Making little one's Christmas

My kids were full of joy tonight as they finally got real beds for Christmas handed down from some generous families in the church body with new sheets and comforters. They were ecstatic! They were so surprised, screamed and cried. My son cried for quite some time. The girls were cheezin' ear to ear. Praise God for His family.

Agloco on Hold

Sorry folks! Received through email:

We would like to update you on the status of AGLOCO's operations. We continue to believe in the AGLOCO concept, but our revenue is currently not sufficient to give Members a meaningful distribution. And though there are increases in membership, the resulting revenue is not enough to support operating costs. As a development team we are unable to continue to use our savings to fund the operations. If any Member would like to pursue continuing the operations of AGLOCO, you may contact us at agloco1@live.com .

We would like to thank every Member for supporting our effort to bring a piece of the Internet directly to the user. We hope that we can find a way to keep the operations going.

AGLOCO Development Team

Cloak & Dagger Christians

Something occurred to me last night as I lay awake in bed: Christianity can be two things for us- a cloak or a dagger. Here's the difference:

If we use Christianity as a covering over our weaknesses and sinful natures, as a mask that conceals what is really in our hearts, then it is a cloak, a disguise. We just play the part, trying to ask ourselves in every situation, "What would Jesus do?" as if imitating Him externally will make us pure. Cloaked Christians tend to feel less compassion towards those who struggle, looking down on their weaknesses, and feeling proud of their own moral superiority. These are the ones in Jesus' parable who pray, "Thank you, God, that I am not like this tax collector."

A cloak is imposed from the outside and only covers over what is underneath, the heart of a person. We only reveal what seems "Christian-like" in us, and keep the rest tucked away in the depths of our heart. But God knows our hearts, and in smaller degrees so do other discerning individuals.

If our Christian experience acts as a dagger, however, then it pierces our hearts, changing our entire beings from the inside- out. It exposes every part of us, whether pretty or ugly, strong or weak, and it allows the love of Jesus to inhabit and eventually transform our very nature.

The scary part of dagger Christianity is that it requires transparency, admitting weaknesses and mistakes, and confessing our sins to one another. It demands that we take an honest look at ourselves and allow others to look into our hearts. This makes us vulnerable, but in the end it reveals what we truly are- fallen creatures who are fully dependent on His love and mercy. And we become so thankful that He made the sacrifice to love and die for us, even when we were still His enemies.

Let's not be mysterious cloak-wearers, hiding ourselves under a garment of false pretenses and Norman Rockwell-ian, "all is peachy with me" guises.

Let's become warriors, battling with unsheathed dagger the desires to hide our real selves in the closet of prideful shame. Jesus wants to use us in our weakness, even because of our weaknesses. Only then will we remain totally dependent on Him and compassionate and merciful toward others who struggle. And then we will truly be doing what Jesus called us to do- love one another as He loved us.

http://glory-story.blogspot.com/2006/05/cloaks-daggers.html

---
Lord, I want to be where You are.

Joyful in hope

Romans 12 Christian
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

---

Philippians 4
4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
---

Why is it so difficult to not let Satan's lies of God's wrath be upon His own?

Why can't we as Christians rest in the finished work of the Cross?

If there is no condemnation for those in Christ why the extra rules?

The accuser loves to whisper lies on God's own.

Do you see the lies he tries to feed you throughout the day?

Do you have scriptures to counter his lies when they attack?

We do need to regularly confess our sin, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading, and not grow too comfortable in where we sit.

The work of Jesus on the Cross was finished, complete, accomplished. It's all forward focused. Mission-oriented.

If the Father sees us through His son Jesus, what does that make you?



His child.

Giving Thanks

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Thank you, Jesus!

Trading My Sorrows

This week God has continuously shown me that He is Jehovah Jireh, our provider.

I've been a little vulnerable with lack of finances. Its been a couple months that I joined the unemployed. Although I keep myself pretty busy with homeschool and ministry; enjoying what I do, it doesn't have a paycheck to it. Recently my husband released me to home and children duty while I remain patient with him, as he cannot care for the kids at this time, maintain upkeep of our home, work, and church activity, along with his own life of things he wants to do. I've worked for a long time, so this made it a bit uneasy, but I agreed to wait on the Lord.

-Last week I met with a bunch of ladies as part of the WMU praying for Christian churches around the world. It was a very uplifting time, as God reminded me through their prayers to be grateful for everything. I think my heart had become hardened with the expectation of God's provision when it did not come through, and I was doing everything I thought in my power to have it come through (spending time with Him, careful in my decisions, tithing, etc). Those incidents told me, God would provide through another avenue. After hearing the graciousness in these women's prayers (who were older and wiser than I BTW), and their pleas before God, I had some repenting to do. It was a reminder that anything we receive from God is truly a blessing from His hand. He showed me His eyes of compassion, and the stubborness in my heart that I repented of long ago thinking, "Lord, you owe me". I was very humbled, and just wept over my pathetic heart of stone. While waiting on God earlier this week, I checked the Classifieds and been looking for ways to make money. Is that trusting? Doesn't look like it to me. In my anxiety, God would remind me He is my provider, and not some paycheck. We had decided a few months ago that for Thanksgiving we would open our home to anyone that has no where to eat/stay. Going with that, we tried to minister to other families with what we had inviting them over for dinner, or shoveling snow for them. We wanted them to see God and not us. In doing this God released us from some unsettling issues we were having at church as well. My husband has been home for two days this week. While he is home at times that has been my opportunity to work, but this client I had been cleaning for sold her home, and I have not worked for her. While waiting, I would feel uneasiness as the bills came in, and would tell myself God will provide. He had continuously brought verses to mind about seeking His kingdom first, don't worry about tomorrow, do not be anxious for anything, etc.

-Wed I had exterminated the church kitchen down for silverfish. Thurs. I went to clean it up. I was tired, low on fuel, but glad to finally have this overdue job done. I had some reward coupons from the store I frequently shop, and was told I could not use them towards fuel. Bummer. That told me God would provide another way. I had $7.00 in my acct., and pondered as I filled my car how I was going to make it to payday which wasn't for another 1 1/2 weeks. Fretting over this driving out of the parking lot, a raven God allowed me to see up ahead and pass, swooped down in front of my windshield as I turned out. They're a bit of a nuisance in the winter, kinda like seagulls in Summer. I thought it was going to hit my windshield as it turned while I turned in front of my car. God centered my eyes on his beak eventhough its back turned toward us in front of me and my windshield. It had something that looked like a piece of bread in its mouth. Immediately I broke down in tears. It soared forward across the street and parked itself at a corner stoplight eating what it had in its mouth. The scripture that came to mind as I looked at its mouth was the story of Elisha, and how God used the ravens to feed him when he was weak. Also, the birds of the air. He said, "are you not of more value than these?" How much more would my Heavenly Father provide for me! I could not contain the emotion and broke down in tears, agreeing with God that I would change my sorrows for His joy!-When I came home Thurs. Night after 10pm, there was a turkey and two bags of stuffing at my door.

-When Pastor heard that we were going to open our home to others in the church for Thanksgiving, he pitched in some money to pay for the meal, and fuel. What can I say, except Praise Him! Even in that I cannot praise Him enough. This is only a glimpse of His glory. Hallelujah!

God's Eyes of Compassion

We can say God showed empathy and sympathy to those in the bible, but the way God showed compassion was in doing.

God our Father showed compassion through sending His son, Jesus to die as atonement for our sin.

Jesus showed compassion thru His own demonstration. Throughout His life and love for the souls of man He gave that we would have life abundantly through Him.

Jesus spent the whole day healing people who were sick and performing miracles throughout the crowd. But when it came time to eat, the disciples did not know how they would feed everyone. Jesus feed 5,000 with only a few loaves of bread and fishes.

Jesus had proven that not only could he heal people of their illnesses, he could provide their basic needs, such as food. And to do this, he used what little a young boy could provide. It doesn't matter how much or how little we have, Jesus can use us for his work. We simply must be willing to do what we can for Him.

Jesus shows us compassion teaching us to serve, pray, and leaving us with the Holy Spirit after His ascension. The Holy Spirit is God Himself living in every believer. We have been given the HS to accomplish much in Jesus name, to be reminded of Jesus' words, to live a life free from sin. We as believers do not want to grieve or quench the HS work in us, or others.

