One of Six

My Dad's Memorial Service Eulogies

2011-11-09T18:36:00.001-06:00

These are the Eulogies by Darlene and Bonnie for my Dad's Memorial Service on Nov.5, 2011.
The Video was taken by his great grandson John and is a little shaky but the sound is excellent.

WAKE UP

2011-05-29T10:45:00.000-05:00

In the past few years we have seen alarming natural catastrophes around the world, not to mention all of the man-made events that seem to be fulfilling scripture.

The world has been wracked with huge earthquakes, Tsunamis, snowstorms, thunderstorms, sandstorms, floods of Biblical proportions and recently some killer tornadoes.

Through all of this, it seems as if people are getting 'desensitized'...

It seems to take bigger and bigger disasters and humanitarian abominations to gain people's attention. We are so used to seeing protesters shot, film footage from various and sundry wars, earthquakes and natural disasters from all points of the globe and in the movies, that we no longer feel the connection, the 'human element' if you will.

As we watch all that is going on around us it is like these victims are just nameless faceless characters in a 'B' movie.

Countless numbers have lost everything they owned as well as friends and loved ones.

I pray for them. It is horrible that anyone should have to go through such trials.

What is it going to take to wake some people up? Jesus promised He would return.

Jesus told us what would happen, before it happens, so that when it happens we would believe.

John 14:29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.

The signs are all around us. We know things are not right. We know something BIG is about to happen.

For those of us who believe, we KNOW that Jesus is coming back soon and we are watching and waiting for His return.

Why would anyone knowingly reject the free gift that God has so graciously offered to all those that will only believe.

I don’t mean to be cruel or unloving but many have taken their final step to an eternity in hell. There is no hope for them beyond the grave. Many are headed for an eternity of torment because they continue to reject the free gift that God has offered to them.

If you are reading this, there is still hope for you. Please, seek the Lord now, before it is too late. Call upon the name of Jesus with all your heart and He will answer you. He is only a prayer away.

Please contact me if you want more information.

GOOD FRIDAY -Another Perspective of the Cross

2011-04-22T09:52:00.000-05:00

Song is called "Too Small a Price" by Don Francisco.

If you like his music you can download it for free at:

http://www.rockymountainministries.org/index.html

DEAR ANONYMOUS

2011-04-18T12:09:00.001-05:00

Dear Anonymous,

Thank you so much for your comment and for reading my blog. I am very sorry that I have not been posting of late. I try to go where God leads me and lately it is in the area of making videos for You Tube.

Jesus said: Luk 21:25-26 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Throughout the scriptures we are told to be watching and waiting so that is what I am doing. I have been posting videos on You Tube that present mostly weather related news headlines from around the world.

The mainstream media cannot begin to cover ALL the events that are happening world wide. Besides, the general public seems more interested in the lives of Justin Bieber, Charlie Sheen or Lady Ga Ga, then they are in the tragedies happening world wide and the soon coming of the Lord Jesus.

From what I have been observing worldwide, the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is very near. Nation has risen against nation, kingdoms against kingdoms, there are wars and rumours of war and we are seeing famines, pestilence and earthquakes in diverse places. (Matt. 24:7)

Much of the world is busy eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage,(Matt. 24:38) and they do not see the signs around them and they are not preparing themselves to meet the Lord.

In my videos I try to present a brief overview of some of the things happening to alert people to the changes the earth is going through and to wake them up to the nearness of His coming.

Through this medium, I have attracted attention to my channel where I have videos pertaining to Christianity, Evolution, Dinosaurs, and even comedy. I have had opportunities to witness to a few people and I have made a couple of on-line friends as well.

For now, it seems this is where God wants me.

I have been planning to move some of the videos to my blog but was unsure if I should keep the two separate or not. What do you think?

If you would like to visit my You Tube Channel you can find it at:

http://www.youtube.com/user/Tinkoneofsix?feature=mhsn

Jesus is coming Soon

Are you watching and waiting?

THE GIFT OF ALONENESS

2011-02-11T15:25:00.000-06:00

"As Christians, we are called to convert our loneliness into solitude. We are called to experience our aloneness not as a wound but as a gift--as God's gift--so that in our aloneness we might discover how deeply we are loved by God." ~ Henri Nouwen

“Every once in a while we find ourselves emotionally stripped, as all that life holds is swept away. We find ourselves kneeling at the feet of our Lord, grateful that He's there--His spirit a balm to our weary soul.” ~ Darlene Schacht

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When your children are grown and on their own, when your husband has been taken from you, when family and friends seem to desert you, then the gift of aloneness is more precious than anyone can even imagine.

You are forced to rely on the ONE you should have been relying on all along.

You are forced to acknowledge all the times you made excuses NOT to spend time with Him. There are no more excuses and you realize how much He really does love you.

You regret all the stupid lame excuses, the lost moments, the frivolous endeavours that took “time” away from your precious Lord.

You gain a deeper love; understanding and trust in Heavenly Father through spending time with Him and you realize you have need of nothing that this world has to offer.

He will supply your every need according to His riches in Glory. (Phil. 4:19) As you delight yourself in Him he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4) You have no need to worry about what you will eat or drink or what you will wear. Your Father knows you have need of these things. As you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; all these things shall be added to you. (Matt.6:31-33)

You weep and pray for others who don't know the intimacy with Him like you do or for those who don't know Him at all.

You want to scream at the world; "He loves you so much, don't you care, don't you realize, isn't He worth a portion of your time?"

Some know and take that time but the vast majority of the world goes on about their daily business. They are too busy. They don’t have enough time.

They neglect most precious gift of all.

MAKING MEMORIES FOR YOUR FAMILY

2011-01-25T00:21:00.000-06:00

Think back over the years and try to remember some of the best memories you can recall? Are these memories about things you got or about experiences you had? For most of us our memories consist of things we did and experiences we had.

When my children were growing up I wanted to make memories for them; Memories different from the regular memories of growing up. We all have those, but I wanted something extra special to stick out in their minds when they got older. Something they would remember with fondness. I found that in making memories for my family, I created wonderful memories for myself and I had so much fun coming up with ideas and implementing them.

The types of memories I am talking about are the totally out of the ordinary kind – not the kind that become traditions – although that is o.k. as well. These should be things that normal families don’t always do; things that stick out above all the rest.

Here are a few examples of some memories I created with my family.

After taking a course on being a “Total Woman” our challenge for the week was to make sure that the last thing our husbands saw in the morning before he left for work was a bright smiling face, after all if anything bad had happened to me or him that day, his last memory would be one of me smiling.

I was never a morning person and rarely got up when my husband left for work in the wee hours of the morning but I was determined to meet the challenge. I would drag myself out of bed, get ready, give him a big hug and kiss, and would walk him to the car. I would stand there smiling and waving as he drove away – even if it was raining. It put a smile on his face and he really appreciated the effort I made. It was something totally out of the ordinary but it was a gift from my heart to his.

When my oldest daughter was about seven I decided to put on a ‘restaurant night’ for her and her grandparents. I typed up a menu. She got to chose which foods would be served and she got to invite her grandparents over for the special event. We decorated the table and used the fancy dishes. My husband and I were the maid and butler and we did not eat with them. This was her special night with her grandparents and we were making a lasting memory for her.

One year I decided celebrate Christmas in the summer to make memories for other members of my family. I invited them over for dinner on a certain day and didn’t tell them what I had planned. I served a full turkey dinner on my best dishes and then invited everyone down to our rec room. There I had set out a fully decorated Christmas tree and I had presents waiting for them. (I bought a few dollar store items for each person and wrapped them in Christmas wrap.) I had Christmas music playing softly in the background. As I handed out presents I would wish them a Merry Christmas and explain that Christmas should not only come once a year. I still hear comments from certain relatives saying “Remember the time you had Christmas in the summer?” We all had a lot of fun and some great memories.

Memories are made of experiences and not so much of things. They come from our hearts and minds. It’s o.k. to put little notes into your husband or child’s lunch box every now and then but if you do it all the time, before long they take this for granted and it doesn’t really stick out in their memories. It becomes more of a tradition.

Try to think of ways to surprise your family with the totally unexpected. Make sure to include teenagers and get them involved in ideas and planning as well. At first they may scoff at the idea but eventually they may come around and enjoy themselves. Make sure to take plenty of pictures and video so you can enjoy these special times together in the future.

Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Pick one member in a family and make that person King or Queen for the day. For one special day, that person doesn’t have to do chores, gets to choose their favorite foods to eat, picks their favorite movie to watch, etc. Everyone in the family has to do something extra special to honor that person for the day. Make sure every member of the family gets their chance at being king or queen for a day but spread this out over the year so it does not become a regular event but sticks out in the person’s memory. A twist on this could be a day to celebrate an Un-Birthday half way through the year.

Throw a picnic in the middle of your living room or in a park in the middle of winter.

Have a family pajama party and everyone sleeps together on the living/rec room floor, or make a tent with blankets and sleep there for the evening.

Have each child invite one friend over for a family night of charades, board games, pizza making, cookie baking, or crazy menu night (see below). Make the evening different and special so the friends will remember it as well.

Make a coupon book or coupon jar and hand it to family members for a job well done. The coupons could include things like a free back rub, free hugs, a favorite meal, an extra hour before bedtime, or any number of things. Use your imagination and make it fun.

Plan a “Help our neighbors” night. Get the family together to do something good for your neighbors. You could shovel their walk, mow their lawn, rake leaves, pick weeds, etc. Another spin on this is to do something for someone else ‘anonymously’. Leave a bouquet of hand picked flowers tied with ribbons, some groceries, a plate of cookies, a card, or a special note saying something nice about them. Don’t let them know who did it. Leave it on their doorstep and run. This will create memories and encourage family members to be more thoughtful of others.

Invite one of your children out on a date. You could go out to a movie, out for a meal, to the zoo, museum, etc. Make it a special evening just for that child. This works great with teens.

Make a Scripture/Bible Cake and make a game of it. Get the family to look up the verses and find the ingredients. The recipe can be found here: http://www.abetterhope.com/funpage.html

Plan a “No Electricity” night. No T.V., radio, electronic games, etc. Turn out everything you can that runs on electricity. Make sure to unplug or turn off telephones. Light candles, serve a cold dinner and have everyone pitch in with clean up. Hand wash dishes as a family then sit together and tell stories.

Have a crazy menu night. Menu items are disguised so no one knows what they are getting. Here are a few examples:

1. Themed after a favorite T.V. character or show.

Mickey’s Marvelous Munchies

Minnie’s magnificent magic marinade

Daisy’s delectable dairy

Donald’s dingy dragon soup

Pluto’s pompous poison

Goofy’s grand and gross grunge Etc.

2. List food items in a foreign language so they don’t know what they are ordering. The following are a few examples in Italian.

la mela – apple

il burro – butter

la cena – dinner

Here’s one site that has some food names in French, Spanish, Italian, German and Swedish. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/themes/food.shtml

3. Numbers and letters menu. Pre-choose a food item and assign a letter to it, the same with utensils. If your child picked the letters c, p, a, and f for their meal and the number 3 and 6 for their utensils, this is what they might get:

C = soy sauce

P = wiener

A = glass of water

F = raw vegetable

3 = large serving spoon

6 = napkin

Now they have to eat whatever they have chosen with only the spoon and napkin. This will cause giggles all the way round when they see what they have ordered. Of course you can serve a regular meal afterward.

4. Create a menu with the craziest, grossest or funniest names you can think of. Kids seem to enjoy eating their food so much more if the food has the craziest names. Get them to help name foods for other meals and you will see them gobble their food up on no time and they will have fun doing it.

Scrambled wiggly worm spaghetti

Dead fish eyeball soup

Lazy lying lousy leftovers

Greasy grimy garden greens

Ewieey gooey chopped and mangled potatoes

5. Here’s a site with a crazy menu. http://www.theidearoom.net/2010/03/blog-sway-with-idea-room.html

I hope you enjoy these ideas and have fun making memories with your family. Please feel free to share your ideas as well.

THE LOST ART OF LISTENING - WHEN YOU READ

2011-01-16T11:25:00.000-06:00

I am a blogger (and I make videos) and the following are MY observations and MY opinions.

In the blogging community (and in videos) there are hundreds of individuals that want to communicate with others. They daily put their lives ‘on the line’ and are open to ridicule, antagonism, disrespect, mockery, and discrimination.

So why do these people do it?

They long to be heard, to be seen, and to be understood. They long to be acknowledged as individuals. They hope that in some way they can reach out, encourage, uplift, inform or help others. Words may be just words to some people but these people will use words from their heart and mind to try to communicate to others.

These people are inviting us to look into the secret places of their hearts and lives. They invite us into their private world and we should be respectful of their words and space. And yes, I am a person inviting you into the secret place of my life, and I hope that readers will respect my thoughts and my space.

But sadly this isn't the case. Go onto You Tube and you'll see thousands of scoffers, especially if the word Jesus is mentioned. Look at the Christian community and you'll see "comment deleted by moderator", that's if the blogger even has comments open.

As we read what they have written, we tend to create images and thoughts from the words we read and bring them into our own reality. We should be trying to see the words written through the eyes of the writer and not through our own preconceived ideas and biases. What is the writer really trying to convey in this article? Have I read every word accurately? What can I learn through this and how does this apply to my life? Etc.

I believe reading and listening are becoming lost ‘arts’. Reading should be an act of contemplation, deep thought, consideration, purpose, and reflection. It should be an act in which we allow ourselves to join with the mind and heart of another human being and see things through their eyes.

It is so easy to stand on the outside and criticize what another has written. We only see words on a page and we don’t bother to look beyond. We don’t care to see the person behind the words and yet words sometimes are the only form of expression an individual may have to reach out to others.

It is much the same in the real world. We tend to see only what we want to see, an outer shell. We don’t care to see the real person inside that shell.

These writers are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and friends. They are real people with real desires and needs. They have chosen to invite you into their private lives and hope that in someway they can encourage you or make your day a little brighter.

When I write an article, I presume that my readers will pour over each word and understand the underlying message of what I am trying to convey. I presume they are reading with an open mind and that they have put away their own biases and that they are really seeing ‘me’ and what I am all about.

I am very careful about every word I put down. Questions go through my head as I write. Are my words glorifying my Heavenly Father? How will others perceive my words? Will my words be offensive to some? Will my words bless and encourage others? Will I have lots of readers or only a few? Is my spelling correct? Have I used proper sentence structure, language and punctuation? Will my family be reading? On and on it goes.

I try to be open and honest and yet I find I hold back so much of what I would really like to say. I fear my audience would not understand or be able to accept what I have to say and yet I have this inner need to share, to reach out, and to try to help by using words from my heart.

I write, rewrite and end up discarding article after article believing that maybe one article isn’t really that important or another article is not worthy of my audience. It can take me hours to create what some might see as simply a few lines.

I write from my mind and my heart and it is only natural to presume that other writers are doing the same.

If you enjoy reading my writing then I welcome you into my world. I encourage you to take what you can and leave the rest. I hope I can share some bit of wisdom, advice, encouragement, or just plain entertainment to willing eyes.

Pro 12:25 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

1Ch 28:9b …for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

To those who would find fault or criticize; I’ve seen countless ‘trolls’ who seem to get some sort of perverted warped sense of satisfaction in putting down others and making negative comments. This seems especially prominent on Christian blogs and videos.

What purpose does this serve?

If you don't like what someone has to say, then don't read and move on.

We live in a free country, but it will never truly be free until people like you and I live out that freedom by respecting the words of another.

JOYFULLY COOKING AND EXPERIMENTING WITH MOM'S HOMEMADE VEGETABLE SOUP

2011-01-11T12:07:00.001-06:00

This is my mom's homemade vegetable soup - with a few alterations.

Darlene (my sister) and I grew up with a mother who made nearly everything from scratch. She came from a family of 18 so everything was just thrown together without any measuring. If more people popped in for dinner, more ingredients were added. The sad part was that mom would never measure anything.

Whenever one of us would ask her for a recipe she would invite us over to watch her make it. With 5 sisters as well as myself, I can bet we each have a different recipe. That is how versatile this recipe is. Mom changed it whenever it suit her mood and we learned to do likewise.

My daughters wanted the recipe so I decided to make it as mom taught me, but after I prepared each ingredient, I measured the amounts and put them down on paper so I could give it to them.

I heard about this 'miracle diet' soup that worked like magic. Being a soup lover (and needing to lose weight) I did a search on the internet and found it. They claim you can eat as much of this soup as you want and you will not gain a pound, in fact you would probably lose weight. (like magic) (I wouldn’t guarantee this but it is worth a try.) It is all made of vegetables so it is very healthy.
I started to read the ingredients. I was so surprised to read a very similar version of my Mother's Homemade Vegetable soup. (No wonder I was so skinny as a kid.)

Mom's Basic Home Made Vegetable Soup
(serves 8 or more people depending on your prefrences.)

2 large diced carrots
3 C. Diced cabbage
1 diced medium onion
2 diced celery sticks
1 large can of tomatoe juice (or) 1 large can of tomatoes,
1 large bay leaf
Aprx. 3 heaping tblsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

Mix all ingredients together in a large pot. Cover vegetables with tomatoe juice and add about another can full of water. Bring to boil on high heat. When it begins to boil, lower the heat to about medium and let it simmer for at least an hour.

The can sizes I use are about equal to a litre (or a little over a quart). You can vary the amount of liquid depending on how thick or thin you want the soup. (The same with the vegetables. Add more veg. or other ingredients for thicker soup, cut large or small.)

Variations:
My mother made this soup by simmering a soup bone for hours and then adding the vegetables. I never use the soup bone.
I have also made this soup by adding about 1/4 cup of any/or all of the following: barley, lentils, peas, corn, green or yellow beans.

I like to add leftover cooked rice, noodles, macaroni, or spaghetti, and eat it as soup.
If you aren't that fond of soups, try a thicker version of the soup, using less liquid, and serve it over your favorite food like a stir fry.
Add chunks of leftover beef or chopped beef for a vegetable beef type variation.
Leave out the tomato juice and add barley for a vegetable barley type soup.
Add beets for a type of red borscht.

Experiment! Have fun with it! Make it your own!

See what kind of MAGIC you can make, and who knows, depending on how you make it, you might just lose a few pounds to boot.

MEMORIES OF MY DAD

2011-01-06T15:15:00.000-06:00

My dad has been heavy on my heart since we learned that he is suffering with cancer. He may be leaving this earth soon but he is leaving behind a treasure trove of beautiful long lasting memories. I want to take this time to share some of these with you.

Being the oldest of six girls I have known him the longest and I am truly grateful for all that time I got to know him. To me he’s been the greatest dad that anyone could ever have asked for or wanted.

As far as I know, dad has always been ‘real’ with no pretenses about him. He never seemed to care if someone was rich or poor or whatever their station in life was. He seemed to treat everyone the same and I know of no one who ever met him that didn’t like him.

Material things never seemed important to dad. He always made the most of what he had around him and ended up turning many of those things into memories of some kind. Like the time he took an old Genie Ware jug and made a lamp out of it. He used a Genie Ware bowl turned upside down for the lamp shade. (I won a prize for having the most unusual item.)

Dad was a kid at heart and played with us often. He loved to chase us around the house and tickle us till we would beg him to stop. He tickled me so much when I was little that today I am no longer ticklish.

‘Touch you last’ was one of my favourite games and I never could get that last touch in no matter how hard I tried.

We looked forward to going to bed each night because dad would give us the ‘jiggles’. While we lay on our back he would pump our bended legs back and forth as fast as he could while we giggled with glee.

Dad was a practical joker and loved playing tricks on me. He would come home from work each day and hang his coat in our bathroom. A little later he would go in and when he came out he would hand me a bubble gum and say “I pooped some bubble gum for you.” I was very naive and believed him. I would beg him over and over again,” Dad, can you poop some more bubble gum for me?”

My dad played the violin and he would use it to baffle me. When I would go to the bathroom, he would rush and get his violin and play music by the bathroom door. When I came out he had the violin hidden and he would say “I heard you peeing music again” and I would wonder how I did that.

Some of his crazy antics are the best of memories that I will always cherish.

Dad wasn’t a great carpenter but the things he made were from the loving heart of a father to his daughters. I’ll never forget the Christmas I woke to find a brand new doll lying in a freshly made wooden crib with my name on it. He made us each one and also made one for our neighbour’s girls.

A neighbour of ours had a lawn swing and I would go to their house regularly to swing on it. Dad ended up making a child size version of it and I spent many a day swinging to my hearts content. Here is a picture of it.

One time dad made a large wooden platform and attached it by ropes in our garage. I think he had begun to make a large lawn swing and ended up turning it into a garage swing. Rain or shine, kids from all over the neighbourhood would pile up on that thing and swing back and forth for hours at a time. We had so much fun swinging, singing and knocking each other off.

Another thing about dad was that he always seemed to have a song in his heart. No matter what he would be doing he would either be singing or whistling a tune. On long trips, it was only natural that we would all sing some of his favourite songs. When I had children of my own, I carried on that tradition, trying to teach my daughters some of their grandfather’s songs.

From as far back as I can remember dad was a storyteller. I loved sitting at his feet and I could sit for hours while he told stories.

My favourite stories were those he would tell of poor little girls that were so ugly that no one wanted or loved them. I would empathise and cry my heart out as I begged for more. Eventually mom would have to tell him to quit telling us stories and making us cry. We loved them and couldn’t get enough.

