Famous Quotes

"I am not moved by what I hear or see; I am moved by what I believe."

Smith Wigglesworth

Crossover

Coming to a blogpost near you.  A crossover special between NS3105 and marshylnerd

Famous Quotes

Christianity without the living Christ is inevitably Christianity without discipleship,and Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Cause and effect

Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul into thee. 

Psalm 143:8

Overwhelmed

I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.

Psalm 142:5

Fire--(Intermission 2)

Already I have broken my vow not to start any new posts.  Please forgive me.

Looking back over the course of the history of my marshylnerd blog, I realized that I have, to a large degree, been one sided in my posts.  Most will surely reference God and His love and works towards mankind and those who believe.  The majority will tell the unsaved about the cross of Calvary, Jesus and how we can inherit eternal life.  

Yet, few have spoken to the believer and how we are to walk in this world after salvation.

So, to help balance the scales I will center Fire--Part 2 on the believer.  

God bless and have a great day.

Fire--(Intermission)

As I look through my journal of unfinished blog posts and ideas I realized that I have, to a large degree, been one sided in my posts.  At last count I have about 50 drafts for this blog page alone.  

There are some as far back as August 2014.  Time to do some house cleaning.  I deleted a few and looked over my notes for the others.  Four of them had been finished but needed polishing.  3 were totally done and not posted.  I have no idea why.  

My goal at the beginning of the year was to be more consistent in my blogging.  Epic fail.  

My year end goal is to have more posted blogs than the year before, 101 published posts for both 2014 and 2015. 

2016 was supposed to be different and it will be, on the lesser side, if I do not get on the stick and stop procrastinating. 

So, in my efforts to blog more I have decided to finish off the previous start-ups and not do too many new blogs until I've gone through the back inventory.  

God bless and have a great day.

Coming soon

              Part 3 of the 'H' series

              

            Heaven (God and Grace)

40

Alpha and Omega

He who begins, finishes.  He who leads us on, follows behind to deal in love with our poor attempts....He gathers up the things that we have dropped--our fallen resolutions, our mistakes....He makes His blessed pardon to flow over our sins til they are utterly washed away.  And He turns to fight the Enemy, who would pursue after us, to destroy us from behind.

He is first, and He is last!

And we are gathered up in between, as in great arms of eternal lovingkindness.

Amy Carmichael

Edge of His Ways 

Feelin' grieved

Hope (God and Grace)

Come, behold the works of the LORD

Mankind has taken God out of the schools systems, public areas, government buildings and almost anywhere else He can be mentioned or has a physical reminder, i.e., displays of crosses or the Ten Commandments.    

But what will humanity do when God removes Himself totally from their presence?

Jesus told His disciples that He would leave and come back for them and all who believe in Him.

When will that be?  I have no idea.   

But we are encouraged in Titus 2:13 to look for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.  

One day soon, Jesus will step onto that Shekinah Glory cloud of God and blow the trumpet to call us home in the rapture or we shall see death.  "Come up hither." He will say.

What will man then do when God has granted them their greatest wish?  A nation without godly Christian moral values and no accountability.

Where will they find hope?  Lasting hope?

Genesis 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

We as a nation, no all nations, are once again living in an era of a godless and moral less society.   

.....................................BUT        STILL        THERE        IS        HOPE...............................................

Just as God sent out Noah to preach the message of repentance to everyone around him for 140 years, God is sending out His messengers of hope to every corner of the globe today.

Where have you placed your hope today?  Is it in man?  Or is it in God?

GOD is:                                          

FAITHFUL

TRUE

RIGHTEOUS

HOLY 

MERCIFUL 

LOVING 

KIND

GRACIOUS

PATIENT

SOVEREIGN

JUST

When we stand before Him will He be as our Saviour or our Judge?

No one is any good except God.  There is none that compares to Him.

God bless

Here (God and Grace)

A very present help in trouble

My body has made a home in my recliner yet my mind is still pursuing its own interests.

The noise of the day has not ceased for one iota.

All of creation is asking for justice. 

(Those to whom breath has been given.)

A young women in her 20's was caught stealing at the mall.  Instead of confessing her guilt she proceeds to scream and yell obscenities at the security guard who caught her in the act. Daring him to open her bag to retrieve the stolen items.

While going to work this morning an ambulance, fire truck and police car raced down the road towards the interstate in a mad dash to get to a motor vehicle accident.

One of my co-workers is speaking quiet loudly because a supervisor said something about her work habits.

In each situation I bowed my head in prayer for all involved and thanked God for His grace.

God reached out to me in my sin and offered forgiveness along with redemption.  All I needed to do was acknowledge my guilt.

Each day living in sin was one day closer to eternal separation and being condemned to hell.  I had no guarantees of living beyond my next heartbeat.

