To Little Letters

To Little Letters

To even the casual observer it's obvious to see that we live in a society that is running full speed ahead with the attitude and lifestyle of entitlement and excess. The fact that I know so few people who are not affected by it is indication of just how pervasive it is and how entrenched we -followers of the King of Kings- have become in it.
How did it happen? I know that none of us ever planned on it. So how did we become steeped in indulgence and excess? How did the practice of "No" slip away from us and when did it happen?
Two little letters: N.O! - So seemingly simple and yet so hard.

One area of my life where the lack of "No" is plain for anyone to see is in the area of food and the eating of it. Until recently I rarely if ever said no to myself. (Praise God for brand new days and brand new beginnings!)
Why has it been and why is it so difficult for me to say no when it comes to food? The simple basic truth is, "I love to eat." I love thinking about food; I love the planning and preparation of food; I love sitting down and eating food. There are times when I savor each and every morsel and there are other times that I am inhaling it for the simple yet momentary pleasure that it brings me.
Not to long ago my Mom and I were talking about how powerful the word "No" is on a personal and a spiritual level. She and my sister have slowly been exercising the power of those two little letters "N.O." The result for them is little by little they are experiencing a freedom from the tyranny of constant eating or over-eating (what the Bible calls gluttony). They are experiencing growth in their personal relationships with other people and they are experiencing closer walks with the Lord as there is less time spent on food and more time spent being in His presence.

There is a peaceful power that comes from saying "No". Just because I can does not mean that I should. I could easily list a hundred things that saying no to, would give me instant release and reason to praise God.
I believe there is a true freedom which comes from saying "No" to myself; my way' and what I want and saying "Yes" to God's way and what He wants.
It is true that God gave us our appetites and that He created everything good for us to joy in.

Dear ones, today is the day. Now is the time to enter fully into the joy of our salvation. Join me in saying no to whatever area of indulgence and excess we have allowed and saying yes to Our Heavenly Father and His perfect plan for us. Let's say "Yes, Lord Yes! We want You -time with You. In whatever way we can get it, as often as we can seek You and be satisfied.
Stephanie

Sweet Spot

Sweet Spot

Proverbs 3:21-26 (NIV)
21 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; 22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. 23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; 24 when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, 26 for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.

Sweet sleep, ah yes...who doesn't love a good night sleep. You know the kind I mean; you crawl under the soft familiar covers, lay your head down on your pillow, curl up and really appreciate your nice warm bed, just before you drift off to sleep and the next thing you know its morning. Most people have a place they have worn into their mattress where they find just the right spot to fall asleep. The Sweet Spot. My son and I like to watch TV together in his room and as I sit in the chair and he in his bed if a commercial comes on and he turns over into his "sweet spot" I know within a few minutes he's done for. There is just something about that spot! I'm so glad I could provide him with the comforts of home. But I am eternally grateful I was able to provide him with the truth about the One who gives us sweet sleep...
I came to really appreciate the comforts of having my own bed when Katrina hit the Gulf Coast and we watched so much suffering and discomfort. How much I take for granted, a nice warm bed. The same thing most of those who were affected had. One night it was there and the next gone. Maybe they slept on the roof or a boat, or a Red Cross cot among hundreds of strangers. Or worse yet, amongst the death, the stench and the destruction. Not at all able to really sleep. Where was that blessed sweet spot? Would they ever have those comforts again? A new bed may be the easiest thing to regain in time. But the peace of sweet sleep only the Lord can restore. His word says; preserve sound judgment and discernment, they will be life and grace to us and we will go about in safety and not stumble, when we lie down we will not be afraid, the Lord will be our confidence. The Lord, not a bed, not warm comfy sheets, not even a house. The night I came to Christ was the best night's sleep I ever had! Ever! HE was here! And HE was here forever! To be in His care...now that's a sweet spot that can never be swept away.

Dina

Look out "I" am on a mission....

Look out "I" am on a mission....
Luke 12:35 (NIV)
"Be dressed ready for service...."

The other day I was walking into an area where I work and "I" was on a mission. Yes "I" had someone to see and something to do. In the mist of my mission, someone said hello to me and I responded back to them with a half-hearted hello.

When my mission was over, I was left with the feeling like they did not need me at all and I felt a little left out. As I walked back to my desk the light went off, "how did it feel when you were not included in something or someone rushed past me?" It made me stop and take a look how I rushed past a very pleasant hello from someone who was being so kind to me when I had my mission at hand to take care of.

