Penny Points

THE BRIDE WHO FORGOT IT WAS HER WEDDING DAY

2012-03-07T21:02:00.000-05:00

Can you imagine the dream: you’re the bride your wedding day is quickly approaching; you wake up in a panic. As you lay on your bed, “what day is it”? A sigh of relief, what a terrible dream you just had. You have forgotten your wedding day. The stage was set everything was ready but you, no wedding dress, flowers to carry, your hair is not done and your shoes are missing. The day was finally here and you missed it, the most important day of your life. Thank God it was only a dream. What bride would ever forget her wedding day! Church have you forgotten your wedding day?

We (the church) like this bride are to be preparing our selves for that day, our wedding day! When Jesus Christ comes for His bride. The groom, Jesus is coming for His Bride (us).

Am I ready? Is my dress without spot or wrinkle? Where are my shoes? These questions could go on and on. What is the solution? How do we ready ourselves? How do we become full of anticipation? What is the Bible’s prescription to cure us from the complacency the “church” (us) has fallen into?

1 Peter 1:13-16 will aid us in revealing how to prepare for our groom.

(1 Pet 1:13 NIV) Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Prepare your minds for action. Phil. 4:8 says: (Phil 4:8 NIV) 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. We can also read; (Isa 59:17 NIV) He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak. (Eph 6:17 NIV) Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Be self-controlled. (1 Pet 5:8 NIV) Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. (Eph 4:22 NIV) You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; Eph. 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 5:1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. (Eph 4:25 NIV) Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. Also read James 1:19-27, 3:13-18.

Set your hope. Col. 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Heb.6: 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. (Heb 11:1 NIV) Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

(1 Pet 1:14 NIV) As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.

Be obedient. (Rom 1:5 NIV) Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. (Rom 6:16 NIV) Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness (2 John 1:6 NIV) And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. (Deu 6:3 NIV) Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you. (Deu 6:24 NIV) The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. If you read in Deut. Chapters 6-11 and chapter 29-31 deal with blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience and they are while worth studying on how to walk obediently before our God. (1 Sam 15:22 NIV) But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
Do not conform. (Rom 12:2 NIV) 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. (1 Pet 1:14 NIV) As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
Do not be ignorant. (Hosea 4:6 NIV) my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. "Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children. (Eph 4:18 NIV) They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. (1 Tim 1:13 NIV) Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. (1 Pet 1:14 NIV) As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.

(1 Pet 1:15 NIV) But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; (1 Pet 1:16 NIV) for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

Be Holy. To be holy is to be set apart-consecrated to God for His purpose and His use. (Rom 11:16 NIV) If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. (Rom 12:1 NIV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. (Col 3:12 NIV) Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (1 Th 4:7 NIV) For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. (2 Tim 1:9 NIV) who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, (Titus 1:8 NIV) Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. (Heb 12:14 NIV) Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

The Holiness of the Lord God is beyond our comprehension. Isaiah recognized this .

Isaiah 6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." 6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

There have been a few times in my life when I entered into a very Holy presence of the Lord. I was privileged to enter into this Holy place through praise and worship. I can but grasp a small vision of the presence Isaiah took part of. This presence reflected such holiness, I wanted to crawl into a hole and hide and make sure no one could see me. I became so aware of the true sinner I was and so unworthy of God’s Holy presence. But His word says:

(1 Pet 2:9 NIV) But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Eph. 2: 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

The Wedding Day is approaching, what are we doing to make ourselves ready?

FEARFULLY WONDERFULLY MADE

2012-02-20T14:13:00.002-05:00

FEARFULLY WONDERFULLY MADE

Today the quote; “time stands still for no man” has been reverberating through my heart. I was wondering who was responsible for that quote and to the best of my research it would appear JFK said it. Time certainly did not stand still for him, a life cut short. Dan and I have shared a lot of life together so far and as of late I have been reminded of the wonder of life. Sometimes we literally must stop our hurried selves and reflect on the wonder of life because it is conceived, born, lives and dies. We cannot recapture yesterday, it is a memory that cannot be relived and time fades those memories as we endeavor to recapture the details of what happened in our yesterdays. After all, was it not just yesterday I was having babies?

Currently we share five grandchildren and the fall of ’11 brought with it news that our youngest daughter was with child for the first time. Monica has drawn me into her pregnancy in a very unique way. Maybe it is because my twenty-nine year old baby (my youngest) is having a baby. My other daughters were younger when they announced their first pregnancies and I think because Monica is older it has brought with it a much different sense in my heart or it may just be that she has always been my “deep thinker”. From the time she was a toddler I knew one day she would do something that required very detailed thinking and skills. She did not prove me wrong, her secular job demands extreme research into very minute’ details with total accuracy. In fact there was a time when one of her jobs required 99.9% accuracy. This part of her temperament that is detail orientated is incredibly in tune with the child growing in her womb. Just as her secular job requires detailed research, one of her new projects is researching and discovering the creation of new life. In fact many times I have had to warn her not to let it become a fear of; “what ifs”, in regards to her unborn child. She has now overcome those fears of “what ifs” and is embracing the wonder of the life growing within her. Monica purchased a fetal monitor and I have been able to hear my grandchild’s heartbeat, the sound of life beating within my daughter sends chills down my spine. Images come in my mind of that tiny life, safe, secure, warm, innocent and comfortable. This precious baby is listening to the mama’s heartbeat, hearing every breath she takes and feeling every move she makes. My tiny grandchild knows his or her mother in a way I will never know her even though I bore her. You see, this baby knows her internally-so close to every vital organ with the realization of what is keeping both of them alive. Oh my, the wonder of life! Just imagine a baby is with mama 24/7 for nine months, this baby is a constant companion, a connection to mother and baby that is only known by them.

Reflecting on this growing life, sheltered within my daughter’s womb brings a greater awareness of what the Lord said throughout scripture, about us and how He values life. Only the Creator of Heaven and earth could make possible this miracle! We are all an incredible miracle, why do we doubt that?

Psalms 139:13(NLT)
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.

Psalms 119:73(NLT)
You made me; you created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands.

Job 10:11(NLT)
You clothed me with skin and flesh, and you knit my bones and sinews together.

Isaiah 44:2(NLT)
The LORD who made you and helps you says: Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, O dear Israel, my chosen one.

Isaiah 44:24(NLT)
This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer and Creator: “I am the LORD, who made all things. I alone stretched out the heavens. Who was with me when I made the earth?

Isaiah 49:5(NLT)
And now the LORD speaks— the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant, who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him. The LORD has honored me, and my God has given me strength.

Jeremiah 1:5(NLT)
“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

Yesterday my daughter called me about a dream she had, I cannot say whether or not this dream is from the Lord but what I do know is the impression it left her was a miracle of truth. Below is a glimpse of a portion of her dream:

In my dream I was holding my "newborn" baby girl in my arms. She was talking to me. I think I knew she was being touched by God because I knew newborns couldn't talk. But it didn't scare me that she was talking to me, it was very peaceful. She was telling me that she "knew" Jesus and I got the sense that she had been with Him or in the presence of God…..She may have told me something about me being her mother too. … I "think" I asked God in my dream about why she only talked for a short time and He told me He was using her to give me a message… What I got from this dream is my unborn/developing baby DOES know Jesus and our little nugget IS fearfully and wonderfully made. Like our lil' nugget is with Jesus or in the presence of the Lord while in my womb.

2/24/12

UPDATE!!

RICH & MONICA JUST FOUND OUT!!

GOD IS SO VERY GOOD!!

SUPER BOWL, the MARRIAGE RETREAT and VALENTINES DAY

2012-02-09T20:40:00.001-05:00

SUPER BOWL, the MARRIAGE RETREAT and VALENTINES DAY

Another Super Bowl has come and gone, and before longpreparation for Super Bowl 2013 will begin. The athletes will spend countless hours training and preparing for thisone day - a year “glory”. The chosencity of New Orleans will also prepare for this money making day. Did you know parking for Super Bowl 2012 cost$180.00 to $300.00 for one day! This didnot even include the cost of tickets, hotel and food.

Records were broken at this year’s Super Bowl. Here are some of those broken records:

111 million American TV viewers.
Eli Manning completed 9 straight passes to start the game.
Tom Brady completed 16 straight passes during a stretch of the game.

The claim to fame commercials kept TV viewers glued to theirseats in efforts to determine which commercial would prove to be America’sfavorite.

Dan was glued to the tube during the Super Bowl with littleevidence that he was in the same house as I. Truth be told; I did not even watch one minute of the Super Bowl. I opted to watch the movie, “MarriageRetreat” on Netflix. The couples as wellas the counselors in this movie were comical and settle truths were lacedthroughout this movie, driving home the fact of the sad condition of marriagestoday.

What do you suppose would happen to marriages in our countryif as much effort was poured into marriage as is poured into the year leadingup to Super Bowl. What if Valentine’sDay was the cultivation of a yearlong pursuit of striving for excellence in marriageand “winning” with our spouse? Iguarantee the divorce rate of 50% would begin to drop.

What is it about America that we spend so much time onextracurricular entertainment but leave little time for enhancing ourmarriage? We even lend ourselves to servinggreat causes at our church or local mission, but what time have we reserved forserving and loving one another. Ibelieve all of us are guilty of giving leftovers to our spouse.

Before the Lord Jesus ascended into heaven He prayed forus. As you reflect on this scripturetaken out of John think about what message your marriage is giving to this lostworld. If there is one place where unityshould be evident and the light of Jesus shine surely it should be in ourmarriage. …. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will knowthat you sent me.

John 17:20-26(NLT)
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will everbelieve in me through their message.
I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me,Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the worldwill believe you sent me.
“I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we areone.
I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unitythat the world will know that you sent me and that you love them asmuch as you love me.
Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then theycan see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!
“O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciplesknow you sent me.
I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love forme will be in them, and I will be in them.”

A few days ago when I was reading the Bible I ran across apassage in Isaiah that just struck my heart and I began to think; how many ofus have done this very thing in our marriage.

Isaiah 30:12-15(NLT)
This is the reply of the Holy One of Israel: “Because you despise what I tell youand trust instead in oppression and lies, calamity will comeupon you suddenly - like a bulging wall that bursts and falls. In aninstant it will collapse and come crashing down. You willbe smashed like a piece of pottery— shattered so completely that there won’t bea piece big enough to carry coals from a fireplace or a little water from thewell.”
This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One ofIsrael, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you besaved. In quietness and confidence isyour strength. But you would have none of it.

Most break downs in marriage are misunderstandings. We fail to see the truth in the situation andare deceived, mostly because our own motives are self-centered. We truly have bought into lies because wehave not taken the time to resolve issues in a Godly fashion.

Valentine’s Day 2012 should be celebrated with more fanfare then the Super Bowl with thelove of your life. Choose to rediscoverthe “magic” of your first love and realize even with that intense magical loveit could have never held you through the years had not the steadfast agape love (commitment love) been inplace. What is agape love? Agape love is non-partial in nature; itknows no end, as it exhibits the selfless spiritual character of Christ Jesus.Agape love cannot be destroyed or crushed, it endures forever.

All of us at onetime or another need a fresh start, or a new resolution. What better day then Valentines, as a coupleto agree to make this year, a year of marriage intensity of oneness that woulddraw the world around you to Jesus.

FAIRY PRINCESS and the PINK POODLE

2012-01-31T23:10:00.001-05:00

Fairy Princess and the Pink Poodle

A couple of weeks ago I taking care of my 2.5 year old granddaughter. A few hours after she had been with me she said she wanted to play dress- up. My granddaughters all love playing dress- up and they have a unique stash of dress- up clothes to choose from. Unfortunately since we downsized and moved into a smaller house more suitable for just Dan and I, there is little storage space and I gave all the dress-up clothes to Goodwill. Tanner (my granddaughter) caught me off guard and I should have put some thought into what could have been used for dress- up.

Some days I would love to just dress-up and escape into a world of make believe. No doubt all of us have wished that at one time or another. Can you imagine living in the world of make believe where there is no worries or cares. A world where you determine all the circumstances and out comes...where even the sky was not the limit. Just think you could be a "Fairy Princess and have your very own "Pink Poodle" who talks!

The Lord has given us many promises about a world full of adventure; a world where the sky is not the limit...if we will but only tap into the supernatural provisions He has made possible for us. The promises are there but why have we not experienced what the Lord has so graciously made a way for? The child like faith, believing even though we have not seen. When we were children we simply believed because our parents told us about something .... we just took them at their word. Yet, the King of Kings, the Lord God Almighty, the Creator of this world whose name is above all names, who watches over His word to make sure that His word is performed ... has spoken. Why don't we believe? Our children believe because they spend time with us and the past time they have spent with us has proven to them that they can believe what we tell them, but they can also count on us to do what we have said we would do.