As the Spirit of God spoke loudly to me and showed me my need for a Saviour, I accepted.  

The writer of Hebrews says in chapter 4 verse 16 says Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

The 'us' spoken of in this passage is the born-again child of God.  Only through the shed blood of Jesus can we get near the throne of the MOST HIGH God.  

There is saving grace, the work of the cross, and there is sustaining grace, God keeping us and helping us to get through our day.  God's grace sustains even those who have not yet obtained salvation, because everyday that they have the breath of life, they are given another chance to accept the work of the cross.

In each instance above the grace of God was bestowed.  Was it accepted?  Two-out-of-three says no.

What about the accident victim?  I don't know.  That is why I prayed, so that God may grant them a few more minutes of life for someone to share Jesus with them or that this accident may be in turn a 'wake-up' call to them.  Only God knows.

What I do know is that God is ready to act on the behalf of all who call upon Him.  Truly, seeking Him and wanting turn away from their sin.  

My troubles have ceased because I stand in the shadow of the cross of Jesus and under the sheltered  of the Almighty.  God will keep me and protect me no matter what.  My mindset is not for the here and now, but for a future reward--heaven.  

God bless

Famous Quotes

Truth is still truth even if no one believes it.

A lie is still a lie even if everyone believes it.

Unknown

Famous Quotes

The bible may hurt you with the truth, but it will never comfort you with a lie.

Unknown

Awake (prequel)

The last thing I remember before going to bed last night was the time on the clock, 10:02 pm.  Four hours later, the time is 0201.

Although I would rather be sleeping God has gotten my attention at this hour for a purpose.  As  I clear my head and resign myself to being awake I make my way to the kitchen.  No, I'm not going to eat.  Well, that's not true.  I will have some butter pecan ice cream.

My new co-workers are on my mind.  Over the course of 4 weeks the walls of non-communication have come down and we are all somewhat comfortable with each other.  Personally, what I have learned is that 2 of them have walked way from the church and the other three I'm still talking to.

What stirs me at this hour is the eternal salvation of all that the LORD has put in my path.  

First Corinthians 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God.  I speak this to your shame. 

The blessing of this new job in the physical is of course the financial boom.  However, my goal is not to reap financial blessings but heavenly blessings and reach the lost souls for the kingdom of heaven.  

God bless

זכלה

Future blessing is contingent upon present obedience.  

Yawn!!!!

It is now 0224 in the morning. I shall try to get a couple of hours sleep before my alarm goes off.

Good day and God bless

Of A Truth

For all people walk each in the name of his god, but we will 

walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever.

Micah 4:5

Monday morning

I received a text message from a friend of mine sometime around 550 this morning.  "You are up early!" I replied in mild suprise.  Mel. G texted back, 'I'm getting ready for work." 

Not quite bankers hours I would say.

As the news from this past weekend plays out over the radio and the rain gently taps against my window, I'm warmed by the message from Sunday morning and the fellowship of bible study with other believers.  However, i also am trying to process the bombings in New York, the stabbings in Minnesota and more homemade explosives found in backpacks in New York.   

The bible says we as believers have dual citizenship.  Although we live on this earth our home is in heaven.  

The apostle Paul writes in Philippians 3:20 for our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are also told that although we live in this world we are not to live for this world. One world, Earth, encompasses our physical existence.  While the other world, Heaven, will be home to our spiritual glorified bodies, when we die.  Believers that is.

What troubles me (myself included) is are we as the bearers of this great and marvelous gift of the message of salvation going out and sharing Jesus?  The church is experiencing great spiritual battles within and without.  Many Christians are fighting battles on many fronts as well.  Yet, as we prepare to go about our day and live our lives, are we awaiting the return of Jesus Christ to call us home?  Are we continuing on with the great commission?  

For a time I was only concerned with 'myself and my needs.'  No one else mattered.  God dealt with me and made me realize that my needs were His concern and I was to do what He had placed in my hands to do.  Go out and save souls.  

The current state of the church tells me many will fall away from the faith because of false teachers and false doctrines.   Many more will have their relationship with the Father will grow cold.  Trials and tribulations will give way to wrongly placed prayers and unfounded trust in man.  This is the deception that Jesus warned His disciples and us about in Matthew 24:4 "Take heed that no one deceives you." 

To whomever is reading this post I encourage you to STAY STRONG IN THE FAITH IN WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN.  TRUST ONLY IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.  SEEK THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR WISDON AND DIRECTION.  LEAN ON NO ONE ELSE.

It is with that fervent desire that I shall pray for you.  I will pray for your families and friends who are unsaved.  Please pray for me.

Thank you and have a great day.

