Apology Accepted
I often frequent a used bookstore located by my house. The man that runs it, will always ask me questions. Often he says, "I don't know how you do it." "How do you remember this?" But the question, "Have you always been like this?" Stopped me cold.
Sadly, my testimony is one littered with junk, scars for me, and scars for those that knew me for many years.. yes even down to my childhood. Matter in fact, if I could have a dollar for every person I have hurt in my past..I would be richer then Bill Gates!!
So why would I even go here? I have such a interesting bitter sweet story to tell you.. and how it turned out.
In my School days..I knew a girl..that just wanted to be my friend. Her name was Amy Smith. Now, because I wanted to fit in with the crowd..I gave her such a hard time..being mean, saying mean things.. and yet..I was never part of the crowd.. the "crowd" still rejected me. Yet still, Amy hung on my mind for years to come.
So browsing through "Facebook" the other day..I stopped on a name, and a picture..and the memories came sweeping back.."Amy Smith".
So I clicked on her and sent her a friend request.. not expecting her to accept...and yet she did. Right away God convicted me to apologize to her for the past.. and I went to God in prayer for 24 hours of "HOW" to apologize to someone I had hurt so bad many years ago. You know, God gave me the words.. and it was the right thing to do. I messaged her..and she returned my message with a reply. Her pain is still quite evident in her typing..and yet.. she forgave me. Apology Accepted...
Now, I want to ask each and everyone out there.. is there someone in your past..that you have hurt, that you have not made right? It may have been years ago...but Amy and I can both attest that WORDS LEAVE SCARS! Words hurt powerfully bad..and words can destroy...
However, words can also build up.. rebuild.. heal and encourage also.
Just like the words from the song, "I am not who I was" By Brandon Heath, I am wanting to build a lasting friendship with Amy.. and instead of words that hurt her...I want to give her words that a friend that loves you can speak..and mean from the heart.. with love.. with sincerity, to encourage and rebuild.
If you have hurt anyone in the past.. please..take the time to find them. Pray for God to lead you to them and make it right. It may have been 30 years ago..but it is never too late to say, "I am sorry." (Chances are..they will still be hurting.)
Amy, thank you so much for letting me use your name in this. I truly hope we can build a friendship on this..that will last forever.
To the guy at the bookstore... Nope... I was not always this way... But I am forgiven by God...for those mistakes in my past..
Apology Accepted.....
Jesus Christ paid that painful price.. for my sins.. so that He can look at me and say.... Forgiven!
Just as he can all of you out there......
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
You Is..What You Is...
You Is What You Is
Now.. if my old English Teacher EVER checks out the things I blog, I just know he will cringe on the Title of this blog alone.. You Is...What you Is....and,
You Aint..what you Aint..
Now...let us take a look at this..
1. You Are Human (You are not inhuman) One would hope anyways.
2. You are either Male..or your female.
3. It is either Light or dark.
4. You either Know something, or nothing at all about given situations.
5. You are either inside..or your outside.
But...let us take it a bit more of a look..
You are either hot..or your cold....
Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
You are either for God..or your against God.
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
We are either FOR GOD...or Against God
1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
So.. You is what you is.. if you love God..obeying God and doing HIS will for your life.. will not be a problem.
Jesus Said,
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
And if You is, who you is.. and you aint..what you aint....
let me ask you this.. WHO ARE YOU SERVING??
Are you serving God? Are you serving yourself? Are you serving the devil? What does your testimony tell others you are??
The music you listen to... is it of God? Are the lyrics lifting up the commandments of God..or is it lifting up the devil?
The shows and movies you watch.... is it pleasing to God?
Remember you is..what you is.. you Aint what you Aint...
Now.. if my old English Teacher EVER checks out the things I blog, I just know he will cringe on the Title of this blog alone.. You Is...What you Is....and,
You Aint..what you Aint..
Now...let us take a look at this..
1. You Are Human (You are not inhuman) One would hope anyways.
2. You are either Male..or your female.
3. It is either Light or dark.
4. You either Know something, or nothing at all about given situations.
5. You are either inside..or your outside.
But...let us take it a bit more of a look..
You are either hot..or your cold....
Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
You are either for God..or your against God.
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
We are either FOR GOD...or Against God
1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
So.. You is what you is.. if you love God..obeying God and doing HIS will for your life.. will not be a problem.
Jesus Said,
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
And if You is, who you is.. and you aint..what you aint....
let me ask you this.. WHO ARE YOU SERVING??
