My oldest daughter- she'll be 21 in October- and I haven't spoken in nearly a year. I won't go into the details of why but I've been praying daily that we'd be able to work things out and be able to be a family again. I've missed her so much and long to hug her and tell her so face to face.
Well today, out of the blue, I received a message on Facebook from her. She told me she loves me and misses me and wants to meet up at the mall or something to visit. I was overjoyed to the point of tears and am looking forward to that day when we can once again be a whole family. I've been praying for her for months, that she is happy, healthy, and walking the path that God has paved for her. I've been careful not to ask for a reconciliation because I don't know if that's in God's will. My most fervent wish is that she is living a life that is pleasing to God and God has blessed that by softening her heart toward me. I am overjoyed!
God is so good! His promises are true and above all, He loves His children. Thank You, Jesus!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Make a JOYFUL noise!
Acts 16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the
prisoners were listening to them,
We in the modern western world have little idea of what an ancient European prison was like. I don't mean to be gross or too graphic but in order to get to the heart of the matter I must describe what I've learned.
Ancient Roman prisons were under ground, no sunlight, no fresh air ever. They reeked of urine and vomit and death. Prisoners received only one meal a day and that one meal usually consisted of moldy bread and dirty water. The prisoners were forced to sit and sleep in their own excrement day after day, causing open festering sores. Spiders and rats bit and crawled over them in the darkness while lice chewed at their bodies. The prisoners were usually beaten and bloodied even before being thrown into this dank, dark, unholy place and it never took long before their minds were lost to insanity.
Paul and Silas were in such a place, beaten and bruised, but far from broken. Jesus was there, in that terrible place with them, in their hearts, protecting their minds from the evil that resided there.
In the middle of the night Paul and Silas began to sing and pray and worship their risen Lord, even as they were being persecuted for speaking about that same Lord. In the depths of the most miserable place on earth, Paul and Silas found JOY!
Please, please read the story that inspired this post. A modern day story that is happening right now on the other side of the world from where I sit right now. The story of Imram Gafur who is in prison right now for loving his Lord. http://www.prisoneralert.com/pprofiles/vp_prisoner_204_profile.html
What gives American Christians the right to complain about anything when somewhere in the world a brother or sister in Christ is being brutalized for simply believing in Jesus- a right that we often take for granted. It's easy to get complacent about our faith when we face no real opposition to it. Jesus encourages us to face persecution for our faith with joy because persecution for his name's sake means we're doing something with our faith, we're being a city on a hill, a light in the darkness.
Don't hide your lamp under a basket, put it on the lampstand so that all might see the truth of God's word and find salvation in Jesus!
And please, if the Lord so moves you, send our brother in Pakistan a letter of encouragement and please remember to pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world.
prisoners were listening to them,
We in the modern western world have little idea of what an ancient European prison was like. I don't mean to be gross or too graphic but in order to get to the heart of the matter I must describe what I've learned.
Ancient Roman prisons were under ground, no sunlight, no fresh air ever. They reeked of urine and vomit and death. Prisoners received only one meal a day and that one meal usually consisted of moldy bread and dirty water. The prisoners were forced to sit and sleep in their own excrement day after day, causing open festering sores. Spiders and rats bit and crawled over them in the darkness while lice chewed at their bodies. The prisoners were usually beaten and bloodied even before being thrown into this dank, dark, unholy place and it never took long before their minds were lost to insanity.
Paul and Silas were in such a place, beaten and bruised, but far from broken. Jesus was there, in that terrible place with them, in their hearts, protecting their minds from the evil that resided there.
In the middle of the night Paul and Silas began to sing and pray and worship their risen Lord, even as they were being persecuted for speaking about that same Lord. In the depths of the most miserable place on earth, Paul and Silas found JOY!
Please, please read the story that inspired this post. A modern day story that is happening right now on the other side of the world from where I sit right now. The story of Imram Gafur who is in prison right now for loving his Lord. http://www.prisoneralert.com/pprofiles/vp_prisoner_204_profile.html
What gives American Christians the right to complain about anything when somewhere in the world a brother or sister in Christ is being brutalized for simply believing in Jesus- a right that we often take for granted. It's easy to get complacent about our faith when we face no real opposition to it. Jesus encourages us to face persecution for our faith with joy because persecution for his name's sake means we're doing something with our faith, we're being a city on a hill, a light in the darkness.
Don't hide your lamp under a basket, put it on the lampstand so that all might see the truth of God's word and find salvation in Jesus!
And please, if the Lord so moves you, send our brother in Pakistan a letter of encouragement and please remember to pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
How much would I give?
How much would I give for the pearl of great price? How much would I sacrifice for Heaven? If Jesus asked me to give it all, would I be willing?
