God is our home

Home of my heart, lest I forget
My redemption’s cost to Thee,
Let my earliest thought be set
Upon Thy Calvary

Amy Carmichael

-Untitled-

I want to do more with my life than just give up.

Famous Quotes

Peace, ye unbelieving thoughts, be still, and know that the Lord reigneth

Charles Spurgeon.

Famous Quotes

The Holy Spirit consoles, but Christ is the consolation.

Charles H. Spurgeon

Season in the Wilderness

"Why?"
That is how I start my conversations with God when i have my season in the wilderness.
The answer is not short in coming to me...disobedience.

Here is another "Why" question for us to ponder.  (Me mostly).  Why is it i can remember the goodness of God when i am being blessed, but i cannot remember the same God when I am sinning?
Remembrance is a key ingredient within the Bible.  (Examples)
God does not want us to forget what He has done in our lives through salvation, healings, deliverances and etc.  Those past remembrances are a guide for us to use, whether they were good or bad.  Joshua makes a profound statement in chapter 24 verse 7 of his book, which underscores the point i am trying to make.  It reads:
"And when they cried unto the LORD, He put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in darkness a long season."

Many times I have seen God move in my life and in the lives of others around me.  It is an amazing thing to see the transformation both internally and externally.  As a child of God i would love to stay in the place of constant growing fellowship.  However, my flesh, just as it did with the nation of Israel, gets in the way.  When i step away from God i end up in the wilderness lost and wondering, seeking some form of direction.  Israel's wondering lasted 40 years.  God willing mine will not last that long.  The struggle is trusting God totally.  Trusting in His nature, character, His word, His commands, everything.

Joshua offers a summation in verse 14a "now therefore fear the LORD, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth."  
Having the fear of God should cause the Christian to not knowingly sin.  When we knowingly sin there is no fear of God or the consequences of that sin. If we have a true love relationship with the God of creation then we will never have seasons in our lives that cause us to wonder for 40 years.

God wants us to use our time wisely and refocus our attention back to Him.  In every season of our life God is there.  Believer and non-believer alike.  For the backslider they will remember "there God" and hopefully come back to Him.
As for the undecided, God's eternal Holy Spirit is working on their hearts.
"Go to God and come out of your wonderings." Joshua implores
What is your heart telling you right now?
Do not let the crushing weight of life keep you in darkness.
I am not saying life will forever be sunshine and rainbows after we draw close to God.
We will have difficult days.  No doubt.
But, when we know God as our Father and King and Saviour, then what can keep us down?
To come or stay is a personal decision.  I have like Joshua have made mine.
"Choose you this day whom you will serve...as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."  

Whom will you serve?
God bless

Powerful reminder

Nothing of eternal importance can be accomplished apart from prayer.

The 140's

LORD, 

I cried unto thee

You heard me

And I am blessed

Turn Away

From the One True God 

or the god of my

own design? 

Of A Truth

Sin makes the cup of affliction a bitter cup.

Almost midnight musing

I won't ever doubt Your existence although there are times I doubt Your are there.
Even in the midst of a storm You carry me through.  All I ask is that You sustain me until You reveal Your plans for me in the next phase of my life.

The Psalmist said

While walking to church this morning, I stopped and took this picture.  As I gazed upward the verse from Psalm 19:4 came to mind.
"Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.  In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun."

I can only imagine (MercyMe plug) the heavenly tabernacle opening and the sun coming forth out of its rest to light up the sky (Brandon Heath plug).  At that moment I declared the glory of God. 

Still...episode 3.1

Jesus is the same yesterday, to day, and for ever.  Hebrews 13:8

So many things come up in our day-to-day lives that cause us to stop and take notice.  The previous three months June, July and August have been taxing.  Why?  I have failed to live up to my end of the relationship w/God as my Father and my Lord.

