Take Heart My Friend

Chapter Seven: God’s Higher Calling - In the Midst of Doubts and Fears

2010-09-26T09:20:00.000-07:00

“And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” ~ Matthew 14:31

Darkness and fears over took me. I was overwhelmed and could not look up. The shadows of death surrounded my heart. Wisdom faded from view and I could not trust my own thoughts. Discouragement cut into my heart like a knife and joy escaped me. The terrors of the night seized my heart. I found no peace. My prayers seemed far from me and God was not in all my thoughts. Have these thoughts ever penetrated into your heart? If so, you are not alone in your fears and doubts. There are others that faced the same thoughts. I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. ~ Psalms 6:6. The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. ~ Psalms 10:4. In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? ~ Psalms 11:1. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. ~ Psalms 18:5. For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. ~ Psalms 18:28. O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. ~ Psalms 22:2. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. ~ Psalms 32:4. For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. ~ Psalms 38:4. For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me. ~ Psalms 40:12. Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death. ~ Psalms 44:19. My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. ~ Psalms 55:3-4.

In Pilgrim’s Progress, Pilgrim finds himself in Doubting Castle held prisoner by Giant Despair. He sinks down in despair unable to overcome the overwhelming thoughts of failure. Our ignorance of our sin leads us to just shut down and not deal with the root of the problem. At first, we might think we can deal with the doubts on our own. We may have the attitude that no one needs to know of our doubting. But in the darkness of our little home, the darkness will over take us. When we get this way we are now a person struggling with depression or anxiety. When we realize that we need help then we should sit down with only one or two precious godly friends and share with them what we are facing.

A lot of times indifference can lead to an unmovable heart. When the LORD stops working in our lives we need to realize that something is wrong. If we don’t see that we’ve come to a wall in our spiritual walk and we are truly saved, we will become flooded by doubts. The Word of God talks about our heart being deceitful and the only one who can know our heart is God. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” ~ Jeremiah 17:9. God wants to change our lives and cause us to see our lives through His eyes. We are told to examine ourselves in 2 Corinthians 13:5. “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” Here are some tips that will help us get out of a depressive state. First, we needed to play good godly music. Secondly, we need to play messages of Good Godly preachers. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” ~ John 17:17. Thirdly, we need to recognize that getting consumed with doubt is giving place to the devil. “Neither give place to the devil.” ~ Ephesians 4:27. Fourth, understand that we cannot force ourselves into some spiritual place of victory. We shouldn’t try to fix it or we’ll miss out on what the LORD is trying to teach us! There will be times when we cannot get victory over our thoughts and we may even doubt our salvation. Don’t just give in and let the thoughts have free course. We may hate them but if we don’t deal with them they will overtake us.

When we do not deal with thoughts, we are letting iniquity take over. And it ends up being like a never ending vicious cycle. That will continue to drain us. Our thoughts even if they seem right and good are not necessarily God’s thoughts. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11. Our mind is not programmed to think like God. God wants to teach us and He uses the fiery trails to break us. It is when we are broken He then can begin working in our lives. “But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” ~ Isaiah 64:8. Someone once wisely said, “Sow a thought - reap a habit; sow a habit - reap a destiny.” Our minds are programmed when we are born with a sin nature. And we can’t just delete the program and reinstall a new one. But yet God, who knows our thoughts and our heart, can begin to root out those thoughts and replace them with right thinking. Right thinking comes only by the Word of God. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” ~ 2 Timothy 3:16. Habitual thoughts will flash in the back of our minds without even our thinking on them. We may try to conduct our lives as though everything is alright. But the instability of our lives will cause those doubts to seep through. The first thing that one can notice on a person who is deeply troubled will be their countenance. “Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart.” ~ Nehemiah 2:2. We may try to hide our struggles but within weeks the darkness will be so thick that we won’t be able to see a glimpse of sunshine from God’s Word. Don’t turn everything off thinking that is the answer. There will be things that we need to turn off, but there is also going to be things we need to turn on. Turning off the television is a very good idea but sitting in total silence when your mind won’t shut off is not helpful. Ever try to hear from the LORD but can’t get past the walls. When this happens we need to call upon the LORD even when we don’t think our prayers are getting through.

Our spiritual immaturity and thinking we know it all will keep us from hearing from the LORD. When we constantly come to the LORD having the attitude “Oh I know that, LORD,” the LORD isn’t going to work in our life because we aren’t opening to hearing from him. “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.” ~ Romans 1:21. When we long to hear from him He will give us light. “Thou hast made us for Thyself O LORD; and our Heart is Restless until it rests on Thee.” “Blessed is the man that maketh the LORD his trust.” ~ Psalms 40:4. Romans 8 is an excellent chapter read when going through depression or doubt. God always wants to use doubts to teach us some very powerful lessons. One of those lessons is humility. Ask yourself when is the last time you thought of the cross and fell to your knees in gratefulness? Ever think of being in the presence of Jesus, what is your reaction when you think of that moment? Do you fall on your knees in tears, or do you have the attitude “that’s nice” and your heart remains untouched. When you humble yourself Christ will meet you. The doubts might yell out to you but look up! Christ will settle those doubts. Just as Salvation is of God and only God does the saving; So Victory is of God and only God gets the Victory through our lives. Claim the promises of God! “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” ~ 1 Peter 1:5. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” ~ Romans 8:16. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me”. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9.

Dear friend, I hope this is an encouragement to you. Maybe, you are facing depression. Please know you are not alone. Maybe, though you have never faced depression, you now have a better understanding of how to be an encouragement to those who are. Depression is a real thing. God wants to use it for His good. The Devil wants to use it to destroy the hurting. Please don’t criticize someone facing depression, that doesn’t help the person but rather just makes things so much worse. And for those of you who maybe facing doubts and fears remember you have a good God who wants good things for you.

During my depression, God in His mercy and faithfulness began to give me the glimpses of rays of light through His Word. I came across the quote “Thou hast made us for Thyself O LORD; and our Heart is Restless until it rests on Thee.” Psalms 40:4 became so precious to me. “Blessed is the man that maketh the LORD his trust.” God continued to bring Romans 8 into my life time and time again. God was trying to teach me some very powerful lessons. One of those lessons came when I was watching a video clip of the end of Pilgrim’s progress. When Pilgrim is presented to Jesus, I found myself over whelmed and began to sob. I fell on my knees, in bitter anguish knowing the LORD had stepped into my home. I did not deserve His love and tenderness. Yet Christ loves me anyway. He is the one that did the saving when I received Him. I did nothing but come to Him. I kept asking myself “Why am I saved?” Thinking to myself: “Did I have repentance, and did I have faith. I never said I trust you LORD… does that mean I’m lost?” All these thoughts and more flooded in my aching heart. But I was reminded that all I did was come to Christ and pour out my heart fully believing that if I called on Him, He would indeed save me. So now some years later, I found myself trying to have Victory on my own. But just as Salvation is of God and only God does the saving; So Victory is of God and only God gets the Victory through our lives.

I had this burning desire to get closer to the LORD, but each time I tried I was hindered. The more I tried the more I felt like I was running into a brick wall. My sinful self kept getting in the way. I did not fully understand what was happening. But then everything seemed to come together. Here I was in this Doubting Castle, and all I had to do was start pulling out the promises of God. I began to claim these verses and many like them. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ~ 1 Peter 1:5. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: ~ Romans 8:16. Trusting God always seemed to be my down fall. God was testing me to see if I would trust Him even when the clouds where the darkest. I failed miserably. But the LORD in all His love and faithfulness kept chiseling out the dross in my life.

No sooner was I out from underneath the darkness and another trial hit me hard. Did I look up right away? Of course not! I found myself angry and bitter. Hate flooded my heart and not love! Again I had to fall down on my knees and get lovely rebuked by my Father. I had to pray for God’s love to fill my heart. A wise friend sweetly told me that I failed to trust the LORD and to watch out because until I get it right another trial is around the corner. So another trial did come but this time I caught myself and looked up. God’s not done testing me. I keep thinking of the picture of God being the Master Potter. He Longs to mold me into a vessel of Honor. It hurts to be put through the fire and the waters that cool the clay are at times over whelming and seem too hard for us to bear. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me”. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9.

Chapter Six God's Higher Calling - God's Design for our lives.

2010-06-14T19:08:00.000-07:00

That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. ~ 1 Thessalonians 2:12

God’s Higher Calling isn’t a “holier than thou” philosophy. However, it is a holier living policy. We need to apply the idea of holiness into our lives. It is the only way we can glorify God with our lives. We are to Be HOLY. “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” ~ 1 Peter 1:16. We are to strive to go up higher because it pleases the LORD. God has designed our lives for a purpose. His design is for us to live lives holy and set apart from the world. “But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.” ~ Psalms 4:3.

God longs for us to have a sweet fellowship with Him. But we cannot attain this relationship until we have a proper understanding of who God is. To have this proper view, we must first understand the concept of what it is to Fear the LORD. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” ~ Proverbs 1:7. So many times in Christian circles the concept of Fearing the LORD is over looked. I believe that if we truly understood this concept we would not have so many living a mediocre Christian life. This is the core of the matter! The fear of the LORD is the foundation to living God’s Higher Calling. Without it, anything we try to do in the name of the LORD is just empty show. Christians that seem to be living a higher standard but don’t have a proper understanding of the Fear of the LORD, will appear superficial. We shouldn’t have standards and be involved in service just because our church, our friends, or even our Pastor says so. We should be doing these things because we generally wholeheartedly fear the LORD and want to please Him.

We need to fear the LORD above all else. The fear of the LORD and the Love for the LORD should drive us to go farther for him. So many times our selfish fear stops us from going forward for the LORD. The fear of man keeps us from witnessing. The fear of the unknown keeps us from doing God’s Will. The LORD has a precious plan for our lives but the only way we can accomplish this plan is by fearing the LORD and casting down that other fear. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. ~ 2 Timothy 1:7. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. ~ 1 John 4:18. These passages are referring to the fear of man. We are not to have this paralyzing fear that stops us from living our lives for the LORD. Have you ever gotten to the place where the situation was so overwhelming that you just wanted to flee? Instead of taking a stand and being strong in the LORD, you found yourself wanting to run? Even David found himself engulfed by his circumstances. And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. ~ Psalms 55:6.

