Are You Shy2

Shy Girl

 As a young child in school, my face would turn beet red when ever I was called on by the teacher.  I respected adult leadership almost to the point of being afraid to speak out. 

My shyness extended into High School, and I wanted an A in Geometry, but my teacher informed the class that she only gave A's to those who would raise their hands and explain the answer to the problem we had that day.  I did my best, but in her opinion it was not good enough, and she gave me a B+ on my report card.   

The next day, I called my teacher to my desk and quietly but outright told her that I deserved an A and she was in error to give me less.  For “shy me” that was risky business.  

As far as I knew, no one else complained, but my words flustered her a bit.  She told me to speak up more which I did, and at the end of the semester she relented and gave me an A as my final grade.  

I have outgrown my shyness, and with God’s help I am no longer afraid to speak out. 

Usually I have found it best to delay and not to speak in haste or in anger.  Often I wait until God says, NOW, usually the next day.  While waiting I ask our Lord, what exactly should I say? 

The Holy Spirit begins to formulate a plan of words and when I follow the script that He gives to me, and there is no offence.  

One or two Sundays a month I share one of my very short stories with a message at my church, and I aim to express them as I am led.   One recent Sunday, my story may have been considered unusual to some, but as I finished all I could see were smiles. 

My hope is that the needed words are heard and received in their spirit.  

If you are shy, just ask God, “What do I say next?”  He will give you His words to say.

 

Yes, Lord - Just Tell Me What to Say !

 

 

DO YOU LIVE AT HOME?

Where is Your Home?

 

There was a time or two that my husband tried a new career because the roofing business is hard on your back, and hands not counting the danger of falling off a roof.

We had just purchased our first house, and needed some extra money, so we decided I would go back to work.  

Although we had been married several years, I have always looked young for my age.

 

The work agency told me to put on some make up to look older, as they sent me out to a Heating Company to apply for a switchboard operator job. 

My previous experience included handling the switchboard during lunch and relief time, so I was skilled and could also do clerical duties.

My interview went well, and the lady in charge asked me a strange question.

“Do you live at home?”

My thoughts were not along the same line of thinking as she was on that day – because I thought to myself, “Of course I live at home, where else would I live.  

 

So I said, “YES.”

After I was given the job I later realized the question was meant regarding a young single girl still living with her parents.

 

There are times we confuse the questions and answers and get everything wrong.

This happens when we listen to mystifying teaching or read a book that upsets our logic about Spiritual things. 

 

God has not changed, and we must search the Scriptures and study, not nit and pick.

God is desiring to move Supernaturally in our nation, our homes, our businesses and in our hearts, but we keep getting the question reversed and think it applies to someone else and not me.

Where do you live?  Where is your home?  Do you live in the Spirit, or do you walk after the flesh?

God calls not by gender, by age or by occupation, to do His work. 

 

Galatians 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 

God calls the unexpected, the unlearned, the simple and He is available to work with you while others think you are crazy as you begin to minister like Jesus did. 

All The Lord requires is a willing and obedient heart, and a listening ear to hear as He instructs.

So Do you Live at Home? 

It is time to "Make yourself at HOME" where ever He leads you!

 

 

Be Thankful and Praise His Name

Be Thankful Unto Him and Bless His Holy Name

 

Today was the first Sunday of Advent and a special combined service with Grace Point Church and their Pastor Roy as guest speaker.  Following the service, the Grace Point members treated us all to a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings.

Pastor Roy was reading from Psalms 100.

Psalms 100:  Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands!
² Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
³ Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
⁴ Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
⁵For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.

I took notes and have digested his message for today.  We all seem to have busy lives and it is necessary to choose to take time to give Thanks.  We choose to make a Joyful Noise and keep in focus that our praise is unto our Lord. 

We are challenged to embrace gratitude, which is different than being happy.  There is a way of being in the world and we find ourselves tempted to be glad that we are better off than someone else.

True gratitude comes not from comparing how it could be otherwise.

We are thankful for rain, clothing, food, lodging – it is obvious.

People are geniuses to create advertising that causes us discontent.  Suddenly our house is not big enough, our hair is not the right color, we are too tall, or too short, and our car is not fancy enough. 