Many of his stories were of his childhood, some were of his exploits with one special friend he had, and many were made up just to entertain us. Each of his stories was rich with anticipation, adventure, mystery and comedy.

One such story was about the time he and his brother went hunting late one night. There had been wolves spotted nearby and they were determined to kill them. They set themselves up behind some bushes and waited. Before long they saw a pair of yellow eyes glaring at them through the darkness. Slowly and quietly, he set up his rifle, carefully aimed and shot the wolf square between the eyes. To his surprise nothing happened. As he watched the eyes separated and went in opposite directions. He then went on to explain that it was actually two wolves standing side by side, each with one eye opened and one eye closed. The shot had gone right between them. He loved building us up and then delivering the punch line.

Soon he will be going to live with the Jesus that he loves so much. He will once again be reunited with his parents, brothers and some of his sisters not to mention some of his children, grandchildren and friends who have gone on before.

I can just see them now as they walk together on streets of gold or they gather around him under the tree of life. He will entertain them with stories of his wife and girls and tell them stories of what has been going on down here since they left.

I will miss him exceedingly but I know he will be happy and healthy and living in the arms of Jesus.

I love you dad.

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS – Do You See What I See?

2010-12-17T16:00:00.020-06:00

In most homes the Christmas tree seems to take center stage and is covered in symbols that remind me of who and what we are celebrating. Everything seems to reflect something about this Christ Child that was born.

The lights reminded me of what Jesus said in

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

The garland around the tree reminds me that we are all united in one body.

Romans 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

The Christmas balls remind me of the world and how much God really loves the world.

John 3:16, 17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

The icicles remind me of the coldness of the hearts of those that don’t know Jesus.

Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

The candy canes can hold so much symbolism if one only looks. Turned upside down it is the letter ‘J’ for Jesus - the Good Shepherd. The red stripes remind me of the blood He shed for me.

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Right side up the candy cane is shaped like a shepherd’s hook and reminds me of

Luke 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

The angels on the tree remind me of

Luke 2:9-11 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

On the top of the tree is usually a star that reminds me of the wise men from the east following the star to see the new born babe who would some day proclaim

Revelation 22:16 … I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

The wreath is a reminder of the crown of thorns that was placed on Jesus’ head.

Mark 15:17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,

When He returns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, He will be wearing the victor’s crown, a crown of gold.

Revelation 14:14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

The presents under the tree remind me of the gifts the wise men brought to the young child.

Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

But most of all, I am reminded of the Gift that God has given us through His Son Jesus. It truly is the Greatest Gift of all.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Under the tree is the manger scene and I am reminded of how the tree overshadowed the tiny babe lying in the manger. He grew and walked in the shadow of that tree throughout His life and ministry. We rejoice at His coming but the greatest victory took place on the tree at Calvary.

HE CAME TO DIE.

That was His whole purpose in coming.

As I stand back and look at the whole scene I am saddened.

Isn’t it funny how Christmas has become the biggest celebration of the year and Easter is given a much smaller role.

Shouldn’t the celebrating of His death and resurrection be the Major focal point for all Christians?

Merry Christmas one and all.

ARE YOU B-U-S-Y THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON?

2010-12-15T20:44:00.001-06:00

The Holiday Season is upon us and everyone is busy trying to get everything done in time for Christmas. We have shopping to do, concerts to go to, presents to wrap, food to prepare and people to see. We barely get a break for ourselves.

I thought this would be a good time to share this little story (author unknown). I hope it will remind us to slow down during this busy season and to stop and think for a little while.

(Read it, even if you're busy, especially if you're too busy)

Satan called a worldwide convention of demons. In his opening address he said,

"We can't keep Christians from going to church. We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their Saviour. Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken. So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered Dish dinners, but Steal their Time, so they don't have time to develop a real relationship with Jesus Christ."

"This is what I want you to do", said the devil. "Distract them from gaining hold of their Saviour and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"

"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.

"Keep them busy in the non essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered:

Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow.
Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles.
Keep them from spending time with their children. As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of the world!
Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that 'still, small voice.'
Entice them to play the radio or tape player whenever they drive...to keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly. This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ.
Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers.
Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day.
Invade their driving moments with billboards.
Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogues, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes.
Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives.
Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night. Give them headaches too! If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere. That will fragment their families quickly!
Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of Christmas.
Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his resurrection and power over sin and death.
Even in their recreation, let them be excessive...have them return from their recreation exhausted.
Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation.
Send them to amusement parks!, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead.
Keep them busy, busy, busy! And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, they will leave with troubled consciences.

For those who resist all the temptations of television and worldly pursuits, crowd their lives with so many good causes that they have no time to seek power from Jesus. Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause.

'It will work! It will work!!"

It was quite a plan!

The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to have little time for their God or their families, and to have little or no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.

I guess the question is, has the devil been successful at his scheme? You be the judge!

Does "busy" mean:

B-eing
U-nder
S-atan's
Y-oke

Remember the Reason for the Season. Take time with Jesus. After all, it is His Birthday we are celebrating.

Here are some verses to help you through the busy season:

Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Php 4:6 Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

And here are a few GIFTS that Jesus gives to you.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Ecc 3:13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Merry Christmas one and all.

MEREDITH AND ABBEY

2010-12-10T20:05:00.000-06:00

I received the following in an email and decided to share it with everyone.

A little kindness goes a long way and blesses many people.

Here's the email

Meredith and Abbey

This is one of the kindest things you may ever see..

It is not known who replied, but there is a beautiful soul working in the dead letter office of the US postal service.

Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey..  She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her.  I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

"Dear God,

Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.
I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.

Love,

Meredith"

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven..  We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven.  That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office.  A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet.  I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies..' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope.  On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

"Dear Meredith,

Abbey arrived safely in heaven.

Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.

Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart.  Abbey loved being your dog..  Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by...

Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me.  What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you..  I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.

By the way, I'm easy to find, I am wherever there is love.

Love,

God"

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH A SKEPTIC?

2010-11-29T09:17:00.000-06:00

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH A SKEPTIC?

Being a widow with much time on my hands I have chosen the internet as my way of ministering to those that are interested in reading or watching what I have to say. I Blog and have a You Tube Channel where I try to uplift the name of Jesus and reach out to help others in any way I can. I care about those that take the time to read or to view what I have to share.

Recently I received a comment on a video I presented, by a 19 year old that was brought up in a Christian church. He entered University and is now studying Science, other religions and Christianity. The studies in Science have caused him to question and doubt the Supernatural and the studies in other religions have caused him to question the prominence of Christianity over these other religions. In one letter he asked “How do you validate your faith on a personal level? Rejecting these other religions and promoting yours?”

Some in the Christian community are at a loss to answer these sincere seekers of truth because they don’t really know what they believe or why they believe it. Many grew up in Christian homes never doubting what they had been taught. Many converted after some sort of experience. Is there any kind of “proof” that we can offer this doubting world as to the validity of our faith over that of another?

I know what I believe and why I believe it but how does one communicate that to a skeptical world? How does one prove that we have not just believed on “blind faith”? How does one put many years of study into a brief conversation easy for another to understand? This was the dilemma I faced.

The world doesn’t want to hear quotes from the Bible because they think the Bible is archaic and merely written by men and not by God. Personal experience is thrown out because other religions have personal experiences that back up their claims. The threats of eternal punishment in hell – they believe – are scare tactics to keep followers in line. They see no “proof” of God or any kind of life after death. They want scientifically verifiable evidence before they are willing to believe anything.

Many Atheists/Skeptics on the net are not trying to find truth as they believe they already have it. They comment on Christian videos and blogs hoping for an opportunity to prove how unintelligent or unaware the Christian Community is. Sad to say, many well meaning Christians tend to prove them right. In trying to give articulate answers they don’t stop to think, pray or discern who their audience is. Many offer Bible quotes or refer to their personal experiences. Others resort to anger and threaten with hell to try to prove their point. The non believer tends to look at this as the normal response from an uneducated unintelligent individual.

I nearly fell into the same trap.

The first comment I received from this individual was somewhat mocking. I immediately grouped him with all the others who “troll” the net looking for unsuspecting Christians to attack. I was at the ready with a reply that would have been sarcastic and dismissive when a little voice inside me said “What if this person is really seeking the truth.”

It would have been easy to dismiss that voice and continue as I had planned but when I thought about it, I reconsidered what I was about to write.

We are Ambassadors for Christ sent to do what he would do were he personally present.

Wanting to communicate as Christ would, I went to Him in prayer asking him to direct every word I wrote.

I tried to think as this young man would think. I presumed he probably encountered people that offered him glib answers to his heart felt questions only to be let down with the results. I assumed he didn’t want to hear the “five and dime store” version of Christianity, as he’d already heard enough of that. I speculated that he was looking for something new and something real that would make an impression on him.

I tried to meet him where he was; on his level, that of a skeptical Christian who has struggled with many of my beliefs showing him how I found answers.

My first response was somewhat unconventional as far as Christian witnessing goes. I figured he would be ready to counter all the customary answers he had probably heard in the past and already had dismissed. I was hoping to demonstrate that I was not simply regurgitating things I had been taught or heard elsewhere.

My individual response seemed to spark his interest and he was willing to converse further. I continue to communicate with him using my God given intelligence and reason using principles and experiences that are common to everyone.

The lines of communication are open because I chose to listen, to go to God first and to try to discern where this person was coming from. He is now more open to listen to the explanations I offer as to how I validate my faith. Hopefully through continuing dialogue I will be able to demonstrate to him why I am able to reject other religions and promote my own.

I cannot lead anyone to Christ. Only God the Holy Spirit is able to do that. I can only be an instrument in the Master’s hands appealing to one’s sense of logic, intellect, reason and curiosity. They must do the thinking for them self and ultimately make their own choices. How it all ends is in God’s hands.

WHY DO I WRITE?

2010-11-23T17:24:00.000-06:00

Why Do I Write?

I write because I feel like I have to write. I feel driven to write. I desire to write. I have a longing to write. I create when I write and I love to create. It is like there is something inside me that is screaming to get out, to let my voice be heard, to express feelings and emotions. I write because I want to honour My Lord and my King, share all that I know about Him, and that others might get to know Him also.

I’m not a great writer. I’m not even a good writer but I still desire to write and let my voice be heard. I want to share all my joys and sorrows, my ups and down. I want to let others know that I am a person, a real person on this side of the screen.

I write to share experiences, thoughts and dreams. I want to share my inside as well as the outer me. I write about everyday occurrences to inform friends and family. I share little anecdotes I find amusing, hoping someone else will find pleasure in reading them. I write about things I’ve learned hoping that others might benefit as I have.

What is in us makes us want to share? Is it the oneness we feel inside even when in a room full of people? I find that even then I feel like they don’t see me – the real me – the inside me. It is important for me that they know the real me. Why? Why should it matter to me? What difference does it make if they think that I am someone that I am not? Will it really change anything in my life? Probably not but then I feel like they believe a lie. Truth matters to me.

We live in a corrupted world full of evil and dishonest people. I don’t want to be one of them. I want to be separated unto the truth, the real Truth. There is not one truth for one and another truth for another. There is only one Truth and that truth is found in the person of Jesus Christ. He said “… I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me. (John 14:6)

Our whole world system began because of a lie and that lie is still being perpetuated even today. “Hath God said?” Three little words changed the course of History. These same three little words continue to grieve and hurt people today.

I see around me a world full of pain suffering and dying. Everywhere people are searching for something – anything – that will fill that void and emptiness they feel inside. All too often I see them searching in the wrong places. They find pleasure for a season but it is fleeting and does not satisfy like they hoped. They move on in another direction never seeming to find that peace that passes understanding.

I write and I hope. I hope that maybe, just maybe, my words might bring a ray of hope to a hurting soul. I hope that maybe someone will listen and really seek to understand. I hope that just one soul will turn to the only Hope we have in this world.

Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY - AT LEAST I HOPE SO

2010-11-19T15:19:00.000-06:00

Dear Jesus,

Today I am beginning to blog for you - again. I should have been blogging for you all along but somewhere along the line I lost sight of the whole purpose. I am so sorry. I got caught up in the “numbers” game and I was looking for “followers” and “comments” instead of only caring what you thought. I asked you to send the people you wanted to read my blogs and then I got caught up in the “game”. How quickly I lose sight of things and forget (and how easily the enemy can deceive).

Day after day I question what I can do for you. I made a few videos I put on You Tube and I would blog the odd time – but - I thought those weren’t good enough. Even with my videos I began to look for viewers and numbers and began to leave you out. Sheesh!

I thought that if I wasn’t getting the “numbers” then you weren’t really pleased with what I was doing. I looked to myself to accomplish instead of looking to you to do. I wanted the ratings and the glory and the honour and you would not have things that way.

I said to you that it didn’t matter if anyone read my blogs or not. I wasn’t worried. I just did it because I thought you wanted me to and that you would lead others to read. I was only fooling myself, I did care what others thought. When I checked the “stats and comments” and no one seemed to be reading or responding then I began to question myself and what I was doing. I wasn’t leaving it in your hands but took control once again. Instead of writing what was in my heart, I began to write what I thought others would want to read about. I began going over old blogs to see what others had commented. I felt pressure to blog more often because I thought I would lose readers if I didn’t keep it up. How silly of me. I was trying to stroke my own ego.

I really am sorry. I let it become about me instead of being about you. I don’t need others to affirm what I do. I only need to do it for you. You read every word I write and I am creating for you. I am opening myself up to you and trying to be honest with myself and my feelings. You already know them, but sometimes I need to be reminded and writing helps me to remember. In this world I am so quick to forget all you have done for me and how you work things out in my life.

That article my sister forwarded to me was a real wake up call. In the article the woman writes about how you only had 12 followers and lost one of them. Yet look at the changes made throughout the world because of those few. Even if I only get one person that reads, I know that you led that person to read and it is for a reason. Ministering to one is just as important as ministering to thousands. Even if no one ever reads, I hope that in some way I can minister to you and to myself. Thank you for that article.

As I write this, I wonder if I should even be sharing this on a blog. Should this be a private thing between you and me or should I post it? Well, duh, I know you can block anyone from reading it if you don’t want them to see it and maybe in some way I might be able to help someone else by sharing my thoughts and struggles.

You know what? I am going to try to be open and honest as I can be on this blog. I want to go back to being “me” and not trying to be something I am not. I want to take off my mask and just let loose with my words. I want to be free to write whatever I want to write. I have so many things in me that I want to talk about but when it comes to writing I never feel like I am good enough. I feel I have to impress others or stay away from certain topics because they might not be accepted. I have let “political correctness” rule my life and I am sick of it. I don’t care if others don’t like what I have to say. I am not writing to them, I am writing to you.

I want to try to do my best for you. Please remind me before posting each time to pray first, check my spelling and let it bring honour and glory to you and you alone. Even if I write about myself, let it only be to show how I am imperfect and struggle like everyone else. If you lead others to read what I write, please help them to see my heart and not necessarily the exact wording I use. I have a hard time explaining certain things and sometimes they are taken the wrong way. Help anyone you may send to see the truth in what I write and to see what it is I am really trying to say.

Thank you for reminding me that I can not do anything on my own. If I try to do things on my own and leave you out of the process, I will fail miserably. I need you to lead and guide me every step of the way. I need you to check me and prevent me from writing things you don’t want me to write about. I need you to speak to me through my own writing and if you care to lead someone else to read, then please bless them in whatever way you see fit.

Well, I think I have said enough for this time. I have so much in me that wants to get out on various topics so please direct which ones you would like me to talk about first.

I love you so much Jesus and I thank you.

P.S. Usually when I go to write a blog it can take me a whole day searching for just the right topic or right words to say. This was so much easier and much more fun. Hee Hee.

PEOPLE ARE WEIRD - At least I am.

2010-11-17T14:27:00.003-06:00

This is from an older post I wrote in 2006 but I wanted to update it and see if I can get some other people sharing. I do some (what I call) “weird” things and I wonder how many others have these same habits or similar type weird habits. Many think they are alone in their “weirdness” but I am finding we all share this “weirdness” in some way or other. I wonder what causes it. Is it something we are born with, or do we develop these habits as we age?

I’ll start with the age old question: When you eat your Smarties do you eat the red ones last?
I find myself sorting mine into piles of different colours. Then I try to make even piles of the colours. I put the odd numbers in a pile by themselves and eat those first. I will eat one of each colour to make sure the piles stay even - and yes, the red are usually the last to go.

I also do this with M & M’s, Jelly Beans or any other small candies that have a lot of colours. Smarties seem to be the only instance where I keep the red ones till the end. I wonder why? Is it because the commercials have brain washed us? (As a child I liked to lick the red ones and smear them on my lips to make lipstick.)

Eating Potato chips is an adventure for me. I can’t seem to just grab a handful out of the bag and eat them. I have to go through this ritual of sorting them into sizes first. Largest in one pile, medium in another, smaller in yet another, folded have their own pile, and last is all broken smallest pieces. I eat the broken smallest pieces first and work my way up to the biggest chips at the end. It is like I am rewarding myself with those nice large Potato chips.

I seem to be a person that likes to count things. My favourite character on Sesame Street was the Count and I consider myself Mrs. Count. It seems it doesn’t matter where I am, I find myself counting things. It isn’t a conscience choice; I just catch myself doing it. When we are driving a long distance I find myself counting cars that pass on the highway. I’ve observed that cars seem to pass in groups of six at a time and then there will be a long space before another group of six appear. It’s weird I tell you. I wonder why that is?

I can understand why farmers will tend to have more advertising signs in their fields as you near a town or city but one farmer had a total of 20 signs in his field alone. I think that is overkill. Mind you maybe it is those advertising signs that help pay for his field.

Another strange thing I seem to do is to buy things in groups of two when grocery shopping. I like even numbers and I always want an extra “just in case”. Three of an item seems too much and one not enough. Certain things I will buy in fours if they are on sale - again there is that even number. Things like ketchup and mustard are a few of the single items I buy.

As I’ve aged, I seem to get more of these strange foibles. I have certain forks, knives and spoons that are my favourites. I will search through the utensil drawer just to find my favourite, even going to the extreme of washing them if they are dirty so I don’t have to use a regular utensil. I somehow feel deflated if I have to use a regular utensil and can’t use my “special” ones. I have a few dishes that I re-act the same with.

When I pay for something with cash (doesn’t happen too often anymore) I find myself paying with bills even though I may have the correct amount of change. I have this thing about having a lot of change. When my bills run out, I may think I am broke till I begin to count my change. Then I feel like I’ve won the Lottery when I see how the change adds up.

One of the things I’ve noticed is how people will sit with an empty seat between them and another person in a waiting room unless they come in with someone or know that person. If I am sitting in a large area with lots of empty chairs and someone comes and sits right beside me, I feel uncomfortable. Why can’t they find their “own space.” It is like we have this magic circle of protection around us and we don’t want people we don’t know in that circle unless it is necessary.

Here are a few more of my foibles:

When I drink anything out of a cup I have to have a spoon in it.
If I drink something out of a can, I always have to shake the can at the end to make sure there is no liquid left or I sip till I don’t hear anything.
When it comes to certain paper type products I seem to be “stingy”.
I count the sheets of toilet paper I use.
When using paper towelling, I will rip the sheet in half and sometimes even quarter size depending on what I need it for.
I will reuse dryer sheets at least once.
When jotting notes, I try to use the correct size paper. I hate wasting a whole sheet for just a few lines.
If a napkin only has a little part used, I will use that same napkin for something else -as a coaster under a drink, or to wipe up a spill, etc.

Now you know some of my deepest darkest secrets and you can see how REALLY WEIRD I am. I guess you already knew that before.

Here are a few habits that others were willing to share on the original post. (Names withheld to protect their identity)

Poster 1

I squish my can when I finish a drink.
I can't sit a drink down if there is a little pop on the top. I have to have a clean top.
I eat my ravioli in layers--one at a time.
I wipe my teeth all the time--in the car, shopping--everywhere. I use a tissue.

Poster 2

I have to have all of my movies in alphabetical order as well as my CDs.
If there are items with a bunch of different colors, I always have to put them in the order of the rainbow.
I don't like to let anyone else help me when I am putting up my Christmas decorations because I like it just so...
I lick my ketchup chips before I eat them.

Poster 3

I sort my M&M's and eat them in order as well, one of each color until finished.
The sound of the microwave beep drives me nuts so I turn it off one second before it beeps.
I almost always use the back door into the office rather than the front door even though the front door is closer to the parking lot.
I can never hug someone just once; I’ve got to give that second little hug for good measure.

Poster 4

I bite my Smarties, and I make wishes on the green M&M's.
I eat the chocolate rim around a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup first and then the middle.
I never touch my food with my hands. I'm quite adept at it.

Poster 5

I like to read three books at a time.
My CD's are in alpha order, but my DVD's are just stacked up.
I have a big basket of beanie babies up on the hutch of my computer desk--I haven't touched them in a year or so.
I cannot bear to throw out a piece of paper that has something printed on it. I might need it some day. Same thing with odd bolts screws and nails.
M&M's – I can't eat them because of cholesterol.
Now I've said too much. IF you print this comment, be sure to save the paper.

Now it is your turn, come on now - Fess up! Share some of your “weird” habits with the rest of us. Just click on the pencil below the post to share your comments.

Enjoy your “Weird” habits. We all have some.