Matthew 13:45-46
I'm still reading the Francine Rivers series I mentioned a couple of posts ago (taking awhile to get through it this time because I don't have a lot of free time to read). In the first book, A Voice In The Wind, the main character, Hadassa- a young Jewish girl, shows time and again she's willing to give everything, no matter the cost, for her Lord and Savior. It's such a beautiful story and even more importantly, a very powerful lesson. It makes me stop and ask myself, would I be willing to give all, no matter what, for Jesus if He asked?
Would I be willing to give my home, my car, my family, money, clothes...my life even? I'd like to think so but do we ever really know how we'll react to a particular situation until we're actually faced with that situation?
People around the world, even in this 'civilized' day, are being persecuted and killed for being Christians. They stand strong in their faith, they love the Lord so much that they are willing to die for Him. They go through intense suffering and they endure because they know they don't go alone. They know that Jesus is with them. He calls them Blessed because they are persecuted for His Name's sake. He promises to give them strength to endure and that even unto death He will be there.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10, "And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
THAT IS SO BEAUTIFUL! When I am weak, I am made strong in Jesus. The Joy of the Lord is MY STRENGTH!
So, that being said, I do believe that if/when the time comes that I am asked to give all, to sacrifice for the Kingdom of Heaven, to give back a tiny fraction of what the Lord gave to me, I will endure. My life is His and if He wants it back...who am I to argue?
Matthew 13:45-46
I'm still reading the Francine Rivers series I mentioned a couple of posts ago (taking awhile to get through it this time because I don't have a lot of free time to read). In the first book, A Voice In The Wind, the main character, Hadassa- a young Jewish girl, shows time and again she's willing to give everything, no matter the cost, for her Lord and Savior. It's such a beautiful story and even more importantly, a very powerful lesson. It makes me stop and ask myself, would I be willing to give all, no matter what, for Jesus if He asked?
Would I be willing to give my home, my car, my family, money, clothes...my life even? I'd like to think so but do we ever really know how we'll react to a particular situation until we're actually faced with that situation?
People around the world, even in this 'civilized' day, are being persecuted and killed for being Christians. They stand strong in their faith, they love the Lord so much that they are willing to die for Him. They go through intense suffering and they endure because they know they don't go alone. They know that Jesus is with them. He calls them Blessed because they are persecuted for His Name's sake. He promises to give them strength to endure and that even unto death He will be there.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10, "And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
THAT IS SO BEAUTIFUL! When I am weak, I am made strong in Jesus. The Joy of the Lord is MY STRENGTH!
So, that being said, I do believe that if/when the time comes that I am asked to give all, to sacrifice for the Kingdom of Heaven, to give back a tiny fraction of what the Lord gave to me, I will endure. My life is His and if He wants it back...who am I to argue?
Friday, March 30, 2012
Jesus is seeking you...
I was re-reading my previous post and it occured to me that I should have added something more but instead of editing it, I'll make a new post. Call it part 2 of Faith with Feet :)
As I'm reading through the Gospels each day it becomes more and more evident to me that Jesus, during his short stay on Earth, was a very busy man. He never stayed anywhere very long, he was always going, always teaching, always healing...always seeking the lost. He didn't sit and wait for the lost to find Him. No, He went in search of the lost sheep and He found them everywhere He went!
He says in The Word....GO and make deciples of all nations. That one word- GO- is an order, a command. Jesus doesn't add, "If you want to." or "If you feel like it." He says "GO."
There are hurting people all over this planet. As Americans we've been pretty spoiled by not really being affected by the suffering that people in so many other nations endure. Yes, the people in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, South America are suffering and need Jesus. But in many cases there are intense spiritual needs much closer to home. If traveling abroad is something you simply cannot do, there are people in your state, in your town, probably in your neighborhood who are suffering. People right next door who need Jesus.
"GO!"
Being fairly new to our community, there are still many people I don't know, circumstances I'm not aware of. But the spirit in me is telling me to GO, find the hurting, bring Jesus to them. Someone, long ago, took a chance and shared Jesus with me. How can I not reach out to some lost and hurting soul and do the same?
I'm going to share another persecuted believer's story link here. Please, take some time each day to lift up our suffering brothers and sisters around the world in prayer.
Pastor Wang Xiaoguang has been in a Chinese prison for nearly 900 days...simply for teaching about Jesus. Please take a moment to pray for him and maybe even write him a letter of encouragement. http://www.prisoneralert.com/pprofiles/vp_prisoner_200_profile.html
As I'm reading through the Gospels each day it becomes more and more evident to me that Jesus, during his short stay on Earth, was a very busy man. He never stayed anywhere very long, he was always going, always teaching, always healing...always seeking the lost. He didn't sit and wait for the lost to find Him. No, He went in search of the lost sheep and He found them everywhere He went!
