"Real life"

In my last post, I ended by saying that this life is not really our "real" life; we are here so briefly.  The life that we will live for eternity is what is most important.  Jesus said, "Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."-Matthew 6:19
As for me, I'm not concerned with having treasure there, I only want to be there, at the feet of my Master.
What a privilege it will be to kneel before Him!  Eternity is a long time and what waits for us there is beyond our imaginations.  This world will be difficult:

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, his must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.  What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?  Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?  If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in His Father's glory with the holy angels.- Mark 8:34-38

What is it to lose your life for Christ?  One immediately thinks of the martyrs, but I believe here Jesus is talking about the way we live our lives.  Do we live for Him, making Him and the gospel our top priority, or do we spend the majority of our time on earthly cares and concerns?  Of course we must care for our families, work, etc., but when we lose our lives for Christ, we put Him and His work at the top of the list.

My pastor said something interesting the other day.  He said, "If all Christians lived as you do, what would the church be like?"  Something worth considering, as all of us together make up Christ's body here on earth.

So let us shine the light of God's love at every opportunity.  No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts in under a bed.  Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.- Luke 8:16

When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, "I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will  never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."- John 8:12

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- His good, pleasing and perfect will.- Romans 12:2

I can tell you from my own experiences that when I set aside myself and follow God's will, that is when I have peace even in the most brutal storms life can dish up.  There will come a time when we have no more troubles, no more sadness, no more pain; when we leave this world and go home to where we belong.
In the time we have left let us continue to bear fruit for His kingdom.

Let us also remember that we cannot do this in our own power.  Our salvation is by grace alone, and the power within us is the Holy Spirit.  He gives us strength and courage that we don't have in ourselves.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.  For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.  and so He condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.-Romans 8:1-4

No matter our current circumstances, if we are in Christ, we are not alone.  Nothing can separate us from Him!  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  As it is written:  For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, not any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.- Romans 8:35-39  This is one of my favorite verses.  It is such a comfort to know that nothing can separate us from the love that my Savior has for us!

It's so important to remember that his world is not our home...it is a temporary place, a faint shadow of things to come.  Many people worry that we may be entering the last days, but whether that is true or not, we will certainly have a last day of our own...most of us have less than one hundred years.  Every so often it's good to take a good hard look at ourselves and our priorities.  It's so easy to slip into the cares of this world, and it's easy to put off sharing the gospel... we don't want to offend, do we?  Share in love.  Plant seeds.  God will water them, and you just might be surprised at who comes to meet you when you enter the Kingdom that you thought weren't listening.

Here's a beautiful song about what is in store for us when we leave here.  I hope you enjoy it and it brings you hope, because one day there will be a day with no more tears or suffering.

Wishing you blessings.

An adventure with Magdalene Hope...and how I got stuck in San Diego

Hello friends!

I'm home after another adventure...last Monday I went with Magdalene Hope (the ministry I belong to that does street outreach to prostitutes) to San Diego, about four hours from where I live.  It has been a goal and a dream for some time that we would have a safe house with a program in place to help them improve their lives.  This has finally happened!  The ministry has purchased a home, and now all we need is to get it up and running.  Our first young lady is currently in a shelter waiting for us to open.

So, we were traveling to San Diego to meet with the director of a house that has been up and running for some time to get ideas about programs to put in place for our house.  We met at the church at 5:45 a.m. to begin the trip and I felt terrific.  I'm so glad to be a part of this ministry.  We did a Bible study on the way and my spirits were high.  I felt fine when we got there, but about halfway through the morning presentation I began to feel extremely cold.  I thought maybe the air conditioning was just high, but by the time we broke for lunch...I had to run to the bathroom and empty my stomach.

Great, just great.  I am very private about my illness in that while I may talk about it, I really don't like anyone to see me that way.  But I couldn't even begin to hide it.  I went to lie down in the back of the church van and my stomach kept emptying....luckily I had a cup from my coffee earlier!  What made it unusual was the amount of pain I was having.  Only a few times have I had pain like that.  I stayed in the van while everyone else went back in for the afternoon session and it got worse from there.  By the time they came back, I was losing my self control and moaning, which was very embarrassing to me.  They rushed me first to an Urgent Care, who said I needed a hospital.  I was very lucky that they got me right in at the hospital, but none of the medications seemed to be working.