Yesterday:  God revealed himself to Moses in the burning bush and told him he would be the one to lead Israel out of Egyptian bondage.  Moses countered God by saying ""When I come unto the children of Israel, and say to them, the God of your father's has sent me to you; and they shall say to me, "What is His name?" What shall I say unto them?""
God's next words stilled the heart of Moses "I AM THAT I AM: (God continued) Thus shall you say unto the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you."

That is the defining moment in a person's life, when God reveals himself to you.  I have felt such an awe and wonder when my eyes were opened to who He is.  I cannot say 'was' , past tense, because at that time I AM is.  My heart pounded with a new intensity and the blood flowing through my veins had been filtered to its purest levels.  I was made anew or to use the Greek term anothen...born again.
That same God who told me who He was and who I am and who I can become is the same God still today.

"This is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations." 

God is telling Moses to put that into his remembrance and to put it in the children of Israel's remembrance as well.  God is Faithful and True to all of his promises, unchangeable in his word as well as in his nature.  God has revived me with that personal revelation and now as a child of his and servant, I too must go and tell others the same.
"Go" God said to Moses.
"Go" God says to me.

I Remember Now

Samson

Of A Truth

"Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God," He takes away the first that He may establish the second.  By that way we will have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." 

 Hebrews 10:9-10

Still...reprise

Good evening.  

Please forgive the delay in between posts.  While working on the premise for episode 3, using Hebrews 13:8, I wanted #3 to focus on God still being God despite what we are going through.  

No matter what has happened throughout the ages within humanity, God has never changed.  He is still loving, kind, forgiving, merciful, etc. I think you get the point.

So, as i started reading the verse and praying for the words to write, episode 3 turned into three separate parts itself.  Therefore, a four-part series has turned into a six-part series with the possibility of a seventh part.  

The next post you receive will be Still...episode 3.1

Enjoy and as always  

God bless.

Take Heed

I heard THE most ridiculous statement this morning.  So as not to cause a firestorm of debate, I will not name the show or person who made the statement.  My bedroom alarm is set to go off at 0445 so I can listen to the news.
In the closing minutes of the previous show the guest was making this bold response to a call-in question.  "The prophet Elijah taken from this earth on a fiery chariot, which took him to a spaceship which took him up to heaven."  WHAT!!!!!  I almost fell out of my bed when I heard that.
Wait there is more.  "That is actually in the biblical account", he goes on to finish.

Elijah did go into heaven on a chariot of fire.  Anything this guy said after that is pure hooey.  (Politely speaking).  I reached over to the radio and hit its snooze button to silence the noise.
All i can think of  is "How many people are listening to this show and may actually be believing this?"
No bible that i know of mentions spaceships.  So where did he get that bit of information from?
In Matthew 24 as Jesus was speaking to his disciples, he responded to a question asked of him by saying, "Take heed that no man deceive you." The meaning of Jesus' statement is very clear and there are other scriptures that also follow suit.  Deception of this nature comes about by one of many ways yet two immediately stand out.  Lack of knowledge and not being rooted in the word of God.
Over the past couple of days i have had many talks with friends and coworkers and i am glad that the knowledge of God has been planted within me.  Sure there are times where i may think extra hard about a point or two; i may not have a ready reply or find an answer within myself for something i hear.  That is not the issue.  Personal desire is the issue.  Just in my sphere of influence i have seen so or heard of many falling away and losing their fire for God.  The voices in our ears can be just as bad as the voices within our own head.

God has given us the Holy Spirit to be our teacher and guide during our spiritual walk.  But how can we discern his voice from so many others?  Luke 14:16-17 "And i will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: but you know him; for he dwells with you and shall be in you."  Just as something within me told me that the gentleman speaking of spaceships in the Bible was false, that same something gives me peace and comfort to know that the Bible is truth.  Yes, many people interpret it differently, but the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth gives me understanding of those things when the time comes.    
The only way to combat the assault of our spiritual enemy Satan is to know the Truth.

