Have you ever typed your name into a search engine to see what was "out there" about you? I do this periodically just for the fun of it. I did it just a minute ago and found an old post that I ended up re-reading and enjoying. I hope you get out of it what God intends to share with you through it. Here is the link....
http://sunshine-church.blogspot.com/2006/05/some-of-my-insights.html
I just sent this to a friend because I felt a spiritual nudge to do so. I thought I'd share it here with you all as well.
“For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.”
(1 Peter 2:15-16)
For the past couple of days, I've been listening to my dad talk about being a Marine and being in the war in Vietnam. My dad is very descriptive when he's telling a story and he and I share a good imagination.
Daddy was telling Tim and I about one particular situation where he (as squadron leader) was trying to get his men to take cover because the explosions were getting too close to them. He said they all just stood there with their mouths open when he yelled for them to do this. He then had to pick something up and act like he was going to hit them in order to get them to move to safety. Daddy said before long, everyone was hiding somewhere and then he realized he needed to find someplace for himself to go. In a panic, he began to look around for anywhere he could fit. He said one guy hollered "Hey, Taylor! There's room in here!". Daddy said there were 3 men in that fox hole and he had to get down in there the best he could on top of the men. He said he was still sticking out some but it was better than nothing. Things were exploding all around them and every one of them missed him. He said that was just one of the many, many times that he survived. He has said many times that the only reason he is still alive is because "I had a praying mommy back home". Daddy said that the whole time he was in Vietnam, he felt like he was in a big protective bubble. He says he remembers running through this area where things were being blown up all around him and people where being shot next to him and he wondered why he was being spared.
When dad was talking about trying to get into that fox hole and there being barely enough room for him, my imagination got the best of me. I was transported to that day and time and there I was in a tearful panic trying to shove my daddy into that hole so he wouldn't be blown up.
It angers me to hear stories of what happened when these guys came home from the war. There was no thanks or respect given to them. This happened before I was born, but I'm alive and well now and I want to say THANK YOU TO YOU ALL! YOU MATTER TO ME!
My dad risked his own life because your life mattered to him! If you're not thankful for that, then maybe you should spend some time out in the trenches trying to stay alive.
My dad is a brave man and I love and respect him for what he stands for and what he fought for. God spared my dad in the war because He has great plans for him and the people's lives he would touch later in life. God knew my dad would come to Him in the future and so God waited. He waited until the time was right to call my dad to Him. Now, my dad fights in a different kind of war. This is a war on his soul. My dad is a fighter and my dad knows how to win.
See you in heaven, daddy!
Thursday, I saw something that always brought loads of excitement to me as a child. I saw the JCPenney Wish Book! Each year I see it either at the store or lying around in someone's house. Everytime I see this book, I forget for a split second that I'm an adult and I get so excited.
I remember when mom would bring the Wish Book home when we were little. My two sisters and I would look at every single toy in the book on every single page (except for the "boy stuff" because it was "boy stuff").
Mom told us to go through the book and circle the things we wanted and mark the circle with the first letter of our name so she would know who wanted what toy. Some of the things had all 3 letters (J.R.B.) because we all wanted the same thing. This, for the most part was a good way to guarrantee we would get it. If it was cheap enough, mom would buy 3 of them because she knew we would fight over only one. As it was, we were already fighting over who got to look at the Wish Book first and the fact that so and so already saw the book and it was our turn and so and so was taking too long, etc.
There is still a book out there that holds everything I dream of having. There are still people fighting over it, too. I like to underline my favorite things in it and go back and look at those same things again and again.
It's the bible. Let's share it!
Recently, our church congregation spent time putting together shoe boxes full of clothing, toys, books, toothpaste, tooth brushes, etc. for children all over the world. This is done through an organization called "Samaritan's Purse" and is referred to as "Operation Christmas Child".
The reason I'm writing about this, is not to draw attention to something good and honorable that Christians are doing in our community, but to draw attention to the heart of a child. The heart that God wants us to have in order to enter Heaven.