Are you serving God? Are you serving yourself? Are you serving the devil? What does your testimony tell others you are??
The music you listen to... is it of God? Are the lyrics lifting up the commandments of God..or is it lifting up the devil?
The shows and movies you watch.... is it pleasing to God?
Remember you is..what you is.. you Aint what you Aint...
God is on the throne
I do believe that we will all agree that we are flesh, and we are weak.
Since Aug. of this year my family has been going thru trials right and left. In Aug. my littlest brother had been told he had a spot on his lung. They said it was cancer. They run him thru the EKG's, lung compacity test, stress test, did a biopsy on his lung and lots of blood work. Now mind you, in 1992 our mother had been diagnosed with cervical cancer. She had all the tests to prove that she had cancer. God provided. The EKG's for my brother came back as ok except he found out that that he only had 2 valves ( or something like that when everyone else has 3) He was born without one of them. His lung compacity, stress test all came back great. The blood work came back ok. All they had was the spot on the xrays. Even the biopsy came back as "NO RESULTS". Anyways, thru this whole thing I knew that I knew that he didn't have cancer. They removed the lower half of his left lung and when the pathology report came back, the answer? An infection. Bingo, God on the move. He showed up and showed off.
Now, in Sept. My husband got sick with a common cold and 24 hrs. later he started complaining of a headache and double vision. At first I thought, like most wives that he was kind of blowing it all out of preportion just like most men do, so I let it go until Monday. Our son took him to the ER and they run all kinds of tests on him. They even ran a CT-Scan on his head. Came back with a tumor in his pituitary gland. Our son works with a man that my husband knows and he came up to our son and said, " I don't know why I have to tell you this but God said to tell you, the devil is a loser, and everything will be alright". I took it and accepted it. The dr. said he was shipping us off by ambulance 100 miles away and since I don't like to travel I kind of got upset over it. Still knowing that God is on the throne. My brother came and took me home and sat with me for a while and I witnessed to him stating that when our mom had cancer, I failed badly, when the dr. told us my brother had cancer, I did just fine. Now it is in my own house. I cried and told him that I was going to get thru this the first time so I didn't have to go thru it again, or at least this partiular trial. I wrote to my best friend on line and was telling her about this whole thing and then told her about what our son's co-worker had told him. All of a sudden, 5 words hit me like a brick. "The devil is a loser". Those 5 words my best friend and I say almost every day. We truly believe them. I started laughing and crying at the same time. God knew what 5 words to use to get my attention. I was fine from then on.
The next day we left for Texas and then the following day my husband had his surgery. They got it all. Praise the Lord. I knew they would because I trust in the Lord. He had NO swelling, NO brusing, NO pain, NO anything. Never had any pain medication at all. Praise the Lord. We came home 3 days later. Through this whole thing I never doubted God and his wisdom. We have had a few problems since this but no big deal.
All of sudden today, I get some news about finances and wham, the devil had a foot hold and I got upset. Not too bad but enough to get me upset a little. Anyways, feeling sorry for myself, wishing I had someone to talk to, all of a sudden my best friend pops up online. Let me tell ya, this girl has a knack of setting you straight and using the precious Word of God to do it. I was making a comment about money and how come the rich don't have these kinds of problems. LOL She throws this scripture at me;
"Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:" Rev. 3:17
Then she tells me that if we have no needs, we won't need God. Let me tell you, I need God in every part of my life. She then tells me to close my eyes and and say " I am a duck" of course I laughed but did as she requested. Then she tells me to think of it raining. As it is raining on the duck, the water just runs off of its back. ( from book written by Karen Scalf Linamen) Never stopping to soak in. Well, I started feeling better and then she tells me that that is the way we should be when we have problems. Let them roll off of our backs like water off of a ducks back.
Good advice. Read the Word of God, stay in the Word and never give the devil footholds in your lives. He will use it to his advantage. We are not the devils property, we belong to God and was bought with a price. I Cor. 6:20
Always remember where your help comes from. God will never put more on you that you are able to bear. I Cor. 10:13
God loves each and every one of you and promises to take care of you.
I know for a fact that he is taking care of me.
