Sharing God's love, His Word, and my faith as I grow and learn. Whether you are already walking with God or just curious about what it is that we Christians believe, I hope that you will find what you're looking for. Please feel free to ask questions or leave any comments you may have. Below my most recent posts are links to Christian news. All videos are from YouTube and may not work on a device that is mobile.
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.
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.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!
Out in the street, fireworks are exploding in celebration of our freedom!
Speaking of freedom, the most exquisite freedom we have is the freedom from condemnation, the freedom that comes from our Lords' sacrifice for us on the cross. No freedom compares to it!
As I sit at my computer, I hear the crackling and booming of the fireworks and I thank my God for the sacrifice he gave for us.
I can hardly believe it's been 30 days since I've blogged. But it's been a very productive 30 days!
Let me bring you up to date, because it's been an exciting time. It all started when I stopped by my grandmothers house to visit. She lives with my aunt and nephew, and we just visiting and catching up when all of a sudden a young man, Garry, a friend of my nephew, came bursting in, his face glowing with joy. "You all won't believe this," he said. " I went to church last Sunday and I accepted Christ as my savior and I'm to be baptized this next Sunday!"
I found out later that this was a young man with a lot of problems. He'd been on drugs and on the wrong path altogether. But the Lord had turned his life all around.
"Congratulations," I told him. "What church did you find?"
Lo and behold, it was mine! Coincidence? I don't think so. "Do you have a ride?" I asked him. For years I have been taking anyone who wants to go.
"That's the only problem," he said. "I don't have a car."
"Not a problem." I told him. "I'd be glad to take you."
And thus began a fantastic friendship. We began going every Sunday and Wednesday, and the very next Sunday his girlfriend accepted Christ as her savior as well. They have three little children aged 5,2, and 10 months. We meet together often to read the word, pray, and fellowship. We've gone fishing several times, and this past weekend we went on a great camping trip.
And talk about blessings! A week after he turned his life over to the Lord, he landed a job in the oilfields, making a very decent wage.
Our father is good indeed!
So that's what I've been up to. And we have decided to start a home bible study right here in my home, something I've wanted to do for some time. We are going to start meeting together every Thursday, as I've decided to keep a Sabbath from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. Not that we are under the law; I want to do it as an expression of my love for my Lord.
Something else I've been up to....since visiting Israel a year ago, I've developed a passion to learn to read and speak Hebrew. Again, as an expression of love. It has greatly enriched my life. I'm sure you'll recognize the verse, John 3:16. I hope it will bless you as it has me. :)
Since I wrote my last post, Shattered, I've given much thought to all the sufferings we experience while here in this world. At the end of the poem I said that healing comes from the unconditional love of our Father. But how do we find and experience that love?
I would suggest that we must first begin to view ourselves as God does. After all, he is the ultimate authority, right? Most of us who have wound up with shattered lives continue to have a distorted view of ourselves because betrayal at the hands of those we love the most changes our whole perception of ourselves. But our Father, who sees our deepest failings, loves us with a perfect love. He created each of us to be unique. He even calls us his children: yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. John 1:12
Our God is compassionate, patient and loving. His love is a healing love that can put the pieces back together.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger of 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 past nor the future, nor 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
He is our strength to soar. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not grow faint. Psalm 40:29-31
He is our rock and refuge. The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord have never forsaken those who seek you.-Psalm 9:9-10
He loves, he heals, he comforts, he forgives, he patiently waits for us to turn and open our hearts to him.
He is our joy. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:17-18
My prayer is that you call on your heavenly Father who loves you beyond measure.
Those who seek, find.
Last night I went to a barbecue with some new friends. As we were talking late into the night, one of the young women began to share her story and her hurts. I once read that 1 in 3 women will have something done against their will by a man in their lifetime. For some of us it's just an unwanted grope or touch, but many of us go through so much more. My heart just ached for her, and all the little ones who are scarred by the way they are brought up, no matter the kind of cruelty they suffer.
Beautiful on the outside, but on the inside, broken. Home should be our safe haven, and if yours was, consider yourself blessed. Pass that on.