THE SPECIAL MAN IN MY LIFE - MY NEW HUSBAND

2010-11-07T18:29:00.001-06:00

I want to tell you about a very special man in my life. My husband Val and I met him about 33 years ago. We instantly became the best of friends. There was just something about him that stirred something deep within. It was like we had known him all our lives. We loved being around him and really wanted to get to know him well. We began to spend every spare moment we could with him.

He would tell us stories of long ago and of various accomplishments in his life and how he handled them. He was so fascinating to listen to, we couldn’t get enough. I admired him and what he had done so I would try to incorporate things he said into my own life. I noticed Val was doing the same.

He was so kind and gentle and was always willing to answer our questions or to give a hand whenever we asked him. He never complained or seemed like it was an inconvenience. He was closer to us than our own families were.

My two girls grew to love him as much as we did and they always wanted to introduce him to their friends. They loved hearing his stories and would often share them with others. He loved the girls and got along so well with children. He seemed to know exactly what they needed and wanted and would share his insights with Val and I. We really appreciated his knowledge.

Many times he would drive to and from work with Val. Sometimes he even had to take over the driving as Val would get so involved with talking to him that he wasn’t keeping his eyes on the road. I was glad he was with Val as he helped to keep him safe on those long trips.

Over the years he taught me so many things. He was always so well mannered and polite that being around him changed me. I used to swear a lot but he helped me to realize that there was no reason for using vulgar language in expressing myself. Besides it wasn’t very ‘lady like’. He had a great impact on me.

One thing about him that really impressed me was his calmness and forgiving attitude towards others. People would say bad things about him, but he forgave them and didn’t let it bother him. When I asked about it, he told me that forgiving others was something we did for ourselves. If I held on to anger or resentment, I would only be hurting myself. The other person would go about their merry way and wouldn’t give it a second thought. I would be letting their actions or words control how I felt. By forgiving others, I would be able to let go and not give anyone power over me. It all made so much sense. Everything he said made sense and came from years of wisdom and understanding.

We went through a few really hard times over the years but he stood by us the whole time. He often helped out financially as well as in other ways. He was the best friend you could ask for. There were a few times I really didn’t want him around but he stayed anyway and I am so glad he did. He didn’t try to tell us what to do or what to think. He just went through it all with us and that was exactly what we needed.

I was so thankful that he was there when Val died. He helped him on his journey. He also helped me through the worse time of my life. I don’t know what I would have done without him at such a crucial time. He would just sit with me and let me know that I wouldn’t have to carry the burden alone. He would help me every step of the way. All I had to do was call on him and he was there. He gave me the strength to go on when I felt abandoned and alone.

A few months after Val’s death, I decided to invite him to move in permanently and to take control of everything. I couldn’t do it on my own and I needed his help day and night. He had been my best friend and confidant for so many years but now I wanted him as my husband. He was delighted because he wanted that very thing. He had been looking forward to it for a very long time. I knew Val would be pleased.

He moved in and became my husband and my very life. He is my constant companion and is always taking such good care of me. I love him so much.

Two and a half years ago, we moved back to the city so I could be closer to my family. He took care of all the details and our move went so smoothly. When my sister was without a home for a short while, he suggested I let her come live with us till she could get back on her own two feet. He is so considerate of others. He loves my family and only wants the best for them.

A little over a year ago, the apartment we were living in became a bit too expensive. He found this great apartment that is a little smaller but less than half the price. We have plenty of room here and such a beautiful view. It’s our little getaway from the rest of the world and so special to us.

I can’t tell you how much he loves me and is always doing all sorts of things to show me his love. Often I don’t notice till much time has past but he never seems bothered by that. He just does them because he loves me.

He enjoys helping me write my articles and often has a lot of input in what I write. He was the one to suggest I write this article about him as he would really like to meet anyone who reads this.

Oh, did I forget to mention his name? How silly of me!

Some call him Yeshua but I call him Jesus.

Isa 54:5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

MOM MOMENTS

2010-11-04T10:32:00.000-05:00

Luk 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

My oldest daughter walked into the room crying. I went to her and put my arms around her as I asked her what was wrong. I felt the uncertainty and pain as she tearfully told me that she had lost her unborn baby – again.

My heart cried out for her. “Oh, God, why? Help me to help her.”

As I held my crying daughter I was reminded of the adorable little girl she once was. Her only concerns then were playing with dolls, tea cups and dishes. Her biggest calamities where when her toys didn’t do what she wanted them to do. Life was so much simpler for her then. When had my little girl grown up so fast?

I felt so close to her at that moment. I was thankful that she was able to share her deep pain and feelings with me at such a time. She was confused and afraid but I was there for her and she knew it. I would have done anything to ease her pain. I would have taken that pain upon myself if it had been possible.

In that instance I began to realize the love our Heavenly Father’s has for all of His children. I realized that there was nothing too big or too awful that I couldn’t take to Father God. He would understand. He would be willing to die to take my place. He understood. I loved my daughter so much and yet God loved her much more than I ever could. In fact, He loved me so much that he entrusted this person into my care from the time she was conceived.

In my mind I had to give her over to God and trust Him to comfort her as only He could. There wasn’t much more that I could do to help her. I reassured her of God’s love and told her that He had it all under control. He knew what was best and He would eventually work things out in the best way possible.

Many years have come and gone and God has gifted my daughter with two extraordinary sons. My special Grandsons! The oldest is 5 years old and the youngest is 2. She was unable to have children of her own but God knew that one day these two little boys would need a good home. He knew that she would love them as her own and that she would teach them about His love.

Psa 113:9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.

Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

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

I anxiously waited for news that my grandchild had arrived. No news was forthcoming so I decided to go to the hospital and wait there. I arrived on the scene only to be told it would still be awhile but they let me see my daughter for a short time while. She was in labour but nearing the end. I looked at my little girl laying there about to give birth. It didn’t seem that long ago that I was laying on a hospital bed giving birth to her. As one pain after another came she seemed to handle it so well. I thought about how brave she was; how great she was doing; and how she was being so strong. I wanted it all to be over for her sake.

In the waiting room I paced back and forth, sat down, stood up, walked a little, lay down, everything I could think of to relax but I couldn’t. I wondered if this was how fathers felt when they were waiting for their child to come into the world.

Finally my son-in-law came into the room and told me I was the grandmother of a healthy baby boy. I was overjoyed as I hurried to my daughter’s side. There in her arms I saw my first grandchild for the first time. As they placed that little bundle in my arms, I burst into tears. I couldn’t help it. He was so precious and so beautiful. I let my tears flow as I looked into his tiny face. I felt like he was as much mine as he was hers. I was holding a little miracle in my arms. Here was a new life that came forth from my daughter; my little girl! She was all grown up now and starting a family of her own. I was so very proud of her.

Psa 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

Pro 17:6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

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I’ve shared these special "Mom Moments" with you in the hopes that it would remind you of our Father in Heaven. I wonder if He ever gets “Father Moments” as He looks down on His children. Does He sense a special closeness when we are willing to trust Him with our deepest pain? Does He look on us with so much love and admiration that He feels like He will burst? Do we sense His arms reaching out to gently hug us when we are having problems? Do you think He chuckles when we do something funny or foolish and enjoys seeing us have fun? And then I wonder how He really feels when a lost soul is finally born into His kingdom? I wonder how He will feel when He finally gets to take His adopted children home to live with Him for all eternity?

The apostle John describes our experience as God’s children who have been born into His family by the new birth.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Romans 8:23 tells us “we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”

At the Second Coming of Christ our resurrected bodies will be glorified and will then possess all our inheritance that the son ship involves.

Many think that the Bible says that the angels rejoice when someone gets saved. Well, maybe they do, but let's read it again:

Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

The joy is in the presence of the angels. Could that be referring to God? Maybe it is God that is expressing joy!

“Maybe He is having a Dad Moment.”

BACK TO GRANDMA AND GRANPA'S HOUSE THROUGH MEMORIES

2010-11-02T20:20:00.000-05:00


This picture was taken years after my Grandparents passed on. It is so sad to see it this way.

I remember the long trips to my grandparent’s place with fond memories. We had memorized all the sign posts we needed to watch for. As each one passed, our anticipation increased, and we knew our destination would soon come into view.

“Watch out for the ruts.” mom would say as dad drove down the long gravel road singing out a favourite song. He had traveled that road many times before and could probably have driven it blindfolded. As we passed a certain clump of trees, we knew our Aunt’s house was next and just across the field was Grandma and Grandpa’s house.

Their house was set a little ways back from the main road and as we turned onto their dirt driveway we could see their house. As a child it looked so big. Little bits of green paint still clung to the old weather worn boards. Poplar trees surrounded their house and lined the yard. The leaves would rustle in the breeze with a warm welcoming sound. There was a special kind of quiet there. No more hum of city life but just the silence of nature.

As we entered the back porch I would check to see if Grandpa had any of his treasures out there. Sometimes there would be the heads of sunflowers lying out to dry and sometimes he would have a batch of his home made chocolate covered puff wheat. I would anxiously wait to see if he would offer me some and if he didn’t I would hint by saying “Grandpa, what’s that brown stuff you have in the porch?” He would get the hint and offer me some. Yummy, I was happy.

Going through the back porch we entered what seemed to be a small kitchen. I used to wonder why Grandma had two kitchens. It wasn’t till I was older that I realized it was a summer kitchen, a place where people cooked when the weather got hot. That helped to keep the main house cooler. On the left was a door that opened to a shed where piles of wood were stored for the cook stoves and to keep them warm during the winter months. Straight ahead was the door to the main house.

The first room we would enter was the kitchen. As you stood in the doorway there was a counter and a few cupboards to left hand side. To the right was their table and chairs with their fridge on the far wall facing in. Close to the cupboards but directly across was a wood burning cook stove. Beside that was the doorway to the living room. There was a small jut out area where the door to the root cellar was. In front of that was their water pump and along that same jut out was the narrow landing to the stairway.

Their living room was long with two small bedrooms off to the left hand side. A sofa, chair, small table with plants on it, a wood stove, piano and piano stool were the only furnishings in that room. The bedrooms were very small. The one my grandparents slept in only had room for a double bed up against the wall and a small dresser. The other bedroom had a moveable closet and an old couch.

The kitchen was where most of the visiting took place. Sometimes the men would go to the living room but if the weather was nice they would be outside checking out one of my grandpa’s latest inventions. Meanwhile grandma would busy herself getting food ready as you could never leave their place without having a meal first. While mom and she talked in Low German I would try to help with what I could.

Lifting the heavy cast iron plates, I would stoke the fire or put another piece of wood in to burn. If Grandma needed anything from the root cellar I would quickly volunteer as I loved the musty smell and the spooky feelings I got down there.

The old water pump in the kitchen was my favourite. A plastic pail sat under the spout with a metal pot they called a dipper, hung on its edge. I enjoyed pumping and filling that pail and then rewarding myself with generous sips from the water dipper. It would taste so cool and had a unique taste that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Doing dishes at home for our family was a chore but at Grandma’s house it was an adventure. Potato skins, vegetable cuttings, coffee grounds or leftover food were put into a slop pail to feed the pigs (when they had some) or to go into a compost heap. After heating the water on the cook stove, we would add it to the cold water where the dishes were soaking. Sometimes a little milk was added to help break up any grease but oftentimes I would use her Lye soap. I liked swishing the soap in the water or rubbing the dish rag on it to wash the dishes. A quick dunk in the steaming rinse pan and then onto the drying rack they went. As I would dry each dish I was careful not to drop any. Grandma didn’t have a lot of dishes and none of them matched each other. They were heavy and old but useful dishes with a character of their own.

After everything was cleaned up I would venture out and about to do some exploring. My favourite place was their second floor. The narrow stairway led to a small open room which they used for storage. To the east was a brightly lit bedroom with a small bed and dresser in it. There wasn’t much of interest in it and there was no room for the imaginations of a young girl. To the west was another small room. The sun wasn’t shining in on this side of the house and the light that was there cast eerie shadows around the room. A few boxes were stacked in one corner and an old roll top desk stood alone on one wall. This room gave way to imaginings of all kinds. I would sit on the old swivel chair and spin around. I would roll it across the floor to hear the squeaking of the wheels. Then I would pull in closer to the desk and lift the old roll top. I would let my imagination run wild as I inspected the treasures beneath. As I picked up each new treasure I would think “Who owned these old glasses and why aren’t they using them anymore? Humm, I wonder what this is? Wow, look at this old book. I wonder how old it is?” I was lost in my own world of make believe and adventure. Sudden my mother would break the spell and call up the stairs. “Get down from there and go play outside.” Reluctantly I would leave, hoping to get back there real soon.

Outside I would check what the men had been busy doing or I’d venture into one of the old dilapidated buildings on their property to see what kinds of secrets were hidden there. Usually I only found old pieces of wood or rusty machine parts but still, I loved the adventure of it all.

The day would seem to go by so quickly and then it was time to so home. Sometimes I would be lucky enough to spend a week there. Those were fun times, except when I had to use the dreaded “Outhouse”. I hated it. I was a city kid and this was going just too far. “How did they manage it in winter?” I wonder.

In the early years they had a few animals which I don’t recall. I do remember that after they would milk the cows I would love watching them separate the milk in those old separators. I couldn’t understand how the spinning could separate the heavy cream, regular cream, and milk into different spouts. I always marvelled at how it all worked.

There was one time my aunt, that lived near by, let me help make butter. She gave me a large jar full of cream and told me to keep shaking it as much as I could. I carried that jar around most of the day shaking and shaking and hoping to see it turn into butter. I don’t remember it working but I do know we had home made bread with home made butter later that day. Yum.

I loved most of the old Mennonite recipes my grandmother used to cook but there were some things she used to do that would make me wonder. One time she had a bowl of cream sitting on the table and it was getting all lumpy and looked awful. Then she cut up green onions and put them on top. I asked her about it as I thought it should have been thrown out. She told me she was making sour cream. I’ve never really liked sour cream. I wonder why?

She used to make this pudding she called “Plume ma mouse”. I was scared to eat it as I thought it might have a mouse in it. She explained that it was made from raisins and plums. It was actually really good.

I can still remember her painting her old wooden floors with little squares of sponge or rags. She would try to make various patterns on the floor to decorate them a little. She would weave old rags into throw rugs and put them around to help keep our feet warm. I’ll never forget the feather pillows and her colourful patch quilts which I would snuggle under as I would drift off to sleep. Those are special memories I will always cherish. I sure do miss those times.

People in the ‘olden days’ led a much simpler life. They didn't have a whole lot but they were happy. They had each other and talked a lot more. Imaginations were allowed to run free and explore all kinds of possibilities because they weren't distracted by televisions, radios or the internet. They used and reused whatever they had. Many became inventors while trying to make their lives a bit easier. They learned how to make and do things from scratch. They ate from the land and were much healthier for it. There is so much we could learn from the past.

Jer 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

WHO'S WILLING TO READ AND TAKE A STAND?

2010-10-30T23:21:00.002-05:00

Since the beginning of time there have been certain individuals that have changed the course of History and impacted the world we live in. People like Hitler, who hated the Jews and wanted to create a perfect race. In the process he had millions of people killed. Ghandi taught us about non-violent protests and many people imitate his way of protesting. Madeline Maureen O’Hare started a movement by getting prayers taken out of the schools. Bill Gates changed computing history. We have the inventors of electricity, the telephone, the Atomic Bomb, and a host of others. The list goes on and on. Little did these people know of the great impact their lives would have on the rest of us.

There is one person that stands out above all the rest. This man’s life has had the greatest impact on ALL of History and continues today. That man is Jesus, the Christ.

Twenty centuries have come and gone and Jesus the Christ was the central figure of the human race. In the past few decades unscrupulous men and women are trying to wipe His name out of History and out of the minds of our young people.

Our calendar dates were known as ‘before Christ’ and ‘after the year of our Lord’. Now they have changed that to ‘before and after the common Era’ hoping future generations will forget.

They don’t want Him talked about in our schools or any references to Him or His Word in the textbooks. His name is being removed from every Government Institution. They are claiming separation of Church and State.

They have pushed ‘political correctness’ to the point where people cannot even mention His name in public places without fear of retaliation or offending others. People have lost their jobs because they dared to mention their belief in Him or because they offered prayer to a hurting soul while in their place of employment.

Yet, His name is uttered profusely by those who love to use profanity and the ‘politically correct’ naysayer doesn’t seem to have a problem with that form of His name. They themselves use it quite regularly. We don’t hear these people desecrating the names of Mohammed, Buddha, Confucius or the many other so called gods out there. Why is that?

They want to continue the celebration of Christmas but without His name being mentioned. The saying of “Merry Christmas” might offend others of differing faith. After all, it has the name of The Christ in it. Any references of His birth or name, whether it be in song, community or school plays, or any form of public display is prohibited.

And yet, it seems perfectly reasonable to ridicule Him or His followers in the public arena. There are countless media hosts that make jokes that belittle and defame His character or that of His followers. Certain ‘displays’ that make a total mockery of Jesus have been open to the pubic in the name of so called ‘Art’. It is like it is “Open Season” on Jesus and any of His followers.

What did Jesus do that was so wrong? Nothing!

He was born about two thousand years ago in an obscure village, to a young peasant woman. Growing up, He worked as a carpenter and when He was thirty, He became an itinerant preacher.

He never went to college, university or seminary yet He stumped those that did. He was the wisest man that ever lived. Thousands of colleges, hospitals, orphanages and other institutions have been founded in honour of Him. He never wrote a book, and yet more books have been written about Him than any other person in History. His words and life have inspired countless poems, songs and paintings throughout the centuries.

He never held public office, owned a home or had a family and yet His words have been used to guide those in Governments, heal relationships and bring families closer together. He never traveled any further than 200 miles from His birthplace and yet the whole world knows of Him.

Even though He never did any of the things that usually accompany greatness, throngs of people followed Him. He had no credentials but Himself. He was just a humble, quiet man who went around doing good and taught others to follow His example.

While He was still young, the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His followers ran away and His enemies sentenced Him to death on a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – the simple coat He had worn. His body was laid in a borrowed grave provided by a compassionate friend.

His enemies were jealous and couldn’t even find enough evidence to convict Him. Pilate couldn’t find fault in Him and wanted nothing to do with His death. His enemies hated Him because He spoke the truth. They crucified Him because He claimed to be God. But three days later this Man rose from the dead – proving that He was and is who He claimed to be - the prophesied Saviour whom God spoke about years earlier, the Incarnate Son of God.

All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the governments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned have not changed the course of history as much as this One Solitary Life.

So why does the world hate this man so? What has He ever done to them? Why do they feel it is o.k. to use His name in vain and make disparaging remarks about Him?

Personally I am SICK AND TIRED of it. Yet, I think to myself “I am just one person. What can I do? ”

I can let my voice and disproval be heard. I can STAND UP FOR WHAT I BELIEVE even if it is politically incorrect to do so. The pen is mightier than the sword and I will speak my mind in writing.

In 1517 Martin Luther changed the course of history when he nailed his Ninety-five Theses to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. In those days, it was common practice to nail public documents to the church door for all to see. Today we have the internet.

I am not asking anyone to become a follower of His. I am asking you to reconsider and maybe acknowledge that He was a great man that changed the course of History for the better. If you disagree please tell me; in what way did this man do wrong?

I am asking you to please quit using His name as a curse word. He was a great man and at least deserves some respect. We don’t even use Hitler’s name as a curse word and he was evil.
I am asking you to quit making crude jokes and displays of Him. He never did you any wrong.

I am asking you to let us honour this Man in the ways we feel are appropriate. If we want to wish you a Merry Christmas, how is that harming you? That isn’t trying to push our beliefs on you. We are just hoping you will be Merry during the time we choose to honour Him. If you choose to be miserable that’s fine we me.

Is there anyone else who is willing to stand up with me? Will you pass this message on or maybe write your own version? One person can change the world. It has to start somewhere.

Why not here? Why not NOW?

RANDOM THOUGHTS ON BIBLE VERSIONS

2010-10-28T21:09:00.003-05:00

This is a repost of an earlier article under a different title.

These are some of my thoughts on the many versions of the Bible. I myself prefer the King James Version above all others. I figure that if it was good enough for the past 400 years of history, it is good enough for me.

Not so long ago, people used to bring their Bibles to church and would follow along when the Pastor/teacher read scripture. They could verify for themselves if what the Pastor/teacher was saying was true or not. Today hardly anyone brings their Bible to church as the Pastor/teacher may chose to read out of a different version. How can we know if we are being led astray or if Scripture is being taken out of context? How can we know that what the Pastor/teacher is preaching is truth? With so many different versions it is really hard to tell sometimes.

The memorization of Scripture was of the utmost importance for many years. Jesus knew the word of God and was able to drive away Satan when tempted. King David clearly saw that knowing the word of God was the key to purity. Paul says that the word is a sword in your amour against the devil's schemes. God's word in your heart keeps your feet from slipping. Yet today we see very little emphasis on memorizing the word of God. Why is that? Could it be that we have too many Bible versions to choose from and the word we try to memorize gets confusing?

Have you tried to share a passage of Scripture with someone only to get the line “Well, that’s YOUR interpretation!”. Why is it we can no longer agree on the basic principles of what God’s word says? Why is a lot of it left up to the individual’s interpretation? Could it be because we have so many different translations out there and each one says something just a little bit different than the next? This has caused confusion in the Body of Christ and God is NOT the author of confusion - 1 Cor. 14:33.

