Romans 8:37-39 No, in all these
things we are more than conquerors
through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither
death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things
present nor things to come, nor powers,
nor height nor depth, nor anything else in
all creation, will be able to separate us
from the love of God in CHRIST Jesus our Lord.
This has been a long week for me. The fiery darts are very penetrating, but God knows to send the messenger of encouragement when needed. I thank Him for that. If I was not doing something right then the devil would not know where I lived! He most assuredly has found me but greater is He who is in me….!!!
The enemy will use those who are close to your heart when he can…against you. We must strive to ‘put on the Word’ because without the Word, the armor will not protect us. We must rise above circumstances that hold us in bondage. I must rise above this situation. I cannot speak for anyone else but I know what God has spoken to my heart. I know how He has brought me through many situations over my 62 years of service. Have I been perfect or always right? Absolutely not! But I do know that I am a child of the Most High…and I do know that I seek Him for my guidance. I strive for perfection. I strive to serve others.
I strive to walk in the Shadow of the Almighty.
I am so glad that God has given me Christian brothers and sisters who pray for me and hold my arms up through the storm.
There is so much that I do not understand, but I have learned that I do not have to understand all things. I simply must walk in obedience to the nudging of the Holy Spirit. The Word tells me that God is a God of reconciliation. He will restore relationships if we stand firm believing that he will do that. Love overcomes many things when we walk in love and obedience.
Reading through the Bible in a year:
Week of January 22nd: Genesis 49-50, Exodus 1-12; Psalms 5-31; Mark 5-11
Adam and Eve were given an opportunity to acquire the so-called knowledge of good and evil, and they chose to acquire it, to become more like God. What does the author mean by the term knowledge of good and evil? This calls for speculation, but I think one reasonable definition would be the knowledge of the consequences of our actions. We make hundreds of choices each day, and as time progresses, we learn which of our choices produce pain and misery, and which produce love and peace. To Adam and Eve, acquiring the knowledge of good and evil was portrayed to be as simple as eating a particular fruit. But in truth, the knowledge didn’t come from eating a fruit; it came from being pushed out of the womb that was Eden, and into the real world, where it is a constant struggle to survive.
It is now universally recognized that through adversity, through pain, we grow. Some say pain is the only teacher. So here is my conclusion: For Adam and Eve to truly mature, to become all that they were meant to be, they had to leave Eden, and although this story makes it look like it was a punishment, it seems clear that God always intended us to leave Eden, to migrate down the paths of those four rivers, and multiply, because only in the real world could we truly begin to acquire the knowledge we needed to become strong, mature children of God.
It hurts to come out of the security of the womb.
We are exposed to cold, hunger and pain.
I began this blog this way because I made some choices this past week that were viewed as wrong and evil. I am by no means perfect and have a long way to go but I make every effort to hear that small voice of the Father. My struggles are many as with every Christian but we learn with each step we make. I was told today that because I raised my children in the 70’s that I did not know how to raise kids in this era! (Very interesting to say the least) God is no respecter of time and He is the same God now that He was then. The same Scriptures that I used then I read now. It is the same 10 commandments that were given in Biblical times that we use as our guide today.
If we must face disaster to arouse within us the desire to do God’s will then disaster is a blessing in disguise. We must move from the comfort of the womb or the comfort of the Garden to become what God wants us to become. We must stop tolerating disobedience and deception and manipulation.
I did ask where God was when we had a family meeting today and with tears in my eyes my friend reminded me to stand firm and rise above any accusations because the Spirit of God does not accuse. I recall Pastor Steve a few weeks ago referenced how FB was used to blast so to speak one another. Christians were criticizing each other on a public forum. I did not understand what he meant till this week end. We should NEVER criticize ANYONE…Christian or not…particularly over the public airways. If there is ‘aught’ with someone we should go to that person and work it out or we give the enemy the edge. God is a God of reconciliation and LOVE.
Proverbs 3:5-6 bids you to trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. But in all of your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.
My prayer partner also encouraged me with this: THE BATTLE BELONGS TO THE LORD
Even though I know this it becomes heavy when it is your own child. I will repeat over and over the words to this song, the battle belongs to the Lord.
I will continue to praise YOU in the Storm because you know that my heart is broken.