My neice is going to be 7 years old next month and has always had the softest heart when it came to caring for others. I took a little time to teach my neice and nephew about what all these boxes are for and how we are trying to put together wonderful presents for kids all over the world who otherwise won't have any Christmas presents. This touched both of them very much and it was quite easy to get them to want to fill up some shoe boxes with all sorts of things. They had a blast looking for just the right things with just the right colors (as you know, color is important to kids).
When the last few boxes were being put together, there was a box that didn't have very much at all in it because there just wasn't anything left to fill the box with. My neice, without my knowing it, decided to go through her toys (that she had just received brand knew only hours before) and put those same toys in that child's box. She then proceeded to create another shoe box, without my knowing it, by adding ALL of the toys and crayons to the box, that she had brought to that night's event for herself to play with. Everything was given and given cheerfully!
What can we as adults learn from a child like this?
Matthew 18:1-4
"At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. "
I have taken care of children most of my life because they are my passion here on earth. Something that has been very hurtful to me is discovering that the young children I once took care of don't remember me now that they're grown.
They have lost touch with me over the years and have forgotten all of the things I did for them when they were small. I wiped their dirty butts several times a day. I've been puked on, drooled on, peed on, spit on, kicked, scratched, hollered at, and a load of other things. I still love them ALL a great deal. As a matter of fact, I don't think any of them could ever know just how much I love them.....then AND now.
I didn't take care of these kids just so I could have money. I took care of these kids so I could raise children and love them like they should be loved. Making money was secondary to me. Quite frankly, a person doesn't do this kind of job.....at least not for long.....unless they love the kids. You take so much from kids that you would never put up with from an adult....or for that matter, any other job.
In my opinion, the most important job in the world is the care of people. This especially applies to the raising of children. If you are looking for a babysitter, be very careful who you choose because they will be the person that raises your child while you are gone. What's important to your babysitter, will be impressed upon your child. You know as well as I do that children imitate what they see and hear. Be careful. Think about the future and what kind of adult your child is going to be by the way they behave now.
The situation with so many kids not remembering me and all I've done for them in the past, reminds me of something spiritual.
How well do we remember what God has done for us?
Aren't we quick to forget? We have no idea how much He loves us because we cannot grasp the fullness of His sacrifice to gain that which was lost.......us. We don't know what it's like to give up our only son for the wreched lost ones. We don't know what it's like to love someone so much that we give up everything we have and lay down our lives to the point of death.....all the while, being made fun of and cussed at and beaten and whipped and, and, and, etc. How could we ever relate to that?
It amazes me how easily we forget things involving our salvation. It makes me wonder if we would forget Hell if we were to get a sneak peek at what it's like. It makes me wonder if we would forget Heaven if we were to get a sneak peek at what it's like. I think the problem with us, is that we don't realize the severity of our sin and exactly what we were saved from.
If we really knew how much sin cost, I don't believe we would forget. Satan likes to keep us so preoccupied with things going on around us that we don't have time to think about what Jesus did to forgive us. If Satan can make us forget that we are forgiven and going to Heaven, he'll be able to convince us of all kinds of lies, like how hopeless we are and not worth God's love or attention, etc.
God is God and we are not. God doesn't forget anything except our sin when we are washed by the blood in baptism and become a new creation. He absolutely cannot forget you! I have never forgotten one of my kids that I took care of. So, how much more will God remember us? He is God! He doesn't have anything better to do than to take care of us. We take up all of His time and that's just the way He's always wanted it. God doesn't waste His time either. The only way anyone can waste time, is to spend time doing something that doesn't matter. Everything God does with His time matters. We are at the top of His to do list and we stay there.
Don't you see? He loves you!
One of my good friends, Chris, has a blog that I read often. He just turned 30 on Monday and decided to write about it. After I replied to his post, I thought my comment might make a good post for my own blog. So here it is....
I'm glad you don't have a problem with being thirty. When I turned thirty, I didn't have a problem with it, although I have friends who did concerning themselves getting older.
I have never really had a problem with aging. I have more important things on my mind than to worry about getting fat and wrinkled. I figure, hey, it's gonna' happen whether I worry about it or not, so why worry and ruin my happy days with it all.