I want to pull out the "stops", throw off anything that would hold me back from diving into the supernatural, miracle working, nothing is impossible promise and provision the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords has made a way for! He said it... And that settles it!

Psalm 119:89 Forever, O Lord Your word is settled in heaven.

Luke 1:37 for nothing is impossible with God.

AT LAST

2012-01-27T09:16:00.001-05:00

AT LAST

The older Dan and I become it seems the less emphasis we have placed on our birthdays. However, I woke up early this morning with a realization of how special this day was 57 years ago. The love of my life made his grand entrance into this world, and if that had not happened I would have missed out of an enduring love. Today I will practice what we preach. You see, we tell couples who we are counseling in pre-marriage or marriage to celebrate special days together and never forget a birthday. Everyone should be celebrated at least one day a year. Consider the fact that there are 365 days a year and what can potential happen in 365 days … at least one of those should be special for each of us.

I dug out our wedding album; the one I put together after “Creative Memories” came on the scene. I was flipping through this album for the perfect picture of Dan that I could scan, crop and post on Facebook. Now you must understand I do not have an artist bone in my body so this attempt at scrapbooking is a “C” at best. Do to the fact that I am not real artistic I had saved all of our wedding cards we had received for our wedding and used them in our wedding album to help decorate it. I must confess when I am given a card I read it, but I cannot say I always reflect on the words written on the card, unless those words were written by the giver of the card. Wedding cards may just be one of those cards that get overlooked by the bride and groom. Most likely they received tons of cards, there is so much activity going on as they prepare for the wedding, the wedding day itself, a whirlwind honeymoon and bang life has begun.

I have no idea who gave us this wedding card to us because I cut out the poem inside of it to use in our wedding album and threw away the rest. The words are worth sharing with you today and were penned by Robert Graves.

Then love me more than dearly, love me wholly,

Love me with no weighing of circumstance,

As I am pledged in honor to love you;

With no weakness, with no speculation

On what might happen should you and I prove less

Than bringers to be of our own certainty.

Neither was born by hazard; each foreknew

The extreme possession we are grown into.

Yes, it is true none of us are born by hazard or mistake.

Psalms 139:13-14(NKJV)
For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.

Jeremiah 1:5(NKJV)
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

Happy Birthday my love, the Lord knew what He was doing, and I at last have a love that is a thrilling dream!!

AT LAST by Etta James ~ song by Celine Dion

AT LAST ~ as only Etta James can sing it

THE VOW KEPT

2012-01-20T11:09:00.000-05:00

THE VOW KEPT

A Story of Honor

I just watched the movie trailer for the soon to be released movie called THE VOW. The movie is based on a true story and of course I have not seen it yet. In our book WE PROMISE, we tell about a true story of honor and love. This story about Eric and Colleen’s life is worthy to receive the title; THE VOW KEPT. Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching and this is a story of love.

Years ago we had the privilege of becoming friends with Eric and Colleen. Our friendship was easily developed because we shared much in common. Our beliefs in God are the same as well as our love for the water. We are all bona fide Lakers to the fullest extent. As we grew to know Eric and Colleen, it became very evident that their love for each other was deeply rooted, and they were true examples of honoring one another. Their love story is well worth sharing.

Eric and Colleen were high school sweethearts. Being each other’s best friends and truly loving one another, they married young and together had one son. Summer as well as winter activities have always been paramount in their lives. They have been very active physically. Eric and Colleen are the type of people who live life to the fullest and are diligent to see any task as well as activity through. They have now been married for forty years.

About fifteen years ago after returning from a downhill skiing trip to Utah, Colleen had a severe stroke. Life as they knew it changed dynamically. Even though Colleen is a determined, strong woman, the best of medicine and rehabilitation could not reverse the damage of the stroke or grant her a full recovery. The last few years have brought on increased medical challenges with many hospitalizations. One thing that has always been evident to Dan and me is Eric’s undying devotion and support of Colleen. Eric always honors his wife in word and deed; when he speaks of her, he says she is unstoppable, his love for her is undying, and he calls her his bride. Together they have faced great challenges, especially these last few years.

Colleen fights for victory over the physical challenges she faces and Eric does whatever he can to keep life as they knew it. Eric has maintained an incredible attitude. He always has a smile on his face, remaining upbeat and hopeful. He never once has expressed to us frustration or complained about their situation. He admires Colleen’s steadfast determination to keep on going, despite each day’s challenge. Through hospital and rehabilitation stays, Eric has remained by his bride’s side, encouraging and spurring her on. It is very common for him to spend the night with her at these facilities. Together they have faced challenges with great tenacity and determination to overcome and keep on going.

The traditions that they established in their younger years have continued to this day. From the simplest details of decorating for the holidays to remodeling their house and saving time for the water, unrelenting passions and a love for their God has kept them going. Dan and I have often discussed how difficult these last fifteen years must have been for them as a couple; we are convinced they are a true example of honoring one another.

Proverbs 4:23(NKJV)
Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

Ruth 1:16-17(NKJV)
But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.
Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.”

Taken from: WE PROMISE ~ 18 Foundational Stones for an Unshakeable Marriage

Chapter ~ Honor Guards

BURNING HEARTS

2012-01-19T21:33:00.000-05:00

Burning Hearts

Luke 24:32(NKJV)
And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

What caused the disciples hearts to burn within? The Greek meaning for the word burn means; to set on fire, that is, kindle or (by implication) consume:—burn, light.[i]

I believe the revelation that was given to the disciples about the Scriptures is what truly caused their hearts to burn. The knowledge and insight was to such a level that it consumed them. In verse 27 it says that Jesus explained all the scriptures about himself beginning with Moses and through the prophets. Wow; all is a big word and that must have been a very deep teaching. Then verse 45 goes on to say that Jesus opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

Throughout the Bible we are challenged to seek the Lord. Matthew 6:33(NKJV) says;
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. It also says in 1 Chronicles 16:11(NLT); Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him. The Hebrew meaning of seek is; diligently, inquire, make inquisition, question, require, search, seek surely, ask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require.[ii]

In Proverbs 8:17 it says the Lord loves those who love Him and those who seek Him early and diligently will find Him. If we find Him we will gain revelatory understanding into the Holy Word of God…because it is God breathed (2 Timothy 3:16). Psalms 105:3 says our hearts will rejoice when we seek and require of the Lord.

Some of the last words Jesus spoke to the disciples are recorded in Luke 24:49 (NKJV);
Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

Since Jesus was to be ascending to heaven the Promise of the Holy Spirit is given to us (Acts 2:39). This is the same Promise the disciples were given and they were endued with power from on high (Read Acts chapter 2).

My desire and I hope your desire is – for a burning heart!! Desire a heart that is totally consumed with hunger for the Lord, which will cause us to increase in understanding of the truth of the living Word of God.

GO BIG or GO HOME

2012-01-12T20:08:00.000-05:00

GO BIG OR GO HOME

We have all heard the saying; “go big or go home”. That great desire within us to do the spectacular even within the simple things of life, just the thought that “bigger” is better -has its hook in us. What makes bigger better anyway? Well I would rather have a bigger bank account than a small one at the same time I would rather have small debt versus big debt. So I guess, “go big or go home” cannot be applied in all situations.

There is one area where I would like to encourage all of us to “go big”. We need BIG FAITH. Today I was reading the Bible and I ran across a scripture that just grabbed a hold of me and I had to dig deeper into that word. Isaiah 7:9 (NKJV) says; The head of Ephraim is Samaria, And the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. If you will not believe, Surely you shall not be established.” The New Living version says: Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm.”

Wow, it is up to us to make ourselves firm in the faith. That is easier said than done with arrows being shot at us from every direction. Fears, worries, doubts, deception, and naysayers continually scream in our ears and distract our vision. We must choose to stand regardless of our environmental circumstances; draw a line in the sand and do not relent. The only way you will be able to draw that is to be thoroughly committed to the oracles of the Lord, deepen your relationship with God.

Read the story of Noah in Genesis chapters 6-8. Can you imagine building an ark when it had never rained before and it taking somewhere between 55-100 years to complete the task. All the while naysayers are hurling insults at you….now that is big faith! Now you may be saying well that was back in the Bible days.

Here is a today story that I am sure all of you can relate to. I do not think there is a person in the good USA that has not heard the name Tebow. Tim Tebow’s parents have what I would call big faith; here is the story of Pam Tebow (Tim Tebow’s mother):

In 1985, the family moved to the Philippines, where they lived as missionaries, sharing their Christian faith with the island's natives and building a ministry.

"It wasn't always easy, but it was a wonderful time for our family," Pam said. "We learned a lot - you always learn a lot when you visit a Third World country. You grow in appreciation for everything you have."

As the couple reached out to families across the island, they prayed to expand their own.

"We started praying for Timmy by name, and then we got pregnant so we just felt like God had a special plan for him," she said.

But while their prayers were answered, the pregnancy proved difficult from the beginning.

Just before her pregnancy, Pam fell into a coma after contracting amoebic dysentery, a bacteria transmitted through contaminated drinking water. During her recovery, she received a series of strong medications. And even though she discontinued the regimen when she discovered the pregnancy, doctors told Pam the fetus had been damaged.

Doctors later told Pam that her placenta had detached from the uterine wall, a condition known as placental abruption, which can deprive the fetus of oxygen and nutrients. Doctors expected a stillbirth, Pam said, and they encouraged her to terminate the pregnancy.

"They thought I should have an abortion to save my life from the beginning all the way through the seventh month," she recalled.

Pam said her decision to sustain the pregnancy was a simple one - because of her faith.

"We were grieved," she said. "And so my husband just prayed that if the Lord would give us a son, that he would let us raise him."

In her seventh month of pregnancy, Pam traveled to the country's capital, Manila, where she received around-the-clock care from an American-trained physician.

For the next two months, Pam - steadfastly praying for a healthy child - remained on bed rest.

And on her due date - Aug. 14, 1987 - Pam gave birth to Timothy Richard Tebow, who she described as "skinny, but rather long." "We were concerned at first because he was so malnourished, but he definitely made up for it," she said, between laughs. Today Tim, now 20, stands at a solid 6'3" and 235 pounds.

Tim was three years old when the family moved back to the U.S., where they settled on a small piece of land in Jacksonville. Pam home-schooled her five children, while Bob, an ordained minister, worked full time running the ministry in the Philippines. Today, the family ministry employs a full-time staff of 50 people and operates an orphanage that houses 50 children.

Pam said the children learned some of their most valuable lessons during missions trips each summer.

"That was very life impacting. It changes your children's perspectives because when you grow up in America, you think this is how all of life is," she said. "But when you see people eating out of garbage cans, it affects everything else you do."

She also points to home-schooling for shaping her children's lives. "It's not all about academics," she explained. "It's about teaching them everything they need to know to be successful in life, and the schools aren't going to teach those things."

But she said love and faith impacted them the most.

"We put scripture to tune to help them memorize it and that has been very life transforming," she said. "I can't always remind my children of the truth, but if God's word is in their hearts, then he himself can remind them."

"A really big factor is to love them unconditionally just like God loves us," Pam added. "Kids will do some amazing things if they are loved unconditionally."[i]

Pam stood strong even in the face of opposition, she did not relent and believed her God was able!! I too beleive in the Great I AM that I AM, He has the first word and the last word. Praise the Lord!!

[i] http://www.gainesville.com/article/20071007/NEWS/710060317?p=3&tc=pg

ANGRY BIRDS

2012-01-02T20:58:00.001-05:00

ANGRY BIRDS

In August Dan and I entered the world of Smart phones. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, I know we are somewhat behind. This happened only after my husband continued to prod me to upgrade. I am the “Queen of Thrift” and my philosophy is, if it ain’t broke you don’t fix it. Finally he convinced me I was losing business because I do not text and potential customers were falling through the cracks of the communication grid.

So now that I understand what an “APP” is my daughter told me I must download “Angry Birds”. This sounded creepy to me because I remembered the 1963 thriller movie, The Birds by Alfred Hitchcock. In this movie flocks of birds began to attack people for no apparent reason. So I downloaded “Angry Birds”, those colorful crazy animated birds and I thought to myself, this looks like a child’s game.

I have attempted several times to play “Angry Birds” and have been stuck at the same level ever since I downloaded the game. No matter what strategy I come up with, I still cannot pass a certain level.

