tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43351210921935796042024-03-13T11:00:41.132-07:00Truth and BlessingsTruth I have learned along the wayTruth and Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09771828295390394235noreply@blogger.comBlogger122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335121092193579604.post-65787254213355143142021-03-17T18:52:00.001-07:002021-03-17T18:52:14.097-07:00A Woman of Moderation<br />
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Romans 12:1-2, "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. 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."<br />
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1Cor. 6:19-20, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."<br />
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Eph. 5:30, "For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones."<br />
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1Tim. 2:8-10, "I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works."<br />
<br />Please understand and be assure that I write this in a spirit of love and care for you. And in the interest of preserving the eyes of man. We are not to put a "stumblingblock" in front of anyone, especially another Christian. Our responsibility is to edify (build up, encourage) the body of Christ.<br />
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We women need to be careful in what we wear. Our outer appearance should reflect the glory of the Christ which is within us. I am going to specifically talk about the clothes that we wear. If it reveals anything that should be reserved for your husband (or future husband), then it needs to be changed. If you aren't married, then it should pass the Godly Dad test...does he approve, does God approve?<br />
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Our cleavage should not be showing, at all. The top should be loose enough so as not to accentuate the shape of our breasts, but not so loose that when you bend over or move around the neck hole flops open and reveals what shouldn't be discovered. The armhole should go up to the armpit. Also, the back should go up to the neckline. Coverage should be complete. Color and pattern should be complimentary to you. Material needs to be of the type that doesn't reveal skin unless you are wearing another shirt or cammie underneath that is also very modest. Ask yourself, "Why am I wearing this? Does it just make me look good? Or does it glorify God?"<div><br /></div><div>Now for what you wear on bottom. I know that the current trend is ripped, frayed jeans. Is it showing off your thighs? Why? Is it so short or so tight that it leaves very little to the imagination? Then why are you wearing it? If it is just for comfort....okay, then wear it at home with your family. But when we go out in public, we need to realize that we are taking God Almighty with us. We are the light of the world and are to let our light shine unto others. What kind of light do you portray? Red light (if you get my drift) or the pure white light of Christ?</div><div><br /></div><div>You might think that you have the freedom to wear whatever you want and that it isn't your fault if someone looks at you and gets aroused. As a Christian, how can you not seek to glorify God in all that you do, including your clothing?! How can you not seek to show truth and love to others, especially to our fellow Christians?! Let's try to do a better job of wearing clothing that brings glory to the Lord Jesus.<br />
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<br /></div>Truth and Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09771828295390394235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335121092193579604.post-64506551401369688832020-05-07T12:28:00.002-07:002020-12-29T11:51:39.336-08:00I want to be a mom more than anything When I was a child and people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was always, "a teacher and a mommy." Those desires never left as I got older, but my desire to be a mommy grew stronger once I got married. I got pregnant two months after our wedding. It was not planned, but was a pleasant surprise. Four months later that precious baby passed away while still in my womb. It broke my heart. A few months later, more determined than ever, I was pregnant again. This time with twins, but they too passed away too early. My desire to have a child become an overwhelming goal.<br />
I made vows to God, I prayed without ceasing to be able to have a child. (To say I was discontent and obsessed would be a valid statement.) We waited a year before we tried again and when I did get pregnant we determined to not tell anyone until I was past the third month of gestation. I did everything in my power to make sure that this baby would not pass away and would be born alive. I was desperate to have a child. And that next year, I finally had my baby daughter.<br />
There would be at least two more miscarries and a total hysterectomy by the time I was twenty-seven years old. And then I would find out that my one and only child was "defective". I was an angry woman who became very bitter with the way I felt I had been treated by God. I blamed him for all of the miscarries and physical difficulties, and for my only child's disabilities. (Years later I confessed those wicked sins and God sent great healing to my soul and spirit.)<br />
However, there is still the fact that I am a "mommy" to an adult child. This was never what I expected when I was a little and wanted to be "a teacher and a mommy" when I grew up. There are times when I get really tired of still being a mom. The vast majority of mothers only get to raise their children for 18 years, but those of us with "special" children get to parent them forever. This fact can be overwhelming at times, especially more so when you have to deal with your own aging, and for me, my chronic pain and growing limitations. I wouldn't change this parenting for anything, but there are times when I wish that I could just tweak it a bit. There are times when I really wish the frustration wasn't so overwhelming. Those times when I once again realize that my adult child is still doing the same things we confronted strongly just a few months ago. It makes me feel like things will never improve with those issues. The frustration gets to be too much and I just have to cry out to God and pray, and go for a long walk. And then, get over it and go on with life, hopefully a bit stronger and wiser than I was before.<br />
Be careful what you long for. Be careful of your discontent. Be careful of your attitude and actions. You just may get more than you expected, both bad and very good. If I could, I wouldn't go back and change a thing. God has allowed all things to work out for my good and I am very grateful.Truth and Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09771828295390394235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335121092193579604.post-19124465724471817482019-05-14T09:54:00.000-07:002019-05-14T09:54:23.198-07:00Ladies do you praise your family? It has been too long since I did any blogging, but this issue has been on my mind for several years and should have been discussed way back then. So, better late than never!<br />
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Titus 2:3a & 4, "The aged women likewise,...<br />That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,"<br />
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Psalm 37:25, "I have been young, and now am old;..."<br />
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I think I finally am qualified to teach the women to love their husband and to love their children. And so today, I pray that my words will first, glorify the Lord and second, be a blessing and encouragement (and perhaps a conviction and life-changer) to you ladies.<br />
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Here is the question: "Do you praise your family?" That may sound sacrilegious to some, as we are told over and over to praise God, to praise the Lord. I am not asking if your praise is worship and exaltation of your family, but simply put, do you nag and complain to your family more than you thank them and praise them for what they have done and for who they are? (and, no, I am not talking about flattering compliments. There is a difference!)<br />
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Think about your childhood: how did you feel (and possible react) when someone truly praised you for a job well done, for a certain character quality that you demonstrated, for doing something that you didn't have to do, but did it with a great spirit just to be a blessing to someone else? Now, think about this: how did you feel (and most likely react) when someone either ignored you or got down on you? Which would you rather experience? Which would be the most likely to encourage you to do the right thing? (and no, I am not saying that there is never a time for anger and rebuke.)<br />
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I can tell you that in my life, I would much rather hear the praise which I know would encourage me to do even more of the right things. If I would hear the negative words, I would be even more stubborn and try to find new (and usually sneakier) ways to do the wrong thing just to get back at the person who spoke those negative words. And my opinion of the negative person would never improve if I never heard any kind words from them. (Remember that now I am ancient and old, and know much better than to behave that way. No, that does not excuse my past sinful behavior. I have confessed that sin and it is under the blood of Christ.)<br />
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The thing is, as much as we like to receive praise from others, it feels just as good and even better when we give praise to others. So, ask yourself this question and try to be honest: "How many times did you honestly praise and thank your children and or husband yesterday? Now, how many times did you come down on them?" Many, many years ago I remember hearing a message that proclaimed that we should try to praise our family members ten times as much as we nag on them. I thought I could never do that! But as I reflect back, I realize that the concept was that we need to speak words of kindness much more often than we speak negative words, and that we should truly be grateful for each individual in the family God has given to us. (I think that can apply to your physical family as well as to your spiritual family, and even to the family of mankind.) Can you imagine what could happen if we began today to start thanking our children for everything that they do and praise them for their good character qualities? Could you imagine how much stronger our marriage would be if we begin today to truly thank our husband for each thing that they do and praise them for who they are? What would happen within our church? Our community?<br />
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So, how do you truly praise someone? A good place to start would be to sit down and write out the things you appreciate about each member in your family. (And no, I am not talking about their physical attributes. They had nothing to do with that. They look the way they do because God created them that way. Those types of words would be hollow flattering compliments. I am talking about their personality and the things that are good that they have chosen to do.) For instance, I will use my daughter as an example, she is: faithful, reliable, prompt, loyal, kind, compassionate, caring, funny, curious, helpful, and so much more. (I made my list years ago and have been able to keep adding to it. And so will you as you begin to focus on the good in your family.) Then I began to purposefully praise her for these good qualities whenever I saw them being manifested. I also began to thank her every time she did something whether I had asked her to do or she had just done it of her own volition. At first it felt really weird to praise her. That was because I had been doing so much nagging throughout the years, thinking that if I yelled at her enough she would get busy being the person I wanted her to be. But, I was determined (one of my stronger character qualities. Some could even call it stubbornness), to change the way that I talked to my family. As the days went by, it got easier to give praise and thanks, and as an added bonus, we began to love each other more and more.<br />
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Here are some examples of what I am trying to teach you (and I bet you are doing a good job of learning because I know that you desire to strengthen the relationships within your family.):<br />
INSTEAD OF: <br />
Why are your clothes laying on the floor?<br />
TRY THIS:<br />
You are such a clean person, I am glad that you like to wear clean clothes, and I know that you will put these dirty ones in the laundry basket as soon as I leave, because you are also an obedient child.<br />
INSTEAD OF:<br />
How many times do I have to tell you to do....<br />
TRY THIS:<br />
I noticed today that you were showing kindness to your sister. I know that a kind person can also do as they are told. Remember when I told you to....<br />
INSTEAD OF:<br />
Why are you still doing..... when I told you to stop?<br />
TRY THIS:<br />
I know that you are determined to do what I told you and that sometimes it can be hard to obey, but since you didn't obey, you will be punished. Next time, I know you will be more determined to obey.<br />
INSTEAD OF:<br />
(Not even noticing that the person is trying to obey and/or please you.)<br />
TRY THIS:<br />
(Pay attention to the little details. Stop what you are doing for a minute and go to that person, look them in the eye, and either thank them sincerely for what they are trying to do, and/or praise them.)<br />
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There are always opportunities to thank and praise others, and I believe, that it is important to make those opportunities happen. I hope that you will take the time every day to speak in love and sincerity to your family. I made the time when my daughter was young to praise her every evening when I put her to bed. She's too old to do that now, but I try to take the opportunity at least once a week to praise her for her qualities. And I thank her all throughout the day. She (and my husband) have picked up on this habit and it has strengthened our family. It just feels so good to be appreciated, and in turn it feels even better to love and appreciate those whom God has placed in my life.<br />
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So, dear friend, I appreciate your love, your faithfulness within our friendship, your kindness. Thank you so much for reading this blog. I hope that it will bless you.Truth and Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09771828295390394235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335121092193579604.post-85102851360391683392018-08-14T16:02:00.000-07:002018-08-14T16:02:29.565-07:00
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<span style="margin: 0px;">Rejoice in the LORD Greatly</span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;">8-14-2018</span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="margin: 0px;">Isa</span><span style="margin: 0px;">iah</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="margin: 0px;"> 61:10</span><span style="margin: 0px;">,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;">“</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="margin: 0px;">I will greatly rejoice in the
LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the
garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a
bridegroom decketh <span style="margin: 0px;">himself</span> with
ornaments, and as a bride adorneth <span style="margin: 0px;">herself</span>
with her jewels.</span><span style="margin: 0px;">”</span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;">I know that this verse is specifically written to
Israel, but when I read it the other day the Lord impressed it upon my mind
that I too should be rejoicing greatly. Why should I rejoice? </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 4px 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;">I should rejoice because God has clothed me with
the garments of salvation when I received Jesus Christ as my saviour. He has
removed my filthy garments of sin and put upon me His pure blood of salvation. There
was nothing that I could do to save my soul. There is also nothing that I still
need to do to obtain eternal salvation. Jesus Christ did everything for us so
that all we need to do is believe that he is God the Son, the Saviour of the
world, and put our full trust in him and receive him alone as our savior. I
should rejoice if for no other reason than the fact that I am saved.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 8.93px 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;">I should also rejoice because he has covered me
with the robe of righteousness the moment I got saved. There was a time when I
thought that I had to do all these good things so that I could be righteous.