There are many things in this world that will cause us to fear. But that is not where we as Christians should live. So many times our comfort zone keeps us from truly being a witness for Christ. There will be a cross road that every Christian faces. Here at the fork in the road the signs point so clearly. In front of us is a glorious path that is filled with God’s unfathomable blessings and to the right of us is a darkened path. On this darkened path is a line of people stretched far as the eye can see. These people are shouting discouraging words. Intermingled with them are our own thoughts of doubts, fears and discouragements. The other path looks so clear and uncluttered. To enter this path we but need just go through the gate. That gate is the Fear of the LORD. Here is where all of God’s knowledge begins. When we just dwell on what the LORD wants us to do without caring what men think everything becomes clear. And I can say “I ,may face this trial but God is here with me and I fear him above all the petty disapproving thoughts.” You might wonder why the fear of the LORD is so important. And the answer is very simple... If I do not fear the LORD above all else then people will change my mind and I become a double minded person. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. ~ James 1:8. We end up basing our convictions on what others think and not on “Thus saith the LORD.” Take the scenario of three friends: Julie, Tom and Peter. Julie has a conviction regarding a certain issue, but her friend Tom has a different conviction regarding the same issue. Their friend Peter comes to them and asks what they think about this issue. Julie shares her conviction and Tom his. Peter is also a people-pleaser, so when Julie tells him here conviction Peter agrees with it. But when Tom shares his conviction that is different from Julies, Peter finds himself agreeing to please Tom. Peter doesn't go to the Word of God, instead he runs to his friends. Let’s face the truth, every single one of us is a people-pleaser in some shape or form. One person might outwardly say they don’t care what people think, but they really do because they run to five or six people for advice on the situation they are facing. Another person might be the overly sensitive type and anything someone says can easily upset them. Another might be a person that cares for others very deeply and they often find themselves getting walked over by others.

We need to step away from being a people-pleaser. We can do this by doing one thing and that is striving to please God. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." ~ Hebrews 11:6. First, we cannot please God without faith. Secondly, we cannot have faith in God without trust. Thirdly, we cannot trust God if we have a wrong view of God. Fourthly, we cannot have a right view of God if we do not seek Him. So as we dive into what the fear of God is, I pray that you will seek to understand what the fear of Lord and why it is truly our driving force in the Christian life. God has a better design for our lives than so called “Christendom” claims as Christian living. We can live this better designed life if we but tap into the joy of fearing the LORD. A mediocre Christian does not fear the LORD. The mediocre Christian shows no remorse in living a lower standard. They look upon those with higher standards as “holier then thou” Christians.

So popular in our day and age is the idea that “I’m saved by grace, and I can do whatever I want as long as I confess my sin according to 1John 1:9. However, a Christian that fears the LORD cannot blatantly sin. They don’t want to sin. They are aware of their sin nature and try to avoid situations that cause them to fall. Have you ever done something knowing full well you were sinning against God? Did you have this thought “I’ll confess it later?” I know I have been there. And at that moment I was not fearing God. Fearing the LORD is not just a point that you attain in your life never having to come cross it again. But as with everything else in the Christian life it is a moment by moment thing. One moment I could fear the LORD and the next I’m not. Why? Because to fear the LORD, I must be filled with the Spirit of God, without the Spirit I cannot fear the LORD. It is a constant state of being. The thoughts and motives must be constantly checked out, they need to be tried often by the LORD as the Psalmist said: “Try my reigns and my heart and see if there be any wicked way in me.” So what is the Fear of the LORD? It is “that indefinable mixture of reverence, fear, pleasure, joy and awe which fills our hearts when we realize who God is and what He had done for us.”~ The Joy of Fearing God by Jerry Bridges. God’s Higher Calling is only able to be lived when we have wisdom and wisdom comes only when we fear the LORD. Fearing the LORD comes when we follow God’s straight path and avoid sin. Let’s look at some verses that speak about the fear of the LORD.

~ That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. ~ Deuteronomy 6:2. If we fear the LORD we will keep God’s commandments and statutes

~ Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. ~ Deuteronomy 6:13. Because we carry the name of the LORD we must live our lives holy. We will serve Him and love Him if we fear Him.

~ And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. ~ Deuteronomy 6:24. God keeps us and gives us good things when we keep His statues and Fear Him.

~ And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, ~ Deuteronmy 10:12 If we have the Fear of the LORD we will walk in the His ways, we will love Him and we will serve Him with all our heart and soul.

~ Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. ~ Deuteronomy 10:20. We cleave to the LORD and His ways and serve and proclaim His name when we fear the LORD.

~ And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always. ~ Deuteronomy 14:23. If we fear the LORD we will tithe and offer our first fruits to Him. The Lord God will have preeminence in our lives if we truly fear His name

~ Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. ~ Joshua 24:14. When we fear the LORD it will cause us to serve Him in sincerity and truth and all things that were first in our lives will be cast out. Things such as television, other people's views, selfish desires, worldly views… etc. Fill in the blank. Put in those things that take your time away from praying to the LORD and searching out His Word. For those things must get put aside and the LORD must become our All in All!

~ If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: ~ 1 Samuel 12:14. Obedience is a fruit of fearing the LORD, rebellion is a fruit of the selfish me first heart!

~ Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. ~ 1 Samuel 12:24. The fear of the LORD will cause our hearts to reflect on God's truth and we serve the LORD and praise Him for all the wonderful things He has done for us!

~ Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever. ~ Psalms 118:4. God's Mercy endureth forever. His mercy extends to all. If we fear the LORD, we will love those that God loves. We will have mercy on those that God has mercy on. And we will forgive those that God bestows forgiveness upon.

~ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. ~ Proverbs 3:7. If we fear the LORD will not use our own wisdom or words. We will take what we know and go to God's Word and search out if it is true or false. Many a time we think we are speaking truth but that truth is based upon what we think or feel is right and not on what God says. And if we fear the LORD, we will not maybe not someday but we will at that very moment depart from evil!

~ Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days. ~ Hosea 3:5 The fear of the LORD will cause us to return and seek the LORD.

Ask yourself these questions: When is the last time I sought the LORD and He showed me something I had to give up? And did I give it up or am I still holding on to it? And if I gave it up, did I pick it back up again? "The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?" ~ Amos 3:8. A person who continues in sin and is constantly blind to the Holy Spirit's leading does not have a proper fear of the LORD.
"And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land." ~ Jonah 1:9 Jonah said he feared the LORD but his life did not show it. He had all the right words but he was not living what he was saying. Are you living what you are saying? Remember your actions speak louder then words.

Practical Questions:
1. When I get convicted over my sin am I quick to confess it and let it go, or do I hang on to it thinking it’s not that bad?
2. Do I see my sin as being black in God’s eyes or do I find myself justifying it?
3. Do I let the fear of others paralyze me from witnessing and living a sold out Christian life?
4. Would I rather talk about other things then of Godly things?
5. Do I think there should be a balance and that I shouldn’t have to talk about God all the time?
6. Is God in all my thoughts?
7. Do I just go forward without asking “Is this something that pleases you LORD?”
8. Do I let God guide me or do I just go by what others say?
9. When circumstances come my way do I easily get overwhelmed or do I find myself looking up? Am I quick to quit or am I quick to trust the LORD?
10. Would I rather do what I want over what God wants?

Particular Answers to the Questions above.
Question 1:
A. Those who are quick to confess sin and let it go are showing the fruits of Fearing the LORD
B. Those who hang on to sin are showing that selfishness reigns in their hearts and Christ has long been removed from the throne.
Question 2:
A. Those who see their sin as God sees it will fear the LORD
B. Those who do not see their sin as black and wicked in the sight of God will not fear the LORD.
Question 3:
A. Those who fear what others think over what God says have placed man over God. People have become big in their eyes while God has grown small.
B. But those who refuse to be moved from the principles of God’s Word and who care more about what God thinks over man have shown that God alone is their judge.
Question 4:
A. Those who would rather talk about things outside of Godly things (even if those things aren’t necessarily wrong) are showing that God is not their utmost desire.
B. Those who would rather speak of God Word and proclaim what He has been teaching them exhibit that God is in all their thoughts.
Question 5:
A. Those who think there should be a balance show a heart attitude of “Sunday Christians but not Monday Christians”
B. Those who feel that Christ should be the center of every conversation show that He alone is their life.
Question 6:
A. “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.” ~ Psalms 10: 4.
B. “Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.” ~ Psalms 12:1.
Question 7:
A. Those who won’t ask if their outfit, attitudes, actions, thoughts, etc. Please the LORD show that they truly don’t care what the LORD thinks.
B. Those who care about what the LORD thinks will keep their thoughts in check with God’s Word, they will seek to live holy separate lives.
Question 8:
A. Those who take what others say without Going to God for direction and guidance are fools and simple. “O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.” ~ Proverbs 8:5.
B. “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” ~ Psalms 19:7.
Question 9:
A. “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.” ~ 2 Samuel 22:31.
B. “In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?” ~ Psalms 11:1.
Question 10:
A. “He must increase, but I must decrease.” ~ John 3:30.
B. “I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” ~ Psalms 16:8.

Are you convicted yet? I know I am. When is the last time I witnessed to someone? When is the last time God was found in my thoughts? When is the last time I really prayed over souls and for others. If we have the heart of God we will have a heart for souls! If we fear the LORD, we will be a witness to all those around us. When is the last time I cried over a lost soul? “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.”~ Ps. 126:5. This verse is a promise. And do you know that God puts our tears into a bottle and records them? “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?” ~ Ps. 56:8. These aren’t tears of self-pity but rather tears shed for a soul and tears shed over a brokenness of sin. We are to shed tears of compassion. We are to have compassion towards others. Ask yourself this: have I become complacent in showing compassion to my brothers and sisters in Christ? “And of some have compassion, making a difference:”~ Jude 1:22. This has always been one of my favorite verses. The Lord gives each of His children gifts to use for His service. These gifts are not talents, they are not things that you can do on your own. You have to be filled with the Holy Spirit and living God’s Higher Calling to use them. The LORD has given me the gift of compassion. If I don’t plug into God’s Higher Calling, I find that I can’t have compassion for others and selfishness has taken over. Search out and find the gift He has given you and use it! Some of you have been given the great ability of words. You can either use those words for evil of for God. Remember this “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” ~ Proverbs 18:21. Don’t use that ability for sarcasm or for attacking a brother. But rather use that ability to witness to all those around you! My tongue and your tongue is to be used for God’s glory. God gets glory when we witness and also when we edify the brethren. “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” ~ James 1:26-27. Watch what you say! All of use struggle in the area of the tongue. It is just a little thing but it can cut deeper then any sword! “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” ~ James 3:6-18. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;
but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. ~ 2 Timothy 1:7

A tired lonely girl stood all alone she thought,
With trouble, care and fear gripping at her door.
Quietly in the stillness for the Lord she sought.
Her heart echoed, And now, Lord, What wait I for?

A question pierced her heart, Where oh girl is your hope?
She wondered at why Trust is always the center core,
And how many times she on her own tried to cope,
She longed as David must have to have wings to soar.

Fear can grip the heart to keep that one from living,
Failing to Trust the LORD will stop one from growing,
But oh to have God’s Power with all it’s giving
To be equipped with all the fruit of the Spirit in going.

The girl then realized that she could have all the Love
The Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness
Faith, Meekness, and Temperance all from God above.
These things are given to serve God with our Best, no less.

The Love of Christ must constrain us to go Forth
For Him alone, with no want of anything more
Then For His Love and all it’s worth.
And if we trust Him, in His steps our hearts will soar.

God wants good things for His own
And longs for us to have His mind
And be at peace in Him Alone
All things we can truly find!