What is so important that we can not stop and greet another person. You know if the Lord walked in a room we would all stop what we were doing and greet Him. If a person we admired really liked and or a person we would consider to be important - walked by I am sure we would stop.

If I am to commit each day to the Lord, and each and every minute I need to realize that He has planned my day including the things I might choose to rush past. These very things might be the things He wants me to do today. I need to be ready to serve or minister to whomever he sends my way.

A prayer for today could be... "Oh Lord help me to slow down and say hello to the special person you send my way today. Lord help me to serve you and remember that each day is yours and not mine." Lynn W
Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)"In his heart a man plans his course,
but the LORD determines his steps."
2 Corinthians 9:12 (NIV)"This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God."

Crippled Children

Crippled Children

This Victory Call is born out of much recent sorrow in my life. I have two children -one daughter and one son. I love them both deep and strong. If I give in to the bigness of this love, I could easily be overwhelmed by it. There is nothing I am not willing to consider doing to protect my children from hurt, harm or anything I perceive to be bad. I would bleed and die for them if it meant they would be spared any form of yuckiness. I know I am not alone in this. Virtually every parent I know would bleed and die for every child she has given birth to.

What I am learning -in such a harsh way- is, to love a person to the extent that they don't ever feel pain; to guard and protect them from life to that degree is in essence, a sure way to cripple them.
I know what I am saying because I have done it. Being a wife and a mom was the best thing apart from my conversion experience that ever happened to me. All I wanted for all of us was happy, happy and happier. When sad or angry or any of the 'yucky feelings' family showed up, I went into shield mode and did everything I could to disallow them entrance.
If I saw sadness trying to get in and ruin the "happiness" I'd shoo sadness away with distraction; any silliness I could think of to get a giggle or a laugh. If anger raised its ugly head I'd fight it with words of reason so that it never found a comfortable place to reside. The result is an adult child so unacquainted with dealing with her own feelings that as an adult, when the feelings come, she has no clue what to do with them. Rather than feel she runs to escape. Not realizing that the best thing to do (which I have learned) is to allow them; to face them, to take them to the healing place found at the foot of the Cross.
Dear one, am I speaking to you?
No matter what we do, life happens and it sometimes, often happens hard...very hard. And with no warning at all the flood gates of feeling come rushing in to literally overwhelm and crush.

What are we to do? How do we redeem the true, the right, the honorable and good, from what remains after the flood?
There is only one answer: Jesus. We must run first to the safety found only in the Father's arms and cry out for mercy and help. Admit that we have no control; we can't prevent another human being from feeling what they must feel. To do so is to hinder them from living fully and experiencing all of life -the good and the bad.

The next thing we must never, ever tire of doing is praying for and waiting for wisdom and discernment. It is literally a moment-by-moment process...process...process.

My heart aches today as I watch this one running full speed toward potential harm. Everything in me wants to tie an anchor around her and keep her out of harms way. And yet, I am convicted to see all my doing, doing, doing as a hindrance and not a help. What is mine to do is pray, pray and pray some more. How long? Until something happens.
Stephanie

Passion Fruit.....

Passion Fruit.....

Isaiah 61:10 (NLT)
"I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God!"
I have been in a sales position for many years now. It all started with me working for a tour company selling packages to Europe, and than working as a Travel Agent and now working in sales at Keswick.

Many times my parents tell me I can sell anything. What happens is, I feel strongly about something and then it turns into a passion of mine and it just pours out. I really do get excited about what I am doing and I guess it rubs off on people.

When I was teaching for a while, I would come into class sooo excited about the new lesson or project I had for my students and they would ask me if I stayed up all night planning this event. They thought I was crazy for being so excited about school work. But I loved what I was doing!

What are you passionate about? Now I know not everyone is a sales person and we all do not have the passionate drive about the same things. Ask me about my kids, my husband or my home and I could go on for hours. I would end up getting so excited that you would probably walk away and tell me that I am a little nuts!

If someone were to ask me about the Lord would I be so excited? When people see me walking, talking and interacting with others can they see the passion for my Lord? I need to ask all of us this question. What are we passionate about? Can people see the passion fruit growing on our lives?

The Bible tells us to be overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God, excited, passionate are part of this too.