Little child, crying hot tears in the night
too young to understand, too young to fight
belts and bruises scar more than tender flesh
and too many men like little girls fresh
harsh words echo until they're believed
is it any wonder they search for something to relieve
drugs
darkness
run far far away
grown
but shattered
what is there to say?
There's only one answer
and I know it to be true
You need someone to love you
who's stronger than you
who sees the secret hate
and all that pain inside
who loves you while you pound your fists
and when you try and hide
He's bigger and he's stronger
and only he knows how
to put the pieces of you together again
and he's willing to do it now
Child, just come to him and let him love you like love should be
instead of darkness, come into the light; he'll open your eyes to see
Blood doesn't always make a family- but he'll give you one for eternity
will you come? you're really not alone
you can have a father who is truly a king
he'll heal you and teach you everything
you are a son
or daughter of he that reigns above
And that, my friend, is where you find love.
Father, for all these that have suffered, bring them peace. For those with love to give, I would pray that each and every one of us would reach out to someone who is suffering, old hurts or new, and show them the love that only you can give. Amen.
Driving home from my a visit with my family, I had to drive through the Mojave desert. It was hot, I was dehydrated, and my lips were cracked and burning. My illness had flared, and I had to stay a couple of extra days before I could drive. As I went, even my water became hot. My high tech air conditioner is to roll down the car window. Several times I wanted to just lay down and rest, but I knew that would only make my situation worse. I had to keep moving. I was lucky enough to find Christian radio stations and I had my CD of worship music, and that praise and worship got me to though. I thought about the armor of God in Ephesians 6: Weapon 1: The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. The sword is what we fight with, cutting the enemy off. This is a good reason to memorize, so that you can call up verses when you need them. Weapon 2: The shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
I'm sure the enemy would have liked me to curl up and give. But the Holy Spirit inside me strengthens me. Weapon 3: The helmet of salvation. I know who I belong to. He will see me through or bring me home. Weapon 4: The belt of truth, buckled around your waist... guarding my tender parts. Weapon 5: The breastplate of righteousness... bought by the blood of Christ.
As I drove through the desert, I thought of these things. Our lives are like a journey through the desert. We can't get through this life on our own strength. Well, we can, but it won't turn out how we want it to.
But, " I can do all everything through him who gives me strength.- Philippians 4:13
As I watched the endless tumbleweeds and beautiful Joshua trees flow past, I thought of the intelligence that created so many varied habitats. Most people think of the desert as a dry, dead place, but there is life there.
The mountains in the distance were stained purple as the sun shone bright and hot. I thought of Moses and the children of Israel wandering in such a place for forty years. Would our faith today withstand it? But if we have faith, we have peace, because we know that he knows what was, is, and what will be. We can rest in that.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.-Philippians 4:7
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.-1John 4:4
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us. that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!...-1 John 3:1
My favorite scripture of all is this: For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.- Philippians 1:21
So whether in this body or the next one, I have complete confidence that my Lord and Savior will do with me as he chooses. And since he is so much wiser, I chose to follow the path that he has set before me. Some days are easier and some test my limits, but as the scripture says, he who is in me is greater than the one in the world.
Another thing occurred to me as I traveled. Water is such a precious necessity! How many times did our Lord compare himself to living water? It is so. He refreshes our soul as much as ice cold water refreshes my mouth. Ah, our Father is good.
Consider the Samaritan woman who asked Jesus for a drink of water. Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."-John:4:10
I hope you liked the video from last week. I've never heard the gospel spelled out quite like that before. I especially liked the ending, where they talk about not being able to accomplish our great commission outside of his strength. The fact that the living, loving Creator of all things is willing not only to save us from our sins, but adopt us as sons and daughters, and willing to come inside us that we can accomplish his will through his strength, not our own, is awesome stuff.
So there is our hope. We are his greatly loved children, and if we will only give him our hands, feet, voice, he will work through us in mighty ways! Here's a God story that happened today.