God bless

38, or part of it

It is the Blessed One, and no other, who stands by us on the lonely mountain when the dark storm descends.  (O my Lord, if you had not suffered, how could You help me in suffering now?) And He who suffered and overcame will grant us also to overcome. 

Untitled

Good morning to all.

A couple of days ago I was having a difficult start to the day.  So, as I rode the bus to work I said a prayer to the Lord above, "Father, would you please send someone my way this morning to offer some words of encouragement?  You know I don't ask for signs and wonders, but just to send someone to talk to and fellowship with.  Sometimes I feel alone." 

I got to McDonald's and decided to get a coffee and spend a few minutes their.  I pulled out my IPad and bible (you can guess which one got the most attention).  I waited hoping someone would be an answer to my prayer.  5, 10, 15, 20 minutes passed and nothing.  I put my things away and headed off to work.  

While crossing the street the Lord spoke to me "you asked me to send someone your way to talk to you and encourage you.  Yet, when I sat down with you, you, ignored me.  Why would I send someone to do what I am more than willing to do myself?"  

I was ashamed of myself.  Instead of reading the bible and listening for God, I played around on my iPad.  My prayer was answered, but I had missed out on the blessing of fellowship with the Father.

Have a great day and God bless.

?!?

Having dinner with royalty tonight.  

Famous Quotes

Nearness to God is our conscious security.  A child in the dark is comforted

by grasping its father's hand.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Famous Quotes

The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: that God governs in the affairs of men.  And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it possible that an empire can rise without His aid?

Benjamin Franklin 

Yes!!!!

I need more nights like tonight.  The tempter is speaking into my ear, seeking to get me to sin.  In response, I start singing to the Lord.  It was a random song called "Take My Hand".

Praise God, the enemy departed.  

Did you feel that?

Something amazing happened at my church on Sunday.  Something truly amazing.

For the three of the past four weeks, my pastor has been teaching on the types of Baptism in the bible. 

This Sunday she spoke on the only baptism Jesus did.  The baptism of the Holy Spirit.  

John the Baptist said in Matthew 3:11 "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

As she neared the end of her message and the congregation was on the edge of their seats, she put forth this question to us all, "Would you like to be baptized in the Holy Spirit and fire?"

Without hesitation the whole church came forward to stand before the altars and receive the baptism.  Not just the members of the church, but visitors who had come to our church that Sunday came forward as well.  

My spirit was overwhelmed by this great sight.  My senses were flooded with admiration for the One.  To see the whole body of Christ come forward as one, in one accord, was like seeing the day of Pentecost as spoken of in the New Testament book of Acts.  

It's so hard to put in, the nuances of that moment in time, as we read it in the scripture.  However, when 50+ people come to the altar and pray out loud in one accord to the Most High God, asking for His Holy Spirit to come and empower us for now, He tells us " this is what it was like back then."

So much praise was offered up.

Hands were held high in surrender.  

Hands were held high ready to receive this great and bountiful blessing.

God showed up.  He walked among His children.  He heard and answered our prayers.

Each person was touched and each person received the power from on high.

Now all we need do is go out and be His extensions within this world. 

Praise God.

Famous Quotes

"What do you think of God?"  The teacher asked.  After a pause, the young pupil replied,  "He's not a think, He's a feel."

Paul Frost

Famous Quotes

Prayer moves the hand that moves the world.

E. M. Bounds

Pause (Radio Edit) P-1

The past three weeks have been a whirlwind of activity for me.  I've switched jobs and downsized from renting a half-double home to a new apartment.  My job search was well past the 2 years mark and I was getting quite discouraged.  My living situation changed when my former landlord informed me she was selling the building and I needed to make arrangements to be out of there by the end of July.  Yes July.  

Without saying I was in a near panic mode.  Where was I going to find a new job and a new place to live within three weeks time?  I recall something Jesus said to His disciples from the book of Matthew verse 19:26 "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."  My outlook on the whole of the situation changed.  I no longer was afraid of the unknown, but I instead focused on what I did know.  And that is, that God is in control.  With that in the forefront of my mind I went about the task of praying and waiting for the Holy Spirit to speak to me.

Less than two days later He spoke and loudly.  

Before I continue let me add that for the previous two years I, me, Darryl was out looking for jobs in any and every place I could get to.  My feet and public transportation took me to fast food restaurants, family restaurants, grocery stores, Lowe's, Applebee's, Amazon and even a pet store for hopeful employment.  With no takers.  Finally I stopped and realized the error of my ways.  Where was God throughout my constant searching?  He was there, yet, I had not asked for His direction.  Throughout all of this transitioning and activity my personal time with God had suffered.  It was then that I hit the pause button on my activities and sought words and direction from my Master.   