If someone met you today, would they see passion, deep rooted love, excitement in your life and would your life show the passion fruit that we are to bear? No time for gloomy faces and gloomy lives....we need to be exited about our Lord for the days are numbered.

Lynn W

Creaking and Groaning

Creaking and Groaning

"In order for God to take you to another place, He must first move you from where you are. The move often seems like a disaster, but it is only the creaking and groaning of a reluctant door." (Author Unknown)

Yesterday I was talking to my beautiful mother (the queen) and she referenced the above quote. She and I were talking about my apparent emotional struggle over my son leaving and going to Marine Corp Boot Camp. This is a huge thing for me and I aint doing well at all. Am I resting in the goodness and kindness of God? Absolutely! Does my heart still ache? You betcha!!

So as I ponder the above quote I can't help but wonder about the place God is going to take me. What will it be like in my son's absence for this mamma? Will I go from where I am willingly or will I go kicking and screaming? For me, I think it's like the creaking and groaning of a reluctant door as it is ever so slowly opened. It makes a lot of noise in the process but it nevertheless reveals what lies beyond and...perhaps there is an invitation to come in and set a spell.

Isn't that what the Father would want; that in the midst of all the creaking and groaning within our hearts and souls, we would dare to come in and rest in His Presence, allowing Him to be the salve that we apply to our wounds.

Oh dear one, agree with me that we will be ceaseless in our pursuit of Father. May we not be content with any earthly thing and endure the nights weeping...hoping and believe that joy -His Joy- does indeed come in the morning.

Stephanie

Letting Go

Letting Go
Sometimes we think that letting go means that we have to cease to love or care about the ones we have been holding on to or trying to "help." Back in the mid 1990's I had to let go and let God take care of my drug addicted sons. Letting go was a long process and one of the hardest things I had ever done. But I never stopped caring or loving them. I had discovered through the Word that my sons had only been on loan to me and I needed to let them go back into the arms of their heavenly Father. Ps. 24:1 says "The earth is the Lords and everything in it, the world and all who live in it." Mommy's always think they can kiss the boo-boo and make it go away...fix anything. I came to understand only God can do that. I may not be able to "fix" those I love, but I still have something important to do.
In Genesis is the story of Abraham and Sarah. I'm sure that you are familiar with their story. Abraham and Sarah were an elderly childless couple...he was 86 and she 77. God spoke to Abram, as he was known then, in chapter 15:4 and promised him more descendants than there were stars. That's some promise to an old man and woman well past childbearing years! Abram believed and let go. Sarah, who was known as Sarai at the time, couldn't let go. She had a little trouble believing God and thought she could help God along in this impossible task.
Sarai had Abram sleep with her maidservant so he could have the family that God promised. Well of course that didn't turn out very well. The Egyptian maidservant Hagar became pregnant and started to despise Sarai. Sarai began to mistreat Hagar, and so she ran away.
Hagar didn't get very far when the Lord intervened. (Gen. 16:7-16) Hagar was pregnant, scared and running away and the voice of the Lord spoke to her. He told her to go back.....He promised her that her descendants would be too numerous to count. God had heard her cry. She was to have a son and name him Ishmael. This would sooth her heart a bit, but then God gave her some bad news. Ishmael was going to be a wild guy, a bully with a chip on his shoulder, ready to fight everyone. He wasn't even going to live in harmony with his family. I think Hagar stopped listening after "the Lord has heard your misery". So Hagar went back.
Abram heard God's promise for Ishmael. He let go, but continued to pray for his son. (Gen: 17:15-21) Then 13 years later, God said to Abraham "And as for Ishmael, I HAVE HEARD YOU. I will surely bless him." Thirteen years after his birth and Abram had been praying all this time! God heard and He answered!
We're not to "let go and forget" but, let go and let God. We still have something to do and that is pray without ceasing and surrender our will and loved ones to the Lord. God alone has the power to change. There is such freedom in that! We lay our loved ones at the cross, love them and never stop praying for them.
There is a song by Carrie Underwood titled "Jesus Take the Wheel" that I just love. It's a good reminder for me that I must give the wheel to Jesus because it's the only hope for change.
Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can't do this on my own
I'm letting go...
Jesus take the wheel.
Never stop doing your part, keep praying but make sure Jesus is the one at the wheel!

Mary Ann

They heard...they saw and I was remembered for __________?

They heard...they saw and I was remembered for __________?