Why do all the newer versions compare themselves to the King James Version? Isn't it strange that the new versions never compare themselves to one another?

When the KJV translators had to add certain words, largely due to idiom changes, they placed the added words in italics so we'd know the difference. Why don’t the new translations do this? If something is removed from the Bible, and placed in a footnote, is that good enough? Most certainly not! This causes one to doubt if God really said that thing and it takes the focus off God’s word, most of the time for the worse. Many time references in the footnotes say, "The oldest manuscripts don't include . . ." This causes one to cast a shadow of doubt upon what they are reading. Also many times footnotes are totally ignored which can drastically change the meaning of what is being read. Why can’t all these “scholars” agree?

The modern day “scholars” tell us that there were mistakes in the KJV and the newer versions correct these mistakes. If they have better and more accurate versions today then why are there so many of them? Is each one more accurate and better than the other? Why can’t they find all the mistakes at once and put them into one perfect new version that we can all agree on?

If the Holy Spirit leads us into “All” truth, why did He change His mind over the years? He gave us the KJV for the last 400 years and now there are mistakes to be corrected??? Is this really how the Holy Spirit works?

There is one true God, yet many false gods. There is one true Church, consisting of true born-again believers in Christ, yet there are many false churches. So why do we have so many different versions of the Bible? Could it be that we have one true Bible, yet many false "bibles"?

Isn't it true that God inspired His Holy words in the "original manuscripts." Many will tell us that what we have today is not the “inspired true word of God.” Is God that small that He couldn’t preserve a perfect Bible for today? Does this sound like the character of God who says “…one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”? (Matt. 5:18) Could it be that we have the True Inspired Word of God but people today do not want to accept it? They want things their own way?

It is claimed that the newer Bibles are easier to read. Why was the Bible translated in the first place? So the normal regular every day person could read and interpret the scriptures for themselves without the need of clergy. Have men of education somehow "evolved" and are now more qualified to translate God's word today than in 1611? If the King James Version is so difficult to read and understand by people today and yet the people 400 years ago could understand it, what does that say about our intelligence? Were those people that much more intelligent than we are today – they had no problems understanding the King James Version?

Many claim that the “thee’s and thous” of the KJ Bible make it too hard to read. These words were not part of the vocabulary in 1611 but were added for clarity of text. They serve an important purpose. The second person in English is rendered "you" in both the singular and the plural. Thus, when "you" is employed in a modern translation, one does not know if it is to be understood as singular or plural. However, "you", "ye", and "your" are always plural in the King James Bible whereas "thy", "thou", "thee" and "thine" always denote the singular - how easy. The King James Bible reads: Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you [plural! all of the apostles] ... 32 But I have prayed for thee [singular - Peter] ... Is man getting dumber or smarter? Hmmm, I wonder.

Because of the many Bible versions, many people are lacking in true Bible discernment. If we don’t have one true Bible then objective and absolute truth does not exist. Everything becomes a matter of personal interpretation. Seeing there are multiple readers of multiple versions, then it is easy to see why there are multiple interpretations with the end result being no universally valid interpretation. Could the many translations be part of the reason we are having so much trouble reaching the lost for Christ? They use our “many translations” against us, telling us that we can’t even agree amongst ourselves about what the truth is. I think they have a valid point.

Why are there copyrights on the newer versions of the Bible? The text of the KJV may be reproduced by anyone. There is no copyright forbidding it's duplication.

The majority of modern Bible publishers - not Bible Societies - are neither religious organizations nor missionary societies. They operate in the cold hard world of business. They don’t care if their product is a faithful reading of the texts or not. They do not “care for our souls” and are not deserving of our unqualified trust. Their only concern is for profit. They are anxious and ready to meet the needs of the people mentioned in 2 Tim. 3:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

What are some of your thoughts?

THE ENEMY ATTACKED - GOD SAVED ME.

2010-10-28T00:11:00.001-05:00

A woman named Gina wrote an article (Chats with an Old Lady) that inspired me to share this story of what happened to me. Her article was titled ‘I am NOT a Grace filled Woman’. Her link is in my sidebar.

Recently I went through a spiritual battle. Out of the blue, the enemy of my soul came at me firing both barrels at once. I wasn’t prepared for an attack and he hit me full force.

"How do your really know you are saved? You've just been fooling yourself. Jesus said that in the last days many would come to him and claim they did all kinds of things for him, and yet, he will tell them he never really knew them. How do you know you are not one of them? Those people believed they were saved just like you do but they were wrong. Your heart is more deceitful above everything. The Bible says so.

How can you be saved when you have such terrible thoughts about others? You are always getting angry with others and you fuss and fume inside. That's not love. How can God love you when you don't love your neighbour as yourself? How could God love you when you don't love those around you? Don't you know that the Bible says that if you don't love your neighbour who you do see, then you can’t love God who you don’t see?”

On and on he went and I listened to every word and agreed with everything he said. When he was finished his tirade I took over for him and began to accuse myself of every rotten thing I had ever done or ever do. It was all true. I am a horrible person. I was crumbling under the accusations. I felt helpless and hopeless. I was fooling myself. My life was all a lie. I had thoughts of ending it all yet I knew that either way I would end up in hell. What could I do? How could I be saved? I knew I could never live up to what I thought God wanted of me?

With uncontrollable sobs I cried out, “Oh God, Please, Please help me, I don’t know what to do. If I have been deceiving myself, please forgive me. Help me to be the person you want me to be. Please have pity on me because I can’t do this. I really am a bad person and I need you to fix me. I can’t do this on my own.”

As my tears were subsiding I began to hear that wee small voice of my master reminding me of what Christ’s coming was all about.

Grace!

God’s Grace!

God’s perfect Grace for a sinner such as I.

That was the whole reason He came and died in the first place. None of us are perfect and we never will be. That’s why we need a Saviour. If we were perfect, He wouldn't have had to take our place. No matter what we do we will never measure up to God’s standard of Holiness.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The enemy is real. He is very subtle. He knows our weak spots and he hits us when we are down. He is cunning and relentless. When we think we can stand on our own, that's when we become an easy target. I've been a Christian for nearly 33 years and I thought I was standing but that's where I was deceiving myself. We can never do it on our own. We need His help daily - moment by moment. It is only in His strength that we are able to fight and win the battles. I didn’t have my spiritual armour on and nearly lost that battle. God reached out and reminded me that it is only by His grace that I have been saved and nothing of myself.

Eph 6:11-18 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 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, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

I will end with this quote from Gina’s article.

“I am not a grace filled woman, but I serve a grace filled God and I desire that He work through me. If you see any evidence of grace in my life it is only because of Him. He gets the glory. And that is how it is meant to be.”

Random Thoughts on Christianity

2010-10-25T15:04:00.001-05:00

There was a time when the Church rejected the world's ways. Now she not only uses them; she abuses them. Of course we must use the world, because we need it; but let us not want it, let us not desire it.
People wear suits to weddings or funerals yet dress casually in the Lord’s presence. I wonder why?
Jesus did not say that we would know them by their great profession of faith, but that we would know them by their “FRUIT”.
Faith takes your eyes off of yourself and everything this world has to offer and plants them firmly on Jesus Christ.
If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be any evidence to condemn you?
History is His – story!
Jesus I know and Paul I know but who are you? They had the name of Christ on their lips but they did not have the power of Christ in their hearts.
If your life doesn’t line up to the gospel you are deceiving yourself
True faith is more than what is in your mouth. It is what is in your heart and what comes out of your mouth, proves what is in your heart.
Jesus wasn’t politically correct and he hurt the feelings of many people. But He told the TRUTH.
John the Baptist spoke the truth till they cut his head off. Are you willing to follow his example?
Political correctness is about not offending others. Are you more concerned about pleasing others or about pleasing God?
Christianity should always be a source or irritation to the world, then, equally the world should be a source of constant grief to the Church.
In the past the Christians suffered open persecution for their faith but today Satan’s tactics are more subtle. He tempts the believer with the things of the world and makes them sound reasonable and acceptable, especially to those who do not know the word of God like he does. Oh yes, Satan knows the word of God better than most Christians do.
Satan conceived and now controls the world order, and is prepared to use demonic power through the things of the world to lure us into it.
Would God urge us to watch and pray if there weren’t spiritual forces to guard against?
Christians should be perfectly willing to part with anything or anyone at any moment. It matters not whether I leave two thousand dollars or merely two. What matters is whether I can leave what ever I have without a twinge of regret.
A hypocrite is someone who wears a mask, an actor, someone who is pretending to be someone when they are not really that person. The best actors really know how to play their part. A really skilled hypocrite would be impossible to recognise.
Christian hypocrisy is so ugly and embarrassing because while claiming to love and obey Jesus, they act as if He didn’t exist.
Almost all of the parables of Jesus had to do with true and false profession; the two builders, the sower and the soils, wheat and the tares, sheep and the goats, almost all.
Jesus was the most genuine, real, non-fake person ever – someone who talked the talk and walked the walk.
If we measure ourselves by the world’s standards, or the standards of other people, most of us will end up thinking we are OK. If we measure ourselves by God’s standards, it is a totally different story.
Are we seeking the knowledge of God or are we seeking the knowledge of the world? God’s desire is that we grow in the knowledge of Him.
We should be constantly growing. Not growing stagnant.
You are either a servant of God or a servant of the devil. It is black or white. There is no middle ground.
Are people who claim to be ambassadors for Christ, and then live like the world, really using God’s name in vain?
True Christianity is a matter of the heart, it is more than words.
True biblical faith affects the whole life of a person. It involves the emotions, the affections, the actions and the will.
True conversion is two fold. We flee from sin and rush to him.
You are not your own. You are bought with a price. Therefore quit flirting with the world and playing the harlot.
If you are in love with someone, you want to be with them, spend time with them, get to know everything there is to know about them. How much do you love Jesus?
In the world we are taught how to improve our self esteem whereas the whole aim of the Bible is to bring us to our knees in repentance knowing that we are nothing without Christ.
Most people know the names of top sports personalities or TV personalities but do we know the names of Jesus’ brothers?
We seem to find time for TV, Movies, The Internet and especially friends but we just can’t seem to find any time for God. Hummm…
Are you teaching your children to put God first or are they more interested in watching TV, Playing games, being on the internet or in their newest toy, etc.?
He is ‘A God of Grace’ but He is also a ‘God of Wrath’. A half gospel is a lie taught by the devil himself.
There are people sitting in temples of God every week but do they have the God of the temples in their hearts?

Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

BEWARE - CHRISTIANS BELIEFS - BEING ATTACKED - BY BIBLES???

2010-09-28T12:09:00.007-05:00

The Christian church has gone through many changes in the past few
decades. What has transpired is a “new” way of thinking. We have given
up our individual rights by conforming to the “world’s” way of thinking
instead of God’s way of thinking. We want to be “politically” correct in our ways of thinking and speaking, not wanting to offend anyone.

How did we get this way? It started subtly. Just a little changing here and a little changing there.

Satan tells those who have God’s Word not to judge, so the counterfeit can be established. This way he can either keep you from growing or shipwreck your faith. He uses the world to tell us “its not loving,” and “its biblical not to judge.” However, it is biblical to judge. What they have done is use a particular Scripture out of context and then bring you to the conclusion that if you judge you are being divisive. Many walk in fear of using discernment because they have been convinced it is horribly wrong or “politically” incorrect.

The enemy wants to bring the church to the place where we cannot distinguish between God’s Word of truth and Satan’s lies. The whole point is to prevent one from finding what is disagreeable and make it all agreeable.

So now, a new technique has crept into the church called the Hegelian dialectic. This type of dialect is used in politics, T.V. shows, morality, commerce, advertising, film, churches, music, books, entertainment, etc. It is all about changing to accommodate the world.

The Hegelian dialectical formula is basically: A (thesis) versus B (anti-thesis) equals C (synthesis). Two contradicting statements or ideas brought together to form a new synthetic doctrine.

For example: If (A) my idea of evolution conflicts with (B) your idea of creation then (C) we can agree on a long age day theory called Theistic Evolution.

In a Christian setting, the presupposition is that the group's will determines "the will of God". It's no longer a question of what is right or wrong, good or bad, lawful or unlawful, but rather HOW WE ALL FEEL ABOUT IT......no absolutes, no conscience, no convictions, no laws, no Constitution, no Bible and NO GOD!!!.
This brings me to some Biblical examples taken from various versions of the Bibles. Who is right when 2 different translations say exactly the opposite? One would normally think that one version must be lying. Example

KJV - Hos 11:12 Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.
NIV - Hos 11:12 Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, the house of Israel with deceit. And Judah is unruly against God, even against the faithful Holy One.

The KJV implies that Judah ruled WITH God and WAS faithful with the
saints. Yet the NIV implies that Judah was AGAINST God and AGAINST
the faithful Holy One. So what are we to believe?

Here’s another example:

KJV - 2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
ASV - 2 Ti 3:16 Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness.

The ASV seems to imply that there are some scriptures that are inspired and maybe others that are not. Is ALL the scripture inspired as the KJV implies or just some? Do we pay attention only to the scriptures that seem inspired and leave the rest?

Final and most important example:

KJV - Isa 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
NIV - How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!

The NIV is calling Lucifer the morning star when the Bible clearly teaches
that Jesus is the morning star.
KJV - Rev 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
KJV - 2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

Satan would have us believe that Jesus is Lucifer and the fallen one.

Can you see how the enemy has crept into the churches and is subtly changing just a little here and a little there. He has crept into some of the Bible translations and corrupted the word of God leaving it up to individuals to sort it all out. This should NOT be happening!!!

IT IS WRONG!!!

God places supreme importance upon His written word. The importance of God's word runs throughout the Bible. Psalm 119 (I think is the longest Chapter in the Bible) has 176 verses each talking about God's word. He even magnifies His Word above His name.

Psa 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving kindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

God's word is so important to Him that he warns those who tamper with it.

"Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar." (Proverbs 30:5-6)
"Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you." (Deuteronomy 4:2)
"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." (Rev. 22:18-19)

Anyone who has ever read the Bible diligently should recognize the importance God puts on His words.

Isa 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

Be very careful when choosing which Bible you should read. Pray about it. Ask God to direct you. We cannot depend on what “men” say anymore. We must go directly to God.

Jud 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

2Pe 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

COMMON EVERYDAY QUOTES -ORIGINATING FROM THE BIBLE

2010-09-27T19:57:00.011-05:00

King James Version is the most common source of phrases in English. It ranks with the complete works of Shakespeare and the Oxford English Dictionary as one of the cornerstones of the recorded language. What raises that version above other versions of the Bible in terms of its linguistic impact is the fact that the language used has persisted into the present-day. Many of the phrase used are still commonplace.

I think it is Ironic that many people today - whether a believer in the Bible or not, use Biblical phrases without even knowing it. I think it might be God's little joke on people.

Here is a list of about 78 everyday Bible phrases that have a Biblical origin. You should be able to click on the phrase and it will take you to a page where the Bible verse and explanation can be found.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
A drop in the bucket
A fly in the ointment
A house divided against itself cannot stand
A labour of love
A man after his own heart
A multitude of sins
A thorn in the flesh
A wolf in sheep's clothing
All things must pass
All things to all men
Am I my brother's keeper?
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth
As old as Methuselah
As old as the hills
As you sow so shall you reap
Ashes to ashes dust to dust
At his wits end
Baptism of fire
Beat swords into ploughshares
Bite the dust
Blessed are the peacemakers
Born again
By the skin of your teeth
Can a leopard change its spots?
Cast the first stone
Coat of many colours
Don't cast your pearls before swine
Eat drink and be merry
Faith will move mountains
Fall from grace
Fight the good fight
Flesh and blood
For everything there is a season
Forbidden fruit
Forgive them for they know not what they do
From strength to strength
Get thee behind me Satan
Give up the ghost
Good Samaritan
How are the mighty fallen
In the beginning was the word
In the twinkling of an eye
It's better to give than to receive
Labour of love
Lamb to the slaughter
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone
Let not the sun go down on your wrath
Let there be light
Living off the fat of the land
Love of money is the root of all evil
Love thy neighbour as thyself
Man does not live by bread alone
Many are called but few are chosen
My cup runneth over
No rest for the wicked
O ye, of little faith
Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings
Pearls before swine
Physician heal thyself
Red sky at night; shepherds' delight
Sour grapes
Spare the rod and spoil the child
Strait and narrow
Swords into ploughshares
The apple of his eye
The blind leading the blind
The bread of life
The fruits of your loins
The love of money is the root of all evil
The powers that be
The root of the matter
The salt of the earth
The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
The strait and narrow
The wages of sin is death
The writing is on the wall
Thou shalt not kill
Three score and ten
To everything there is a season
What God has joined together let no man put asunder
Woe is me
Wolf in sheep's clothing

DON'T BLAME GOD!!!

2010-09-18T17:18:00.007-05:00

Do you get angry at the Law of Gravity if an airplane looses power and drops from the sky?

Do you get angry at the Weather if lightning strikes and ends up burning down a forest?

Do you get angry at the Law of momentum if you step in front of a moving vehicle and get hit?

Do you get mad at nature if you choose to go out in the middle of winter without proper clothing and you end up freezing a part of your body?

Do you accuse these Natural Laws of being unfair or unloving?

The answer is a resounding NO. That would be stupid.

Just as there are physical laws in the universe, there are spiritual laws set up in the universe as well. These laws should be followed and recognized just like the physical laws.

So why would someone get mad at God when they break His laws and suffer the consequences?

We hear people blaming God for every bad thing that happens to them. Why blame God and say He is unfair and unloving?

Is it God’s fault that a person does not respect His laws?

Just because one chooses not to “BELIEVE” a certain law exists does not change that law. Even if you believe that the law of gravity does not apply to you, you will still suffer the consequences if you choose to disobey that law.

Laws are put in place for the benefit of EVERYONE. Breaking a law can have dire effects on others, not only the individual.

Breaking God’s laws has caused our planet to be in a state of chaos. The more the laws of God are broken, the more EVERYONE suffers the consequences.

Think about these things as you go about your daily business. Each law you break –whether it be physical or spiritual - has a consequence – not only to yourself but to others as well.

God’s laws serve a purpose and they benefit all mankind.

September 11, 2001 and the Bible

2010-09-13T15:52:00.009-05:00

September 11, 2001 and the Bible

No one who reads the Bible after September 11, 2001 will fail to notice the following scriptures:
Isaiah 30:25 And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of water in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.
It almost shouts World Trade Center. The World Trade Center contained twin towers and it was a great slaughter of at least 2,823 innocent people.

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

Isa 9:10 The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.
As the rest of this chapter is read, it becomes apparent that this is clearly a passage of JUDGMENT! The 8 harbingers of judgment pronounced on Israel - are identically pronounced on the U.S.A. and have been acted out by our nation’s leaders.

1. The Fallen Bricks

2. We Will Build

On Wednesday, September 12, 2001, in the Joint Response of the Nation on the Senate floor Senator Tom Daschle addressed the world. Recorded in the Federal Register, the words of Senator Daschle can be read as they had been spoken:
“The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.
That is what we will do. We will rebuild and we will recover. The people of America will stand strong together because the people of America have always stood together. And those of us privileged to serve this great Nation will stand with you.”

3. Bigger and Better

And then there is the arrogance of defiance. On the day of the 911 tragedy, Rudy Guiliani, the Mayor of New York City, punctuated the resolve of the city. HE SAID - “We will rebuild: We’re going to come out of this stronger than before, politically stronger, economically stronger. The skyline will be made whole again.”

4. The Hewn Stone

The first stone to be used in the construction of the 1,176 ft. Freedom Tower was hewn from New York granite and lowered by crane in a ceremony on July 4, 2004. Governor George Pataki of New York presided.

5. And Then There is a Spirit of Defiance

Repeatedly Scripture records defiance as the highest insult against the Most High God. Senator John Kerry in his statement before the United States Senate on September 12, 2001 remarked:
“…And I believe one of the first things we should commit to - with federal help that underscores our nation’s purpose – is to rebuild the towers of the World Trade Center and show the world we are not afraid - we are defiant.”
On the day the cornerstone was laid, then New York Governor, George Pataki again insisted: “Today, we, the heirs of that revolutionary spirit of defiance, lay this cornerstone.”

6. The Sycamore, The Buttonwood

The day after 911 when the people returned to ground zero, they found a tree lying on the ground, pierced by the beam of a falling Tower. It was a sycamore tree – struck town…and strange, eerily, the people made a display of it. A sculptor was commissioned to make a cast of the fallen sycamore to be displayed on Wall Street.

7. The Cedar, The Arez

Two years later an object was laid over the place where the fallen sycamore tree had been struck down.. The object lowered was an arez tree, a conifer tree, the same as the cedar of Lebanon. As the tree was coming down to where the sycamore was, they held a ceremony. A clergyman said:
“We are gathered here today on holy ground. Ground hallowed by its witness to the dust, and death and destruction of September 11th. The ground is sanctified by our presence here as we dedicate this Tree of Hope in witness the divine within each of us”.

8. Three Years to the Day

Vice President John Edwards, speaking in Washington DC at a gathering, the third anniversary of the devastation, chose a Scripture which he linked to the events of September 11th. These are his words: “Good morning. Today on this day of remembrance and mourning, we have the Lord’s Word:
• ‘The bricks have fallen, but we will build - with dressed stones:
• the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place….’ Each time that bell tolls it calls us to a greater purpose. To never forget: it calls us to always remember that when we walk together this day that the cedars will rise and the stones will go up.”

