene in Chapter 7...the first 6 chapters are God working things out...Wow..the first thing I notice is The Lord stirs the heart of the king to allow the jews to re-build the temple...its cool...the Lord says it will happen, thru Jeremiah, then the Lord causes it to happen.

They have a plan, they assemble, they delegate, they sacrifice and praise, they start working...then of course while they are busy doing Gods work, opposition happens, jealousy, the people of the land come against them, so much so that they are forced to stop rebuilding...but the foundation was laid.

See how things happen in layers...God is preparing their hearts for what is to come, and God is raising up another King who will hear His Heart.

This King not only allows them to rebuild the temple, but tells the "nay-sayers" to assist monetarily with any need the Jews may have during this time. Ezra 6:6-12

6 Now then, Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and you, their fellow officials of that province, stay away from there. 7 Do not interfere with the work on this temple of God. Let the governor of the Jews and the Jewish elders rebuild this house of God on its site.
8 Moreover, I hereby decree what you are to do for these elders of the Jews in the construction of this house of God: The expenses of these men are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury, from the revenues of Trans-Euphrates, so that the work will not stop. 9 Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, male lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine and oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem—must be given them daily without fail, 10 so that they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven and pray for the well-being of the king and his sons.
11 Furthermore, I decree that if anyone changes this edict, a beam is to be pulled from his house and he is to be lifted up and impaled on it. And for this crime his house is to be made a pile of rubble. 12 May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy this temple in Jerusalem. I Darius have decreed it. Let it be carried out with diligence.

How awesome, Look at how God works this out. Much to the dismay of the Hebrews enemies.

They finish the temple, they dedicate it with sacrifices of praise and sin sacrifices for Israel, they celebrate Passover.

Enter Ezra:

Ezra is 14 generations removed from Aaron. the scripture makes a point to say it is "this ezra who comes up from babylon."

I"ll finish this up later....kiddo needs sustanance. :)

I Can Do All Things

2005-06-20T16:30:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Deborah Ratliff for sending this to me, if you like pass it on!

Phillippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.

The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called Failure, a loop called Confusion, speed bumps called Friends, red lights called Enemies, caution lights called Family. You will have flats called Jobs. But, if you have a spare called Determination, an engine calledPerseverance, insurance called Faith, a driver called Jesus, you will make it to a place called Success.

June 20th Thoughts

2005-06-20T13:54:00.000-05:00

Yesterday in our Sunday School class we had a brief discussion regarding Creation vs. Evolution. It made me look back into this topic and I found a few new things.

Here are some websites that might interest you.

http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v20/i3/big_bang.asp

Stars could not have come from the ‘big bang’

Evolutionists generally believe that stars formed by the collapse of gas clouds under gravity. This is supposed to generate the millions of degrees required for nuclear fusion.

But most clouds would be so hot that outward pressure would prevent collapse. Evolutionists must find a way for the cloud to cool down. One such mechanism might be through molecules in the cloud colliding and radiating enough of the heat away.

But according to theory, the ‘big bang’ made mainly hydrogen, with a little heliumæ„æthe other elements supposedly formed inside stars. Helium can't form molecules at all, so the only molecule that could be formed would be molecular hydrogen (H2). Even this is easily destroyed by ultraviolet light, and usually needs dust grains to formæ„æand dust grains require heavier elements. So the only coolant left is atomic hydrogen, and this would leave gas clouds over a hundred times too hot to collapse.

Abraham Loeb of Harvard’s Center for Astrophysics says: ‘The truth is that we don't understand star formation at a fundamental level.’1 Reference Marcus Chown, ‘Let there be light’, New Scientist 157(2120):26-30, 7 February 1998.

Here are a few more:

http://www.answersingenesis.org/tj/v7/i1/moondust.asp

http://detailshere.com/

http://www.creationmoments.com/

http://www.harrypottermagic.org/Evolution%20of%20Creationist/Chapter%2007.htm

June 17th thoughts

2005-06-17T07:34:00.000-05:00

Today I wake up with "be near" in my mind. I sit here reading my email and this comes on....I love this song and sometimes I feel this way...the thing is, we tend to believe in a God that punishes us when we are bad and blesses us when we are good. This is not the truth about God...sure with obedience comes blessing, but there is not an angry bitter old man sitting on the throne.

Thing today about your "vision" of God....do you see him running to you...smile on his face...arms open wide?? If not, find out why you don't feel that way about God. He's not looking to strike you down, he wants to embrace you.

Ok I went off on that but here is what was on the radio.

Never Alone by Barrlow Girl

I waited for you today But you didn't show No no. I needed you today So where did you go? You told me to call Said you'd be there And though I haven't seen you Are you still there? Chorus I cried out with no reply And I can't feel you by my side So I'll hold tight to what I know You're here and I'm never alone And though I cannot see you And I can't explain why Such a deep reassurance You've placed in my life. We cannot separate 'Cause you're part of me. And though you're invisible I'll trust the unseen.

and then this came on...really cool and kinda goes with the "theme" of this week...walking blameless and righteous.