I am learning more and more that people are watching everything I do. Why
should I be surprised, I do the same thing to them? My husband and I love
to sit in the mall with a cup of coffee and enjoy the sights or I mean the
people.

A year or so ago I was at a garage sale miles from my home town and church.
I was calling to my husband to come and look at some goodies when all of a
sudden a voice came from the other side of the table, and said "I know you".
Of course that day I was dressed in my cleaning cloths and my hair and make
up was not the best. When I looked up I really had no idea who she really
was so I needed to ask. Her response to me was "I never would have
recognized you but your voice is what I remember." Interesting I thought.
She had come several times to a "Ladies Nite Out" at my church and heard me
speak there. She remembered my voice.

Oh, if I had been talking fresh to my husband or yelling at my kids in a way
that would not have been a good testimony, would my voice have touched her
ears again? She is not a believer so I invited her to come out again to our
ministry. May my voice always bring pleasant sounds to someone's ears.

Another time I was in the dining room where I work, and as usual lunch was
done and my coffee cup was crying out to be filled. Without thinking I
filled my husbands first and then mine, sat down, took creamers from the
bowl and sugar and past them to him first and then me. He is my first love
next to the Lord and I just look out for him and try to love him in even the
silly ways like this. One of our staff members came to me later and said
that she loves watching us in the dining room and elsewhere and she loves
the silly "Love Things" we do for each other.

Our life should be filled with Joy, Love, Friendship, and most of all the
Lord Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 2:3 (New International Version)

"...He will teach us his ways,

so that we may walk in his paths."

Psalm 32:8 (New International Version)

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go..."

These are very two simple examples of how someone was watching me and
remembered me. My voice was remembered for the words I spoke and my actions
remembered for the love I shared.

What is someone seeing or hearing in you today?

Lynn W

Just Thinking...Life Changes

Just Thinking...Life Changes

In the past few weeks and months life has changed drastically and dramatically for quite a number of people around me. Just yesterday, in the late evening, someone who was near to me...but not necessarily close, has gone home to be with the Lord.

For the 'bride of His youth', life has changed. There are things that -for her- will simply be no more. Things like the sound of her groom calling out her name; his footsteps, his greeting at the end of a day; the warm kisses of his mouth; the sound of his voice seeking the Lord of behalf of others, etc., etc. I could go on and an. The point is, in a moment it's all changed; all different and it will never ever be the same.

This will be the second home going in recent months that has greatly impacted my heart. As a wife, I am more and more, mindful of so many little things that my husband and I take for granted in relation to each other. Good things that we share without much attention and notice of the details. I want to savor those moments so much more than I do. I want to be intentional about making time for those moments. It's a needful thing and I pray for the strength to make it happen.

When those dear to you pass from life to death, it has a way of forcing you to pause in the midst of your doing and think...about so many things. For one thing I am thinking of the importance of speaking much more kindness to all whom I say I care for and love. I'm thinking I will intentionally fuss less and bless more. I'm thinking about following my heart more honestly, being less focused on pleasing people and more focused on pleasing God. I'm thinking of the cost paid for my freedom on earth and in heaven. As a result, there is more singing, praising and the offering of thanks....in the very middle of much sadness.

I've also been thinking about going deeper; drawing nearer to those who are dear to me...while I can. Time passes and life changes so quickly. In a brief moment those mentioned above, were here in the present and then poof...gone into eternity.

So dear ones, my prayer for each of you today, is that God would speak to each individual heart and show you the people you need to go to. The loved ones you've been meaning to talk to and see, but have just been too busy. Get to it! Go and tell them or better yet show them by being there that they really do matter. Wrap your arms about them and speak a good word in their ear. And if you need to say I'm sorry, do it.

Sisters, all too quickly time passes, life changes and without any notice we are staring at empty chairs and aware of empty spaces around us that someone we loved much, had once filled with their presence.

Let us today, choose to treasure the gifts we have been given by living The Gift today.