Praise God for the extent He went for us, and still goes for us each day. Jesus is the Hope for every man. His eyes are His compassion. They are the windows to His heart.

Kellie, did you miss it?

Forgiveness is an easy word, but so hard to do when it hurts.

I can agree, except forgiveness is not a word, but an act Jesus demonstrated for us all at Calvary. Forgiveness without the act is meaningless. It reduces the word, to just that a word. Jesus gave it power with His own life.

Luke 9
22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the
elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
24 For whosoever will
save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the
same shall save it.

May God heal you with His unfailing love on your journey to Him.

Frustrations of a Parent

I'm not an advocate for homeschool.

In fact, I have many Christian friends that teach in Public Schools.

I enjoyed Public School.

Recently I was even debating with my husband after a time, to put our kids in Public School as to not burden him with sole financial responsibility of our home.

I just read an article (as I was searching for something else) from January 2006 that had about 61 cases if I counted right, of articles of teachers inappropriate actions to students.

I know we cannot let fear control us.

Every time when I think of giving up on homeschool, something like this is shown to me, and fears me into letting them go.

Why do I feel it would be like throwing them into the lion's den?

A parent would rightfully so be frustrated at this struggle.

I continue to go before the Lord of what to do.

Praise God for those teachers that are a light in a dark world. Pray for our teachers, and students. God help us.

Teacher investigated for 'raping' boy quitsWoman, 29, resigns high-school
position for alleged sexual battery of 17-year-oldhttp://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=48304

Other
cases collected by WND from news reports include:
Adrianne
Hockett: Accused of having sex with a 16-year-old special-needs student in a
Houston apartment she rented for the get-togethers. The boy has testified the
pair would "have sex, drink beer and smoke weed."
Amber
Jennings, 31: Initially charged with having sex with a 16-year-old, the
counts against the Sturbridge, Mass., woman were reduced to a single charge of
disseminating harmful materials to a minor. She reportedly admitted e-mailing
naked photos of herself to a former student.
Amber
Marshall, 23: Northwest Indiana woman allegedly had sexual contact,
including intercourse, with several students, and turned herself into
authorities, telling police she knew what she did was illegal.
Amira
Sa'Di, 30: Clayton County, Ga., woman remarked she didn't think her
relationship was inappropriate based on her Internet research, learning the
Peach State's age of consent is 16.
Amy
Gail Lilley, 36: Inverness, Fla., woman charged with an alleged relationship
with a 15-year-old girl.
Angela Comer
Angela
Comer, 26: Middle-school teacher from Tompkinsville, Ky., fled with her
alleged lover, her 14-year-old male student, before being tracked down in Mexico
where she planned to marry the boy. She was indicted for illegal sex acts with a
minor and returned to Kentucky.
Angela
Stellwag, 24: Delran, N.J., woman accused of having sex in her apartment
with a 14-year-old boy she met in school.
Beth
Raymond, 31: Private-school employee from Pownal, Maine, charged with risk
of injury to a minor and second-degree sexual assault of a juvenile male.
Bethany
Sherrill, 24: Daughter-in-law of school-board president is charged with
molesting a middle school student when he was 14.
Carol Flannigan
Carol
Flannigan, 50: Boca Raton, Fla., music teacher reportedly slept with
11-year-old former student, and also had a simultaneous sexual relationship with
the boy's father.
Cathy Heminghaus
Cathy
Heminghaus, 46: Special-education teacher from Ferguson, Mo., charged with
statutory sodomy involving at least three of her students at Ferguson Middle
School. She reportedly told friends she had performed oral sex on the children
on several occasions.
Celeste
Emerick, 32: Police in Huber Heights, Ohio, say she hosted a party where
students were shown porn.
Christina
Gallagher, 26: Jersey City, N.J., woman ordered to pay more than $1,000 in
fines, sentenced to a lifetime registration as a convicted sex offender and
ordered to attend therapy for having sex with a 17-year-old student.

Deanna Bobo, 37: Arkansas teacher allegedly had sex twice with a 14-year-old boy in his own bed while his parents were not home.
Donna Carr Galloway, 33: Married mother of two found naked in a car with a 17-year-old student.
Elisa Kawasaki, 25: Officials say ex-biology teacher had sexual relations with a 16-year-old student on up to 20 different occasions.
Elizabeth Miklosovic, 36: Grand Rapids, Mich., woman pleaded no contest to sexually assaulting a 14-year-old female student she "married" in a pagan ritual.
Elizabeth Stow, 26: Woman from Fresno, Calif., area convicted of having sex with three of her students was sentenced to nine years, but the judge suspended that sentence and gave her one year, possibly on house arrest, as well as faces five years probation.
Ellen Garfield, 43: Former student says teacher took him into an empty classroom where she worked, partially disrobed, and coaxed him into having sex with her in 1998. Garfield was acquitted of all charges in September of this year.
Emily Morris, 28: Alabama woman faced a possible 20-year sentence, but received one year in jail for having consensual sex with a 15-year-old student.
Erica Rutters, 29: York, Pa., woman allegedly wrote erotic messages to a 17-year-old student and had sexual intercourse with him four times in her apartment.
Georgianne Harrell, 24: Sylvester, Ga., woman charged with performing oral sex on a 9-year-old boy, allowing students to gaze down her blouse and slashing her wrists with glass in front of her students. She pleaded not guilty.
Gwen Ann Cardozo, 33: Colorado woman charged with having sex with a 17-year-old male student.
Heather Ingram, 30: Mathematics, science and business teacher in British Columbia had sex with a 17-year-old student.
Janelle Marie Bird, 24: Accused of having a two-year affair with a 15-year-old student from East Hill Christian School, in Pensacola, Fla.
Jaymee Wallace
Jaymee Wallace, 28: Basketball coach in Tampa, Fla., charged with having an 18-month lesbian relationship with a student.
Joan Marie Sladky, 28: Redwood City, Calif., woman sentenced to six months in county jail for having sex with a 16-year-old student after pleading no contest to four counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, oral copulation and penetration with a foreign object.
Katherine Tew, 30: Married English teacher from Greenville, N.C., arrested for having sex with a 17-year-old student.
Kathy White, 39: Charged with having sex with a 17-year-old student in Lumberton, Texas. Victim alleges: "She just started grabbing me and hormones were on and it just happened."
Kelly Lynn Dalecki, 28: Woman from St. Augustine, Fla., pleaded no contest to charges she had sex with a 13-year-old boy.
Kristen Margrif, 27: Michigan woman accused of having sex with a 16-year-old male student in her car or at his summer workplace.
Kristi Oakes
Kristi Dance Oakes, 32: Former Tennessee high-school teacher allegedly had sex with a 16-year-old boy who was in her biology class the previous year.
Lakina Stutts, 40: School-bus driver admitted to cops she had sex with a 14-year-old student in her home and in a car outside the boy's home.
Laura-Anne Brownlee, 26: Former music mistress at a top private school in Belfast, N. Ireland, was sentenced on six charges of indecently assaulting a 15-year-old boy.
Laura Lynn Findlay, 30: Middle-school band teacher in Buena Vista Township, Mich., charged with having sex with at least 5 students, one as young as 14.
Margaret De Barraicua
Margaret De Barraicua, 30: Sacramento, Calif., area woman arrested after police found her having sex with a 16-year-old male student in her car while the woman's toddler was strapped into a seat in the back.
Maria Saco, 28: Passaic, N.J., woman sentenced to a year in jail for an intimate relationship with a teen student who was 14 when they first met.
Mary Kay Letourneau, 34: Des Moines, Wash., woman did prison time after having an affair with a sixth-grade student, and had two children by him. The couple recently married.
Melissa Michelle Deel, 32: Bristol, Tenn., woman pleaded guilty to crossing the state line into Virginia to have oral sex with a 13-year-old male student.
Michelle Kush, 29: Ohio woman allegedly had sex with a 15-year-old boy several times during summer break.
Nicola Prentice, 22: British woman from Sheffield, England, given a 12-month suspended jail sentence after she seduced a 16-year-old student and began a 19-month affair.
Nicole Barnhart
Nicole Andrea Barnhart, 35: Colorado woman reportedly told police she loves the 16-year-old boy with whom she was having sex. She pled guilty to felony sexual assault on a child, resulting in a two-year prison sentence and a minimum of 10 years in a sex-offender probation program.
Nicole Long
Nicole Long, 29: English teacher at Ayersville High School in Ohio resigned her teaching post after being accused of raping a 17-year-old boy.
Nicole Pomerleau, 31: High-school English teacher in Charlotte, N.C., accused of having a sexual relationship with her 16-year-old student.
Pamela Smart, 22: Media-services director at Winnacunnet High School in Hampton, N.H., had convinced her 15-year-old lover to murder her husband. The Nicole Kidman film "To Die For" is based on her story.
Pamela Turner, 27: Former model and beauty-pageant contestant accused of having a three-month sexual relationship with a 13-year-old boy.
Rachelle Vantucci, 32: Ex-substitute teacher in western New York admitted having sex with a 16-year-old boy.
Rebecca Boicelli, 33: Redwood City, Calif., woman gave birth to a baby last year and DNA test results gave prosecutors enough evidence to prove the father is Boicelli's former student, who was 16 at the time of conception.
Rhianna Ellis, 24: New York City teacher who allegedly had a 10-month affair with an 18-year-old, and allgedly gave birth to his baby.
Robin Gialanella, 26: Elementary teacher in Toms River, N.J., engaged in kissing, and inappropriate conduct and conversations with two sixth-grade boys, ages 11 and 12. She was sentenced to 364 days in jail.
Robin Winkis, 29: York, Pa., woman allegedly had sex with a 17-year-old boy after giving him alcohol.
Samantha Solomon, 29: Fired after school bosses learned she was having sex with a teenage boy. She denies the charges.
Sandra "Beth" Geisel, 42: Albany, N.Y., woman was fired from her job at an private all-boys school after police in found her in a parked car with a 17-year-old. She pleaded guilty to a single count of rape and was sentenced to six months in jail.
Shelley Allen, 35: East Texas teacher's aide accused of sexual assault and faces a possible 20 years behind bars.
Shelley White, 24: Geography teacher in Britain had been engaged to be married before she kissed a 15-year-old student on at least three occasions. She avoided jail, but received 12 months community service.
Sherry Brians, 41: Middle-school language-arts instructor in Buttonwillow, Calif., arrested for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a 12-year old boy.
Stephanie Burleson: Volleyball coach and teacher at Floresville High School in Texas six years ago, pleaded guilty to all charges for molesting a 16-year-old female student. She was sentenced to 10 years probation, and required to register as a sex offender.
Susan Eble, 35: Former teacher's aide is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old boy.
Tara Lynn Crisp, 29: Police allege she had sex with a student at least three times beginning when he was 14.
Toni Lynn Woods, 37: The Braxton County, W.Va., woman confessed to having sexual intercourse with three juveniles a total of four times and oral sex with one of those juveniles and another juvenile a total of four times. She resigned.