Jesus says that the truth shall set you free.  It is this truth that Satan used on Adam and Eve in the garden to deceive them.  It is this truth Satan tried to use on Jesus in the wilderness. However, Satan's version of the truth was purposely misleading.  Please my brothers and sisters in Christ be rooted in the Word of God.  Know the power and authority we have as His called and chosen children.
I shall continue to pray for you and please do likewise for me.

God bless.

Still...episode 1

In a world that has sooo many moving parts, so many people and so many requirements on our time, how can we simply be still?  

Be still?

It seems as if life will not allow it.  There is a constant bombardment on our senses to think, to plan, to worry, to do the opposite of  being still.  To be still means to halt movement or activity and just be.
We are not going forward nor are we going backwards.  That would put me and you in the perfect position to get knocked over and trampled to death by society.  Why go against the tide of life?
Because the LORD commanded us to.

One of the greatest examples of the power and greatness and supremacy of God can be found in Joshua chapter 10.  Looking at verses 12 & 13 Then said Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, "Sun stand thou stillnupon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon."  And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies.  Is it not written in the book of Jasper? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hosted not top go down about a whole day.

 During this time Joshua and the mighty men of Israel have been called to the aid of Gibeon, an ally of Israel.  In the ensuing battle Joshua spoke those words , in the preceeding verses, to the LORD.
God listened to Joshua and granted it.  Israel was victorious.  (Jaw dropping stuff is it not?)
In Psalm 46:10  we read "Be still, and know that I am God: i will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."  How timely are these words when we hear them?  Quite so.
Just as Joshua gained victory during the battle, so to can we have the victory over being constantly on the go and the weariness of life.  We are commanded to be still so God can refresh us.

How can a cellphone be recharged unless it can be put in a stationary place for a certain amount of time? It cannot.  Being still does not mean we are totally inactive, it just means we are being prepared to continue going forward with the right perspective.  The perspective of God.
Remember, Be still and know that I am God.

God bless.

Still...episode 2

I decided to name each part of the "Still" posts

as episodes.  Why?  Not sure but it is different. 

Enjoy this great reminder.

God Bless

Still

Good morning everyone.  It has been some time since I posted an actual post and I do apologize.  Furthermore I would like to ask you all to forgive me for not replying to your posts more than I have.  My priorities have gotten mixed up. 


Just to give you an update I am currently working on a series of post titled, no not titled, but relating to the word still.  Come to think of it the word "still" has held a lofty spot within my blogs over the years.  There has to be a lesson there somewhere.  Getting back to my point. 
This past Sunday during our evening service this word kept playing in my mind and I made a note on the back of the bulletin to flesh out any ideas I may have.  Well, wouldn't you know I have three posts and two videos.  The posts are still (pun not intended) in the early stages.  Hopefully within the next week or so I shall have them ready for the public.


What caused me to reflect on the word was something my pastor said about us as children of God.  Despite our weaknesses, failures and sin, we are still God's children.
Isaiah 41:10 says Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Why would the Almighty do that?  Because He loves us.  Another verse in the same chapter God tells me "I have chosen thee and will not cast thee away." 
If God is making that promise, then you better believe I am trusting Him to keep it. 
Jesus his son, reconfirms this love covenant with us in John 10:29 My Father, which gave them to me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.


Unlike myself and many people we all know, God is person of His word.  The holy scriptures bear that out.  Well, that is all for now and I need to get in some bible reading.  I cant say that being up a 0134 is my idea.  Definitely not.  So God must have called me aside to do some reading and praying. 
Have a good day and as always God bless.

Even I

Elijah's weariness was growing.  Not with the God he served, but in general.

I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD.  

Sometimes in this walk of faith we may feel as if we are alone.  But we are not.  Through our circumstances we fail to see clearly God and therefore do recognize His plan.
Today is the last day of our Independence Day weekend outreach. Weekend being from set-up Friday to tearing down Tuesday afternoon.  The 4th fell on a Tuesday this year.