You think I'd have it down by now Been practicin' for thirty years I should have walked a thousand miles So what am I still doin' here yeah Reachin' out for that same old piece of forbidden fruit I slip and fall and I knock my halo loose Somebody tell me what's a boy supposed to do? CHORUS: I get so clumsy I get so foolish I get so stupid And then I feel so useless But You're sayin' You love me And You're still gonna hold me And that You wanna be near me 'Cause You're makin' me holy You're still makin' me holy, yeah I'm gonna get it right this time I'll be strong and I'll make You proud I've prayed that prayer a thousand times But the rooster crows and my tears roll down again Then You remind me You made me from the dust And I can never, no never, be good enough And that You're not gonna let that come between us From where I stand Your holiness is up so high I could never reach it My only hope is to fall on Jesus

June 16th thoughts

2005-06-16T09:16:00.000-05:00

I'll have to come back to this today b.c the baby just got up...I made this site to journal about my bible study time, over the years I have emailed my thoughts to a few people. I have saved some of them. A friend of mine also used to send me this great devotional called "Morning Tea" some of my bible studys, where I get out the Lexicon and study the passages word for word, come out of those devotionals. And I have shared my thoughts or the nugget I got out of it that day with my friend.

I have a book I read from called "face to face" you read thru it in three months and then rinse lather and repeat, sometimes I get something new out of that. Also I get alot out of www.prayers.org. There is daily prayer and scripture. I don't read it daily...its just another tool I use.

I never know who wants these notes and who does not, so as not to bombard you with my notes and thoughts, I made this site so I would have a place to journal and you would have a place to read.

Today two great worships songs came on....I'll share them with you.

be near by shane barnard
You are allbig and smallbeautifuland wonderfulto trust in grace through faithbut i'm asking to taste...for dark is light to Youdepths are height to Youfar is nearbut Lord, i need to hear from Yoube near, oh Godbe near, oh God of usYour nearness is to us our goodbe near, oh Godbe near, oh God of usYour nearness is to us our good, our goodYour fullness is minerevelation divinebut, o, to tasteto know much more than a pageto feel Your embrace...for dark is light to Youthe depths are height to Youfar is near, but Lordi need to hear from Yoube near, oh Godbe near, oh God of usYour nearness is to us our goodbe near, oh Godbe near, oh God of usYour nearness is to us our good, our good(psalms 73:28; 139)

Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns
Oh what I would do to have The kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I'm in On to the crashing waves To step out of my comfort zone Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is And He's holding out His hand But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed The waves they keep on telling me Time and time again, "Boy, You'll never win!" "You'll never win!" But the Voice of Truth tells me a different story The Voice of Truth says, "Do not be afraid!" And the Voice of Truth says, "This is for My glory" Out of all the voices calling out to me I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth Oh what I would do to have The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant With just a sling and a stone Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors Shaking in their armor Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand But the giant's calling out my name and he laughs at me Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed The giant keeps on telling me Time and time again, "Boy, You'll never win!" "You'll never win!" But the Voice of Truth tells me a different story The Voice of Truth says, "Do not be afraid!" And the Voice of Truth says, "This is for My glory" Out of all the voices calling out to me I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth

But the stone was just the right size To put the giant on the ground.
And the waves aren't looking so high From on top of them lookin' down
I will soar with the wings of eagles When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus Singing over me
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth

STAY AWAY FROM THE COMMITTEE!

2005-06-16T09:14:00.000-05:00

FROM MORNING TEA

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

Look out for 'The Committee'! Who are they? The joy-stealers, the enthusiasm-robbers, the vision-killers! They're the folks who've lost their enthusiasm for life, and yours is a source of real irritation to them.

Are you thinking of quitting? You believed you could make a difference until you met 'The Committee'? Then you decided it was easier to adjust your expectations to their opinion and just keep smiling. Don't do it; God has too much for you to do! The safety zone is for those who are exempt from pain but denied pleasure; protected from failure but securely in the grip of boredom. Get up and get out of there while you still can! Listen: '. . . strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die . . .' (Revelation 3:2). Start reading God's promises; they're powerful motivators. Plug in at church. Pray. Rekindle your desire, for ultimately that's what determines your destiny!

Jesus suffered the loss of His disciples, His earthly ministry, His friends, and even His clothes (John 19:23-24). But they couldn't rob Him of '. . . the joy that was set before Him . . .' (Hebrews 12:2). Even while He was dying, He continued to minister. Then He went down into hell and came back up with the lock and keys; and He's your example! Listen again: '. . . guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.' Your greatest treasure isn't in the bank; it's in your heart! So guard it, especially against 'The Committee', for out of your heart comes the strength to keep on living and giving!

Maintain Your Confidence in God

2005-06-16T09:10:00.000-05:00

FROM MORNING TEA

". . . I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency." Philippians 4:13 (AMP)

Just because we're destined to do something doesn't mean it'll automatically happen. No, in order to succeed at anything, you must maintain your confidence in God! David writes, "'My times are in Thy hand . . .' (Psalm 31:15). WHAT TIMES? Times when you feel like quitting. Times when you wonder, 'Did God really call me to do this?' Times when you ask, 'Will I ever get through this?' Times when God will have to correct you. Times when you'll have to rise above your circumstances and say, 'I am sufficient in Christ's sufficiency!'

Listen: '. . . David encouraged himself in the Lord . . .' (1 Samuel 30:6). Don't wait for others to come along and encourage you. Learn to do it for yourself! David had no one to believe in him, so he believed in himself. If you don't believe in yourself, you don't believe in God, for God can do through you only what you believe Him to do.