Pastor Roy said, he recently viewed an advertisement for a beautiful Cadillac automobile, with the caption, “Thou Shalt COVET.”

There is a thought many of us have probably said at one time, “There by the Grace of God, there go I.” This is not a God given gratitude.  It is a Sudo attitude.

The Pharisee prayed thus:  “I thank you God, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.”

This type of gratitude was not what the Psalmist had in mind.  We celebrate and recognize that it is God who had made us and not we ourselves.  We choose to be thankful and realize our blessings are real. 

Pastor Roy said, he has begun to pray over his food with his eyes open, so he can see his bounty and think about being grateful for his meal.  With our eyes open may we be thankful in this moment and for what God is doing today.

Grasp true gratitude.  Focus, shout, sing and bless His Holy Name.

We are here today, because God has been present in our lives.  I am alive, and I could be otherwise.  There are no guarantees regarding tomorrow.  Around us there is ridicule, anger, malice resentment, and we can choose NOT to participate.

A thankful person finds it difficult to have a negative attitude.  A good frame of reference is to have delightful words, and to guard our mouths. 

Even if my decision is wrong, God is still God, and we are to celebrate the good things in our lives.  The truth that remains, is the sun is shining whether we see it or not.

His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.

 

 

Donkey in the Ditch

This Poor Donkey Needs Help !

 

Prior to my husband going into business for himself, he enjoyed a full time job with a roofing contractor who specialized in leak repairs. 

Early one Sunday morning as we prepared for church, our telephone rang.  It was my husband’s boss with an emergency.  The heavy rain during the night had created a real problem for his Boss’s good customer. 

Even though our work week was Monday through Friday, this was a special request - - “HELP please, I need your assistance,” said his boss.

I understood and watched as my husband put on his work clothes and grabbed a rain coat and rain hat.

I prepared him a thermos with some coffee and off he went in his pick up for his Sunday work assignment.

The children and I continued getting ready for church.  We were very faithful to our church and never missed a service unless one of us was sick, so Robert’s absence left a hole in the congregation. 

After the service, one of our friends, asked me where Robert was today.

I looked at our friend, and decided to be clever so I said,  “His donkey fell in a ditch and Robert needed to go pull him out.”  This man was a Plummer and knew the hazards of an emergency call and he blinked but suddenly understood my answer. 

Was it wrong for my husband to work on a Sunday?  In this case it was important for him to do so. 

 

Honestly it would be best if no one had to work on Sunday, but to be practical, it can't always be so.

Some will find it necessary on their particular job to work on the Lord’s day.  Other’s will try to find a job that does not require Sunday labor. 

At one time, I worked in a hospital and we rotated Sundays and took our turns to work. 

There are some professions we would not want to give them their Sunday’s off, such as firemen, policemen, Hospitals and Emergency Room service to name a few.

~ ~ ~

In the Bible, there were Religious leaders who were sticklers for the law, and criticized Jesus when He and His disciples picked some corn on the Sabbath and ate it.

Jesus found himself ridiculed and questioned by the spiritual leaders when He healed on the Sabbath day.  In fact they were extremely angry as he ministered on the Sabbath. 

Jesus told a story about taking care of your animals on the Lord’s day.  If your animal falls in a ditch on the Sabbath, will you not rescue him?  The leaders did not answer Him, but in their heart, they knew the answer and it was YES. 

In life there are times when we must go against convention in order to get the job done!

Have there been days when you were impressed to help your neighbor but were too busy to do so?  Was there an older woman at the store struggling to put her groceries in the car, and you walked by?   

How many times do we walk by a situation and never realize that these may be the very ones Jesus meant when he said, because you never did this to the least of these, you failed to do this unto me.  - - - Even on a Sunday?

 

 

Be Still my Soul, and Know that He is God2

 

I was awakened the other morning hearing the angels sing - - Not with my "physical ears" but in my spirit I heard repeated over and over again - -

'Be still O' my soul, and know that He is God!  Be still O' my soul, and know that He lives within my heart.'

Not being a song writer and not much of a singer either, this was a new experience for me. I rejoiced as the anthem rolled and flowed over my spirit.