What does God require of us as we go about doing the task He has called us to?
Faithfulness.
Plain and simple.

In what was obviously a high moment in the life of the man of God, Elijah looks outward and sees a people lost and confused and he alone defending the Most High God.  Even I, foolishly, see that 'aloneness' within the body of Christ.  Why?  The division.  The feuding over doctrine and interpretation of the inspired word of God.  Can a lost world be reached by those in whom the Truth has been intrusted?  No.
Elijah saw God's own children joining in with those who worshipped the Baal god.  Division,
doctrinal differences, confusion.
For the ONE TRUE GOD to be seen today we must not look outward and see the lack.  We must look inward and let His holy fire within us show the  need for Him and return to Him.  God is not slack concerning His promises.  God is also not lacking in servants.  He divinely tells Elijah, in 1st Kings 19 " I have reserved for me 7,000 who have not bowed their knees to the false god of Baal."

Even I can now see, that God has a faithful remnant of servants who serve Him alone.  In need not look at the 'lack of the body of Christ' because I have fallen into judging them. Yet, I must continue to do my accepted part and pray for others to do so as well.

God bless and have a great day.

My Watermelon Induced Rant

It is 0245 and I am eating watermelon.  Mind you, when I say rant, I do not mean a tantrum or a fit of rage.  It is quite the opposite.  But I will let you decide.


We all know that certain smells or sounds or even a place can trigger hidden, dormant or locked away events in a person's life.  As I sit here chowing down I am reminded of what is probably the first goal I set for myself.  "I want to help people."  My age at the time was about 10 or 11 years.  How I was going to accomplish this was vague.  Even vaguer was the profession by which I would be capable of doing so.  I had NO goals of being a doctor, lawyer, athlete or anything at that time. 


Fast forward several years and I am in high school.  My sophomore year another goal was set...to join the Few, the Proud, the Marines.  On Friday June 23, 1989 I graduated high school.   On Monday June 26, 1989 I was on my way to Marine Corps boot camp training in San Diego, California.  What a way to spend the summer.  California yes.  Getting yelled at by grown men in funny hats.  No.


Taking a break from eating I don't know if I should laugh or cry.  Looking back at it all from the days of my youth up until now, I have set very few goals in my life of things that I REALLY wanted to achieve.  Whether they be personal, professional or anything, I could count them on one hand.  Yes, you read that correctly. 


Another goal I had set myself as I got older was to go to bible school.  After a period in my life of wandering and being spiritually deficient and unsure of my salvation, I wanted to know more about the God of the bible my mother so enjoyed spending time with.  So in September of 2003, I enrolled in Maranatha Full Gospel Bible Institute.  Three plus years later I graduated.  To put it all together, I can say that from a young age God was leading me to a soul winner for the Kingdom of heaven.  Much like the Marines in which all who wear the uniform and no matter their job description as a cook, motor pool, administration, etc., they are all at the most basic level trained as infantry.  As with the church or body of Christ there are pastors, deacons, teachers, prophets, etc., but they are all at the most basic level evangelists.  We carry the gospel message of salvation.  The Good News.


What an amazing thing.  Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
The will of God is than no man or woman spend eternity apart from Him.  As a believer I and you are tasked with fulfilling this/His purpose.  
So can you tell me was that a rant or a kind reminder of the greatness of our God?
  

It's Friday

You know it's Friday when you call a coworker, Alex, by the wrong name, Brandon, and we enjoy a good laugh.  That's the only time it's happened.

Hope your Friday was just as good.
God bless.

Midnight Cry

My soul does weep for the LORD.  

The Edge of Night

I'm sitting on the edge of my bed with my head in my hands, feeling dirty, ashamed, confused and lost.  Then I ask God this question, "Why can't I be free of these chains?"

Calvary

O precious is the flow
that makes me white as snow
no other fount I know
nothing but the blood of Jesus.