Of all the thousands of Scriptures he could have chosen, he chose this one obscure verse from Isaiah, which even most Believers don’t know. Not realizing what he was saying, he linked this scripture of judgement to September 11th saying, that it was the Lord’s Word to us.

God Help America

THE MOST WONDERFUL BOOK IN THE WORLD – THE BIBLE

2010-09-13T14:23:00.003-05:00

MySpace Graphics

THE MOST WONDERFUL BOOK IN THE WORLD – THE BIBLE

It’s a book filled with mystery, excitement, anticipation, adventure, comedy, love and hate. It’s a theology book, a scientific book, a history book, an archaeology book, a health book and a counselling book. It’s a book filled secret codes, prophecy, comfort and has answers for every problem.

It awakens the senses causing a myriad of emotions like awe, adoration, reverence, love, faith, devotion and unspeakable joy; while at the same time filling you with anger, sadness, concern, despair, shame, grief and remorse.

It’s like a roller coaster ride lifting your consciousness to an exalted throne room, giving you a brief glimpse of glory, and then plunging you to the depth of despair and then leaving you to sort it all out.

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

Interesting and strange facts about the Bible

It’s not one single book but really 66 books.

It was penned by over 40 authors on three different continents and in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Koine Greek.

It was written over a period of some 1,500 years.

It was written by shepherds, farmers, tent-makers, physicians, fishermen, priests, philosophers, kings and prophets. Despite these differences in occupation and the span of years it took to write it, the Bible is an extremely cohesive and unified book.

It was written in times of peace and in times of war.

It covers hundreds of topics and stories and yet it sublimely has one beautifully unfolding story throughout.

It was meticulously copied and preserved generation after generation. The first printed book was the Bible and it was printed in 1454 A.D. by Johannes Gutenberg who invented the "type mold" for the printing press.

According to Wycliffe Bible Translators, the Bible has been translated into about 4000-5000 languages so far and they are hoping to reach the estimated 6600 languages by the year 2025.

A strange little fact is that there is actually a Bible translation in Klingon, the Star Trek language.

In 2001, Mike coles, a teacher in Stepney, translated The Bible into Cockney Ryming sland and in 2008, graphic representations of The Bible in Manga (which consists of comics and print cartoons) and Lego brick form were given approval by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

A Bible in the University of Gottingen is written on 2,470 palm leaves.

The number of new Bibles that are sold, given away, or otherwise distributed in USA is about 168,000 per day.

Voltaire, the French philosopher who was an Athiest, threatened that he would see to the destruction of the Bible and its removal from the face of the earth. What happened is that the Bible Society bought the house where he was born after his death and today that building is one of the biggest sales centers of the Bible.

The Bible is the #1 bestselling book in the world but it is also the world's most shoplifted book.

The smallest item in The Bible in AmericaMuseum’s collection is a portion of a microfilmed Bible taken to the Moon and back by Apollo 14 in February 1971. That was not the first time the Bible was taken into space. Astronauts from Apollo 8, read the biblical creation story from Genesis. (prompting O'Hair's suit against NASA.) A handwritten card containing a Bible verse that Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin used during a lunar Holy Communion service was also put up for auction.

The Bible has been engraved on the surface of a tiny crystal. The CRYSTAL-BIBLE , NANOBIBLE, is manufactured in different shapes: rectangular, oval, round, and book shaped.

The world's largest Bible, printed by Louis Waynai in 1930, resides in the ACU library. When laid open, the Waynai Bible measures 43.5 inches tall and 98 inches wide. Closed, the spine is 34 inches thick. The book has 8,048 pages and weighs in at 1,094 pounds. The book was constructed so that it can be disassembled into 31 sections for moving purposes.

Interesting information and strange facts contained in the Bible.

Solomon had 700 wives, 300 concubines, and 12,000 horses.

Noah was 600 years young when he built the ark, and 950 years old when he died. Genesis 7:6 and Genesis 9:29

Manna tasted like honey wafers. Exodus 16:31

In ancient Israel, men closed a deal by exchanging sandals. Ruth 4:7

After Moses was given the Ten Commandments, he wore a veil over his face because he glowed. Exodus 34:33-35

Psalm 117 is the shortest book in the Bible with only two verses.

Adam was 930 when he died. Methuselah was the oldest man in the Bible. He lived to be 969 years old. He would have been 56 years old when Adam died so could have received information about God and the Garden of Eden first hand. Seth, Noah’s son was born before Methuselah died so he could have received information about Adam from Methuselah and shared it with others after the flood.

Luke was a medical doctor. Colossians 4:14

Lydia was a saleswoman. Acts 16:14. (Who ever thinks of Women have outside jobs back then?)

Did you know when Jesus died, saints rose from the dead and walked around Jerusalem? Matthew 27:52-53

Animals have to answer to God, too! Genesis 9:5

Paul was beaten five times and shipwrecked three times. 2 Corinthians 11:24-25

The three magi were never actually at the traditional manger scene. They saw Jesus a little later at Joseph and Mary's house. Matthew 2:11

The iron point alone on Goliath's spear weighed about fifteen pounds! 1 Samuel 17:7 Goliath had 6 fingers on each hand and 6 toes on each foot.

Jesus had at least 4 brothers and at least 2 sisters. The brothers are named but the sisters aren’t. (James, Joses, Simon, and Judas) but the sisters aren’t. Matt. 13:55-56

Moses was four months old when Pharaoh's daughter found him in a basket. Acts 7:20-21

Locusts, Katydids, Crickets and Grasshoppers were considered clean food for the Israelites. Leviticus 11:22

The ten plagues in Egypt showed the deficiency of 10 gods the Egyptians worshipped.

Once, while Ezekiel was sitting in his house, a big hand picked him up by the hair of his head and took him somewhere between heaven and earth. Ezekiel 8:3

Definitely a book worth checking into and reading!

God Vs Man

2009-07-12T17:40:00.001-05:00

You tell me - Who's at fault? God or Man?

THINK

2009-07-12T15:08:00.001-05:00

I made this video. Please watch.

Children see Children DO

2009-07-12T15:07:00.001-05:00

Please watch this video and pass it around.

Object Lesson Temptation

2008-11-19T13:17:00.003-06:00

This is an excellent but very funny object lesson on what it is like to be tempted. If you want to see the full video you can go to the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iszVTW...

Christian Women Online Cruise

2008-10-05T15:08:00.001-05:00

This is my entry to the contest at Christian Women Online.
Check it out and enter yourself.

The Humorous Things Mom Said that were Loaded with Wisdom.

2008-05-06T18:38:00.003-05:00

(I’ll bet most moms don’t realize how smart they really are!)

1. "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside - I just finished cleaning!"

This statement didn’t really teach me to appreciate a job well done but it did teach me that I was able to handle my own problems and that I couldn’t always run to mom to intercede on my behalf. Those few words carried a warning. If I didn’t stop what I was doing, someone might get hurt.
It also taught me that I was to respect the hard work of others and to be careful so that I didn’t unwittingly undermine their hard labour.

2. " I don’t care if all the other mothers are letting their kids do it, I said no. Just because every other kid in the world jumps over a bridge doesn’t mean you have to jump too. Because I said so, that's why. I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

This taught me that my parents were a higher authority than myself and I should not question that authority. In accepting their rule in my life, I would be in a place of safety, expecting that authority to only want what was best for me.
It also showed me that I was an individual and therefore all my needs and expectations had to be handled on an individual basis. I was not just anyone else. I was their child and they cared about me.
When I became a Christian I realized that Jesus was now my authority. He loves me as His daughter and only wants what is best for me. I am to obey him and not question why. He knows the beginning from the end. He treats me as an individual and does not want me following the crowds but only following Him. I can rest safely in His leading.

3. "Make sure you wear clean underwear in case you are in an accident. You better bring a jacket/umbrella in case it rains."

Expect the unexpected. Life doesn’t always work out the way that you planned so always be prepared. Think about your future and prepare for it now. You never know when an opportunity may arise. Be ready to meet any challenge that comes your way.

4. "Don’t sit too close to the T.V. you are going to burn your eyes out. If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way. Eat your carrots, they will strengthen your eyes"

These words taught me that my eyes were important and I should take care to protect them. The eye is the lamp of the body, the window to the soul, so I should be careful what I allow to enter through those portals. What am I feeding my soul when I chose to watch certain things on T.V. that is not appropriate. Jesus said "If your eye offend you, pluck it out. Better to enter heaven with one eye than to suffer in hell with two."

5. "Stop crying or I will give you something to cry about."

Don’t fret the little stuff. Things could always be worse. These words prepared me to expect hardship in my life. If I worry and fret over the little things, what will happen to me when the big things in life roll in on me? Learn to put things in proper perspective and don’t let the little things get you down. Each day has enough worries of it’s own. We don’t need to add to them.
It also taught me that crying is not going to solve anything. I need to take steps to change my behaviour and not just wallow in self pity.

6. "It looks as if a tornado swept through this house. Your room looks like a pig sty. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

There is no beauty in chaos. I should take pride in my surroundings and the things I possess. I should take care of my belongings and those of others around me. I should be trying to attain a higher standard for my life. Living by my animalistic nature (ungodly instincts) is not acceptable behaviour.

7. "Don’t blame me if you fall out of that swing and break your neck. If you don't do your homework, you'll never get a good job. If you break your leg, don’t come running to me. Just wait until we get home, boy are you going to get it."

Daily we will face various choices and challenges in life. Every action has a reaction and our choices determine what consequences we will have to face. It is our free will that allows us to make these choices. We must face the consequences of our choices and actions alone. No one else can answer for us. We will all stand before the throne of God and each man will give an account for himself. I have to recognize and take responsibility for my own actions. I have choices throughout my life and I cannot try to blame others for my irresponsibility.

8. "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do! There are millions of starving children in Africa that wish they could have your dinner tonight."

Statements like these taught me that I should count my blessings, always be thankful, and appreciate all that I had, whether it was plenty or little. There is always someone less fortunate than I am. But for the grace of God, go I. It reminds me of an old saying that goes something like this
‘I once met a man that had no shoes and felt sorry for him. Yet this man was so great full because he had met a man that had no feet.’
It also taught me that I should think of those that are less fortunate and do all I could to help. Jesus said that if we clothe or feed those less fortunate than ourselves, it is like clothing and feeding Him.

9. "You will sit there till you finish your supper. I don’t care if you have to sit there all night.

This taught me determination, steadfastness, and endurance. Life is going to be hard and will hand us all kinds of problems. It is very important to stand firm and finish what you start. Some times it will take every bit of strength we have to endure but in the end it will be worth it. Everyone has a chance to be a winner. Keep your eye focused on the prize. It doesn’t matter how you start, it is how you finish. Many start right for Christ at the beginning and we move forward but take our eyes off the prize and fall behind in the race. Finish Strong. Run to win the prize.

10. "What were you thinking? Answer me when I talk to you. Don't talk back to me! If I've told you once, I've told you a million times... Would you just shut up and listen for once."

Think before I speak. Listen, listen. listen. This world is plagued with communication problems because people just don’t listen. We have two ears and only one mouth. That should tell us something. We should listen twice as much as we speak. Our parents tried and tried to drill these lessons into our innermost beings and yet most of us just didn’t ‘get it’.
Our Heavenly Father is constantly talking to us but we just aren’t listening. I am slowly learning these lessons my mother taught me. I am trying to open my ears to what Father God wants to tell me and learning to quit telling Him how to do things.

11. "One day you'll have kids ... and I hope they turn out just like you!"

What goes around comes around. We reap what we sow. There is nothing new under the sun.
Some call this the ‘mother’s curse’. If we had hearkened to the voice of our mothers we would be blessed with obedient children today. Our sinful nature rebelled and therefore we reap what we sow. It wasn’t our parents faults that we turned out the way we did. We made our own choices along the way.
I’ve learned that my mom is human too. She raised me the best way she knew how to and I can’t fault her for that. We all do the best we can as parents, and pray that love can overcome our humanity.

12. "Go ask your dad, if he says it is o.k. with him then it is ok with me."

Mom taught me through example that dad was the final authority. She submitted to his decisions. It didn’t make her any less of a person, in fact it caused me to respect her even more. She taught me my proper place in the great scheme of things.
Father God is the ultimate authority. Woman submits to her husband, her husband to Christ and Christ to Father God. Each in their own proper place. When everyone is in their place and doing what they should be doing, life goes on a lot smoother and everyone is happier.
She taught me that it was o.k. to approach dad. He wasn’t someone I should be afraid of. He would gladly answer my questions. I might not always get the answers I wanted but that didn’t mean I would never go and ask him for something again. It also taught me to trust his decision making. If mom could trust his authority on a subject, then I too could trust that he only had what was best for me in mind.
If I don’t know what to do about something, I know that I can go to Father God and He will always hear and answer. I need not be afraid of Him. I know He will only do what is best for me.

*********

I wanted to write this in appreciation of all moms but especially mine. She is the greatest. I have learned so many wonderful things from her and I will be eternally great full. Eternally I say, because without her leading, I may have never found the Lord in the first place.

Thanks Mom
I love you.

INVESTMENT and RETURN? or WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR TALENTS?

2008-04-26T09:35:00.006-05:00

Grace is God’s meeting you where you are in order to bring you to where He is. God does not meet us where we are to leave us where we are or to pat us on the back for what WE are doing. God meets us where we are—in our sin, in our weakness, in our immaturity—to help and enable us to transform to His standards and His way of doing things.

One of the problems we face in the world today is that everywhere the Spirit shows up, manifesting Himself through signs and wonders, His presence is repeatedly misunderstood. We use His presence to justify our immature earthly values and even known sin. We think His presence is God’s confirmation that we are on the right track, that we are working according to God’s will.

When God sees that our level of sin and immaturity no longer holds any expectation for bringing us back into conformity to His plan, He will withdraw and cease imparting Himself to us. While He is patient, the Lord will not pour Himself out in us only to be misused to reinforce our earthly desires.

Jesus made a very costly investment of His blood in us. He expects a return on his investment. If that return is not met, there will be consequences.

Jesus’ parables about planting and harvest shows us clearly that God expects a return for his great investment in our lives. This can also be seen in the parable of the ‘talents’ and also in Christ’s ministry.

We see him withdrawing from various communities. He came bringing healing and deliverance and yet he could see that it wasn’t having an impact on the their souls, so He withdrew from them.

Firstly, we are to believe in Christ for what He has done for us on the cross to pay the penalty and to forgive us of our sins.

Jn. 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the children of God, even to them that believe on His name.
Act 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house
.
Secondly, we are to surrender our lives as dedicated followers of His Spirit to lead us into all truth and to do the will of God. This is not a one time event but should be a continual surrendering.

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Thirdly, we must obey His will, through the teaching of the Holy Spirit - at all costs.

Act 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Act 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Heb. 5:9 And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey Him.

By obeying the leading of the Spirit, we are moved past the "knowledge of the truth" to the actual "Knowing of the Father" and His will for our lives.
This is the ultimate return God wants on his investment.

Our obedience must start with repentance. Repentance is the submitting of a receiving heart to the lordship of Christ. We demonstrate this by our actions of obedience to the commands of the Spirit. Those actions are the "fruit" and the "work" of the Spirit in our lives and demonstrate that our faith is active, evident and living. When we repent and submit, the Holy Spirit sets his seal of possession on our lives. This is separate from the gifts and powers he may impart to a believer.

One may be forgiven of sins, washed by the blood, and even receive limited access to the Holy Spirit’s powers. Yet without repentance, he may still fall away, reversing the effects of salvation, drawing back to perdition and to eternal damnation. Assurance of our eternal salvation is tied to the demonstration of our fruit of obedience. We can only get that assurance if we know we have fully and totally surrendered our all to the Spirit of Lord Jesus. Our minds, our spirits, our souls, our bodies, all that we posses. Any other assurance is false.

We tend to think that because God pours out his spirit on a man or their ministry, that they are ‘right’ with God or doing things right. We think it is his seal of approval.

So what happens when God’s spirit is poured on human flesh.

Man is made of the dust of the ground. As flesh, he is but dirt.
The Spirit is likened to rain and to fire. If the Spirit is received by the flesh without submitting one’s will to God’s will, in total surrender, you get the same result as when you pour water on dirt.

You get MUD.
You get something to get stuck in!

But if the Spirit is received, not only as water, but also as a cleansing fire to help us to be totally submitted and obedient, it will bring us to the truth and separate us for the Lord’s purpose.

Instead of becoming muddied, we become transformed into a vessel able to truly hold and display God's will, power and mind.

If we are not totally conformed to submit to the Spirit, then we (flesh) can corrupt the Spirit that is poured on us and can change the truth of God into a lie.

Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things.
Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Rom 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections:
Mat 6:23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
Luke 11:34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.

So there is a condition to receiving the Spirit that determines whether we get the mind of God. The fact that the Spirit is received is not a guarantee of the accuracy or completeness of His mind (His Will) in us.

For this reason, a judgment seat awaits all believers, not just unbelievers.

At the judgment seat, we will give account for how well we allowed the Lord to perfect His investment in our souls.

It is very important that we know this - the salvation of every believer's soul is to be proven by fire. There will be great loss on the part of many believers at that time, as their fleshly deeds will be burned away.
All who try to escape God’s divine process in order to preserve their own way of thinking and living now, will lose it then.

By not submitting to the leading of God’s spirit - towards His Higher Calling for your life, you will be affected in ways you can’t even imagine.

What are you doing with the investment God has placed in your life?

BLOOD SPEAKS???

2008-04-25T11:24:00.005-05:00

Recently I stumbled across a little ‘gem’ that I wanted to share with you.

Maybe this isn’t new to you but I was so blessed by it.

Did you know that blood SPEAKS?

In Genesis 4:10 God says that the blood of Abel cried out to him from the soil. (We also know that ‘life is in the blood’).

In the original the word is plural, thy brother's bloods. Could this mean, not only Abel’s blood, but the blood of all those that might have descended from him had he lived?

As I pondered this verse and thought about blood, I began to realize that people are listening to what blood has to say every day. I had never really thought of it before.

When a young girl gets her first monthly flow of blood it tells her that she is finally becoming a woman. She is now capable of bearing children of her own.

When a woman gets her monthly flow, it is speaking to her. It is telling her that her body has gone through a cycle to prepare itself for conceiving a child. The flow tells her that no child was conceived during this cycle. It also tells her that each and every month she is being prepared for a wonderful act of procreation.

Even the lack of blood speaks to her, telling her that she has conceived. (or that something else is wrong with her body)

When we see blood on a child or on ourselves, it is speaking warning. It is telling us that something has happened to the body that needs attention. Maybe we just have a simple cut but it is still an indication that something is out of the ordinary, something has happened to our body that shouldn’t have.

Large amounts of blood indicate a bigger problem. The larger the amount, the greater the need to get medical attention.

Have you ever had a blood test?
Doctors and nurses listen to what blood is saying every day. By looking at our blood and listening to what it has to say, a doctor can diagnose what is going on in our bodies. So in a sense it is also a warning system.

Our blood flows through out the body day in and day out like a little soldier on guard. Checking and rechecking every little part of us. Then when needed, the blood brings news (speaks) about various things happening in your body.

Isn’t that amazing?

Blood is also a ‘tattle tale’. If you have taken alcohol, drugs or had sex with someone you shouldn’t have, the blood will tell about it. It can’t help but tell the truth about all it learns about the body.

Blood also seems to be able to tell various things about a person like who their parents were, and if they are prone to getting various diseases.

Abel’s blood "cried".

When innocent blood is taken from a person, human ears may not be able to hear it’s voice, but it has a voice that reaches God and cries out for vengeance. Murder is one of the sins that cry to heaven.

The blood applied to the door posts in Exodus 12:13 told the destroyer of the Lord God to pass over that house and not harm the inhabitants therein.

Have you applied the Blood of Jesus to your heart that the destroyer might pass over you in the final day of Judgement?

Jesus’ blood is the only thing that can deliver your soul and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

Please, listen to His blood. It calls out to you.

1 Corinthians 3:5-end (Con’t)

2008-04-23T18:59:00.004-05:00

Who are the Pentecostals? Who are the Baptists? Who are the Catholics? Who are the Seventh Day Adventists? Who are any of the individual denominations?

Aren’t they all just ministers that God has given to help us believe in Jesus?

One may plant and another may help us to grow but it is only God that increases his family and our knowledge.

So then one denomination is no better than the other. They are really nothing in God’s eyes. They are all foolish.

God is ultimately all that is truly important.

We will be rewarded for our own labour.

In the end, the individual efforts of each person will be found to be useless - unless it has helped to build the WHOLE body of Christ.

We are workers TOGETHER for God’s end, for God’s purpose.
The work we do together HAS to be directed by God’s Spirit because we are working together with him.
We are his building and his builders. We should be building so that the WHOLE structure is sound and secure. It is only in togetherness and unity of Spirit, that anything of value can be accomplished.

Various denominations may lay the foundations, but as individuals, we form the parts of that building.

As fellow builders ourselves, we have to be very careful. We have to be sure that the original foundation being laid is Spirit led before we ever try to do any building on your own.