'I wish I had your confidence,' you say. No, confidence is something you decide to have. You learn about God - about His love, His ways, His power - then you decide to believe Him. When you do, you've got confidence; it's that simple.

So, be confident about your ability in Christ. Believe you hear from God and that He's leading you. Expect people to like you and you'll discover that more of them do. Be bold in the Lord. See yourself as a winner because of Him. Rise up today and declare, '. . . I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency' (Philippians 4:13 Amp).

Staying Sane in a Changing World Part 2

2005-06-16T08:48:00.000-05:00

FROM MORNING TEA.

". . . We've been thrown down, but we haven't broken." 2 Corinthians 4:9 (TM)

Shellys notes:

2 Cor 4....that is one of my favorite passages in the bible.

Vs. 1 Seeing we have this ministry, (wow were you looking for a ministry...its been given to you...you HAVE IT, it is already in your possession. The lexicon says...to have and to hold...as wearing...to hold ones self to a thing to lay hold of it, to adhear or cling to....) as we have received mercy, we faint not.

But prior to this in 2 Cor 3 it says:

Vs. 17-18 17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (Where the Spirit of the Lord is, THERE IS FREEDOM!)

Back to Chapter 4:6-9

6For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;

9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

Robert Orben says, 'Sometimes I feel like the whole world's against me, but I know that's not true - some of the smaller countries are neutral!' We all want to live stress-free without having to work at it, but it can't be done. Here are 15 things you can do to make your life better:

(1) take time each day to pray and read God's Word: it'll transform your outlook!
(2) take a holiday. If you look like your passport photo, you probably need one!
(3) cut back on caffeine; what goes up must come down!
(4) eat right - a balanced diet isn't having a biscuit in each hand!
(5) exercise 3-5 times a week for 30 minutes; it's nature's 'magic bullet' for stress
(6) develop better time-management habits;
(7) make room in your life for fun
(8) get eight hours sleep when possible
(9) maintain your sense of humor. 'A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired' (Proverbs 17:22 TM).
(10) start counting your blessings. David said, 'I m overcome with joy because of Your unfailing love . . .' (Psalm 31:7 NLT)
(11) when you talk to yourself, say nice things (Daily Affirmations!!)
(12) simplify your life by eliminating 'clutter.' If you haven't used it for two years, you probably don't need it!! (so true..its time to go thru the closets!)
(13) develop a sense of purpose by setting personal goals
(14) forgive; grudges are too heavy to carry: 'If you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive [you]' (Matthew 6:15 NLT)
(15) read the end of the book - we win!

Staying Sane in a Changing World

2005-06-16T08:43:00.000-05:00

From Morning Tea

"I'm awake all night - not a wink of sleep; I can't even say what's bothering me." Psalm 77:4 (TM)

When you can't sleep - it's time to stop counting sheep and start talking to the Shepherd! Here are some Biblical stress-relievers to live by:

1) Let go of what no longer works. Paul says: '. . . let us strip off every weight that . . . hinders our progress . . (Hebrews 12:1 NLT). The trouble is that we hate giving up what we do well. So, we focus on doing things right and end up failing to do the right things. Then we wonder why we don't succeed. There are limits to what you can carry. Letting go of what doesn't work frees you up to focus on what does.

(2) Don't let change paralyze you. In new situations our first inclination is to slow down, play it safe and buy ourselves some time. Sometimes that's wise but most times we just fall further behind. Being overly cautious makes you freeze, like a deer caught in the headlights. The Bible says that God '. . . gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless' (Isaiah 40:29 NRS). So trust Him and move forward, instead of giving in to the impulse to 'just do nothing.'

(3) Approach the future with confidence. Recent events have everybody on edge, but as a child of God you can say, 'I can lie down and sleep soundly because you, Lord, will keep me safe' (Psalm 4:8 CEV). The truth is, you can't build a decent argument for giving in to fear; the only way to prepare for tomorrow - is by adjusting and living fully today!

What God Says About You.

2005-06-15T22:53:00.000-05:00

I am blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. (Eph. 1:3.)
I am chosen by You, my Father. (Eph. 1:4.)
I am holy and without blame. (Eph. 1:4.)
I am Your child according to the good pleasure of Your will. (Eph. 1:5.)
I am accepted in the Beloved. (Eph. 1:6.)
I am redeemed through the blood of Jesus. (Eph. 1:7.)
I am a person of wisdom and prudence. (Eph. 1:8.)
I am an heir. (Eph. 1:11.)
I have a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ. (Eph. 1:17.)
I am saved by Your grace. (Eph. 2:5.)
I am seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Eph. 2:6.)
I am Your workmanship. (Eph. 2:10.)
I am near to You by the blood of Christ. (Eph. 2:13.)
I am a new creation. (Eph. 2:15.)
I am of Your household. (Eph. 2:19.)
I am a citizen of heaven. (Eph. 2:19.)
I am a partaker of Your promises in Christ. (2 Pet. 1:4.)
I am strengthened with might by Your Spirit. (Eph. 3:16.)
I allow Christ to dwell in my heart by faith. (Eph. 3:17.)
I am rooted and grounded in love. (Eph. 3:17.)
I speak the truth in love. (Eph. 4:15.)
I am renewed in the spirit of my mind. (Eph. 4:23.)
I am Your follower. (Eph. 5:1.)
I walk in love. (Eph. 5:2.)
I am light in You. (Eph. 5:8.)
I walk circumspectly. (Eph. 5:15.)
I am filled with the Spirit. (Eph. 5:18.)
I am more than a conqueror. (Rom. 8:37.)
I am an overcomer. (Rev. 12:11.)
I am Your righteousness in Christ Jesus. (1 Cor. 1:30.)
I am healed. (1 Pet. 2:24.)
I am free. (John 8:36.)
I am salt. (Matt. 5:13.)
I am consecrated. (1 Cor. 6:11 amp.)
I am sanctified. (1 Cor. 6:11.)
I am victorious. (1 John 5:4.)