As I said in the line before this paragraph, within two days the Spirit of God spoke and loudly. 

He first directed me to apply or shall I say reapply for a job I had long since forgotten about.  Less than twenty-four hours later I was called in for an interview.  Within a weeks time I had a second interview and was offered a full time position.  Praise offering #1.  My apartment search was in full swing.  Before work I would search the want ads for listings and make appointments for after work or my days off.  Nothing as of yet, but I was hopeful.  Going into week number two after much prayer and waiting I had an apartment.  Praise offering #2.

James 1:17 states, "Every good gift and every perfect is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."

How could I continue at the frenetic pace I was going and not soon realize I wasn't getting anywhere?

I could not.  However, when I did pause and listen, I then knew what I should do.

So, today, despite my new fantastic job and my more manageable apartment, I had to once again hit the pause button and say "thank you LORD."  Complacency can become an issue after receiving a blessing from God.  It is something that plagues those within the bible also, so the reality of it is true.  

In closing I would like to say don't let 'life', whether good or bad, keep you from hitting the pause button and sending up praise offerings to God for making it all happen.

God bless

            

Play (Radio Edit) P-2

At this late hour of the night, 1239 to be exact, sleep has once again eluded me and now I am trying to think of what to write for the second part of my Radio Edit trilogy.  

A blank page lays before me.  This blank page invites new words and/or pictures of expression.  Where do I go from here?

Do I continue on from a previous story or idea?  Or do I start fresh and anew?  

The possibilities become endless once the author starts putting pen to paper.  

Looking at my current situation and thinking about where I have come from, a theme had been presented to me "new beginnings".  Going through Old Testament scriptures I settle on the exodus of the nation of Israel from Egypt.  

Moses was about to lead the children of God on a journey to the land of Promise.  There was no map, no GPS and no Google earth to show them the way, and no one had been there prior to this moment.  So what happens when you go from the known to the unknown?  You simply have to trust the One who is leading you there.  

Exodus 13:21-22 (21) And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.  (22) He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.

This new job and my new apartment are blessings from the God I serve.  However, it was not easy for me to leave a place I had lived in for almost 20 years.  Israel had been in Egypt for 430 years.  For that time it was all that we both knew.  Israel and I had become accustomed to our circumstances and limitations and our chains.  Hope had become an ember.  Change was not going to come easily.     

If you have read the account then you know that this journey was not without its difficuties.

But in the end reading from Nehemiah 9:12, 19b (12) Morever You led them by day with a cloudy pillar, and by night with a pillar of fire, to give them light on the road which they should travel.  (19b) The pillar of the cloud did not depart from them by day, to lead them on the road; nor the pillar of fight by night, to show them light, and the way they should go.

God never left their side.  He was a continual presence for His chosen before, during and after the move.  How much more so would God be to me?

As the people settled into their inheritance they remembered all that Jehovah had done for them. He  led them out of Egypt, the journey through the wilderness and overcoming the nations that had come against them along the way.  I am quite sure they could not have imagined all that they had seen or heard.  I could not have imagined all that I have seen or heard as the LORD led me to where I am now.  

So, in closing, let me say this blank page will not be filled with words or pictures that come from me.  But it will be filled with the words of my MOST HIGH God who is a perpetual presence in my life.      

After all He has been spot on so far.

God bless 

Untitled blogpost

God spoke to me this morning.

I was in a sound sleep and out of nowhere this voice says, "Go and claim what I have given you."

My eyes popped open and I turned to see what time it was.  It was 309 a.m.

My only response could be "Yes LORD."

26

MY FATHER, THIS MOMENT, I push aside all sense of need...every request...each complaint...even words of praise and worship...

...just to stand silent...to turn the eyes of my soul to You...to look deep into Your wonders...

Amy Carmichael

Thus Says (Part 3) "Look Inward-Heart"

Communion is a wonderful time in most churches.  I know in mine it is.  

Assessment is required before taking communion.  Why?  

God wants us to examine ourselves and be sure to lay before Him any sin that may hinder our taking sacred elements.

The heart is fickle at times.  Well more to the point,  according to Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?"

Obviously God knows the heart, but do we ourselves know our hearts?

Verse 10 goes on to say "I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings."

Do we ourselves take such an introspective look into the inner motives of our hearts?  No.

Be honest!

So many people are led by the emotions of the moment.  Just think about all that has happened these last few weeks around the world.  Mass shootings.  Bombings.  Murder-suicides. Etc.  They all spring from some devotion or love of an person or ideology.  

Yet, the death of Jesus on the cross of Calvary over 2,000+ years ago, was the greatest show of love and devotion to His Father for whom we are/were seperated from, because of sin.  

God did not say some lives matter, or black lives matter, or only white lives matter.  He easily could have said only the lives of Israely people matter.