I stand in awe of you Jesus.

As I look at the cross, I see a man...
A man of no reputation who saught
nothing for himself, yet gave to
all he encountered

As I look at the cross, I see a man...
A man of no physical beauty that
we should desire him.  He was
not a man of great wealth or stature.
He is a man who showed us the
beauty of God.

As I look at the cross, I see a man...
A man of great sorrow and familiar with our grief.
He is a man who knows and experienced our
pain and human suffering.

As I look at the cross, I see a man...
A man stricken, smitten and afflicted by
the very people he came to save.  He was
rejected by mankind, but did not turn away.
He was stricken upon his face and
turned the other cheek.

I stand in awe of you Jesus.

My soul rejoices in the new birth after being
shaped in sin.  Lowliness of mind gives way
to divine grace and healing.
Now I am the righteousness of God through You.

Calvary...
To man it represented the worst form of torture
and prolonged death.  A symbol of a system,
Roman rule, used to suppress the will of the people.

Calvary...
To God it represented the best and only hope
of forgiveness and eternal life.  A symbol
that can be see across time and distance
used to reveal the will of God.

Famous Quotes

Miracles do not bring faith.  Faith brings miracles.

Famous Quotes

When God chose to love He became weak.

Famous Quotes

The kind of faith God wants does not grow during goood times.

Rabbi Mark Dayan

Amazed

Good morning everyone.  I wanted to share some pictures with that I took last night after our Wednesday night bible study.  

  

  At first glance I really thought a twister was forming.  It had that "look" about it. 

This one scared me the most.  As you can see in the distance clear skies, where  only 2-3 minutes before, the whole area above the church was clear.

I stopped to go shopping and snapped a shot of the sun going down behind some trees.  The only clearer shot was just before we parked.  However taking pics while driving is not advisable.  Still amazing though.  

If You Dare

Sunday was a very special day for me.  Not only because it was the Lord's day and I got to spend it with other spirit-filled people, it is special because I get to do something I (regrettably) have not done in a while.

Praise the LORD.

My mind has been addled lately, no.  Let me use more concise terms.  I have been waging a spiritual battle and it has been taxing on me.  As per my norm, I forget to include God in my battles.  Yet, scripture tells me " the battle is not mine but the LORD's.  Therefore, I should trust in God and not myself.

So, as we prepare to enter into our special day of praise, I take a quick look about the sanctuary.  People.  Many people.  From all corners of Pennsylvania and whatever walks of life are these people coming together to do one thing.  

Praise the LORD.

Before we came to know Jesus as Lord and Saviour, all of us were broken, battered and bruised, much like Jesus as He hung on the cross.  But for different reasons.  

Jesus was perfect in all of his ways.  Me on the other hand am an imperfect person.  So too are the people who are seated to my left, right, before and behind me.  Yet, a holy God allows us to come into His throne room and create a joyful noise into Him.

What will you do?  Will you sing along with the saints or will you remain silent?

Lift up your head, raise those holy hands and worship the King.

If You Dare.....

God bless.

If You Dare....prequel

Good morning.  Sunday was a doubly awesome day for me.  First of course being in the house of
God with other believers praising our God and King.   Secondly, my church set up its outreach tent at one of the rest areas and we are in full swing.  I shall detail that experience in another blogpost later today.  Kinda gives you something to look forward to.  😀

Have a great Memorial Day.

God bless

Knowing and Understanding

Tonight I got a punch in the stomach and it felt great.

Two, no three, passages of scripture, awakened me out of my spiritual apathy. 
In preparation for my Sunday school or children's church lesson :)
I read the account of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch found in Acts 8.
Philip is tasked by the Holy Spirit to help this man to understand what he is reading from the prophet Isaiah.  Isaiah records in 53:32-33, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

Digging deeper into the moment I see the joy Philip has a he shares the Word of God with someone hungering to know the truth and leading them into salvation.  All by the Spirit's leading.  WOW!!! 
What a powerful scene to behold in my mind's eye as I continue on to the end to when the Ethiopian is baptized and Philip is taken away.