All of this got me to thinking about how anger does that to us in real life. Anger keeps us stuck. In fact it will invade every area of our life destroying each part little by little. This may creep in slowly so we do not realize what has really transpired and how this “angry bird” has built its nest in our life hatching more angry birds. Just like in the game, eventually that bird is launched and it will destroy the target it was intended for. The enemy (the devil) has one plan according to John 10:10a (NKJV), The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.

The Bible tells us in Ephesians 4:26, “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, …Now that is a tall order because most of us believe we have the right to be angry, especially when someone has caused an offense against us. We want to take matters into our own hands and make sure justice prevails at any cost. We are ready to duke it out! However, this will never bring the results we truly desire and if we can just get past ourselves the Lord has a much better way. Hebrews 10:30 (NKJV) declares; For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”

Have you ever seen an angry person having fun or happy? Of course not; all of their energy is consumed by anger (it takes a lot of energy to stay angry). Anger is such a joy stealer. Sometimes you just need to let it go.

Disclaimer: if you are a victim of domestic violence seek help immediately, do not delay. For more information on domestic violence go to this website but do not access from your home computer if you are living with an abuser. www.abigails.org

Domestic violence is a very serious misunderstood matter, this type of violence and anger should never be tolerated. Safety is paramount for women and children, please seek help from your local YWCA or call 211 from a land phone line.

THE UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER

2011-12-29T13:38:00.001-05:00

THE UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER

There was a time when the most dreaded gift a person could open was, the ugly Christmas sweater. The sweater would bring inside laughter to some who were watching the scenario play out, but to the receiver of the gift a fake smile and a forced thank you would be uttered from their lips. If the receiver was a crude brave soul this sweater would be wrapped up, regifted and the sweater would make its way on a circuit of being the never ending gift. Amazingly this once dreaded gift has become a sought after treasure. In fact Christmas parties are planned around, the ugly Christmas sweater.

Several years ago before my Father passed away my parents had sent a box of gifts to our house for us, our daughters, their spouses and the grandchildren. My Father had purchased these gifts himself. Oh boy, it sure was a good thing my parents were not present when we open these gifts because with each gift that was opened a new roar of laughter would begin. After the gifts were all opened a trading session took place. One of those gifts was a ceramic wolf head, which ended up being the object of regifting. Believe it or not eventually the wolf head found its home with a receiver who really loved the wolf head and proudly put it on display.

A few years after my Father passed away Dan and I shared this story about that Christmas with my Mother and we all had a good laugh. Every now and again someone will bring up that Christmas day and I must say it was one of the best days we spent together as a family. A “memory” that will not be lost. There has been much discussion about where my Father had purchased these gifts. We think it must have been at one of those truck stops that has an oasis, a discount warehouse or maybe a thrift shop. Who knows……….we got an incredible laugh and a lasting memory of my Father.

Proverbs 15:13(NKJV)
A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Proverbs 17:22(NKJV)
A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.

One day there will be laughter beyond our comprehension and I can hardly wait.

Jeremiah 33:11(NLT)
the sounds of joy and laughter. The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will be heard again, along with the joyous songs of people bringing thanksgiving offerings to the LORD. They will sing, ‘Give thanks to the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, for the LORD is good. His faithful love endures forever!’ For I will restore the prosperity of this land to what it was in the past, says the LORD.

Jeremiah 33:11 is God’s great gift to us and this is one gift that should make the circuit of every person in the world. A gift great enough to bring unspeakable joy to all who want to partake of this precious gift!!

Luke 1:46-55(NKJV)
And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.
And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty.
He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy,
As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.”

SONG ~ MY SOUL MAGNIFIES

THE REMNANT

2011-12-18T21:22:00.000-05:00

THE REMNANT

Years ago when I raising our daughters, I would have considered myself a skilled seamstress. I spent countless hours making clothes, doll clothes, crafts, and curtains. One thing any seamstress will tell you is; you never throw away any remnant. That remnant (scrap of fabric, lace, elastic or thread) may be just exactly what you need to create a fabulous treasure that could far outweigh what the supplies were purchased for originally. Even though I rarely sew now I still have a very large supply of remnants, just waiting for me to have a creative unction. To most people they would consider keeping these remnants, a true waste of storage space. They would think of a remnant as a useless, small insignificant, disposable item.

The fireplace in our house is adorned with “14” stockings. One of those stockings is my granddaughter Reese’s. I made her stocking from left over fabric that originally was used to make flower girls dresses for her parents wedding. Each Christmas this stocking hanging on the fireplace is another reminder of the day Kurt and Leah said; I do. Another stocking was also made from a remnant and this year it holds a valuable treasure – bunny hoppers #2. Now that means absolutely nothing to you but to the owner of that stocking it will be a heart warmer.

When I was a young girl I thought I was insignificant and of no value. I did not have any special talents; I was very small for my age and the object of teasing. School was not my forte and I was a “C” student at best. Certainly if I dropped off the face of the earth no one would notice because I always felt like I was on the outside looking in, hoping for someone to invite me in. Chances are most of us have felt like this at one time or another despite of how others might perceive us. We feel like a remnant.

The following quote is taken from an article written by John Wilson called, The Believing Remnant. Preserved and Secure.

There has always been a remnant since the nation began with Abraham in Genesis 12. We refer to these people as the believing remnant because Romans 9:6-7 says, "...for they are not all Israel, which are of Israel, neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but in Isaac shall Thy seed be called." Throughout Israel's history we see that the majority of this nation was unbelieving, or as God said of them in Romans 10:21, "...a disobedient and gainsaying people." However, there was always the believing few, as Paul states in Romans 11:5: "Even so at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace."

Elijah thought he was the only faithful one left in Israel, yet God said to him, "I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal." In Isaiah's day the number may have been smaller, because Isaiah 1:9 says, "Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and...Gomorrah." Isaiah also prophesied the return of the future remnant during the seven-year tribulation (Isaiah 10:20-22). There are many references to the believing remnant throughout Isaiah and Jeremiah, as there are in the other prophetical books. In the four Gospels we see the believing remnant in those who "...looked for redemption in Jerusalem" (Luke 2:36-38). These would be those like Simeon, Anna, Zacharias and Elizabeth, Mary, John the Baptist and all those who believed God's promises. The Lord referred to them as the little flock, for in Luke 12:32 He said, "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom."

Here are few more scriptures to check out of people written about in the Word of God who were used as a remnant, few in number in their day, but mighty in the hands of God. These are a people of “light”, an unshakeable foe, unyielding to what circumstances said or say and faithful to the Lord, set apart to radiate the promise of God and His Kingdom.

Jochebed (mother of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam): Exodus 2:1-10, Exodus 6:20, Numbers 26:59

Elijah: 1 Kings 18, 1 Kings 19:18

Gideon: Judges 6-8, Heb.11:32

David: 1 Samuel 16:7-13

There was approximately 400 years of silence between the Old Testament and the New Testament………yet the Lord reserved a remnant of faithful believers such as; Simeon, Anna, Zacharias and Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph.

Throughout scripture the Lord has chosen to use people and unlikely things to bring forth His message of good news and that has not changed, even in our day.

Christmas is quickly approaching and it makes me think of what the Lord chose to use as His (the birth of Jesus) story unfolds (a manger – all that was left, swaddling cloth –which is strips of cloth, a remnant) and a handful of willing servants.

1 Corinthians 1:27(NKJV) says:
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;

Last week I went to my grandchildren’s Christmas program. My grandchildren attend the same school where their Mom (Leah) is a second grade teacher. The second graders were up on stage to sing their Christmas songs and one of the boys in Leah’s class became fearful and ran off the stage into the secure arms of his teacher (my daughter, Leah). As I watched this unfold I could not help but think; Leah must have gained the confidence of her students by pouring into their young lives and when fear swept in, that little boy knew just where to go. This may seem very small or insignificant but who knows what seeds are being planted and what this young boy could grow up to accomplish. I wonder what Billy Graham’s mother thought as she watched him become the greatest evangelist of our time. How about the mother who gave birth to James Robison (Life Today show)? She was a victim of rape who decided to have the baby (James) and give him up for adoption. Countless stories could be told of remnant believers used in the hands of a mighty God…..

I truly believe God always preserves a remnant in every home, family, neighborhood, city, church, workplace and generation who is not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are the lifeline connection for others whereby not only can they hear the good news they can see the good news.

2 Corinthians 2:14-17(NKJV) says:
Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?
For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

A.W.Tozer said: What is God trying to do with His believing people?-the Bible calls us a remnant according to grace, believers taken out of the great, teeming swarm of so-called religious people in today's world. I am inclined to join others in wondering if the Lord is postponing His coming because He is trying to get His Bride ready? For years it has been the popular idea in evangelical Christianity that the whole body of believers in Christ would rise like a flock of frightened birds when the Lord comes. But A.B. Simpson and William MacArthur and others in the past generation said, "Oh no! The Lord will take with Him those who are prepared and ready for His coming!" I do not presume to give an answer satisfying to everyone in our churches. But I know that many Christians are too smug about this, saying in effect: "I am converted to Christ through grace, so I can live as I please!" Of some things we cannot be dogmatic; but we know this for sure-God has no halfway house between heaven and hell where He takes us to fumigate us!

"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom."

MUNK UP!! I suppose you have a better idea Smart Guy!!

2011-12-09T11:34:00.000-05:00

MUNK UP!!

I suppose you have a better idea Smart Guy!!

Alvin, Theodore, Simon…once again will make their debut on the big screen. I talked Dan into going to the first two movies with me; Alvin & The Chipmunks ~ Get Your Squeak On, and The Squeakquel. How could I resist, I just had to see the adorable talking chippies? Childhood memories of the munks flooded my mind because I loved watching them every Saturday morning. The first movie he thought was cute; however, after he watched The Squeakquel, Dan reassured me he was truly declaring war on the chipsters.

The cute little furry friends have gnawed their way through parts of our deck and no longer does cute describe them according to Dan. I will spare you the details as to how he has waged war on the chipsters, as for me I guarantee you I will be sure to watch Chip Wrecked opening week at the local movie theater, even if I have to go by myself.

How can something so stinkin’ cute cause so much destruction? Well they certainly get themselves into plenty of trouble on the movie screen, but you can walk out the door realizing…it was only a movie. Real life sets in ~ with the deck dilemma and no matter what I say Dan wants a munk free environment!

Sometimes life is like that, we get sucked in by the cute seemly innocent outside package and before you know it; I Had A Bad Day. The bad day can come in many different forms, from simple distractions that get us side tracked to full blown sin. It may also come from the kind of nuts we may have been storing. Several years ago after watching, Get Your Squeak On the following occurred:

Last night I woke up from a deep sleep around 12:30am with Alvin & The Chipmunk’s rendition of the song I Had A Bad Day running though my brain. The harder I tried the less successful I was at getting the lyrics and tune out of my brain. I remember the first time I heard the song, I Had A Bad Day, my then three year old granddaughter was singing it in the back seat of my car. Since I do not listen to the radio stations which air that particular song, I was unaware of it. My response to my granddaughter was; Oh, Princess Angel Baby (that is what I call my granddaughter) you should be singing, I had a good day. At which time I endeavored to assist her to change the words. Of course my granddaughter being the scholar that she is, informed me; oh no, Nana it’s “I Had A Bad Day” and she was quite adamant about that fact. Little did I know but this had become my granddaughter’s favorite song. As I lay awake in bed I began to wonder how such a catchy tune could have such disheartening lyrics. I realized it was the tune my granddaughter was attracted to, not the words.

Now my brain is wide awake, I roll over look at the clock and it is 1:30am! The creative brain that I have (not) began to think about how the Chipmunks were stuffing “nuts” down the tree trunk as they sang “I Had A Bad Day”. This made me think about how we as people store “nuts” in our trunks. Many of us have trunks full of junkie nuts! Instead of storing “nuts” we would be much better off storing the golden nuggets of the promises of the Word of the Lord and His plans, purposes and guidelines for our lives. How do these “nuts” get stored in us? It is the same way the song was lodged in my mind, through repetition. In the Word of God we are encouraged to think on: (Phil 4:8 NKJV) Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things. We must take our thoughts captive according to (2 Cor .10:5). It is also revealed in the Word that we will reap what we sow (Gal.6:7). So, if we sow “nuts”, that is exactly what we will reap. I think it may be time for us to shake our trunks and get the “nuts” out of us. Then begin to fill and replace those “nuts” with golden nuggets. The Bible says in Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. It also says “…out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Mt. 12:34). I certainly want an abundance of good days!