fellowship of being near unto God

The fellowship of being near unto God must become reality, in the full and vigorous prosecution of our life. It must permeate and give color to our feeling, our perception, our sensations, our thinking, our imagining, our willing, our acting, our speaking. It must not stand as a foreign factor in our life, but it must be the passion that breathes throughout our whole existence.

-Abraham Kuyper
born October 29, 1837

Fasting

A friend of mine was going in for surgery Monday. She wasn't allowed to eat anything from midnight until 3:30 pm the following day in time for the prep of her surgery. I wondered how it would feel to fast with her. So I tried it, too. I go through short times of fasting, and hadn't fasted long in a long time, or at least not at home where food is always around because of the little one's, and Sundays when we do ministry where its easy because you're away from home. I find it easier not to eat when no one's around, or I don't have to cook for anyone, and don't need to be inside the kitchen.

It was quite the challenge going past 12pm. I really sensed how much I have filled myself up with the world's food, stuff or views. God brought many times of prayer, and cleansing with scripture while I felt my body detox, and deal with the shock, lol. My mind felt clearer, but the wooziness of either my blood sugar dropping, or something wasn't making it a pleasant experience to deal with what I need to during the day attending to the kids and home. If I stayed out of the kitchen, I probably could've gone longer. I plan to experiment and try again sometime this week.

It's funny, 18 years ago I was running three miles a day, and when those hunger pains came, I drowned myself in water as my parents couldn't afford to feed us. I was down to 100 pounds at my lightest running for life. Now I wouldn't mind losing 100 pounds from the past 18 years, and still run. I'll be 40 come January. The white hairs are starting to pop out, and I don't feel my healthiest. In fact, during the fast, my heart was going through something and so was my brain. When I felt queezy, I laid down, or prayed. I didn't even get the chance to have a stomach hunger pain. This told me I could go longer, but I needed a plan. At first I thought because of my irregular heart beat I needed to keep my electroylytes up, but then I thought of Jesus, and how he fasted, and depended on God. I depended on God during the fast, and it was good to be reminded of how much we are to be dependent on Him. Jesus went to His Father for everything.

Right now in my life I feel a drive to start running again. We walk about three times a week. It's only a mile because of the kids. I want to run, or walk more at least. I'm fixin' to get me some good running shoes when I can and start again.

I had a special time of prayer throughout the day for my friends and family, for the lost, victims of the CA fires, the war in Iraq, my hubby, and children...myself. I don't want to be a Christian that doesn't care about her God. I want what's on God's heart to be on my heart. Right now I sense my own physical health is a matter on the table. I don't know if this is a vision, but I've seen my hands as ash, or decaying. I don't know if that is a sign from God either, but I surrender it to Him when I see it. He knows my days. He knows my thoughts. My heart and mind desire to be aligned with Him.

I am God's daughter.

I am the I am's. :-)

Extol him that rideth upon the heavens. Ps. 68:4

What a Wonderful Maker

This snowfall looks like it's staying. We got about six inches yesterday.

Our first snowfall that did not stick:

Are we too easily pleased by this world?

If there lurks in most modern minds the notion that to desire our own good and earnestly to hope for the enjoyment of it is a bad thing, I submit that this notion has crept in from Kant and the Stoics and is no part of the Christian faith. Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.
CS Lewis, The Weight of Glory

As God's children, we were 'made for another world'. We long for home with our Heavenly Father, and Jesus, His Son. Many Christians, do not have faith as the Apostles to finish the race. Have we exalted our circumstances over the Lordship of Jesus Christ? God help us!

Your Kingdom come, Lord Jesus. Your will be done.

The Gospel Afresh

Welcome to A Muslim Journey to Hope website
This web site and our
television program are brought to you by people whose lives have been changed by
the hope we have found because of the love of God and the truth about Jesus
Christ. This hope is available to everyone, and we want to share that same hope
with you.
On this web site, you will find information and resources that are
designed to:• Provide information about Christianity• Answer some basic
questions you might have• Provide resources for further study• Show you how you
can be “born again” and begin to experience a new life
We also have the true stories of people who have taken their own
journey to hope, and discovered that all the promises are true.
Our video
requires Windows Media Player on your computer.

http://www.muslimjourneytohope.com/

These Christians say it afresh!

Thank you for taking us back to our first days of salvation, Lord.

Praise You, Jesus!

Mercy is NOT to receive what we deserve to receive.
Grace is TO RECEIVE what we DON'T deserve to receive.

Failure does not equal fraudulence

Powerful, freeing words my congested mind needed to hear yesterday. How timely is Your Word, Lord!

"Failure does not equal fraudulence"

Beth Moore said it in the video "Beloved Disciple" we are studying at church. I've been in the book of John for the Ladies study, and the book of Jeremiah for homeschool.

On the OT end I'm learning of God's disgust with Jerusalem, and her idolatry. Her affairs with other gods, etc. On the NT side of John, I read about God's amazing love for His bride. Wiki:

Jeremiah, a prophet struggling with and often overwhelmed by the role into
which he has been thrust. Jeremiah alternates efforts to warn the people with
pleas for mercy until he is ordered to "pray no more for this people" -- and
then sneaks in a few extra pleas between the lines. He engages in extensive performance art, walking about in the streets with a yoke about his neck and engaging in other efforts to attract attention. He is taunted, put in jail, at one point thrown in a pit to die. He is often bitter about his experience, and expresses the anger and frustration he feels.

Moore discussed how we are thrust into a place of trauma at times in our life. John faced some intense trauma at Gethsemane, after seeing His Lord heal, seek, and save that which was lost. Think of the shock on John's face when Peter cut off the ear of the high priest's slave.