The Bible says that all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags in Isaiah </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="margin: 0px;">64:6</span><span style="margin: 0px;">, “</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="margin: 0px;">But we are all as an unclean <span style="margin: 0px;">thing,</span> and all our righteousnesses <span style="margin: 0px;">are</span> as filthy rags; and we all do
fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.</span><span style="margin: 0px;">” I should rejoice
for the fact that there is nothing more that I need to do to become (or to
stay) righteous. I am clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 8.93px 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;">Too often, we think that we have nothing to
rejoice about or that we have the right to be grumbling and discouraged. If we
have been saved by the blood of Jesus; if we have trusted in Christ alone for
our salvation, then we have all that we need, and we should greatly rejoice in
the LORD no matter what is or isn’t going on in our life. And if you think that
this only applies to Israel, well, take a look at the command God gave to the
church in the New Testament writings of Paul the apostle to the Gentiles:</span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;">Philippians</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="margin: 0px;"> 3:1</span><span style="margin: 0px;">,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;">“</span><u><span lang="X-NONE" style="margin: 0px;">Finally, my brethren, rejoice
in the Lord</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="margin: 0px;">.
To write the same things to you, to me indeed <span style="margin: 0px;">is</span> not grievous, but for you <span style="margin: 0px;">it is</span> safe.</span><span style="margin: 0px;">”</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;">Philippians</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="margin: 0px;"> 4:4</span><span style="margin: 0px;">,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;">“</span><u><span lang="X-NONE" style="margin: 0px;">Rejoice in the Lord alway: <span style="margin: 0px;">and</span> again I say, Rejoice</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="margin: 0px;">.</span><span style="margin: 0px;">”</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;">1 Thessalonians</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="margin: 0px;"> 5:16</span><span style="margin: 0px;">, “</span><u><span lang="X-NONE" style="margin: 0px;">Rejoice evermore</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="margin: 0px;">.</span><span style="margin: 0px;">”</span></div>
Truth and Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09771828295390394235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335121092193579604.post-83673750948878468192018-01-14T14:23:00.001-08:002018-01-14T14:24:12.687-08:00<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">GOD
IS:</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">(January 2018, by Alice E Jensen)</span></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The world only seems to focus on the fact that God is love,
because that is the only attribute of God that they seem to accept about God.
It is an easy attribute to understand and desire since it is an attribute that
makes the world feel good about its self. Yet, that is only one of the many,
many attributes of God that are mentioned in His Word, the Holy Bible. Let’s
take a look at them. I dare you to read all of them. I double-dog dare you to read all of them with an open and understanding mind. I triple-dog dare you to not only read these openly, but to also accept them as the truth, because God's Word is the Truth!</span></span></div>
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<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Num_23:19</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> not a man</u>, that he should lie; neither the son of
man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he
spoken, and shall he not make it good?</span></div>
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<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Deu_4:24</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> For the LORD thy <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> a consuming fire</u>, even <u>a
jealous God</u>.</span></div>
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<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Deu_4:31</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> (For the LORD thy <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> a merciful God</u>;) he will not
forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers
which he sware unto them.</span></div>
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<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Deu_6:4</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> Hear, O Israel: The LORD our <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> one LORD</u>:</span></div>
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<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Deu_6:15</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> (For the LORD thy <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> a jealous God</u> among you) lest the
anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off
the face of the earth.</span></div>
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<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Deu_10:17</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> For the LORD your <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> God of gods</u>, and Lord of lords, a
great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh
reward:</span></div>
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<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Deu_33:27</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> The eternal <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> thy refuge</u>, and underneath are the
everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall
say, Destroy them.</span></div>
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<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Jos_1:9</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> Have not I commanded thee? Be
strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the
LORD thy <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> with thee</u> whithersoever
thou goest.</span></div>
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<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">2Sa_22:33</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> my strength and power</u>: and he maketh my way perfect.</span></div>
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<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">2Ch_30:9</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> For if ye turn again unto the
LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that
lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD
your <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span></u> <u>gracious and
merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him</u>.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Job_33:12</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> Behold, <i>in</i> this thou art
not just: I will answer thee, that <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span>
greater than man</u>.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Job_36:5</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> Behold, <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> mighty, and despiseth not any: he is
mighty in strength and wisdom</u>.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Job_36:26</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> Behold, <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> great</u>, and we know him not,
neither can the number of his years be searched out.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Psa_7:11</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> God judgeth the righteous, and <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> angry <i>with the wicked</i> every day</u>.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Psa_46:1</span></u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">, </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><u><span lang="X-NONE" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="margin: 0px;"> our
refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.</span></u></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Psa_47:7</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> For <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> the King of all the earth</u>: sing ye praises with
understanding.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Psa_50:6</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> And the heavens shall declare
his righteousness: for <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> judge
himself</u>.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Psa_59:17</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> Unto thee, O my strength, will
I sing: <u>for <span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> my defence</u>,
and the God of my mercy.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Psa_62:7</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> In <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> my salvation and my glory</u>: the rock of my strength,
and my refuge, is in God.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Psa_62:8</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> Trust in him at all times; ye
people, pour out your heart before him: <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God
is</span> a refuge for us</u>. Selah.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Psa_68:20</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> He that is our <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> the God of salvation</u>; and unto GOD
the Lord belong the issues from death.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Psa_74:12</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> For <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> my King</u> of old, working salvation in the midst of
the earth.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Psa_75:7</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> But <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> the judge</u>: he putteth down one, and setteth up
another.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Psa_84:11</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> For the LORD <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> a sun and shield</u>: the LORD will
give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk
uprightly.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Psa_94:22</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> But the LORD is my defence; and
my <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> the rock of my refuge</u>.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Psa_99:9</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> Exalt the LORD our God, and
worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God
is</span> holy</u>.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Psa_116:5</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> Gracious is the LORD, and
righteous; yea, our <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> merciful</u>.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Pro_30:5</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> Every word of <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> pure: he is a shield unto them that
put their trust in him</u>.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Jer_3:23</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> Truly in vain is salvation
hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the
LORD our <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> the salvation of
Israel</u>.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Dan_9:14</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> Therefore hath the LORD watched
upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> righteous in all his works which he
doeth</u>: for we obeyed not his voice.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Mat_22:32</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> I am the God of Abraham, and
the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God
is</span> not the God of the dead, but of the living.</u></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Joh_3:33</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> He that hath received his
testimony hath set to his seal that <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span>
true</u>.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Joh_4:24</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> a Spirit</u>: and they that worship him must worship him
in spirit and in truth.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Act_10:34</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> Then Peter opened <i>his</i>
mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God
is</span> no respecter of persons:</u></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">1Co_1:9</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> faithful</u>, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship
of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">1Co_1:25</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> Because the foolishness of <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> wiser than men</u>; and the weakness
of <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> stronger than men.</u></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">2Co_1:18</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> But as <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> true</u>, our word toward you was not
yea and nay.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Heb_12:29</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> For our <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> a consuming fire</u>.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">1Jn_1:5</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> This then is the message which
we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> light, and in him is no darkness at all.</u></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">1Jn_3:20</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> For if our heart condemn us, <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> greater than our heart, and knoweth
all things</u>.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">1Jn_4:8</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">,</span></u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> He that loveth not knoweth not
God; for <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 64); margin: 0px;">God is</span> love</u>.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Do you want the truth and do you want to receive a blessing from it? Then this is a good way for you to get to know about the attributes of God. Study His Word!Truth and Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09771828295390394235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335121092193579604.post-79676598983052867522017-08-14T14:50:00.003-07:002017-08-14T14:50:43.201-07:00 <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
I was just reading one of my journals and came across this experience that I had on May 18, 2016, and just had to share it with you. It was an awesome experience.<br />
"This morning while I was driving west on Lider road, I had just came down the hill and was headed through the Black Jack valley when a majestic bald eagle flew out of a fir tree to my right and crossed over Lider right in front of me. It was high enough that I would not have hit it, but it gave me a great view of that huge bird. For a split second, I wondered why it was swooping across the road. I figured it was just moving to a better location or had seen a yummy rodent in the field on my left. But then, I saw a tiny bird fly right behind the eagle. That tiny little bird had chased away the huge eagle. A bird no bigger than three inches long, had the boldness that was larger than the eighteen inch eagle that was apparently threatening the tiny bird's nest.<br />
The Holy Spirit immediately taught me a lesson: Christians are like that tiny bird and Satan is like the giant eagle. He is big and powerful and deadly, but we can be brave and bold. For even though we are small and weak, we are mighty and fierce when we trust in God and allow Him to use us to do what is right. We don't need to sit or hid or cower in fear because of the appearance of the enemy. We can attack and he will flee just like the eagle fled from the tiny little bird.<br />
James 4:15 says, "Submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you."<br />
<br />
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<br />Truth and Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09771828295390394235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335121092193579604.post-57160480574757047362017-07-24T09:04:00.002-07:002017-07-24T09:06:41.259-07:00<br />
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<span style="font-family: "berlin sans fb" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "berlin sans fb" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; margin: 0px;">COMMON
COURTESY?</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "berlin sans fb" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">By
Alice Jensen, 7-23-17</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "berlin sans fb" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>For those of you who are under forty:
How many of you know what is in the above picture? How many of you have ever
touched one? How many of you have ever been taught the common courtesy of how
and when to use one? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "berlin sans fb" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What ever happened to the most basic
of common courtesies? Either we aren’t teaching them or we are choosing to just
ignore them. So, this old lady is going to sit you down and give you a lesson
that I hope you don’t soon forget.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "berlin sans fb" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Thank you cards are to be used to
thank people for the gifts they have given to you. Within your immediate
family, so long as you live under the same roof, they do not need to be used. (But
it wouldn’t hurt to give one to a parent or sibling every now and then.)
However, whenever you receive a gift or unpaid service from anyone, you should
sit yourself down and write a short little thank you card or note. I can tell
you that it will be greatly appreciated. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "berlin sans fb" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In the last ten years (at least) I
have received fewer thank you cards or notes than I can count on one hand from
those under the age of forty. And “No!” a thank you note sent by email or on
Facebook does not count. Writing a thank you card or note should entail just a
little bit of work and a little bit of money and a little bit of time for it to
be a true thank you card from your heart. I will admit though, a written thank
you even if it is sent through the internet is better than nothing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "berlin sans fb" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I have given gifts and I have
performed free services for others and sometimes I haven’t received even a
verbal thank you. I am not trying to guilt anyone nor am I looking for
sympathy. I am just trying to get folks to be more thankful and grateful and
appreciative, and to physically express it to others. I can tell you from
experience that when I don’t receive any type of thanks at all, I tend to
withhold my gifts and talents from the ungrateful recipient. I know, I know,
that isn’t very Christ-like, but you do notice that Jesus didn’t do very much
for those who were so full of themselves they didn’t think they even needed Him…like
the Pharisees.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "berlin sans fb" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So, anyhow, it is very easy and very
simple to just go to the store, including the secondhand and dollar type
stores, and purchase yourself a package of cards. Keep them where you will
remember to use them, and then use them every time someone gives you a gift or
provides a service to you, especially if it is a free service for which you
would have had to pay a whole lot more than it will cost you to just write a
simple thank you card.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "berlin sans fb" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“In everything give thanks: for this
is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” I Thessalonians 5:18</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Truth and Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09771828295390394235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335121092193579604.post-54244160811645364732017-06-18T12:25:00.000-07:002017-06-18T12:28:30.662-07:00<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Psalms
112, “The Virtuous Man”, My Jerry</span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> June
2017 by Alice Jensen</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">A
virtuous or righteous man, who can find one? I have! A few weeks ago as I once
again read Psalms 112, I was amazed to realize that the chapter could be
written about my husband. Every verse applies to my Jerry!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">1,
“Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth
greatly in his commandments.” </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> After
dating several men in a matter of a couple of years, I was pretty burned out on
the whole idea of dating. I knew that I wanted a husband, but I finally
realized that I also needed him to be a Godly man that loved God above all else.