My brain is now at this time burning the midnight oil and much to my dismay it is 4:00am. However I did manage to accomplish how I was going to rewrite the song, “I Had A Bad Day”. I decided the tune is happy and deserves happy words to go with it. I am personally boycotting “bad days” and replacing them with “I Had Glad Day”!

The following is my rendition of, “I Had A Glad Day”. :

There is a moment we’re looking to seize.
We step out in faith and we choose to believe.
They say my blue skies fade to grey
They say my passion could go away
And I don’t need no discouragement
You stand firm in line and you won’t hit a low
You put on your smile and get a coffee to go
You tell me your life has stayed on line
No need to fall to pieces at anytime
And I don’t need no discouragement
Cause you had a glad day
You’re stepping one up
You sing a glad song as you travel along
You can look to your right
You can look to your left
You put on a smile and you go for a ride
You had a glad day
The camera don’t lie
You’re stepping one up and your staying in line
You had a glad day
You had a glad day

Have a Glad Day!!! Penny

I suppose you have a better idea smart guy!!

Had A Bad Day

THE ROADRUNNER and Black Friday

2011-11-25T09:26:00.001-05:00

THE ROADRUNNER and Black Friday

A few days ago the image of the Roadrunner and the Coyote popped into my head. My mind began to contemplate this old cartoon that Dan and I grew up with. Soon reruns of the Coyote trying to sabotage the Roadrunner dominated my mind.

Today day is Black Friday and I couldn’t help but think if you were just observing and not taking part in this shopping race, the potential fiasco would be like watching the Roadrunner and Wile E Coyote. Those involved in this maddening race are hoping they will be like the Roadrunner and not be duped by the Coyote (other shoppers, the enemy).

Our daughter’s look forward to this day with great anticipation of obtaining fabulous treasured jewels. They have been planning out their strategy as soon as the deals started appearing online and finished preparation once the newspaper ads came out. Their planning is very intense. They have mapped out to the finest detail where they will start at what time, and what department in the store they will go to first. There is a priority to all of this down to their very last stop. They even planned what type of clothing to wear and running shoes is a must, this is very serious business for them. I am certain by the time I post this blog they will have finished their shopping race and be back in bed sleeping off the exhausting warfare of shopping (like most of you).

The Lord impressed upon me some spiritual truths from this old cartoon and Black Friday.

The enemy the devil (that old coyote) is relentlesss in his endeavors of trying to trap and deceive us. He will stop at nothing to sabotage (don’t turn your back on those carts, what’s in them is a free for all) our efforts as we run this race of life. In fact the Bible says; 1 Peter 5:8(NKJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. More revelation is brought forth in these two scriptures:

Psalms 22:13(NKJV)
They gape at Me with their mouths, Like a raging and roaring lion.

Ezekiel 22:25(NKJV)
The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst.

You see the devil doesn’t just want to mess us up; he wants to shred us to pieces and kill us.
The one thing that will entrap us faster than anything else is sin. Cain was caught in that trap as revealed in; Genesis 4:6-7(NKJV) So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

We are not left helpless.

· Have faith in Christ blood. Revelation 12:11(NKJV)
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

· Be prepared in spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:11-18(NKJV)
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

· Prayer, there is no substitute. Matthew 6:13(NKJV) And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

We have a promise; 1 John 4:4(NKJV) You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

You are in a race that will one day have its finish line within sight…do not stop short or grow weary. Be well prepared (many people will put more time and effort into their plans for shopping on Black Friday then they will in studying the Word of God and running the race He has asked us to run).

Acts 20:24(NKJV)
But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

1 Corinthians 9:24(NKJV)
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

Galatians 2:1-2(NKJV)
Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me.
And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain.

Galatians 5:7(NKJV)
You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?

2 Timothy 4:7(NKJV)
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Hebrews 12:1(NKJV)
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Lets be overcomers!!

Revelation 2:7(NKJV)
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’

Revelation 2:11(NKJV)
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”’

Revelation 2:17(NKJV)
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”’

Revelation 2:26(NKJV)
And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—

Revelation 3:5(NKJV)
He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Revelation 3:12(NKJV)
He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.

Revelation 3:21(NKJV)
To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Revelation 21:7(NKJV)
He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.

RUNNERS TAKE YOUR MARK

Roadrunner & Coyote

GOBBLE GOBBLE

2011-11-17T19:47:00.000-05:00

GOBBLE GOBBLE

This time next week we will be partaking of that wonderful turkey dinner with all the fixings’. I love the traditional Thanksgiving celebration with all the family gathering together; the food, smells, crisp air and the atmosphere of thankful hearts celebrating another year of blessings. The family sharing with each other, what has been happening in their lives, fulfilling that much needed one on one interaction with the ones you love. The Thanksgiving Day parades serenade us as we put the final touches on the meal that took two days to prepare and 15 minutes devour. Just before we partake of the succulent meal we bow in prayer and each person remains in respectful silence as one by one a prayer of thanksgiving is said. After we have eaten to our fill, it is time for football. The excitement of the Lions winning has created just enough hunger to shovel the down the pumpkin pie smothered in whip cream. We love it!

Now I just painted you a Rockwell picture and if truth be told you will say; I don’t know whose house you have been going to each year! Yes this is true. All of us long for that perfect family gathering with totally peace, joy and love. Chances are all of us have experienced a less than desirable Thanksgiving setting. But why is that?

A few days ago I was watching TV and a Thanksgiving commercial came on. The commercial shows the whole family gathered, and table is set to perfection with all the food in place. The family then goes outside and locks themselves out of the house. Now they are looking through the window trying to figure out how to get back into the house. To their horror their dog is advancing on their Thanksgiving feast. We have those fire exit doorknobs on our house. Dan and I both have locked ourselves out. The problem with those doors is; you can open them from the inside regardless of whether or not the door is locked. Exit your home, try to re-enter and next thing you know, you’re locked out!

I can certainly identify with Thanksgiving blunders. One year as always I spent two days preparing our feast. I had baked 4 pumpkin pies the day before as usual. Well Thanksgiving Day we ate our meal. I served the desert. The pumpkin pie looked and smelled absolutely delicious. Just as I was chowing down on my first bite I discovered I had forgotten to add sugar to the pumpkin mix. Fortunately this transpired when we lived in Hudsonville and I was only 5 minutes from Family Fare. I quickly drove to the store to pay through the nose for whatever desert was leftover. The good news was the overpriced cheese cake was very good but when you are longing for pumpkin pie……………..

Isn’t that just like life, you think every detail has been taken care of then, surprise, surprise, surprise (as Gomer Pyle / Jim Nabors) would say.

How can it be that something that looks so good on the outside, absolutely picture perfect, can be so nasty in the inside or fall apart in an instant? And without notice the dog eats your dinner. That is okay because you forgot to put the sugar in the pie.

The answer to that question is because we live in a world where sin affects everything. All of us have faced disappointments, setbacks, trials, failures and etc. How we react to those issues of life may determine how that issue affects our future. Many of us “let the little foxes still our grapes”. Sometimes we can even get through the big issues or disasters only to succumb to a series of “little issues”.

This Thanksgiving I pray we truly all will reflect on the blessings the Lord has given us this past year. I pray we will be flexible and at peace as we interact with family, friends and all the little quirks that come with them. Chances are those “quirks” come out of hurts, stresses and disappoints. There will be some blunders, go ahead and laugh at yourself, just shake it off.

And I will leave you with the most important ingredients for the best Thanksgiving recipe:

Leviticus 22:29(NKJV)
And when you offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord, offer it of your own free will.

Psalms 26:7(NKJV)
    That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving,     And tell of all Your wondrous works.

Psalms 50:14(NKJV)
    Offer to God thanksgiving,     And pay your vows to the Most High.

Psalms 69:30(NKJV)
    I will praise the name of God with a song,     And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.

Psalms 95:2(NKJV)
    Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;     Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

Psalms 100:4(NKJV)
    Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,      And into His courts with praise.     Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

Psalms 107:22(NKJV)
    Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving,     And declare His works with rejoicing.

2 Corinthians 4:15(NKJV)
For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

Colossians 3:15(NKJV)
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Colossians 4:2(NKJV)
Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

Revelation 7:12(NKJV)
saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

Blessings to you and your family this Thanksgiving!!

THE PRICE IS RIGHT

2011-11-13T22:28:00.001-05:00

THE PRICE IS RIGHT

I have a customer who has several locations throughout Michigan. One amazing common thread these employees have regardless of their location is; they are adamant to take their lunch break at 11:30 am so they can enjoy their lunch as they watch - THE PRICE IS RIGHT. I am certain if you own a TV you have watched this show at least a dozen times and Bob Barker’s name is an icon. Bob hosted this show for 35 years and Drew is the new host - just seems odd to me. However, what seems so comical to me is, as I observe my classes, as they watch THE PRICE IS RIGHT, - is the fact of how interactive they become for this 30 minutes. I feel like I am in the live audience.

The last several days my mailbox as well as my email has been deluged with pre-Black Friday sale ads. The lure is to convince you to buy now while – The Price Is Right. Fortunately I absolutely hate shopping! Yes I am a woman and to top that we raised three daughters who love to shop. They already are making plans on how their Black Friday shopping adventure will transpire. When the girls were teenagers I had to institute a rule; no looking at the Sunday paper until after church. This was to cut down on the fighting over the ads that would take place every Sunday morning before church. Eventually I also had to say, “no shopping on Sundays” because I began to dread Sundays.

I started thinking about the price of salvation. Salvation cost us absolutely nothing but it cost the Son of God His life. Praise the Lord the story did not stay in the grave. The resurrection power bust forth paving a way for us to experience eternal life and escape hell’s flames. Not only do we receive freedom from hell but the word salvation comes from Sozo, meaning nothing lacking, nothing missing. This means that healing, deliverance, and provision have been included in our salvation gift. In fact a day will come when we receive “rewards” for what we have done on this earth. Now that sounds great, however that will cost us something, our willingness to serve the King. I have often thought about my life wondering if what I have done as I serve my King will gain any type of reward. In one respect that sounds boastful but not when you look at the flip side………………..

1 Corinthians 3:12-17(NKJV)
Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (to me, entering Heaven with hell’s flames trying to lick my feet sounds horrifying!)Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

I have been a Christian since I was a young girl. When I face judgment day I want to know that I have somehow served my King. Hopefully there will be a reward for me, but I am the only person that can make sure the life I live here on earth is advancing the kingdom of Heaven. Now I am not saying this for merely gaining a reward, but to know the One I love and serve, I have not failed.

I encourage you to read the following verses that give us insights into the rewards that can await us in Heaven.

1 Corinthians 3:8(NKJV)
Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

1 Corinthians 9:25(NKJV)
And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

Revelation 2:23(NKJV)
I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

Revelation 22:12(NKJV)
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.

The Bible talks about five crowns.

The Crown of Righteousness:

2 Timothy 4:7-8(NKJV)
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

The Incorruptible Crown:

1 Corinthians 9:24-27(NKJV)
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.
And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.
But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

The Crown of Life:

Revelation 2:10(NKJV)
Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

The Crown of Rejoicing:

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20(NKJV)
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
For you are our glory and joy.

The Crown of Glory:

1 Peter 5:1-4(NKJV)
The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:
Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

How shall we serve our King? What price are we willing to pay?

STEP OUT OF THE BOAT? or Step Into the Boat!

2011-11-02T10:35:00.000-04:00

STEP OUT OF THE BOAT?

STEP INTO THE BOAT!

One morning as I was endeavoring to wake up I was staring at our fireplace mantel. Our fireplace mantle is adorned with several SNOW BABIES (Snow Babies are collectible figurines). Three of these figurines are boats with three babies in them. We have heard the phrase; “Step Out of the Boat.” This phrase is in regards to us exercising our faith and is referring to the scripture in Matthew 14:28-29(NKJV) And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

I was curious about how many hits Google would reveal if I put this phrase in the search engine; Step Out of the Boat. Google produced 52,500,000 results for this phrase. Thousands of sermons have been preached and several books have been written on this subject of exercising your faith. Here are a few titles of books on the subject (I am not endorsing these books because I have not read them):

Step Out of the Boat by Joel Osteen

If You Want To Walk On Water, You’ve Got To Get Out of The Boat by John Ortberg

Step Out Of The Boat God Is Waiting To Do Miracles by Levi Land

What began to stir in my heart was: Before you can step out of the boat, you must get into the boat!

I believe the reason why so many of us fail in exercising our faith and begin to sink, is the fact; we have not prepared ourselves spiritually. Instead of becoming mature believers many of us have remained infant Christians.

I think a great question to ask ourselves is: What does the boat represent?