Consider Jeremiah, needing to continue preaching God's word, and being a light for the world no matter what, even if no one would repent.

When I think of Peter, and other persons in the bible who failed at times in their life, I am reminded how I fail as well with these. I have also faced some intense trauma in my life. Recently I was thrust into a position where I was offering help to a hurting soul, and finding out news that would rock my world. The issue was serious. I was shaken. Ps. 119 was a chapter that came to mind of how I can cling to the Lord in His word through this trial. I needed an understanding of His word. Lord, Your commandments are being broken.

He showed me, by me, too. [sobs]

I was reminded that eventhough I had much failure in my life with relationships of family and friends, doesn't mean that it failed. Jer. 29:11 speaks of God having plans to prosper us, to give us hope and a future. Romans 8:28 shows us how ALL things are working to the glory of God. There is a sifting being done in my home like you would not believe!

I was reminded that to have the very presence of God in my life removed would be eternally fatal. This is the fear I've had for my friend, and recently the Mormon church.

I don't want God to call me a prostitute, or whore turning to the gods of this world.

I want Him to call me His Own. Faithful.

He is Lord.

Brokenness-is it what we long for?

Oswald Chambers

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


"Identified or Simply Interested?"

"I have been crucified with Christ . . ." (Galatians 2:20).

The inescapable spiritual need each of us has is the need to sign the death certificate of our sin nature. I must take my emotional opinions and intellectual beliefs and be willing to turn them into a moral verdict against the nature of sin; that is, against any claim I have to my right to myself. Paul said, "I have been crucified with Christ . . .

" He did not say, "I have made a determination to imitate Jesus Christ," or, "I will really make an effort to follow Him"-but-"I have been identified with Him in His death." Once I reach this moral decision and act on it, all that Christ accomplished for me on the Cross is accomplished in me. My unrestrained commitment of myself to God gives the Holy Spirit the opportunity to grant to me the holiness of Jesus Christ.

". . . it is no longer I who live . . . ." My individuality remains, but my primary motivation for living and the nature that rules me are radically changed. I have the same human body, but the old satanic right to myself has been destroyed.

". . . and the life which I now live in the flesh," not the life which I long to live or even pray that I live, but the life I now live in my mortal flesh-the life which others can see, "I live by faith in the Son of God . . . ." This faith was not Paul's own faith in Jesus Christ, but the faith the Son God had given to him (see Ephesians 2:8). It is no longer a faith in faith, but a faith that transcends all imaginable limits-a faith that comes only from the Son of God.

My Utmost for His Highest : March 21
Authorized By The Oswald Chambers Publications Association, Ltd.
© 1997 RBC Ministries--Grand Rapids, MI 49555-0001



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"The Surrendered Life"


"I have been crucified with Christ . . ." (Galatians 2:20).

To become one with Jesus Christ, a person must be willing not only to give up sin, but also to surrender his whole way of looking at things. Being born again by the Spirit of God means that we must first be willing to let go before we can grasp something else. The first thing we must surrender is all of our pretense or deceit. What our Lord wants us to present to Him is not our goodness, honesty, or our efforts to do better, but real solid sin. Actually, that is all He can take from us. And what He gives us in exchange for our sin is real solid righteousness. But we must surrender all pretense that we are anything, and give up all our claims of even being worthy of God's consideration.

Once we have done that, the Spirit of God will show us what we need to surrender next. Along each step of this process, we will have to give up our claims to our rights to ourselves. Are we willing to surrender our grasp on all that we possess, our desires, and everything else in our lives? Are we ready to be identified with the death of Jesus Christ?

We will suffer a sharp painful disillusionment before we fully surrender. When people really see themselves as the Lord sees them, it is not the terribly offensive sins of the flesh that shock them, but the awful nature of the pride of their own hearts opposing Jesus Christ. When they see themselves in the light of the Lord, the shame, horror, and desperate conviction hit home for them.

If you are faced with the question of whether or not to surrender, make a determination to go on through the crisis, surrendering all that you have and all that you are to Him. And God will then equip you to do all that He requires of you.

My Utmost for His Highest : March 8
Authorized By The Oswald Chambers Publications Association, Ltd.
© 1997 RBC Ministries--Grand Rapids, MI 49555-0001


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"A Bondservant of Jesus"


"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me . . ." (Galatians 2:20).

These words mean the breaking and collapse of my independence brought about by my own hands, and the surrendering of my life to the supremacy of the Lord Jesus. No one can do this for me, I must do it myself. God may bring me up to this point three hundred and sixty-five times a year, but He cannot push me through it. It means breaking the hard outer layer of my individual independence from God, and the liberating of myself and my nature into oneness with Him; not following my own ideas, but choosing absolute loyalty to Jesus. Once I am at that point, there is no possibility of misunderstanding. Very few of us know anything about loyalty to Christ or understand what He meant when He said, ". . . for My sake" (Matthew 5:11). That is what makes a strong saint.

Has that breaking of my independence come? All the rest is religious fraud. The one point to decide is -- will I give up? Will I surrender to Jesus Christ, placing no conditions whatsoever as to how the brokenness will come? I must be broken from my own understanding of myself. When I reach that point, immediately the reality of the supernatural identification with Jesus Christ takes place. And the witness of the Spirit of God is unmistakable -- "I have been crucified with Christ . . ."

The passion of Christianity comes from deliberately signing away my own rights and becoming a bondservant of Jesus Christ. . .



My Utmost for His Highest : November 3
Authorized By The Oswald Chambers Publications Association, Ltd.
© 1997 RBC Ministries--Grand Rapids, MI 49555-0001
The complete text of this book is available at the Christian Classics Ethereal Library.

Thank You for the cross, Lord!

Reading Jeremiah this morning, and some stories of the 'evil' in this world (Youssif story, racist attack articles, and the movie we watched last night on the Mormon religion), I'm amazed at the amount of evil in our world today, and just how ugly that cross was that Christ bore on our behalf. I praise You, Lord, that You have gone to the depths You have which, I'm still learning and understanding, and won't know until I see you. What amazing love you have poured out to us.

When Daddy Shows He cares

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Phil. 4:8

Responding From the Heart


The #1 practice exercised in prayer meetings of the bible was 'focusing on God'.

The #2 practice exercised in prayer meetings of the bible was a 'response from the heart'.


Start with Thanksgiving and Praise:

1. Thanksgiving & praise are usually scriptural ways to begin an extended prayer time. Ps. 100:4 encourages us to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.

2. The commands to praise and thank God are some of the most common connected to prayer. Col. 1:12

3. Thanksgiving is expressing appreciation for a personal benefit. When I recognize what God has done for me, I thank Him.
Praise is used to describe "excellency". It comes from beholding greatness. This applies both to God's person and His deeds.

Reasons for giving Thanks and Praise
- God said so.
- Thanksgiving & praise are one of the indispensable elements that nurtures love. Romans 1:21 reveals the first step in the heart turning from God was failure to glorify (praise) and thank Him.
- Because it is right and proper to do so.
- It gets your eyes off of self & circumstances onto God.
- It sets you free from what besets you.
- It gives you an anchor in times of storm.
- We become like what we praise. We imitate what we admire. 2 Cor. 3:18
- It turns others' attention to God. It causes them to see.
- It creates trust and willingness to follow God when we remind ourselves of who He is and what He has done for us.

A Biblical Example of Praise

1. Leah & Judah. Gen. 29:31-35. Leah wasn't focused on God until Judah. Prior to his birth she was locked in on getting her husband to love her based on bearing him sons. The names of the first 3 children mean: Look a son, God heard and attached. She correctly attributed their births to God's blessings, but was so self-centered that she interpreted all His activity through the lens of Him trying to get Jacob to love her too. It was not until Judah that she finally became God-centered for a season in her life.

2. How much we praise and thank God reveals how much we are focused on Him. If I am not praising Him, it is only because I am not "seeing" who He is or recognizing His work around my life. If I do not thank Him it is because I do not recognize that everything I have has come down from Him.

3. What have you seen God doing in your life? In the lives of others?


Thanking God for His Blessings

- Thank God for physical blessings He has already given to you and those you love, others - food, water, air, health, etc.

- Thank God for material provision: finances, cars, homes, clothing, etc.