Stephanie

The Heart Matters

The Heart Matters
I am writing this as my father-in-law (Pep) recovers from heart by-pass surgery. There is no greater time than when our heart is failing that we come to understand the "heart matters". Today we can live without many parts of our bodies, but we still cannot live for any length of time without a heart.
Pep was told that without surgery he would not live through the year ~ with surgery the doctor promised that if he did die this year it would not be of a heart attack - you need to understand that my father-in-law is ninety. None of us really have any promise about tomorrow.
No matter how old we are the "heart matters". God calls us to care of our "hearts". I want to name three types of hearts we have according to the Bible.
1. Physical: Jeremiah 33:6, 30:17, 3 John 1:2
2. Emotional: Psalms 42:5, John 14:1
3. Spiritual: Eph. 3:17
We also have choices about how we are to treat each of our hearts.
1. We need to eat healthy and exercise to keep our physical hearts healthy.
2. We need to turn our worries, concerns, hurts, pains, etc... over to God to heal our hearts emotionally.
3. We need to turn our hearts over to God for salvation and the hope for a future in heaven.
Bill and I were assured that Pep's heart belonged to God spiritually before he went in to have it mended physically. Because of that we could wait through the surgery knowing we would see him in heaven if the surgery was unsuccessful. PTL with much prayer Pep Jahns will be here on earth with us for awhile more. His focus for some time to come will be on strengthening his physical and spiritual heart.
What areas of your heart do you need to deal with? Do you have a loved one that you don't know the condition of their spiritual heart?
The heart matters... I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26)
LDJ

Let's take a walk...and not run.

Let's take a walk...and not run.

Is your daily life full these days, days filled with run, run, run? Let us not forget all the advantages we now have to help us have more time (or so they say). A cell phone, house phone, car phone, laptop, desktop, hand held computers, Blackberry, a day timer and the list on and on. Stop...they said this would help me organize my life. They said it would help me have more time. Do you feel like you are always running these days (and not in terms of exercise)? Do you need to stop and slow down and walk? The Bible shares many verses with us about walking.

The bible tells us to walk!!
Deuteronomy 5:33 (NIV)
"Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you..."
Psalm 119:3 (NIV)
"...they walk in his ways".
Psalm 128:1 (NIV)
"Blessed are all who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways."

In different devotions lately I keep reading about slowing down, life is sooo busy. My director just wrote a Freedom Fighter devotion. It was about his life being soooo crazy, that he was snapping at his loved ones and he needed to slow down.
Recently, I watched 2 programs that paired up to this. The first story was about a father named John going to his class reunion. He was feeling distressed about this since he felt that his life did not measure up to his classmates. He lived a simple life, he loved his wife and 7 kids, brought them up to go to church. They lived on a farm and did not have much money but were known as a family who was always there for anyone that needed help. At the end at the class reunion they lifted him up in a speech. His one classmate said that he was always running to catch up to him (referring to running to keep up with his achievements) and always still seemed to be behind him. Yet when he looked at John somehow he was always walking and not running to reach his goal. The comment was made "I guess he knew that walking was the secret". He somehow knew early on that to achieve something he needed to keep walking and not running.

Another movie I recently watched was about a woman who was a "career women". In the beginning of the movie she was walking as fast as everyone else in NYC, almost running down the streets. During the movie she learned to walk slower, her life changed because a child was placed in her life. In the end of the story...one day she was walking her daughter in the carriage on the streets of NYC she decided to catch up to everyone else - who seemed to be running. In the process of this she realized that when she walked she was much happier than when she was running with everyone else.

Our life was given to us by our Lord to be enjoyed. If we are always running around we miss out on a lot. Show down and take a walk today and enjoy all the wonderful things that God has placed in our lives.

Lynn W

Just Thinking...Life Changes

Just Thinking...Life Changes

In the past few weeks and months life has changed drastically and dramatically for quite a number of people around me. Just yesterday, in the late evening, someone who was near to me...but not necessarily close, has gone home to be with the Lord.

For the bride of His youth life has changed. There are things that -for her- will simply be no more. Things like the sound of her groom calling out her name; his footsteps, his greeting at the end of a day; the warm kisses of his mouth; the sound of his voice seeking the Lord of behalf of others, etc., etc. I could go on and an. The point is, in a moment it's all changed; all different and it will never ever be the same.

This will be the second home going in recent months that has greatly impacted my heart. As a wife, I am more and more, mindful of so many little things that my husband and I take for granted in relation to each other. Good things that we share without much attention and notice of the details. I want to savor those moments so much more than I do. I want to be intentional about making time for those moments. It's a needful thing and I pray for the strength to make it happen.