One of my choices for this year is to read through the Bible in a year again. I know that we all have choices to make and DILIGENCE is one of those things that I choose to be more faithful with. I will post the Scriptures that should be read for the week with my blog in the hopes that you can join me. I am a week behind in my post so here is the update:
Each of us must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling as the Scripture says. I can only hope that I can influence my children, grandchildren and friends. The 12 strategies that Pastor Steve presented to us on New Year’s Eve is appropriate for this blog as I wrote it on the other one.
Reading through the Bible incorporates the first 3 of the above strategies! Now the next one #4…WOW…it is easy to get offended when we do not get our way. I am very guilty of this much of the time. As Paul said in Scripture: I die daily! I must put the flesh under the Blood every day that I walk in the world. This is not as easy as it is for me to write it in this blog.
I have known for a while that we should get our financial matters in order. I have been walking in that direction and with building my business with Exfuze Nutritional Products, I have a plan. Our economy is not very stable but I know that God will take care of his people as He did the Children of Israel. He has always told me to ‘take care of what I can’ and He would do the rest.
He will bring Divine connections and I (we) must exercise the ‘law of recognition’ and know when the door opens. I must continue to TRUST in HIM and know that He has it under control.
As we enter the New Year we must begin to strategize with the new ideas…we must elevate our thinking above what we have EVER done. (The old adage that if you do the same old things in the same old ways you will get the same results) I do not want what I already have…I am ready to enter the next level!
WE MUST KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PROPHETIC VOICE ....LISTEN CLOSELY…
This is my last opportunity to say Thank you God in 2011. I so appreciate what God has done for me this past year. I could not name all the things He has given me nor the blessings that He has bestowed upon me, but Holy Spirit rest assured that I give praise, honor and glory to the Giver of Life. Let my praises ring in the heavens as loud as those of the angels at this moment!!!
This is the last day of the year December 31, 2011. The last of a passing time that I will never see again…I look forward to a new adventure that I know the Father has before me. Thank you father… for what you have already done. Thank you for what you have prepared for me in this year of 2012.
I am not getting any younger and work seems to consume much of my time. Family is very important to me yet they (children and grandchildren) all pull in other directions. I see this also with my patients (and their children) that are placed into homes or have no one who can attend to their needs sufficiently. I see a generation of young adults who have little to no respect for what the elderly can offer. I have thought many times that “I have much to say if someone will listen”. Experience is a wonderful teacher but boxed inside it does not produce. It seems as though when I want to share this I get voted down as ‘you don’t understand!’ I must say that as the prophet said, “There is nothing new under the sun.” I have been there! The thing is “I have graciously, by the Grace of our Father, come through.”
There seems to be two views of age in today’s society. The most prevalent view seems to be that of repulsion. Age is looked upon as an incurable disease. We fight against aging, we do not want to be reminded of what time can do to us. Thus, the aged elderly person is cast from society. They are made to feel useless, a burden to family, and often are cast off, avoided except on rare occasions of birthdays and Christmas morning. — Another view is that age is beautiful. That age demands respect and dignity. That the elderly are giants of the forest, wise, full of experience, worthy of our praise and adoration. This is the view the Bible holds on age.
In Proverbs 23:22, Solomon exhorts his son to “harken to your Father who begot you and do not despise your mother when she is old.” In the story of Job, we find that Elihu the younger of Job’s friends waited until the older men had spoken to Job. He also treated his communication to Job with admiration and respect, since Job was his elder. In Exodus 20:12 we find the commandment – to honor your -father and mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you. In Mark 7:10-12, we find Jesus saying, “He who speaks evil of his father and mother, let him surely die.” He goes on to say that the Pharisees had made void the law of God by their disgraceful treatment of the elderly.
I am reminded of Caleb, who at the age of 85 came to Joshua and took possession of that inheritance he had earned. Age demands an inheritance. Old age should be a time for ego integrity. The elderly have made their mark on life. They have performed well, and have confidence that their life was well spent in raising children, making the world a better place, and in training the next generation.They have a wealth of wisdom to share, experience to relate, expressions and advice on life to share. They await new experiences, and are getting prepared for the last experience of this life, and for a whole new world beyond death. They have earned our love and respect.