Joy.
Joy in the LORD.
Joy in the Word of God.

I had lost that joy.  Not so much of my own accord but through much difficulty, trials and spiritual warfare.  Sure I would pray popcorn prayers (as my Pastor call's them) that would focus on my needs and the occasional verse from a devotional or my bible.  During my battle a third verse came to mind. 2 Timothy 3:1-2 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For me shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,"
Thereby we have the punch in the stomach.  As soon as I read it I Knew.  I just knew where the Spirit of God was leading me and what He was telling me.  I HAD BECOME SELFISH in my ways.

My joy for God and the things of God were given way to my personal whims.  Without getting into details let me say I had to find my way back home to the fellowship of the Father.

The prophet Isaiah 53 paints a picture, though small, life of Christ and His subsequent death on the Cross.  We/I whom are called to be believers should never forget the Cross.  It has left an indelible mark on our souls.  The soul can be either our staunchest ally or greatest enemy in our daily lives.  As children of light our daily feasting on the Word of God and prayer helps our faith to grow and allows our spirits to flourish.  Without the daily koinonia, our souls become dark and the cares of this world takes our attention from the cross by which all things are possible.

God bless

nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day. 

Awake

The time reads 0111, March 17.  Once again I'm awake.  For the past week or so, I've had a difficult time staying asleep once I fall asleep.  

In order to help me pass the time i would listen to podcasts on my iPad.  I would make something to eat ( not a good idea) or i would eat ice cream (see previous quotation marks). 

Notice that I did not say anything about prayer or reading my bible.  That comes two days later.  😪😪😪

After I realized my error I began to seek the Lord.  First for forgiveness.  I have spent a good part of my days not spending time in His presence and when I did it was for my own needs.  

Secondly, I wanted to come back to the Fountain of Living water.  I was dry, almost to the point of barrenness.  

David says in the last half of Psalm 63:1 

"My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water."

I did not see my need until I saw the breaks in my spiritual skin.  My skin was ashen. Half-hearted attempts in prayer and bible reading are not enough to get through the day.  If definitely does no good when fighting spiritual battles. 

My laying awake in the wee hours of the morning are now filled with prayer for the lost and spending time with the Lord.  

On the fourth day, my spirit was given notice.  If you are not going to spend time with Me during the day, I will get your attention during the night.

He has.  But you know what?  It's totally worth it.  

God bless

Seasons of Heaviness

The apostle Peter tells is in his first epistle "that we are to greatly rejoice, even though we are in a season of heaviness, because of many temptations."

In the three prior verses Peter reminds the child of God of two things.  (1) Peter tells us of the transient nature of our life here on this earth (verses 3-5) and (2) the transient nature of our trials (6).   

Sometimes rejoicing does not see to be possible when hurt and sorrow are nearby.  Sorrow does not lend itself to happpiness when the pain is too great.  Adding to that, hope does not appear attainable when all seems lost and our searching in vain.  The ache from the pain dulls my senses to His holy presence.

Several years ago while in college, a friend of mines grandmother passed away.  It was an extremely difficult time for her and the family.  Moreso for her because Brenda and her grandmother we best friends.  Her grandmother was very instrumental in raising her in formative years.  During this time Brenda began to question God and ask "Why did her grandmother have to die?" 

When my mother passed away, I too, questioned God about her passing.  So, i could identify with Brenda in that respect.  From that point on our paths took us different places.  Brenda's road led to bitterness of soul and anger.  Without divulging too much, Brenda walked away from God and her faith.  I tried my best to help her understand the joy her grandmother was experiencing at that moment being in that presence of God and Jesus her Saviour.  I relayed to her how i felt when my mother passed away and how i found comfort knowing she was in heaven also with God and Jesus.  