Little heart don’t waver when the tempest rise high
Little mind don’t lean on what you think you find
Little life don’t fail to be spent because of fear you might die,
And little mouth don’t fail to pray for all man kind.

Chapter Five God's Higher Calling: Despite Adversity.

2010-06-12T08:01:00.000-07:00

“Trouble and Anguish have taken hold of me: yet Thy commandments are my delights.” ~ Psalms 119:143

A note about chapter five: This chapter was written during the time I found out I had Bell’s Palsy. It was written in a present tense and not in a past tense as the earlier chapters. I was going to change the tense, but I believe I need to leave this chapter just the way it is. I pray it will be a blessing.

“Moses and Daniel and prophets of old they were trusting God I’m told and He drew nearer to their troubled souls. Trials are worth more then gold. Through fire and water if that’s where HE leads I am willing go, if more like Jesus I’ll be trials are worth more then Gold.” I wonder how many songs that I have sung that proclaim this same message and I wonder how willing I am to go through adversity? Could I say as Job said in the mist of trouble? “The Lord gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD:” ~ Job 1:21b. This was Job’s first reaction to adversity. What I wonder is yours and my first reaction to trouble and trials? I know what I want to do when trials come that seem so over whelming and that I can’t bear them. I want to wallow, to have self pity and others attention. “Woe is me!” is the attitude I find myself content to have.

When trials come whether it is financial, physical or emotional, my reaction is the same. I want to quit serving the LORD. In the process of the writing of this book, I learned yet another precious lesson about God’s Higher Calling. God’s Higher Calling is not just for the strong, the well, the financially set, and the emotionally stable. God’s Higher Calling is for the weak, the sick and the poor and the emotionally unstable. On August 3, 2007, I woke with a headache that I had for five days straight. I was so full of the wonderful concept that “The upright shall dwell in Thy presence.” I had no idea what would unfold on that day, but oh my Abba did. My prayer that morning I wrote in my Journal “Lord, I long to dwell in Thy presence continuously today! I ask for strength to continue in the things Thou has taught me. I pray that I will cast out all imaginations. And that I will continue to look to you throughout this day. Help me not to pass by opportunities to witness and to comfort. Help me to show kindness to those around me today. In Jesus Name, Amen.” I did not know that by night fall I would have Bell’s Palsy which paralyzed the right side of my face. My smile would be gone. “But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day.” ~ Deuteronomy 4:4. My first understand of all this was that God’s a purpose. I do not know what that full purpose is, but I’m willing to trust God with this. I also, understand that I must Cleave to the LORD! He’s got me! I know I’m in His hand. “Nothing ever takes God by surprise.” I once heard this saying: “Has it ever dawned on you that nothing ever dawns on God.”

So how does one face adversity? How is one supposed to live when all strength seems to fail? A friend gave me this verse Joshua 1:9 ~ “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” This verse/song sweetly filled my mind and I didn’t even realize I was humming it in my head. I’m so thankful that God gives us the right kind of Friends that encourage us with scripture. The Word of The LORD has been so precious to me over the last few days. It has been no small matter that every day my devotions have held a verse about being “quickened” in them. The word “Quickened” means to be made alive; revived; vivified; reinvigorated. God gives us the strengthen we need to face each day. He gives us the direction in which to go and guides our steps along the way. Is it any wonder that Job was able to say? “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” ~ Job 13:15.

God’s Higher Calling seemed so clear to me on Friday morning, but by Saturday I found myself wallowing in self pity. Should I not rest and not do those things I know are required of me? This and such other questions flooded my mind. Saturday night, I dreamed of the “Pattern on the Mount.” I dreamed that Moses decided to build the tabernacle his way instead of God’s. And what might have seemed like a silly dream really wasn’t to me, for this idea planted a thought in my heart. My way right now would be that the Bell’s palsy would be gone and that I would be instantly healed. But God’s way for me is that the Bell’s palsy remains.

Sunday morning in my devotions the LORD gave me this verse: “Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;” ~ Deuteronomy 4:9. God wants me to continue to go up higher even when I don’t feel like it. “You don’t want any adversity such as “Bell’s Palsy” to stop you from serving, don’t do what you just feel like… reach for God’s Higher Calling in the midst of adversity.” ~ Journal entry, August 5, 2007.

Little do we know what adversity waits around the corner. We do not know what tomorrow holds. What we do know is that whether the trail is cancer, blindness, bankruptcy, the death of a loved one, or Lyme’s disease… etc, we need not quit on God. I have this quote written in my Bible from a guest speaker that preached a few years back. “I don’t want my last years, my last months, and my last weeks to dishonor God in any way for whom I’ve lived for all these years.” ~ Bro. Henderson. We are to live for God even in the mist of trials and troubles. If we quit serving, we will stop going forward for the LORD. Sadly, we will find ourselves moving backwards away from His plan and purpose. God understand our adversity and our trials. I keep having this verse echo in my heart: “Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” ~ Luke 12:27. We don’t have to worry about all that will unfold with the adversity that stands before us. The LORD has us in His hand, all we must do is cleave to Him. I don’t have to worry about when the LORD’s going to heal me, I know that in His timing He will and that’s enough for me. God’s shown me so much about His standard of living and just because I don’t feel so well, does not give me the right to become lazy.

“As you exercise God’s Higher Calling you’ll find your faith increasing.
Cleave to God! On this path continue to trod!
Seek God’s face! Despite adversity run God’s race!
Purpose to do God’s Will! Seek His purpose daily still.
Keep fast in prayer! Casting to God all your care!
Don’t quit on God! Persevere! Continue to faithfully trod!”
~ Journal Entry, August 5, 2007.

Remember this: “God is in Control!” Nothing can happen without God’s being in control! On August 8, 2007, I received a phone call from the Doctor’s office that confirmed that I had tested positive for Lyme disease. It’s not something I wanted, but God knew that I would get Bell’s Palsy and have Lyme’s. He has a divine purpose in it all. “God will you use this situation to fulfill your purpose that Souls may be reached?” ~ From Sunday Night’s Message, August 5, 2007. I’ve already seen just a little bit of what God’s doing through all this, and I know He’s not done working. I’m comforted in that thought.

I read the following Article the morning that I found out I had Lyme Disease:

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August 8
Confidence Not Misplaced
"The LORD God will help me"
(Isaiah 50:7).

These are in prophecy the words of Messiah in the day of His obedience unto death, when He gave His back to the smiters and His cheeks to them that plucked off the hair. He was confident in divine support and trusted in Jehovah.

O my soul, thy sorrows are as the small dust of the balance compared with thy LORD's! Canst thou not believe that the LORD God will help thee? Thy LORD was in a peculiar position; for as the representative of sinful men -- their substitute and sacrifice -- it was needful that the Father should leave Him and cause Him to come under desertion of soul. No such necessity is laid upon thee: thou art not bound to cry, "Why hast thou forsaken me?" Did thy Savior even in such a case still rely upon God, and canst not thou? He died for thee and thus made it impossible that thou shouldst be left alone; wherefore, be of good cheer.

In this day's labors or trials say, "The LORD God will help me." Go forth boldly. Set your face like a flint and resolve that no faintness or shamefacedness shall come near you. If God helps, who can hinder? If you are sure of omnipotent aid, what can be too heavy for you? Begin the day joyously, and let no shade of doubt come between thee and the eternal sunshine.

~ From C. H. Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotional.
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I know there are going to be days when I’m not looking to God as I should. There might be times when I ask “Why LORD?”

I wrote the following Article back when my sister passed away.

Sometimes in life we face difficulties and trials. Truth is we all have stories of heartache and pain. Many times we ask God: “Why, Why me Lord?” Sometimes the only answer we receive from the Lord is simply this: “Just Trust me.” In our human heart we cannot understand why God would allow these things to happen to us or to others around us. The pain that enshrouds our heart seems to choke out any understanding or peace that we so long to have. The statement “Trust the Lord,” seems to be something that is easy to say but harder to do. People that say this to us sometimes can make us feel like they have no idea what we are facing. They could not possible understand our situation. God’s grace seems so far and distant. We can feel alone and rejected. We just don’t see what the Lord is doing. If our eyes could be open to the spiritual realm, we would see that God has turned up the furnace of trials in our life to work out the dross that has been building up. We would see that every time we cry, God gently works on us and cries with us. God says: “Trust me, dear heart, I have everything under control.” He hears our distant reply: “No, Lord! I don’t know what you are doing and the pain is too much for me to bear.” God has not truly left us; he is ever present with us. However, we still yell out: “Why me, Lord? ... Why?”
The Lord is in control. He is the Great Potter molding us into vessels of honor. He is the Great Gardener pulling out the weeds that don’t belong in our lives. “What a privilege it is to know that … I am a field under heavenly cultivation ~ not a wilderness but a garden of the Lord, walled by grace, planted according to a divine plan, worked by love, weeded by heavenly discipline, and constantly protected by divine power.” ~ Charles Spurgeon. We might think something like this: “Sure this sounds all good and easy, but this thing that I am going through no one understands.” It’s true that I might not have gone through the trial that you are going through and you might not have gone through the trial that I am going through, but God knows our pain. He suffers with us. He bears our burdens. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” ~ 1 Peter 5:17. This means that he takes our pain upon Himself. He removes it from our heart, and places it on His; and in return He replaces our fears with peace. Just as a loving father protects his child, so the Lord protects us. “Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.” ~ Psalms 42:8. In times of adversity and heartache, we need to continue to remind ourselves that God is in control and that He loves us and cares for His children. Remember God always gives us the strength we need when we tap into it. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9.
Practical Application:
~ Get alone with the Lord, even when you don’t feel like it.
~ In times of trouble keep key verses with you.
~ Remind yourself of this truth every time you begin to question… “Why Me?” Why me Lord? Why did you allow me to hear the Gospel? Why out of Billions did you reach down your hand to me? Lord, when I think about how narrow the road is to heaven and how broad that road to Hell is, I have to question… Why. Why did you allow me passage on the narrow road? Is it not but for the Grace of God?
~ Ask God to use this trial to reach the lost around you.
~ Remember: Keep on Keeping on and Don’t quit on God!

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I know I am to continue to serve in the areas that the LORD has me serving right now. I can’t quit those things. I must hold fast in the service of the LORD. Where He takes me from here I do not know. One thing is sure; God’s design for our lives is to live in His Higher Calling. There is no other way to live. “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn of Thy statutes.” ~ Psalms 119:65.

Chapter Four God's Higher Calling - The departing to mediocrity.