Thirty three was a big year for me because I couldn't stop thinking about what age Jesus was when he was crucified and how I've been given the gift of a longer ministry than He....well, on earth in a physical way.
In a sense, it's almost like being given a second chance or something. We get to stay longer and love more and help more and serve more, etc. Jesus gets to do all this through us if we will let Him.
I know Jesus longed for home with God, but I have to wonder if He would have liked to stay just a little while longer here on earth and do some more of what He began. Only He can answer that. All in all, the greatest thing in the world happened to us at the same time the worst thing was happening to Him. He died so we could live.
Hallelujah!!
It all had to be bitter-sweet for Him because it hurt so badly to be killed by the ones He was saving. But, oh how good it must have felt after it was finished and He knew what the outcome was going to be for us.
Victory was won!
Jennifer
P.S. If you would like to visit Chris' blog, here is the link:
http://soulscapenet.blogspot.com/
Well, something interesting happened on David Phelps' message board in the Prayer Room. I was reading the prayer requests posted there and became so inspired to say something encouraging that I typed out the following message to everyone. I believe God gave me these words for those who need it. I hope it helps you as well.
God's gonna' take care of things. He always has and continues to do so today. Things don't always get fixed the way we planned they would, but that's because we can't see the whole picture and God can. What happens in the end is for the best according to the Kingdom of God. All we need to do is ask Him and let go of it all.
Everything that is pulling us all down now, will someday be over. It will either be over in this lifetime here on earth or it will certainly be over when we get to Heaven. There IS an end to suffering and pain. It just takes too long.......for us.
In trials, we are learning to lean on God and His abilities....not our own. We are learning who He is and what He's all about. We are learning about humility and true strength that only comes from our Father in Heaven.
We can all get through this mess that we are praying about one more day....and then one more day after that....and then one more, etc. ONLY because Jesus lives!
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Be encouraged today and everyday. Help is there in Christ Jesus and the end is near.
This is a small part of the biography of David Phelps and I was so proud of him when I read it. I wanted to share it with all of you here. If you are interested in reading it all, please visit www.davidphelps.com and click on BIO on the right side of the screen. Enjoy!
****
The one thing David is sure of is that while being an entertainer and a minister is his vocation, his calling is to be a husband and father.
"That's what drives me," he says. "When I have to go out of town I take the last flight out and the first flight back. I'm going to have a family. I'm going to have a marriage that is solid and strong. I will not sacrifice that for any career, even one that is hopefully drawing people toward God. My ministry truly is to my family first and foremost."
That is his legacy of love.
****
I just read these two wonderful statements on a certain forum I visit from time to time. I especially like the last one!
"Sometimes the majority only means that all the fools are on the same side."
"A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her."
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Before work this morning, I decided to go to Tim's blog and do some reading. Tim is my husband, for those of you who are new here. I'm fully aware of the fact that Tim hasn't posted anything new on his blog since January this year, but I thought I would go ahead and re-read some things. Well, as I scrolled down the screen, I found myself reading everything he had posted on the whole first screen. It was as though everything was new to me and I hadn't read this stuff before. I was reading with an open mind attempting to view things in a fresh new way. I found myself enjoying what I read and being drawn closer to the author of those words. I thought to myself how beautiful this person is and how proud I am of him in how he talks about God.
It's a wonderful thing for me to watch Tim and listen to him living life and realize that he's my husband....the one God chose for me.....the one I asked God for all those years ago when I was growing up and thinking all the good guys were already taken. I was just sure that there was never going to be anyone for me. Now, I can look back on all that pain and crying years ago and see God working in my life. The theme of my life has been WAITING.
When God provided me with Tim, He gave me more than I had asked for...and I asked for detailed things I wanted in a guy. God provided the kind of teen guy He knew I would need right then.....He provided the kind of young adult He knew I would need when I was in my 20's....He provided the kind of man He knew I would need right now in my 30's and I am convinced there are more glorious things to come from God in my relationship with Tim in our future together.
God gave me a man who had never been to bed with anyone until we got married. God gave Tim a wife who had never been to bed with anyone until marriage as well. It seems that now-a-days, this is almost unheard of, but I assure you, it does happen. I am grateful to this very day that Tim is unaware of anyone else but me. He cannot compare me to anyone else because he has only experienced me. I simply have no words to explain to you what this very important thing means to me! God is so very, very good!