I was extremely blessed to have one of my friends in the back with me.  She rubbed my back, prayed for me (as did the rest of the group) and kept me covered in warm blankets as I was still freezing cold.  I needed to be transferred to another hospital that took my insurance, and the group stayed until they were sure that the transfer went through and I'd be admitted.  I can't put into words how grateful I was for their love and support....yes, I can.  The love of Christ is what they showed.  Before they left, they all layed hands on me and prayed for me one by one.  Through the pain, I could feel the Spirit.

To make a long story shorter, I'm back at home now.  My mother, who lives a few hours from San Diego, came to pick me up and I spent a few days recuperating at her house.  While there, I read a book that I must recommend.  It's called Safely Home by Randy Alcorn.  It talks about the persecution of Christians in China, and I must say that after reading it, I felt truly ashamed.  With all my freedom, how much do I really do for the kingdom?  One of the most touching scenes in the book is when one of the main character is jailed for owning a non authorized Bible and attending an unauthorized church.  Many Chinese Christians meet in house churches, because the authorized churches are not allowed to teach certain fundamental beliefs.
Anyway, so now he's in prison, being beaten and tortured.  So what does he do?

He offers the jailer to clean the floors in the cells.  And as he does, he spreads the gospel to the other prisoners.  He tells his friend that he is so grateful that God has provided him a ministry!

And I complain about my stomach and don't get up to write on the computer and spread the message about God's love because of my trifling pain.

No more!  I pray God will give me the courage, the strength of character, and the promptings of the Holy Spirit to share Him with all who need to hear about Him.

I think I've shared this song before, but it's been on my mind all week; I was singing it to myself in the hospital.  It's in Hebrew, but here is the translation:

Those who trust in God are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken, but stands forever.  As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people...Psalm 125 1-2

Another point the book made is that this life down here on earth is not our "real life."  Our real life begins when we leave the shell of a body we currently inhabit.  I believe that with all my heart.
So let us make the most of each day, reaching out in Christ's love, to those who need His forgiveness and His Holy Spirit to live the life that our Father has called us to.

Please pray for the success of Restoration Ranch, the name that has been chosen for Magdalene Hope's house.

Wishing you all blessings in Christ!

The Crazy Lady On The Freeway? It was me!

It was a 110 degrees and I was driving across town in my car that unfortunately has no air conditioning.  Hot and sweaty with both windows down, my shirt sticking to my back...and this song came on the radio. It started slowly but by the time the refrain hit I had it playing full blast, singing for all I was worth and keeping time with my hand on the roof. Tears of pure joy flowed down my face as I forgot all about the heat and my momentary discomfort as I sang and worshiped. How amazing that the God of all should bestow grace and forgiveness on us, that we can be reconciled to him and call him Father!
I'm so grateful for his freely given grace... as refreshing as a sudden rain in the blistering heat of the desert that is this present world.
When the song was over and a slower one started, I suddenly realized that I'd been worshiping as I do at home or in church driving down the freeway with people all around. I laughed to myself, remembering how David danced in front of the ark of the covenant and was criticized by his own wife.  But when the Lord fills us up, it can't help but bubble up and spill out. In a "let it all hang out" world, I'm not ashamed to sing to him on the freeway! You can't come up from behind my car without seeing the sticker on the back that makes my allegiance clear.
Here's what Paul tells us:
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace that transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.-Philippians 4:4-7

Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious! Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows down to you; the sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name." Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf!- Psalm 66: 1-5

So let your joy shine so that you reflect the light of the world...a world that is starving for a Savior.
Wishing you blessings.