2010-06-03T18:10:00.000-07:00

“Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again,” ~ Jeremiah 31:21a
God's Higher Calling is a day by day thing. It's a daily setting your heart on Christ. Sometimes I think we focus so much on the outward physical that we miss seeing the inward heart. What does God emphasize? “And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,” ~ Deuteronomy 10:12.
It doesn't take much to let your heart grow cold and worldly. “Sin will take you farther than you want to go and leave you longer than you want to stay.” We don’t just wake up one day and say to ourselves: “Self, I think I’ll stop living for the LORD today.” But what we can and most often do is we slowly let the World creep in on us. Ever play Shutes and Ladders? This was one of my favorite games as a kid. Many times I’ve thought of how the Christian walk is like a game of Shutes and Ladders. Each time we yield something to the LORD, we take a step forward. During Christian camps and revivals these are the times we come to a ladder in our life and we go up for the LORD. But each time we take our life in our hands and say no to God, we shoot back down. Remember that one shute that takes you all the way down to the beginning? You’re just about to win and you hit that shute which plunges you all the way down. The Christian life can be compared to that, if we chose not to obey the LORD, we just keep shooting back down. Just as in the game we end up moving our piece over the same blocks we had already traveled, so it is as we climb back up in the Christian walk, we end up having to be taught the same lessons.
Just a little distraction can misplace our focus off of the LORD and on to ourselves. A friend once told me that in everything we do we need to guard our heart, keep our testimony, and take everything to the LORD before we do it. This may sound right and true, but just as we cannot know our heart without God’s guidance; neither can we keep our heart on our own! “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” ~ Jeremiah 17:10. It is impossible for us to keep our heart, we have to give our heart to the LORD. It is an every day occurrence. Every day, we need to cast down thoughts, and put our hope and trust in the LORD. It is a struggle to stay focused on the LORD and when we let self rein in our hearts it is impossible. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the LORD Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” ~ Col. 3:17. I often warn teens about wrong relationships. But it doesn’t matter if your 13 or 30, we all must guard against having a wrong relationship. He wants us to spend our season of singleness focused on Him!
This is our season of singleness; we must not waste it! Remember God is trying to make us to be all glorious within. “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” ~ James 1:3-4. We can’t see God’s perfect plan for us. Maybe, God is working on us now, to make us into marriageable material. Whatever the reason, God’s plan is perfect. “As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.” ~ Psalms 18:30
~ From Singleness of heart
I’ve seen so many wreck their lives because of a guy or girl relationship. I thought back to when my older sister was a teen and how her life started down the path of destruction. It started out so innocent. I remember how my sister and her best friend would talk about boys. They would tell each other who they liked and giggle every time the guys came into the room. They encouraged each other to like guys, by over exaggerating things that would take place. They daydreamed about the different guys. They prepared their minds to do the worst because they didn’t cast down the thoughts. Instead they encouraged the thoughts to remain. And from there they both headed out to the world. Both got pregnant at an early age. Though my sister received Christ just months before she died, she lost the chance to live her life to God’s fullest potential. She died a month after her 29th Birthday. My dear friends please watch your thoughts! It may start out so innocent but it ends in destruction. “Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.” ~ 1 Corinthians 7:1. Don’t think for a moment that you can handle it. God placed this in the Word of God for a reason. We can’t handle it. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” ~ Psalms 1:1.
Egypt is a picture of the world and worldly desires. All it takes for us to go down to Egypt is thought in the wrong direction that goes unchallenged. “That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!” ~ Isaiah 30:2. We need to challenge our thoughts. Our thinking can lead us into trying to fix our own lives. “A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” ~ Proverbs 16:9. The word deviseth means to invent; to contrive; to form in the mind by new combinations of ideas, new applications of principles, or new arrangement of parts; to excogitate; to strike out by thought; to plan; to scheme; to project; as, to devise an engine or machine; to devise a new mode of writing; to devise a plan of defense; to devise arguments. Is this how you want to run your life? “And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.” ~ Genesis 13:10. Do you think God directed Lot’s steps or does it look like Lot devised his way? All it took for Lot to move away from the presence of God was one look. Lot’s life progressively grew worse and worse. He missed out on so many of the blessings of God all because he didn’t challenge his thinking. When we think we need something or want something so much and we pursue it with all of our heart, refusing to hear all the warnings around us, we better watch out. Our thoughts that we are dwelling on are most probably not of God. Lot only took a few steps out of the will of God. It wasn’t a huge leap that destroyed Lot’s life; it was just one small step at a time.
The climb back up to where God would have us to be is never easy! During Summer Camp of 2005, God showed me an illustration of how the world claims our hearts. He gave this to me the day before I left camp. It was an illustration I had seen when I was a teenager. To do this illustration I needed a dress. And not just any dress, I needed a dress that was precious. I brought with me to camp my high school graduation dress. I had no intention of destroying the dress when I brought it. But during one of the messages God required it of me. To have the full effect for this illustration the dress would have to be cut bit by bit… piece by piece. The following is what ended up being called….
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The Dress Devotional:

"The Value of Beauty"

How many of you wake up in the morning and say to yourself, “how can I make myself look as ugly as possible?” Not a one of us.

See this box, isn't it pretty? Name will you open this for us? (she toke out a tiara, necklace, slippers, and lace handkerchief) Now, which is prettier the outside or the inside? Answer: The Inside. "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is fare above rubies." ~ Proverbs 31:10. When we look at this verse, what is it that we see about this woman? Answer: The Inside.

(I held up the flower decorated box) It's ok to look pretty; there is nothing wrong with that. But what is on the inside is going to shine forth to the outside. 1 Peter 3:1-4 - The key in these verses is not what the woman is putting on but what is in her heart. What is one thing that you have to give to the Lord; if you do not have this, you would not have anything? Answer: LIFE.

You have a little bit of life that God has given you, what are you going to do with it?

2 Kings 4:1-6 - The widow with the little bit of oil.

I have this little Bit
It's all I have this Little Bit
To pour it out
Oh How it would spoil
It's all I have this little Bit

I have been told that I must pour it out
And I will receive all the more.
Oh, how I want to shout!
It's all I have this little bit.

To pour it out would cost me great
Can I not keep it safe this little Bit
Oh what shall be my fate;
It's all I have and no more

I've shut the door expecting no more
Then only what is on the floor
So quietly into the vessels I pour

And from this lesson I've been taught
That God can use a little bit
And give more than I could ever wrought
I must give my little Bit!

When you give your little bit to God, God can use it and give you more than you could ever imagine.

(I held up a beautiful dress, white lace shimmering). “Let's say this dress is you as a saved young lady. This is your life.” (One of the girls had scissors in her hands ready to cut).. “What happens when?” (As I list these things; picture as she cut into a white lace dress; with each thing I say she snipped).

You stop singing in church
Laugh during the service
Looking around during service
Back talk
Give in to peer pressure
Think about Boys
Have wrong friends
Wrong hobbies
Vanity
Pride
Selfishness
Rebellion to parents
Gossiping
Jealousy
Flirting
Wrong music
Country music
Bad movies
Letting things of this world take the place of God
Snippet remarks
Worldly standards
Wrong thinking

(By the time I had finished saying this; the dress was destroyed; the girls were silent... When my helper first started cutting they had been screaming “No don't do that!” Afterwards they were quiet.)
I looked at all their faces and held out my hands and said, “You have this little bit of life what are you going to do with it. You can either use it for self and look like this dress or use it for God.

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The next night there was a bonfire with all the teens and I took the dress along... One of the girls got up and explained the whole story of the dress, because most of the boys did not know of the dress devotional. When it was my turn to speak, I got up and picked up the dress and said “This dress was beautiful but it’s not anymore... We started out saying this dress represented a saved person, but what I am about to do represents a lost person’s life.” With that I tossed the dress into the fire... it began to melt and soon began to burn. I continued, “All those things that you hold on to now are going to burn away and you will burn forever in hell. Don’t think that you can live for yourself now and someday you’ll get saved. God has given you just a little bit of life that you have on this earth. Don’t waste it. In my hand are the buttons from the dress; if you will take the little bit of life that God has given you and give it back to Him; He can make you Ladies into something beautiful and for you guys, He’ll make you into godly men of integrity”.

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When God lays something on are heart to do and we say no, we are showing that we have let Pride rise up in our hearts. God cares about the inward heart more than our outward appearance. “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” ~ Proverbs 16:18. Pride will keep us and hold us back from going forward. Fear of the unknown will challenge our faith and if we are not careful we will let these thoughts take us down a path we do not wish to walk. The root of bitterness will chain us and destroy us. These are all doors out of the Will of God. The Will of God is not a destination but rather a path. There are many doors of distraction off of this path. These doors of distraction all lead down to Egypt. “And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:” ~ Genesis 26:2. The LORD has a much better land for us to dwell in. Please avoid Egypt. Watch your thoughts, guard against thoughts of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” ~ 1 Corinthians 9:27. We must continue to examine our motives. Examine them through God’s glasses – The Word of God. Ask the LORD to direct your steps. Yield every area to HIM and avoid devising your own way!
Continue to seek out God’s Higher Calling! The LORD isn’t done working on me to which I am so grateful. He loves us so much, how can we not give him our best. When we chose to live for self, we are leaving God’s Higher Calling. God’s Higher Calling is the Will of God. When we are out of God’s Will, we cause our Savior anguish. I do not know what tomorrow will bring, but I do know this: No matter what may come my way, I want to continue to go up HIGHER!!!!
“Just some old wounds”
Looking down at His children below
Angles surround Him in Heavenly glow,
Christ sees His own failing to run the race,
Then comes a look of pain on our LORD’s face
“Are you all right, LORD?”... Says a servant that was slain.
The Lord replies, “Just some old wounds causing me pain.”
So remember this, blood bought child,
When you fail to live for Him and abide,
And you’ve thrown good away for the wild,
Christ cries when you walk to the other side.
He paid the price for you
All He asks is for you to yield yourself.
That is all you need to do,
Choose Christ and leave self on the shelf!

Chapter Three – God’s Higher Calling: All Other Ways Derailed

2010-05-15T16:12:00.000-07:00

Chapter Three – God’s Higher Calling: All Other Ways Derailed
“I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto Thy testimonies.” ~ Psalms 119:59

What is the best life for us to live as a Christians? “For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.” ~ Proverbs 8:35. God’s Higher Calling is that life and when we live it, we obtain favor of the LORD. But how do we know when we are living God’s Higher calling and when we are not? Is each individual right or is there a Higher Standard that all Christians everywhere need to follow? And how do we know what that standard is, if there is such a thing? This is where the HC Test comes in. What is the HC test you might ask? The HC Test is the Higher Calling Test. This is the Test that determines if everything we do and say, everything we wear and every place we go is apart of God’s Higher Calling. The HC test also shows where our hearts truly lie. If an issue fails to pass the HC test, that issue needs to be discarded. If you can’t discard it, then you have chosen not to live God’s Higher Calling! Remember Solomon? His wisdom was not from himself. Remember how he asked God for wisdom and God gave it to him? That wisdom was never rightfully Solomon's, but rather something God had loaned to him so that he could lead God’s people. When the Queen of Sheba visited him, instead of proclaiming all that he had was God’s, he took the credit for everything. He allowed other people to think the wisdom was his own. At the end of his life, his heart was turned away from the LORD and he made many unwise choices and God punished him by telling him that the kingdom would be divided in his son’s reign. Solomon didn’t leave behind a beautiful legacy. He could have, if he had given God the praise and been faithful in serving God all the days of his life. He started out so well, but he did not finish well. And he was the wisest man that ever lived!