As a child I remember asking my mother, “Why does our church spend so much time praising God?”  She replied, “When we get to heaven we will do a good deal of praising, so we might as well get in practice now by worshiping the Lord with our mouth”

I can imagine the angel choir singing praises to God, and one day we will join with them in song when we reach heaven.  However Mother’s suggestion is a good one, begin NOW to get in practice with your praise. 

Through out the day I discover my lips saying, “Thank you Jesus.” I am reminded of the verse, “Bless the Lord O’ my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”

There are many reasons to Praise God!  First and foremost we are grateful that God sent His only begotten son Jesus to die for us so that we might be saved from destruction.

We praise Jesus for being willing to leave heaven’s glory, to lay down his life, and to become the supreme sacrifice so that we might inherit eternal life.

We give thanks to the Holy Spirit for filling us, and coming along side us to be our guide comforter, and teacher.

On the earthly and material level we then give thanks for everything and anything that brings us pleasure and joy, and for which we can be grateful.

List making is not my forte and never has been, (except for an occasional grocery list) but there are many who join with Ann Voskamp taking their Inventory of One Thousand Gifts to be thankful for.  Her book by that name has been a best seller and also has been translated into six languages.  Amazing isn’t it?

Ann’s record taking is of simple things that most of us overlook.  Might we begin to be thankful for a delicate flower in the path, a smile or a giggle from a child, or an unexpected hug from a friend?

In our hurry and scurry to get things done and finish the tasks that we have put on our “To Do list,” may we somewhere in that rush - - STOP and take time to BE STILL and reflect on God, and give Him the praise that is due Him.

'Be still Oh' my soul, and know that He is God! 

 

Make Every Day -A Day of Giving Thanks to God

My Wife Has a Dress Just Like Yours



"New Dress"

Wearing hand-me down clothing has never bothered me. 

When I was a teen, my two cousins sent us a box of nice sweaters, and skirts they had outgrown. 

Mother was a whiz at making adjustments to fit our skinny frames, so my sister and I enjoyed a new winter wardrobe. 

Time passed and one Sunday at church, the Pastor’s wife took me aside and asked if I would be offended if she offered me a nice dress that no longer fit her.  I was very happy to say “Yes,” because at that time, my Sunday outfits were meager. 

She handed me a paper sack with the dress inside and I thanked her for her kindness.

The next Sunday, I proudly wore my new dress to church.

At the end of the service we were in line to shake the Pastors hand, and he looked at me and exclaimed, “My wife has a dress just like yours.”

I could not help it, and decided to have some fun.  I laughed as I replied, “This was her dress, but now it is mine.”

By now Pastor was embarrassed and was apologizing profusely for his slip of the tongue.

These days, I have more dresses and clothes than I need, and often find it necessary to hand-down some of my many things to our local organizations.

~ ~ ~

As I considered how this story might apply to our Christian life, I realized that when we accept Jesus as our Personal Savior, He makes us into a brand NEW creation.  He creates in us a NEW heart with new desires and goals.

Jesus places upon our shoulders,  the NEW royal robe of His righteousness and gives to us NEW garments of praise equipping us with brand NEW protection armor including NEW shoes of the gospel of peace.

In Christ Jesus our spirit is made NEW, and old things have passed away, our past sins are gone, never to be remembered by God anymore.

His mercies are NEW every morning and we are blessed.

So if you have some old spiritual hand-me downs in your religious closet, it is time for a good house cleaning.  Time to get rid of self pity, fear, reminders of abuse, guilt and oppression from the past.

Don’t hand them down to anyone else, but throw them into the junk burn pile and turn your back on them.

Face the Giver of life who offers you abundant grace to live life NEW in Him

 

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have

passed away; behold, all things have become new. 

 

 

 

 

 

Here Comes the Judge

Dividing the Sheep from the Goats

 

Pastor Jerry was reading from Matthew 25:31-46,  Jesus was giving a teaching about the final Judgment and that the Son of Man Will Judge the Nations dividing the sheep from the goats; Sheep to the right and goats to the left.

After the division, Jesus spoke about the sheep giving Him food and drink when he was hungry and thirsty, caring for him when he was sick, clothing him, and visiting him in prison. They could not remember doing this, but Jesus said unto them,

Matthew 25: 40 ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Enter into the joys of the Lord.