We have to know that Jesus Christ is the firm foundation and all else is rubbish, foolishness, and of no eternal value. Get rid of anything else. It does nothing. It doesn’t help the foundation one bit.

The foundation of Jesus Christ stands alone.

Set your heart, mind, soul and strength on that firm foundation. All the rest is foolish trappings.

Now if any man has built anything on this foundation - whether it was good works, doctrine, traditions, programs, etc. it will all be revealed in the end.

Every MAN’S work will be manifested and tried by God’s fire. The fire will determine if it was Spirit led or if it originated in the heart and will of man.

Did it profit the whole body or just the individual? It will all be revealed.

After this cleansing fire, some of the building will be left standing. This will be the work that was done according to the Holy Spirit’s directing our lives to do God’s will.

Being obedient to God’s spirit will bring rewards.
But any work done in man’s own power, without the Spirit’s direction will be burned.

We WILL suffer loss.

We will know where we failed and will see our inner motives and desires.

We will still be saved - but Oh... the pain we will suffer when we realize how selfish and foolish we were all along.

It is going to hurt and hurt a lot - like being burned with fire.

Ouch!

Do you want to suffer the loss and pain your own thinking will cause you when your prideful living is finally revealed by his cleansing fire. You will regret that you didn’t do it his way all along.

Shouldn’t we strive to do it God’s way to begin with to avoid this pain and loss?

Jointly and individually we are God’s temple.

Does God need earthly buildings to dwell in?

No.

He has us, his body, built on the foundation of Jesus.

God’s Spirit dwells in THAT temple.

God’s temple is Holy. (Morally blameless, ceremoniously consecrated)

This isn’t speaking of the natural or physical man but is speaking of the spiritual man.

We tend to think that by doing certain things to and with our bodies we are defiling God’s temple.

It is not the outward appearance that is important.
It is not even what goes into the natural man that matters.

It is all about the Spirit in us, in our spiritual body.

Defiling God’s temple is not allowing the Holy Spirit to have full and complete control.

That includes full control of our mind, spirit, soul and body. That includes individuals as well as the rest of the body of Christ.

Doing things are own way - without the Holy Spirit’s direction is defiling God’s temple.

The temple is Holy - it is consecrated and set aside, because God’s Spirit lives there.

If you do not allow God’s spirit to have full control, holiness is gone, The temple becomes defiled.

If ANY one, defiles (spoils, ruins, corrupts) the temple of God, God will destroy him.

What?

Isn’t that a little harsh?
Those are strong words.

Anyone who is not a part of God’s temple, or defiles that temple in any way, will be destroyed.

God’s spirit will not live in a prison. He wants to live in a temple.

Don’t deceive yourself into thinking that this isn’t true. Instead go back to being a fool so at least then God can feed you the milk so you will get some nourishment and continue to grow.

If you are stubborn, or just can’t be bothered with any of this stuff, because you think you know it all and have all the answers - then go ahead. God wouldn’t stop you.

He’s taken many in their own craftiness.
He will let you continue to think you are wise beyond your years and have all the answers.
He knows all our thoughts.
To him they are all foolish and vain. They are totally useless to him or anyone else.

Please, don’t look to men or to your own ways of thinking for answers.

Go directly to God.

Seek His fullness, power and direction.

Give Him first place in your life every moment of every day.

Ask God to continually fill you more and more with His Spirit.

If you really want it, he will give it to you.

Everything you could possibly want or need is made available to you through this union with God’s spirit.

You are God’s child if you keep his commandments.
Jesus’ death and resurrection made it all possible.
Build on this foundation.

Don’t take my word for it.

ASK GOD.

UNITY IN THE BODY OF CHRIST - HOW CAN WE ACHIEVE IT?

2008-04-21T21:17:00.005-05:00

I’d like to talk a little about the Apostle Paul first and then give my understand of 1 Corinthians 1-3.

Paul was a man who was very zealous of what he believed. He was so ardent about his faith in God that he was willing to go out kill and persecute these new believers that he believed were making a mockery of his God and his beliefs. He was a very learned man, taught by some of the best preachers of his day. He knew God’s word backwards and forwards. He loved God with all that was in him. He was a totally faithful man and yet -
He was totally wrong!
Jesus had to stop him in his tracks and blind him, just to get his attention.
Paul’s life tells us that it doesn’t matter:
How much zeal we have for God,
How much education we have,
Which church we attend,
How much of the bible we have memorized or learned,
Who we learn from, or what we learn from pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc.
It is all wrong.

It is foolishness and vanity.

You see Paul had tried doing things in his own flesh for years. He thought he was doing God’s will but he was lacking the main ingredient to serving God - The Holy Spirit.
After meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus, he obviously believed that Jesus was Lord and God but he still needed the infilling, full power, full release, of the Holy Spirit working in and through him in his life.
Jesus sent him to Ananias. His blindness was healed and he received the Holy Ghost.

I hope the Lord Jesus is stopping you in your tracks right now and removing the scales from your eyes.

Chapters 1:21-3:4

How can we prevent division in the church?
How can we all speak and teach the same things?
How can we be perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same judgements?

As I read Chapter 2:2, I understand Paul to be saying that he emptied himself of everything he had ever known - except Jesus and him crucified. Paul was willing to put aside every idea of his own, every preconceived notion he had and all previous learning he had received to 'know only Jesus and him crucified'.

Are we willing to do that?

God tells us that preaching is foolishness.

What?....... Preaching is foolishness??
Yep! God says so.

You know what?

God chose that way to reach the saved anyway. It pleased him to save people through foolish preaching.
Isn’t it incredible how God works?
God is pleased to use foolish things of this world to confound those who think they are so smart.

Aren’t we silly?

We thought all those pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc. were so special. We thought God picked them because of their learning and because they seemed to know so much. We even thought they were picked because of their holy living or their devotion to studying God’s word.

Uh, uh, no way!...

They are picked not only because they are foolish, but because they are weak as well. God tells us this in his word and yet when some seemingly great man of God falls, we are amazed. Why are we so surprised?
After all, they aren't only foolish and weak, they are also human.

So why does God choose to do things this way?

Because he doesn’t want any man (flesh) to get the Glory or Praise. He doesn't want any man to think he is something special when it is God himself that uses that person. He wants all the glory for Himself.

It is only by continually being in Christ Jesus that we can really know and understand God’s wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption.

It has to be a continuing moment by moment walk. We have to be in constant communication with him.

How can we do this?

God so lovingly sent his Holy Spirit to indwell and lead us. It is only by God’s Spirit that we can even live and move and have our being.

Pastors, teachers, Evangelists, all of us, should strive to know nothing, nothing, nothing - but Christ and him crucified. When I say know, I mean really really know him.

We should preach and teach and walk and talk and live our daily lives ONLY in the demonstration and power of the Holy Spirit. Our faith should not be based in any teaching that has come from any man, book, television/radio show etc. Our faith should originate from only listening to the moment by moment directions of the Holy Spirit.

We should be speaking wisdom to our brothers and sisters in the Lord as the Spirit directs us. Not worldly wisdom, but the spirit directed wisdom that only comes from being so in-tune to His voice and His voice alone.

This spirit directed wisdom will reveal mysteries and deep secrets of God.

We can’t begin to comprehend all the things that God wants to show us through our close walk with Him and through the controlling power of the Holy Spirit in us. There are so many things he wants us to see, hear and know. He is longing to share the deep things with His children.

In our own strength we can search, preach, teach, or memorize the Bible and all it has to say but in the end - it is all foolishness. We might as well give it all up as it is useless anyway.

He tells us in His Word that NO MAN knows the things of God. Only the Spirit of God knows everything.

The only way we can ever know anything is if we are living in constant communication with God’s Spirit. We can go to him with anything and everything and the Holy Spirit will reveal things to us.

God has arranged it so that together, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we can compare the spiritual mysteries and revelations he gives us, with other brothers and sisters who are also joined to God's spirit and getting their own spiritual mysteries and revelations.

He doesn't do this to cause division. He does it to build us up and help us to learn more and more as we share and encourage one another.

The problem is that most of us don’t live in that constant communion with God’s spirit.

No matter how grown up we think we are, or how many years we’ve been a Christian, we are just little babies and can only handle the milk of the word.

Very few men and women have ever passed the baby stage.
Some have progressed to the pablum stage and some even to the strained food stage.

When someone gets a deep revelation from God they try to share it through human ideas or human experiences. They try to share it with believers who are not ready to be fed the meat that God has given them.

No wonder there is so much division and confusion.

They should be preparing the people to be able to totally rely on the Holy spirit’s leading and guidance, before they ever even try to share the deep things of God.

In our humanness alone, we just cannot comprehend the deep things of God, no matter how hard we try. It is only through the revelation of the Holy Spirit in us that we can understand.

Why is there so much division and confusion in the churches today?

Because flesh is trying to assert itself above God. Flesh is trying to beat out the other guy. Flesh is trying to understand the things of God and rationalize them. Flesh wants to be in control.

I don’t care how spiritual you think you are. I don’t care if you have been baptized in the Holy Spirit or not. I don’t care if you speak with tongues, interpret, prophecy or any of the other giftings from the Holy Spirit. If you are not living in constant communication with God’s Holy Spirit you are missing the mark and you are still a baby in Christ.

We must allow God’s spirit inside of us to reign and rule. It is only through the Christ like mind that God has given us that we receive spiritual truth and discernment. We must allow God’s spirit to teach us and judge all things.

Paul was telling the Corinthians that he had to speak to them like he was speaking to babies because they were still carnal and not able to receive the deep mysteries yet.

He says that envying, strife and division was a sign of being carnal, being babies.

Uh... HELLO CHURCH!! Wake up. Ga ga goo goo.

You can get together in your non denominational buildings, you can start programs like promise keepers, you can try to unite all believers together through one program or another, you can get like minded believers to march for Jesus and proclaim their love for him, you can walk like Jesus walked and talk like Jesus talked and even dress like Jesus dressed, you can praise and sing hallejah at the top of your lungs,
BUT
if you are not TOTALLY submitted to God’s spirit, it is all foolishness.
You are still a baby, you are still carnal, because you are still trying to do it in your own flesh.

It just can’t be done any other way, PERIOD.

Unity will never be achieved until each and every individual believer unites with God’s spirit first.
It is only then that God’s spirit can unite the body of Christ.
It is what he intended in the first place.

Are you part of the Problem?
Are you willing to make the changes to become part of the Solution?
It is your choice.

Who loves you baby?

GOD IS CALLING YOU

2008-04-19T18:43:00.007-05:00

I have been a strong believer for 30 some years now. I believed what I believed and was always ready to give an answer. I love the Lord with all I know how. I was baptized in water and in the Holy Spirit. I even speak in tongues. God has used me to bring words of knowledge and prophecies and interpretation of tongues in various church services. The gifts of the spirit are not new to me.

Yet the following verses always bothered me.

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

I have also questioned for many years, why aren’t we seeing miracles in the church today like they did in the book of Acts? Where is the power?
I worried that I may be a Laodician - neither hot nor cold - so I prayed for many years asking God to give me back not only my first love - but a better love.

Some would say I back slid badly. I believe it was all part of God’s plan to bring me back to the beginning.

Something unbelievable and drastic has happened in my inner life.
God has been speaking to me so forcefully and telling me to seek HIM first and His righteousness and listen to NO man. Listen only to Father God. Seek his wisdom, his knowledge his guidance etc. and to try to tell others to do the same.

The time is too short and we must get right with God. Our outer man has been doing all the right things and going through all the motions, but our inner man is full of rotteness, dead man’s bones, and ideas we have gleaned from others, NOT from Father God himself. He is tired of it and wants his body to be cleansed from ALL the worldly influences it has subjected itself to.

His body today has a "form of Godliness" but where is the power? Where is the Victory? Where is the abundant life?

Please, somebody, tell me; WHY WHY WHY would any non believer even WANT to be a Christian today? What is so special about being a Christian? (Besides escaping Hell)

We have just as many if not more divorce in the church, we have Christians going to psychiatrists and counselors because they just can’t handle the stress of everyday life. We claim that God is love but act nothing like loving people. We care only about ourselves and our wants and needs. We beg for money to send to missions and build big beautiful building so we can sit comfortably and get our ears tickled. We have hundreds of so called "Christian" denominations because we can’t agree on the simplest things. And we judge. Boy do we judge! We think we know everything and our beliefs are the only RIGHT beliefs - AND WE CAN PROVE IT through Scripture.

God is sick and tired of us playing church and playing Christianity without really knowing what it is all about. He is calling out a people who are willing - truly willing - to lay down their lives for HIM - NO MATTER WHAT THE COSTS. That is His TRUE BODY.

I had (and continue) to go before God and repent of everything I have ever learned under any man's teaching. I had to give up all my preconceived ideas and it is a very hard thing to do. I had to let go and let God. I had to be willing to get to the place where I was willing to let go of EVERY SINGLE THING I have or have believed in, except for Jesus and the basics of salvation.

I had to be willing to let go of my family, friends, house, money - EVERYTHING and seek only Him and him alone. Did God give me a sound mind - yes, but I had to be willing to give that to him as well and all my ideas of what I should or shouldn’t do. Did God give me His word in the scriptures - yes, but I had to be willing to give that to him as well.

But what if people thought I was going off the deep end and was really going crazy? So what? I had to give those thoughts to God as well. Even if they put me in a mental institute, that is o.k. with me God as long as I have Jesus in my life. He is my master, my Lord, my redeemer, my Father, my lover, my friend, my all. He controls each and every aspect of my life. He knows what is best for me better than I do. He can take care of all my loved ones. He can supply any and all needs that may come my way. I had to let God out of the box I had put him in. I had to be willing to kneel at his feet and cry out to him with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. Then I had to be willing to wait for His reply. If that meant not moving from that place for days on end - so be it. Was I willing to do it for Him? How badly did I really want Him?

We give our lives to Christ and ask Him to become Lord and Saviour of our lives and we are born again. Old things pass away and all becomes new. Our lives change for a much better life. We are born into God’s family. Then somewhere along the line, we hit an age where we seem to know what is best and we take over the reigns of our life. We go to church for fellowship and begin to load our minds with the teachings of men. We may even check out the things they teach and find them in the Bible and what they teach may even be truth.

Did we ask God which church we should go to or if we should go to any ‘church’ at all.

How did the people in the book of Acts do it?
Are we doing it like they did?
Where are we told to build churches and get together and have men teach us?

You may tell me that God is sitting on the throne of your life and he is in complete control of everything.
Oh, is that so?
Let me ask you a few questions.

When was the last time someone was healed when your shadow passed over them?
How many people have you raised from the dead?
How many people have you laid hands on and they were healed?
Do you own a car or live in a house? How big is your house and how many bedrooms, bathrooms, etc.?
Do you have money in the bank?

I could go on but I am hoping that you get the idea.

Look at Christ’s life or the life of the Apostles. Does your life look anything like theirs? If not - you are missing the mark.

I am not saying that God cannot bless us and supply nice things for us. I am saying that our lives and everything we own is a reflection of Christ. If we have anything above and beyond our basic needs, we should be sharing it with other brothers and sisters in Christ. We should be going to God continually and asking Him what we should be doing with anything we have.

You might give to the church and to missions and that may be good - if God directed you to do it personally.

What about your neighbour, the homeless person on the street, the prostitute, etc.? (they are all our neighbours)
Did God tell us that they can supply their own needs or did he tell us to love our neighbour AS OURSELVES?

We may ask, "But God, what if they use the money I give them to drink or take drugs? " God will most likely tell you that it is His business and not yours.

The important thing is that you ask GOD. He will direct you, and yes, sometimes he may tell you to give that old bum on the corner $100.00. Only God knows where that person will spend eternity. So what, if God wants him to enjoy a beer or two before he spends eternity in hell. That is up to God. But what if that money really showed him that there is a loving God. We will not know this side of heaven.

A wise steward does what his master instructs, no matter how foolish it may seem to him.

We are to love the Lord our God with ALL our hearts, ALL our minds, ALL our souls, and ALL our strength and we are to love our neighbours AS ourselves. All means ALL.

Don’t take my word for it - Go directly to God. Do not leave his feet till you have the answers.

Are you willing to pray the HARD PRAYERS? Are you willing to be obedient? If not, I suggest you get rid of your Bible as it wouldn’t do you a bit of good - if God isn’t directing your reading.

I have changed some of the words in the following passages.

Phi 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the KNOWLEDGE of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have will willingly suffer the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Phi 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is according to men’s teachings, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Phi 3:10 That I may KNOW him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Phi 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Phi 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Phi 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Phi 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of THE HIGH CALLING of God in Christ Jesus.
Phi 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Phi 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

For examples of the kind of life we should be living you might want to read books about Smith Wigglesworth.

If this all seems like foolishness, try rereading 1 Cor. Chapter 1-3

Sorry all, but I really felt the need to preach.

God is still working on me and the prayers were very hard to do but so far it is more than worth it. I believe I was taken to the very presence of God in my spirit and thought I was going to die. But you know what? I didn't care. Just to be in His presence was....words cannot express. I am hearing his voice nearly every moment and carrying on conversations with him. I break into worship and crying steady. My heart is yearning for you dear family and friends. You helped me through many troubled times and I want so much to share this joy with you.

Please Go to Father God. He is waiting for you.

I AM HERE TO ENCOURAGE YOU

2008-03-06T12:07:00.004-06:00

To anyone reading this - (you know you are probably the only one) - I am here to encourage you.

Life sucks and then you die - right? Wrong. Life doesn't have to suck. Life can be full of promise if you let it.

Jesus came that you might have LIFE and that you might have it more ABUNDANTLY. So why aren't you living the Abundant life?

What is it we do wrong?

Well, first of all, we don't acknowledge God in everything we do. We should be living our life with Jesus as our closest friend. Everything we do each day should include Jesus. He is closer than a brother or sister. He is the best friend you could ever have.

Does that mean you wouldn't have problems in your life? No, absolutely not. Jesus said we will have trouble and persecutions - BUT - He also promises that he will never leave us or forsake us.

No matter what we are going through, Jesus is there with us. He will give us the strength to face whatever comes our way.

So why doesn't he just remove our problems?
That is a good question.
If we never experienced sadness, we could never enjoy happiness. If we never experienced sickness, we would never appreciate being well. So many of our experiences help us to realize the good things in life that we take for granted.

God will use times of testing or problems to help to mold us and make us into the people he wants us to be. We experience loneliness so we can reach out to others who are lonely. We experience need so we can reach out and help others in need.

That's not good enough - you might say.

Well, how about if I told you that the God of Creation wants a personal relationship with you. It is true.

God, The Big Man, The Man upstairs, Whatever you want to call him - wants, longs and desires to have a personal relationship with his creation. He came as a man in the form of Jesus to show us that it is possible to know him.

When Jesus left the earth he sent "The Comforter" The Holy Spirit to live in our lives and be a constant companion. The Holy Spirit is there to lead us into all truth and to lead our lives every day.

So again I ask, Why aren't we living the abundant life?

Do you talk to God on a moment by moment basis? Do you ask his opinion on things you do each day? Do you acknowledge his presence in your life moment by moment? Do you KNOW him or do you just know things about him?

I'm not talking about going to God in prayer. That is something we all should do for sure. I am talking about a walking talking living personal relationship. He is the invisible friend that is with you every moment of every day. He longs to have you talk to him and be with him. He longs to talk to you and tell you how much he loves you.

The problem is that most of us NEVER REALLY LISTEN. That is right. We just don't listen. We figure we have his words written in the Bible and that is all there is. But there is so much more.

Jesus will actually talk to you. Really. He talks to me when I am willing to listen and he can talk to you. God is always, always always talking but very few of us are ever listening. He talks through circumstances, people, sickness, joy, nature, etc. but he also talks to us in that wee small voice.

Sit quietly for a few minutes. No t.v. no radio, nothing but pure silence. Listen. Ask him to speak to you and he will. Open your mind to what God wants to say to you. If you find yourself arguing with the thoughts that are going through your mind, it might be because God is that other voice talking to you. Would you argue with yourself?

Are you afraid it might be the enemy talking to you? Then ask Jesus to cover you mind and your thoughts with the Blood of Jesus. Ask God to only allow you to hear the thoughts that He wants you to hear. He is a great daddy and will hear and answer.

Give it a shot. What have you got to lose? Are you afraid of what God might say to you? If so, then there are probably things in your life that you know you shouldn't be doing. Confess them and ask forgiveness and he is faithful and just to forgive you. He wants to communicate with his creation. You were made in His image and he knows every little things about you. There is nothing you can hide from God.

You will be amazed at the things he says to you. It is not what you expect at all. Even when he corrects you about something it is done with such love and caring that you don't mind being corrected. It is not a hard thing to talk to the God of creation. He longs to impart his wisdom to us. He longs to tell you of his great love for you. He longs to have you go to him like a child and just hold you and love you.

Just acknowledge him throughout your day and see how your life becomes more abundant. See how your problems don't seem half as bad when you share them with Jesus. You can even ask him to remind you to think of him or talk to him and he will do it.

Well that is about all I have to say for today.
Let me know how it goes and if you have any questions please feel free to ask.

I Surrender all

2008-02-24T15:46:00.001-06:00

Hello Hello Hello

2008-02-17T12:37:00.002-06:00

Hello to anyone reading this. It has been quite a while since I wrote on here. I have been busy with facebook but now I am feeling it is time to write again.