God assured me that He already had one picked out just for me. Little did I
know that it would be my Jerry! After a few dates, I told Jerry that one of the
requirements to continue dating me was that he already had to be reading his
Bible faithfully. I already saw the evidence that Jerry served the Lord and was
faithful to God and His church. Jerry assured me that he read his Bible every
day, and to this very day that is still true. Jerry fears the LORD and delights
greatly in His Word and is obedient to it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">2,
“His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be
blessed.” </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">When
Jerry and I began to plan for our future, we had hoped to have six children. I
so wanted to give him a son to carry on the Jensen name, but God had other
plans for us. He did allow us to have six pregnancies, but He also allowed us
to lose five of them. One was a set of twins. However, God also blessed us with
one pregnancy that went to birth. Our Rebekah is our one and only “seed”. But
she has been a mighty good influence in our lives. She is a blessing to so many
people, in spite of her autism. She is a mighty blessed woman, and Jerry has
done a great job of raising her to love and serve the Lord.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">3,
“Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for
ever.” There was a time, when our finances were so tight, you could hear them
scream. But from a young age I had been taught to tithe and to give God the
first part of all our increase. I do have to admit that there was once that we
just were not able to do so, but we made it up later. Jerry has always done his
best to provide for his little family and to please the Lord while
working.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And God blessed Jerry with
better and better jobs, until He gave Jerry the career as a law enforcement
officer. For thirty-seven years Jerry protected and served the people of Port
Orchard. Because of our tithing and because of that job, God has given to us
wealth and riches and a wonderful house that we can use to serve the Lord and
be a ministry to others. Jerry is known as a righteous man because of the life
he lives and God has blessed him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">4,
“Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full
of compassion, and righteous.” </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Jerry
never realized what was in store for him when he got married to me. We would go
through great depths of sorrow and horrible heights of mental illness. Yet,
Jerry stayed an upright man and God has blessed him with light in the darkness.
Jerry is full of compassion and understanding when Bekah or I go through times
of struggle. He stays gracious and righteous, and God delivers us time after
time. One of the darkest periods of our lives was when our daughter became
psychotic and self-destructive. Jerry kept things as peaceful as he could
within our little family. Several times he would have to take her for rides to
get her mind onto other things and to give me a break.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">5,
“A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with
discretion.” There is no man with more of a servant’s heart than my Jerry. He
is willing to help anyone and everyone any time all the time. He not only
lends, he has a very giving spirit and has given large sums of money when we
are guided to do so by the Holy Spirit. And together we try to be the best
stewards of God’s resources. Jerry is discrete and has never been a gossip or
backbiter. As a patrol-officer there were many cases that he keep to himself
and could not share with others outside of the office. He has done a great job
of knowing when and when not to share his experiences.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">6,
“Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting
remembrance.” </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">I
know this doesn’t mean that he won’t move from one house to another. But I also
know that Jerry would be satisfied to live in one place for the rest of his
life, and I am also sure that he will be happy to live wherever God moves him.
This verse means that a righteous man will stay a righteous man because of the
choices that he makes. And those who know him will know that he will stay a
righteous man. It is too bad and too sad that there are not more men that this
can be said about, but without a doubt it can be said about my Jerry. From the
day I first met Jerry almost 39 years ago, he has been a righteous man that is
faithful and loyal to the Lord and to the Bible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">7,
“He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the
LORD.” </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Jerry
was the epitome of a police officer. For 37 years he protected and served the
city of Port Orchard. Never did he get fearful of his job and what he could
potentially face in the line of duty. He was always professional and calm. He
treated everyone fairly and kept his cool. He was level-headed and able to
quickly assess and address each situation as it arose. At first when he became
a police officer, I was extremely afraid that he would be hurt or killed.
However, as I saw how well Jerry did his job and as I trusted in the Lord, I
became less fearful. The fear never totally left until the day he retired, I
knew that Jerry would do his best to not get hurt nor allow anyone else to be
hurt. God has taken great care of Jerry.</span><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">8,
“His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon
his enemies.” </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">I
don’t think that Jerry ever had any enemies, but I am sure that there were
those who did not like the job that Jerry did as a police officer, and there
were those who didn’t like him for doing his job. But Jerry trusted in the Lord
and knew that no matter what happened it could only be done according to the
will of God. Jerry’s heart is established to trust in God and in His Word.</span><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">9,
“He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for
ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.” </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Jerry
is a very giving man. I remember hearing a story from a former neighbor from
when Jerry was a young teenager. She told how that Jerry had found a garden
hose in someone’s trash. It was still in good condition and just needed a
cleaning. He did so and then gave it to the neighbor who needed a second garden
hose. Whenever we hear of a true need, we are some of the first to respond.
Jerry gives of his time, talents, and treasures, and has always done it with a
grateful heart to the Lord who made it possible to give in the first place.
Again, I cannot emphasize enough what a righteous man Jerry is and has been.
His righteousness truly does endure for ever.</span><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">10,
“The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and
melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.” </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">I
don’t know how to apply this to Jerry other than to say that many of the
criminals he has arrested have also faced the punishment for their crimes. My
prayer is that Jerry will always be remembered by the wicked and by the
righteous as a man who loved and faithfully served the Lord. When Jerry first
started as an officer, he was accused by an angry man who had received a ticket
from Jerry, that Jerry had been rude and angry and cursing when he had
confronted the man. The sergeant who took the report told that man he had the
wrong officer because Jerry Jensen was the calmest and most level tempered
officer on the force; and that no-one had ever known Jerry to get angry at
anyone, nor had anyone ever heard Jerry use curse words. The man had to leave
in shame because of his own wickedness. Instead of getting a reprimand for
doing wrong, Jerry was commended for doing right. </span><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">To
say that I am proud of my husband would be like saying the ocean is wet. Yes,
beyond a shadow of a doubt, I am proud of my husband. I believe he is the most
righteous man in the world! And I am so blessed to be his wife and to have him
in my life.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Truth and Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09771828295390394235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335121092193579604.post-64310523432445442722017-06-02T09:43:00.001-07:002017-06-02T09:43:55.289-07:00 When I say, "The Virtuous Woman", what is the first chapter in the Bible you think of? Proverbs 31, of course. But what if I was to say, "The Virtuous Man", what would you answer? I had never thought about this before, even though I have read through the Bible at least thirty times. A virtuous man, hmm. What chapter exemplifies a virtuous man? Wellllll, a few days ago, I once again read Psalms 112, when all of the sudden I realized that this chapter could be written about my husband, a virtuous man indeed.<br />
As I read through each verse, I noticed how it applied to my Jerry. I hope the same can be said about your man. If you are not yet married, and it doesn't seem that your guy matches what is written in God's Word, and probably never will, it is time for you to dump your man. Sorry, but it is a fact that if you truly do want to live "happily ever after", you need to first marry a man that is a virtuous man. Oh, and if you don't think they exist anymore, think again. They do. They may not be located where you are looking, but God knows and He can put the two of you together. I have seen Him do that many times and yes, I have even seen Him do it recently.<br />
For those of you who are married, but not to the most virtuous man, well, you need to stay married and you need to be as virtuous as you are able. The Bible says that the man can be won through the righteous behavior of the wife. (see I Peter 3.) And if he never notices you, God still does, and He will bless you for your obedience and faithfulness.<br />
You can read how God brought Jerry and I together in one of my earlier blogs. But I never knew how blessed I was to be married to my Jerry until I realized that he is a very virtuous and righteous man according to Psalms 112. Thank you Lord for allowing me to be his wife.<br />
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<br />Truth and Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09771828295390394235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335121092193579604.post-60296985525722916352017-05-31T09:39:00.000-07:002017-05-31T09:47:10.223-07:00<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> A few months ago, during Mission's Conference at our church, one of the missionaries commented that he is very, very careful about what he sings, prays, and says, for fear that he may be speaking without realizing what he was saying and that God may just require more of him than he is prepared to give. Immediately I thought of a post that I wrote several years ago about a song that I heard when Jerry and I were newly married and how I loved the words of the song and even sang it until God did require me to give up more than I was prepared to give. Then I thought of how God has used all of those "losses" to allow me to have more than I ever thought I could possess.</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> That song was titled, "For Whatever it Takes to Draw Closer to you Lord", and it talks about trading sunshine for rain, comfort for pain, etc. I just thought it was such a beautiful song. But once I began to lose my babies and my health, I hated that song. For many years I would not listen to it and put it far from my brain. Then about seven years ago our Pastor and his daughter sang it at our church. As soon as I heard the first few notes I headed to bathroom because the tear spigot was turning to full blast. I sat on the toilet and just cried, as the Holy Spirit comforted me. Was I now willing to sing that song in truth? It took an act of faith for me to fully surrender my health to the One who created me. Once I let go and let God be the Lord of my physical body, I had such peace and could truly say, "For whatever it takes to be closer to you, Lord, that's what I am willing to do."</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> How I wish that I could say that ever since that day I have been able to praise and thank the Lord for the physical trials I continue to face. But there are still times when I complain and cry and just get weary. How I wish that I could also say that the Lord fully healed my body. Instead, He continues to allow me to suffer. But in that suffering, I am learning and I am changing my thoughts and I am beginning to understand the pain of others. The two phrases that get me through the hardest times are: "It could always be worse", and "This is only temporary." </span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> I pray for that missionary. I pray that he will be able to trust God. I pray that when he does go through the trials and pains of life, that he will grow in his faith. I know that I am a different woman than I ever imagined I would be because of all that I have had to endure, and I thank God for it. I pray that this missionary will become the man that God wants him to be. </span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Several years ago, I heard the analogy of Christians being like diamonds. They do not become items of beauty until they have had all the rough parts removed with chisel and hammer. In the hands of a skilled craftsman, they become jewels of great value.</span>Truth and Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09771828295390394235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335121092193579604.post-2876340560670949832017-05-31T09:24:00.000-07:002017-05-31T09:46:23.753-07:00<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> You are the second wife of a man who seems to love you dearly. No, his first wife did not leave him, nor is she even dead. No, you are the second wife of a man who already has one wife. He says that his love for you is greater than the love you would have for your children. You accept what he says, but you long to know that love for children yourself. For some reason you are not able to produce any children while the first wife continues to have them year after year. She in her pride makes fun of you every chance she gets for she knows that her husband loves you more than he loves her. But she is the one who has produced the heir and she is oh so proud of it.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Your husband is a man who fears and obeys the LORD and is even of the family of the high priest, though not closely related. Still your husband is a good man who regularly takes his family to the tabernacle to worship the God of your faith. Every year, the whole family makes the trek for the special occasions that are required for every man to make.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> This year, you are so desperate for a child that you decide that you will earnestly pray and make a promise to God that if He will give you a son, you will dedicate this son to God. As you pray, you are in bitterness of soul and tears flow from your eyes. Your lips move while you pray, but no words are heard. Without your knowledge, the high priest sees what you are doing and instead of comforting and encouraging you, he condemns you for being drunk. He is very familiar with how drunkards appear because his own sons are wicked, guilty, and truly evil young men. You speak to the high priest and set him straight about your actions. Now you are committed to keep your promise for not only does God know your vow, but so does the high priest.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> A few months later, you realize that you are feeling strange and hope that what you doubt may actually be true. Can it be, that after all these years, and after all the loving, you are finally pregnant? Once it is confirmed, you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has heard and answered your prayers. At last a longed for son is born from your body and placed in your arms. </span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> As you look into his trusting eyes, you begin to think about this child being placed in the care of the high priest. How can you do such a thing? It is the same high priest who accused you of drunkenness. It is the same high priest who does nothing to control or correct his wicked sons. It is the same high priest whose sons work in the tabernacle where you will place your precious son. How can you even think that your son will not turn out just like them? How can you not worry about his future? How can you keep this vow to God Almighty? And that is when you remember that He is God Almighty and that you can trust Him. He is the one who heard and answered your prayer for this baby boy who now lays in your arms. Instead of looking at the wickedness within the tabernacle, you keep your focus on God. You trust God! And God greatly blesses you for your faith.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> This is the story of Hannah that you can read in I Samuel 1-2. She demonstrated great faith which we women of today can learn to emulate. She trusted God, and God blessed her. This same God is our God if we receive His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Saviour. We too can trust God. We can trust God with our children, with our selves, with our everything, and He will bless us for it. We don't need to fear the future nor the present nor the evil that surrounds us. Instead, we just need to trust God.</span>Truth and Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09771828295390394235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335121092193579604.post-71451118556240586322017-03-20T10:07:00.002-07:002017-03-20T10:17:54.224-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Daddy's Girl<br />