But He did not.  

"FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE."

JOHN 3:16

We all have seen and heard this verse and still the depth of it escapes us.  

If we truly wanted justice to prevail in this country then we need to look within ourselves and acknowledged that we have not respected the one life that was given for us all.  That life belonged to Jesus Christ.  His death on the cross was not in vain.  There was purpose behind it.  God's judgement needed to be satisfied and He was the only one who could fulfill the requirement.

I am not by any means downplaying the lives lost over the past few weeks and even years.

But!  But!  

Before we cast stones, then we must examine our own hearts and see if we are part of the problem and not the solution.

Have a good day and God bless.

Thus Says (Part 2) "Look Out-World"

"So they returned and said: 'Just as the LORD of hosts determined to do to us, according to our ways and according to our deeds, so He has dealt with us.'"'"  (Zechariah 1:6)

Once sin became a part of our human DNA, humanity has struggled with its identity.  Who and what are we supposed to be.  Our forefathers knew from the earliest days of our country's infancy that God was responsible for our being here.  A new nation, a new people, called out from among the many nations of the world.  Israel had such a beginning herself.  Deuteronomy 7:6 "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth."

God in His wisdom seconded the United States as a nation unto Himself.  But we have turned away from His word, His grace and His covenants.

The world right now is experiencing God's coming judgment.  At what corner of the globe can we look and not see something supernatural happening?  Despite the birth pangs we are feeling and ignoring, there are those who do not see the need for a Saviour.

Jesus said to His disciples in John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

In Christ Jesus, those who are born-again believers have the peace of God.  It is without end and assures us of His presence in our lives.

Those who are in the world, live in doubt and fear and put their trust in the world system that will fail them.

In the last days God will not only restore mankind to its original state, but He will also restore the world to its original state.  Only those (humans) who have accepted Gods free offering of eternal life through Jesus Christ His Son, will be a part of this.

A seperation is going on right now.  In the end which side of the ledger will you end up on?

See you in part 3 "Look inward-the heart"

God bless

Thus Says (Part 1) "Look Up-God"

Israel was nearing the end of its 70 year period of captivity in Babylon.  God, through His prophet Zechariah, is calling for a national repentance from His people.

Therefore say to them, "Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Return to Me," says the LORD of hosts, "and I will return to you," says the LORD of hosts.  (Zechariah 1:3)

How appropriate are the words spoken to Israel then, near the end of its captivity, for America today, as we appear to be heading into a form of captivity ourselves?  

There is no denying the headlines, news reports and personal eyewitness accounts.  We had come to a turning point in this country where nothing is what it used to be, nor will it ever be the same again.  Yet, instead of acknowledging our part in the downfall of this nation, we have chosen to further rebel against God.  

We are no longer allowed to pray openly in public areas.

We have taken taken His word out of the schools.

The godlyprinciples and  morals that once defined who we are as a nation has been turned on its head.

The Ten Commandments have been pulled down from our government buildings.

The Bible has been placed in the darkest corners of our libraries.

We have embraced our sin and pushed the boundaries of God's patience.

We are no longer One nation under God.

America has turned its back on God.   

Our hearts have become so hardened by the choices we have made, that we no longer are a free people.  We have become a people of strife and division.

"You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation." (Malachi 3:9)

America has robbed God of His glory and honour.  It was he who founded this nation and it was he who sustained it.

"We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal."

"One nation under God"

"In God we trust"

A lot of our federal, state and local laws were written from a biblical standpoint.  

The Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Magna Carta. All derived from the Holy Word of God. The Bible.

We cannot make God irrevelant.  His fingerprints, literally, are all over this land.  To try and make our Creator a nonentity means we as a nation will become a nonentity in the eyes of all the other nations of the world.  

Tell me you do not see it happening now?

Even still an Infinite and merciful God says "Repent of your sins and turn back to Me."

God is ready to forgive us and once again embrace us as His own.  

Are we willing to let go of the things that are separating us from Him and once again be one nation under God?

Are we ready individually to accept His ways above our own?

Thy will be done and not my own.

See you in part 2 "Look out-World"

God bless and have a great day.

381

Some time has passed since I last sang from my hymnal.  

It was during my time of prayer when I heard the words "sing a song". 

Not having used it for a while, it took me a few seconds to find my hymnal buried under a pile of papers.

As I turned the pages I looked for songs I had not heard before and try them out.  Praise God I found two good ones.  Song #1 "I Am His and He is Mine" reminds me that no matter who or what, God will always be there for me.

Song #2 "Soldiers of Christ, Arise" is a call to arms for these current times.  A not so subtle reminder to keep fighting the fight of faith and the wiles of the devil.  Ephesians 6:11-18 & Isaiah 60:1-5 come to mind as I sing this song.