June 15th Thoughts

2005-06-15T17:31:00.000-05:00

This could get lengthy...I'll try to keep it short. Try, being the operative word.
Its been awhile since I have given you my bible study thoughts (for those of you who were used to recieving them daily at one time) but I feel inspired to share again.

My main bible study is called "Face to Face - Praying the Scriptures for Intimate Worship" it is a three month study so basically I rinse lather and repeat four times during the year. I have had this book for years, but really started studying it a few years ago. Todays "adoration" portion just jumped off the page to me...actually the entire study today. So much so I had to get the Lexicon out. And you know what that means!! Here it goes....

Psalm 105:4

I will seek you Lord [The Existing One}, and Your Strength [fortress, mighty, power, material or physical..personal, social or political]I will seek [seek to find, seek to secure, to desire, to ask, to require of....not aimless, but expecting to be found] Your face [presence...before AND behind, toward, in front of, forward AND formerly, from before time] continually [continually, perpetually, root meaning "to stretch"]

So while I am studying this, I have some worship music on and this is what comes on...Atmosphere by Andy Chrisman ( I don't have all the words...)

You are my sun, you are my life, My hopes, My dreamsEverything is rightYou calm the stormsYou guide my lifeAnd no matter where I choose to goYou are thereYou are nearYou're my Atmosphere! (before me, behind me)

Then I read Psalm 15. (I'll go over the first 2 and the last verse)

1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?
2 He whose walk is blameless or some versions say, walks with integrity [complete, whole, entire...to be finished, to be whole, to have an end] and who does what is righteous, [to be in the right, to have just cause, to be justified] lets us break that down. JUST IF I"D never sinned who speaks the truth from his heart
Wow, is this a heavy burden, Walk is blameless? and righteous? Until I looked at that on the Lexicon, I was feeling very incapable of this tall order. Thankfully I am not complete, whole, finished....I'm a work in progress. Nor am I Righteous, but the true meaning of Righteous is justification....I am JUST IF I"D by the Cross....JUST IF I"D NEVER SINNED!! Romans 5:8-10, Romans 8:29-31 Acknowledged, Acquitted, FREED!
5b He who does these things will never be shaken.[will never be made to totter, shake or slip...will not be overthrown, dislodged, dropped]

Shellys Paraphrase:
This is awesome, if we believe in Christs justification, wholeness, completeness IT IS FINISHED (to set out for a definate point or goal). Gods purpose is wholeness. It is His Point His Goal. To approach the throne of Grace with CONFIDENCE!!! To DWELL in the santuary, presence of God, before and behind...to Stretch Continually for EXPECTANCY, answer...wisdom...blessing. But you have to get your mind in line with what God says about you! How can you expect if you don't believe in JUST IF I"D?

One more thing on this: Yesterday...or the day before, I read this and it really hit home. I Sam. 14:6,106 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, "Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few."Jonathan knew the Lord could save, no matter who or how many were fighting the battle. His only question was whether God would choose to do it through them that day. His faith in God's strength and determination stood solidly. God could (and would) do anything! We tend to believe "oh yes...God can...but don't really believe he WILL for US" This is where you need to get your mind in line with God. What does God say about YOU?

In the times I doubt and search for answer, I have to remember Mark 9:24 "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

Ok I could go on and on about this ..but I will move onto the next thing I read in the Affirmation portion of the study.

Psalm 119:73 73)Your hands made me and fashioned me [an original creation]; give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.

Jeremiah 1:5
5"Before I formed [an original creation] you in the womb I knew [to know by experience] you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations."

Jeremiah 12:3a
3But You know [to know by experience] me, O LORD; You see me; And You examine my heart's attitude toward You.
There are 5-6-7 lessons or more in these alone, and while I would like to go on and on about it..I must go onto the next part of the study....which is Thanksgiving

2 Corinthians 5:21
21He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Ephesians 1:4-6

4just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love 5He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

Back to the beginning....the burden of being Righteouness and Blameless. But God Chose us to be Blameless...WHOLE, COMPLETE, The greek here means, without blemish, faultless, unblameable.

We might become [to come into existance, begin to be, to be made, finished] THE righteousness [approved of, acceptable to God, justified...wait there is that word again].

Shelly's Paraphrase:

Who may dwell in the presence? The before and behind? Those who were chosen, by the existing one, that we would be without fault and become, finished and justified before God and not be shaken, made to totter, slip or fall.

I went onto read in Ephesians....you'd think I had never read it before....lol....but when I turned the page, they were stuck together, so I went from Chapter 1 to Chapter 3, so it read like this. starting at the bottom of the page which is verse 12.