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Phil. 4:13
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:19
Since Aug. of this year my family has been going thru trials right and left. In Aug. my littlest brother had been told he had a spot on his lung. They said it was cancer. They run him thru the EKG's, lung compacity test, stress test, did a biopsy on his lung and lots of blood work. Now mind you, in 1992 our mother had been diagnosed with cervical cancer. She had all the tests to prove that she had cancer. God provided. The EKG's for my brother came back as ok except he found out that that he only had 2 valves ( or something like that when everyone else has 3) He was born without one of them. His lung compacity, stress test all came back great. The blood work came back ok. All they had was the spot on the xrays. Even the biopsy came back as "NO RESULTS". Anyways, thru this whole thing I knew that I knew that he didn't have cancer. They removed the lower half of his left lung and when the pathology report came back, the answer? An infection. Bingo, God on the move. He showed up and showed off.
Now, in Sept. My husband got sick with a common cold and 24 hrs. later he started complaining of a headache and double vision. At first I thought, like most wives that he was kind of blowing it all out of preportion just like most men do, so I let it go until Monday. Our son took him to the ER and they run all kinds of tests on him. They even ran a CT-Scan on his head. Came back with a tumor in his pituitary gland. Our son works with a man that my husband knows and he came up to our son and said, " I don't know why I have to tell you this but God said to tell you, the devil is a loser, and everything will be alright". I took it and accepted it. The dr. said he was shipping us off by ambulance 100 miles away and since I don't like to travel I kind of got upset over it. Still knowing that God is on the throne. My brother came and took me home and sat with me for a while and I witnessed to him stating that when our mom had cancer, I failed badly, when the dr. told us my brother had cancer, I did just fine. Now it is in my own house. I cried and told him that I was going to get thru this the first time so I didn't have to go thru it again, or at least this partiular trial. I wrote to my best friend on line and was telling her about this whole thing and then told her about what our son's co-worker had told him. All of a sudden, 5 words hit me like a brick. "The devil is a loser". Those 5 words my best friend and I say almost every day. We truly believe them. I started laughing and crying at the same time. God knew what 5 words to use to get my attention. I was fine from then on.
The next day we left for Texas and then the following day my husband had his surgery. They got it all. Praise the Lord. I knew they would because I trust in the Lord. He had NO swelling, NO brusing, NO pain, NO anything. Never had any pain medication at all. Praise the Lord. We came home 3 days later. Through this whole thing I never doubted God and his wisdom. We have had a few problems since this but no big deal.
All of sudden today, I get some news about finances and wham, the devil had a foot hold and I got upset. Not too bad but enough to get me upset a little. Anyways, feeling sorry for myself, wishing I had someone to talk to, all of a sudden my best friend pops up online. Let me tell ya, this girl has a knack of setting you straight and using the precious Word of God to do it. I was making a comment about money and how come the rich don't have these kinds of problems. LOL She throws this scripture at me;
"Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:" Rev. 3:17
Then she tells me that if we have no needs, we won't need God. Let me tell you, I need God in every part of my life. She then tells me to close my eyes and and say " I am a duck" of course I laughed but did as she requested. Then she tells me to think of it raining. As it is raining on the duck, the water just runs off of its back. ( from book written by Karen Scalf Linamen) Never stopping to soak in. Well, I started feeling better and then she tells me that that is the way we should be when we have problems. Let them roll off of our backs like water off of a ducks back.
Good advice. Read the Word of God, stay in the Word and never give the devil footholds in your lives. He will use it to his advantage. We are not the devils property, we belong to God and was bought with a price. I Cor. 6:20
Always remember where your help comes from. God will never put more on you that you are able to bear. I Cor. 10:13
God loves each and every one of you and promises to take care of you.
I know for a fact that he is taking care of me.
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Phil. 4:13
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:19
Saturday, October 18, 2008
You Need to Check this out!