- Thank God for spiritual blessings: removing iniquity, shielding you from wrath, granting of His Holy Spirit, forgiveness, developing our character, etc.

- Thank God for people He has put around your life.


Pray for your requests.


Taken from And the Place was Shaken
John Franklin

----

Praise Jesus as Redeemer, forgiving me of a recent sin I struggled with over-disciplining my son. It caused me great anguish to get over. He delivered me.

I praise God with thanksgiving as Jehovah Jireh who unexpectedly gave our family money and resources that were able to meet our needs in a financial hardship matter. Also, as I've been cleaning house He has shown us how abundantly He has provided for us despite the hardships.

We are so blessed.

These are times He reminds me that He is Daddy.

He knows our needs. His timing is good. We serve an on-time God.

The Hedge of Thorns - Lamplighter

What a cool story!

Loved it!

A great reminder of the hedge of protection I continually walk out of instead of staying within the boundaries of my Lord. This was very timely for me recently. I really needed to read this for understanding, and healing.

Lord, help me to stay within Your hedge of protection, to do Your Word, and put it into practice always.

In Jesus Name,
Amen.

Guard Your Heart

Oh, be careful little eyes what you see
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see

What appears to be harmless glance?
Can turn to romance
And homes are divided
Feelings that should never have been
Awakened within
Tearing the heart in two
Listen, I beg of you

Guard your Heart
Guard your Heart
Don’t trade it for treasure
Don’t give it away

Guard your Heart
Guard your Heart
As a payment for pleasure
It’s high price to pay

For a soul that remains sincere with conscience clear
Guard your Heart

The human heart is easily swayed
And often betrayed at the hand of emotion
You dare not leave the outcome to chance
You must choose in advance
Or live with the agony
Such needless tragedy

Guard your Heart
Guard your Heart
Don’t trade it for treasure
Don’t give it away

Guard your Heart
Guard your Heart
As a payment for pleasure
It’s high price to pay

Guard your Heart
Guard your Heart
Don’t trade it for treasure
Don’t give it away

Guard your Heart
Guard your Heart
As a payment for pleasure
It’s high price to pay

For a soul that remains sincere with conscience clear
Guard your Heart

For a soul that remains sincere with conscience clear
Guard your Heart

-Steve Green

Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
Proverbs 4:22-24 (in Context) Proverbs 4 (Whole Chapter)
Proverbs 24:12
If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?
Proverbs 24:11-13 (in Context) Proverbs 24 (Whole Chapter)
Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-8 (in Context) Philippians 4 (Whole Chapter)

Last Words

Many people are known by their last words, or actions. Since my husband and I have been together, I've always needed our last words to each other to be good to each other whether on the phone, or in person. I would need to say I love you, and want to hear that in return. I'm a lover of happy endings, the good guys won, living a life of legacy to those that come behind us. Unfortunately, in our 19 years together, I must admit, it didn't always go that way. And it hurt when it did not.

When the planes hit on 9/11, our country heard the last words of family, friends and loved ones. The aftermath lead to story upon stories of the victims lives, and their last words. Not all were victims. After further investigation, we find out through flight data recordings and voice recorders of testimonies of those that intervened on United Flight 93 to prevent a plane from crashing into the White House & U.S. Capitol Building. Tragedy and triumph on the same day.

In the Bible, we know of tragedy and triumph. When Jesus came into the world, there was a massacre of babies under two years old to kill the Messiah, but God's plans prevailed keeping Jesus safe. I'm not hear to play with anyone's emotions, or express views about the war. I believe God has impressed upon me to encourage you in a time of both tragedy and triumph.

I will admit in my own life, when things are rolling good, it's real good. When things are bad it can get real ugly. As beautiful and lovely as it is to live in Alaska, and this state showing God's beautiful creations, the cold dark, and exremely unpleasant activity in the Winter are a reminder of God's goodness through extreme difficulty. There are times I don't like living in Alaska when I listen to friends or read the local newspaper of tragedies in our own backyard. Years ago we lived next to a Native Pastor and his family when we managed a 32-unit apartment complex. They were a very friendly couple. It was an encouragement to have Christians move in. One day they returned from a trip to find out their nephew hung himself in the bathroom while they were away. Police were pulling into the parking lot. People were crowding around the apartment asking me what happened. I went to their apartment, and walked into a home of extreme mourning. People crying with desperation out to God. I didn't know what to do except cry with them, and offer any help I could give.

Scripture reminds us who is in control of this world. Read John 18:36-37, John 16:16, John 15:14 & 19, John 8:23, John 16:11, John 14:30, John 12:31, 1 John 5:19. Romans 3:23 reminds us that we all fall short of the glory of God as does Psalm 53:1 that there's not one good person on this earth. How differently we would live if we believed that every dimension in our life from happy to tragic to the mundane, were part of a beautiful and purposeful design in which no thread were wrongly woven (Ravi Z). Ps. 139 tells us how fearfully and wonderfully we are made, how marvelous and wonderful are thy works, O Lord. When tragedy strikes, we are not immediate to ponder on the Almighty hand of God. Sometimes we live as though our daily lives are of our own efforts when you do have a cooperative, or uncooperative hand with God.

Romans 12 tells us to present ourselves, James tells us to stand. These are verbs. Action words. We have a role in this relationship with God to submit, or not submit under His sovereignty.

Recently I'd been reading of Jesus last words to His disciples before going to the Cross after he shares the tragedy of Judas betraying Him. His final words before them were:

Let not your hearts be troubled.
Believe in God, believe also in me (Jesus).
I (Jesus) am the way, the truth and the life.

He turns our eyes back to the basics of our faith.

He reminds us of the many rooms in His Father's house, and why he would tell us if it wasn't true? Search me, know me, how long you been with me? Why would I tell you if it were not true?

He speaks of His return, that where He is we may be also. Jesus said in John 14:7, If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him. If you have trusted in Jesus as Your Savior, You know God and have seen God. Blessed are those that have not seen, and yet believe.

If you love me, keep my commands.
I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you.

On Sept. 11th, many children were left as orphans. Orphans go from home to home finding a parent, or the right family to live with. Jesus says, He will come to you.

I am hanging on to these Jesus' last words.

He tells us to keep His word, as that shows our love for Him. He tells us about the Helper, the Holy Spirit who the Father sent in Jesus name. He will teach us all things, and bring to remembrance all that Jesus said to them. I think he still does that today through our testimony of His word in our lives.

(John 14:27) Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Remember this is all happening as He prepares to head for Calvary. Instead of thinking of the tragedy that's to come of his beatings, the shame, humility, the cross, the crown of thorns, the game playing of the soldiers over his clothes, He is focused on the mission, and work of His Father. His last words are of life, hope, trust and security.

Which brings me to the scripture about the Vine. Jesus said,

I am the Vine you are the branches. If you remain in Him, you will bear much fruit. God has allowed 9/11 to bear much fruit, as tragic as it was/is, many Christians were given the opportunity to serve helping the rescue workers, giving water, clean-up, offering prayer and services to the victims in the tragedy. People say the acts of compassion and kindness have stopped. What are we doing individually, corporately, or as a Nation for it to continue? This got me thinking how can I help. What can I do.

The Vine reveals how God changes you so that you will become even more useful (fruitful) for His glory. Abinding in Him helps us tap into God's spiritual riches. When we're abiding, we can draw deep from God's resources. (Acts 4:13). When we abide, we are "with Jesus" and filled wth His spirit and power. Abiding gives us the "rest" we need to bear a much greater yield. In our intimate time with our Savior, we are strengthened and refreshed to do His work. Abiding carries with it a promise of answered prayer. John 15:7-8. Ask God for what He wants to give. Spend time with Him and allow His passions, priorities, and purposes motivate us, ask for things closest to His heart. You were created for a life mission of abundance for God, but you can't accomplish it on your own. There is a breakfast of mercies waiting, and a future as big as God's love - the breakfast of champions! We are on the side of victory - it only gets better, my friend. Cooperate with God's ways and respond in obedience and trust. (these are notes taken from Bruce Wilkinson's The Secret of the Vine book).

What does God want most to give you, your family, your church? How do we get it? Abiding in Him. Are we "abiding in Him" individually, corporately? What will my epitaph read? My family's? My church?

Our greatest achievements is by the miracle of God's life in us and with us.