I have been going through alot of changes since my husband died. It seems I am reinventing myself or refinding myself. Before I was a wife and mother and suddenly I am a single person again. It is like my old life died and now there lies a whole new world ahead of me. So what do I do?

Do I keep going on like I have been - doing nothing and being depressed? Or do I push forward and creater the life I want or the Life that God wants for me?

Well I decided to start living the life that God wants me to live. In doing that I am finding the enemy is not too happy. Since my decision, it is like he is attacking me at every turn. But he will not win as God is on my side.

I've had to make a few decisions about my life but my problem is that I am too impatient. I want things done and I want them done NOW. God is trying to teach me patience but I seem to fight him every step of the way.

I have decided to sell my house and move back to the city. There I am planning to have a total makeover. I need everything in my life changed from the way I dress, makeup (which I never wear now), to how I live each day. I want to lose weight, quit smoking, get into an exercise program, etc. and stay open to what God wants me to do.

Anyone with advice or help, please let me know.

I have given my notice at work and applied for a few apartments. Please pray for me that I will get the exact apartment that God wants me to get and that somehow I will be able to help others there.

So for now, that brings you up to date on what I have been doing. Hopefully I will continue to blog more often again.

Love to all who read me. Take care and God Bless.

WHO ARE THEY?

2007-06-13T15:22:00.002-05:00

Something has been bothering me lately and I have a bone to pick with "they".
You know who "they" are.
They are the ones we always hear about but never know who "they" are?
You know like in "they say it is going to rain" or "they say blah blah blah"
Who the heck are THEY? I really want to know.

Anyway, "THEY" say that when you get old, you go through your second childhood.

Well, I would like to say emphatically that "THEY" are totally and undeniably mistaken. Wrong, very wrong.
I am older and I know many people even older than myself and I can tell you that there is NO WAY they go through a second childhood.
Who are these dummies?
Have they never watched any children themselves to see?
It is as plain as the nose on your face that there is NO WAY - NO HOW that an older person goes through a second childhood.
We only WISH we could.

Now, if I am wrong and THEY are right, then pray tell, what part of childhood do we go into?
The first few months? The Toddler stage? Preschool/kindergarten? Grades 1 - 6?
I believe the teen years come next, and we don't go into second teen years do we?
So what age group do these people in their second childhood fit?

Now I have a great grandson who is just 6 weeks old.
I watch him lay there. All he does is eat, sleep, and dirty diapers. He lays on his back with his legs and arms flapping all over the place and he stares at everything.
Is that what old people in their second childhood do?
Really now, I don't know anyone anywhere that has ever done that beside babies so I guess that isn't the age group. (Sure would be funny if that is how we all ended up!)

Now I have two grandsons that will shortly be two years old.
I would imagine their behaviour will extend till at least grade six, just getting stronger and stronger as it goes along.
They can both walk fairly well, even run and jump and dance.
They have boundless energy and want to do the same things over and over and over again. They love to be tickled. They love learning new things and learning to talk.
They never want to quit when they are doing something they love and they will let you know it. They like trying things on their own.
They easily express their feelings and go from one feeling to another very quickly.

Now again I ask - Do you know any older people that fit that description?
Sure some of that might fit us but most of us would agree
- no matter how active you are -
that you just can't keep up with kids at this age.
They seem to run with the pink bunny.
They just keep going and going and going and.........

I really and truly believe that this idea of a "second childhood" is a gross misrepresentation of the older generation.
It is a conspiracy I tell you.
Our children are trying to feed us this stuff so they can get rid of us in old folks homes or hospitals or dare I say it " Mental facilities".
They have come up with this - what do I call it? a disease? a condition? what?
Second Childhood! What is that?

We hear them wispering behind closed doors about us going into our second childhood, and that peaks our curiosity and we get excited. Oh, if only it were true. I only wish I could get back some of the energy that children have.

Please, if there is anyone out there who knows how I can get into MY second childhood, please please let me know.
I need a good dose of childhood energy.
I need to be wanting to not give up on things again.
I need a whole lot of what kids have.
Show me the way and I will show you the money....

Also, if anyone out there knows who "THEY" are,
please let them know my position on their statement.
I demand an apology in writing and a general announcement to the public, stating that they are wrong. (and I don't mean some little three lines at the end of the newspaper but a front page apology)

Now, if you agree with my position, I suggest you copy this post and forward it to all your friends and ask them to forward and on and on, so that eventually "THEY" will get it and read it and maybe we can all get together to get this horrible matter cleared up.

Hope you have a childlike day.

USE THE FORCE TINK, USE THE FORCE!

2007-05-10T18:46:00.000-05:00

O.K. so it has been awhile.
What can I say?
With CWO cutting out their "Spring into Summer" writing contest, I have no more topics to blog about. Boo Hoo.
I liked the writing contests as it gave me ideas of what to blog on. Not that I ever thought I would win any of the contests. I know my forte is not in writing - but - you just never know what might happen in the blogosphere. Miracles can and do happen.

So what have I been up to you might ask - if you really wanted to know - if you didn’t then why ask at all? Huh. O.k. I am in a mood and just wanting to do something with my time so I am just writing whatever comes into my head. As I was saying - please quit interrupting me. As I was saying - what have I been up to? Well how would you know if you didn’t ask. I can’t ask you now can I? So I guess I just better tell you myself - seeing you asked.

On a Friday about three weeks ago, I gave a type of resume to this place that I thought MIGHT be hiring someone for part time office work. Now, they never had an office person before but word of mouth said that they had been thinking of getting someone. So I acted on gossip I had heard and wrote a resume. Here is the resume - if you can call it that.

To whom it may concern,

I heard you MIGHT be thinking of hiring someone for office work. I would like to apply for the job.

I am 55 years old and have not worked out of my home in years.

Many many years ago I took a course at Red River Community College. At that time I took "Clerical Bookkeeping and Office machines". Many of the machines I learned to use are now obsolete. When I left school I could type 80 W.P.M. on a manual typewriter.

I worked in an office doing some bookkeeping, accounts receivable/payable, payroll, as well as other clerical duties. I love working with numbers and I love working on the computer. (I am self taught on the computer and own Windows XP.)

I cannot give you reference numbers, as most of the companies I once worked for are no longer in existence.

I can offer to work for you for free for the first month or so till I get to know your program and how you do things. If you like my performance at the end of that time you can elect to keep me on or let me go.

I am only looking for an office type job as I have bad legs and cannot stand for long periods of time. I would also like part time work as I don’t know if I could keep up the long hours.

To talk further on this matter you can call me at xxxxxxx or email me at xxxxxxxxx

All I can offer is my best. I would try to be a valued employee.

Well, surprise, surprise, I got a job.

They liked my resume. (Snark, snark) They said it sounded so "honest." I can’t believe I even wrote a resume like that - I learned how to do resumes both in school and at Red River but I did not put much thought into writing this resume at all. I guess I stumbled on a great piece of advice for resume writing - BE HONEST!

They took me on for two weeks to see if I would like it and if they would like me.
I handed in the resume on a Friday and started working on a Monday. Tomorrow will be a month I have been working.

I only work three days a week for approx. 4 hours each day. (Mon, Wed, Fri.) Some days I work 6 hours but only if there is something pressing that needs doing.

The first thing I do when I get there is enter the sales and credit card sales onto sheets of paper. Then I file the days accounts and warranties. Up till now I have been working on some books. I check each item in the book to see the sales history and jot down info. These books are all done for this time. We only will be doing them twice a year. At the end of the month I got all the invoices from the files and sent them out to customers. The other day I sorted through files and stored old files making room for newer ones. Each day I go to the bank to buy change and stop at the mailbox and pick up the mail. Sometimes I have to go to the other store to get them change or drop something off.

Basically I am a gopher or a pilot. I go for this and that or I pile it here and there.

At first I was soooo very nervous.

You don’t know nervous till you get to be my age and haven’t worked in an office for over 35 years. And in all my years, I have been very much a loner. So entering the "Work Force" was the scariest thing. It was like joining the Air Force or some other sort of "Force". I did not know if I was ready to use the "Force" yet.

As I sat at my desk Yoda’s little voice sounded in the distance. "Ready you are, worry do not. Trust the force Luke, use the force." Oooops, oh, where was I. Oh yes, I was very very nervous.

As I sat at my desk the first few days, my body went through the motions they were supposed to go through - I think, but my mind was waging a battle.

Part of me was praising God and thanking him for this remarkable miracle of a perfect job for me.

The other part of me was accusing me constantly for being inept and saying that I would screw up. It also kept reminding me of having to drive all that way each day and what about summer traffic and winter snow. Then I would argue that I didn’t really have to work, that I could make it, if I only cut out a few things. Then I would argue that I didn’t have to stay, I could quit if I wanted to. I wasn’t dependant on a job. Then another part was saying hey, give it a try, what have you got to lose. These and many other thoughts kept reeling in my mind.

When I would get home from work I was totally exhausted from all the thinking. I didn’t even want to talk to anyone yet everyone wanted to know how I liked it.

It is a miracle I even made it through the first week but having the day off in between really helped "The Force" begin to work in my life.

Now it is going to be four weeks and I feel a lot more at ease working and driving. I am even beginning to understand some of what I am doing.

Daily I ask Jesus "THE Force" to either help me to love the job or to hate it. He seems to be leaning towards getting me to like it a little at a time.

I am beginning to feel the "Force" getting stronger and stronger in me. Not that the "Force" gets stronger cause it already is the very strongest, but that I would get stronger at using the "Force" and recognizing the "Force" in and around my life.

For now I will leave you wanting more, more, more.

Till next time - May THE Force be with you.

BLESSED BY BLOGGERS

2007-04-17T10:19:00.000-05:00

This article is my submission to the blog challenge sponsored by Darlene Schacht,, the founder and editor of CWO Magazine, Uniting Women of Faith.

Write a post telling us some of the ways God has blessed you through blogging

As many of you know, I am a widow and live alone in a very small town. Through blogging I have met many wonderful friends. My computer is my life line to the world.

If I am feeling lonely all I have to do is read someone else’s blog and I am reassured that I am not alone in my struggles. If I feel like ranting about something, I can do it through my blog and I know that people will read and only take what they need.

I have been so blessed by the comments that people have left on my site and the fact that we are a community of believers.

The blog world is a place where people can drop their ‘masks’ and be themselves. Even when they are trying to be something else, it seems to come through in people’s writing.

Writing seems to be a window to the soul of a person. Even though we may never meet the other person we are reading about, there is connection of spirit and soul and we will know one another in heaven.

Jesus was not recognized after his resurrection until he spoke to the two men on the road to Emmaus. Then they recognized his soul or spirit.

I believe that is what the blogging community is like. If we read someone’s posts we get to know their spirit and will know them when we see them in heaven.

I have also been blessed by personal emails from bloggers wanting to get to know me better and I have also had bloggers send me gifts for Christmas.

When needed I have had a large army of prayer warriors on my side fighting the enemy along the way.

God has blessed me with an extended family of loving caring brothers and sisters in Christ.

I love my blogging community.

SHARING GRACE

2007-04-17T10:05:00.000-05:00

This article is my submission to the blog challenge sponsored by the devotional team blog, "Laced with Grace."

"How do you share the grace you receive from God on a day-to day basis?"

I signed up for this challenge and boy is it a "CHALLENGE". I wanted to take my name off of the list as I was sorry I entered. How does one share the grace they receive? That is a very hard question.

First of all there is the ‘age old’ question; What is Grace?

At the beginning of the epistles, it seems to be used as a customary form of salutation or a blessing of some sort for all Christians in common.

Grace seems to have many definitions but mostly it is understood as the unmerited "favor" of God. It seems to work opposite of "works". It is something you cannot earn for yourself but must just receive it from God.

So we get back to the question, How does one share the grace they receive from God, on a day to day basis?

O.k. so maybe I don’t share that grace on a day to day basis. I do try to live a life that I think would be pleasing to God. Knowing me I am probably deceiving myself and am doing everything wrong. BUT!!! regardless of how I live my life, I have been promised that I would receive salvation if I truly believed in Jesus. Now that is Grace. Living with the knowledge that all my sins - past, present and future - are already taken care of. I can now live my life guilt free of sin (although that isn’t always the case.)

I think Grace brings HOPE. And Jesus is our blessed Hope. I live in hope daily thinking that ‘perhaps today Jesus will come back".

I don’t spend every day trying to live like a Holy Person. I just live my life in Jesus and try to let him have full Reign. I don’t try to work my way into heaven. I don’t do things for others so that I can get points with God. I do things for others because of a genuine love that God has placed in my heart.

I love giving things away. Maybe that is a form of grace. I enjoy making others happy. I love making things and then just giving them away. If I am out shopping and I spot something I think someone else might like or could use, I try to pick it up for them as a little gift of love from me.

So all in all, I can only think that grace is the unmerited favor of God. God loves me and that is all I need to know. God loves me no matter what I do or don’t do.
I can live my life with hope and knowledge that the creator of the universe loves little ole me.

That is Grace.

GAETEN (GATOR) RAYMOND CHARLES IVANISKI (1964 2007)

2007-04-11T11:14:00.000-05:00

GAETEN (GATOR) RAYMOND CHARLES IVANISKI (1964 2007)

Suddenly and unexpectedly on March 31 at his residence in Winnipeg Beach, Gaeten passed away at the age of 42 years.

He is survived by his loving mother Pauline (Cesare); brother Eugene; sister Charlene (Shane); nephews, Travis and Jesse and only niece, his princess Natalie, of whom he loved dearly; his aunts, Gert (Ian), Lavina (Barrie), Joyce (Jim), Marvel (Dan), Dorothy, Jeanette, Olga (Bert), Vi (Ron); uncles, Les (Loretta), Nick (Ruth), Walter (Betty) and Bill (Barb); great-aunts, Ellen, Evelyn (Eigill), Rubina and Pearl; and over 100 cousins. He was predeceased by his father Steve in 2004, which he never really got over; his grandparents, Jim and Gladys Johnston and Jack and Mary Ivaniski.

Gaeten was born on June 16, 1964, in Selkirk, MB. He attended school in Selkirk, participating in hockey, football, baseball and Ukrainian dancing. Gaeten joined the 737 Canadian Regiment in 1980 for three years. He worked numerous jobs over his short life, but his most memorable was working security at concert events in the old Winnipeg Arena.
His unique personality and humour will be greatly missed by his friends and family.

Honorary pallbearers are his close friends whom he enjoyed the company of.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 7, 2007, at 1:30 p.m. in the Gilbart Funeral Chapel, Selkirk, with The Ven. Godfrey Mawejje officiating.

Dear brother, our family is getting smaller, the crib table in Heaven is getting crowded, give Dad a kiss from us till we meet again - we love you dearly and will hold you in our hearts forever.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Gaeten's memory can be made to Evergreen Basic Needs, 96 3rd Ave., Gimli, MB R0C 1B0. Gilbart Funeral Home, Selkirk in care of arrangements.

I am sorry to say that I did not get to attend the Funeral as I didn't know about the services till Monday. My prayers go out to the family.

2007-04-06T15:15:00.000-05:00

This article is my submission to the blog challenge sponsored by Art Bookbindery, "Empowering Writers to Self Publish."

As I reflect on the resurrection of our Lord, I am reminded that if he had not risen from the dead, our hope would be in vain. It is his very resurrection that makes our faith what it is today.

In thinking on that, I wonder, how does one celebrate life? In our world we are constantly celebrating life. When a child is born we celebrate it’s birth. When someone graduates from high school we celebrate their graduation. When someone gets married we celebrate the big day. We celebrate Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, etc. These are all part and parcel of what we call celebrating life.

But looking closer; the best way I have found to celebrate life is to look through the eyes of a child. Children are full of life and energy. Everything they see and experience is new to them and they want to learn.

I remember when I first became a Christian that my life was full of wonder and learning. I could not get enough of the Bible and what God had to say to me. I was a little child taking baby steps I was learning about where my father wanted me to be and what plans he had for me.

I went through the terrible twos where I rebelled at everything my father put before me. I threw temper tantrums and yelled at him because I thought things were too hard. I got frustrated because I couldn’t get my message across to him.

Then I matured a bit and thought I could do things on my own. After all, I was grown up now. But my father patiently waited along the sidelines till I gave up trying things on my own and then he lent a helping hand. He is always faithful that way.

When you begin to see your life, through a child’s eyes and as the father sees his child, you will really begin to experince life the way it should be experienced.

I find myself reminding myself quite often that in the Old testament men and women lived to be nearly 1000 years old. In that way of calculating, I am only a child in God’s eyes and I will remain His child throughout eternity. He has adopted me into his family.

I am reminded of a song:

He was there when you drew the breath of life
He could hear your voice the first time that you cried
Though you couldn’t see him
He was very near
And there’s something now, that he wants you to hear

You will always be a child in his eyes
If you need some love his arms are open wide.
Even when you’re growing old
I hope you realize,
You will always be a child in his eyes.

He was there the first time that your prayed
And he heard all the promises you made
As you came before him
Saying Father I have sinned
He said I love you child
And made you clean within

You will always be a child in his eyes
If you need some love his arms are open wide.
Even when you’re growing old
I hope you realize,
You will always be a child in his eyes.

How many children do you know that worry about their next meal or the clothes they are going to wear? How many kids worry that their parents might leave them and abandon them? How many children do you know who worry that they wouldn’t have a bed to sleep in or a house to live in?

We know that our heavenly Father takes care of these things. If he knows the very number of hairs on your head don’t you think he knows about every need you might have?

Our whole life is a celebration of His life and resurrection. Our lives should be an exaltation of that life He provided for us.

Soon our Bride groom is coming to take us to the grand wedding banquet he has been preparing for us. It will be the most elaborate celebration of all. It will be a time of celebrating our Eternal Life with the Father. Just as a bride is getting ready for the special day, each of us should be ready and waiting for the arrival of our spouse. He told us to watch and wait as we have no idea when that time will be.

Meanwhile we are busy making preparations to celebrate that glorious day. Our gowns are ready and waiting. We have been preparing special crowns for our beloved. We constantly talk to our spouse long distance and anxiously await his arrival for the big day. We are busy inviting friends and neighbours for the grand celebration. The excitement is mounting. All the preparations are ready and the final touches are being added.

What a glorious day that will be when we see our Saviour, face to face.

This little child plans to crawl up on the Saviour’s knee and embrace his face and give him a great big kiss.

Dear Friends of Gator

2007-04-03T17:13:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends of Gator

I am so sorry that I caused you pain in my blog. That was not my intention.

Having lost my husband just two years ago, I understand the pain of losing someone dear.

I did not realize that anyone that knew Gator was reading my blog. I thought it was only a few close family members and personal friends.

In my writing I tried very spicifically to not speculate about what happened. I did not know. I only reported the facts according to what I saw and what I heard said to me. (Accept for a few personal thoughts) I knew that there would be all kinds of stories going around town so I tried to write just my experience.

I have not judged anyone and I am sorry if you think I did. I gave my opinions, many, based on things that Gator had told me.

You say that as a Christian woman, I should strive to see the good in all people. I have strived to do that all my life. Yet you have jumped to the conclusion that I did not see good in Gator. The opposite is more correct.

I loved Gator with the love of Jesus and I longed for the salvation of his eternal soul. I loved him enough to pray for his relationship with God nearly every night since I met him.

I do pray that Gator is now without pain and suffering and lying in the lap of Jesus. I just wish I knew for sure. The Bible says:

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Gator never told me if he believed in Jesus as Saviour or not so I never knew for sure if he was saved. I pray that he was.

I do offer apologies for any misunderstandings, and I send my sympathy and prayers for his family and friends.

If you would like to talk further about this, my email address is dorcas@mts.net.

OPEN LETTER TO ANNONYMOUS IN REGARD TO C.S.I. CHRISTIANITY

2007-04-03T13:02:00.000-05:00

I am responding to your comments and I hope you don’t mind. I am glad that you love the fact that I am a Christian. Good for you.

As to your comment: "telling a story and enhancing it so that it is my own to tell is something else."

Fact: This is MY Blog and this is MY Story of the events that happened.

I agree that what happened next door was totally out of my control and may have had nothing to do with me. But the fact remains that I saw what I saw and the police involved me in it when they began asking me questions.

You say: Fact: The police were speculating more than they needed to on the cause of death probably because ignorant people decided to speculate it wasn't due to natural causes.

I tend to disagree with this comment as the police never bothered to check with any neighbours till at least 7:00 in the evening, so any spectulating they did was on their own or because of the fact that they had his friend in the car for nearly two hours.

You say, "Fact: Those same ignorant people don't even know your neighbour - Gator."

First of all you have made a judgement on these people and claim they are ignorant people. Secondly, you assume they didn't even know Gator.

Do you know these people? Have you sat and talked with them? Do you know anything about them whatsoever?

How can you claim they are "ignorant people". Did you know Gator? If so, then please fill me in on what he was like. I really would have liked to get to know him better.

Again you say: Fact: Gator was a very ill man. Since it is likely I will need to clarify what I mean...He was p-h-y-s-i-c-a-l-l-y ill.

I understand that Gator was on a disability pension of some sort. He may have used Marijuana for medicinal reasons. I grant him that. I did not make a judgement on what he had been doing with the Marijuana. I simply stated the facts as I knew them to be.

Fact: Gator had friends.