Are we our own? “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” ~ 2 Cor. 6:9. Since we are not our own we need to be checking ourselves to make sure we are not living like we are our own. Take any issue such as contemporary Christian music, country music, movie theaters, and modesty and apply the HC Test. All of these issues, I’ve heard referred to as the gray areas of the Christian life. It’s the attitude “What’s good for you, doesn’t mean it’s good for me” or “What’s bad for you, doesn’t mean I can’t do it.” “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” ~ James 4:17. Ever use this verse with this attitude? “Hey, I don’t know its wrong, so it’s ok, I can do it.” or “God hasn’t shown me it’s wrong and I’ve prayed about it.” Here is the ultimate test… just give it up. So what if you don’t know if it’s wrong or not; everything about you should be God’s. Therefore everything needs to be given to God. Give all the gray areas in your life to God. We base the idea of what a gray area is upon our own thinking. But our thinking has a source. The source for our thinking is either God or the Devil. Remember Peter, how he proclaimed that Christ was the Son of God. “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” ~ Matthew 16:17. But then shortly afterward, Jesus said this to Peter after Peter rebuked Christ: “But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offense unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” ~ Matthew 16:23. Gray areas are not from God. Gray areas are nothing more then an excuse that Satan uses to keep us from going up higher. They are weights that we need to set aside. We need to savor the things of God and so many times the gray areas savor the things of man! Ask yourself who does this issue honor? If it is questionable is there really any question of what needs to be done with that area of your life? So many times, we view issues with the excuse that there just aren’t enough verses for that topic to be sure that that issue is wrong. However, if there aren’t verses to back up your opinion, the issue is wrong and not the fact that there aren’t enough verses for the issue. The HC test is a simple question: “Is this apart of God’s Higher Calling, is it going to help me to live a holier set apart life for God or is it going to keep me where I am?”

The Modesty HC Test:

Does what I wear state that I am a Christian called to live a higher standard? “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;” ~ 1 Peter 2:9.

“Dad, is this skirt modest?”
“Modest?... yes.”
“Does it say bad girl?”
“No, not bad girl.”
“Does it say, God’s Higher Calling?’
“No”
Though this father was right in telling his daughter that the skirt wasn’t apart of God’s Higher Calling, another father might believe that it is fine. Our standard comes from the LORD. He has set the standard for modesty. I’ve heard all the arguments and I’ve used them myself. Arguments such as: The Bible doesn’t tell us exactly what is right when it comes to dress. Or I just don’t feel that there is anything wrong with _____ (fill in the blank.) It doesn’t matter whether you think something is wrong or right, what matters is whether or not you are willing to give that thing up to God. Want to know if you are willing to give something up? Just give the thing up! If it is apart of God’s higher standard, He’ll bring it back into your life but guarantee He’ll use your willingness in being yielded to Him and cause you to grow. Everything needs to be given to God because you belong to God. If a lady is unsure if pants are wrong, she needs to give them to God. My pastor’s wife told me to bag my pants and get rid of them; soon the desire to wear them would go away. And it did, until I let them back in again. As harsh as this may sound, pants on ladies open the door wide to lowering standards in other issues besides dress. I’ve seen this personally in my own life every time I brought pants back. A few years ago, I again started wearing pants and last year I realized that I was not willing to get rid of them. I was holding it to myself proclaiming, “No, no, God, you can’t have them!” It was not something I actually said or necessary thought, but in my heart not being willing to give them up, I was demonstrating that attitude. You want to go up higher? Look into the mirror, and ask God if what you are wearing pleases God. In January of 2006, Mrs. Amy Heinz, missionary’s wife to Chile, told the teens this exact thing. I sat there as a counselor and thought to myself that I was ok and did not need to ask God about my dress. God was trying to get a hold of my heart in a gentle matter, and when that didn’t work he showed me the hard way. If you really want to go up higher, give everything to God. Go through your wardrobe and anything that does not say God’s Higher Calling, get rid of it!

The Music HC Test:

“Does my music say God’s Higher Calling?” “Does the music coming from my car sound recognizably different from those around me?” Satan uses music to grip the Christian’s heart and keep him from living the Christ centered life. It’s a slow process. First, one starts listening to contemporary Christian music and then the “positive hit” type of music along with Country, until they are so far into music that they can’t even see why it’s wrong. Movies today are so infiltrated with music. I have very rarely tuned my radio to a rock station, but I have listened to the songs on movies and found myself liking them. And then when I would be searching for a Christian station, I’d hear a song from a movie and leave it on that rock station. I had come so far without even seeing the effects of where my choices had taken me. I also found songs that had Christian words and thought they were good Spirit filled songs. I found myself listening more and more to songs by the praise and worship bands. I started listening to the WORD FM which plays some contemporary songs but mostly rock. I wasn’t a hard core listener of contemporary Christian, Country or rock, I was a dabbler. And it was destroying my walk with the LORD. You want to know if your living God’s Higher Calling put your music through the HC test.

The Movie HC Test:

Are my movies and what I watch found in God’s Higher Calling? “The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.” ~ Psalms 11:5. God says that those that love violence his soul hates. Where does that put those who say: “I love action films”… “It just has a little bit of violence.” What about this one? “Violence doesn’t affect me.” What about watching things that are morally wrong? Movies where people steal and get away with it? In fact, in the movies it is considered cool that the characters pulled off the perfect heist. One of my favorite movies is Gone in 60 seconds. Let’s see, the moral of the story, a kid gets in trouble and his brother bails him out by helping him steal cars. It’s a glorified auto theft story! Not something I need to be filling my mind with. It’s not going to cause me to live a holier life for Christ. “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.”~ Psalms 101:3. You see that last part of the verse; it shall not cleave to me. You want to know how not to have sin cleave to you, stop filling your mind with sinful thoughts through movies. Movies will tell you how to dress without you even knowing. They tell you what to listen to and it creeps in unawares. “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”~ Col. 3:2. We are to set our affection on things above. Set means to fix; to render motionless; as, the eyes are set, the jaws are set. Our eyes are supposed to always be fixed upon looking to those things which are above, and we are to guard against our eyes wondering to those things below.
I had high places in my life that I refused to remove. “Save that the high places were not removed:” ~ 2 Kings 16:4. These places were things that were more important than God and placed above God. My father would often tell me that the TV was a god in my life. I didn’t like that and usually would become very offended. I would often give movies up for a while and then bring them back in. I would try to stay away from movies with innuendoes and yet I always thought I could just fast forward a bad part because after all I’m not watching it. “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” ~ Proverbs 6:16-19. We are not to even look on devised wicked imaginations. I think these verses describe so much that is on Television rather well. Television shows are another down fall in the Christian life. Cable is like opening a portal to hell. I know it is harsh, but I’m preaching to the choir! I liked shows like CSI and House until I stopped watching them for a while and tried to watch them again. They are filled with trash, better yet they are trash! We get so complacent when it comes to such junk. Christians revaluate what you are watching. Give it up for a while and I’m talking months not weeks, and then try to watch the show again and see how far you have come! If you are truly a child of God you will see all the filth that is on the Television. I did not see why I needed to give it up until I thought on how controlling the television as been in my life. It is a high place that needs to be torn down. “He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made:” ~ 2 Kings 18:4. I still like a movie once in a while, but I am aware of the control they have on me. “Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.” ~ Proverbs 4:15. What we put in our mind will affect how and what we think! The beauty of God’s Higher Calling is that God is continually teaching us. There are things this week that God’s taught me. I could have remained where I was by not obeying the LORD. What if I hadn’t yielded that which the LORD required of me? Instead of going forward, would I have taken two steps backward? I was going also discuss the topic of movie theaters, yet I don’t think I have to, because Christians that are living a higher standard won’t go to movie theaters. Movie theaters don’t cause us to live God’s chosen life for us. I do believe that there is a balance. Not every Christian is on the same level as another, we all are still growing and we all our in different stages of our Christian life. There are times of purging. There should be times when we do not turn the television on. And yet if we watch TV, we should always do so in moderation. Being careful of what we let in. Try reading your Bible before you put on a movie it will help you put God first over the Television.

The HC Test derails our ways:

There was a train that thought it was too limited because of the track it was on. It could go back and forth on the track but what it longed to do it could not. For that little train as it ran up and down the line would longingly look out at the fields and the towns it would pass. “I wish I could venture off the track and visit the places this line doesn’t go. Oh, what adventures I would have!” One day, there was a breach in the line and the little train saw its chance. He sped full ahead and with all of his effort he jumped track. He was so excited at his triumph that he didn’t realize what had happened. For when he tried to move to have all those wonderful adventures, he found his wheels stuck fast. Without the track under foot, he had become immobile. So it is in our lives, when we leave the track God has for us because we think we are being limited. And we find that we, like trains, were made for a specific purpose.
The state of being godly is found in Psalms 91. Here we see that all other ways of the so called Christian life are derailed. This is the only way we are to live. This is the Christ like way. This passage has references to Christ. However, it also is a message to us on how we are supposed to live. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Remember, Moses up on that mount? The Bible says that he talked face to face with God as a man talks with to his friend. Moses was in the secret place with God. He was in the place where God could talk to him. Remember, where the people were? They were down at the bottom of the mountain unable to go any higher.

Am I in God’s secret place? “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” In the secret place with God, is a place of protection from the world. “Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.” The world has a lot of snares in which to trap us and there are many noises in which to turn our eyes away from the LORD, but if we are living in the secret place with God, He keeps those things from taking over. He delivers us!

Who am I trusting in and where am I resting? “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” Under His wings, under His wings, Who from His love can sever? Under His wings, my soul shall abide, Safely abide forever. “Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.” Terror by night ~ this world has a lot of terror by night. As I watched my family leave for Arizona in 2007 this thought came into my mind: “There go my protectors.” My brothers have always been my protectors; my brother, Jeff especially. I have never felt afraid when I was with him, except maybe when he was driving. A few times, after they had gone, I found myself afraid. A sound in the night could make my heart beat wildly. But you know what I also found? When I began to pray and rest in the LORD’s protection, it was as if He covered me with His wings of protection and I could rest in that fact. But what about the arrow that flieth by day? Any verses come to mind? How about Ephesians 6:16. “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” When we put our faith in the LORD and make him our trust, we will not be overcome by the Devil.

Am I purposing to avoid complacency? “A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.” All around others may want to live in mediocrity but we need to purpose that we will live in the Secret Place with God. But “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” ~ Daniel 1:8. There is a message that Bro. C.R. Curtman preached at a youth camp. He called it the king’s meat. The king’s meat is anything that comes out of the World. Anything! He warned about what the king’s meat will do to a Christian. The king’s meat quenches the Holy Spirit. This is why before camp, parents are asked to make their kids turn of the outside worldly influences such as the Television and Internet. But they shouldn’t just turn it off before camp but after camp. Bro. Curtman’s main question was, “Why do teens make decisions at camp that only last for about a week?” The answer: “The king’s meat quenches those decisions and keeps the individual from living a victorious Christian life.”