Soldiers of Christ, arise, and put your armor on

Strong in the strength which God supplies through His eternal Son

Strong in the Lord of hosts, and in His mighty power

Who in the strength of Jesus trusts Is more than conqueror.

Stand then in His great might, with all His strength endued

And take, to arm you for the fight, the panoply of God;

That having all things done, and all your conflicts past

Ye may overcome, through Christ alone, and stand entire at last.

Leave no unguarded place, no weakness of the soul

Take every virtue, every grace, and fortify the whole

From strength to strength go on, wrestle and fight and pray

Tread all the powers of darkness down, and win the well fought day.

Lots of encouragement in those words. 

Have a great day and God bless.

More to Come

Life is never truly easy.  Yet, for some there are few difficulties.  In the lives of others, the opposite happens, there are few good days.  

I say this because I am about to experience another transition in my life.  

Change has never been easy for me and I have fought hard against it.  In the end I have had more difficulties because of my resistance to change and I have also found that change is from God and for the better.  

O LORD my God

"O LORD my God" are the opening words to Psalm 7.  "In You I trust" finishes the verse.

The header for this chapter reads as such, A meditation of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite.

Following the shock and horror being displayed befor my eyes regarding the recents events of the past week I can say " I want Jesus' return to happen yesterday."

Evil seems to be prevailing and many more battles are beginning daily in many towns across this land.

Injustices the central theme which is leading to, unfortunately, racial divides.

Quoting the words of Jesus Crhist in Matthew 5:44-45  (44) "but I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for,those who spitefully use you and persecute you, (45) "that you may be sons (and daughters) of your Father in heaven; for He makes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust."

In the natural we want to respond in kind and lash out at the disregard for human life.  It is understandable.  Yet Jesus says "respond supernaturally" with prayer, with a heart of compassion and love.  

Skin pigmentation does not matter.  The condition of their soul does.  Weep for the victims and their families while also weeping for the perpetrators.   

If we do that, then our next words should be the beginning of our prayer to God.

"O LORD my God......"

God bless and have a great day.

Valley series--Intermission A

This song has quickly become one of my favorites.  The title is Take Me through this Valley.  

As of late many people seem to be having 'valley moments' in their lives.   Myself included.

For some time I had stopped blogging and even writing on the side in my journal and other projects.

Life appeared to be at a standstill.  Work was not too important and I just wanted to be alone.  

These 'valley moments' used to take me away from God.  Now, they draw me closer.

I began to read the psalms more and then something happened.  Just as I knew the presence of God during my happy days, I began to experience the nearness of God in all of my struggles.  

I was not moved to the point of not wanting to be in His presence as I had been before.  

God was not the cause.  God was the answer.  

I started praying the psalms.

I started singing the psalms.

Not long after, my spirit found peace and joy once again.

Valleys are not easy to get through.  The road seems long and we are always looking up at the peak which looks to be far beyond our endurance to reach it.  

Look at it from another perspective.  Look past the peaks and the difficult mountain climb and look to the One who made them and know that:

(1). He is with you every step of the way.  God will never leave you nor forsake you.

(2). Once you climb out of the valley, you will realize God has taken your faith to new heights and stretched you beyond what you thought possible.

Enjoy the song and if you have a favorite song or two that has helped you through 'valley moments' please share.  

God bless.

Good good father

I looked up into the sky this morning and I saw two clouds.  One cloud, the bigger one, looked like a giant hand.  The second cloud, above it, looked like a smaller hand.  The second cloud appeared to be reaching out to the first cloud, as if it was the hand of a child reaching out to their father.  

Pausing in the middle of my walking prayer I simply smiled.  At that point in my prayer I was asking my Heavenly Father for comfort.  

So amazing. 

Over the years I have heard many people say "God answered my prayer before I finished the sentence."  Today started as such for me.  What a blessing.

The storm clouds are gathering above and even in the midst of them my Father still bids me to come.

Have a great day and God bless.

Life lesson

The race is not to the swift,

Nor the battle to the strong,

Nor bread to the wise,

Nor riches to the men of understanding,

Nor favor to men of skill;

But time and chance happen to them all.

Ecclesiastes 9:11b

Famous Quote

We see hardly one inch of the narrow lane of time.

To our God, eternity lies open as a meadow.  It must seem strange to the heavenly people, 

who have reached the beautiful End, that you and I should ever question what Love allows to be, or that we ever call prayer "unanswered" when it is not what we expect.

Isn't no an answer?

Isn't heaven an answer?

Amy Carmichael 

14

MY FATHER, I BELIEVE I see it now.  I always want You to do something for me.  (Or at least to clear the way, so I can do it for myself.).  And You want to do something in me.