Well Done

Have you been watching the Olympics?
Most of the world has been watching with fascination.  Watching them perform it's immediately apparent that although each one has an immense talent, they have given countless hours perfecting and honing it. Year after year they were up before dawn, practicing endlessly, sweating it out, pounding their bodies and spirits into perfection. Throughout their careers they have doubtless made mistakes but gotten back up and gathered their dignity and tried again, working toward perfection.
In 1 Corinthians 9:24-26 Paul says, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air."
We are soldiers for our Lord. We are subject to spiritual storms and an enemy that is crafty, sneaky, and bites us with his sharp fangs in our soft spots.  But we have an advantage in that we have the Almighty God on our side.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.-Ephesians 6:10-12
So how do we run and train spiritually for the battles we face?
It takes daily training. If you wanted Olympic gold, you surely wouldn't practice only on Sundays! :)  So, we train every day. We train in heartfelt, sincere prayer; confessing, praising, submitting our all. By holding nothing back. We train by reading Gods written word: memorizing it, meditating upon it, making changes in our lives as we discover what he asks of us. We are called to live a life victorious through the Holy Spirit who lives within us and gives us the strength to do the impossible.
And when we run and train hard, letting the Spirit pour through us, the world around us will notice.  They will feel the love of the Father that flows through us, and we will have no fear or shame in sharing what it is that makes us different.
God gave you a talent. Whether it's teaching, encouraging, singing, praying for others, use your talent and train as though for the gold. And above all else, whatever talent we possess, remember the lesson of 1 Corinthians 13:13.
And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Do all in love. Run so that at the end of your race, your Father will tell you, "well done."

Father, please fill us with your Spirit. Light our hearts on fire, and strengthen us to do your will in all things.
Help us to run like the wind for your kingdom. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Wishing you blessings.

The very least of us

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you have me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?'
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'-Matthew 25:34-40
It's easy to walk on by. Maybe sometimes we drop a few coins or even a dollar in their cup.  But as children of God, we have more to give, something infinitely more precious. Hope. We can stop for a moment and talk with them; look them in their eyes, ask their name, and ask if there is something we can pray for for them.  I usually ask if I can pray with them right there or if they'd be more comfortable if I did it later. If they'll let me, I simply take their hands in mine and pray right then and there. And trust me in this: I'm the one who walks away blessed.
.Every one of these people are children of God.  Remember, love is action: it doesn't take much to offer prayer, and then come back with a sandwich and a bottle of cold water.  We need to see them through the eyes of our Father, and when we do, we'll see them much differently. We'll see them through eyes of love.




He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak- Isaiah 40:29

Father, for those who have nothing...please use us, the body of Christ on earth to continue your work in caring for the poor and needy.

Wishing you all blessings.

Anguish

Though anguish burns like hot coals in my soul
Though it feels the world has turned it's back
My strength comes from the Lord who makes me whole
My hope is in him alone; people can't help but fail 
Though my heart is breaking, someday he'll wipe my tears away
I know he is beside me and loves me
And he always hears every word I pray
I know he is beside me and loves me
Even when it's hard to love myself
Until I finish walking this long road home.
Persevere, my heart
Persevere, my feet
Let me learn your patience
And Father, would you just carry me
for a bit
Until joy returns again....


This song was written by Steven Curtis Chapman after his daughter died, and it's been on my mind all day.  I hope you enjoy it.  No matter what this world dishes out, we're going home someday.  Some days it feels like such a long way....but take heart! He has overcome the world.

The Devil's Playground; Ministry to the Ladies of the Night

On every first and third Friday night I have been going out with a ministry from my church called Magdalene Hope.  We drive up and down the "stroll" and minister to the prostitutes we come across.  Our pastor knows many of them by name and where they hang out, as he started this ministry about three years ago because he felt the Lord was calling on him to help these women.

The first thing we do is put together gift bags.  They contain cards with every number that they can call for help, and we also include a gospel of John, a CD of worship music and other items that will make them feel good about themselves: candy, inexpensive jewelry items, and hygiene items.  After we put the bags together we spend time preparing spiritually.  We read the word and then worship in song followed by prayer. We examine ourselves for any sin and confess it privately and then pray together as a group.   It's essential; we rely on our Father to put the right women in our path and to soften their hearts.  When walking in the devils' playground it's essential to go forth in spiritual strength.

We load up into a van, and so that we don't overwhelm the women, the person in the front passenger seat does the talking.  When we find a young woman working, the front passenger calls to her and asks if she'd like a gift bag.  Most of all we want to get those phone numbers into her hands!  While they are talking, those of us in the back pray silently.