I have always been a "daddy's girl", even when I hated and despised my dad for what he did to me and to our family. (That bitterness and anger was taken care of a long time ago and you can read about it in one of my earlier postings.) <br />
One of the earliest photos I have is of me in the arms of my father. He was a big and strong man who was also meek and quiet. I would love to sit next to him at church and trace the tattoos on his arms with my little fingers. When I tired of doing that, he would allow me to cuddle up next to his side under those same strong arms. There I would be at peace while I listened to the preaching.<br />
I can only remember one time when my dad "disciplined" me and it came as a total shock. I won't go into details. Suffice to say, it worked! There was another time when he was suppose to spank me when I was around nine years old and had been a super brat and mouthed off to my mom. Mom demanded that Dad take care of the situation. Having never been punished by my dad, I was a bit scared and did not know what to expect. He took me to my room and sat with me on the bed. He told me that he hated physical punishment and would never spank me. But to appease my mom, we had to pretend. So, instead of swatting my behind, my dad "spanked" the bed while I stood up and "cried". (I think that is when I learned to love acting and found I was really good at fake crying.) Now that Mom is in heaven, this is the first time she has probably learned about this story of my dad and I.<br />
My dad is now 91 years old and is in failing health. I know it won't be long until he joins his bride of 69 years. I guess that is why I am thinking so much about him today. <br />
He had his flaws and wasn't the best dad, but he was loyal and faithful. He was also stubborn and proud. I remember one time having an argument with him about something that I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, but he stuck to his belief and would not be swayed. The very next day when I had proof in hand that he had been wrong, he denied that he had ever held the opposing belief. All I could do was shut my mouth, shake my head, and walk away.<br />
My dad taught me to be independent by allowing me to make mistakes and learn from them. He taught me to be strong in my beliefs. He taught me to love math and to be able to apply it to every day life. He showed me how to be patient and to endure strife...and to keep your mouth shut when necessary. He taught me faithfulness to God, church, family, nation, and community. He taught me how to drive a stick-shift and had me help him rebuild the engine on my car when "someone" (not me) drove it without my permission and without oil and caused the engine to freeze up. I will never forget putting the rings on the pistons and trying to get the whole thing back into the cylinder. <br />
My dad was in WWII and has only recently shared his memories of that time. He was on an LST that took part in D-Day, the invasion of southern France, and north Africa. The Navy then transferred him to an LSM that took him to Japan for the invasion. He was in Tokyo Bay for the signing of surrender, then stayed behind to help with the clean-up. I know that he still has memories buried deep down inside that he won't remember and will never share. That's okay! I am proud of my dad.<br />
It is hard to see my dad as he slowly declines. I remember the first time I hugged him after he had his heart attack and bypass surgery. No longer did I feel the strong shoulder muscles that always assured me that Daddy would protect me. Over the years those muscles, as well as all the others, have gotten weaker and smaller and his stature has shrunk to my height. At this point, he can no longer stand on his own nor take care of himself. About all he likes to do anymore is sleep for hours on end. But inside, he is still my strong and loving dad. And even though some of the memories still hurt, I will cherish the life I had with my daddy.Truth and Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09771828295390394235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335121092193579604.post-78455169383643994622017-03-11T08:23:00.001-08:002017-03-13T13:40:26.298-07:00It has been a long time since I did any blogging. Lately, I have been praying for God to show me how He wants to use me since I can no longer do most of the things I used to do. Teaching Sunday School, leading Ladies' ministries, Nursery worker, Kitchen leader, Life Group Co-coach, Church cleaning and yard work, Drama leader, Prayer partner...all those things had to be laid aside when the Lord allowed me to have fibromyalgia. I knew that I could always pray, which I do always, but I also knew that I could do more. My heart's desire is to serve the Lord every minute of every hour of every day. <br />
Recently, the Holy Spirit has been gently speaking to me that I could get back to blogging. So, here I am, and Lord willing, He will use me to be a blessing to you. My prayer is that those who read my blogs will increase in number and in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. May God use this site for His glory and your good.<br />
So, for this blog I would like to share with you a dream that I had a couple of days ago. <br />
In my dream I was a warrior general, like John of Arc, who was leading my city army into a battle to defend our city from the coming enemy. The location was somewhere in Israel at a city of only three thousand and the setting was around 2500 years ago. We had heard from reliable sources that a huge army was coming to take our city because we would be an easy target and because they hated our good and godly reputation. <br />
My army and I were clad in our tunics, cloaks, and coats. Our only weapons were our tools of farming and shepherding. But we loved and served the Lord God and knew that whatever happened He was on our side.<br />
Our troops numbering less than a thousand were stationed all around the small city wall, prepared to defend unto our death. As we stood in the morning sun, the enemy army approached. They were covered in black armor from head to toe and were mounted on black horses of war. Spears and swords glittered in the morning light. Fear touched our brains, but I yelled words of encouragement. <br />
The army responded with their own yelling of "Charge" as they came rushing towards us. However, as they reached us, they fell from their horses and begged for mercy. Their spears and swords were only made of plastic and their horses were inflated pool toys. <br />
As the enemy lay quivering they pleaded for us to just let them into the city where they could get food and drink and rest. They promised that they would leave within a week or two or a month. At first I looked upon them with pity as my troops wondered what we should do. It was then I remembered how Satan comes like a roaring lion, but also as a subtle serpent. With firm resolve, I commanded our army to dispense of the enemy at once and not allow even one of them to step one foot within the city gates.<br />
Sometimes the enemy attacks quickly and strongly, and it overwhelms us. But much of the time Satan comes as an angel of light and we welcome him into our life. We must be on our guard at all times and always seek the advice of God and His Word.Truth and Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09771828295390394235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335121092193579604.post-29515393593632287852015-02-08T14:36:00.006-08:002015-02-08T14:36:53.150-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">By Alice Jensen, Feb. 2015</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<strong><u>WARNING:</u></strong> This blog contains information that you may not wish to read nor wish to have others read. I believe that this story needs to be told and pray that it will be an encouragement to others who have gone through the same experience or care for someone who has. You may comment, but no negativity, please. You do not know how emotionally hard it has been for me to finally write this story.<br />
<br />
Introduction: During the month of January 2015 the Lord allowed my husband and I to watch a certain television show that dealt with rape, specifically "date-rape". My husband and I got to talking afterwards because I was wondering if there is some ministry that I could do for other women who have been raped. A ministry of the Lord. My beloved husband very pointedly told me that I wasn't ready because I had never faced my past yet. I still blamed myself for what had happened to me. My husband very clearly assured me that none of it was my fault. NONE of it! and that I had to come to a realization and acceptance of that fact before I could help anyone else. That is when I decided to write this with the grace and help of the Lord.<br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><u>"An Admission of Truth"</u></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><u></u></strong><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I was seventeen years old, I was working at the place
that my mom managed. She and I were the only ones that worked there and I
usually closed the business by myself in the early evenings. When my parents
went on vacation, I was left in charge. I think it was during that time that
the city fire inspector came to do his inspection of the building where we were
located. The young man came into our business to check our fire extinguishers
and we got to talking. He was cute and very friendly. I was young and looking
for a boyfriend. So, I decided to flirt a little with him. It didn’t take long
for him to take the hint and he invited me out on a date that Friday after I
got done with work. It didn’t take long for me to agree.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Those who know my past know that I had been sexually
assaulted several times as a child and as a teen. I had been raised to believe
that “love” between male and female, meant sexual favors. Even though I was now
a Christian, I still didn’t understand how to behave with the opposite sex. I
wanted it to be romance and friendship and being together. I truly did not want
it to be just sexual pleasures for the man. But I didn’t know how to find that
kind of true love and by that time in my life, I was just looking for a man to
marry me, to cherish me, and to get me away from my parents.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our date went fairly well, but right away I felt scared because he
told me that he was not a Christian and didn’t care to hear about religion. He
ordered wine with the dinner and I told him that not only was I too young to
have alcohol, but that I didn’t like it at all. My grandfather and my favorite
aunt had both died alcoholics. I couldn’t see any good that came from drinking
it. He didn’t care about what I thought and basically called me a baby. I
should have walked away right then and there, but he became my “challenge to
convert” instead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After dinner, he took me to a house that belonged to a
friend of his. I thought the friend would be there and we would end up visiting
with him. But no, that wasn’t why this guy wanted to get me there. He had sex
on his mind. I was so foolish and decided that I would stay and we would just
engage in a little kissing. I thought I was strong enough to stop him if he
tried to go too far. He got a bit friskier than I had wanted, And I firmly told him to stop and he was "kind"
enough to stop and take me home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t remember any more “real” dates other than him
visiting at my house and me visiting at his apartment a couple of times. I kept
trying to get him to come to church with me and he kept trying to get me to go to
bed with him. He said that he would come to church if I first had sex with him.
I refused and he told me that we could never go any further in our relationship
unless he could “test-drive the car”. I was really offended by that, but also really stupid to keep him even as a friend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The last time I went to visit him; I decided to go with my
Bible marked with passages for him to read. I hoped that if I “accidentally”
left it in the living room on the end table under my sweater, that he just
might be enticed to pick up my Bible and read it. I was such a naïve fool. I
was a young woman, a baby Christian, and one desperate girl who just wanted to
be loved for who she was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A few days later, this guy called and told me to come over
and get my stinking Bible and sweater. It was a Wednesday night and I had just
returned from prayer meeting at my church. I was so sad to hear him call my
Bible stinking. I knew it meant that I had failed. I began to accept the fact that I could no longer have contact with this guy after I retrieved my items.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was about 9:30pm when I showed up at his apartment. The man opened the door wearing a big,
fluffy bathrobe and appeared to be getting ready to go to sleep. I was just going to get
my items and get out with the knowledge that this relationship was over. He
told me to come in and pick up the stuff myself because he didn’t even want to
touch my Bible. (I should have known that the guy was a demon in the flesh who couldn't stand the Word of God!) I
went into the living room and picked up my Bible from the same place where I
had left it. He was angry that I had tried to get him to look at my Bible. It scared me and I could feel my heart beginning to beat faster. I looked around for my sweater, but it was nowhere to be seen. The guy told me that he had put it in his bedroom, but that I would have to go get it myself because he didn't want to even touch that. I did not want to go in there, but he
would not let me leave. He was so convincing that he would not bring my sweater
out and I had to go get it from his room. How I wish I had just left it there and gone home,
but it was my favorite sweater.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The adrenaline was flowing from apprehension, but I reasoned that I had been pure in my motives and that I
could get the sweater quickly enough that I would be safe from this guy. So, I
tried to make light talk as I entered the bedroom. I had never been in there,
let alone ever even looked in the room before. I had no idea where to find my
sweater. When I finally saw it on the night stand (which was located on the far side
of the tiny room), my heart began to beat really fast in fear. As my heart raced, my
voice got higher and faster. I just tried to get him to realize that I cared
about his soul and wanted him to accept Christ as his savior. He stood
there mutely and angrily glaring at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t know how fast it happened, but with my back to the
guy, I reached for my sweater and from the corner of my eye I could see him
drop his bathrobe to the floor. He was completely naked when he rushed up
behind me, pushed me to the bed, and ripped off my panties. He was so strong
and had my shoulders pinned to the bed with his arms and my legs pinned down with his. He then shoved his knee between my legs and
fiercely told me to "let him in". I cried and screamed and begged him to stop. He said this was happening whether I liked it or not and he shoved his other knee between my legs. I began to scratch his
back. I dug in my nails . I know I
scratched him deep enough to draw blood and so did he. He then threatened to
kill me and put his forearm across my throat and angrily told me to shut up and
let him finish. I was so scared I obeyed and tears streamed down my face onto his
pillow soaking it. I could not believe that I was being raped and losing my
virginity in such a horrible way. I fully blamed myself for being so stupid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When he was done, he told me to clean up. While I was
in the bathroom he asked me if I had the venereal disease “crabs” because one
of his friends thinks he got them from his toilet. I was so mad at him for what he had done and what he had said that by the time
that I left the bathroom, I went to the front room and shoved him as hard as I could and ran out the
front door. I ran all the way home crying my eyes out. It was late by the time I got home to
my parent’s house, so I hid out in the basement “rec-room” for the rest of the night. I didn't want either of my parents to see me, let alone question me about my crying. I blamed
myself for the rape, I never told anyone about it until I was married. I hated the man who did this to me
and became very bitter about the whole thing. The hatred became so strong in my heart that I decided to hate all men and trust no one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1990, the Lord got ahold of my heart and mind. The Holy
Spirit convicted me of my sins of anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, and hatred. I was finally
able to understand me sinful part and to forgive those who had hurt me sexually. However, I still had a very hard
time admitting that I wasn’t responsible for the rape. I believed that if I had never even flirted with this unsaved man or had never been alone with him or hadn't gone to his apartment or hadn't even let him touch me in the first place, then he wouldn't have raped me. It wasn’t until I was
married that I could even admit that it was a rape. My precious husband has
helped me to realize that I was victim of rape and that none of it was my fault…and this
is a fact that I had not accepted until this very day, January 9, 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I wrote this testimony after Jerry and I had watched a couple of
television shows that had featured rape in them. It made me begin to think
about the rape that had happened to me so long ago. I never got the counseling
that I needed. Jerry still thinks that I might need some, but I don’t. I just
really don’t want to rehash an incident that old. I am hoping that it has
turned from trash into a treasure, from compost into mulch, from bad into good.