Peter tells us to remember.  Well, remember what?   This pain will only last for a season.  The pain of loss is great due to the fact we lost a loved one.  Yet, the pain of seperation is temporary because we shall see them again....in heaven.

Remember your new spiritual birth...

Remember your eternal hope...

Remember the resurrection of Jesus Christ...

Ah yes Peter.! I remember.

Remember your inheritance waiting for you in heaven...

Remember that your faith is secured because of faith in Jesus Christ...

Rejoice in this...

Ah yes Peter!  I shall rejoice.

Sadly, Brenda did not find solace in Her Saviour.  To this day i have no idea if Brenda has come back to her Heavenly Father.  (God please save her if You have not already.)

Rejoicing forces us to release our burdens unto the Lord and lay them at His feet.

Rejoicing also forces us to look to the only one who can help us through our season of trials and tribulation.  Our season of heaviness. 

God knows our hurt.  He himself is not immune to hurting.  His Son died a painful and horrible death for us.  Even in His season of heaviness, God offered us grace, mercy, hope and forgiveness.  

Why can i not rejoice?  It is not easy but i look for and to God to help me and heal me. 

God bless.

Seasons (refit)

Man's time is occupied by activities, employment, family and personal pursuits.  God has given man the capacity for many things.  Yet, man fails to give God some of the time He has given them.

But what happens when unannounced seasons come into a persons life?
Who is the first person they turn to or against? God

God has made everything beautiful in its time, or better, that there is an appropriate time for each and every activity. Including rejoicing and suffering. 

Seasons

And God said, let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
Genesis 1:14

Seasons.

Winter (current season), spring (highly anticipated), summer and fall.  Then the cycle starts again.
Winter, spring, summer and fall.

Depending on your geographic location, you are at present experiencing summer,winter, spring or fall.  Despite our feelings about certain seasons we do, or better yet, have to go through them all.
Each season in itself reveals something different and we are to adapt in proportion to the season and its requirements.
As i have gotten older I find myself liking the warmer seasons more so than the colder seasons.  As for me the summer can hot sometimes and i find myself struggling to function in the oppressive heat. Winters are the same in that i find it hard to function when my body temperature is low or the multilayered clothing restricts my movement.


On that note life for many of us has its seasons as well.  Unfortunately the seasons of life are not as few as the seasons of this world, nor can we mark a calendar and denote its beginning or its end.
Life has many lessons for us to learn as we pass from stage to stage.  We are babies, then children, teenagers, young adults and finally adulthood to the golden years.

Several weeks ago i had a bout of depression and to combat this i started searching the scriptures and praying the psalms asking the LORD to guard my mind and protect me from harmful thoughts. This was not my first experience with depression, however it was the first time that I sought the wisdom of the Bible and the Holy Spirit.
As i progressed through the scriptures i began to see other 'seasons' in the lives of many people and my faith, dependance and view of God increased all-the-more because of it.
As i concluded my search i starting postulating blogposts about the seasons of life we go through as human beings.  Thus, the Season series was birth. I pray you enjoy them.

God bless

America Runs On......

I'm sure you can finish the statement above.

Right now I am sitting in Dunkin Donuts enjoying a cup of coffee and a blueberry donut.

As I was walking home it started to rain, so I ducked inside to get refreshed and wait out the wet season.
Not all of my days turnout to be this care free and it feels good to sit here and look at the others around me conversating away.

Surprise, suprise thunder and lightning.  Good thing I made the detour.

These days a few and far between.  I often long for escapes from the daily grind, by doing nothing.  Well, not doing nothing, but finding a place without so much noise.  Life has become noisy for me as I have realized how much there is going on around me. Life is too busy.
While out earlier I found this book in Ollie's Bargin Outlet.  The title intrigued me and I could not pass it up.  I am looking forward to reading it.