      Now I see that You want to come with Your word and Your powerful Spirit, and splice them together with my words and my spirit.  

     I have wanted answers.  You want us to become one....Thank you, for Your unending patience with me.

A prayer of Amy Carmichael

Famous Quotes

God's timetable is not altered by the times. 

Dr.  Rexella Van Impe

The Absent Self

Many accounts within the bible have stood out to me over the years.  One of my favorites can be found in 2 Kings 20:1-11.  It is the story of King Hezekiah when he was sick and dying and the LORD visited him.

In my many years of working in the prehospital (ambulance) and hospital settings, I have seen a lot of death.  That is, possibly, the second hardest part of being in the emergency medical field.  I say possibly because at times with the great number of faces we "see" they are hard to forget.  Faces of children, distraught or worried parents, grandmothers and grandfathers, young adult male and females and all in between.  The faces are countless.  Our chief goal is to stabilize and transport as quickly and safely as possible.

Death affects people in different ways.  Many times have I seen that final battle in which the person struggles to stave of the inevitable, if, God chooses not to prolong their life here on earth.  

Why choose a passage such as this if it evokes memories of loss and death?  I cannot say.

While walking down the street and mulling over ideas for my next blog post, the title "The Absent Self" popped into my head.  Soon after the account of Hezekiah made its appearance.  

How could I make these two halves a whole?  Stopping a few further along the way, the answer came to me.  

God sent the prophet Isaiah to Hezekiah to tell the king "to get your house in order, for you shall die, and not live."  There are no hidden words in that very one sided conversation.  

Hezekiah upon hearing the words of Isaiah, turned his face to the wall and prayed.  

As I have previously stated, being in the medical field I have seen many people die and their fight to retain life.  Yet, God knows the number of our days and He alone can extend or end it.

Hezekiah did not plead with, fight, curse or try to bargain with God.  

(3) "Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight."  And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

At this point in my life I was backsliding.  God and faith were no where in sight or the back of my mind. Everday I saw the brevity of life and how fleeting it could be and yet I sought no life for myself.

God was and is merciful.

Hezekiah accepted what God had to tell him.  Was he happy?  The bitter tears say no.  I think King Hezekiah wanted to live so that he could continue serving God and do more to further the name of God.  Just supposition not established fact.

In the absence of himself Hezekiah thanked God for the life he had been given hoping it had been pleasing to His God.   

God being pleased with the heart of Hezekiah chose to heal him and add 15 years to his life.

There was no pleading for one more day or hour.  No requests for his family or friends came out of his mouth.  It was time to die and he was ready.

What an example?  I/we as children of God should live our lives in constant service to God.  Will it lead to good fortunes and long life?  Not always.  Even so, bad days will surely be a part of it as well.  Yet, when we get to the end of our lives and God is calling us home will we be as accepting of it as Hezekiah was?  Don't answers that.

What matters is how we have walked before our God and was it pleasing to Him.

The absence of self makes all these things possible because God will surely fill us to over flowing with Hos Holy Spirit to endure.

God bless.

 

But have not...

But have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging symbol.

But have not love, I am nothing.

But have not love, it profits me nothing.

1st Corinthians 13:1,3,5 

If

If the praise of others elates me...

If the blame of others depresses me...

If I cannot rest when I am misunderstood, without defending myself...

If I love to be loved, more than to give love...

If I love to be served, more than serving...

Then I know nothing of Calvary love.

Amy Carmichael 

A slight flurry

Good day to everyone out there.

I am about to publish some posts from out Memorial Day weekend outreach.  There are about 7 total so look at them as you can and let me know what you think.  

If there is anything going on in your neck of the woods, or your church or group is doing anything, please post some pics. I would love to see them.

As always God bless and have a great day.

Day 4 (3.0)

The end is here.  Tear down is complete.  We survived a rainstorm with thunder and lightning and we are on our way home.  

It was a most blessed time and I cannot wait for the Fourth of July outreach to get here.

Testimonies will be shared and hearts lifted because God is so good to us and we are humbled to be called by Him to labor in His name.

I have one last photo to share and some final thoughts.

              

As we were leaving the restaurant this is what we saw.   Truthfully, I cannot do this picture justice because is was more magnificent than the photo shows.  But it's a reminder for us to keep going despite the attacks by the enemy and keep our hearts, soul and mind on the One who created all things and made it possible.

God bless and good night.

Day 3 (2.0)

Day three offered a treasure trove of pictures and many blessings.

this lady has a friend with her from New Jersey who would not get out of the car because she does not like to travel.  She was tricked, nicely, into going for a little trip across the statelines. As you can guess we had a good laugh as did the friend.