Is the LORD my habitation? “Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;” so many times, we as Christians are inhabited not by the things of God but rather the things of the world. Is the LORD your habitation? Is that where you can be found, or do you have to come out of your habitation – the world to spend some time with the LORD?
How’s my fighting in this spiritual warfare? “There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.” These verses are talking of Christ, but I think they can be applied to us. First of all, God does give us angels to protect us. They fight the battles we cannot see, for we are in a spiritual warfare. “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.” ~ Daniel 10:13. Secondly, God gives us the ability to have victory over sin. And the strong holds of Satan can be pulled down in our lives. “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)” ~ 2 Corinthians 10:4.

Whom do I love? “Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.” ~ Psalms 91:13-16. These verses define what it is to be called up higher. It is having a love for God so great that it causes us to cast down all other ways. It is calling upon God first when the trouble comes! Not trying to fix it ourselves and then run to God when all else fails. It is being satisfied with having nothing but the LORD. And it is yielding to God every area of our heart! So my dear friends, what are the areas that God is requiring of you? What are the areas in your life that no longer hold any face value? Has your life’s way just been derailed?

Chapter Two: God’s Higher Calling: Our Duty

2010-05-08T20:06:00.000-07:00

“Make me to understand the way of Thy precepts: so shall I talk of Thy wondrous works.” ~ Psalms 119:27

Why is God’s Higher Calling so important? “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” ~ Romans 8:12-14. God’s Higher Calling is important for us to live because it is our duty! We are debtors to God. God made us His own and He bought us with a price. “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” ~ 1 Cor. 6:20. As God’s Children, we are bought with a great price and our lives are not our own. How we often forget this, and live for self and selfish motives. Maybe, we try to appear like we are living the Christian life in order to get the praise of men. The Pharisees in the Bible lived their life for the praise of men. Christ called them hypocrites. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.“ ~ Matthew 23:27.

Duty is that which a person owes to another; that which a person is bound, by any natural, moral or legal obligation. It is our duty to live a higher standard. We are to do our duty by continuing to give back our all to Christ. “Our all” would be every fiber of our being. Someone once said, “Life - put your heart into it.” If we are really truly living the Christian life, we will put our all into doing right. If we really want to put our heart into life, then we must first define what LIFE is. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” ~ John 14:6. Jesus Christ is our Life. We need to put our full heart into serving Him. God’s higher calling is our duty. We are to be faithful by doing our duty which is avoiding meritocracy, and living a higher standard.
The word “Duty” has the same connotation as the word obedience. “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;” Ephesians 5:6. We need to obey God’s higher calling for our lives. God’s higher calling is not meant to be drudgery, but rather it is to be a delight and our hearts desire. We ought to have a delight to go up higher no matter what it may cost! Because remember, we are not only supposed to do our duty but we are to exceed it! “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” ~ Luke 17:10.

God’s Higher Calling is not only for the stage of singleness but it is for the married stage, the stage of motherhood and fatherhood, for the stage of youth and the elderly. It is for all stages of life! I’ve heard these phrases used: Singleness-God’s Higher Calling, and also, Motherhood-God’s Higher Calling. But which one of these is correct. Which one is God’s Higher Calling? The answer may surprise you –Neither! God brings each individual to a stage of time in their life and in each stage each individual is to be living God’s Higher Calling. It is not the stage of life that is God’s Higher Calling but rather our entire life is supposed to be a life set apart to serve God in a higher standard of living. I wrote this in my Bible after I was approached yet again for being single… “My duty is not to get married or to stay single, but rather to do what God has for me in the time He has given me to do it.” In essence, my duty is to obey God, live apart from the world and continue to be teachable so that I can continue to go up higher.

What does God have to say about our duty? “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. Oh my dear friends, God has a precious plan for your life. He formed it with his own hand and longs for you to obey his every command. God’s Higher Calling is not something we can make a one time decision to do. “Yes, from now on, I’m going to live God’s Higher Calling.” Oh, It may start with that thought, but it is a daily thing… a moment by moment thing. “And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,” ~ Deuteronomy 10:12. God’s Will for our lives is to live our lives in the fear of the LORD. We are to daily walk in all His ways; this includes loving Him with all of our heart and serving Him with all of our Life. This is exactly what God’s Higher Calling is all about. It is not a one time decision that we make and never think on again. Why is it that so many can go to the altar and get things right, but when they wake up on Monday morning they have forgotten all about the decisions they made? I’ve been there as I’m sure you have too. The answer really is not that difficult. To have complete victory and to stay consistent with the decisions made, there has to be a daily renewing of the mind. The Battle for life starts in the mind! What you think will effect what you do! “Sow a thought, reap a deed. Sow a deed, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a Character. Sow a character, reap a Destiny.” ~ Pastor Hammett.

How can we avoid mediocrity? “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.” ~ Romans 12:2. Every day and yes, even every minute the world is trying to conform us. We are being feed information from the world every time we step out the door. I’ll never forget one year at camp, I had to run out to the store midweek into camp. My mind had been surrounded by God’s Word, godly messages, and godly leaders. As I walked into that store, I felt like a “peculiar person.” The feeling that I didn’t belong flooded my soul. “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” ~ Titus 2:14. I also was aware of the shroud of ungodliness that surrounded me. All I wanted to do was get out of that store. I felt as if every one of those lost souls had a demon on their shoulder and I walked in with two angels of light by my side. I soon heard cursing and rock music and thoughts began to flood my mind. Why? Because the world is trying to conform us and Satan is trying destroy us. He wants to keep us from going up higher. Oh, God may use a mediocre Christian, but He can’t use them to their full potential. But the Christian who is living God’s Higher Standard He can use to their fullest and above their own full potential! A preacher once gave this illustration: “God has every one of His people in his dishwasher of sanctification. He often comes and pulls one of us out to use but if we won’t let the dishwasher clean us and we remain dirty He can’t use us and puts us back in to be re-washed. The dishwasher represents trials that God puts us through to purge us of our sins, but if we won’t yield things to the LORD so He can clean us, we won’t be used!”

How can we live the Christian life to the fullest potential? “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.” ~ Romans 12:1. We are commanded to be holy. It is our duty to be holy. We have to renew our mind daily! It is not just a one time thing! I bring this up again because we live as if we think holiness and victory are something we get a hold of once at the altar, but that is not where we get holiness. It starts in the mind not with some action, but with a reordering of our thinking.

How do we renew our mind? The Sunday School answer, Read your Bible, pray, memorize Scripture and meditate on it. We hear these words so often. However, we could do some of these things and still not renew our mind. Let’s go to the wilderness shall we. So many men were taken out to the wilderness to learn life lessons. Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days. John the Baptist lived in the wilderness. Elijah, Moses, Joshua and Philip all spent some time in the wilderness. I can’t say I’ve spent time in a real wilderness. I did spend some time hiking with my family out in the dessert of Arizona. And from these hikes, God gave me a picture of what it is to renew your mind daily and how trials lead to a sweet close walk with God…

The Necessity of cool clear water in the wilderness ~ We started out each with a bottle of water in hand. Some of us grabbed our water from the fridge and some of us grabbed our water from the pile of water bottles sitting out. Even though, we had walked only for a short time, those of us who did not have refrigerated water soon found our water not to be just warm but hot. Though it was wet it was not thirst quenching. The Word of God is our water. It is in the wilderness of life that we need that fresh cool view from the Word of God. This takes time. But time seems to escape us and we find ourselves racing to read anything in the Word of God just for the sake of reading it. The water is wet but because we don't take the time to ponder and meditation on the Word of God and what God has for us, it does not quench our overly dry thirst.

The Longing for shade in the wilderness of life ~ God's Presence and Prayer, without these two things we will never be able renew our mind with the Word of God. When the things of this life have compassed around us and we are in the wilderness where the sun is pounding down this is when our time with the LORD can be the sweetest. “Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” ~ Jeremiah 31:2-3. This verse speaks of God loving us and drawing nigh to us. “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” ~ James 4:8. “Purify your hearts, ye double minded,” we can do this only when we are in communion with God. If we let our thoughts whether good or bad run our life, we will not hear from God. “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” ~ James 1:8. Our thoughts will keep us from doing what God wants us to do. We need to bring every thought before God. “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” ~ 2Cor. 10:5. When we get to a place where we are continually yielding our thoughts to God, we will find such rest and peace. God wants to cover us with His wings. He wants to protect us from the World. “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” ~ Psalms 91:4. It is under His wings that we have sweet communion with Him. “For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.” ~ Isaiah 51:3. This is such a precious verse, because the wilderness can be a place of distress and great grief and loneliness. But when we look to the LORD and begin to fellowship with Him in the midst of the wilderness, it is as if the sand becomes grass, trees spout up, a stream appears, and soon before you even know it you’re standing in a peaceful quiet oasis just you and the LORD.

Chapter One: God’s Higher Calling Defined

2010-05-06T19:54:00.000-07:00

“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law.” ~ Psalms 119:18

What does it mean to go up higher? “But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself:” ~ Psalms 4:3. First, it means we are separated to the LORD. Secondly, we are not just separated but we are separated for a purpose… the purpose of godliness for Christ. Thirdly, since we are separated this means we had to come away from some thing or some place. At the time of Salvation, God takes us off the broad way that leads to destruction. We no longer are to walk in the way of the World. We now are to be walking down a new road… growing with each step we take. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”~ 1 Peter 2:2. As a baby grows, they learn to lay on their stomach and then they wil start to roll over. From there the child will begin to push up using their knees and then they begin to craw... from there they start to learn how to walk. So as a baby begins to grow in a step by step process, so we too begin our new life as a babe; growing and then crawling and on to walking. Then there comes a time when we get to a place where we feel we don’t have to go any farther. This place is the place of complacency or mediocrity. This is a dangerous place to be.

We must ask the question are we at a place of complacency or mediocrity? “But if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” ~ Hebrews 10:38. This verse is not just referring to those that turn back to the world by some drastic measure. It is also referring to those who refuse to go any farther for God. In a sense, they are drawing back because they aren’t perusing God’s Best and Higher Calling. It is so easy for a Christian to remain where they are. If they remain there for too long, they end up going backwards. If a person isn’t going forward, they are going to draw back. This does not just happen to individuals but to whole families. They let circumstances overwhelm them. Until one day, someone is asking: “Hey, whatever happened to so and so.” Well, they use to sit in the front rows and then they moved to the far back rows. Until, one day, they were just gone. What happened? They let circumstances stop them from serving and began to come late to services and leave right afterward. At times it looked like they purposely avoided talking to people by making a b-line for the door. How do I know this? My family and I were there. In fact, we had let our circumstances overtake us to the point that we were up and moving! We were running away. I’ll never forget how God stopped us from going. We were all packed. Boxes were every where. My father was on the phone with his soon to be new boss, when I heard him say: “Sorry, I can’t do that, guess it’s not going to work out.” My father had been lead to believe that the small business he had would be bought out by the new boss. But the deal fell through and we ended up unpacking. The Lord knew that if we had moved that day, we would have still been living a mediocre Christian life and not God’s best plan for our lives.