When Matthew 14:22-36 is read much focus is given to verses 28-31 and that is great; however, I think we need to take a serious look at the verses prior to and after verses 28-31. In Matthew 14:15-21 is the story of Jesus feeding the 5000+. The people are hungry and it was a deserted place without the availability for a food source. Jesus tells the disciples to give them something to eat. The disciples tell Jesus what they have and we know the story of how 5 loaves and 2 fish feed over 5000+ with leftovers. The disciples again witness more miracles.

In Matthew 14:22 (NKJV) it says: Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.

Jesus made (strongly urged) his disciples to get into the boat and go to the other side, ahead of Him. Jesus gave the disciples an assignment; He told them what His next plan was for them. Great miracles were to take place on the other side in Gennesaret (Matthew 14:34-36).

Ask yourself, what does this boat represent?

They had to be skilled (learned, taught) in order to navigate through elements
A way the reach a destination
Unity – working together to arrive at destination
Safety through rough waters
A means of life support, financially (a trade) and physically
What needs to be done to the boat to make it sea worthy?
What skills need to be honed?
What supplies need to be on board?
Is this all about being prepared to complete an assignment ahead of us?

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you other things this boat could represent.

Now let’s read these passages as a whole.

Matthew 14:22-36(NKJV)
Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.
And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. (Jesus spends time in pray preparing for what is to occur in Gennesaret.)But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. (The disciples were skilled boaters many fishermen by trade, they were use to rough waters)Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. (3am-6am)And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. (In the dark it would have been difficult to see, chances are they had very minimal lighting.)But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” (Peter is the one who asked to come to Jesus, Jesus only said come after Peter asked. I think the original assignment was for them to go to the other side.)So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”
When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. (And now great miracles are about to take place.) And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick,
and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.

I do not want to minimize the scripture where Peter gets out of the boat and walks on water until his faith fails…please do not get me wrong…however…

When we study the scriptures of what took place prior to Matthew 14:28-31, it is very clear Jesus was preparing the disciples to serve others as He was doing. Let’s read:

Matthew 9:35-38(NKJV)
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

Matthew 10:1-8(NKJV)
And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.
But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

You can also look up and read Mark 6:7-12, Luke 9:1-6.

Here again Jesus teaches the disciples how to serve the people.

Mark 9:18-19(NKJV)
And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”
He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.”

Mark 9:28-29(NKJV)
And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”
So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”

John 14:12-14(NKJV)
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

Also you can read Mark 16:15-18, John 20:21-23, Acts 1:4-7, Acts 2: 1-4,

Acts 2:38-39(NKJV)
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

Now I could have spent several more hours developing this study and the blog would have ended up being 50 pages long (hum, maybe a new book on the horizon). I do not think you want to read 50 pages. So I encourage you, look up these passages in your Bible pray and ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate and give you deep understanding. Ask the Lord to show you how to apply His Word to your life. To know how the serve the King we need to know how the King came to serve. Learn what Jesus did in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Learn how the disciples carried out the work of the Kingdom throughout the rest on the New Testament.

Conclusion: You need to get into the boat, before you can step out of the boat!! Have you gotten in to the boat?

TIME IS AT HAND ~ TICK TOCK ~ TICK TOCK

2011-10-27T14:39:00.001-04:00

TIME IS AT HAND

TICK TOCK - TICK TOCK

We have an antique grandfathers’ clock that Dan’s mother gave us. The clock stands in our living room next to the fireplace. Every thirty minutes this clock chimes and of course on the hour it dongs the number of that hour. If there is no other noise going on in the house you can distinctively hear the tick tock, tick tock. Sixteen months ago, we moved out to the lake house full-time and soon after that began to realize the clock was not conducive for sleeping. Due to the age of the clock, you can only turn off the sound by stopping the clock. Therefore, for the last sixteen months, time has stood still for the grandfathers’ clock. I often wish I could make time standstill, but time stands still for no man or woman. Faded memories of days gone by, those very special moments you wish could last forever, become more distant with each tick tock, tick tock.

When I was a young mother, the words of older women always irritated me when they would say; “the kids will grow up before you know, enjoy them while they are young”. Now I find I am the older woman saying that ~ sigh.

We have all been given the same 24 hours a day to do with as we please. Some of us use those hours wisely, others waste their time on meaningless trivia. All of us wish there were certain things in life we could redo. However, we can only move forward and make the most out of today and tomorrows.

I feel like many of us have grown very numb to what is happening around us because we are so wrapped up in our own world and yes, life is busy. Time is at hand and all of creation is crying out begging for our attention pointing to the most amazing event history will ever portray. Yes, the Lord is going to return just as He promised. Urgency of this moment is begging us to pay attention, why are we numb? Why are we not seeing what is surrounding us, screaming in our deaf ears. I am just as guilty as the next person is. Lord Jesus wake up your Bride, do not let us sleep! Stir up our spirit to attention and enable us for the Kingdom work!

We are to keep watch:

(Mark 13:19 NKJV) "For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be.

(Rom 1:20 NKJV) For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

(Rom 8:19 NKJV) For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.

(Rom 8:21 NKJV) because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

(Rom 8:22 NKJV) For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

(Mat 24:42 NKJV) "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.

(Mat 25:13 NKJV) "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

(Mark 13:33 NKJV) "Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.

(Mark 13:35 NKJV) "Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming; in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning;

(Mark 13:37 NKJV) "And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!"

Mark 24: 20 NKJV "And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.

21 "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

22 "And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.

23 "Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it.

24 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

25 "See, I have told you beforehand.

26 "Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it.

27 "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

28 "For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.

29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

30 "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

31 "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

(Luke 21:36 NKJV) "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

(Rev 3:3 NKJV) "Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.

Not only are we to keep watch, we have been commissioned:

Mark 16: 17 (NKJV) "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

18 "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

(Mat 10:7 -8 NKJV) "And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Now I do realize we do not all have the temperament of an evangelist but the Bible does say:

1 Cor. 12:1-11 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:

2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.

3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.

6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,

9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,

10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

Tick Tock, Tick, Tock it is time to find your sweet spot. How you can flourish in proclaiming the kingdom of God? We have all been given gifts….time is at hand.

RETIRING THE BOXING GLOVES

2011-10-22T19:16:00.000-04:00

RETIRING THE BOXING GLOVES

Have you ever felt like putting a pair of boxing gloves on and duke it out with your spouse? I am sure we have all been there. A truer statement would be; “duct tape their hands behind their back, duct tape their mouth shut, put on your gloves and have at it. I certainly would not be an advocate of that type of behavior, although truth be told it has run across my mind more than once! Why is that?

In James 4:1-3 (NKJV) it says:

Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

Our human nature is very self-centered, which is why the Bible encourages us to die to self and put others first. As we grow and mature in the Lord and in years, we learn the great necessity of dying to self. Unfortunately, even the most spiritually mature person will succumb to the flesh and need to apply conflict resolution to their marriage. We all deal with anger from time to time. Some people have learned to control this emotion; others let anger control them. Anger is a secondary emotion. There is always an underlying cause. We must choose as individuals to control anger and not let it control us. Because anger is internally created, it can be internally managed. The anger often stems from an unmet expectation that was unrealistic in nature. Anger in and of itself is not sin. How we express anger determines whether or not we sin.

According to Ephesians 4:26-27 (NKJV) it says, “‘Be angry, and do not sin’: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.” Couples must make a plan on how they are going to resolve issues in a mature manner that does not break down or destroy the other person. We must make ourselves adapt a calmer lifestyle. Many times a release of anger in outburst has nothing to do with why we are really angry. We take advantage of the opportunity to let off steam usually with the one we love, even if they had nothing to do with why we are really angry. We express anger toward this person because it is convenient, instead of dealing with our emotions and searching our hearts as to why we are upset or angry.

The first step in conflict resolution is to analyze ourselves. We all have physical signs in our bodies that take place when we start to become angry. Some of the physical characteristics a person may have are: sweaty hands or face, dry mouth, tension headache, nausea, heartburn, tight jaw, confusion, red face, uncontrolled chattering, and laughing inappropriately, to name a few. Do you recognize any of these in yourself? At the first sign of your physical indictor of anger, you must call for a time out. A time out is when both individuals agree to separate for a time of self-searching and analysis of your motives. This is a time to seek the Lord. Conflict resolution will only work if both individuals agree to apply it. If one person calls a time out and the other person is following them with an avalanche of words, this is not a time out…….

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

1 Corinthians 13:1 (NIV)

……….Endeavoring to resolve issues can be like the clashing of two cymbals together that are out of sync with the music. When cymbals are brought together at the appropriate time during a concert, they add a beautiful climax to the symphony being played; however, clash them at the wrong moment, and it can destroy the symphony. We have heard it said “it’s all in the timing,” and this is true when it comes to resolving conflict.

Many facets come into play when resolving conflict. Mastering two of the greatest principles of our faith will enable us not only to resolve conflict but also allow us to live in harmony. Repentance and forgiveness are paramount in our life if we want to be able to resolve conflict and establish good communication skills. Without repentance and forgiveness, there will be no lasting resolution to issues couples may face.

Today I encourage you to retire the boxing gloves and turn them in for; repentance, forgiveness and conflict resolution God’s way. This blog was taken from excerpts of WE PROMISE ~ 18 Foundational Stones for an Unshakeable Marriage. For detailed information on conflict resolution read the chapter entitled: CLASHING CYMBALS.

LIONS AND TIGERS AND bear den! Oh My!

2011-10-14T11:33:00.000-04:00

Michiganders have a fever right now. The Lions and Tigers are on a winning streak. Dan has been down in his bear den watching the big screen and hoping the games are aired on peasant vision (we do not have cable only rabbit ears, so we call that “peasant vision”). I have been hearing noises drifting up the stairway, a little growling going on down there. With all these games on TV lately, it has taken me back to my cheerleading days. This also reminded me of what Dan encourages the young women to do, whenever we teach a pre-marriage class.

Any couple who has attended one of these classes has heard my husband say; “Ladies if you want a champion become his cheerleader, he needs you to be his biggest fan”.

In marriage we have all been tempted or have fallen into ruts. Those days where we go through the motions, taking life for granted and letting the “little foxes steal our grapes”, resulting in bitterness. Despite of what we feel like doing we can always overcome these emotions that try to dictate us, push past them and choose a better way. Once we have pushed past these emotions and acted rightly we will begin to reap the fruit of this labor of love. People say; well he or she does not deserve it because they have been doing this or that. (Please see disclaimer at the end of this article)

Ephesians 5:2(TMSG)
Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.

Edification: according to Webster means; to build, establish, instruct and improve especially in moral and religious knowledge, uplift, enlighten, inform, inspire, nurture.

Let’s take a look at a few verses and learn about edification from the Word of God.

Psalms 34:13-17(NKJV)
    Keep your tongue from evil,     And your lips from speaking deceit.
    Depart from evil and do good;     Seek peace and pursue it.
    The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,      And His ears are open to their cry.
    The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,     To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
    The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,      And delivers them out of all their troubles.

Romans 14:19(NKJV)
Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

Romans 15:2(NKJV)
Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.

Hebrews 3:13(NKJV)
but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

1 Peter 3:9-17(NKJV)
not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
For      “He who would love life     And see good days,     Let him refrain his tongue from evil,     And his lips from speaking deceit.
    Let him turn away from evil and do good;     Let him seek peace and pursue it.
    For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,     And His ears are open to their prayers;      But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?
But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Let’s cheer our spouse on today, go ahead - go on a winning streak!

Please read this disclaimer, no amount of edification will work with abusers and where domestic violence is occurring.

Disclaimer: Domestic violence is a grave darkness. As many as one in four women are a victim of domestic violence.[i] These stats are the same for the churched as well as the un-churched. Submission principles as well as conflict resolution will not work in domestic violence. Safety is of the utmost importance. God never intended a woman to be covered with violence. Read Psalm 55 and Malachi 2:14-16. For more information on domestic violence visit: www.abigails.org and www.ndvh.org. If you are a victim of domestic violence, do not access these websites from your home computer.

[i] Lynette J. Hoy, Safe Relationships, Women’s 10-Weeks Series, 2004. 5.

MAGICAL MARRIAGE MOMENT ~ SOS

2011-10-12T21:33:00.001-04:00

THE SCENE:

You nicely fall asleep …then it hits. Literally, sawing logs is in motion (snoring). Three things cross your mind at this very moment.

1. Take the pillow and beat your spouse with it.

2. Leave the bed and go to the couch to sleep for the night.

3. Fake snore as loudly as possible until your spouse wakes up.

This truly can be turned into a magically moment.