He says in The Word....GO and make deciples of all nations. That one word- GO- is an order, a command. Jesus doesn't add, "If you want to." or "If you feel like it." He says "GO."
There are hurting people all over this planet. As Americans we've been pretty spoiled by not really being affected by the suffering that people in so many other nations endure. Yes, the people in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, South America are suffering and need Jesus. But in many cases there are intense spiritual needs much closer to home. If traveling abroad is something you simply cannot do, there are people in your state, in your town, probably in your neighborhood who are suffering. People right next door who need Jesus.
"GO!"
Being fairly new to our community, there are still many people I don't know, circumstances I'm not aware of. But the spirit in me is telling me to GO, find the hurting, bring Jesus to them. Someone, long ago, took a chance and shared Jesus with me. How can I not reach out to some lost and hurting soul and do the same?
I'm going to share another persecuted believer's story link here. Please, take some time each day to lift up our suffering brothers and sisters around the world in prayer.
Pastor Wang Xiaoguang has been in a Chinese prison for nearly 900 days...simply for teaching about Jesus. Please take a moment to pray for him and maybe even write him a letter of encouragement. http://www.prisoneralert.com/pprofiles/vp_prisoner_200_profile.html
Friday, March 23, 2012
Does your faith have feet?
I was listening to my Ipod today and a song by Casting Crowns came on. It's a song that resonates in me; one that makes me take stock of my life and my walk. It's called, 'If We are the Body'. If you haven't heard the song, the chorus says:
If we are the body of Christ, then why are so many of us neglecting to do what He has commanded us to do? We should be helping the widows and orphans, we should be leading the lost to Him, we should be welcoming the traveler into our midst and loving him to Christ.
But something else that struck me is that we should also be walking the walk among our leaders. If we, the children of God, refuse to stand up and speak out for what we know to be right, if we refuse to be leaders ourselves, then we leave this country, this world, to those who don't believe. We leave control of this country to pagans, athiests, and those who would remove God from every aspect of our nation.
We must vote! We must write letters to our local, state, and federal leaders. We must participate in ways that will be God honoring and effective or this country will fall in the same manner that Rome did.
We must put feet on our faith! We must Go! This country was founded and built upon a the solid rock of Jesus and we, the sons and daughters of the almighty God, need to wake up and stand up and fight to keep that solid rock from being chipped away and undermining the stability of The United States of America.
Does your faith have feet? Are you willing to go when God calls?
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
If we are the body of Christ, then why are so many of us neglecting to do what He has commanded us to do? We should be helping the widows and orphans, we should be leading the lost to Him, we should be welcoming the traveler into our midst and loving him to Christ.
But something else that struck me is that we should also be walking the walk among our leaders. If we, the children of God, refuse to stand up and speak out for what we know to be right, if we refuse to be leaders ourselves, then we leave this country, this world, to those who don't believe. We leave control of this country to pagans, athiests, and those who would remove God from every aspect of our nation.
We must vote! We must write letters to our local, state, and federal leaders. We must participate in ways that will be God honoring and effective or this country will fall in the same manner that Rome did.
We must put feet on our faith! We must Go! This country was founded and built upon a the solid rock of Jesus and we, the sons and daughters of the almighty God, need to wake up and stand up and fight to keep that solid rock from being chipped away and undermining the stability of The United States of America.
Does your faith have feet? Are you willing to go when God calls?
Sunday, March 11, 2012
We Have Hope!
I'm reading a book, one I've read a dozen times at least. It's the first book in an amazing trilogy by Francine Rivers called A Voice in the Wind and on page 13 there is a passage that struck me and I wanted to share. A brother and sister in a desperate situation are having a conversation and the passage reads:
"Is this the will of God, Mark?"
"Father said it is not God's will that any should suffer."
"Then why must we?"
"We bear the consequences for what we have done to ourselves, and for the sin that rules this world. Jesus forgave the thief, but he didn't take him down off the cross." He pushed his hand back through his hair. "I'm not wise like Father. I haven't any answers to why, but I know there is hope."
"What hope, Mark? What hope is there?"
"God always leaves a remnant."
Jesus forgave the thief who hung beside Him on the cross, but He didn't take him off the cross. The thief was made to suffer the consequences of his actions but Jesus forgave him and assured him of his place in Heaven.
We, as children of God, are also forgiven but we, too, must endure our own consequences for our sin. We are assured of our place in Heaven but while we live in this sinful world we will suffer and many times we suffer for the sinful actions of others even if we didn't participate or were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
But we have hope! Even through the trials and suffering we experience we have Jesus by our side. He never said it would be easy, but He promised we would never have to go it alone. What a beautiful promise!