There are many issues that we are dealing with in today's society. These issues are not just economical. While the focus of our presidential running mates have been on the economical issues it is the moral issues that must be at the forefront of our thinking. When we look at the moral issues it is easy to see why we as Christians must stand up and be heard. Before I go to far into this post I want you to go to this link and view it because I feel that if you do not go to this link you simply will not read this blog. So here it is.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1815820715/bctid1822459319
If you have watched this video I hope that you are as appalled as I am. I pray that you will re-post this on all of your other sites. We are in a time where we are being given a clear choice to make and that choice is going to dictate the condition of America's heart. It is going to show us what is more important to 'we the people' and will dictate what will happen next. While you can sit there and make arguments regarding both candidates not being perfect there is one candidate that has made a stand regarding moral issues. He has given us his stand on abortion and same sex marriages and while he appears to be losing in the debates the truth is that he shines when the discussion is brought around to morals (abortion). Please know that I am not here to tout John McCain I am here to tout Jesus Christ. I am here to promote His concepts and standards. If 'we the people' chose to elect economic change then we are telling God that morals are not as important as the economy. We are telling Him that we have no problem with sin as long as we are making money. We are saying that we don't believe that you are in control, nor do we think you will take care of us and dear friends the end of this type of thinking is certainly going to be judgment. If you don't believe me just take a look in the Old Testament. Look in Jeremiah for one, look in Deuteronomy, Isaiah and anywhere else that has the children of Israel choosing the things of the world over the things of God. When God tells us that if we would live for Him and abide by His rule then He will provide then we must honestly consider what are the main issues of this campaign. Should they not be moral issues? The choice is yours. God has always given us free will and it has always been that free will that keeps us from a relationship with Him. I pray that the video you watched awakens you to what is forth coming not only on this issue but any issue that is not tolerant of their own desires. Preach about sin; go to jail.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1815820715/bctid1822459319
If you have watched this video I hope that you are as appalled as I am. I pray that you will re-post this on all of your other sites. We are in a time where we are being given a clear choice to make and that choice is going to dictate the condition of America's heart. It is going to show us what is more important to 'we the people' and will dictate what will happen next. While you can sit there and make arguments regarding both candidates not being perfect there is one candidate that has made a stand regarding moral issues. He has given us his stand on abortion and same sex marriages and while he appears to be losing in the debates the truth is that he shines when the discussion is brought around to morals (abortion). Please know that I am not here to tout John McCain I am here to tout Jesus Christ. I am here to promote His concepts and standards. If 'we the people' chose to elect economic change then we are telling God that morals are not as important as the economy. We are telling Him that we have no problem with sin as long as we are making money. We are saying that we don't believe that you are in control, nor do we think you will take care of us and dear friends the end of this type of thinking is certainly going to be judgment. If you don't believe me just take a look in the Old Testament. Look in Jeremiah for one, look in Deuteronomy, Isaiah and anywhere else that has the children of Israel choosing the things of the world over the things of God. When God tells us that if we would live for Him and abide by His rule then He will provide then we must honestly consider what are the main issues of this campaign. Should they not be moral issues? The choice is yours. God has always given us free will and it has always been that free will that keeps us from a relationship with Him. I pray that the video you watched awakens you to what is forth coming not only on this issue but any issue that is not tolerant of their own desires. Preach about sin; go to jail.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
God's People letting God's People Suffer
My husband had been told this past month that he had a tumor in his pituitary gland and that it needed to be removed. We had to go out of town and out of state in order for him to have this done. While Fern was in there he got a message from God.
God told him that he was grieved that his people are not helping other Christians. That "Christians" are not praying for, ministering to, or visiting his people. They are not seeing to the needs of his people and his people are falling by the wayside.
We had a chance to experience this first hand during out time with Fern's health. I had called on a ex- asst. pastor as ours has moved out of town and explained the situation to them and asked if they would come to the hospital and pray with us and visit with us. They agreed. Well there was a no show. We then contacted our song leader at the church and he agreed to come and visit, while I was on the phone, he prayed for us. He was unable to come as he had been working but he did call often, as did his wife. We then contacted another minister that we had visited their church during one of the grandkids' VBS, the pastor's wife works at the hospital here and I asked her if her husband could come and pray and she said yes, so we called. He was down there in 15-20 min. Talked with us, read from the Bible and then prayed with us. I have contacted him a couple of times and I still have yet to hear from him. Our song leader did call and check on us tho.
What is happening? How can we as Christians allow this to happen to God''s people.
I contacted a friend of my dad's last night as she is having a hard time with her husband being in the nursing home now due to a fall and hitting his head. She says that he is out of it most of the time. As I listened I remembered what God had told Fern as she was saying the same thing about her situation. She also has a friend (?) that was in need of his churches help and his wife working at a store would constantly ask if they needed anything to please contact them. Well, guess what? No one showed up. To this day, his church has not bothered to check on them at all.
The Bible says that the devil is walking to and fro seeking whom he may devour. That he is here to kill, steal and destroy. The Bible also says that we have power over the devil and that he is defeated.
Tell me why, as Christians, that we do not take care of our own? The world takes care of theirs. It just amazes me that people say they love you and yet won't stick out a hand of help. We sometimes wonder why more people don't come to God, could this be the reason? Knowing that the world cares more about them than God's people?