I have forgiven the guy who did this to me and I don’t even remember his name.
I just want to be able to use my rape to be a blessing to others who have gone
through the same horribleness. If there is one absolute truth that I wish to
share, it is that the one who did the rape is totally to blame for it and the
one who was raped is not to blame in any way. Another truth I would share: God
loves you so much and the terrible things that happen in this life are because
man chooses to sin, and that God can give you absolute healing and victory over
every trial. If you wish, please pray for me that I would be used of the Lord
to be a blessing to others who have been raped especially to Christian women.
Thank you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Truth and Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09771828295390394235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335121092193579604.post-53015518089309663192014-10-31T09:11:00.000-07:002014-10-31T09:11:25.406-07:00<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04;">2014</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04;">By Alice
Jensen<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04;">
</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After my mom died in April of this
year, I went through most of her stuff. In one of the boxes, I found many
articles that she had saved. Some were things that she had wrote, others were
items that she found inspirational, and a few were interesting, and a couple
were both funny and thought provoking. I chose not to keep very many of the
articles. Those that I did keep were ones that made me think or laugh or both.
And the following poem is one of them that made me do both. It is written in
the style of “Footprints in the Sand”, but I do not know the author of this
version.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04;">“Butt Prints
In The Sand”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04;">One night I
had a wondrous dream,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04;">One set of
footprints there were seen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04;">The
footprints of my precious Lord,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04;">But mine
were not along the shore.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04;">And I asked
the Lord, “What have we here?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Those prints
are large and round and neat,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04;">But Lord,
they are too big for my two feet.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04;">“My child,”
He said in somber tones,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04;">“For miles I
carried you alone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I challenged
you to walk in faith,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04;">But you
refused and made me wait.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04;">You
disobeyed, you would not grow,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04;">The walk of
faith you would not know.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04;">So, I got
tired; I got fed up,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04;">And there I
dropped you on your butt.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Because in
life, there comes a time,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04;">When one
must fight, and one must climb.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04;">When one
must rise and take a stand,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04;">Or leave
their butt prints in the sand.”</span></span></div>
Truth and Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09771828295390394235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335121092193579604.post-45169166612685842362014-10-24T18:51:00.004-07:002014-10-24T18:51:50.199-07:00
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14pt;">RESTITUTION
GUIDELINES<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Matthew 5:23-24; 6:12; 18:21<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Acts 24:16<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I Timothy 1:5, 19<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1. RESTITUTION MUST ALWAYS BE A BLESSING: never a curse or burden. What
God commands you to do will always end in a blessing. It should not be
attempted until you are certain it will bless. Timing is so important. Don’t
rush recklessly. We are to edify each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2. RESTITUTION RESULTS IN LOVE: It should cause more love for teach
other than you had before. Full joy comes when restitution is proper and
complete.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">3. RESTITUTION IS A MATTER OF OBEDIENCE: Don’t sin by disobedience and
expect God’s blessing. Restitution evidences to man that a transaction has
already been made with God. Be committed to making restitution when needed, in
God’s timing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">4. RESTITUTION SHOULD WAIT FOR GOD TO PREPARE THE WAY: He provides the
circumstances to bring restitution about. In some situations there is no doubt
or question about immediate action. In others, God needs to take the
initiative. Begin by resting the case with God. Pray, “Lord, I am personally
willing to make restitution and will allow you to take the initiative in
preparing the way.” When He does, then you need to act accordingly. It is just
as important that the Lord prepares the other party to receive you as it is you
being willing to go to him. As you are prayerfully tuned to the Lord, He will
make it clear. Sometimes the reception may not be to your liking, but when you
move in God’s way, it will be the way He planned to bring about His results in
His timing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">5. RESTITUTION PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO MINISTER: Often the other
party is in need of a “bridge” on which to cross from his self-centeredness
into positive obedience to God. Your example and making the move in his
direction may free him to honestly face his own need in a way he has desired
but has not been able to fulfill. In some cases merely your moving toward him
“preaches” a powerful and convicting sermon to his soul, though that is not
your motivation in going.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">6. RESTITUTION IS ALWAYS UNILATERAL: always one-sided. Never look for
the other person to take the blame or even share in the blame. Restitution is
specifically a matter of settling my wrongness. It deals only with my blame, my
wrongness, in a given matter and must never be related to the possibility that
someone else was implicated in my wrong. It is dealing with the attitudes of my
own heart that even allow the situation to remain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">By understanding my sole responsibility to make restitution, I may move
straight to the issue, avoiding the snare of thinking that I must first
establish a certain kind of delicate treaty with the other party. God’s work in
another like is his business, though Satan will tempt me to share God’s
responsibility. Therefore, leave the other party with god. Do your part. Be assured
that if God asks you to do it, He will not only create the circumstances, but
He will also provide the resources needed for you to carry it out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">7. RESTITUTION IS NEVER “IF”: It is never predicated by the statement,
“If I have offended you,” or “If I have hurt you.” The “please forgive me if I
have been an offense” type restitution will never settle anything or produce
God’s results. If restitution deals with my blame, then it must be that I have
offended, hurt, or allowed a bitterness to remain. It then should be, “Please
forgive me. I am sorry and ask your forgiveness.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">8. RESTITUTION NEVER GUARANTEES OR PRECLUDES A “RIGHT” RESPONSED: At
the point you ask for forgiveness, you are not responsible or guaranteed a
positive “right” response. Commit that to God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9. RESTITUTION MUST ALWAYS BE AS BROAD AS THE OFFENSE BUT NEED NEVER BE
ANY BROADER: Deal with God alone about private sins of the mind and body, These
should never be included in restitution. When the other party knows nothing
about it, deal only with God. Never say, “I have had some bad thoughts about
you” or “I resented you” or “I have had lustful thoughts toward you and I want
you to forgive me.” Go to the other party only when they clearly know about the
situation because they were involved in it. If you have shared these thoughts
or feelings with a third party, go to them and let them know you have made this
situation right with God. Go no further under any circumstances. Some have
created thoughts in the other party’s mind that were not there previously and
created a further problem, resulting in continued bitterness and resentment.
Private lustful thoughts expressed to the other party can generate the same
thoughts in that person’s mind and precipitate a sinful immoral relationship.
Be very careful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Though private sins, some people feel strongly that they must say
something to the person even though it is not necessary and he know nothing
about it. If you are strongly compelled that this is necessary, always be
positive, speak in love, edify, and make tangible expressions that confirm your
love. Never say, “I am sorry for resenting you, please forgive me.” Say
something like this, “I just want you to know that God has put so much love in
my heart for you that I have never loved you more than I do right now. There
have been times I should have loved you more, but I thank God for giving me so
much love for you now.” Follow with tangible acts that confirm your love for
him, build him up, and bless his life in Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Personal sins affecting you and another person must be dealt with at
that level alone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Public sins affecting a large group or an entire church need to be made
right on whatever level of people it affects. Always be as broad as the offense
but not any broader!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>RESTITUTION IS FOR THE GLORY
OF GOD: In giving public testimony, restitution brings glory to God only when
it exalts what Christ has done rather than magnifying the situation itself. In
the light of everything else discussed, personal testimony can be given. It
then is not a matter of “hanging out dirty linen in public”, but rather an
expression of the praise to God’s glory in deliverance. Others then rejoice by
your testimony in that God has performed a “miracle” rather than in your
elaboration all the details. Only when the glory goes to Jesus will people be
blessed and the church edified.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">IMPORTANCT FINAL WORDS:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1. On matters of personal morality (immorality), be sure to consult
your pastor or spiritual advisor before acting in andy direction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2. Never pressure a person to respond. If he is unwilling to forgive,
ask him to contact you when he is ready.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">3. If the sin occurred before salvation, deal with everything the Holy
Spirit reveals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">4. Aside from matters of personal morality (immorality), the general
rule is to deal person-to-person. If impossible, telephone. Letters, emails,
etc. should be the last resort.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">5. If you have any questions at all about the what, when, why, how, or
even if restitution should be made, consult your pastor or spiritual advisor.
Don’t with when it is too late you had gotten the right advice. You cannot
always recover the damage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This has been copied from the flier put out in 1990 by the Canadian
Revival Fellowship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Truth and Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09771828295390394235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335121092193579604.post-81691722086739294302014-08-19T18:52:00.002-07:002014-08-19T18:52:43.612-07:00
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ2s0dfk0WvuuOtNON73W_bZBU0vkyDctXK1JVm620flwkTpW1r" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="rg_i" data-src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ2s0dfk0WvuuOtNON73W_bZBU0vkyDctXK1JVm620flwkTpW1r" data-sz="f" jsaction="load:str.tbn" name="arVc23dlEdBR2M:" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ2s0dfk0WvuuOtNON73W_bZBU0vkyDctXK1JVm620flwkTpW1r" style="height: 194px; margin-top: 0px; width: 110px;" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 12pt;">ZOMBIES</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 12pt;">By Alice
Jensen</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 12pt;">August
19, 2014</span><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Zombie Survival Summer Camp” is
being offered in Canada. It teaches you how to survive a zombie attack. You
will learn how to use many common items to fight off a zombie. Items such as
pitchforks, rakes, bats, kitchen knives. Honest, I just heard about this camp
this morning as I was listening to the news. At first I thought this was a
stupid idea and couldn’t believe that people would pay good money to go to such
a strange summer camp. Why would someone really need to learn about how to
survive a zombie attack?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>While I listened to the newscast, I
began to think about the current fascination with zombies. And I have to admit,
one of my favorite computer games is “Plants vs Zombies”. It is fun to
strategize and plan how to best kill the most zombies possible. The animated
zombies are “cute”, but I do not care at all for the “real” zombies. You can
pretty much find something related to zombies any day of the week. So, how
would you survive a zombie attack and would you ever really need too?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That question stuck in my brain (get
it? brain!) and I remembered something in the book of Revelation that might be
like a zombie attack. The Holy Spirit answered my question about would a person
ever need to survive zombies. The answer is “YES”, if you have not accepted
Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and if you are still alive when the Great
Tribulation takes place (rest assured, you will definitely know when it occurs.
All the horrible things that you think are going on right now??? They don’t
compare to how horrible it is going to be during the Great Tribulation!).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Take a look at Revelation 9:1-12 (I
dare you!). I don’t know about you, but if no one is able to die for five
months (that’s what it says in verses 5-6), it looks like there will be
“zombies” for real. Zombie = the undead. Verse six says very clearly that there
will be people who shall seek death and shall not find it. No, they won’t be
looking for actual brains to eat, but they may come looking for someone to help
put them out of their torment and it might seem like they are after your brain.