When those dear to you pass from life to death, it has a way of forcing you to pause in the midst of your doing and think...about so many things. For one thing I am thinking of the importance of speaking much more kindness to all whom I say I care for and love. I'm thinking I will intentionally fuss less and bless more. I'm thinking about following my heart more honestly, being less focused on pleasing people and more focused on pleasing God. I'm thinking of the cost paid for my freedom on earth and in heaven. As a result, there is more singing, praising and the offering of thanks....in the very middle of much sadness.

I've also been thinking about going deeper; drawing nearer to those who are dear to me...while I can. Time passes and life changes so quickly. In a brief moment those mentioned above, were here in the present and then poof...gone into eternity.

So dear ones, my prayer for each of you today, is that God would speak to each individual heart and show you the people you need to go to. The loved ones you've been meaning to talk to and see, but have just been too busy. Get to it! Go and tell them or better yet show them by being there that they really do matter. Wrap your arms about them and speak a good word in their ear. And if you need to say I'm sorry, do it.

Sisters, all too quickly time passes, life changes and without any notice we are staring at empty chairs and aware of empty spaces around us that someone we loved much, had once filled with their presence.

Let us today, choose to treasure the gifts we have been given by living The Gift today.

Stephanie

The Faces of Fear

The Faces of Fear
Judges 7

In Judges 7 we see God preparing to lead His people against the Midianites. Here Gideon is the man chosen to lead the people and God does some amazing things prior to sending them into battle. What I see in this passage is the faces of fear and how fear moves us in various ways.

First, Fear Freezes: In verse 3, Gideon goes and tells the people what they are up against and proclaims "Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from the mount". Fear Freezes us from moving forward, from taking action and it keeps us from believing that God can do the impossible.

Next, Fear Faces: We see this in verses 10-11; "But it thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host..." God is saying OK, you are fearful, but if you go with others you will be able to face the battle. See, with God and others supporting us, we can face anything.

Fear also Flees: When it came time to fight the Midianites were strong and fearless, because of that God gave them the victory. Here no matter how strong the enemy they will turn and run in fear when we face our battles with God. "And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all the host ran, and cried, and fled." (vs. 21)

Best of all Fear Frees: How did God bring about the victory? They took their fear and placed it on the Word of God. We see them in verses 18 and 20 claim the sword of the Lord as their battle weapon. When we stand with God and know His Word, claim His promises we will be freed from our enemy. "Freedom (Victory) depends not on strength or numbers, but on obedience and commitment to Him" (Life Application Bible).

We all have fear at some point in our lives... how do you do fear? Do you face it with God to find Freedom? Or, does your fear freeze you from moving forward and in the end you flee? God always brings victory into our lives when we stand with Him and let Him lead our battles. Remember the Battle belongs to the Lord!

LDJ

Wait...do we have enough Meatballs?

Wait...do we have enough Meatballs?

Funny thing happened tonight. Well I came to work thinking that it would be a normal night ... HA HA!! And as you can tell it soon became a little interesting. Oh the lessons we learn daily from the Lord.

Well a group came in tonight and as they headed in the Dining Room the Dining Room staff was not prepared for them to eat. Somehow we did not have them listed for dinner. We as a team hurried around to make sure tables were set, checked to see if we had enough food and all the rest of the necessary details.

After all was said and done the men were fed and happy and we had more food then we needed. Myself and our dining room hostess stood there and laughed. When she went back to confirm about the food (even though we did not have them listed for dinner) - somehow we ended up with more trays of food than planned.

Now how did that happen? As I stood there the thoughts in my head were..."We are in His service and these are His people and why would we think that He did not go before us and prepare what was needed". The Bible tells us in Psalms that He goes before us, behind us and all around us.

Oh what little faith we have. To think that we were worried about - "did we have enough meatballs"!!

This is just a funny reminder to all of us that the Lord tells us again and again that He will provide our needs in spite of our mistakes. Lynn W

Matthew 6:26 (NIV)
"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

The Lord Holds Me Together...

The Lord Holds Me Together...

I was at breakfast with a dear friend this morning and prior to our meal she prayed on my behalf and for the blessing of the food we were about to eat. In her prayer she sought the Lord's favor and sustaining grace by asking Him to continue to hold me together.
Those words, 'hold me together' affected my heart in a special way due to recent events in my life that have greatly impacted my heart and mind.

You see, I have been blessed with two children and two children are all I have. No more. No less. One of those two -my first born- and only daughter, was almost lost to me in the late spring of this year and yet the Lord sovereignly chose to spare her life for His own purpose and good pleasure.