And to end this blog post, I'm going to share some song lyrics from one of my very favorite songs by an amazing artist, Ginny Owens. This song is called "If You Want Me To"
The pathway is broken
And The signs are unclear
And I don't know the reason why You brought me here
But just because You love me the way that You do
I'm gonna walk through the valley
If You want me to
Chorus:
Cause I'm not who I was
When I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet
so if all of these trials bring me closer to you
Then I will walk through the fire
If You want me to
It may not be the way I would have chosen
When you lead me through a world that's not my home
But You never said it would be easy
You only said I'd never go alone
So when the whole world turns against me
And I'm all by myself
And I can't hear You answer my cries for help
I'll remember the suffering that Your love put You through
And I will walk through the darkness
If You want me to
Cuz when I cross over Jordan
Gonna sing, gonna shout,
Gonna look into Your eyes and see You never let me down
So take me on the pathway that leads me home to You
And I will walk though the valley
If You want me to
Yes, I will walk through the valley
If You want me to
Here is a link to a You Tube video of the song if you care to listen. She has such a beautiful voice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVYRc7LtvUA
"Is this the will of God, Mark?"
"Father said it is not God's will that any should suffer."
"Then why must we?"
"We bear the consequences for what we have done to ourselves, and for the sin that rules this world. Jesus forgave the thief, but he didn't take him down off the cross." He pushed his hand back through his hair. "I'm not wise like Father. I haven't any answers to why, but I know there is hope."
"What hope, Mark? What hope is there?"
"God always leaves a remnant."
Jesus forgave the thief who hung beside Him on the cross, but He didn't take him off the cross. The thief was made to suffer the consequences of his actions but Jesus forgave him and assured him of his place in Heaven.
We, as children of God, are also forgiven but we, too, must endure our own consequences for our sin. We are assured of our place in Heaven but while we live in this sinful world we will suffer and many times we suffer for the sinful actions of others even if we didn't participate or were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
But we have hope! Even through the trials and suffering we experience we have Jesus by our side. He never said it would be easy, but He promised we would never have to go it alone. What a beautiful promise!
And to end this blog post, I'm going to share some song lyrics from one of my very favorite songs by an amazing artist, Ginny Owens. This song is called "If You Want Me To"
The pathway is broken
And The signs are unclear
And I don't know the reason why You brought me here
But just because You love me the way that You do
I'm gonna walk through the valley
If You want me to
Chorus:
Cause I'm not who I was
When I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet
so if all of these trials bring me closer to you
Then I will walk through the fire
If You want me to
It may not be the way I would have chosen
When you lead me through a world that's not my home
But You never said it would be easy
You only said I'd never go alone
So when the whole world turns against me
And I'm all by myself
And I can't hear You answer my cries for help
I'll remember the suffering that Your love put You through
And I will walk through the darkness
If You want me to
Cuz when I cross over Jordan
Gonna sing, gonna shout,
Gonna look into Your eyes and see You never let me down
So take me on the pathway that leads me home to You
And I will walk though the valley
If You want me to
Yes, I will walk through the valley
If You want me to
Here is a link to a You Tube video of the song if you care to listen. She has such a beautiful voice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVYRc7LtvUA
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Vote Your Conscience!
With elections in full swing the candidates are polishing up their speeches and ramping up their attacks on their opponents, dragging skeletons out of closets and pointing razor tipped fingers used to expose every perceived slight to the American people.
I cannot express enough, my friends, how very important it is to vote your conscience. Stop looking at the parties and, instead, look at the morals, values, and agenda of those running. Just because you are a registered Republican or Democrat does not mean you HAVE to vote for the person running in that party. Vote for the person who most closely represents your values, not matter what party they happen to be affiliated with.
And one more thing, read between the lines of the pretty speeches. Do your research and find out what these people REALLY think, how these people really vote, what these people really want for our country. Right now they're saying what they think the people want to hear, but we all know that campaign promises are rarely kept and what will we be getting when the campaign is over?
Above all- VOTE and VOTE INFORMED!
I cannot express enough, my friends, how very important it is to vote your conscience. Stop looking at the parties and, instead, look at the morals, values, and agenda of those running. Just because you are a registered Republican or Democrat does not mean you HAVE to vote for the person running in that party. Vote for the person who most closely represents your values, not matter what party they happen to be affiliated with.
And one more thing, read between the lines of the pretty speeches. Do your research and find out what these people REALLY think, how these people really vote, what these people really want for our country. Right now they're saying what they think the people want to hear, but we all know that campaign promises are rarely kept and what will we be getting when the campaign is over?
Above all- VOTE and VOTE INFORMED!
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