When something in your life seems impossible, ask God and give Him details. He is the God of details. Then, wait on Him......no matter how long it takes! That's the hard part.
If you would like to read Tim's blog, here is the link....
http://www.timsopinions.blogspot.com/
I proudly refer to Tim as "my man" because to me, he is everything good in this world all wrapped up in one person. To me, he is everything a man should be. He's mine, he's mine, he's mine!
October 11th this year will be our 10 year wedding anniversary. We exchanged classrings and became boyfriend and girlfriend on that day back in 1991 and dated for 6 years to the day. Our first house was his parents garage which Tim and his grandpas had fixed up into a very cute little apartment. We lived there for 2 or 3 years before moving to our first real house, where we live now.
I said all of this to honor my God, my husband, and hopefully give hope to those of you reading this who have given up hope of ever finding the man or woman of your dreams.
Just a little tip: God must be first.
I was just watching David Phelps sing on a bunch of YouTube videos and was making comments to Tim after each one. I just told him that if I get to go to the Christmas concert in Ashland this year, I'm seriously considering not taking my camera this time. I told him that I already had a couple of pictures of myself with David and they're nothing more than pictures of me with a guy. I told him that I don't go to David's concerts to listen to David. I go to listen to God because it's God singing through David.
People don't have the capability to bring other people to their knees or to their feet. Only God has that ability. I have never personally seen and heard David sing without people standing. This has intrigued me for years and I just can't help but take notice when David sings. David has no power on his own. When people listen to the power coming from his voice, they are not attracted to David like some would like to believe. They are being drawn by the power of God and the message being sung.
I really didn't want this post to be about David Phelps. I want it to be about what can happen when a human, created by God, allows God to work through him/her. I believe people's ears are cleaned out when God speaks. How beautiful it is when God sings!
I wonder.....
Can you speak?
Can you sing?
Can you cook?
Can you sew?
Can you mow grass?
Can you do laundry?
Can you care for children?
Can you care for the elderly?
Can you weed flower beds?
What can God do with the talent He has given you? Wouldn't it be cool to find out? Now, I can't guarrantee you that people will stand at attention when you come to their home and weed their garden....or that your children will applaud you as they watch you wash their laundry.....but I can tell you that whatever you do, if you do it for God's glory, all of heaven is applauding.
You know, there really isn't any other applause I would rather have!
What would it look and sound like if God sang in your life?
with Joyce Meyer
“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life;
he who comes to Me will not hunger, and
he who believes in Me will never thirst.”
(John 6:35)
I’ve always been a very intense person, though I’ve lightened up some over the past few years. I think it was a combination of my natural personality, the way I was raised and my early environment. I was abused in childhood. Fun was something we never really had I remember getting in trouble for laughing and making too much noise, or playing when I could have been working. I became a double workaholic with a false sense of responsibility who didn’t know she was stressed because her life was out of balance.
My husband, Dave, would never let my attitudes steal his joy. He stayed happy, no matter what. That was one of the things that finally got me to realize that I was out of balance. I didn’t realize the value of joy. God gave us a laugh for a reason, and I’ve discovered that I have to take every opportunity to lighten up instead of just being focused on work.
About 20 years ago the Lord basically told me out of Psalm 27:4 that if I didn’t spend personal time with Him, not to get a sermon to preach but just time with Him, the devil would kill me because God’s presence is a protection in our lives. I have to let God do the heavy lifting, I have to go to Him first and let Him show me what to do.
Discipline, determination, and self-will can only take us so far. We try to walk in the fruit of the Spirit. We try to behave in a godly manner. We try to change ourselves. There’s no point in starting something if we don’t first see if God wants to be involved with it and get His strength.
Every person has a God-shaped hole on the inside of them and nothing can fill it but God. No matter what we try to stick in it, nothing is going to work but God. Only God can satisfy us. People try so many things food, drink, drugs, sex, work, play but they don’t really know what they want. They don’t know why they feel bad, or why they’re overwhelmed by their weaknesses, or what they hunger for.