THE MOMENT:

Gently roll your spouse on their side, so they are facing away from you. Put in earplugs, I personally have been using them for years. Then cover your spouse in prayer.

SOS: Sleep Over Snoring

Psalm 3:5 (NKJV) I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me.

Psalm 4:8 (NKJV) I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 127:2 (NKJV) It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.

Proverbs 3:24 (NKJV) When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.

Isaiah 29:10 (NKJV) For the LORD has poured out on you The spirit of deep sleep, And has closed your eyes, namely, the prophets; And He has covered your heads, namely, the seers.

Ecclesiastes 5:12 (NKJV) The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, Whether he eats little or much; But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.

THE BEST PART OF WAKING UP IS...

2011-10-09T17:11:00.000-04:00

A few days ago I was endeavoring to think of something cleaver to say for a book signing event that was advertised. This event was to take place at Disciple Café and I had said; “The best part of waking up is Disciples Café coffee in your cup and reading your copy of WE PROMISE”. For the next few hours the Lord began to speak to me about my heart. Every morning I have the same ritual. As soon as I get out of bed I go directly to the coffee pot and make coffee. I will do nothing else for the next three minutes while I wait for the coffee to brew. Then I will sit like a zombie and drink 1-2 cups of coffee while I wake up. I have walked through this morning habit for at least the last 30 some years.

The Lord began to impress upon my heart that drinking coffee as soon I get up had become a very important precedence in my life. I then felt the sweet voice of the Lord say to me; the best part of waking up should be; Jesus fill my cup. Reflecting upon this I realized I had put the Lord Jesus second and morning devotions were not the first most important part of my day, coffee was (and I long for the black stuff every morning). I am now challenging myself. When I get out of bed I will directly go to the Lord Jesus, His Word and spend time in prayer. Well I have tried this now for two days unsuccessfully. I would like to say I was wide eyed awake and bushy tailed, I was not and felt I could hardly focus my eyes. So I reevaluated this issue. If I am to make time with the Lord the most important step of a new day, I do need to comprehend what I am reading and not fall asleep while I am praying. The heart is the issue for me. I recognize just as I yearn for that cup of coffee I should be yearning a whole lot more for that intimate time with the Lord Jesus. You see, I will have devotions but it is when I want to sit down for a break in my morning. Since being awake is a must in order for me to reap benefit from this time with the Lord then conditioning my heart is the critical link. I will not give up, and I am excited to see what the Lord will do with this new change in my life! I hope I will keep my part because the Lord will not fail to show me how this new devotion will impact my life. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me (PS. 51:10 NKJV). Who will join me? Are you up to the challenge? The Lord Jesus 1^st…coffee second, heart change a must.

Psalms 63:1(NKJV) O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.

Is. 26:9 (NKJV) With my soul I have desired You in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; for when Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

2 Chron. 7:14 (NKJV) if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.
As for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man as ruler in Israel.’

Ps. 84:10-12 (NKJV) For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You!

Psalms 1:1(NKJV) Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME for some BASEBALL, HOT DOGS, APPLE PIE and CHEVROLET

2011-09-28T19:54:00.000-04:00

~TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME ~

for some

BASEBALL, HOT DOGS, APPLE PIE & CHEVROLET

They call it America’s favorite pass-time ~ BASEBALL. Most of us at one time or another attended a major league game. If we have not been to one in person we for sure have the TV blasting out a play by play of the game each season. Tiger fans knew Ernie Harwell as their sports caster for over 42 years. Some called him the voice of baseball.

He was known for his low-key delivery, southern accent (Detroit "Ti-guhs"), and conversational style. Some of his trademark phrases were:

· "That one is long gone!" (His trademark home run call, with an emphasis on "long")

· "He stood there like the house by the side of the road, and watched it go by." (After a called strikeout)

· "Called out for excessive window shopping." (Also after a called strikeout)

· "It's two for the price of one!" (After a double play)

· "A fan from [insert a city] will be taking that ball home today." (When a fan would catch a foul ball)

· "The Tigers need instant runs." (When the team was behind in the late innings)

Harwell would also begin the first spring training broadcast of each season with a reading from Song of Solomon 2:11-12 (KJV): "For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land."^[8]

I would not call myself a baseball nut by any means, but I do however live with one so I am somewhat familiar with what the love for baseball is all about.

Add a winning season and the stadium will be sold out! The enthusiasm for the game will go ballistic and the fans will look like they just came from a finger painting contest. Did you know that up to 70,000 hot dogs are sold at one major league baseball game…now that’s a lot of dogs!! But then again who could resist a hot dog when you’re watching a baseball game and have the fever. Did you know major league baseball tickets go from $11.00 all the way up to $90.00 if you’re a Yankees fan. I wonder how much a Yankee hot dog is.

I am amazed at the devotion America has for sports. The long drive in heavy traffic, waiting in line, over paying for food, jumping up and down, screaming at the top of your lungs and on the list could go. Wait a minute. I do love to have fun myself…I feel the same way about Disneyland. There is however a point to this blog.

Recently it was called “back to church Sunday”. What? Why should there be a back to church Sunday…we should have never left! Summer, church attendance in America drops. Unfortunately most people who say they attend church on a regular basis only show up 1-2 times per month. We have all heard the phrase, “you don’t have to go to church to believe in God”. Seriously, how would I learn about baseball if I never went to a game? And if I really wanted to know about the game I would start playing it, studying it and it would have precedence in my life. I would eat, drink and sleep baseball (and some people do).

The Bible our manual for life does have direction for us.

Hebrews 10:23-25(NKJV)
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Acts 2:42-44(NKJV)
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,

Hebrews 3:12-14(NKJV)
Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,

I would like to encourage you…let this be your back to Sunday Church week, for the rest of your life. If you do not know of a good Bible believing church (because not all churches preach the truth of the Word of God), email me I will help find a church for you.

Not all hot dogs are alike

Original Take Me Out To The Ballgame Song

Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie & Chevrolet

Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie & Chevrolet ~ because I married a Chevy man (Like A Rock)

NCCC Fall Quarter Letter

2011-09-27T18:57:00.000-04:00

Today we received our fall quarterly letter from the NCCC. Light Dawns Ministries is chartered under the NCCC. I have attached this letter here because I felt it was very beneficial for anyone who ministers to others who are in need. The approach is very Biblical and simple. I have covered two sections simply because they apply to NCCC chartered ministries and did not pertain to anyone else. If you click inside of the document it will get larger so you can actually read it clearly. I hope it will be of benefit to you also as you serve the King!

"16" CANDLES

2011-09-26T19:44:00.000-04:00

“16” CANDLES

Tuesday September 26^th, 1978 @ 10:19 pm, our baby girl made her grand entrance into this world! Of course, unlike today we did not know she was a girl. Dan like most men had hoped for a son and I wished that for him also, but once we set our eyes on Leah true love forever set in.

Today when I woke up my heart seemed to be flooded with emotion. The song, which was playing in my head, was “16 CANDLES.” What is it about turning “16” that seems to be such a benchmark in life? There is still a sweet innocence but a coming of age as one would say. Your child is now old enough to drive a car, work and possibly date. I can still remember Leah’s 16^th birthday party. Leah’s sisters were “14” and “12” and I adored those ages leading up to “16.” Our girls were so much fun, full of life and very family orientated.

I have noticed now with each special day we celebrate in regards to our daughters I become very weepy! The reality that they are grown women resonates within my heart making it burst into the empty nest achy heart syndrome! I will not see Leah today although I called and wished her a happy birthday, the business of life with her own family dictated that away, as it should take precedence over Dan and I. Parents really do want their children to leave and cleave, those children must form their own families. After all, we prepare our children while we raise them to one-day venture off and make a life of their own.

Sometimes I wish I could gather all my daughters back up and keep them under our roof where I could protect and shield them from all the harms and hurts of this world. But then, who would take care of us as we grow old? This same daughter that I am writing about says she has a plan in place for her Dad and me when we get old and it isn’t bringing us under her roof! Can you imagine that!

I am reflecting upon my children and it makes me wonder what the Lord thinks about us as we pass from infants to mature believers. I do know this…just as we want our children to grow and mature so they can handle this thing called life; the Lord also wants us as Christians to grow and mature and not stay infants.

(Heb 5:11-6:6 NIV) We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so. It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

(Heb 10:19-25 NIV) Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

BELIEVERS, IT IS TIME TO COME OF AGE ~ THE LORD WANTS US TO GRADUATE!!

(Psa 61:4 NIV) I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Selah

16 CANDLES SONG ~ THE CRESTS

IT'S TIME FOR YOUR FALL TUNE-UP

2011-09-24T08:32:00.000-04:00

IT’S TIME FOR YOUR FALL TUNE-UP

The beginning of each new season brings a deluge of daily reminders to our mailbox or email box of preventative maintenance issues we need to address. These reminders warn us if we do not maintain our vehicle, furnace, teeth, pet, filters, smoke detectors, and etc.; there is a good chance the warranties will be void or something will begin to malfunction. I even get email notices that the pressure in one of my tires is low and it shows me which tire! Sometimes I think I could spend several hours each day doing preventative maintenance on the stuff we own! Yet to ignore these daily reminders of what demands our attention will cost us more in the long run. This summer my daughter called because her A/C was not running properly, it was frozen on the outside and no longer cooling the house as needed. I asked her when the last time the furnace filter was changed. She had no idea the last time the filter was changed. Truth be told it had been months past due for replacement. She let the A/C unthaw, changed the filter and the A/C was up and running. I reminded her it is far cheaper to change a filter than it is to replace a furnace or A/C unit. I suggested she tape a piece of paper on the outside of her furnace with a date on it to remind her when the filter needed replaced next time.

Did you know your marriage which is of greater importance than all of the above demands constant attention? If we do not practice daily agape our marriage will soon begin to resemble that junker running down the road that barely makes it to the destination.

Unfortunately most married couples spend very little time cultivating healthy marital habits. We spend more time watching TV or playing on the internet than we do interacting with one another. Dan and I are marriage counselors. Normally by the time a married couple comes to see us, their house of marriage has burnt to the ground and all that is left are smoldering black coals, with little hope for a happily ever after. Praise be to God, He is in the restoration business and if we are truly sincere even the darkest of situations can shine with light again.

Consider this your card in the mail, reminding you it is time for a fall marriage tune-up. Don’t know where to start? Well you are at the right blog.

#1: fall on your knees before God and ask Him for direction. In James 1:2-25 (NKJV) it says;

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation,
but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away.
For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;
for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

#2: Read through the archives of this blog, pick up a copy of WE PROMISE or call a professional marriage counselor and schedule an appointment ~ your marriage is well worth the money and it will be the wisest money you have ever spent.

I love a happy ending! In Honor of Marriage……………….Penny

STARRY STARRY NIGHT ~ MAGICAL MARRIAGE MOMENT

2011-09-18T07:13:00.000-04:00

STARRY STARRY NIGHT

THE SCENE:

You walk in the room and notice your spouse is just sitting there in a funk. It has been one of those days when nothing has gone right for them. Murphy’s Law par say had its ugly way. Your spouse is physically and mentally exhausted. They are so drained and zapped of life they do not even feel like getting up to go to bed.

THE MOMENT:

Walk over gentle take them by the hand and say; “I have something incredible I want to show you.” Lead them out into the cool crisp evening air, face them intently looking them in the eyes taking your hands gentle lift their face upward, and proclaim. “Of all the stars in the sky you out shine them all, you are radiant! My love for you goes far beyond the number of these stars. Just as the fact that these stars are countless, you have countlessly been my greatest joy and there is not another person on this earth who could take your place. I am thrilled to be called your spouse. Wrap your arms around your spouse and hold them…do not stop until there has been a break through. You will know because they will melt in your arms.

(Psa 147:4 NKJV) He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name.

The One who numbers the stars also knows you so well; He has numbered the hairs of your head.

(Mat 10:28-30 NKJV) "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. "Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Starry Starry Night

WE TRULY HAVE SO MUCH TO LIVE FOR!!

A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS

2011-09-08T16:39:00.000-04:00

A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS

Can you imagine what would happen if people could actually read our minds. What if a video was played of our thoughts at the end of each day for the world to see? I for one would be extremely embarrassed to have my thoughts on display. One thing I can say without any doubts most of our thoughts are not worth one cent!

We cannot hide our thoughts from God. The Bible says in Psalm 139:2 NIV; You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.

Gaining control of our thought life is no easy task. Most of us enjoy thinking about things we would never verbalize. Yet, to leave this area of our life undisciplined will eventually expose us for who we really are.

Let’s peek at a few verses to truly understand the war that wages within the mind.