The last night we went out we made a lot of contacts and many allowed pastor to pray for them.  After we leave the woman, we add her name to a list and what she requested prayer for so that we can continue praying for her.  The most common request is for safety and a way out.  We are hoping to have a safe house for them soon.

Please send up some prayers for these women if you feel led to. They are all in desperate circumstances.

Russian Mission Group Warns Of Crackdown On Evangelicals; Anti-Putin Protesters Gather

Russian Mission Group Warns Of Crackdown On Evangelicals; Anti-Putin Protesters Gather

Monday, February 6, 2012 (4:33 am)

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MOSCOW/BUDAPEST (Worthy News)– As protesters demanding more freedom and fair elections prepared to demonstrate in freezing temperatures in Moscow Saturday, February 4, a major Russian mission group warned of more difficulties for evangelical Christians and other, religious, minorities in Russia and other former Soviet Union nations.
"Even as demonstrations increase, protesters’ hold on religion and civil liberties appears to be slipping in the North Caucasus and Central Asia," explained Russian Ministries in a statement to Worthy News.
"The situation in Russia has been building over the last several years, and is as much about religious liberty as it is about political freedom," the group added.
Russian Ministries, which is involved in several aid and education projects and evangelism, told Worthy News that recent reports "document an alarming increase in limiting the freedoms of minority or dissenting religious perspectives across much of the post-Soviet region."
It also said that Siberia, Russia, local courts have attempted to ban the publication of alternate religious books, calling adherents to Hare Krishna “madmen.” The group compared the situation with the Soviet era. "In Soviet times, cults were targeted for persecution, and evangelical Christians were purposefully labeled as followers of a cult."
ETHNIC VIOLENCE
It comes at a same time when ethnic violence is on the rise, with Russian officials reporting this week the deaths of 13 people in a shootout in the North Caucasus between Islamist militants and Russian servicemen.
Russian Ministries said that with the "ethnic violence rising at the same time as religious liberty is under threat, the need to train next generation Christian leaders has never been higher."
Michael Cherenkov, vice-president for Association for Spiritual Renewal, seemed to agree in remarks distributed by Russian Ministries.
"A campaign [to limit religious freedoms] has been taking place in many regions of the Russian Federation for several years already,” he added.
He said requests from the Orthodox Church, which closely cooperates with the Kremlin, "to local authorities to destroy rental agreements and other forms of partnerships with Protestants have become common practice."
EXTREMISM CONCERNS
He claimed the church was "concerned about ‘extremism’" and added that "The formation of a common enemy is the best grounds for the mobilization of the ‘Orthodox.’"
Cherenkov said Russian Orthodox leaders "are losing their authority" so they "need to portray Protestants as 'sectarian fanatics.' In comparison, the Orthodox portray themselves as the real, native spiritual leaders, something they never were in reality.”
There was no immediate reaction from the Orthodox Church. Its national televised Christmas service in Moscow is usually attended by prime minister, and soon to be president, Vladimir Putin and other leaders.
Russian Ministries, a U.S. backed group with operations across Russia, said it is cooperating with local Christians to "respond correctly and wisely to the changing political climate across the region."
It said it is "committed to promoting religious liberty for all" in Russia, neighboring Belarus and Central Asia where, it added, "religious restrictions and persecutions are [also] on the rise."
REGISTRATION DEMANDS
Forum 18, a human rights monitoring service based in Norway, said in its latest report that that in Kyrgyzstan, "No progress has been made in dealing with registration applications from—among others—hundreds of mosques, unregistered Protestant churches, and the Hare Krishna community.”
In the Nagorno-Karabakh region, a Baptist conscientious objector was sentence to a one-year prison term for refusing to serve in the military. "Fines against Baptists and other religious workers in Uzbekistan are on the upswing. Mission Ministries told Worthy News.
"Activities under fire include reading as a group, allowing children to participate in services and any other activity consider as “proselytism” or “missionary activity.” Fines have been levied and repressive laws against religious freedom sign into law in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan."
Russian Ministries said it has been seen the many "white ribbons, balloons and flags snapping in the wind" recently with anti-Putin demonstrators expected to gather again to hold "anti-fraud banners high" in Moscow on Saturday, February 4.
Putin, who has come also under international pressure over perceived autocratic policies and alleged election fraud by his party in recent elections, is expected to begin a six-year run as president "if the [upcoming presidential] election goes as predicted," Russian Ministries said.