Just imagine how gross it will be…someone will try to kill themselves and just
won’t be able to do so. I would not want to be around for that!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So, it is a fact that someday there
will be real “zombies” here on planet earth. So, you may need to survive an
attack by them. So, what is the best way to fight them off? Well, for now, the
best way to prepare yourself is to just believe and receive Jesus Christ as
your Saviour (take a look at Romans 10:9.) That way, you won’t even be here on
earth when the zombie invasion takes place. But if you are dumb enough to not
accept the gift of eternal life from the Lord Jesus Christ, and you wind up
getting left behind when all of us believers are taken to Heaven before the
Great Tribulation takes place here on earth, the best way to fight off the
zombies is to still receive Jesus Christ as your Saviour, do not ever take any
kind of identification mark in your body, and obey the Word of God. (Sorry, but
you would have to be “brainless” to not just pray and ask Jesus to be your
Saviour right here and right now!)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Oh, and for those of you, who are
really empty-headed, and refuse to believe that Jesus is God the Son and that
He shed His blood and died for you, well….the Bible says that when you die (if
you happen to die before the “zombie invasion”), you get to go to hell where
you will be tormented forever by not only “zombies”, but also by Satan and his
wicked forces (Take a look at Revelation 15:9-11 and 20:10-15), and in the very
end, you get tossed into the Lake Fire. So, don’t you think that it would just
be a great idea to pray right now and receive Jesus as your Saviour?!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If you do have a brain in that head
of yours and you know how to use it and would like to pray to be saved, why
don’t you pray something like this: Jesus, the Bible says that you love me. It
also says that you are God the Son. I am choosing to believe. The Bible says
that I am a sinner and that I can never be good enough to go to Heaven, but
that you shed your blood and gave up your earthly life when you died on the
cross to pay the penalty for the sins of all humanity. I am also choosing to
believe that you are the Saviour and right now I am praying to receive you into
my life. Thank you Jesus for taking away all of my sins and for setting me free
from all evil. Thank you for saving me and making the way so that I can go to
Heaven when I die. Thank you that I no longer have to fear any zombies because
I will always be with you and you will always be with me (Hebrews 13:6). In
Jesus name, Amen.</span></div>
Truth and Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09771828295390394235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335121092193579604.post-52368773655892180862014-07-26T14:33:00.000-07:002014-07-26T14:33:05.239-07:00
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">THE SIN OF GETTING OFFENDED</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 6;"> </span>July
26, 2014</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 11;"> </span>By
Alice Jensen</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">(The name of my
best friend has been changed…and you don’t need to try to figure out who she
is. What you need to do is to read the whole post and pray.)<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">She
knew that my daughter’s fifth birthday was coming in just a couple of weeks. After
all, CeeCee was one of my best friends. Every week she and her girls went with
us to a parenting class, we went to church together three times a week, and we
were often at her house. So, how could she not expect that I would want her to
bring her video-camera and record my daughter’s birthday? She had to know that
I would want her and her girls to be there and that I would want her to record
the whole party. She was the one who owned a video camera. She knew that my
daughter would probably be the only child that I would ever have and that her
fifth birthday would be a really big deal to me. I thought that best friends
just knew to do those kinds of things for each other. How could she even
suggest that she might not come? I needed her to help me with the party as well
as bring her video camera. I was expecting a bunch of little kids and knew that
I couldn’t handle them on my own. Sure, my husband would be there. But he
wouldn’t be much help. It would be better if just did the video recording and
we two moms would handle the games, the food, the children, and the presents.
But no, she told me, she didn’t think that she was going to come to the party.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We were together in the nursery at
our church when she informed me that wouldn’t be coming to my daughter’s party.
I looked at her dumb-founded. I started to cry and to accuse her of being
selfish. She told me that I shouldn’t have put expectations on her without
asking first. My anger began to boil and I had to get it under control or I
knew I would not be able to put her on a guilt trip. After begging CeeCee, she
finally agreed to be there with her girls and the video camera.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For the next two weeks, I internally
fumed over this whole situation. CeeCee had greatly offended me and I reasoned
that I had a right to be angry because best friends just don’t do mean things
to each other. Of course, I didn’t think that I had done anything offensive
towards CeeCee. Nor did I believe that it was my responsibility to make things
right between us or even between myself and God. I felt like I was the one who
had been wronged and deserved to be angry and hurt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>CeeCee did bring her girls and come
to the birthday party, but forever after our friendship was never the same. No
longer was she one of my best friends. There was a block of ice between us that
never thawed. We didn’t drop in on them like we used to, our girls didn’t play
together, and the parenting class was over. I thought it was all CeeCee’s fault
for not being the good friend that I expected her to be. She was the one who
had hurt me to the very core of my being when she said that she didn’t want to
go to my daughter’s party. And I allowed that pain to turn to anger, and that
anger to bitterness.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Yes, CeeCee had
hurt me, but I was the one to blame for how I responded to that pain. Yes, I
may have had a “right” to get angry. But did that make it right in the eyes of
God? No! God says, “Be ye angry and sin not…” Ephesians 4:26. Had I sinned when
I got angry? You bet I did. I allowed myself to become bitter and wasn’t
willing to forgive my friend. Colossians 3:13, “Forbearing one another (to put
up with their weaknesses), and forgiving one another (oh me!), if any man (or
woman) have a quarrel against any (we almost had a full-blown quarrel): even as
Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
wasn’t until many years later that I realized my own sin and the damage that I
had caused. </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">By that time
CeeCee had moved away and we were friends no longer. To this day, I haven’t had
any more contact with her. I wish that I could because I would like to be able
to apologize and to ask for her forgiveness. The Lord convicted me my sin when
I began to pray for Him to show me all of the sins in my life. I no longer
wanted to live with bitterness and anger and pain and deep depression. God
showed me Psalms 37 and told me to study it and memorize it verse by verse.
Over and over the Lord convicted me of my own sinfulness and that I had
absolutely no rights, but that instead, I had responsibilities. I was
responsible to obey His Word and when I got to verse eight of Psalms 37, I
realized my responsibility for my sin of anger. “Cease from anger, and forsake
wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.” I don’t think that God could
have made it any clearer to me. I was guilty of the sin of anger, wrath, evil
thinking, wanting to get restitution, and just plain old self-centeredness. I
was guilty of even thinking that I had a right to get offended. II Corinthians
6:3, “Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:” Not
only had I gotten offended, but I wound up offending CeeCee and driving her
away from our friendship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So, what is the truth and blessing
of this story? My hope and prayer is that God uses this to speak to all of our
hearts and to allow the Holy Spirit to show us if we have sinned either in
getting offended at someone or of offending another person. I also hope that we
will stop claiming our “rights” to feel a certain way like angry or bitter when
someone does or doesn’t do what we expect them to do. And I hope that we will
pray and open up ourselves honestly to the Lord so that He can show us our own
sins, leave the sins of others with God, and allow the Holy Spirit to convict
us of our sins and to be honest about them. I John 1:8, “If we say that we have
no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9, If we confess our
sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness.” Oh what a better person, what a stronger church, what a
shining example we can be if we would only yield ourselves fully to the One who
bought us with His precious blood. The truth is: I would still be a bitter,
angry, and wretched woman if I hadn’t been honest and confessed my sins one by
one as the Holy Spirit convicted me of them. The blessing is: you too can be
set free from the bondage of the sin of bitterness, anger, and of being easily
offended (yes, I know there are many of you out there, and I pray for you
often), if you too will be honest and confess your sins when the Holy Ghost
convicts you of them. Will you pray this prayer with me? It is one that I had
to pray for many, many weeks before I truly meant what I was saying. I hope
that you will pray this prayer honestly and truly to the Lord right now, “Father
God, my Lord Jesus Christ, will you please fill me with the Holy Spirit who
will search my heart and know my thoughts and convict me of any sin that I have
committed against you or against another? Forgive me as I confess this sin
(name whatever sin it is that the Holy Spirit has brought to your mind). I
claim the promise of your Holy Word that states that you have forgiven me and
cleansed me of all unrighteousness. Thank you Jesus for shedding Your blood to
pay for my every sin. I yield full control over (whatever that sin was) and
pray that You will empower me to do Your will instead. I thank You and Praise
You in the name of my Saviour Jesus Christ.” If you have prayed that prayer and
need to make things right with someone else, you need to do so as soon as God
allows and enables you to do so. Don’t wait until you feel like it! You may not
get the chance if you do wait…just like I never got the opportunity to
apologize to CeeCee. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">(Next time I blog,
I will write about how to make appropriate restitution.)</span></div>
Truth and Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09771828295390394235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335121092193579604.post-59959891250009661142014-05-26T16:06:00.000-07:002014-05-26T16:06:00.282-07:00My Mama
<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Go2LDqPpmi0/U4PIfZvo_EI/AAAAAAAAAH0/Kj8oXcMPM98/s1600/6-12mavoss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Go2LDqPpmi0/U4PIfZvo_EI/AAAAAAAAAH0/Kj8oXcMPM98/s1600/6-12mavoss.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Mama<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>May
26, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This is my mama, Patricia (Pat)
Voss. She died on Saturday, April 12, 2014. I have wanted to blog about that
day ever since it happened, but it is just so emotionally hard for me to do.
However, I am going to try and with the help of the Holy Spirit I will get it
done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It was around 3:30 in the afternoon
when I went back over to the home to sit with my mama. My sister (Mary) was
still there and my papa left soon after I arrived. I didn’t think my sister
would stay as she had already been at the Home for a couple of hours and had
been in town all day. She had her cats to feed and I figured she would be
leaving. I am so glad that she didn’t.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We sat and talked. After an hour, we
decided to play a game of cribbage. It was a game that our mama had taught us
when we were young teenagers and it had been one of her favorite games. Mary
jokingly said that we would go to hell for playing a card game while our mother
lay dying. I responded that mom would be glad that we were together doing
something that she had once enjoyed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As we played the game we continued
to listen to the staggered breathing and death gurgle that came from our mom.
Mary mentioned that she had a song running through her brain that she knew mama
liked and that would be appropriate for this time. Mary said that it was the
old spiritual, “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” I began to sing the chorus and Mary
joined in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Reader, you need to realize that
Mary was brought up in good churches and knows Jesus is her Saviour, but has
not attended church since she became an independent adult. So, it was a great
surprise to me that she wanted to sing spiritual song. A surprise and an even
greater blessing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When we finished singing the chorus,
Mary mentioned another song chorus that would be good to sing. She couldn’t
remember the name of it; just a few words. It was, “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks.”
I sang the first verse and when I got to the chorus, Mary sang soprano and I
alto. Mama opened her eyes which had been shut all day and looked at something
above her. Mary asked her if she saw the angels coming for her that we had been
singing about. Again we sang “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” and we finished our
game of cribbage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Mary was drawing a line down her
score-sheet, when I looked at mama. I don’t know what I saw or heard that
caused me to realize that this was the end, but I said to Mary, “I think this
is it.” Mary thought I meant that we couldn’t play another hand of cribbage and
stated that she thought we had enough time. I began to rise from my seat and
said, “No, I think This is It!” She looked over at mama just as I got to the
bedside. Mama took one last breath and slowly let it out. We timed it and
forty-five seconds passed before she took the last exhale as her soul departed
for Heaven. I instantly called my husband Jerry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Mary and I hugged each other and
cried. I went to get the Home’s C.N.A. and Mary felt for any pulse on mom’s
wrist and neck. The nurse and my sister used the stethoscope and heard no
heartbeat. We called the rest of the family and the nurse called for the
Hospice RN to come and make the official “call” of death.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I don’t know how many deaths have
been as peaceful and blessed as this one. I was present for the death of my
mother-in-law which was very peaceful. But I was so blessed to be a part of the
“home-coming” for my mama. It was filled with so much love, sweet music, peace,
and joy. Mama was finally free from all her pain and I know that when I see her
again, she will be in her perfectly glorified body. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">II
Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man (human) be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”</span></div>
Truth and Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09771828295390394235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335121092193579604.post-21992861281173384712014-01-10T15:01:00.002-08:002014-01-10T15:01:22.496-08:00God is so good!
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: EucrosiaUPC;">God is So Good<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: EucrosiaUPC;">January 10, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: EucrosiaUPC;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Last year at this time I was feeling
really depressed and discouraged. We were getting ready to return home from
Arizona and I truly did not want to leave. Going home would mean that I had to
return to the cold, rainy, and gray weather in western Washington. It took me a
long time to get over the blue funk and to feel like God even cared one iota
about me. I just felt like I had been left alone to wallow in my self-pity.
But, I wasn’t alone because when I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior
I also received the Holy Spirit and my body became His temple. Ever faithful,
the Holy Spirit began to remind me of the truth of God’s Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: EucrosiaUPC;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Well, for those of you who have been
following my blog, you already know how the Lord is making His blessing very
abundant and visible in my life recently. He did it again yesterday and I just
have to give Him all the praise and share this testimony with you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: EucrosiaUPC;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My daughter, Rebekah, has been
longing to be on the special olympic’s ice skating team ever since she found
out that they started a team in Bremerton last January. She thought that they
only practiced for the winter games which meant they would start practicing
this month. Rebekah contacted the coach by email a couple of times to find out
when practices would begin, but she never heard anything. So, I gave her the
phone number for the ice center and she gave them a call. The instructor
informed Bekah that she thought they would start on Tuesday. We were at the
rink last Tuesday, but no one ever showed up. We talked to the instructor/owner
and decided to try again on Thursday (yesterday). My daughter was very upset
when no one showed up and it took a lot of prayer and talking to get her over
the mental issues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: EucrosiaUPC;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A little back-ground on Rebekah.