Sometimes even born-again Christians neglect to think about getting God involved in the details of their lives. They go to church on Sunday, but the world in which we live today needs God’s involvement on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Sometimes, more than anything else, we simply need more one-on-one time spent with God.
This Week
Spend time with God and let Him strengthen you. Invite Him to give you His thoughts on the different projects you are considering.
Prayer
“Lord, thank You for the strength of Your presence. Please help me to know Your mind and heart on those things that are on my mind and heart.”
Adapted from LIFE Today featuring Joyce Meyer and her book Look Great, Feel Great. Programs air the week of September 3, 2007.
When I came to pick Talia up from school a little while ago, she came skipping out the door yelling "I had a great day!" She also informed me that she made a friend. Later, she told me that she really made 3 friends. I would assume that the first friend she mentioned is her best friend. She says her friend talks alot like she does. I laughed and said that God matched them up pretty well and she agreed. She said that when her friend kept talking and talking, she thought to herself "You talk alot, like me! I LIKE you!" Too cute!
I reminded her of the prayer we had this morning and what she asked God for. Then, I told her that God didn't just give her one friend, He gave her THREE! Then God gave me the gift of being able to teach her how God gives gifts to those He loves. I told her that when we ask for something, He gives us what we ask for and then SOOOO much more. In a 6 year old's life, this is a wonderful example of God filling your cup to overflowing. You should have seen her face when she was realizing that God answered her prayer and gave her so very much. What a gift!
God is God and we are not. He is good ALL the time.
I just got home from my neice's school. She was homeschooled for Kindergarten and so she has never experienced regular school until today. God help her! I am very pro homeschool so this is hard on me. I video taped everything from her standing beside my sister's car up to her going into her classroom. Her words "...but I will miss you mommy" still echo in my head. She is not my daughter but I feel as though she is. In my heart and in my mind, my neices and nephews ARE my kids. I just have to share them with their parents.
I asked God to make it so we would have time to pray about her day before school started. He provided that very opportunity! Talia and I were left alone in her classroom this morning for not quite 5 minutes. God reminded me of my request and so we took action. I asked Talia to pray about her day at school and so she did. I left the camera running. She, as usual, had a very heartfelt and beautiful prayer. For the past several days, I have been talking to her alot about what school was going to be like and that God always sends us a friend. I told her that if she asked God for a special friend, He would send one to her. This morning, she told God "Send me the friend you want to send me".
It wasn't until after the prayer was over that God reminded me what we just did together. We had prayer in school! Praise His name!
I look forward to seeing her after school today and hearing how God has answered her prayers and mine. I simply can't go through one day without thinking about and praying for my neices and nephews. They are everything that matters to me in this world aside from Tim and my own daughter.
LORD, keep them safe as they live and breathe in the world that you created and Satan attacks. I trust you to do this as I have no other hope other than you. I depend on you to be where I cannot be and do the things that I cannot do. You are my God and I am your child. I know that whatever I ask for in your son's name, according to your will, you will provide. Thank you for this and thank you, Jesus, for providing a way for us to speak directly to God and have a relationship with you! In Jesus' holy and precious and beautiful name I pray, Amen.
"You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
-----New International Version
I was thinking about words today and this scripture came to mind. I thought about how everyone seems to be writing these days and everyone has something to say about everything. We either blog, write novels, do public speaking, or gossip.
What are we saying? Are we wasting time? Are we wasting our words on foolishness?
Here are the same verses using the version of the bible called The Message.....
"You have minds like a snake pit! How do you suppose what you say is worth anything when you are so foul-minded? It's your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard. Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation."
Let us start using the time God has granted us by using words to change people's lives and send them running to the Father for love and salvation.
Remember:
amateurs built the ark ..... professionals built the Titanic.
What will God do with you? Kinda' makes you wonder doesn't it? Why don't you have a little talk with Him and find out. If you choose to accept His mission, hold on tight because you're about to go on the ride of your life!!
"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"
--Jay Leno
An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots and each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.
At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, but the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream and said,
"I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."
The old woman smiled and replied,
"Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."