.....in order that we, who were the first hope (I love the way it says this....the First Hope) in Christ, might be for the (chapter 3:9) ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12In him and through faith in him we may approach God (the throne of Grace!) with freedom and confidence. 13I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

A Prayer for the Ephesians
14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (COMPLETE!)

I hope this blesses you today. I promised to take Corby to the park this morning before it gets too hot. So I better get to it!! Cuz I could again go on and on over Ephesians Chapter 1 and 3.

Love you all, Have a Great and Blessed Day!!!!!!!!

~~Shelly

Watch out now....Who Am I...is on the radio! If you made it this far....its worth reading these lyrics!

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth Would care to know my name Would care to feel my hurt Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star Would choose to light the way For my ever wandering heart Not because of who I am But because of what You've done Not because of what I've done But because of who You're Chorus: I am a flower quickly fading Here today and gone tomorrow A wave tossed in the ocean A vapor in the wind Still You hear me when I'm calling Lord, You catch me when I'm falling And You've told me who I am I am Yours, I am Yours Who Am I, that the eyes that see my sin Would look on me with love and watch me rise again Who Am I, that the voice that calmed the sea Would call out through the rain And calm the storm in me I am Yours Whom shall I fear Whom shall I fear 'Cause I am Yours I am Yours

Better Than Ezra

2005-06-15T16:14:00.000-05:00

I love that band...some of you may know it...Better Than Ezra. I often wondered what that meant. I knew Ezra was a person in the bible...and I still need to study that book...but what would it mean to be "better than" Ezra.

They had a song way back in the 90's...Desperatly Wanting. Here is a blip of it...

Take back your life.
Let me inside.
We'll find a door
If you care, if you care to anymore....
I remember running thru the wet grass
Falling a step behind
Both of us never tiring
Desperately Wanting

Ezra 7 10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD , and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel. In my prayer book it says...."like Ezra, I want to set my heart to study Your Word, to obey it and to do it, and to teach it to others."

With that, how can we be "Better Than Ezra"? I dunno, Guess I"ll have to read Ezra and get back to you.

BE YOURSELF!

2005-06-15T16:07:00.000-05:00

From Morning Tea

But they . . . comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." 2 Corinthians 10:12

When you understand that God loves you unconditionally, two things will happen:

First, you'll learn to accept yourself as you are, and second, you'll learn to accept others as they are too. Stop and ask yourself today, "How do I really feel about myself?"

Before you answer, read the following ten things . . . slowly and carefully: better yet, put them somewhere where you can read them daily.

1. Never think or speak negatively about yourself, for that puts you in disagreement with God.

2. Meditate on your strengths; learn to encourage yourself, for most of the time nobody else will.

3. Never compare yourself with anyone else. You are unique, one-of-a-kind, an original. Don't settle for being a copy.

4. Focus on your potential, not your limitations. Remember the "greater One" lives in you!

5. Find something you like to do, and are "gifted" to do well, and do it over and over.

6. Have the courage to be different; be a God-pleaser, not a people-pleaser.

7. Learn to handle criticism; let it develop you instead of discourage you.

8. Determine your own worth-before others do it for you.

9. Keep your flaws in perspective, you're still a work in progress.

10. Focus daily on the one and only source of your confidence-God! Work on your relationship with Him.

Shellys Notes: We are 15 days into the second half of the year....BEGIN NOW to think and speak good things about yourself, knowing that God loves you despite your weaknesses.

Search Warrant

2005-06-15T16:05:00.000-05:00

There is a lesson in this, I just don't have time to write it at the moment...but I will come back to this...

Here is the scripture for the day....its Psalm 139....I call it a Search Warrant.... Cuz its about getting really close to God and understanding that there is no where you can go that He is not there....look at your life, you'll see God's fingerprint. He knows you completely and still loves you.....he loves you as if there were no one else around to love and care for. His hearts desire it to bless you....Let Him Search you today....Open the Shutters of your heart and let His Light fill you! Have a GREAT and BLESSED DAY!!

Psalm 139 For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

1 O LORD , you have searched me and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD .

5 You hem me in-behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, [1] you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

17 How precious to [2] me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
20 They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD , and abhor those who rise up against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Developing a Strong Spirit

2005-06-15T16:00:00.000-05:00

From Morning Tea:

"The strong spirit of a man sustains him in bodily pain or trouble." Proverbs 18:14 AMP

We're each made up of body, soul, and spirit. Our spirit (inner man) is where God comes to dwell. But that doesn't mean we'll automatically have a "strong spirit." No, your spirit is like your body - it must be nourished. Do you want to develop a strong spirit?

First: spend time in God's Word. Why? Because it renews your mind and produces Christ-like qualities in you. Jesus knew the power of Scripture first-hand. He studied it as a boy, hid it in His heart and through it was able to overcome Satan in the wilderness. Your Bible will: (1) feed your soul. "When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my hearts delight" (Jeremiah 15:16 NIV); (2) keep you strong in temptation: "How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word" (Psalm 119:9 NIV); (3) make you sharp: "The entrance of your words gives . . . understanding" (Psalms 119:130 NKJV).

Second: recognize the power of prayer. Listen, "He went up on a mountainside by himself to pray" (Matthew 14:23 NIV). If Jesus needed to spend time in prayer - so do you. John Bunyan said, "You can do more than pray after you've prayed; but you can't do more than pray until you've prayed." Think about that. In prayer you commit it all to God, otherwise who's running things? Just that thought should bring us to our knees. Want to develop a strong spirit? One that will sustain you in bodily pain or trouble? Do these two things!