Most of you know that she is autistic and also deals with mental illness in the
form of mood disorder. She takes medication for it, but it doesn’t make her a
brain dead zombie. So she still has to deal with emotions that can overwhelm
her. And now back to the blessed story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: EucrosiaUPC;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On Thursday we left early for
Bremerton because I needed to get gas and wanted to look around for birthday
gifts for Jerry. For that reason, I wasn’t home to answer the phone when two
ladies called. At least they left messages. Jerry came home for a minute to get
his work computer and to do a load of laundry. He was the one that listened to
the answering machine. I was at SVDP when he called my cellphone and gave me
some really bad news about ice skating. I had to pause a minute to pray and get
myself prepared for how Rebekah would react to the news. Jerry was kind enough
to tell Bekah the sad news that the team roster was full and that she could not
be on the team. She took the news well and asked if we could still go to the
practice. I figured it was worth going just to talk to the coach.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: EucrosiaUPC;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Rebekah had a nice time talking to
her friends while we waited for the coach to arrive. I was dreading the talk
with the coach because I don’t like any type of confrontation. So, while we
waited, I prayed. When I finally had the opportunity to talk to the coach, she
explained fully about the program being different from the other sports offered
by special Olympics due to the fact that the team was also a part of the
federation of skaters and that the team practiced off and on all year long and
competed in more events than just those sponsored by special Olympics. She was
truly kind and encouraged Rebekah to learn and practice ice skating and try to
join the team again in April.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: EucrosiaUPC;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Once I got home I listened to the
messages on the answering myself. One was from the coach and the other was from
a good friend. My friend said she would call back later and she did. She
wondered if I was okay and what was going on. That morning, before she even got
out of bed, the Holy Spirit has impressed upon her heart to pray for me. I
couldn’t figure out why the Lord had done that. We chatted for several minutes
and I couldn’t think of any reason for why God did what He did. When I finished
the phone call, I asked the Lord, “Why did you place me on my friend’s heart,
Lord?” And immediately He replied, “Do you remember how well things went this
morning? Remember how well Bekah did with the bad news and how nice the coach
was when she didn’t have to be? I DID THAT!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: EucrosiaUPC;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>WOW, all praise to God for He is
great and His mercy is amazing.</span></div>
Truth and Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09771828295390394235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335121092193579604.post-68145618095011470392014-01-08T16:01:00.004-08:002014-01-08T16:01:53.539-08:00My notes for the EPIC talk I gave on January 8, 2014
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Once upon a time,
not that long ago, and in a kingdom called poor torchard, there was a
beautiful, teenage princess. Okay, so maybe she wasn’t a real princess, but she
sure wished that she was one, and sometimes she really acted like a diva. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> The beautiful, teenage princess could
not wait for her prince charming to come along and rescue her from the haunted
non-castle where she lived with her bratty, warty, and smelly younger brother
who made life miserable for everyone. She hoped so fervently that prince
charming would come along soon and would save her from the ogre, also known as
her dad, and from her mother, who she considered to be the wicked witch of the
west. Even though she wasn’t being held captive by a fire-breathing dragon, it
sure felt that way to her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When she was only seventeen, the
princess couldn’t wait any longer for prince charming to come riding up in a
white mustang (preferably a 1969 model convertible), so she went out looking
for him by herself. The princess went out with Larry, but he was just too old
and started to remind her of her dad, the ogre. She had one date with Terry
just to give him a try. She actually fell in love with Barry, but he didn’t
love her. She also Fell in love with Kevin and was actually engaged to Keith. She
went out with so many guys that she stopped counting after ten, but either they
turned into toads or they figured out that she was more of a commoner than a
princess.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Oh, uh, wait a minute…I’m supposed to be
talking to you guys about real life, not some fairy tale.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">One of my favorite movies
of all time is this one right here. I love the part where the Princess
Buttercup and the horrible Prince Humperdink are in the chapel about to be
married. The priest turns around and says, “Marwidge is the weason we are
gatherahd here today.” And later he says, “wuv two wuv…” The whole thing is a
fairy tale. We have all heard them, we have all seen them, and probably all
dreamed about them coming true in our life. I know that’s how I thought when I
was a teenager.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Actually, the story I
began to tell you was not a fairy tale, it was a part of my life. I wanted to
be married and taken far away from my home. Family life was very hard for me
and I believed that I needed some man, a Christian man, to marry me and save me
from all of the stress in my house and with my parents. Little did I realize
that I<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>could not escape from my problems
by just changing my location. (But that’s another story for another day.)
Today, I am here to talk to you about dating and marriage relationships</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">By the time I was
nineteen, I had dated so many guys that I can’t even remember how many there
were. I was so hungry for someone to love me, to just love me. For my 19<sup>th</sup>
birthday, my younger brother decorated my birthday cake with these little plastic
items that represented all of the guys I had dated over the last two years. It
was really, really funny, but also really, really sad. I had just broken my
engagement with Keith and I was getting a bit more cautious about giving my
heart to anyone else. A month after my birthday, right about this time of year,
the Lord began to teach me to be much more selective about the next guy I
dated. I knew that I was not to marry someone who wasn’t a Christian according
to II Corinthians 6:14-18. God also showed me those verse meant that I also
needed to find a man who loved and served the Lord as much, if not more than I
did. So, in my mind I created “the List” of Godly qualifications I needed to
know that the man possessed before I would even consider going out with him. He
had to attend church faithfully. He had to read his Bible every single day. He
had to be serving the Lord at the church. He had to be a soul-winner. He had to
be respected by other Christians. He had to have a job that could support us, and
more good things that I won’t go into right now. Then, I waited for Mr. Right
to show up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Well, the church I was
attending when I was nineteen was getting ready for their annual Sweetheart
Banquet. I was so full of stinking pride that I thought I would just wait for
all the guys to ask me and then I would make my decision as to who I would go
to the banquet with. Yep, you guessed it, no one, absolutely no one, asked me
to the banquet. God was trying to teach me another lesson: to not be so full of
pride and to wait on the Lord. The next morning, I dreamt that I was crying from
a broken heart from being all alone with no one to love me. In my dream I was
living alone in an apartment in Florida and was so lonely. When I woke up, I
was crying my eyes out, and the Holy Spirit said to me remember Hebrews 13:5b,
“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” God let me know that He was right
there with me, comforting me. He reminded me of Proverbs 3:5&6, “Trust in
the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In ALL
thy ways acknowledge him, and shall direct thy paths.” The Lord gently told me
to stop worrying about a husband, that He already had one chosen just for me,
and to just wait on Him. I stopped crying and began thanking and praising my
Lord Jesus Christ</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">That night was Wednesday
evening church and my good friend asked Jerry if he had invited anyone to the
banquet. At the same time I came up to talk to my friend, he suggested to Jerry
that he ask me. Sweet, shy Jerry worked up the strength to ask, and I
immediately said yes. Jerry and I had known each other for a few months, but I
would have never considered him dating material because he had red hair. God,
on the other hand, considered him perfect for me, not only as a date to the Sweetheart
banquet, but as my future husband. And the rest, is history. Did we ride off
into the horizon in a white mustang? No, but Jerry did have a white Chevy van!
Did Jerry rescue me from the Ogre and the Wicked Witch? Not for a while,
because life has a way of turning out so different from the Fairy Tales. Did we
end up living happily ever after? Yes, but it took a long, long time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So, how can this help you,
right here, right now? I have prayed and prayed for this time that I have with
you, that whatever I say would be just what you need. There is so much that I
could tell you. There is so much that I can teach you. There is so much that
God wants you to learn about dating and love and marriage. But I only have a
few minutes to talk to you and try to encourage you to do the right things.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This is what I want to get
across to you more than anything else: Make a commitment to the Lord that you
will keep yourself pure in body and in mind and that you will trust in the Lord
and wait on Him to bring you the man or woman that He has chosen especially for
you. Once you have given yourself to sin, especially the sin of fornication
which is having sex before you are married, you have lost the only thing that
you can give to your spouse…your virginity. I know that hormones and emotions
can become overwhelming. You know what? God knows that also. He’s the one who
created you, saved you, knows all about you, and loves you more than you can
imagine. I wish that I could give you all of the answers to all of your
questions and concerns. You know what? I can, they are found in your Bible. Get
into it every day, pray about what God wants you to learn, and then obey as He
shows you.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In the meantime, what I
can give you is an outline that you can study, as well as some hugs, kisses,
and hearts. Enjoy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 16pt;">DATING, LOVE, AND MARRIAGE<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I.
Different types of love:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A. Phileo means brotherly love. I
Thes. 4:9, Titus 2:4, I Peter 3:8, I John 4:20<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>1. It is the love
between family members.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>a. It goes
deeper than conscience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>b. It is
long-lasting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>2. It is the love
between friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>a. It can
last long.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>b. It is a
conscious desire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>B. Eros means sexual. II Samuel 13:1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>1. It is an overwhelming
desire to satisfy urges.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>2. It is usually
temporary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>3. It is fleeting and can
be quenched.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>C. Thelo means desire. Mark 12:38<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>1. It is self-centered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>2. It is a desire for
others to adore what you do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">II.
What love is not:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A. Lust: selfish, self-centered
desire to satisfy one’s longings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>1. II Samuel 13:1-20,
the true story of Amnon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>a. selfish
desires to have relations with his half-sister.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>b. once
fulfilled his lust became hate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>c. his
consequence was an early death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">B.
Infatuation: a feeling of foolish admiration for another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>1. I Samuel 18:20, 28,
Michal thought she loved David<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>a. actually
she was infatuated with him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>b. I Samuel
19:11-17, she lies for him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>c. she gets
married to another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>d. she winds
up despising David.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>e. her
consequence was no children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">III.
What love is:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Love is the constant commitment to
always seek that which is the best for the other person no matter what it costs
you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A. I Corinthians 13, love is
described as charity:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>1. It is long-suffering.
It puts up with the other person.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>2. It is kind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>3. It does not envy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>4. It does not brag
about itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>5. It is not prideful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>6. It behaves with
respect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>7. It is not selfish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>8. It doesn’t get angry
quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>9. It doesn’t think evil
thoughts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>10. It does not rejoice
in sin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>11. It rejoices in the
truth (the Word of truth, Jn.17:17)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>12. It bears all things,
it carries the burdens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>13. It believes and
gives the person the benefit of the doubt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>14. It hopes all things,
especially for the other person.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>15. It endures all
things, even if they hurt really bad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>16. It never fails.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>17. It is the greatest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>B. Agape: The love of God in action
through you to another person.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>1. I John 3:18, love in
deed and in truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>2. I John 3:7-8, love is
of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>3. I John 4:10, we love
God because he first loved us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>4. I John 4:11, God
loves us and we are to love others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">IV.
How to keep from sinning in love:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A. Remember that your body is the
temple of God. I Cor. 3:16-17<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>1. And of the Holy
Ghost. I Cor. 16:19-20<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>a. Jesus
bought and paid for your spirit, soul, and body.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>b. God owns
you once you accept Jesus as Savior.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>2. Present your body as
a living sacrifice to God. Rom. 12:1-2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>a. Don’t be
like the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>b. Be
transformed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>c. Renew
your mind, prove what is good, and do what God says.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>B. Wait to date until you are ready
to get married. I Cor. 7:1-4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>1. Keep yourself pure
for your future spouse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>2. Don’t get married
just to have “legitimate sex”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>a. marriage
is so much more than just sex.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>3. Make a commitment and
trust in the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>a. you may
need to wait a long time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>4. Only date someone who
would be pleasing to the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>a. It will
make the rest of your life so much better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">V.
Realize how much God loves you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A. It is an everlasting love. Jer.
31:6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>1. It draws us to Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>B. It is a worldwide love. John 3:16<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>1. It is a giving love.
Everlasting life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>2. It is sacrificial. It
cost Jesus his life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>C. It is a great love. Eph. 2:4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>1. His love for you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>D. It is inseparable. Rom. 8:35-39<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>1. absolutely nothing
can take away God’s love for you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>E. It is amazing. John 17:23, 26<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>1. the Father loves you
as much as He loves Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>2. that same love is
within you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">a. when you accept
Jesus Christ as your Savior.</span><span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Truth and Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09771828295390394235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335121092193579604.post-90299784816242015642013-12-30T11:06:00.002-08:002013-12-30T11:06:37.695-08:00The Christmas Solo
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Christmas Blessing of 2013<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I hadn’t sang a solo in almost twenty years.
There had been a time when I sang in front of our church at least once a month.