Are we satisfied in our comfort? “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.” ~ Psalms 119:1. God wants us not to sit in our own comfort, but rather He longs for us to keep drawing near to Him. It is a place where God can have clear communion with His own. As Moses had to be called up to a mountainous place to get alone with God, so must we go up higher. Examine your life; are you in a place of comfort? Are you noticing a decline in your life from the things of God? Are you finding yourself thinking that you use to be involved and you use to serve, but are no longer involved? Maybe your still serving but you find that you just want to stay were you are and not go forward?

Which way are we going to chose? Path number one: “And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD.” ~ 2 Chron. 17:6. Path number two: “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” ~ Proverbs 14:12. Man is walking in a path. Do you know the song: “Just two choices on the shelf, oh what will your choices be… Pleasing God or Pleasing self, Oh, I would more like Jesus be.” We have a choice to make and there are only two paths to choose from. There is man’s way and the end of that path is death! And there is God way and the end of that path is an eternal relationship with God. These Paths may sound similar to the paths of Salvation and eternal damnation. But I am talking to Christians! My dear friends, every day you make a choice to either chose your own path, or let God direct you in His Higher Calling. “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.” ~ 2 Chron. 16:9a. Those whose heart is perfect toward God, these are apart of God’s Higher Calling.

Why is God’s Higher Calling so important? To answer this question another question must first be proposed. What is God’s Higher Calling?
It starts with Galatians 2:20 ~ I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me

Every Christian is called to be crucified with Christ. It is a command. But so many Christians neglect to obey. We are not supposed to settle for less then God’s best. But what is God’s best for us? God’s best is so simple and yet so many refuse to live that way, because it costs! What does it cost? The answer is Self. Another dreadful word that we often hate and it is another reason why Christians refuse to do God’s best. That word is Change. God wants to root out and adjust things in our life so that we can live the Christian life. You see, the Christian life is God’s best for us and yet we cannot live it for this life is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ lives this life through us but only if we are yielded to His Holy Spirit working through us. This is God’s higher Calling and it is the only way we can live the Christian life.

This higher calling isn’t just for Pastors and leaders and Sunday School teachers, but it is for all Christians! To settle for anything less then God’s Higher Calling, is to settle for a mediocre life. Not even a mediocre Christian life, because based on the definition of the Christian life… any thing below God’s Higher Calling isn’t Christian. “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.” Romans 12:2. Anything of the World is not apart of God’s Higher Calling. It’s not Christian! And therefore what we put in will conform us, what we wear will conform us, what we see will conform us! “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” ~ Col. 2:8. The world spoils us. It stops us from serving and from doing our duty and from obeying our heavenly Father! I see so many people that claim to be Christians living this fake, empty life, calling it Christian. I am tired of seeing people dress worldly, talk worldly, walk worldly, act worldly, and still claim to be one God’s own. But I have been there.

I have been there, I have let the fashions of the day tell me what to wear. The movies tell me what to think. When I filled my mind with all this fluff, it looked so right and I did not even see how wrong it was. Then one day, I asked the LORD to show me my blind spots. I did know what would happen when I prayed that. They say don’t pray for patience for you will get trials. Well, let me tell you, if you don’t want trials, don’t pray that God will show you your blind spots. “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” ~ Job 23:10. And through the trials, God enlarged my heart to have a desire to go up higher and live Christ’s Christian life.

What weights are we carrying? “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” ~ Hebrews 12:1. There are many weights that we can be carrying and we just don’t see them as weights. These weights were things I considered not really having an effect on my Christian life at least not to a great extent anyway. They weren’t something that I thought was wrong, just maybe something not every Christian should do. After a friend began to point out some things she saw in my life, I began to realize that I was not where I use to be and not even close to where I should be. But thank the LORD, He was not content with my being there.

He took me through some fiery trials. He wanted to root out the dross and show me what the weights that needed to be cast off. But that was just the Beginning. For at this time, I could not see nor hear God’s higher calling. It took a trial of utter exposure of the Soul and Spirit and less then a year’s time to break me and get me to a place where I would be able to be molded. Do you know that song? “Break me, take me, mold me, and make me. I want to do Thy Will, O LORD.” We sang this a lot at teen camps before a service. And I for a long time loved this song. However, there was a time in my life when this song scared me. Deep down, I knew how far I had drifted. Instead of looking at myself and realizing that I had brought me to this lower standard of living, I blamed my circumstances. And I might have been justified in doing so according to the World’s standards.

For those of you who think you have arrived or that you are indeed trying to live the Christian life, Beware! Please be careful not to criticize or look down on others because their standard is lower then yours. God is possibly teaching them things that you do not know. Pray for them, for God to show them where they need to be. Beware of this attitude: “I’m not as bad as those over there, LORD!” This is not God higher calling and you are not living it, if you criticize and look down on others. If you are living a higher standard, this does not guarantee that you are living God’s higher calling. I’ve seen many a lost soul living a higher standard and they are lost and not apart of God’s higher calling. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” ~ 1 Cor. 10:12.

If you are to approach someone, be prayed up. Make sure there are no beams in your eye. Never approach someone in anger or with harsh words or false facts. Be honest about yourself with that person. If God has shown you something that you are learning in your own life, share it. If you can’t share it, then don’t think you can help a person by approaching them because that is showing a Pharisee attitude. Beware of Criticism. Criticism often is nothing more then Gossip. I have criticized, thinking I was doing good and I didn’t help anyone. I hindered more then helped. Criticism is not discipleship, it destroys! Had it not been for the LORD teaching and guiding, I could have let criticism destroy my life. I wonder how many people my criticism of others has effected.

For those of us who have criticized, pray for that person. Ask God to continue to work in their life and pray that what you’ve said won’t hinder the work of God. And for those of us, who have been criticized, don’t let it hinder you. Satan is going to bring back every harsh and hurtful thing that was said at the oddest times. Guard against bitterness. People are going to fail and you are going to fail others. Watch what you say… Gossip, criticism, jealousy, bitterness, backbiting, fear of other, shunning others is not apart of God’s higher calling! “Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” ~ Gal. 5:21-23. Don’t criticize, Encourage! Encourage them in love. We are to have love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. We are to show these things to others!

God can use the criticism of others, to bring about a sweet and wonderful change. You have to be willing to be broken and molded. A self pity attitude will stop you from going up Higher. This is where Satan wants you to stay, in a place where you feel that you are not worthy to serve God, so you quit! For a while, I was there. I quit on God because I let criticism stop me. Because every time I started to serve, harsh words from the past would come echoing back in. I am thankful for the trials now, because had I not gone through them, I would not be hearing God’s call to go up Higher! I pray that God will give you the ears needed to hear God’s Higher Calling. There is no other Christian life to live then that of God’s Higher Calling. There will be those that want you to remain as you are, and you might lose their friendship. But I ask you this, what is more important: Your friends’ opinions or God’s great call for your life?

God's Higher Calling Introduction

2010-05-06T15:30:00.000-07:00

Dedicated to my beloved Sisters in Christ:
Joanna Byerly, Joycelin Byerly, Emily Rogers
and Rachel Frederick.

And In Loving Memory of
Brandi Byerly

By Jennifer Byerly

There is a Higher Calling

The Path is stretched out before me;
Oh the faithful, continuous Journey.
We are called always to be steadfast;
A faithful heart that shall forever last.
We are called to be continuously sober;
Serious and true, a heart fixed forever.
Oh, there is a bitter-sweet higher calling;
That only comes from God’s bringing.
Oh, who will go up higher?
The call comes loud and clear.
Oh, who will have a zealous fire,
To carry God’s Good News with fear?
It’s not an easy pathway to trod, my friend;
And yet there are rewards around the bend.
But the greatest reward shall forever be,
When my Savior’s face I clearly see.

The Written Word

2010-05-06T15:13:00.000-07:00

“While the spoken word can travel faster, you can't take it home in your hand. Only the written word can be absorbed wholly at the convenience of the reader.”

And on this note I feel that it is time I once again start writing. Over the past 12 years I have often taken up my pen in hand and made an attempt to write several books. I finished exactly two of those books. The rest have been left in a folder on my computer called "books I am working on" ... sad I know. Yet I think it is time that I attempt to finish some of those books if not all of them. I believe that it would help if I type out each book chapter by chapter on my blog. Granted though I love to write, I am not proficient at editing. There will be many mistakes along the way. But if one never tries, one will never finish the task at hand. I will start with the book I started in 2007 called "The Mediocre Christian Life is it really worth living?" The title I'm unsure about... but the idea is what I want to drive across to all my Christian brothers and sisters. In this day and age, we live such self-centered lives that we miss out on the purpose and plan God has for us. The purpose of this book is to remind us of the simple principles that we seem to have forgotten. I hope that my starting this project will be a blessing to all those who read this little insignificant blog.

God Bless and remember take heart, my friend.

Proverbs 3:23

2010-05-03T05:09:00.000-07:00

"Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble."
Are you walking in God's Wisdom? Is the Lord directing your path?

What's Wrong With My Children?

2010-04-18T09:48:00.000-07:00

"He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal." ~ John 12:25.

If God asked the Question: "What's wrong with my Children?" What do you think His response would be? ... Would it be something like this?...

"What's wrong with my Children?"
................................ They love their lives in this world. Maybe if we understood who our Savior is and maybe if we feared him more, we would live purer lives. We as Christians seem to tread on God's grace, because we sin and then we think "Well I'll confess it afterward." We have adapted a confessional way of thinking. Only instead of Hail Marys and Lord's Prayers, we state "Father, Forgive me for such and such." And if perhaps we silently listen, we would hear a still small voice in the back of our hearts whispering "you knew better, yet you did it anyway... you are treading on grace."

"What's wrong with my Children?"
................................ Few are willing to give their all for the love of Christ. Christians are satisfied living like the lost forgetting what Christ saved them from. We are too busy living for the things that moths and dust will corrupt!

"What's wrong with my Children?"
................................ They are too busy living for self instead of Christ. Even Christians need to surrender their lives back to Christ. Even we as Christians! We need to put our lives back in His hands and depend on Him. Are you living as a Christian so you can save your life here in this world?

"What's wrong with my Children?"
................................ They are more worried about others opinions than the Lord's opinion! Are you a living sacrifice? Your plans, ambitions and goals need to die!

I wonder if God asks this question when He looks at His Children? I wonder what He sees? If we could just get a glimpse of that vision, what would we change? What would be different? In this world, everything changes with time, yet God never does? So why do we think that the things stated clearly in the Word of God aren't for today? And maybe we don't say this out loud but we live that way. These are just things that the LORD has shown me these last two days. We are not where we need to be! And if we act less and prayed more, Oh what a difference we could make. Too many times, we do things out of duty and we aren't plugged into God's power. We just skate by. I wonder if many of us are just heading to heaven by the skin of our teeth. We are saved through Christ's blood, but we aren't giving anything back to Him for all that He has done. My friend, if we try to save this life we will lose it! "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:" ~ Matthew 16:20.