In John 15:18-27 Jesus addressed the issue of persecution:

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.  As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.  That is why the world hates you.  Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.'  If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.  If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.  They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.  If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin.  Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin.  He who hates me hates my Father as well.  If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin.  But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father.  But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason.'  When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.  And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning."

Here in the United States we have been blessed to have a climate of acceptance, though it is changing.  Considering this passage, and that as Jesus said, "No servant is greater than his master" we can expect this reaction from those who are not like us.  But we can take comfort from the fact that he overcame this world, and is within us in the Spirit to give us peace and strength no matter our circumstance.  When the world mocks and condemns us, we remember that he was mocked and condemned.  We have his promise in John 16:33- In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world.

I'll leave you with one more verse: Philippians 4:27  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

And a prayer:  Father, please bless and give your peace and strength to your church around the world.  Help us to share our faith in you in our everyday lives.  In Jesus' name, amen.

Christians classified as Terrorists by Obama Administration - YouTube

Christians classified as Terrorists by Obama Administration - YouTube:

'via Blog this'
                                                 
This video is about two years old, and I think this trend is gaining momentum.  It is insidious; one by one our beliefs are being mocked.
We are being labeled as narrow minded bigots for believing in the teachings of the Bible.
Crosses are being removed from public places.  The ten commandments taken down from courtroom walls.
Evolution is being taught to our children as fact, not theory.   We have "holiday trees" and Nativity
scenes are banned in public places.  Most recently, in New York, churches are not allowed to meet in schools when they are not in session.  Preaching about our beliefs is becoming known as "hate speech."

Anyone who commits a terrorist act is not a Christian, no matter what they refer to themselves as.
In fact, we are called in Romans 12: 14-17 to "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."

We are told by Jesus himself that we will be persecuted for our faith.  We have only to read the book of Acts to see the trials the early believers lived through and were often killed for, and we know when the last days begin to approach that the persecution will rise to that level again, as it has in many countries even now.
To convert from Islam is punishable by death.  The persecution of believers in the Middle East and other countries has already risen to that level again.  But believers, take heart; "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." 2 Corinthians $:8,9

And we have the advantage in knowing the final outcome of this world.  Revelation 21: 3-4 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be heir God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."  So stand firm in Him, for He will never leave nor forsake us.

His Strength is Sufficient

1-31-12

It's been a long time, but it's time to get back at it! I'd thought about giving this up, but you can only share so much on Twitter (which I have also sorely neglected) and I have so much more I'd like to share.

I'm passionate about several things: my faith, my country, and my family. Here is where I share my faith, and the challenges we face here and around the world. Today I'm going to keep it close to home.

I've been tweeting here and there about a critically ill family member. Her name is Sue, and she is the mother of my ex-boyfriend of nine years. When I became ill and no longer able to work 8-12 hours shifts as a Registered Nurse, she gave me the opportunity to work in the family business (her husband and son fix commercial cooking equipment) doing the accounts receivables, while she does payables. It's a great position for me because I am able to be gone when my illness flares, as it often does. I usually spend my afternoons there.

What's all this got to do with faith?

She's an amazing Christian, my best friend other than my own mother, and we may lose her. As of last night, she is deteriorating again. I heard a quote yesterday that really hit home.

When it is the darkest, it is then that our light shines the brightest. (unknown)

I'd love to just curl up in bed and cry; and I have a few times, but it is the strength of our God that keeps me going, jumping in and doing all the things that must be done to keep things running smoothly. I don't think that I could do it without His help. Now, to get over there is thirty minutes each way. Several years ago, I turned my radio to a Christian station and wow! I have one hour built into my day for prayer and worship. This time alone with Him each day makes a tremendous difference.

There's a couple of verses that are sustaining me right now.

Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Not some things, not just the easy things, but all things. Not through my own strength, but through His.
No matter the circumstance, He is there. He is with us when we call on Him. And the comfort He provides is a tangible comfort that I can feel in my heart. Another good verse from Philippians is:

Philippians 4:4-8 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.

Some might find it difficult to rejoice in the face of such tragedy. To lose this woman of God will be a tremendous personal loss not just for me, but for their whole family. How do we rejoice? In this situation, I can rejoice knowing and trusting that the God who created the universe has a perfect plan. He will take each of us home in due time. I can rejoice that if she goes home, she will be forever in His presence. And I know from past experience that there is no wound that He can't or won't heal.

This beautiful song by Casting Crowns has given me so much encouragement.  I hope that it will touch you, too, with whatever you may be going through:    Praise You in the Storm

Even as I walk through darkness, #I'm so thankful

There's so much in this country and world that angers me. If you're reading this, we probably share some the same issues. The world around us grows more evil by the day, including those who are supposed to lead us. I've never heard of so many children and infants being killed by their own parents. Then we have the Muslims starting a reality show on TLC, deceiving the uneducated. I could go on and on, and probably will in the days to come, because the issues we don't discuss and plan to enlighten people about leave us guilty by our silence.
Last night I awoke from a nightmare, and was immediately soothed by God's presence when I prayed. It occurred to me that although we are surrounded by this world of darkness and despair, as God's children we have much to be thankful for. And as it is Thanksgiving week, we would do well to remember these things both big and small.

So I started a list using #I'm so thankful. If each of us could contribute a few things, we can share our hope, faith and thankfulness with each another. Here's what I've got so far:


#I'm so thankful God's people once again inhabit Israel, the land that He gave them.

#I'm so thankful "The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble." Psalm 9:9

#I'm so thankful "In the morning, O lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in
expectation." Psalm 5:3

#I'm so thankful that God even knows the number of hairs on our head.

#I'm so thankful we live under the New Covenant.

#I'm so thankful for each new day that allows me another chance to share God's love.

#I'm so thankful for the jump-up-and-down, tail wagging show of joy that my dogs give me when I come home.

#I'm so thankful that though my body struggles with illness, my mind remains clear.

#I'm so thankful for the mercy and peace that comes from my Father.

#I'm so thankful for the roof over my head and warm blankets to pull up to my chin.

#I'm so thankful for this place where I can hear encouraging words from others that believe as I do.

#I'm so thankful that in this country my faith is not grounds for jail or death.

#I'm so thankful for God's unconditional love.

@vaibk Vaibhav Khare RT @SuzieTors #I'm so thankful for God's unconditional love.

#I'm so thankful that I have adult children that I can be proud of.

#I'm so thankful that when I wake from a bad dream, my heavenly Father is right there to comfort me.

Our Deliverer is coming

My Deliverer- video below

This is a beautiful song by Rich Mullins, who has since passed away.  I hope you'll take a moment and click on the link and watch it.  I had a really bad nightmare last night and I felt a lot better after watching this.  There is so much evil in this world, it can be very discouraging.  But we have a Deliverer, and He is coming.  This world will flash by in the blink of an eye and we will go home, where there will be no more pain or suffering.

Isaiah 41:10: So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am you God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

In the video there are some graphic pictures of suffering.  We all wonder why God allows it?  I'm no theologian, but in this world, if there were no wrongs, how would God ever see what we will do about it?
A word about prayer.
Sometimes it seems like saying, well, I'll pray about this or that seems like a trite response.  But think about it for a moment.  What could be more powerful than asking the God who created the universe to step in and help?  We don't need to be eloquent, just sincere.  He hears our prayers that come from the gut.
If it's a person in our life (rather than an issue) that needs prayer, why not take their hand and pray with them right then and there rather than promising to do it later?  Praying together with someone who needs it is a powerful thing.

My prayer for today:  Father, please reach down and comfort those who are hurting. Let us feel your presence today in all we do.  For those who are being persecuted for their faith, would you reach down and wrap your arms around them and give them the strength to endure, and let them feel your love.  In the name of your son, Jesus, amen.