But when I could no longer deal with the mental stress of my stupid pride, I
decided that I would never sing alone again. Singing in a choir or with at
least one other person was fine with me. That way my voice could just blend
with the other voices and no one would be able to figure out which voice was
mine. God has blessed me with a beautiful singing voice, but I was plagued by
my self-talk and just couldn’t handle what my brain was saying to me whenever I
sang a solo. I either got so puffed up when I did really well or crushed like a
crumb when even the littlest thing went wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I love to sing, always have. One of my favorite
things to do is to sing praises to the Lord, especially when I am alone in my
house or when driving alone in my van. That’s when I am able to let loose and
belt out the feelings in my heart. There are also times when I am able to do
this church when the choir is singing or on a congregational song when there is
no-one in the row directly in front of me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This ability to sing and the love for music was
passed down from my mom. She was the first one to teach me about music and to
lead the children’s choir at our church. She had a lovely voice and I can
remember her singing from the time I was tiny. I remember when I was three
years old and was at the daycare house. The “mom” had me lie down to take a
nap, however, I did not want to take a nap nor did I want to stay in bed. So, she
put on a record of lullabies to help me lie still. The woman singing on the
record sounded just like my mom and before I knew it, I had fallen asleep. It
wasn’t my mom, but I pretended it was and it greatly comforted my little heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So, this last October while I was listening to
the CD of the cantata our choir would be performing for Christmas, I heard the
most beautiful solo and the Holy Spirit said to me, “You are going to sing that
solo.” The Lord was so clear in what He wanted me to do, that I never even
questioned it. I made an agreement with God that if no one else volunteered to
do the solo, then I would know that it was truly the will of the Lord. The song
was perfect for me. The range is right smack in the middle of my vocal range
and “comfort zone”. And the words conveyed exactly what I wished I could say to
so many people…to come back home to Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As the choir practices began in earnest for the
cantata, I did not say anything to the director about wanting to do the solo. I
did tell my husband and asked him to just keep it quiet. The Holy Spirit
continued to speak to my heart and confirm to me that I was to do the solo and
that I was to invite my family to come. It would most likely be the last time
on earth that my mom would be able to hear me sing a solo. For years she had
been encouraging me to use my voice for the Lord. I figured I was by singing in
the choir and in the congregation. But I knew deep down that God wanted me to
do more. So in January of this year, I gave control of my singing to the Lord
Jesus. Within a couple of days of doing so, I was asked by a friend to do a
duet with her. I agreed and we sang at the piano while she played. Another
friend also asked me to sing with her, but it hasn’t happened yet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I was getting more and more excited and scared
about doing this particular solo. When the director finally asked if anyone
wanted to volunteer to sing the solo, the only hand that was raised was my own.
Such peace and confirmation flooded my soul, that I was able to sing it right then
with the choir. After practice, several ladies came to me with tears in their
eyes and complimented me on my beautiful voice and for volunteering to do the
song. We had a time of crying and of prayer that my mom would be able to come
to the performance and so would the rest of my family and that the song would
touch the hearts of many people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A week and a half before the big day, I knew it
was time to email my relatives and invite them to come and to make it a priority
because of our mom. That same evening, I got the stomach flu so bad, I thought
I would end up in the hospital. It lasted for almost a week, but mercifully,
the Lord healed me and gave me the strength to make it to dress rehearsal. The
week before the cantata was so strange. Not only was I sick, but my sister had
a tooth crack that had to be completely removed, my niece’s boyfriend had a
heart-attack and had surgery, and my mom had cancer removed from her arm and
had mental deterioration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Back in September, the new oncologist for my
mom informed my parents that they would not be able to do chemotherapy again.
They gave my mom three to six months before she went to be with our Savior and
Lord. We have watched mom decline both physically and mentally over the last
three months, but she has endured gracefully. More than anything, I wanted to
be able to give her a tremendous blessing for Christmas. One that I knew would
reach to the very core of her being. As a high-school senior, she had been
offered a full-ride scholarship for music. She had turned it down, because she
had really wanted to become a nurse. All her life she has been singing in
choirs and doing solos, and using her lovely voice to be a blessing to others.
And now, I wanted to do the same for her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A couple days before the “big day”, I again
emailed my family and told them that I would have seats reserved for everyone
near the back of the church building. When I talked with my dad, he wasn’t sure
that they could be there, because mom was doing so poorly. I almost cried right
then and there, but was able to save my tears for when I got home. I poured out
my heart to the Lord and gave the whole situation to Him. I dedicated my
singing and this song in particular to His glory. I had peace that no matter
who came, I could still be a blessing to those who listened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The morning of dress rehearsal, my nerves got
the better of me and I was so sick again. I cried out to God and He delivered
me and brought calmness to my soul. Practice was not so great, but my trust was
in the director and even more in the Lord. It was the first time that the whole
choir was able to practice my song together as I hadn’t been at practice for
two weeks due to illness. The whole song could have been a disaster because
there are sections where the choir sang with me or were in the background. The
first time through, it sounded really bad. But by the third time, it was
getting better. There was much prayer that evening for the performance the next
day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">On the morning of the cantata, I was so excited
I could hardly sit still. We went to Bible study, but I left early because I
wanted to be in the auditorium when my family arrived. It gave me time to once
again pray with a friend for God to bless the whole worship service and for my
voice to not shake or squeak. My sister Mary got there first and I gave her a
hug (something we haven’t done in a long time). I showed her where I had
reserved seats and where the restrooms were located. Within a few minutes, I
saw my parents. Dad was showing my mom that I was there and that I was her
daughter and that I would be singing for her soon. I gave them both hugs and my
dad told me that he had to “force” my mom out of the house. I brought them over
to our seats and Mary took over. Then, my brother Dan and his wife Pam came in
the church. I also gave them hugs and was glad that they could be there. They
were already familiar with several of the folks in our church because my
brother used to work at the lumber store that our church uses. It was so nice
of those folks to come over and say hi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The morning service began with a congregational
singing of a Christmas hymn. That song reached my mom and I could see from the
choir loft that she was beginning to relax. Then, the children’s church came in
and did a great job reciting a Christmas poem. My family loved it. And finally,
it was time for the choir to perform. What an amazing blessing God gave. The
whole choir was singing the best I have ever heard. Every now and then, I took
a look at my family and could tell that they loved it. As the time got closer
for my solo, my hands became more and more shaky. I prayed that it wouldn’t
affect my voice and it didn’t. It was more beautiful than I could have
imagined. As I sang, I mostly looked at the director, but also tried to look at
the crowd of people that filled the auditorium. I was singing to the Lord, but
also to them. So many folks were emotionally touched. And then I looked at my
family. All of them had tears in their eyes, Pam was hugging my mom’s
shoulders, Mary was holding mom’s hand, and mom was trying so hard to keep it
under control. The Lord had kept His promise and had used me to be a blessing
to my family and to so many others. It was so wonderful!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Once I was finally able to get to my family,
there were lots of hugs for my parents and tears with my mom. They left soon after
as mom was so overwhelmed. She wanted to do a duet with me right then and
there. It was so sweet. The rest of my family went out to lunch afterwards and
I couldn’t believe how the cantata and my song had touched them. They said it
was the best Christmas gift ever and loved it so much. All I can do is give all
praise to God and thank Him.</span></div>
Truth and Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09771828295390394235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335121092193579604.post-17403505447979916912013-12-16T15:19:00.000-08:002013-12-16T15:19:04.067-08:00Bleh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--vGEeU9jmzU/Uq-HcTo2mXI/AAAAAAAAAHg/jDc18_Npzts/s1600/AJ+birthday+2013+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--vGEeU9jmzU/Uq-HcTo2mXI/AAAAAAAAAHg/jDc18_Npzts/s1600/AJ+birthday+2013+009.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, this picture pretty much describes how I felt this year for my birthday. Sick of my life and of my family and fellow Christians. Not very Christian that's for sure. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">Someone recently mentioned that as Christians we tend to blaspheme the name of Christ every time we do things we shouldn't. We are not worthy to bear that precious name. I know I sure don't. I was especially guilty of shaming the name of Christ on my birthday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">However, a couple days later, the Lord gently convicted me of my own sins and that I didn't need to focus so much on the misdeeds of others. That if I expected others to have self discipline, then I needed to have it myself. Right then and there, I confessed my sin and thanked the Lord for His cleansing and forgiveness, and once again gave control and lordship of my mind back to the Lord of my life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">The sinful deeds of other Christians had been bothering me for so long and they greatly grieved my heart. It got to the point that I was beginning to be angry with those sinful Christians, and just plain angry in general. I had lost the joy of the Lord. I wasn't focused on Jesus. Instead, I was focused on sin. How dumb!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">God has said in His Word so many times that He will take of the wicked and that He will discipline His own. I don't need to worry about it. Pray for them, yes. Love them, yes. Obey the Lord, yes.</span>Truth and Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09771828295390394235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335121092193579604.post-32678075258242883292013-12-06T21:54:00.001-08:002013-12-06T21:54:45.374-08:00BlessingsToo often we tend to overlook the little blessings that God gives to us. It's easy to remember to be thankful in November when we focus on Thanksgiving, but how about the other 364 days of the years?! So, today I am going to write about a little blessing that I received from the Lord.<br />
On Monday, December 2nd, my family and I went to Bend, Oregon for a five day vacation. We love the area and thought we would be able to do more of the outdoor activities we enjoy, such as walking and sight-seeing. But the day we arrived it began to snow and it snowed and it got cold and it got colder. So, we couldn't do all the things that we had hoped to do. As a matter of fact by the forth day, we had run out of indoor things that we wanted to do and decided we might as well go back home.<br />
So, we left Bend a day early. We had a beautiful and wonderful trip back home. The sky was clear and the Cascade mountains were out in all their glory. The Columbia river gorge was beautiful with ice covered waterfalls cascading down the rock faces.<br />
It was good to be back home. This morning (Friday, December 6th), the news was telling about the snow and ice that had fallen from Chehalis and southward, causing several crashes on I-5. There was also news about the winter storm warnings that we going up for the eastern side of Oregon. If we had left Bend today, we have been caught in that horrible weather with wicked road conditions.<br />
I am so thankful that God caused the weather to get so cold in Bend that we decided to come home a day early and miss all of the bad weather and awful driving. It made for a much better ending to a nice little vacation, and it made for a much better day for us today. Praise God for the little blessings.<br />
And if you were wondering...it got down to -6 in Sunriver where we were staying, and there was a wind-chill of -25. Sunny? yes, but oh, so cold.Truth and Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09771828295390394235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335121092193579604.post-24631488446350871592013-11-26T15:40:00.002-08:002013-11-26T15:40:51.725-08:00Thanksgiving alphabet<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When I have a hard time getting to sleep, I like to take time to thank the Lord for certain things by going through the alphabet. I thought I might share what I am thankful for this year by doing the same thing in a post.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia;">A: apples, artichokes, all my friends, aardvarks.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia;">B: banana, berries, broccoli, babies, blue-birds, BBC, Bible.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia;">C: cherries, carrots, church, cats, carpet.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia;">D: dates, dates with Jerry, dogs.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia;">E: everlasting life.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia;">F: figs, funny things, fun times, family.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia;">G: grapes, guava, garlic, fresh green beans, garbanzo beans turned into hummus, God.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia;">H: horses, home, heaven.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia;">I: ice cream, imaginations, iguanas.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia;">J: Jesus, justice, juices, jams, Jerry.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia;">K: kiwis, kindness, kangaroos.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia;">L: lemonade, limeade, leeks, lettuce, lima beans, love, life-group.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia;">M: mango, movies, mules, music.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia;">N: nectarines, nuts.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia;">O: oranges, October, Oregon, oak trees.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia;">P: peaches, pears, plums, papaya, potatoes, pumpkin, pies, pesto.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia;">Q: Quicken, quiet times.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia;">R: rhubarb, raspberries, raisins, raccoons, reality.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia;">S: stars, strawberries, salmonberries, steak, salvation, Seahawks</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia;">T: tomato paste, truffles, turtles, turkey.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia;">U: umbrellas, uglifruit, underwear.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia;">V: vanilla, vans, victory, voices, vines, villages.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia;">W: watermelon, water chestnuts, work, working in my yard.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia;">X: xylophones, Xerox, x-rays.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia;">Y: yams, young adults, yellow, you.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia;">Z: zebras, zucchini, zeal, zest.</span>Truth and Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09771828295390394235noreply@blogger.com0