After the resurrection, Jesus words to Mary, "I am ascending to your Father and My Father, your God, and my God. Jn 20:11 He puts her on the same level as He, yet He is greater than she. Verse 21, As the Father has sent me (Jesus), even so Jesus is sending you, and me, and my brother in Christ, my sister in Christ (by name), etc. In verse 19, He says "Follow me". In verse 22, He emphasizes, You follow me. Personalizing that, He's looking at me in the eye, and saying don't get distracted, you follow me. Remember the mission.

Empower. We are filled by the Holy Spirit through faith, enabling us to have intimacy with God and enjoy all He has for us. It's all about Jesus, but the frosting is what He does in and through us. Phillippians tells us He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it. By faith, we experience God's power through the Holy Spirit. Paul prayed Eph. 3:16-19 that we would full experience the Spirit's strengthening power in our inner being. Jn 7:37-39. Reaffirm your faith silently Eph. 5:18, and promise 1 Jn. 5:14, 15. If you're not able to , maybe there's someone among you that can pray for you. Heb. 3:13-14

Jesus has overcome the world. We overcome in Him.

What is your 9/11? What is your tragedy? Your triumph? In three words describe the last 30-60 days of your life. What fruit of the spirit, would you like the Holy Spirit to work in your situation (Gal. 3:3, Gal 5:16, 25 & Gal. 5:22, 23). Are we living our lives through the Spirit, or a ditch where we will fall on either side.

I know we're not perfect, but knowing that God wants us to have His peace, how does that change your current outlook on life? Do you have anything you need to give to Jesus to allow you the freedom to worship Him more? What is your ground zero?

Six years later from 9/11...If you knew...

If you knew the Taliban/terrorists have equipped themselves to live a legacy of 1,000 years longer would that change the way you live your life right now?

Knowing the enemy is just as equipped to trample you, how would you strategize to live your life?

Do you need to make some changes?

Do you need to improve your quiet time with God?

How about a putting away that which holds us behind, and springing forward to what lies ahead in all newness, and preparation for what the Lord has in store?

When tragedy as 9/11 occurs, we have to consider has God forsaken me, or have I forsaken Him?

Have we forsaken Him as a country?

What can I do to help bring back the glory of God?

What is my 9/11 in my life right now?

What am I doing to help me not fall into temptation?

Am I ready for Christ's return if it was in the next minute?

That's exactly what is being done here, people. There is true warfare, and there are truly evil doers salivating to devour Christians today.

What are we doing as Christians to prepare for Jesus to return, as His bride, and grooming others in Him?

As I think about the anniversary of 9/11, I wonder about how much I have grown, and how much I have not. Where I desire to be, and how I can strategize the way I live my life to focus on the eternal.

It's a much needed task that can no longer be delayed.

Invisible Mom

from email:

I'm invisible.

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the
lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on
the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see
I'm on the phone?" Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or
cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner,
because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.

Some days I am
only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you
open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human
being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer,
"What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30,
please."

I was certain that these were the hands that once held
books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum
laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen
again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!

One night, a group of
us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England . Janice
had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the
hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put
together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I
looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that
was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a hair clip and I was afraid I
could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when
Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you
this." It w as a book on the great cathedrals of Europe . I wasn't exactly sure
why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte , with
admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I
would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which
I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have
no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they
would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The
passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw
everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who
came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman
carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man,
"Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be
covered by the roof? No one will ever see it." And the workman replied, "Because
God sees."

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into
place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte.
I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No
act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked,
is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great
cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."

At
times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is
erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It
is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when
I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that
they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be
on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever
be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to
that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to
tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets
up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a
turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would
mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come
home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're
gonna love it there."

As mothers, we are building great
cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very
possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the
beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Great Job, MOM

Sowing & Reaping-Secrets of the Kingdom

Mt. 13
18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
19 When any one
heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the
wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he
which
received seed by the way side.
20 But he that received the seed
into stony
places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy
receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while:
for when
tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by
he is
offended.
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he
that heareth
the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of
riches, choke the
word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23 But he that
received seed into the good
ground is he that heareth the word, and
understandeth it; which also beareth
fruit, and bringeth forth, some an
hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

---

Seed by the wayside: doesn't understand it - evil one snatches it

Seed into stony places: hears & receives the word with joy - has no root,
lasts only a short time, when tribulation/persecution come because of the
word, they are offended (rather than considering correction/examination from
the Holy Spirit)

Seed among thorns: hears the word - cares of this world, and deceitfulness of
riches choke the word, and they become unfruitful

Seed on good soil: hears the word, understands it - produces a crop yielding
a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown

----

Mt. 13
35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept
secret from the foundation of the world.

I think it's absolutely amazing that God would share with us those things that were kept secret from the foundation of the world. WOW! That He would trust us with it! Glory! How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord!

Silly post time

Happy 40th Birthday, McD's!

That's alot of beef!

When Life Stinks!

It really is fowl!

Ultimate Shame Destroyer

We started Beth Moore's Beloved Disciple yesterday, and the introduction was just fabulous! I just love it when God blesses me right out of my socks reminding me of His love for me; and I'm reminded of my immaturity fussing or fighting over things that really don't matter, or not giving Him His proper place in my life as King and Lord. Can I get a witness? I think I'm doing well, that I'm loving Him, but am a really trusting Him?

A few months ago I felt like I was in a desert of some sort, and just could not get out of that muck. I recall it being Spring time before and after VBS. The demands of a homeschool mom, and wife can be overwhelming. I recall the whines of me, me, me, and your life is full of give, give, give. There's a dying to self alright. Someone told me we are Jesus to our families. The servant/sacrifice is demonstrated everyday. I don't think my family has seen that - hahaha. Sad. I hope they will see more of Him.

Springtime in Alaska is a big time for suicide. I think I'm starting to feel the affects of age. I will be 40 next year, and in my mind I feel like I'm 10 or 20 years younger, but in my body I feel 20 or 30 years older. This I discovered again in the Beth Moore study. I am growing, but I feel I have not reached the maturity in believing God as I would like through my actions. I will have head and heart knowledge, and obedience can come automatic, but somedays... I don't want to be 'bothered' with what I'm doing. I feel stretched out of my mind that I don't have enough hands. I'm embracing one moment, and it's time to move on to the next, and maybe I'm not ready. Now I know we are responsible for our decisions, but looking back, I see alot of it has to do with losing that trust as a young girl so many times through sexual abuse. As many times as I have grown to think I am over it, it shows it's ugly face over, and over again in something. Pride, not wanting to hurt, or get hurt. I will think that I have overcome...I know I have overcome, but the side affects still come through - sin.

I just needed to sit there for a moment after the session and sob my brains out. Thank God my sensitive sister allowed us to stop and ponder for a moment. Whew. Knowing Jesus Christ is the Ultimate Shame Destroyer was such a great reminder! I picture how He just comes to our rescue with this big sword ready to defend me. Sad part is in my immaturity I won't let Him. I've got used to being hurt, so why not live in the plain, same-o-same-o life we've become accustomed to. It's safe, no one gets hurt - NOT! It doesn't demand much. What a farce!

God won't have anything to do with it! He is Adventure! Trying to live outside of Christ just won't do. He won't accept it, and you will fail at it, get frustrated, and even want to quit the relationship.

I have so many times quit on the Savior, my husband and children. Don't want my position. Don't want their's. Removing myself from authority, because authority destroyed me. How terrible is that! Just a few weeks ago, I thought I was doing well in my walk, and things overwhelmed me. I told Jesus would You just get away. How can You love me? I cannot obey?

Tenderly, I hear Him say, Honey, it's me, Jesus. You know the one that was hurt for you?

What seek ye?

I saw you in your time of need.

What do you want?

What's your heart's desire?

I want to see Jesus. Plain as day.

I want to see the nail scarred hands and feet.

I want to run my hands through His hair.

I want to feel the palm of His hand on my forehead.

Daddy, today I did.

I saw Your compassion over me.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.... for the many ways You have given me glimpses of freedom in You.

Forgive me of my bitterness, and ungratefulness.

Forgive me for expecting You to act, and deliver me from what I thought/think You should have.

You are the God of Isaac, Jacob, and me.

I see You don't have to deliver me. Despite the ugliness of this sin, You have used it for my good to depend on You.

Quicken me to maturity, Lord.