I don't often get over to visit my grandmother, aunt and nephew. Months go by and time seems to race along like a river, I'm doing so many things lately. Anyway, my Aunt had called me and asked me to come and take her to do some things, so I went. We were just talking and visiting when my nephew came in with his friend. He began to tell my aunt that he'd found a great church and had turned his life over to God, and tomorrow he is to be baptized. So I asked what church he'd found and- it's my church! :) Coincidence or God working? Turns out he needs someone to take him to church on Sundays, and I'm currently not taking anyone, so that works out great. And during the conversation, my aunt has decided she wants to start going as well. So now I have two people to pick up! It's an honor to be able to help someone get there. Anyway, Gods timing is always perfect.
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God.
Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.
No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse.
Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.- Psalm 25:1-5
This video was shown in my church today.
It's eleven minutes long.
And it will change your whole perception of who we are and who we can be.
There isn't anything I can add to it, only a prayer that you'll watch it and understand more fully the power and reality of what God has done for us and can do through us.
I never thought I'd be on the side of the road with a cardboard sign! I've led an interesting life but that's not something I've ever done before. But on Easter Sunday, I got to stand at the entrance of my church with one. On one side it said "Jesus saves" and when I turned it over, it said "A parking spot for you!" I go to a large church and we get about 15,000 people in over three services on Easter. The police even come help direct traffic, so you can imagine people get a bit frustrated waiting just to turn into the lot. The pastor of the Magdalene Hope ministry I just joined came up with the idea to break the tension. It was a good idea; I had so much fun flipping the sign over and smiling at everyone! Lots of people smiled and waved back, and it was a blessing to me. And as usual we had excellent worship, message and a few surprises thrown in to make the service extra special.
I am so blessed to be able you have such a church to be able to go to! When my pastor speaks, I always learn something new and am encouraged. If you don't attend somewhere regularly, I encourage you to find a good place. It's hard to grow alone.
Then after service as people were all lined up in their cars waiting to go out, I had this sign:
Once again I got to smile and wave at a lot of people as they went out. Normally I'm a pretty shy person but I really had fun.
This song fits for Easter: God's Not Dead by the Newsboys. I love the chorus: "My God's not dead, he's surely alive, living on the inside, roaring like a lion." Our God is like a lion, mighty and strong and through him we can do all things.
It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night- Psalm 92:1-2
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.-2 Corinthians 4:16-18
You know, I've often heard that God has a specific plan for each of us but this verse really hit me with the truth of it. You and I are here to fill some specific purpose that our Father "prepared in advance for us to do." For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10
The question for all of us is are we doing it?
Oh, how I struggle with this sometimes! There's so many things I'd love to do for God; work in an orphanage in Romania, or with the children in Africa that have lost their families to HIV...or maybe travel with some sort of medical team, using my nursing skills? How do we know when we're doing what God has made us for?
Well. I'm by no means an expert, but I believe that when we're heading in the direction he wants us to go he will do two things: he'll give us a peace in our hearts and he'll let events fold out in a way that confirms what we're doing. Or not! If everything is going wrong, perhaps we're going the wrong way. Sometimes the enemy attacks us when we are doing right, but I've experienced both and they feel different.
The best we can do is search his word and pray with all sincerity. Sometimes I think he just wants me to do what I'm doing right now, writing for his kingdom. I joined the ministry at the church going out on the first and third Friday nights ministering to the prostitutes and I find that I absolutely love it. I can't tell you how rewarding it is to pray for these young women who are in the worst place of their lives.
So why did God put you here? Is there a person that would only listen to matters of faith from you, perhaps a sibling or parent or close friend? Do you have a particular talent you can use for his glory? I've always wished I could sing for him, but sadly, no.
One thing to remember is that our every action and word is our testimony to whomever sees us at the time.
Now we ALL blow it from time to time. That's our humanity. But when we blow it, what an opportunity to go back and humbly ask for forgiveness or whatever is needed. That in itself can be a very good testimony.
One more thing about this verse: it reminds us that no matter what good works we do, we are saved solely by our Fathers' grace and mercy. Hang onto your gratefulness for that and it will keep away pride, I believe.
We are God's workmanship! Created in Christ Jesus to do good works that he planned out ahead of time.
How he must love us...
I was wondering what song to share with you today and it just occurred to me...it fits! Thanks, Father.