(Gen 6:5 NKJV) 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.

(Job 20:2 NKJV) "Therefore my anxious thoughts make me answer, Because of the turmoil within me.

(Job 21:27 NKJV) "Look, I know your thoughts, And the schemes with which you would wrong me.

(Psa 10:4 NKJV) The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.

(Psa 94:11 NKJV) The LORD knows the thoughts of man, That they are futile.

(Isa 59:7 NKJV) Their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; Wasting and destruction are in their paths.

(Isa 65:2 NKJV) I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, Who walk in a way that is not good, According to their own thoughts;

(Jer 4:14 NKJV) O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, That you may be saved. How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you?

(Jer 6:19 NKJV) Hear, O earth! Behold, I will certainly bring calamity on this people; The fruit of their thoughts, Because they have not heeded My words, Nor My law, but rejected it.

(Mat 15:19 NKJV) "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

The Lord’s thoughts are completely different from our thoughts. We would do very well to pattern our thoughts after the Lord. Even with all our evil intentions God’s thoughts towards us goes beyond our comprehension!

(Psa 40:5 NKJV) Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.

(Psa 92:5 NKJV) O LORD, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep.

(Psa 139:17 NKJV) How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!

(Jer 29:11 NKJV) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

We can take back our thoughts and put boundaries around our thinking patterns. We can control those thoughts instead of thoughts controlling us.

(1 Chr 29:18 NKJV) "O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the intent of the thoughts of the heart of Your people, and fix their heart toward You.

(Heb 4:12 NKJV) For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

(Prov 16:3 NKJV) Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be established.

(Isa 55:7 NKJV) Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

(Eph 6:17-18 NKJV) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints;

(1 Th 5:8 NKJV) But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

Let’s secure that helmet in place, taking every thought captive.

(2 Cor 10:5 NKJV) casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

…a penny for your thoughts

and that is my two cents worth

Oh, Be Careful Little Eyes

2011-08-17T08:32:00.000-04:00

OH, BE CAREFUL LITTLE EYES

Oh, be careful little eyes, what you see.
Oh, be careful little eyes, what you see.
There's a Father up above, looking down in tender love,
So be careful little eyes, what you see.

Most of us have sang this song as children in Sunday School and the song goes on to add; ears, mouth, hands, feet and heart. I googled this song to find out who wrote the lyrics, to no avail. I was surprised to discover, the vast amount of sermons and blogs that have already spun off this song. Casting Crowns sing SLOW FADE playing off ~ Oh, Be Careful Little Eyes.

How many of us would have avoided sin if we would have set boundaries (safeguards) around our eyes for what we are willing to look at? We need to put on safety glasses. In the workplace people wear safety glasses to protect their eyes from situations or environments that could cause damage.

Unless we are physically blind chances are before we do anything we see first. However, we have become spiritually blinded, numbed and discernment has left us. The Bible gives us clear direction and leaves no gray area for what we should allow our eyes to see.

Matthew 6:22(NLT)
“Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light.

Psalms 101:3(NLT)
I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all who deal crookedly; I will have nothing to do with them.

Job 31:1(NLT)
“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman.

Psalms 119:37(NLT)
Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.

2 Peter 2:14-22(NLT)
They commit adultery with their eyes, and their desire for sin is never satisfied. They lure unstable people into sin, and they are well trained in greed. They live under God’s curse. They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong.
But Balaam was stopped from his mad course when his donkey rebuked him with a human voice.
These people are as useless as dried-up springs or as mist blown away by the wind. They are doomed to blackest darkness.
They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception.
They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before.
It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life.
They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.”

We would all do well to take an inventory of what we allow our eyes to see.

What are we reading? Books, magazines, off the internet?
What do we watch on TV or at the movies?
What kind of stores do we enter and view the merchandise?
How do we look at the opposite sex?
What are we willing to watch others do?

Ephesians 5:12(NLT)
It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.

If it is shameful to talk about these things…what about watching them with our eyes?

Today I encourage us to put on our spiritual safety glasses.

SLOW FADE

Newspaper Article on WE PROMISE

2011-08-13T16:51:00.000-04:00

Thank you Tim Keith of the Allegan County News / The Union Enterprise for your time and this excellent article you published.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

2011-08-11T06:55:00.000-04:00

MAGICAL MARRIAGE MOMENT

COMMERICAL BREAK

The Scene:

You are watching TV with your spouse. A commercial comes on with a barely dressed man or woman.

The Moment:

Turn the TV off and look intently at your spouse. With complete sincerity say; “I only have eyes for you. You are the most incredibly beautiful/handsome woman/man I have ever laid eyes on; you still take my breath away.”

Psalms 101:3(NIV)
I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me.

The NLT version says:

I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all who deal crookedly; I will have nothing to do with them.

A TRIBUTE TO MR. ROBERT O'ROURKE ~ A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

2011-08-01T17:22:00.000-04:00

A TRIBUTE TO MR. ROBERT O’ROURKE

A TRIP DOWN GOOD MEMORIES LANE

The last few weeks have been exceptionally busy (what week isn’t). The up and coming release of our book in September has kept my mental computer (brain) on overload. Sunday morning as I was getting ready for church the Lord suddenly invaded my heart with some truths. Little did I know I was about to take a trip down good memories lane. Sometimes I tend to reflect on all the negatives that have happened in life instead of focusing on the good. The Bible does say in Proverbs 17:22(NKJV) A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.

When I was living at home with my parents I loved it when they would take me into O’Rourke Jewelry Store. Mr. O’Rourke always greeted you with his warm smile and he was never in a hurry. I was always intrigued to watch him examine a piece of jewelry with that extra piece of magnifying glass attached to his glasses that swung down to give him a an in-depth view of a delicately fashioned piece of jewelry.

Gazing upon all the treasures I would wonder what I might receive for the next gift day. Hum, would I open a necklace, earrings, or get a new charm for my bracelet! You see growing up in a small town O’Rourke’s was the only jewelry store my parents shopped at. All of the jewelry gifts I received until I married came from O’Rourke’s and they represented a special occasion. Birthdays, Christmas, Valentines or some other special event would surely present me with a small box to open. To this day I still wear the Lindy Star ring my parents gave me for my 16th birthday; I had it downsized into a pinky ring.

The Lord began to flood my mind of days gone by and what gripped my heart the most ~ the charm bracelet. I have about 45 charms on my bracelet; each with its own unique detail and meaning. The charms show a little girl growing up and becoming a teenager. Several birthdays and Valentine Days are represented through the years. One of the Valentine Day charms is a box of chocolates and the lid actually opens. Another charm is a money box with an opening lid. Inside the box was play money and the play money was replaced by my Mother and brother with a real dollar bill. I cannot forget how diligently they work to fold that dollar tight enough to fit it into the box and still close the lid. My mother told me it was my “mad money”. She let me know as long as I had the charm bracelet I would always have money. Several school activities that I participated in made their way onto the bracelet. My faith in God is very evident and on display. So many charms each with a story to tell about my life and each one very good, marking life’s milestones.

One year for Christmas I took my charm bracelet to our local jeweler and had him make three charm bracelets. He divided up the charms, 15 charms on a bracelet for each daughter. That year I gave my girls a little piece of my life.

Sometimes life has a way of giving us sour grapes and we all could benefit from taking a trip down good memories lane. I bet there are thousands of stories to tell out there of priceless memories that had their start at O’Rourke’s Jewelry Store!

Sunday my life was touched in a special way, as I took my trip down memory lane and little did I know that those memories would not have had their beginning had it not been for man named Mr. Robert O’Rourke and his decision to set-up shop in a little town called Bronson. We never know how our life will impact another, but rest assured we all impact others around us each and everyday. What, when and how we do things will always produce something good or bad. The Bible says we will reap what we sow.

Galatians 6:7(NKJV)
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Proverbs 11:18(NKJV)
The wicked man does deceptive work, But he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.

May God’s peace be with the O’Rourke family as they mourn the loss of their husband, father and grandfather.

Aromatherapy

2011-07-29T14:42:00.000-04:00

AROMATHERAPY

We hear a tremendous amount about aromatherapy. When I “googled” the word, it gave me 39,200,000 results to choose from. Take a walk through the mall and you will surely pass by a specialty store selling aromatherapy. No longer is this solely reserved for the specialty stores. Kohls, JCPenney, Meijers, Walmart, they all have sections dedicated to the sense of smell.

Did you know the Bible talks about aromatherapy? There is great importance placed on aroma.

Dan and I lived in a small ranch when we were first married. Our three daughters started their lives out in that little house and that is where they gave their hearts to Jesus. We sold our first home after seven years to another family with three children. A few years after selling the house, we attended a wedding at our former church. Pastor B. informed us that the family who bought our house ~ their children came to Vacation Bible School and accepted Jesus as their Savior. The next day as I was reading my Bible I ran across the following verses:

(2 Cor 2:14-16 NKJV) Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?

After I finished reading the passage, the Lord impressed upon my heart a truth I had never considered before and I was brought to tears. This is what I felt the Lord said to me; “All of your daughters accepted Me as their Savior in that house. A spirit of salvation was left there to linger, causing a wooing. I was overwhelmed, and realized just how important it is to continual bathe in the Word and presence of God. No matter what we do or where we go, something is left to linger!

(Eph 5:1-2 NKJV) Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

(Phil 4:18 NKJV) Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.

(Ezek 20:41 NKJV) "I will accept you as a sweet aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered; and I will be hallowed in you before the Gentiles.

(2 Cor 3:4-6 NKJV) And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

FOREWORD & ENDORSEMENTS for WE PROMISE

2011-07-28T06:09:00.000-04:00

Foreword

We Promise will transform every marriage that desires to have Jesus Christ as the headship of their marriage. Reverend Dr. Daniel and Penny Loosenort have been led by the Holy Spirit to compile the scriptural references that guide us in many issues that affect our marriages. Never before have I seen a manual that illustrates so effectively the spoken Word of God and how to apply it in real life. We Promise is a blessing for every marriage! In the end, the Lord and all of heaven would rejoice, since all our Savior wants for us is peace, love, happiness, and to give to us the desires of our hearts! May the marriages this manual transforms be the beginning of the Lord’s army to save our country that seems lost!

In Christian Service,

Reverend Steven M. Baran, D.D.

President/CEO

National Christian Counselors Association

Endorsements

The information in We Promise has been an indispensable resource for engaged and married couples alike in our church. The wisdom that comes from years of marriage combined with clinical expertise and Holy Spirit anointing upon Dan and Penny makes this manual a rare treasure. I highly recommend this for anyone who is interested in building marriages that stand the tests of time.”

Lee Cummings, Sr. Pastor, Radiant Church

We Promise is without a doubt today’s best tool for marriage preparation. Penny and Dan have thought this syllabus through down to the smallest detail. In addition to the vision Penny received from God, their years of teaching pre-marriage couples as well as their counseling of married couples have given them a sensitive and loving approach to the relational issues of marriage.

This manual workbook is a must for all married couples and those looking forward to marriage. It will also be one of those manuals couples will want to review periodically; sort of a “Let’s see how we are doing” checkup. Today’s pastors will enjoy using this tool in their pre-marriage counseling.

Reverend Dr. Bill Greenfield, Ph.D.

Hospital Care Pastor, Radiant Church

We Promise recognizes that a God-honoring, joy-filled marriage does not happen. It requires devotion and hard work. Christian couples who refuse to settle for mediocrity will find here a most helpful marriage building tool."

Reverend Mark Minegar
Associate Pastor, Hillcrest Christian Reformed Church

Most marriages, in America, are in serious trouble, with the divorce rate climbing higher and higher. Thus, I am always looking for good books and seminars on this subject to recommend to counselees, who wish to better their relationships. We Promise is one of the best I've seen in a long time. Biblical principles are presented in a simplistic, practical manner; offering hope, joy and peace, which is so lacking in our society today. I recommend this book highly to all couples, regardless of age or past troubles; and I, also, recommend Dr. Dan and Penny Loosenort to hold seminars in churches and Christian ministries.

Reverend Dr. Ben Fulayter

Senior Pastor, Clayton Bible Church

We Promise explains in detail what “The Promise” is that you are about to take as a soon-to-be married couple. It is worth your time to study the manual and answer the questions with one another. Do not rush through this manual. Anything worth doing is worth doing well. Communication is the key to avoiding the pitfalls of life, especially married life. As I think back to the thousands of people who came through the Healing Rooms of Grand Rapids with baggage in their marriage, this manual would have saved them from their many burdens. Most Christians today have lots of baggage when we are supposed to have luggage. Baggage pulls you down as you drag it around. Luggage is something you pack for a purposeful trip and destination. We Promise is a must for your luggage!