Be my vision always, through and through, Jesus.

I want to see You at the end of this race.

I realize You are running it with me.

Score!!!

Goals are good to have. I have made some myself today, and as I look to close out this year, Lord willing.

-New Homeschool Curriculum

-New Bible Study & a Doctrine/Theology Class

---these were clarified today-but, had been on the backburner for some time.

-Moving of the interior of our house ---this has been in progress for a month or maybe two.
(spare room a homeschool room)

-complete kids rooms

-scapbooking starts this Saturday - yea! At least with cropping.

-Hospitality after house is done with dinner at our place - this I hope to do before the year is over. I'm hoping I'll be done with the house next month.

But, my most important goal is to walk with Jesus everyday. Make that time of quietness with Him. Rest in Him. Enjoying Him in my life, the most important priority. Lord, help me to do Your will.

My Faith Looks up to Thee

My faith looks up to thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!

Now hear me while I pray,

Take all my guilt away,

O let me from this day

Be wholly thine!

May thy rich grace impart

Stength to my fainting heart,

My zeal inspire;

As thou hast died for me,

O may my love to thee

Pure, warm, and changeless be,

A living fire!

While life's dark maze I tread,

And griefs around me spread,

Be thou my guide;

Bid darkness turn today,

Wipe sorrow's tears away,

Nor let me ever stray

From thee aside.

When ends life transient dream,

When death's cold, sullen stream

Shall o'er me roll,

Blest Savior, then, in love,

Fear and distrustr remove;

O bear me safe above,

A ransomed soul! Amen.

Ray Palmer/Lowell Mason

Once a Marine...Always a Marine

Ooorah!

Hats off to Reagan's compassion.

EDMONDS, Wash. (Aug. 7, 2007)- Michael Reagan, 60, a Seattle native,
sketches a portrait of Army Pfc. Jeffrey A. Avery, a soldier who died while
serving with the Fort Lewis, Wash.-based 571st Military Police Company, 504th MP
Battalion, 42nd MP Brigade, in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The
former Marine and Vietnam veteran has drawn portraits for the families of fallen
service members for the past three and a half years. His more than 800 portraits
are completely free to the families. Reagan has had families tell him his
“real-looking” portraits capture the lives of their loved ones.


http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/F1CD35BA1B163A82852573370070FCED?opendocument

It's soooo not about us!

Jesus is Lord.





It's so not about us, it's all about Him.





So, what does that look like in our day?





In our church?





In our talks?





Is Jesus getting His rightful place in our life?





Praying through the Ten Commandments helped me see how I struggle worshipping God as He is putting nothing else, and no one before Him. Now I didn't say do you keep the Ten Commandments. I said pray through them, or the Beattitudes in Matthew 5. Try it some time. They help you see the Lord.





It's so easy to get cooped up with stuff you have to do, or things going on, that we miss out on turning everything off, and tuning Jesus in.





Come back to the heart of worship, where it is all about Jesus.





Close off all the distractions in your mind. And just be real with Him, and enjoy Him.

Listen to what He's telling you, and respond.

Lord, help me to close off the world in the secret place continuously.

I am weak. I am distracted. I need to keep my eyes on you, Jesus.

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any
fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by
being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of
mind let each esteem others better than himself. Phil. 2:1-3

A Bondservant of Jesus

Old devotion, but still rings true, and well with me.

November 3, 2006
A Bondservant of Jesus

I have been crucified with
Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me . . . —Galatians
2:20
-->
These words mean the breaking and collapse of my independence
brought about by my own hands, and the surrendering of my life to the supremacy
of the Lord Jesus. No one can do this for me, I must do it myself. God may bring
me up to this point three hundred and sixty-five times a year, but He cannot
push me through it. It means breaking the hard outer layer of my individual
independence from God, and the liberating of myself and my nature into oneness
with Him; not following my own
ideas, but choosing absolute loyalty to
Jesus. Once I am at that point, there is
no possibility of misunderstanding.
Very few of us know anything about loyalty
to Christ or understand what He
meant when He said, ". . . for My sake"
( Matthew
5:11 ). That is what makes a strong saint.
Has that breaking of
my
independence come? All the rest is religious fraud. The one point to
decide is—
will I give up? Will I surrender to Jesus Christ, placing no
conditions
whatsoever as to how the brokenness will come? I must be broken
from my own
understanding of myself. When I reach that point, immediately
the reality of the
supernatural identification with Jesus Christ takes
place. And the witness of
the Spirit of God is unmistakable— "I have been
crucified with Christ . . .
."
The passion of Christianity comes from
deliberately signing away my own
rights and becoming a bondservant of Jesus
Christ. Until I do that, I will not
begin to be a saint.
One student a
year who hears God’s call would be
sufficient for God to have called the
Bible Training College into existence.
This college has no value as an
organization, not even academically. Its sole
value for existence is for God
to help Himself to lives. Will we allow Him to
help Himself to us, or are we
more concerned with our own ideas of what we are
going to be?--

http://www.rbc.org/utmost/index.php?month=11&day=03&year=06

I bow amazed

I am amazed over how much beauty God allows us to see in our lifetime. Today the kids and I were watching some videos http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/planet-earth/planet-earth.html?dcitc=w99-502-ah-1017 from the series Planet Earth. It is just amazing the vast, the depth, the strength, and fear of God's creatures and creations. I live in Alaska, and seeing some of the wildlife, enormous trees and mountains amazes me. These are glimpses of God's glory. The pack of wildlife running together. The depths of the caves underwater. Everyone should cry, holy.

Signs of a Healthy Biblical Church

It seems everyone has their own opinion of what a healthy biblical church looks like, but according to scripture in Revelation, the churches were not addressed for some things we think are important...or do they?

Christianity Today:

Jesus' Surprising Definitionby Lee Eclov
In the second and third
chapters of John's Revelation, we find the letters dictated to the seven
churches. Here, in a uniquely direct way, we have the Lord's assessment of
health indicators for local congregations.
What strikes me is that some of
the usual indicators—evangelism, stewardship, church planting, attendance—are
not evident. In a quick scan of these two chapters, the indicators that stand
out are:
—holiness and dealing with sin.
—endurance—being "overcomers."
The Lord praises churches that face corporate challenges with vital faith.
That's an idea I hadn't thought much about, but churches do face difficult
times—a rash of deaths or unemployment or natural disaster.
—confronting evil
and heresy in the church.
—exclusive love for Christ.
—corporate growth in
ministry—"you are doing more now than before."
—love for one another. This is
evident in the specifics of how the Christians are called to relate to each
other—dealing with sin, earnestness of purpose, etc.
More careful study will
probably refine this list considerably. Interacting with a text like this would
be an important exercise for church leaders seeking to discern the health of
their congregations.
Lee Eclov is pastor of Chippewa Evangelical Free Church
in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.

You might think you have an unhealthy church, and you just might. Just be careful that what you think is wrong may not be.

full article here: http://www.biblestudy.org/prophecy/the-seven-churches-of-book-of-revelation.html