With everyone who comes through the tent, there is a need, for food or coffee or a chance meeting with the people behind the table.  One lady and many more after her took advantage of our prayer basket and left a request.  WE LOVE TO PRAY.

Culturally speaking, this is the new melting pot.  Despite it being a church sponsored 

outreach we get a good response from all who enter in.  

              

A happy camper who was more than ready to pose for the camera.  Thank you.

           

          Three friends from Hong Kong, who were very surprised to see that there 

  were others from Hong Kong who had come through the tent mere minutes before.

P.S.

the next post is very special.  It required a lot of restraint on my part but in the end much joy was had by all.

God bless.

 

Day 3 (3.0)

Over the years many individuals and groups have stopped in and said hello to us.  Some wanted coffee and hotdogs.  Some wanted cookies or other drinks we offer as part of the service.

But there are times when people come in and just say "thank you for doing this."

We really, truly, whole heartedly enjoy being there.  Those words are an encouragement to us and the ministry.  Seven years we have been doing this and I pray it does not end any time soon.

This picture shows a youth group from Utica, New York taking time out of their long day to have lunch.

At the time I had no idea they were a youth group, so I decided to have a little fun.

          the gentleman and lady are the director and chaperone for the youth group.

They were very shocked and overjoyed to see that a church was doing this.  Some from the group stopped in and gave us many words of encouragement to continue on doing the work of God in reaching out to the lost.

             

This is a photo of some of the youth.  If you notice them laughing it was because I asked the young lady (front row second from right) if I could have the watermelon as payment for the taking a group photo.  Sadly she said no and I took the photo anyway.

God bless

   

Day 4

The end is nigh and we are expectant of God continuing to bless us as we labor in love for Him.

           

Here is where we see more confirmation that what we are doing is definitely from God.

Upon entering the tent these two guys had nothing but kind words to say about God's people doing God's work.  As they took a look around they noticed our map.  Between them they wanted to be the first from their hometown in Africa to pin our map.  The first guy looked at the map and saw it was pinned already.  Low-and-behold 2 pastors from the same city they live in beat them to it.  They were jumping and shouting for joy.

         

            They could not believe it.  A closer inspection is called for.  

             Hallelujah's filled the tent.

           

        

             In the background are a mother and sun from Belgium.  

             A truck driver from Canada is in the foreground.

         

             Another satisfied customer.  It is all part of the service we provide.

God bless

   

   

       

Day 4 (2.0)

                       

                                     We get four legged visitors also.

  

 Alan, the overseer of our outreach, pitches a tent and stays over from the time we set up 

 until the time we tear down.  Dedicated.

                                 Alan is the one in the hat and shades.

                                         

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

The rest of the pictures are just to give you an idea of how big this place is and how 

blessed we are to be allowed to do what we do.

Day 2

Welcome.  

The great thing about working up here is the unexpected.  We never know from moment who or what will drive into the rest stop.   

"Oh my!" Says my inner George Takei.  "A bus."  Buses are not an unusual sight and we do get them.  Sometimes they come in empty and sometimes they do not.  Looks like this one is occupied.

In this picture we have Lenny (black shirt) smiling and getting a cup of coffee for a weary traveler.

The patrons who come into the tent are just as eager to see our map and who has come through, as much as we are.  This is a shared joy between us and them.

                

For others passing through, it is an chance to have a momento from a place they may never have been before.  Oddly enough more pictures are taken at the rest stop than most other places I can remember.

   

Day One

Good morning everyone from I-81 Lennox rest stop.

Our tent is open and ready for business.  It is so hard to believe that we are in our seventh year of doing this.  Praise God for sure.

During the next three or more blog posts I would like to invite you into our tent and introduce to some of the workers and people we meet, from literally, all corners of the globe.

So please, step right in.

Day 3

Saturday was an awesome day for us at our outreach on I-81 Lennox.

Lisa, Robbie and I were highly motivated and excited to be going out and being the hands and feet of the God we serve.

The rest stop is about 75-90 minutes north of where we live so we had to leave at 4:45 in the morning to be there by 6am. Here is an early morning shot of the skyline as we made our way on the interstate.

During this time we fellowship and pray and get ourselves in the right frame of mind and spirit so we can be effective witnesses and workers for the Christ.

        

                           

The gentleman serving hotdogs on the left is Robbie.  The other three men are from Ukraine.

This picture has Lisa and Robbie making small talk with two gentleman from New Jersey.

You cannot really see the pins in the map but as I have said, we have people coming from all areas of the globe into our tent.  The map above has some interesting places pinned.

Visitors come in all sizes.  Here we have a little gentleman enjoying one of our sorbet pops.

Coming into the tent with the shades and shoulder bag is Alan.  More on him later.

God bless