Yes, I know, Gator had many friends. Yet where were these friends when Gator needed money or cigarettes or just someone to talk to? They were not always available to him so he would drop over once in awhile to borrow things or just to chat.

"You've now left the impression that this guys life was not worth mourning over. And yet, you've taken it upon yourself to seek sorrow for your grief in the matter. You want pity? Well you've got it!!"

I’m sorry if you got the impression that Gator’s life was not worth mourning over. That was not my intention. I mourn deeply for him and his family. It is a very sad loss. In my own way I loved Gator with the Love of Jesus. I tried to treat him as I believed Jesus would have treated him. I was never uncourteous to him or turned him away. I gladly leant him things, never expecting their return but Gator faithfully returned what he borrowed (even though others cautioned me about him)

I have not sought pity for myself. I have stated the facts of what happened as I know them to be. I felt bad about Gator’s spiritual life. Not knowing where his eternal resting place may be, should be everyone’s concern.

As I said earlier, the marijuana may have been for medicinal purposed only. I did not state that Gator was a drug dealer or anything of the sort.

For you to make the statement that the friend who found him dead, might have encouraged Gator to use Marijuana for any other reason is making a judgement on that friend. Do you know Gator’s friend that found him?

I am sorry if I sounded judgemental in telling about what I thought of Gator. These were my observations from the few conversations we had together. Unless you know Gator personally and can tell me more about him, these were MY observations and opinions from knowing him the short time that I did.

For Gator’s sake (not mine) I hope to God that Gator died painlessly and naturally, and not because he was murdered. I cannot imagine what must have gone through his mind in those final moments.

As for disclosing anything, I just gave you the facts as I saw them. I did not speculate on anything.

From reading your comments I tend to think that you knew Gator personally. If you did, then I am very sorry for your loss and would love to talk to you more about Gator.
If you do not know Gator, then I can only surmise that something I wrote really ticked you off.

Could it be the fact that he used marijuana?

Maybe it was for medical reasons.

I am not against anyone using marijuana for medicinal purposes. I believe there is positive effects of using marijuana and scientists are looking into it more and more.

As for being haunted by your facts, I am sorry to say that I will not be haunted by that. I will be haunted by the fact that maybe Gator didn’t find a good resting place. That maybe he is doomed to spend eternity in pain and suffering. I would not wish that on my worse enemy.

The whole point of the article was to discus what occured and my feelings involved. It was meant to be a warning to others to do all they can for those around them at all times. We never know when it might be the last time we talk to someone.

I hope you have a good day and a great eternity.

WOMEN OVER 40

2007-04-02T14:39:00.000-05:00

In case you missed it on 60 Minutes, this is what Andy Rooney thinks about women over 40:

As I grow in age, I value women over 40 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why: A woman over 40 will never wake you in the middle of the night and ask, "What are you thinking?" She doesn't care what you think.
If a woman over 40 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do, and it's usually more interesting.
Women over 40 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you if they think they can get away with it.
Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated.
Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 40.
Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 40 is far sexier than her younger counterpart.
Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off if you are a jerk if you are acting like one. You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her.
Yes, we praise women over 40 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal.
For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed, hot woman over 40, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year old waitress.
Ladies, I apologize.
For all those men who say, "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?", here's an update for you.
Nowadays 80% of women are against marriage. Why? Because women realize it's not worth buying an entire pig just to get a little sausage!
Andy Rooney is a really smart guy!

C.S.I. CHRISTIANITY

2007-04-01T13:33:00.001-05:00

The day started like any other day. I was sitting at my computer checking emails and such when I noticed two cop cars and an ambulance pull up in front of my house. So like every other nosey neighbour I went out there to see what what going on.

They were all over at my neighbour's house - Gator as we call him. Police were going in and out of the house and they were standing there talking to a guy. I asked if Gator was all right and the officer said "We can't disclose anything". Then I asked "Is Gator alive?" to which they once again responded "We can't disclose anything". At that time the guy I had asked the question to, just put his head down as if to say "Yes, Gator is dead". I felt awful. I had talked to him many times and he had been over here many times borrowing one thing or another.

He seemed a harmless type guy with a few brain cells missing from doing too many drugs over the years. I would estimate he was probably in his early fifties, a little overweight, balding, but seemed in fairly good shape as he walked nearly everywhere he went. He had all these big dreams and plans but you could tell he would never follow through on them. They were just "pipe dreams".

Anyway, all this started around 1:30 in the afternoon. Soon the ambulance left but no body was taken out of the house. Police came and went and unmarked cars came and went. Men went in with rubber gloves and face masks on and many camera's were taken in and pictures taken. They also removed plastic bags of evidence or something.

One neighbour lady started thinking he had been murdered as the body hadn't been taken yet. Speculations were running wild as to what might have happened and the police were being "mum" about the whole thing.

Around 5:00 p.m. a man with a black bag went into the house and came out about a half hour later. Talked to the police for awhile and then left. Shortly after that a black van pulled up and they took out a gurny. Finally about 6:00 p.m. they hauled away the body in a body bag.

One of the officers was going to neighbours and asking questions. They came to my door and wanted to know my name, address, phone number and when I had seen Gator last and what he had been doing. They asked if he owned the house or if his mother did. Then they asked me to watch the house in the evening and if I saw anyone hanging around there to give them a call. He also said "Many of the neighbours are worried that he might have been murdered but at this moment we believe it was natural causes, so I hope you wouldn't worry."

I waited and watched like the curious person that I am. More comings and goings and everyone slowing down as they pass this section of road to see what was happening.

Then a police type van backed into the yard and they began hauling out green garbage bags from their cars and bringing them inside. I watched as they started hauling out flower pots with dirt in them and little stubs of dried up plants. They must have hauled out about 30 to 50 of these dead plant pots and ice cream containers with dirt in them. I also saw them hauling out what looked like a heater and electrical wires and lights. I kept watching and to my surprise they started hauling out green garbage bags with large plants in them. They hauled out approximately 6 garbage bags with at least 2 to 3 pots of plants in each bag. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. So I asked to officer "Is that what I think it is?" To which he answered "What do you think it is?" "Marijuana?" I said. To which he responded "I don't know." That made me giggle. Imagine a cop that doesn't know what Marijuana looks like. Oh well, I guess they can't say anything.

Finally around 8:00 in the evening everyone finally left and the house was left dark and empty.

Poor Gator. To be all alone when you die seems to be the most horrible thing to me.

It seems his friend had gone over to see him and when no one answered the door, he looked in the window. He saw Gator lying there and he didn't look right so the guy broke down the front door and found him there and called the police. I guess they had loads of questions for that guy as they kept him for over two hours or more.

I am sure within two hours of his death the news had spread around town already. This is a little town and everyone is alerted the minute anything of interest happens around here. I mean, after all, the big excitement of this town in winter is the train that passes by twice a week, so an event like this is big news.

My heart aches for Gator. He was not a bad guy nor a good guy. Just a lost and lonely guy. I wonder where his final resting place is and what he met on the other side. Did he find Jesus somehow or not? I know he believed in the "big man upstairs" as he used to say. Is he destined to spend the rest of eternity in hell or in heaven? It saddens me to think that maybe he will have an eternity of pain and suffering.

Could I have done more? I have prayed for his salvation regularly but, could I have done more? Should I have forced him somehow to read his Bible? Should I have forced him to listen to the Salvation message? Was I a good witness to him? I doubt it. I tried to do and be what I thought Jesus would want me to be. I tried to be a good neighbour and never turned him away. Yet - what is going to happen to his eternal soul? I know I should have done more. I could have prepared meals for him or something like that. I should have reached out to him more and maybe be a better friend to him.

One never knows when it is their turn to go. We may be prepared to meet our maker but what of those around us? Our closest friends, our relatives, a neighbour. Have we done all we can do so in the end so we do not feel guilty? I know I didn't, and I will have to live with those thoughts the rest of my life.

God, Please forgive me for not doing more to reach this man for your kingdom. Give me strength in the future to know your will and to do it in these types of situations. Help those who read this to consider their very brief time left here on earth. Let them be prepared to meet the end and let them reach out to those around them, for your honour and glory. I ask this in the precious name of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Perks of being Old

2007-02-22T11:32:00.001-06:00

Are You Prepared to Die?

2007-02-21T18:24:00.001-06:00

Life Lessons

2007-02-06T19:09:00.001-06:00

Hello to all my blog friends.
I would like to start something new on my blogs. I will try to put up a video blog weekly. I might also feature some videos from You Tube that I find interesting. I think it would be neat if more people would get into doing this. Hope you enjoy today's video. I made it this afternoon from some emails I received.Keep Watching for MY Video Blog coming soon.

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON - PART 2

2007-02-03T18:39:00.002-06:00

The following is part of an article published by David J. Meyer in his monthly column called "Last Trumpet". I believe alot of what he write about pertains to the blog I just wrote.

The heavens and the earth are the creative handiwork of the Almighty, and all that He has made become a sure voice of witness against the inhabitants of the earth in the last days. From the earthquakes that rattled South Knoxville, Tennessee; and southern Colorado on the same day, to fireballs streaking over Colorado, all of which happened on January 4th, 2007, we know something is going on. (1) The freak weather with cherry blossoms blooming in New York City in January (2) should tell us something strange is happening, and more is about to happen. In the Israeli State, ice and snow storms shut down roads and highways on December 28th, 2006. (3) Northern Europe welcomed in the New Year with an ice-free Baltic Sea, (4) and in the Canadian Arctic, an immense ice shelf, measuring 66 square kilometers or 25.5 square miles, tore away from Ellesmere Island, which is near Greenland. (5)

The new year of 2007 arrived with another sign in the heavens. Comet McNaught, a very bright comet, appeared in early January and was seen accompanying the rising and setting sun each day. (6) Meanwhile, volcanoes and earthquakes have been declaring their testimony against sinful man. Mt. Vesuvius, which buried the ancient city of Pompeii in Italy, is now in these last days the most heavily monitored volcano in the world. Geologists are warning that three million people are at risk as Vesuvius has awakened once again. (7) Many volcanoes are awakening, and on January 9th, Nicaragua’s Telica Volcano spewed columns of gases and ash hundreds of feet into the air while the earth rumbled. (8)

On January 10th, an earthquake shook northwest Red China, causing thousands of buildings to crumble; and on the same day, a smaller quake rattled southeastern Oklahoma. (9) Southeastern Alaska was hit with a 5.7 magnitude quake the day before on January 9th, 2007. (10)

On December 26th, 2006, exactly two years after a massive earthquake caused the devastating tsunami, struck and killed nearly one-quarter million people in one day, two powerful quakes struck off Taiwan and severed two underwater communications cables. These two quakes, one for each cable, shut down the internet for nearly all of Asia! (11) With two little shakes, God cut off pornography from the Internet on the largest continent of the world. That day of December 26th has been one of dire warning from the Almighty. With that in mind, I must also mention that the Russian newspaper Pravda reported that on Christmas Eve, 2004, just before the devastating tsunami, massive explosions filled the sky over Jakarta, Indonesia. The Indonesian Air Force confirmed that it was a meteor shower over all of Indonesia, and people watched with amazement as falling stars from heaven crashed to the earth. It was December 24th when the stars fell from heaven, and just 36 hours later, a quarter million people were dead. Strangely enough, the number 36 is the square of six or six times six. If you add every number between 1 and 36 together, you have a sum total of 666. (12)

Another sign happened over Chicago, Illinois, on November 7th, 2006. More than a dozen United Airlines employees clearly witnessed a flying saucer-like object over O’Hare Airport. The Chicago Tribune reported, "A flying saucer-like object hovered low over O’Hare International Airport for several minutes before bolting through the thick clouds with such intense energy that it left an eerie hole in the overcast skies." The employees that saw it are angered that it is being dismissed as nothing, without any kind of investigation. (13)

Those who are watching and praying and have discernment are seeing some amazing things in these last days. As the year 2006 ended, two former world leaders lay dead -- one in the ancient land of Babylon and the other in the Capitol of modern-day Babylon in Washington, D.C. One of these two leaders, former President Gerald Ford, was given a Masonic funeral on Friday, December 29th. Ford was a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason. Then, at this same time, another former leader died and was brought to naught by execution in the ancient land of Babylon, which is now called Iraq. Saddam Hussein was hanged. His body was then put in a plain pine coffin and strapped into an American military helicopter and flown to his grave near the Tigris River. (14) Then following these two deaths, a comet appeared brightly in the sky. It was so bright that you could see it with the naked eye. Many believe that a comet marks the death of a world leader.

Cloned animals have now been declared safe for food and food products. Super-sized cows are now being cloned and are giving up to ten gallons of milk per day. (15) The FDA has stated that cloned products are perfectly safe according to Stephen F. Sundlof, director of the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine. (16) Here let it be noted that the technical name for cloning is somatic cell nuclear transfer. A donor egg is removed and replaced with the DNA of a cow, pig, or goat and stimulated with electric shock to cause the egg to grow into a duplicate of the animal from which it came. Cloned animals have a tendency to develop cancer and arthritis in a very short time. The famous Dolly, the cloned sheep, died prematurely this way. (17) Is it safe for humans?

Danger lurks everywhere, and only Almighty God can help us. We live in a country where two million people pick up infections in hospitals every year, and ninety thousand of those people die from the infections. (18)

Acknowledgements

01. Earth Changes TV, Jan. 4, 2007, by Mitch Battros, http://earthchangesmedia.com.
02. CBSTV.com, Jan. 2, 2007, by Kerri Lyon, http://wcbstv.com.
03. Jerusalem Post, Dec. 28, 2006, Jerusalem, Israel.
04. AFP News, Dec. 29, 2006, http://news.yahoo.com.
05. AFP News, Dec. 29, 2006, by Guillaume Lavailee, AFP, Canada.
06. Earth Changes TV, Jan. 11, 2007, by Mitch Battros, http://earthchangesmedia.com.
07. Ibid.
08. Ibid.
09. Ibid.
10. Ibid.
11. Associated Press, Dec. 27, 2006, by Stephan Grauwels.
12. Pravda, Dec. 23, 2004, Pravda News, Moscow, Russia.
13. Chicago Tribune, Jan. 1, 2007, by Jon Hilkevitch, Chicago, IL.
14. New York Times, Jan. 1, 2007, by John F. Burns & Marc Santora, Baghdad, Iraq.
15. London Daily Mail, Jan. 10, 2007, by SeanPoulter, London, England, UK.
16. Associated Press, Dec. 31, 2006, Washington, D.C.
17. Associated Press, Dec. 28, 2006, Cox News Network.
18. AARP Bulletin, Jan. 2007, by Katharine Greider, AARP.

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON???

2007-02-03T14:10:00.004-06:00

I would like to talk about what is going on in the world. Do people not realize what is going on? Listening to the daily news is like reading my bible. I can't believe how everything is just falling into place and how daily, Bible prophecy is being fulfilled. It is all happening so quickly.

We are breaking records daily. Global warming is the greatest concern and this world as we know is changing drastically day after day. Nothing is going to remain as it did.

Since the 911 incident we have already begun entering this new world. We gladly accept the government intruding into our daily lives in the name of stopping Terrorism. Big brother is watching over our shoulders and is now conscious of nearly every thing we do.

The amazing thing as is that WE WELCOME all this intervention into our private affairs and we think we are being safer when all along we should be very discerning.

Without talking "conspiracy theories", who is it that is causing this new world order to exist?

Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Mat 24:25 Behold, I have told you before.
Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Mat 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Whatever is happening on the earth - we were warned. For years upon years we were warned. Jesus warned us ahead of time so that we could be prepared and not be caught up in the frenzy of fear.

It is just the BEGINNING. Things will get much worse before they get better. God is reaching out to you. Are you listening? Are you paying attention?

It is like a woman that is in the last days of her pregnancy. The labour pains come on sporadically at first. Then they begin to get closer and closer till the baby is born.

We will experience one great catastrophe after another upon this earth.
There is definitely going to be great changes coming. It is not the same old earth we used to live in.

Are you watching and waiting?
Are you looking up?

If you do not have peace about the things happening in this world, please click here or check out the red button on my side bar.

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Joh 14:29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.

Hope you have a great day.

DOINGS OF ALEX

2007-01-11T10:33:00.000-06:00

Dear Diary,

I 've got to tell you about what Alex did the other day.
I put him in his play pen while I was doing something. A few minutes later I said to him "Would you like me to make you a little tent?" All of a sudden clear as a bell he answers "O K"
I was shocked and looked at him and figured, "o.k. that was just a fluke". So I continued doing what I was doing.

As I began clearing off my table, I heard him say "All done."
Again I was shocked as he never says anything and here, twice he replied correctly. I hear him quite often imitating things he hears but he has not really learned to connect the words with their meaning yet.

But since that day, every time he finishes a bottle or I finish something I am doing and he says "All done". It is so cute. I would have expected his first words to be "No" or something similar but he has to be different.

The other night they picked him up and as he was about to leave I said "Give Grandma a kiss goodbye." He walked over and gave me one. I was so shocked and thrilled at the same time. He never does that.

He is the type that you wave bye bye to and he just looks at you like you are a nut. Then a few minuted later when he isn’t thinking too much about it - he will wave. Either he wants to do things his own way or it quite hasn’t connected yet.

I did a video of him dancing from the time he was 1 year old till now (17 months old) but I can’t seem to get it on my blog. The address is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrEbmrCg00s

If you would like to check it out.

Anyway, that is it for today. Must get back to babysitting.

Hope you have a great day.

DAILY DOINGS

2007-01-06T13:47:00.000-06:00

Dear Diary,

So today was my first OFFICIAL day of babysitting since the holidays started. Mind you I babysat on Wednesday as Rob went to a funeral and I babysat Thursday night while they went to a movie, but today was a real day.

He came at about quarter to nine and was in a great mood. He seemed to stay in a great mood all day. He was so funny today I was laughing steady. I don’t know what got into him but he was so funny, cute and adorable.

At one point he did this little Indian Type dance where he stood in one place and stomped his feet up and down while bent over. Of course the minute you try to tape it he stops. I was laughing so hard and could hardly stop. Then around 4:30 he started watching for his mom and dad. He kept jumping on the couch and looking out the window and kept checking the door every few minutes. It is amazing. He has this inbuilt clock that seems to tell him when it is nearing time to go home.

Then at one time he was so involved in watching "Wheel of fortune" that he fell over sideways onto the floor. I couldn’t help but laugh. He thought the couch was there but was so involved he didn’t notice that he wasn’t near it. The look on his face was priceless. So shocked and yet trying to make me laugh even more. What an performer when it comes to getting attention.

When his dad left him this morning he was crying and hanging onto his leg like I was the meanest grandmother in the world, yet when it comes to going home, he acts like he is content to stay forever.

This little guy makes my life all worth while. What would I do without him???

I sometimes wonder what my role is in life and then I look at Alex and think that maybe he is my role. He has no other grandmother besides me. He is my youngest daughter’s child.
I miss not being able to spend the same amount of time with my other grandson, Tyler but then I reassure myself that at least he has another grandmother that I am sure dotes over him. If not, I will have to get in gear and make an effort to spend more time with him as well.

I was just thinking today, "Am I still as content as I was before Christmas?" The answer is yes. I guess I have accepted the fact that I am alone and a grandmother. It is me and Jesus all the way. He is my source, my comfort, my husband. He is all I need to get along in this world. He will lead and guide as He sees fit and it is up to me to just let him be God and let me be me.

Hope you have a great day.

AN ENTRY TO AMUSE - NOT

2007-01-04T11:20:00.000-06:00

Dear Diary,

So what do I write to you today. I already wrote my blog for Grandma Chick so I have Bible on the brain. Is that what I am going to write about or will it be something else. We will have to wait and see.

Last night I babysat my grandson Alex while his parents had a well deserved night out. He is such a darling to babysit and so cute, but of course I can get carried away talking about my grandkids, so I will quickly leave that subject for now.

I ordered some stuff from Ebay again. I haven’t done that in about a year. It was fun but it all goes too fast and you can spend way too much money too easily. I know how to buy things on there but I have never learned how to sell stuff. Oh well, better if I don’t know and if I stay away from Ebay altogether.

Soon all the regular programming will be back on t.v. and I will be all set. Each night I have a round of t.v. shows that I watch and they keep me amused.

I am hoping I can start crocheting again or maybe get back to quilting. While Alex is here, he will not let me near the sewing machine so I will have to come up with some way to sew while he is here.

If any of you check out Grandma Chick’s Bible Basics, maybe you have ideas of things that you would like to see there or things you might want to contribute. Please feel free to comment or let me know via email and I will see what I can do.

After being a Christian for over 30 years, I thought I would like to share some of the interesting things I learned. Things I found very interesting or things that stimulated me wanting to read my Bible more. Not all the hermeneutics or Apologetics or that kind of stuff, but just little interesting tid bits that we learn over the years. My motto is "Take what you need, and leave the rest"

Well it is another beautiful day out here. Not at all our regular January weather. Usually by now we are getting weather that is 40 below. To have the weather at zero or above is very very unusual for this time of year. I, personally, am loving it. I hate snow and cold. I know though that someone out there is suffering because of this. Maybe the farmers. Somehow it will all come back to bite us in the end. To enjoy weather like this we have to give up something else. Nothing comes without a price - except Salvation and Jesus paid that price already.

Well, I guess that brings us to the end of another thrilling report. Hope you were sitting down for all this excitement. Hee Hee.

Hope You have a great day.