Seize the Moment
It is very clear that God wants all the elect to serve him
in various ways. The point is that God watches for individuals and even groups
of individuals who will take hold of a particular opportunity to serve him. If
they act, God uses them in that responsibility. God the Father and Jesus look at
each of those who have been called to salvation as individuals and, if they as
individuals will seize the moment and take action, God will use them in his
great and awesome plan for the salvation of humanity.
From what is written
about the church of Philadelphia, it seems that this group of people are in the
forefront of proclaiming the gospel message. Because they have a correct
attitude toward God and are actively performing the task that they have been
given, they receive no correction from Christ. In fact, they are spared from the
hour of trial that comes upon the whole earth and will receive an incredibly
awesome reward for their diligence.
THE MESSAGE TO THOSE OF LAODICEA
"To
the angel [messenger] of the church of the Laodiceans write: These things says
the Amen [Jesus Christ], the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the
creation of God; I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I wished
that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold
nor hot, I am about to vomit you out of my mouth" (Rev. 3:14-16, Para.).
Of
all the seven congregational groupings of God's elect directly spoken to by
Jesus Christ, this group is the most pointedly condemned. They are neither
faithful nor unbelieving; rather, they are completely indifferent. Their
indifference to God's truth is sickening to Jesus. The Laodiceans are so
self-satisfied that they think everything is fine and that they are doing great
works. They view themselves as the recipients of great spiritual understanding,
but they have practically none.
"Because you say, 'I am rich; and have need
of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched, and miserable and poor and
blind and naked. I advise you to buy from me gold having been refined in the
fire by me, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed,
and your shame and nakedness may not be revealed. And anoint your eyes with
eye-salve, that you may see" (Rev. 3:17-18, Para.).
Here, we see a people
who are so apathetic and lazy because of their perceived knowledge and
spirituality that they are in danger of being cast away from God. They are
self-deceived into thinking that they are spiritually rich; however, they are
not. Christ is giving them their last opportunity to repent and become zealous
for God. If these people will hear and heed what he is saying, he will again
establish fellowship with them. If not, they will be cast into the Lake of Fire
with the unrepentant wicked.
Christ is searching for people that want him
and his Father to be a major part of their life. He says he is at the door
knocking, hoping the wayward elect will let him back into their hearts and
minds. But he will not force his way into their lives. These individuals have to
make a decision to repent of their nauseating quality of being spiritually
lukewarm, self-satisfied, complacent, and in need of nothing.
Their
indifference has left them self-deluded and they do not realize they are
spiritually poor, miserable, wretched, blind, and naked. Those who lead such a
people and do not themselves repent are in deep trouble. Those individuals have
an attitude of having it made, but have no real commitment for spiritual growth.
They feel secure as long as they associate with a particular group (i.e.,
success by association). That kind of attitude leads to indifference and
complacency, which Christ severely rebukes. He will bring fiery trials in order
to bring those with such an attitude to genuine repentance:
"As many as I
love, I rebuke and chasten. Be zealous then, and repent. Behold I stand at the
door and knock; If any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will go in to
him, and I will dine with him and he with me" (Rev. 3:19-20, Para.).
The
Greek word 'elegchein', which is used in connection with the rebuke of those
with the Laodicean attitude, means a severe rebuke that compels a person to see
the error of their ways. Christ is showing, in an extremely strong way, that
some of the elect who are in this decadent condition can expect extremely severe
trials that come directly from him.
Because of their self-righteous
attitudes, Jesus says they will be tried in fire. A Laodicean needs a major
attitude adjustment in order for him to be used by God, and allowed to enter the
Father's Family and Kingdom. This is why Jesus has to deal so severely with
them. God the Father and his son are extremely merciful. If a Laodicean repents,
he will be forgiven and welcomed into the Family and Kingdom of God:
"To him
who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I
overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him
hear what the spirit says to the churches" (Rev. 3:21-22, NIV).
SUMMARY
The messages to the seven churches are not only meant to be a
severe reprimand from Christ, but are also meant to give hope and encouragement.
For those who do not heed these warnings, there is death and dishonor ahead. For
those who heed them, there is eternal life and immortality in the Family and
Kingdom of God.
God the Father and Jesus Christ are in the process of
molding the body of the sons of God for an awesome and dynamic spiritual work to
be done at the end of this age. But not everyone that is called to this dynamic
work will be in one united congregation. There are seven distinct groupings of
the elect shown to exist during the times just prior to Christ's return.
Because each of us stands or falls to a certain degree based on our
association with other people, each of us needs to recognize if we have any of
the unrighteous attitudes, behaviors, and characteristics that Jesus warns the
seven churches about. We also need to recognize if we are associating with
individuals or congregations of God that exhibit these unrighteous traits.
Because, if we do not recognize these things in time and take the appropriate
action to repent and remove ourselves from sinful people who refuse to change
their ways, we will find ourselves in jeopardy of losing our own salvation and
we will be the recipients of strong correction from Christ in the form of severe
persecution.
A Time of Great Trouble
Any of the elect of God who are
alive during the time of the end and who think that they will live out their
lives in peaceful co-existence with non-believers while Jesus Christ pours out
the wrath of God upon a wicked and rebellious world are not in touch with
reality.
The battle lines have already been drawn, the hour of conflict is
set, and the warning messages to the seven churches shows that unrighteous
attitudes and behavior have rendered all but one-seventh of the elect of God
ill-equipped and unfit for spiritual battle.
It seems that only a few of the
elect understand the seriousness of the times that we live in and the things
that God the Father and Jesus Christ require of them. Most of the elect think
everything is just fine. But things are not just fine; this is why Jesus will
pour out his wrath on all but one- seventh of those of his church. Make no
mistake, Jesus would much rather see those who need to repent do so without
having to be corrected through trial and persecution. However, because Jesus
loves us deeply, he will attempt to shake the lazy, the lethargic, and the
sinful out of their sleep of death with strong persecution and trials of fire,
in the hope that they will awaken to their terminal condition and repent.
The Core Issue
In today's world, the elect are continually bombarded
with evil from the world around them. Many have allowed themselves to become
influenced by wrong values and have compromised themselves and become blind to
their sins.
It is easy to see how wrong attitudes, behaviors, and
characteristics of the seven ancient churches of Asia mentioned in Revelation
exist within various individuals and congregations of God scattered throughout
the earth today. We can almost say, in a sense, that the die is already cast and
that birds of a feather have flocked together. It is also easy to see why these
attitudes and behaviors bring severe correction upon God's people from Jesus
Christ who is the head of the church.
Separate from the World
Although
all seven churches suffer great persecution for the truth that they believe and
practice, the general admonition to all of God's people is to come out of and
remain separate from the things of the world that can pollute one spiritually:
"For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and
the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of
the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard
another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that you be not
partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues" (Rev. 18:3-4,
Para.).
Because of the increased activity of evil spirits during the time of
the end, there will be great religious confusion (especially concerning the
teachings of the Bible). As people become more and more confused as to what is
right and wrong, God's people who are not diligent in their pursuit of
righteousness will be drawn into evil behavior and compromising attitudes;
thereby, they will lose the love and zeal that they once had for God.
Jesus
often spoke to the disciples about the need to perform the task that they had
been given concerning the gospel and the persecution and rewards associated with
its proclamation:
"And when he had called the people to him along with his
disciples, he said, Whoever desires to follow me let him deny himself, and take
up his cross, and follow me. For whoever will save his life shall lose it; but
whoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save
it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose
his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whoever shall
be ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous generation; of him also shall
the Son of man be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the
holy angels" (Mk.8:34-38, Para.). See also 1Peter 3:14-17.
It is sad to say
that of the seven church groups noted in the Book of Revelation that exists
today, only one is found to be totally committed to the Father and Jesus Christ
and their ways. The other six are in varying degrees of rebellion and
disobedience to the Father and Jesus Christ and the truth of God. Make no
mistake, the Father and Jesus Christ are solidly against the tolerance of evil.
They want the elect to either repent and remove the evil from among them or
remove themselves from the evil.
During these times before Christ's return,
there are two primary questions that each of us who is a son of God needs to
answer in reference to the messages in chapters two and three of Revelation:
Is God the Father's calling to be part of his family and the kingdom of
priests truly my first priority?

Am I going to be responsible for
my life and my conduct and consistently strive to overcome my faults through the
spiritual power that God has made available for me to draw upon?
Jesus said:
"Truly I say to you, There is no man that has left his house, brothers,
sisters, father, mother, wife, children, or lands for my sake, and the gospel's,
But that he shall receive an hundredfold now and in this time houses, brothers,
sisters, mother, children, and lands, and with them persecution; and in the
world to come eternal life" (Mk.10:29-30, Para.).
Terrifying and dynamic
things are going to occur in the world during the proclaiming of the Father's
good news to humanity just before Jesus Christ's return as the conquering King
of kings. The elect need to heed the warning:
"He that has an ear, let him
hear what the spirit (Jesus Christ) says to the churches "
The eternal
destiny of each individual whom the Father has called to salvation and that is
alive at this time hangs in the balance. Be a person who has an ear to hear what
Jesus Christ is saying to all the Father's elect children. If your heart is
right with God, you do not need to fear a severe reprimand from Christ, nor
should you be anxious about your salvation.
May our God help each of us to
contemplate the seriousness of the messages to the seven churches and heed the
reprimands and warnings that have been given to us in them, so that we may be
overcomers and inherit the awesome rewards and promises made to us by God the
Father and Jesus Christ.
Written by: C. E. Barrett and B. L.
Cocherell

------

We need to heed what God wants from the bride.