M second born -and only son- has decided to join the military. Not the Army, Air Force or Navy, but the Marine Corp. I can't begin to tell you in words how difficult it is to wrap my mind around that fact. I feel like my heart is being ripped out and scattered into the wind.

That is why my friends' spoken prayer was so sweet to me. God knows how fragmented and scattered I am feeling in most hours of every day that passes. With all my might I fight it and I am mostly losing. Were it not for Him, my LORD, my God, holding me together I would literally come undone.

With a new perspective now, I am capable of understanding why we go fetal in times of sadness and distress. It's as if the very act of curling up and going inward somehow enables us to feel safe, telling ourselves, "If I can just hold on, if I can roll up inside and push all the yuck out, I can make it through the next minute, hour, day until the better that is on the other side."

Dear ones, what can I say to encourage your hearts today? I only have one message and one hope. There is only One True Thing that sustains us and keeps us. It is Him, the One, the Only, Son of God and Son of Man JESUS. His breath, His sustenance -the blood- allows us to hope above and beyond any thinkable, doable hoping of our own and grab the hand of Hope Himself.

So, if you are in the middle of your own curling up and inward, I beg you to change positions. You can roll over on your back and stretch your arms out and upward to Abba Father, asking Him to hold you. Remember when you were a child and you had a booboo? All you wanted was to get to the place of comfort - Mommy or Daddy- and be safe in their strong comforting arms.

May it be so for you today; and if you can't manage to fully turn over, then release an arm and reach toward heaven, toward Father; who is well acquainted with your grief and your sorrow. Give Him your aching, breaking heart. Trust Him to mend and restore all the broken pieces, piece by delicate piece, one moment at a time.

Remember, He, the Lord, is your Shepherd; He makes a place for you to lie down, He leads you beside the still waters; though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He is with you. (Psalms 23)

Look back in time and see the Hand of the Lord upholding you and praise Him because of Who He Is.
Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of your wings, I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You. Your right hand upholds me.
-- Psalms 63:7-9

Dear ones gather yourselves and stand firm. Be assured that He -the Mighty One of Israel- is holding you together.

Stephanie

I'm Afraid

I'm Afraid

Most little children have fears of one kind or another. Fear of the dark, of loud noise, or being left alone... just to name a few. When I was a child I was terrified of the dark. I thought for sure there was someone peering in my windows, someone under my bed or in my closet. I did NOT like bed time. I would beg my exhausted Momma, "I'm afraid, please sleep with me." She had worked all day and she desperately needed her sleep and if she was in bed with me, she wouldn't get the rest she needed. As a sleeping little girl I would toss and turn and thrash about in the bed. Yet, night after night she would climb in bed with me.
But, some how... when she was lying beside me, I was safe. There wasn't anyone under my bed, out the windows or in my closet. Just her presence next to me dispelled all my fears. I guess I thought no one would dare even think about coming near my room when Momma was on guard!
As adults we have fears too. They may not be childhood fears but they are still...just as real...just as scary and probably even more so. How will my mortgage get paid this month? Will the cancer go in remission? Will my spouse or my children ever get sober? Will my children come to the saving knowledge of Jesus as their Savior? Any of these sound familiar to you? This is just a grain of sand compared to the many different fears I'm sure you could add to this list. So what do we do? Where do we turn? Is there a place to go, someone we can turn to...to get that same peace and comfort that I found as a child in the arms of my Momma?
Yes! Yes! Yes! Our God knows that His children have too many fears to count. His word is filled with references on that very subject. In Ps. 56:3-4, David is afraid and cries out to the Lord, "When I am afraid, I will trust in You; in God whose name I praise. In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?" Jesus comforts His disciples in John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
What great words of comfort these are to you and me. Although my Momma's presence dispelled my fears for a time, in reality if there was someone there under my bed, she might have fought like a wild bear but she couldn't have protected me against everything. She couldn't be with me all the time and she would eventually leave me alone in bed with my fears at 11 years old.
Jesus gives us more than the world or our Mommas' could ever possibly give us. He has given us His Holy Spirit that is always with us. Jesus gives us His peace and His presence. Dt. 31:8 "The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you, He will not leave you alone or forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
Are you afraid today? Will you turn to the world and its temporary comforts? Or will you reach for the One who is always with you. If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, not only is He with you through all fears and trials, He will be there to take you to glory when God calls you home. Ps. 73:23-24, "I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory."
He is the Great Comforter, our Prince of Peace.