What Does God Say?

2005-06-15T15:48:00.000-05:00

What do we think?? What does God Say???

Our thinking
It’s impossible
His Promise:
All things are possible (Luke 18:27)

Our Thinking:
I’m too tired
His Promise:
I will give you rest (Matt. 11:28-30)

Our Thinking
Nobody really loves me
His Promis:
I love you (John 3:16)

Our Thinking:
I can’t go on
His Promise:
My grace is sufficient (2Cor. 12:9)

Our Thinking:
I can’t figure things out
His Promise:
I will direct your steps (Prov. 20:24)

Our Thinking:
I can’t do it
His Promise:
You can do all things (Phil. 4:13)

Our Thinking:
I’m not able
His Promise:
I am able (2 Cor. 9:8)

Our Thinking:
It’s not worth it
His Promise:
It will be worth it (Rom. 8:28)

Our Thinking:
I can’t forgive myself
His Promise:
I forgive you (1 John 1:19) (Rom. 8:1)

Our Thinking:
I can’t manage
His Promise:
I will supply all you need (Phil. 4:19)

Our Thinking:
I’m afraid
His Promise
I have not given you a spirit of fear (2 Tim. 1:7)

Our Thinking:
I’m always worried and frustrated
His Promise:
Cast all your care on me (1 Pet. 5:7)

Our Thinking:
I haven’t enough faith
His Promise:
I’ve given everyone a measure of faith. (Rom. 12:8)

Our Thinking:
I’m not smart enough
His Promise:
I give you wisdom. (1 Cor. 1:30)

Our Thinking:
I feel so alone
His Promise:
I will never leave you or forsake you. (Heb.13:5)

Prayer - Being Equipped for Success

2005-06-15T15:47:00.000-05:00

This is from Prayers That Avail Much.

Father, I thank you that the entrace of Your words gives light. I thank you that Your Word which You speak (and which I speak) is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing and effective]. I thank you, Father God, that You have given me a spirit of power and of love and of a calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. I have Your power and ability and sufficiency, for You have qualified me [making me fit and worthy and sufficient] as a minister and dispenser of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ]. In the Name of Jesus, I walk out of the realm of failure and into the arena of sucess, giving thanks to You Father, for You have qualified me and made me fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints. Father; You have delivered me and drawn me to Yourself out of the control and the dominion of darkness (failure, doubt and fear) and ahve transferred me into the kingdom the Kingdom fo the Son of Your love. I praise God, the Father of my Lord Jesus Christ Who has blessed me with every blessing in heaven because I belong to Christ. Your divine power has given me everything I need for life and godliness through my knowledge of Him Who called me by His own glory and goodness. I rejoice in Jesus Who have come that I might have life and have it more abundantly. I am a new creation for I am ingrafted in Christ, the Messiah. The old [preious moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! I forget those things which are behind me and reach forth unto those things which are before me. I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I new life in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me. Father, I attend to Your Word. I consent and submit to Your sayings. Your words shall not depart from my sight; I will keep them in the center of my heart. For they are life, success to me, my heart with all vigilance and above all that I guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. I will not let mercy and kindness and truth forsake me. I bind them about my neck; I write them upon the tablet of my heart. So therefore I will find favor, good understanding and high esteem in the sight and judgement of God and man. Father, my delight and desire are in Your Law; and on it I habitually meditate, ponder and study by day and by night. Therefore I am like a tree firmly planted and tended by the streams of water, ready to bring forth my fruit in my season; my leaf also shall not fade or wither, and everything I do shall prosper and come to maturity. Now, thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ! In Jesus Name I pray....AMEN!!

The Formula!

2005-06-15T15:31:00.000-05:00

From Morning Tea

"Be very careful, then, how you live." Ephesians 5:15 NIV

In Ephesians 5, Paul gives us the formula for happy, fulfilling life.

1. "Walk circumspectly" (v. 15). The word circumspect means "to be disciplined in your thoughts, speech, actions, and motives." Your wandering stage is over. It's time to enter The Promised Land, drive out the enemy, and take what belongs to you.

2. "Redeeming the time" (v. 16). No more wasting your life on worthless diversions. Get serious! Begin each day by praying, "Father, thank you for this day. Some were alive yesterday, who didn't live to see it. I accept it a gift from You, and commit myself to maximizing every moment, for Your glory. In Jesus' name -- Amen."

3. "Understanding what the will of the Lord is" (v. 17). The word "understanding" here means "to make sense of." Often people say to us, "Hey, what's happening?" That's because most of the time they don't know. But we do, for our steps are guarded, guided, and governed by the Lord (Ps. 37:23).

4. "Be filled with the Spirit" (v. 18). You ask, "How?" Listen, "speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs . . . making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Eph. 5:19). You can be Spirit-filled wherever you are. When it's not appropriate to sing, "make melody in your heart! When there's no one around to talk to, "speak to yourself" in psalms! That's the formula for a happy fulfilling life!

SHADOW BELIEFS

2005-06-15T14:13:00.000-05:00

From Morning Tea

"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." Proverbs 23:7

Whenever you are in life today, look at your beliefs; they put you there! Oprah Winfrey says, "When I was growing up in Mississippi, I never believed what people told me about being poor, or black, or female. I believed I was God's child, therefore I could do anythnig. One day, when I was four, I watched my grandmother hanging clothes on a line. She said, 'Pay attention girl, you're going to have to do this some day.' Inside I said, 'No, I won't."