Those on the left were told they had NOT given him food and drink when he was hungry and thirsty or cared for him.  These also could not remember passing Him by, and asked when did we not do this? Because you did NOT attend to the least of these, you did not do it unto me,

And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

This was a strange story and a metaphor standing for man redeemed and saved, and man condemned and lost. 

 

A casual reading might suggest that good works earn salvation, but the good works mentioned in the parable are not the cause of salvation but the effect of salvation.

 

Doing good to others, because of Jesus living inside of us, is part of our relationship experience with Jesus.  Jesus present in our lives reaches out to hurting people.

Pastor stated:  To be honest, it is harder to be compassionate to those we don’t know or those we don’t like very much.

The Jews knew about sheep and goats.  Sheep are mentioned 500 times in the Bible and goats a few times.  It was necessary at night to divide the sheep from the goats.  Goats has less fur and needed to be kept warm.  The goats are playful, independent and don’t like to be herded, and are not easily led. They are not good followers.

Sheep symbolize God’s people, and need a shepherd to care for them. 

Jesus was our sacrificial Lamb of God.  Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac, but God sent a ram (sheep) to redeem Isaac and take his place.

Consider:  How do you picture Jesus Christ?

He is the Good Shepherd and left the 99 to search for a lost lamb.

He is the healer, he stills the storm, is the tender teacher, and a friend.

We don’t like to picture Jesus as the Judge.  However we loose something if we fail to see Him as the Judge.

As parents we want the best for our children, but at times we have found it necessary to apply discipline because we love our kids.

Ten virgins were present at a wedding, five were prepared with additional oil for their lamps, but the other five were not ready and were severely punished.

Judgment is sure, we just do not know the date or the hour. Many have predicted the time with dates, but they were sincerely wrong.  Jesus said, “Don’t do that, because only the Father knows the day the Son will return.

How does God know the difference between the sheep and the goats?

He alone can look at our hearts and view our choices and our decision to receive Jesus as Lord.

If you have not done so, please make that choice today, because today is the day of salvation, and the Kingdom of God will be within you.

 

 

Rooted and Grounded

Our Oak Tree had shallow Roots
 

 

Through the night we enjoyed a light soaking rain, but what we viewed the next morning came as a complete surprise.

Our giant oak tree next to our mobile home, had toppled over and hit our propane tank. 

Fortunately it did no permanent damage, only moving it a few inches off its base.

If the tree had fallen the other way, perhaps the roof of our home would have been victim of its destruction. 

The shallow roots of our tree were dead and the tree had no stability.  The damp ground simply gave away allowing it to fall.

~ ~ ~

I was reminded that in life it is important to be rooted and grounded in Christ Jesus. 

Of central importance is allowing our Spiritual roots to sink deep into the Word of God.  Also it is necessary to become one with Christ by an intimate personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Next is the significance to align ourselves with a Bible Believing Church where we can gather and receive support.  A place where we can set down our roots of community with other believers of like precious faith.

Ephesians_3:17  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

Colossians _2:7  Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

 

Enjoy these Exerts from God's Word Today,

Perhaps the best-known example Jesus gave is the parable of the sower and the seed. Once again we see the importance of our connection with the Lord himself-how we need to be rooted securely in him to sustain life and bear fruit:

"Some of the seed landed on rocky ground where it had little soil; it sprouted immediately because the soil had no depth. Then, when the sun rose and scorched it, it began to wither for lack of roots" (Mark 4:5-6).

These seeds put down roots, and the roots struggled to find anchorage, but the soil was rocky. Finally the plant withered and died, because the roots found no source of water and nutrients.

As Jesus explained, "Those sown on rocky ground are people who on listening to the word accept it joyfully at the outset. Being rootless, they last only a while. When some pressure or persecution overtakes them because of the word, they falter" (Mark 4:16-17). Thus we see how important it is that we strike root deep in the Lord, being anchored firmly in faith, and sustained by our fellowship with him.