                    

Truth be told there is entirely too much turmoil within me right now.  I'm seeking comfort not from life, but from the Lord.  Getting out and blending in with others and doing the things I used to do has been therapeutic for me.  Writing has been a constant in my life from my earliest days (that and trouble).  

As I think back God has been so faithful to me in all things.  

David wrote in Psalms 36:5 saying "Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds."

I truly love the LORD. I long to, with a great burning desire, be with Him right now in heaven away from this place.  I cannot imagine what hell would be like eternally separated from God.  My heart aches some days for death or the rapture.  I would never try to hurt myself or expedite my trip to heaven.  Please don't get the wrong idea.  This life hurts and I don't want to hurt anymore.

Yet, Jesus tells us to "endure to the end." Hmm.  My physical endurance and tolerance has lessened over the years but spiritually I'm still building it up.  There are no shortcuts to eternity.  

On a side note, the rain is not letting up.  That's ok.  I bought a sandwhich just so I can sit here a little longer and think.

Well, I going to end there and start on my new book.  How is your day going?  Drop a line and let me know.

God bless.

Famous Quotes

"It's better to look ahead and prepare, than to look back and regret."  

Rexella Van Impe

Untitled Post

Matt Redman has become, over the last couple of years,

one of my favorite Christians artists.  I know you will

enjoy this video and song.  It speaks

a great truth.

God bless

Famous Quotes

"I find that the world cannot speak good or bad.  Whatever it may say, their is no effect in its voice, because the spiritual man is not judged according to man."

Jim Elliot

 From "The Journals of Jim Elliot"

January 25,1948

Heaven (Hope and Grace)

"Be still, and know that I am God."  Psalm 46:10a

Heaven.  The City I long for.
My soul, my soul wait for the day.

As I ponder how to present this blog, my mind wonders to the theme of heaven.  All three of them.
The first heaven of course is our atmosphere.  The clouds, sky and the air we breathe.
The second heaven contains the sun, moon, stars and planets.
However, it is the third heaven, that I cannot physically see, that stirs my desire and longing.

Heaven.  The City I long for.

In my moment of haste and unrest my God calls out to me and says  "Be still, and know that I Am God.". 
Another voice within says "My soul, my soul wait for the day."
God offers hope to all who long to be with Him both as His called and those who are not.  To those who are His children it is the promise of Jesus in John 14:3 "To come back for us" at an unspecified time, but He will come back for us.

For the one who is not yet a child of God, your hope is in the Cross of Calvary.  Deuteronomy 10:14 Behold the heaven, and heaven of heavens is the LORD's thy God, the earth also, with all that is in it."   Sin has seperated us from the God of heaven and earth.  Jesus suffered and died on the cross for our sins.  Without Jesus no one can have the hope of entering into eternal rest and the presence of God Almighty in heaven.

When shall I see Him?
My soul, my soul wait for the day.

As you go through this day think about the hope you and I have in Jesus Christ.  Joy should fill our being.  An anticipation should fill our very soul.

Rejoice you who are redeemed of the Most High God.
Our hope is not in the things we see, but in the unseen and soon coming.

God bless.

John 6:37

Where do you go when you have 

nowhere left to turn?

Choose life

Choose Jesus Christ

Famous Quotes

Don't think about who is for or against you, rather give all your care, that God be with you in everything you do.  

Thomas à Kempis

Famous Quotes

Nothing is or can be accidental with God.  

Henry Wadsorth Longfellow

Famous Quotes

For God Himself works in our souls, in the deepest depths, taking increasing control as we are progressively willing to prepared for His wonder.  

Thomas R. Kelly 

Things that make you go hmm!

It is significant that the highest military decorations in many countries are symbolized by a cross-that sign of greatest conflict and greatest victory.  

From the book "Smith Wigglesworth: Apostle of Faith"

New Beginnings

Happy New Year.

What better way to start the new year, than on Sunday the first day of the week, 

in the house of God?  

I am excited for the New beginning.  

Enjoy the video.