Mary Ann

God is still on the throne

There are times in life, in the ministry I am in, when it is easy to become overwhelmed with the evil in the world. I was speaking at a women's retreat in September, and several of the ladies and I were sitting around the breakfast table chatting. They were interested in the Colony of Mercy (the men's residential addiction program) and the proposed women's residential program. As conversation's have a way of doing we meandered through various topics until we got into a discussion about the prevalence and destruction of addiction. It seemed everyone at the table knew someone or knew of someone that was trapped in this ugly, devastating bondage. My own spirit grew heavy as we shared our thoughts about pornography, alcohol and drugs. The more we talked the more depleted I felt. More than once it caused me to call to mind and remind my breakfast companions that it is a good thing that God is still on the throne, high and lifted up, sovereign in the affairs of men and women. That morning, I probably needed that reminder more than anyone else at the table.
I am so glad I know Jesus Christ!!! I can't imagine going through the trials and difficulties of life without the hope that only God can give. People disappoint, children rebel, husbands leave, things cease, money comes and goes, and bills come. Sometimes life hurts.
Yet God never ceases to be involved in the affairs of men. He never abandons us (And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8). He is an ever present help in time of trouble (God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1). Our God reigns, forever. (Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11) I want to stand up and shout-Halleluiah. One day, everyone, every one, will bend their knee to Jesus Christ and acknowledge Him as Lord! One day, that smirk will be wiped off Satan's face!! One day we (God's children) will be free from the practice, power and presence of sin. One day, faith will become sight. Oh, how my heart sings.

I oft encourage my heart with these words:
I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.
Psalm 27:13-14
Be reminded. Be encouraged.
Diane

Being a Woman of Influence Part V -

Being a Woman of Influence Part V -

Romans 12:11 (New International Version)
"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord".
This week we have looked at a queen, a women leader, two sweet women and some no named women....so where does that leave us?
Maybe after this week have you found yourself in one of these women. Maybe you really can not relate to any of them. Let me challenge you to study women of the Bible. I have enjoyed so much learning all about them. Many times in church we study the lives of biblical men but "woman to woman", we can learn a lot.
The whole point of this series is for us to stop and learn from some important times in history and from some important women. If the Lord has chosen to share the lives of these women in the Bible - there must be something for us to learn.
I shared with you earlier in the week that it only took one woman to take prayer out of school. Where were you when she was doing this? Why did you allow this? What could you have done to make a difference? Are you the one who will bring it back?
Our nation is loosing its freedom! Our nation is addicted to drugs, sex, money, things, food, lifestyle, "being #1" and so much more. If our focus is always on these things where does that leave us as a nation when the enemy moves in? Are you the one woman who can make a difference in one life so in turn they can change one life? It only needs to start with one woman. Can you save a Nation like Ester or Deborah?
I have a poem in my kitchen that says... "In a thousands years from now it will not matter how much money I have, what kind of car I drove and how many dishes I washed, but it will matter the time I spent in someone's life." WOW I need to read this every time I am washing the dishes and my four year old needs me to play with him or my seventeen year old need to talk. I need to make a difference in these two precious lives.
Ephesians 6:7 (New International Version)
"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men..."
I do not know what God has called you to do or what gifts he has given you. I know that many times I feel like what I have to offer is not enough. I feel that someone can do it better and probably has. Well this is all true, but God has called me to do certain tasks whether someone is better at it or not, it was ME He called!!
I trust our time together this week was an encouragement and that I have been able to be a woman of influence even in a small way to you. Remember that God loves you and will always be there with words of wisdom, encouragement, and instruction for when we need to refreshed. Maybe this poem will encourage your heart to serve him always. Lynn W
One Talent

I have no voice for singing;
I cannot make a speech;
I have no gift for music;
I know I cannot teach.
I am no good at leading;
I cannot "organize";
And anything I write
Would never win a prize.
But at roll call in the meetings
I always answer "Here".
When others are performing
I lend a Listening ear.
After the program's over
I praise its every part
My words are not to flatter
I mean them from the heart.
It seems my only talent
Is neither big nor rare:
Just to listen and encourage,
And to fill a vacant chair,
But all the gifted people
Could not so brightly shine
Were it not for those who use
A talent such a mine!

Christian Missions Press Inc.
Waynesboro, Georgia