One of the most effective ways we can be rooted in Christ is to immerse ourselves in his word. When you read and study Scripture, remember that it is a lifeline with the Lord. You are striking your roots deeper and deeper into good life-giving soil and drinking from the living waters: "Happy the man who... delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on his law day and night. He is like a tree planted near running water, that yields its fruit in due season, whose leaves never fade" (Psalm 1:1, 2-3).

Put Up Your Dukes

 

My brother was a quiet child and kept to himself most of the time. 

The boys at school would bully him regularly so one day my dad decided to take action.

“We are going to teach Allen how to fight,” said my dad.

“Come here, Hazel and put up your dukes.” 

I always obeyed my dad, so I did as I was told. 

“Okay, Allen get over here and let’s practice boxing.”

I wasn’t about to suffer getting hit by my brother, so I hauled off and smacked him a hard one, right on his nose, which began to profusely bleed.

The fight was over for that day, and I was never called back into fight duty after that. 

I think my mother must have had a talk with Dad because a stop was put on the fight lessons.

~ ~ ~

 

In life there are times when you must “Put up your dukes.”  Yes, even times when to protect yourself and your family you must fight.  Usually it is a fight of words, or a letter, or a legal battle in court.

 

In our Spiritual walk, we must also learn to fight our spiritual enemy old Satan, for he comes to lie, steal, destroy and even kill if he can.

 

Put on your spiritual armor, and especially the head gear, because the toughest battles are in your mind. 

Cover those negative thoughts with the blood of Jesus and replace them with praise that God is already at work on your behalf.

Watch yourself that you do not try to fight fire with fire, because pay back will only make things worse. 

Let God come along side of you and bring Wisdom with Him for you.

God will avenge you in ways that you have not thought of, so expect to be surprised when He steps up to fight for you. 

 

2 Chronicles  20:17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7uRX4srnsM&list=RDc7uRX4srnsM#t=32

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp_PolBwjEw&list=RDc7uRX4srnsM&index=3

 

 

What Do We Fear?

Fear Has Torment

 

I was taking notes on the Sunday sermon as Pastor Jerry was reading from the 25^th Chapter of Matthew about the parable of the Talents; Three slaves given, Five, Two and One talent apiece.

Matthew 25:24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ 30And he commanded to cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

The perplexing thing with the third slave was his fear and the terror of outer darkness.

Jesus gave this story as a metaphor about the Kingdom of God and spiritual gifts.

Each of the Master’s talent was valued at about two year’s wages, and the responsibility placed upon the servants was great.  The Master trusted his slaves to invest his money wisely.  Two servants doubled the Master’s money, but the third to be save, hid his because he was afraid.

In today’s economy we place our trust in our bank, pension systems, Social Security and our Government.  Yet the stock markets plummet, and banks fail leaving us with fear.

The disciples of Jesus had fears just to survive with no thought of pension plans.

Pastor told a story about a little girl asking her grandmother, “When bad people die do they go to the place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth? GM said, “Yes.”  The girl said, “What if they don’t have any teeth?  GM said, “God will give them new teeth to gnash.

The Jewish people had many fears and Jesus often commanded them to fear not and do not be afraid.

The Spiritual leaders were afraid of Jesus and his large following.

This Gospel text is about fears and using your talents.

The generous master entrusted his wealth to his slaves.  God is our Master and he has given us talents or gifts, to some one or two and to others a larger amount.  He trusts us to use our talents to serve His kingdom.

Jesus talks a lot about money, and we have strong fears about money especially when we are asked to part with some of our hard earned cash.

In 1999 there was great fear about the year turning over to 2000 and what would happen to the computers, but we heaved a sigh when nothing occurred. 

Two years after there was a huge financial spin in Asia and the biggest bank in the world closed.

The word ability and gift is the same word as talent.  Why do we fear? 

God entrusts each of us with precious gifts.  Sometimes throughout life there is a change and we have different gifts.  There are many Spiritual gifts and some take more “RISK” than others.

Our hope is in Jesus and he expects us to use what He has given us.  We never know when we will be called to accountancy.

We are often worry and are afraid. We’re afraid that we will offend. We’re afraid that we may be laughed at; yet we have the promise that Jesus is there with us as we use our gifts.

So worry warts, do not be afraid – let us go forth and use our talents for God.  Be willing to take a risk for God is over all.