"In kindergarten I told my teacher, 'I don't belong here, because I can read and I know big words like elephant and hippopotamus.' The next day I was promoted to the first grade. What I couldn't articulate then, but knew deep inside, was that I could do better -- and that knowledge has been a constant in my life."

Just as your beliefs can move you forward, so your shadow beliefs can hold you back. You ask, "What are shadow beliefs?" They are the voices in your head that tell you, "You're not able, you're not worthy, or you'll never make it." (shelly's note: I am the expert at negativity...oh I can tell you how Woe I am in a minute...but over the years I have learned to be more positive...see the bright side...focus on what is Good rather than the bad. There's been plenty of bad but you can't let the negative hold you back for years and years...while you are being held back by your negativity, which I call....fear of trusting God to use you for His Purpose....he's using someone else..because YOU remain Stuck and Afraid...exix Shelly...) Oh one more note: Your first thought when you wake up is repeated by your subconscious 600 times per day!!

What are your shadow beliefs?

Today, I challenge you to bring them out into the light and expose them to God's Word.

Don't let them control your present or decide your future. (shellys note: Do NOT define your life by your circumstances!)

Refuse to translate any thought into a word, if it contradicts what God says about you.

You can't speak death over your dreams, and then expect to see them come to life.

"Do not let this Book . . . depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful" (Joshua 1:8 NIV).

CHANGE YOUR THOUGHTS--AND YOU'LL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

Stay In The Game

2005-06-15T14:00:00.000-05:00

From Morning Tea.

"Bring .. . . the books, especially the parchments." 2 Timothy 4:13 NKJV

Sitting on death row, with only days left to live and no hope of a reprieve, Paul writes to Timothy and says:
(1) "Bring my books." He wants to keep taking in!
(2) "And bring my writing paper." He wants to keep giving out! What an attitude!

He doesn't ask for an attorney, because real purpose needs no defense. Time will tell the world what you did. And he doesn't ask for better accommodations, for he's "learned to be content" (Philippians 4:11 NIV).

First, he sends for a book, because he knows that as long as you're alive you must continue to grow, otherwise you're just taking up space. Reading allows you to transcend any situation and explore new worlds. Knowledge keeps your mind sharp and your soul free. Peter says, "Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord" (2 Peter 3:18).

Next, he sends for writing paper, because he wants to keep making a difference. He ignores his circumstances, grabs his pen and continues to be productive. No tears. No gut-wrenching displays of self-pity. "I've still got something else to say, and I want to say it! I'm not done yet!" The art of living, is to keep giving to the end! Even on the cross, with nails piercing His hands and His feet, Jesus continued to minister and He is our example!

So Paul, the old Father of Truth, teaches us the most important lesson of all; never get out of the game, for even in the last few seconds, a touchdown is still possible.

Shelly's Notes:

Today in my quiet time I read in Joshua.....if you have not read the book of Joshua, read at least the first 5-6 chapters. Especially those of us who are really striving for "larger than life" goals. It was a real encouragement to me today.

One of the things in the "devotional" section of my bible in Joshua 1 says this: Often times we ask God for guidance, what we really want is a Guide.

"Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord you God will be with you wherever you go" Joshua 1:9

Humble Pie

2005-06-15T13:53:00.000-05:00

This devotional was posted a while back by a woman I admire. I thought I would share it with you here:

Passage ~ Deuteronomy 8: 1-20

Key Verses ~ vs. 1-3 ~ Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers. Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

A Promise from God ~ The Lord will bring me into a good land and I will lack nothing.

A Command to Keep ~ Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walk in His ways and revere Him.

A Timeless Principle ~ As a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you. Life Application Because the children of Israel were disobedient, a journey that should have only taken 12 days took 40 years! (the COST of disobedience is high! More than 1200X as long!) They did not trust God and therefore they rebelled. But God is faithful, even in our disobedience. God can take our failures and use them to humble, test, and instruct us. Don't depend on your own abilities. The definition of HUMBLE is to be empty of pride and self-sufficiency. Often the ONLY way we become convinced of our inability is for God to REMOVE the resources and supports which we by NATURE depend upon. Sometims He uses failure to do this. Failure can reveal to us the true basic source of life which is God Himself! We must first experience hunger in order to know we need food.

Additional Supporting Scripture

2 Chronicles 7: 13-14 ~ "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

1 Peter 5: 5-7 (my absolute favorite scripture!) ~ All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

This is from a friend of mine

2005-06-15T13:39:00.000-05:00

I found it helpful and I hope you do too....If you suffer from depression, have in the past or know a woman who does...pass this onto her.

Hi Ladies, I wanted to share with you the method of Interactive Breakthrough Prayers. These have helped me shake loose some "stuff" in my life, and I hope this method will be a blessing to you too! This is how it works. Get a notebook, journal, or even a simple piece of paper.

A pen, pencil, whatever works for you. Get your Bible. If you've never experienced Eugene Peterson's The Message Bible, please just go over to a Christian bookstore and take a peek at it! What a wonderful, easy to read, down to earth translation! But any Bible will do! Each day, you're going to write (in your own handwriting, no typing!) this prayer out in the notebook. The text is below.