Reverend Mark L. Gurley, CLU, ChFC

Co-founder of the Healing Rooms of Grand Rapids

Founder of the Supernatural Training Center

Financial advisor since 1988

Purchase your copy of WE PROMISE today: WE PROMISE

IN TOW

2011-07-22T15:44:00.000-04:00

IN TOW

The current heat wave has made spending time on the lake a priority. Personally we love this weather and the water temps in the 80’s. Recently our friends Bill and MJ came over for the evening. We spent a couple of hours floating in the water solving the world’s problems. Generally we float between our two swim rafts for safety reasons, so we are out of the boater’s path of destruction. Curiosity overcame MJ and she asked why we have two swim rafts, which led into a story worth blogging about.

Several years ago a resident on Pine Lake had their swim raft for sale. The swim raft was in excellent condition and the price was right. Dan could not pass up the deal and wanted the second swim raft for out in front of our cottage to help keep boaters further away from our waterfront ~ granting us a larger area for swimming. Now none of this is unusual, but how Dan decided to retrieve the swim raft is a worth telling about.

Pine Lake is 660 acres and there are four sections to the lake with a channel leading from one section into another. Residents actually indentify where they live by saying they live on Lake 1, 2, 3, or 4. We live on what you would call Lake #2. The person he bought the swim raft from lives on Lake #3 which means to get to Lake #3 you must travel around the end of a long peninsula and backtrack from there. So this journey of Dan’s was approximately a two mile round trip!

Dan mentioned to me he was going to pick up the swim raft. Sure, that was no problem with me because I realized he did not need my help. We have three motorized boats very capable of pulling the swim raft to our cottage. Well you see Dan was gone a very long time and I could not figure out what was taking him so long to tow the raft back. About ninety minutes after he left I hear the dog barking and looked out the window to discover he is towing the swim raft with our paddle boat! I could hardly believe my eyes; he is pumping away like a crazy man with swim raft in tow…his response … only a “girlie man” would use a motorized boat to tow a swim raft half way around the lake. Unbelievable! Hum…………..I just thought of another “Dan” episode which involved his pick-up truck, trees and fence post (I feel another blog coming on!).

All of this got me to thinking; we do the very same thing in our spiritual walk with the Lord. We tow around loads in our physical strength instead of drawing from the supernatural power of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord has given us access to all we need in Him to navigate our life and to do this without growing weary or faint.

Here are but a few scriptures to equip you for the load you may be hauling ~ go ahead tap into to the One who makes all things possible!!

Matthew 11:28-30(NKJV)
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Matthew 6:25-34(NKJV)
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;
and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 7:7-12(NKJV)
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Philippians 4:11-13(NKJV)
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

HUNGRY FOR YOU

2011-07-17T21:43:00.000-04:00

MAGICAL MARRIAGE MOMENTS

The definition of a Magical Marriage Moment: taking an everyday circumstance and turning it into a magical memory of that moment!

HUNGRY FOR YOU

The Scene: You are meeting your spouse after work at a local restaurant for dinner. Your spouse arrives before you. When you arrive…

The Moment: Walk up to your spouse and say; “I happened to notice you are alone. From the moment I walked in, I could not take my eyes off of you. Do you mind if I join you for dinner? My treat”.

1 Cor. 10:31 (NIV) So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

I have the great privilege of living with a man (my husband) who endeavors to make magical moments for me on a daily basis. XOXOXOXOXO…to the man who makes magic for me!!

To create marriage magic for a lifetime, obtain your copy of:

CLICK: WE PROMISE

THE TORCH OF TRADITION

2011-07-02T07:24:00.000-04:00

THE TORCH OF TRADITION

Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who cherishes understanding prospers.

Proverbs 4:7, 19:8 (NKJV

The torch of tradition can either burn you or light your way depending on what that tradition was founded upon. A tradition can be anything from how basic tasks are done to the way we celebrate special days, or even the way we believe. Some of these traditions even dictate how we solve issues in life or react to a crisis. Normally traditions are passed down from one generation to the next.

Leaving and cleaving entitles us to form our own family unit. Some traditions are great assets to your marriage. Other traditions could be a possible determent, leading to constant conflict within your marriage. It is worth your while to study your family traditions and determine which ones are worth implementing into your marriage and which ones need to be thrown out with the trash……………………………………

The fact is, I have a very serving, pleasing temperament. Dan had a strong military background. When we were first married, he was fulfilling a commitment to the Army National Guard, which eventually placed him as the commander of the 1073^rd Army National Guard Unit. There were times throughout our marriage where I needed to remind him I was not one of his soldiers, that I was indeed his wife and should not be ordered around. My husband thinks I have overcome the weak area in my life of letting people take advantage of me and have no problem voicing my concerns now. He says I am now like the woman in Dances With Wolves, Stands with a Fist. I think I like that! Personally, I think he likes it too. Dan knows he took advantage of me in those early years, but he did not like others taking advantage of me either.

I must admit, Dan was not the only one who came with expectations into the marriage. I also had some very unrealistic expectations of Dan, and still to this day I must remind myself that is exactly what they are, unrealistic. My father and brother could fix anything. They would be what you consider as millwrights, the jacks of all trades. When it came to cars, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, cement, small engines, you name it, they could fix it. Dan was taught none of these talents growing up and didn’t care to learn them after he became a man. Now I must say he gave gallant efforts because I pushed him, but in the end it always cost us more money to fix the blunders, if they were fixable at all. My husband has many qualities that are fabulous; however, being a jack of all trades is not one of them. Being a carpenter’s daughter, I tried my hand at many home improvement projects as well, to my husband’s dismay, after he had begged me to hire those jobs done.

One prime example is the oak wood floor in the foyer of our house. I was quoted over fifteen hundred dollars to have the floor refinished. I thought that was ridiculous. I could surely rent the equipment, sand, and finish it myself. When Dan came home from work and saw the pile of sawdust lying on the ground outside, he knew we were in big trouble. He was scared to walk in the house, and at that point I didn’t want him to see the disaster I had created either. I am definitely a tightwad, and hiring people to get things done just goes against my nature (Lord, help me!). I am so thankful we grew, matured, and were able to truly make our house a home, dying to ourselves and learning to put the other first. We are now empty nesters who completely enjoy each other’s company as best friends as well as lovers.

When it comes to establishing traditions in your family, uniqueness is a fun ingredient. Together you can develop memories that will last for a lifetime……………………………..

Through wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established.

Proverbs 24:3 (NKJV)

Excerpts for this blog were taken out of: WE PROMISE

To purchase your copy of WE PROMISE; click on the link below:

WE PROMISE ~ 18 Foundational Stones for an Unshakeable Marriage

FIREWORKS ~ MARRIAGE~ and ~My BeachBoy

2011-06-30T12:35:00.000-04:00

FIREWORKS ~ MARRIAGE~ and ~My BeachBoy

We are approaching my very favorite time of the year, 4^th of July week!! There is nothing like it. Hot sunny days, waterfront activity, family, cookouts, bonfires and the FIREWORKS on our very own waterfront!! Over the years we have celebrated this grand freedom week with various traditions. When the kids were pre-high school years we hauled the boat to Auntie Ann’s cottage on Long Lake near Traverse City and not only took in the 4^th of July festivities in TC, but also the Cherry Festival. I adored those years. Twelve years ago we bought our cottage here at Pine Lake and this definitely is a longing fulfilled with the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

I am geeked about FIREWORKS; if you have not figured that out yet. When it comes to marriage there can be two different kinds of fireworks. There are the positive fireworks and the negative fireworks.

Positive fireworks are the kinds that cause you beam inside and out. The sheer excitement of absolute contentment, joy, pleasure, passion, adventure all wrapped up into one big glorious grand finale of …it just could not get any better than this. Several things must transpire in us as couples to cultivate the glorious blaze of spectacular fireworks in marriage each day.

· Environment ~ we have to be willing to create an environment that is conducive for the cause.

· Attitude ~ you have heard it said it is all in the “tude”, that’s right! We choose how we will perceive things. We can look at that cup half full or half empty…it really is up to us.

· Self denial ~ Blessing and serving one another is contagious. According to God’s Word we are to build-up and edify one another.
Romans 14:19(NKJV)
Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. .

· Laughter ~ the Bible says: Proverbs 15:15 b (NLT) …for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.
Proverbs 17:22 a (NLT) A cheerful heart is good medicine, …

Negative fireworks are like those M-6’s people light off and throw near you, when you least expect it; a huge bang that scares the b-geebies right out of you. Nothing beautiful to look at, no spectacular, only a big bang, and a blow-up that leaves emptiness. How does this happen in marriage. Take away all of the above points and you will be prime candidates for a big blow-up of emptiness!

Yesterday Dan and I had one of those moments that could have gone either way. We could have experienced the big bang or the glorious grand finale.

Dan and I are the truest of “lakers” and he is my beach boy, down to the core! One of the things that attracted me most to my hubby was his gorgeous natural curly thick locks. Through our entire marriage Dan’s has had some kind of curls on his head. Sometimes he keeps them longer but even when he cuts his hair a little shorter, there are still some curls left. I have styled Dan’s lovely locks before but have never given him a haircut. I have always left that to the professionals. However for some strange reason yesterday I decided to give him a haircut. The more I cut the worse he looked until finally all his hair was shaved off. Now you must realize our daughters have never seen their Dad with a shaved head and I personally do not think his hair was cut this short even when he was at OCS (Officer’s Candidate School / military). Leah our oldest daughter was here to witness the damage. We laughed so hard I thought I would pee my pants. When Dan looked in the mirror other than saying I could never come near him again with clippers….he took it like a real trooper and was happy we got such a good laugh at his expense! Bless his heart, now you know why I love him so…fireworks happened yesterday and they were the glorious kind!!

For more about marriage...be sure you buy your copy of: WE PROMISE ~ 18 Foundational Stones for an Unshakeable Marriage ~ available now ~ click on the WE PROMISE link, on the right side of blog home page.

JOYFUL

2011-06-24T07:24:00.000-04:00

JOYFUL

When you hear the word joyful, what comes to your mind? How would you define joyful? According to Webster (pg. 466), joyful is a strong feeling of great happiness; delight; a state or source of contentment or satisfaction; anything which makes one delighted or happy.

A few days ago during my devotional time I ran across a scripture that expresses what joy is according to the Word of God. It seems I am drawn to this Psalm and have been reflecting on it. Meditating upon Psalm 119; I realized most of us have it all wrong. Even Webster does not have it right; unless he was to correlate his definition to the fact that, joy is only possible if Psalm 119 has been applied or fulfilled in your life.

Lord Jesus it is my desire to live in a continuous joyful state. I pray that Psalm 119 would be my life and that of your people. Amen

Psalm 119:1-16 (NLT)

    Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the LORD.
    Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts.
    They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths.
    You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully.
    Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees!
    Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands.
    As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should!
    I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me! Beth
    How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.
    I have tried hard to find you— don’t let me wander from your commands.
    I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
    I praise you, O LORD; teach me your decrees.
    I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us.
    I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches.
    I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways.
    I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word.

THIS MAGIC MOMENT

2011-06-12T06:21:00.000-04:00

THIS MAGIC MOMENT

We have all had those magical moments we wish we could freeze in time. I often say; “Kodak moment”. That special moment hopefully caught on camera as a permanent reminder of a scene which just transpired. You know this special scene will never replay itself, only in a memory unless you catch it on camera or video. Now if you have an old digital camera like mine you miss most of those moments because of the delay factor. Unfortunately no matter what I set my camera for it seems it takes about five seconds between shots.

When we were raising the girls many times I would pray; “Lord forever etch this in my mind, do not let me ever forget this moment.”

What can we do as married couples to create a magical moment in marriage? Is it possible to take a moment in time of an ordinary day and make it magical?

The Eyes Have It

The scene:

You are at a gathering. You and your spouse are in different areas of the room with other people.

The Magical Moment:

Fix your eyes on your spouse. Be oblivious to your surroundings. Do not take your eyes off your spouse. Once your spouse has made eye contact with you…smile slightly and mouth the words:

“I love you, you are so hot.”

Slowly move toward your spouse never breaking eye contact. Once you have reached your spouse gently slide your arm into theirs.

Song of Songs 1:15(TMSG)
Oh, my dear friend! You’re so beautiful! And your eyes so beautiful—like doves!

And then it happened
It took me by surprise
I knew that you felt it too
By the look in your eyes

By Doc Pomus

Have you flirted with your spouse today?