I HAVE EARNED THE RIGHT OF LOVE AND RESPECT
I know who I am in the Spirit of God, but even knowing this I sometimes let oppression overwhelm me. I have done this over this past year. My beautiful prayer partner Tina, in Arizona reminded me that I must rise above the circumstances and not allow old slew foot to gain that foothold. I have heard the ‘you don’t understand’, the ‘I am clinically depressed’, ‘All you do is tell me what to do’. The leaving the room when I enter it…’I cannot find a job because there is none’ there…’I don’t want to volunteer because I have no way to get there’…’I have to finish my book’…’you did not tell me that’… ‘I forgot to do that’.
This has been a never-ending record in my home…but…it will end with 2012. I will rise above because I am a chosen vessel of the creator. I have favor as the promise of Abraham has fallen upon me. If my family…children and grandchildren wish to share this they must begin to walk in the same victory that I choose to walk in. This is a choice that we all are accountable to make. I have chosen to go forward. I pray that my family can walk with me but I cannot drag them nor can I carry them. They must walk in the ‘Shadow of the Almighty’ as I am. I want to be a blessing to each of my grandchildren. I want to share my experiences in a positive way. I want to grow into my golden years knowing who I am and enjoying the privilege of age. My ministry has only begun. Watch out slew foot!
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS!
This is a year of New Beginnings. This is a year for a Fresh start for many of us. Dreams do come true yet sometimes we must reach out for them. It takes action. We can believe all we want to but if we do not take a foot hold and begin to walk, we will never get there. I pray that all who read this blog will take a definitive step into that FRESH START!
The year 2012 is a time for VICTORY. You must take that step.
This initiative encourages all of us to do one good deed for 1 to 3 other people, expecting nothing in return. You could pay for a stranger’s food or coffee at a drive-thru, buy an extra Christmas gift for a child in need, leave an anonymous gift in a hospital waiting room, check on an elderly neighbor, volunteer for the day, or take dinner to a sick friend or new mom. Visit a nursing home, children’s hospital, or volunteer at an animal…
• Pay the toll for the car behind you
• Pay for a strangers food at a drive-thru
• Buy an extra Christmas gift for a child in need
• Check on an elderly neighbor
• Volunteer
• Take dinner to a sick friend or even new mom
• Visit a nursing home or children’s hospital [This is something I would LOVE to do around Christmas or even with stuffed animals.]
• If you are in a restaurant and feel the need to pay for a strangers meal.
The world can seem like an unfriendly, threatening place, yet we all want safety, health, and happiness for ourselves and our loved ones. How can one ordinary person make a positive difference in this world?
One way is the practice “paying it forward.” You can “pay it forward” by doing something for someone you don’t know…not simply your family.
This season spawns many feelings and mixed emotions to many people. For me, I think of family and the true meaning of Christmas…celebrating the birth of Jesus!
We spend so much time trying to figure out what to buy for so and so that we forget what life is all about.
I was in Aldi’s last week shopping for groceries. Upon arriving at the checkout a stranger walked up to the counter and said “may I pay for this for you?” Now this was unusual for me as I had never had anyone do this for me. I am a giving person, but this reminded me about the season and the value of looking beyond you. The greatest part of this season is “giving” expecting nothing in return. It is not about ‘having to buy’ for anyone, but giving. I believe that we should look for opportunities to do good deeds, whether it is with money or with actions in other ways…helping each other.
I had a family Christmas Eve gathering at my home. This is something that I choose to do each year in the effort to bring together the family. It was a joyous time with those who came. I actually had 2 of my sons and my daughter come with their children. I have tried for soooo long to create an atmosphere of “family” with my children and grandchildren with this being one of those efforts. There have been many times that I have failed but what I do know is that FAMILY is what is most important as…
God organizes us into families so that we can grow up in happiness and safety, and so that we can learn to love others selflessly—the key to true joy. Within the family is the best place to learn to love others the way Heavenly Father loves each one of us.
THANK YOU FOR FAMILY!!
We had a beautiful birthday party today in Church…it was Jesus’ birthday. Len Mink came to TWOC on this special occasion to remind us that Jesus is the reason for the season. Cathy Mink came to give us the prophetic message that in the year of 2012…beginning today…there were no more limits! We should walk in the affirmation that the enemy limits us but with God…and the ULTIMATE gift of His Son Jesus…there are no more limits. I choose to receive this Word on this date, so the enemy can just look out. I choose to move forward.
In conclusion of this blog I declare the there are no more limits…I declare that I will pay it forward in every opportunity that I can…I declare that FAMILY is the most important thing in my life apart from my faith and love for the Father.
He most assuredly has found me but greater is He who is in me….!!!