In the text, you will see numbers after some sentences. The numbers refer to a specific passage in the Bible. This particular prayer for depression has 19 references, so you're going to write out this prayer 19 days in a row, focusing on one specific passage each day.

1. Psalms 130:1 2. Psalms 130:2 3. Psalms 130:5 4. Psalms 40:2 5. Psalms 3:3-4 6. Psalms 22:1 7. Psalms 70:5 8. Psalms 51:12 9. Nehemiah 8:10 10. Psalms 142:7 11. Lamentations 3:55 12. Psalms 71:5 13. Proverbs 3:5-6 14. Psalms 121:1 15. Psalms 141:8 16. Isaiah 41:10 17. John 16:20 18. Hebrews 11:1 19. Colossians 1:13-14

After writing the prayer out and adding any personal petitions in the prayer, do a short study of the verse, and write out what God is saying to you in that verse as it applies to your specific issue. Ask these questions of yourself in relation to the specific verse ~

What is the promise from God in this verse?
What is the Timeless Principle in this verse?
What is the Command to Keep?
How does this verse apply to my life?

Some verses will have answers to ALL those questions, other verses will only answer 1 or 2 of the questions. Repeat this process every day until you have worked through all the verses (one a day) specified in the prayer.

Here is the prayer for Depression. Key Scripture ~ Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord" Psalm 130:1 Out of the depths I have cried unto you, O Lord God (1). Let your ears be attentive to my prayer (2). My soul waits for you, and in your Word I do hope (3). I come to you, Father God, in the wonderful name of my Lord Jesus Christ and I confess the depression that I am experiecing to you. By so doing, I am expressing my earnest desire to forsake it and to put it behind me forever. Thank you for lifting me from the miry clay of depression and setting my feet upon the solid confidence of your Word (4). Lord God, you are my glory, and the lifter of my head. As I cry unto you I know you are hearing me out of your holy hill (5). In my times of depression, I sometimes feel as if you have forsaken me, but I know this is not true (6). I am desperate and needy. Answer me quickly, O God (7). Restore unto me the joy of your salvation (8). In your joy I find my strength (9). Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise your name (10). I call upon your name Lord God, out of what seems to be a low dungeon to me (11). You are my hope, O Lord God, and you are my trust (12). Help me trust you with all of my heart, not leaning unto my own understanding. As I acknowledge you in all my ways, I know you will direct my paths (13). I lift my eyes unto the hills, realizing that my help comes from You, Father (14). Thank you for delivering me from all depression. I express faith to you that you will not leave my soul desolate (15). Through your grace, I will not fear, because I know you are with me, and I will not be dismayed, because you are my God (16). Turn my sorrow into joy, Father (17) as I hold on to the faith you've imparted to me, which is the substance of the things I hope for and the evidence of things I do not see (18). Father, thank you for lifting depression from me and delivering me from all the power of darkness and redeeming me through the blood of Jesus (19). AMEN!

This prayer and 119 others like it can be found in the book Breakthrough Prayers for Women. Check your local Christian bookstore or even online for a paperback copy. It has prayers for just about your every need! All prayers adapt to this method very well! It has truly been a blessing for me and greatly enriched my prayer and study life.

Don't Settle For Mediocrity

2005-06-13T14:41:00.000-05:00

From Morning Tea

"Woe to you who are complacent." Amos 6:1 NIV

When you get to the seventh church in Revelation, Jesus is standing outside it, knocking, trying to get in, and nobody seems to have missed Him! Does that shock you? It should! Listen to what He told them, "You are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm . . . I am about to spit you out of my mouth" (Revelation 3:15-16 NIV). Bottom-line -- don't settle for mediocrity!

Ponder these words by Wilbur Rees, "I'd like to buy $3 worth of God please. Not enough to awaken my soul or disturb my sleep, just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I want ecstasy not transformation; the warmth of the womb, not the new birth. I want a pound of the eternal in a paper sack. No, not the flesh and blood one, He'll keep me from my appointment with the hairdresser, or make me late for my cocktail party. I can't put up with wise men from Persia, or sweaty shepherds trampling all over my carpet with their muddy feet. My name isn't Mary. I don't want a living Christ -- I just want one I can keep in a crib."

Do you want to know the answer to complacency? Jesus gives it to you: "Be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in" (Revelation 3:19-20 NIV).

How Long Should I Stay

2005-06-12T14:55:00.000-05:00

"You will fill me with joy in your presence." Psalm 16:11

Memories of the good times he'd spent with his father, was what eventually brought the Prodigal Son back home (Luke 15:7). And the right memories will draw you back into God's presence, time and time again. "How long should I stay?" you ask.

1. Until change begins. Listen, "But we all . . . beholding . . . the Lord, are changed . . . from glory to glory . . . by the Spirit" (2 Corinthian 3:18).

2. Until you understand His plan for your life. Listen, "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT).

3. Until you recapture your motivation. Listen, "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living . . . be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord" (Psalm 27:13-14 NIV).

4. Until you receive His wisdom. Listen, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you" (Psalm 32:8 NIV).

5. Until new ideas are born. Listen, "See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being, I announce them to you: (Isaiah 42:9 NIV).

6. Until Christ becomes the center of your life. Listen, "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4 NIV).

There is a lesson in this post, maybe I will get the Lexicon out tomorrow and go over this one...its really good.