I am ashamed to say that I have fallen in this catagory before, but I try hard not to now. I try to remember to always pray for those in need and if I forget their names or their need then I just pray a blanket prayer because God knows what they need.
Please people of God, don't let this happen anymore. Help those who need the help. Don't wait for someone to yell or ask for help. Be observant enough and follow the leading of God and watch for the needs of others. Help take care of God's people. The world seems to be doing a better job than we are. What does that say about us?
God told him that he was grieved that his people are not helping other Christians. That "Christians" are not praying for, ministering to, or visiting his people. They are not seeing to the needs of his people and his people are falling by the wayside.
We had a chance to experience this first hand during out time with Fern's health. I had called on a ex- asst. pastor as ours has moved out of town and explained the situation to them and asked if they would come to the hospital and pray with us and visit with us. They agreed. Well there was a no show. We then contacted our song leader at the church and he agreed to come and visit, while I was on the phone, he prayed for us. He was unable to come as he had been working but he did call often, as did his wife. We then contacted another minister that we had visited their church during one of the grandkids' VBS, the pastor's wife works at the hospital here and I asked her if her husband could come and pray and she said yes, so we called. He was down there in 15-20 min. Talked with us, read from the Bible and then prayed with us. I have contacted him a couple of times and I still have yet to hear from him. Our song leader did call and check on us tho.
What is happening? How can we as Christians allow this to happen to God''s people.
I contacted a friend of my dad's last night as she is having a hard time with her husband being in the nursing home now due to a fall and hitting his head. She says that he is out of it most of the time. As I listened I remembered what God had told Fern as she was saying the same thing about her situation. She also has a friend (?) that was in need of his churches help and his wife working at a store would constantly ask if they needed anything to please contact them. Well, guess what? No one showed up. To this day, his church has not bothered to check on them at all.
The Bible says that the devil is walking to and fro seeking whom he may devour. That he is here to kill, steal and destroy. The Bible also says that we have power over the devil and that he is defeated.
Tell me why, as Christians, that we do not take care of our own? The world takes care of theirs. It just amazes me that people say they love you and yet won't stick out a hand of help. We sometimes wonder why more people don't come to God, could this be the reason? Knowing that the world cares more about them than God's people?
I am ashamed to say that I have fallen in this catagory before, but I try hard not to now. I try to remember to always pray for those in need and if I forget their names or their need then I just pray a blanket prayer because God knows what they need.
Please people of God, don't let this happen anymore. Help those who need the help. Don't wait for someone to yell or ask for help. Be observant enough and follow the leading of God and watch for the needs of others. Help take care of God's people. The world seems to be doing a better job than we are. What does that say about us?
Free Halloween Booklet for Download..
Growing up, I was the kid not allowed to dress up and go door to door to beg for those yummy sweet treats that is a tradition of Halloween..
I understood those reasons and convictions my parents upheld.. and yet when my children were born..I wanted them to partake in the fun I had missed out on.. But in doing this..I was wrong..very wrong...
For this reason..I am posting a link to a friend, Evangelist, John Muncy's web site.
When I read this book, I horrified to the tradition and the meaning that I was helping to celebrate.
This is a great book... and Evangelist John Muncy is offering it as a FREE DOWNLOAD for a short time!!!!
http://www.johnmuncy.com/John_Muncy/Welcome.html
While your over there...feel free to send him a thank you! and a note of encourgment. This book is simply amazing!
Also he has some wonderful resources, sermons, books etc....
If you have not read his book on "The Role of Rock"
I suggest you get it!!! This book was a big eye opener to me on what I was subjecting myself too..in the form of entertainment.
Enjoy!!!!
God Bless!
Paula
I understood those reasons and convictions my parents upheld.. and yet when my children were born..I wanted them to partake in the fun I had missed out on.. But in doing this..I was wrong..very wrong...
For this reason..I am posting a link to a friend, Evangelist, John Muncy's web site.
When I read this book, I horrified to the tradition and the meaning that I was helping to celebrate.
This is a great book... and Evangelist John Muncy is offering it as a FREE DOWNLOAD for a short time!!!!
http://www.johnmuncy.com/John_Muncy/Welcome.html
While your over there...feel free to send him a thank you! and a note of encourgment. This book is simply amazing!
Also he has some wonderful resources, sermons, books etc....
If you have not read his book on "The Role of Rock"
I suggest you get it!!! This book was a big eye opener to me on what I was subjecting myself too..in the form of entertainment.
Enjoy!!!!
God Bless!
Paula
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