Like A River Glorious

2010-04-05T18:43:00.000-07:00

When things seem to hard and life has me down. I find the words of this song a great comfort and encouragement. In the darkness of days and in the deepest of waters, I know God's hand is always near and His peace is amazing! So dear friend if you are facing a trial, you think you cannot bear... Remember this... God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think. And I don't know about you but I think of a lot of ways that would make things better. Yet God knows exactly what we need and it is always above what we could even think or imagine. So trust Him! Look up dear friend and take heart!

Like a river glorious, is God’s perfect peace,
Over all victorious, in its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth, fuller every day,
Perfect, yet it groweth, deeper all the way.

Refrain

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.

Refrain

Every joy or trial falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;
We may trust Him fully all for us to do.
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.

Refrain

“They Come In Threes”

2010-02-15T06:40:00.000-08:00

Ever hear the expression, “Troubles come in threes”? I wonder if that is what the disciples were thinking in Matthew 14. Here the setting is set and the plot thinkens. Matthew 14, opens up with John the Baptist being beheaded. Our Savior hears of it and goes out to a dessert place with his disciples. However, the multitude followed them. Jesus’ heart moves with compassion toward them. Can you imagine what our Lord must have felt as he hears of his cousin’s death? The pain he must have carried. And yet he had time to see the multitude’s needs. Jesus asks the Disciples to give the people food in the midst of all the turmoil they were facing. They must have been questioning themselves and wondering if they were going to be beheaded too. The cost of following the LORD at that very moment must have been so evident to them, and the Lord knowing all this points the disciple’s eyes to the multitude. Our Lord then performs the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. Afterward, Jesus commands his disciples to go across the sea in a ship, while our LORD goes up into a mountain to pray. The disciples are out in the sea rowing when out of nowhere came a mighty storm. The little ship is being tossed in the waves, the wind is blowing against the ship. All hope is lost. Or so it seems. “And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.” Can you almost see their faces, I wonder if their thoughts did ask this question: “What Next?!” I know that’s what I would probably be thinking. Look at Our Savior’s reply. “But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. I want you to see something that the LORD showed me today.
1. The first thing that occurred was John the Baptist was beheaded. This must have left the Disciples feeling unsure and wondering if they and Jesus were next.
2. The second thing that occurred was after they traveled to get away, the people had followed them. And instead of Jesus turning them away, his heart moved with compassion toward them. The Disciples not only must have been tired but they must have been a little wary of people. What was to stop anyone of those people from turning the Disciples and Jesus in?
3. After Jesus feeds the multitude, he sends his Disciples away. Do you think they really wanted to get in that ship? Would you want to get in a ship and row across the sea after you had just lost your friend and been working all day? And on top of all this, a storm comes and then they see a man walking on the water.
Here is what I want you to see. The first two things God allowed but the third one He ordained. The third trial was to teach the Disciples to look at Christ and let go of their own reasoning.
Yes, sometimes things comes in threes, but all along the way, Christ is staying “It is I; be not afraid.”
Look up dear friend when you face a difficulty. Hope in the LORD, He is thy rest!

"Cry Out To Jesus"

2010-01-01T10:27:00.000-08:00

"But Unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with Healing In His wings." ~ Mal. 4:2

To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
when you said goodbye

And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right

Chorus

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus

For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on
They lost all of their faith and love
They've done all they can to make it right again
Still it's not enough

For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains
You try to give up but you come back again
Just remember that you're not alone in your shame
And your suffering

Chorus

When your lonely (when you're lonely)
And it feels like the whole world is falling on you
You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus

To the widow who suffers from being alone
Wiping the tears from her eyes
For the children around the world without a home
Say a prayer tonight

Chorus

God Never Moves Without Purpose Or Plan

2009-12-28T20:49:00.000-08:00

There is much sorrow in my heart regarding my Grandmother's passing. I feel I must be strong for my whole family. I see my mother and my heart mourns for the "what ifs" she must be facing. Yet in the distance in my distraught heart, I hear "Where there is no more pain or sorrow." That is where my dear Gram is. How faithful the LORD is to us His children. God gives strength to the weak. And dear friend, I feel very weak and through it all I can feel God's hand guiding me. He has given me the ability to be strong. I believe that God is going to use my Grandma's passing to touch my Pop's heart. What an opportunity to speak my Savior's name and purpose to those around me. In truth, I am sad that my Gram has left us on my Birthday. However, she is HOME! Home with a sound mind! Home with no more pain! Home with Jesus! I miss her greatly, but there is no better place that she could be. No better place than at Jesus' Feet.

Thank you all for your prayers. You will never know until perhaps in glory how much your prayers and concern have touched our hearts. Mrs. Rogers said God was going to do something great today and to let her know what that is. Well, My dear Mrs. Rogers it is this: that God has given us so many people that Love us and Care about us. All of your prayers have been that special something that has helped bring us through this day!

My Testimony

2009-12-19T17:30:00.001-08:00

I grew up in a Religious home but there came a point in my life when though I was religious I realized that my life was not any different from anyone else. My first year out of my “religious bubble” is when I went from a Christian School to a public school. We had moved from New Jersey to Pennsylvania. Since we did not know of any Baptist Church in the area, we were out of Church for a year. During my Seventh grade year, I found myself making fun of others who said they were a Christian. I started doing the things I had been taught that were wrong. I had no conviction or guilt over the things I did. What good was my religion if I had no change in my heart? My parents realized that my brother and I were not acting as we should. We both started cursing and though we hid it, there were times when we would slip and curse around our parents. My mother began looking for a Baptist Church for us to attend. She came across a sign for a Baptist church which also had a school. We began attending church services regularly and my siblings and I were enrolled into the school. I was again able to “blend” in. But something seemed to be missing. I made a mental check list of all things I needed to do as a Christian. I was doing all those things on my list but still there seemed to be emptiness in my heart. There came a point when I realized what was missing. I had gone to church all of my life and yet there was a vital ingredient missing. Being a good person, going to church and even being a “Baptist” was not enough to fill the emptiness in my heart. My problem wasn’t with the things I did or didn’t do. My problem was with my heart. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” ~ Jeremiah chapter 17, verses 9 & 10. In the Word of God we are told that God puts it in every heart to know God. God wants a personal relationship with each one of us. But our sin causes a breech between God and ourselves. When I was eight, I knew I needed to be saved. (Note: “saved” and “salvation” are Biblical terms referring to the forgiveness of sins by God and the rescue of a person from the power and penalty of that sin. This is God’s requirement for everlasting life.) On Sunday, February 24, 1986, I was sitting in my Sunday school class and I wanted to be saved. So I was taken in the back room with a handful of kids. Someone prayed over me. I went away believing that I was saved. However I wasn’t. My life was empty. Empty means containing nothing; having none of the usual or appropriate contents. My so called Salvation testimony did not have any of the appropriate ingredients. For a person to be truly saved, they must have brokenness over their sin. I had never realized the greatness of my sin. If I was the only person on this earth, Christ still would have come and died for ME! My sin put Christ on the cross! “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” ~ Psalms chapter 51, verse 17. On October Twenty-ninth 1992, I yielded my life to God. I went into my room and tried to sleep, but could not! My heart was so heavy. I finally admitted that I was not saved and that I indeed was lost. I began to think of what Christ went through for me, and realized He did all these things so I could be saved. All those “good things” I had been doing were nothing but filthy rags. My little check list meant nothing to God. My being a good person meant nothing. I was a good person destined to spend an eternity separated from God in Hell. “But we are all as a unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags.” ~ Isaiah chapter 64, verse 6. In Bible days, a filthy rag was hung on a post outside the gate of the city. A leper then would use that rag. He would take the rag and wipe away his puss, and hang the rag backup on the post for someone else to use. If that is what my righteousness or good works looked like, how did God see my wickedness? “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” ~ Romans chapter 5, verse 10. I was an enemy of God. My sin caused a great gulf between myself and God, and my good works could not bridge the gap. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” ~ Romans chapter 3, verse 23. And the ONLY thing that could save me was the Christ’s death on the Cross! Before this His death held no value to me. It was just something I knew HE had done but it never meant anything to me. I NOW wanted God and I was ready to give Him everything… every area of my life I turned over to Him. I finally could not pray anymore. All I could do was look up and trust. It finally became clear; I had not been placing my trust in God. I had been asking God to save me and forgive me, but at the same time I was trying to think of everything that I had to do. Again I was using a mental check list, and this is not how God wanted me to come to Him. Finally, I saw Salvation as a gift, and not something I had to work to receive. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” ~ Romans chapter 6 verse 23. I had been making Salvation very hard, when it is really quite easy. Once I stepped out by faith, and admitted that I was lost, I then had godly sorrow over my sin. “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” ~ 2 Corinthians chapter 7, verse 1. When I finally saw myself as God saw me, then all I needed to do was trust. “That if though 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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” ~ Romans chapter 10, verses 9 & 10. After I had stopped praying, I looked up to the ceiling and I knew that the LORD had saved me. A peace rested in my soul. My prayer was not a perfect prayer, but my heart attitude was the one God required… a broken contrite heart willing to yield everything to Christ. Since that day I have had a personal relationship with God. I can talk to Him daily and hear from Him through His Word. I do not have emptiness in my heart, but rather my heart is full with Peace. I now want to do things that please the LORD and not because someone tells me to do them. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” ~ 1 John chapter 5, verse 3. I have personal convictions which I never had before I received Christ. I am so very glad the LORD saved my soul!!!

"What Are You Thankful For?"

2009-11-19T09:17:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, we handed out a flier in Master Club. The flier was an announcement for a special night coming up on November 18th. On the flier, I asked the kids to write something they were thankful for. They then were to bring it back on that night. Last night, we had our special thanksgiving night. Most of the kids brought back their paper and those who didn't filled out one when they arrived. Here are some things that the kids wrote:

I am thankful for...
"Family, Friends, Shelter"
"God"
"Jesus Christ"
"My Home"
"My Mommy"
"My Mom and Dad"
"The Food that is provided for us"
"Friends"
"Master Club"
"The True God"
"For the Soldiers that support our Country"

I am very thankful for the Master Club kids. And to The Parents that bring their children to Master Club, so that they can learn more about our Blessed Savior, who gave His life for them.

Dear Master Club Parents,

You know what I am thankful for... your kids. Each one of them holds a special place in my heart. It takes a lot of work to get these games ready for your kids. And I'll admit sometimes I get a little overwhelmed, but then I see the look on your kids faces when they step up those stairs, and I realize that a little effort goes a long way. So to you parents I say thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to serve your kids. They are truly a delight!

Are you thankful for your kids? Have you told them?

Praying for your kids,

Miss Jen Byerly

Ps. There is a bulletin board in the Peter Room with all your kids "Thankfuls" on it. Take time to take a look.

"Thankfulness"

2009-11-18T09:28:00.000-08:00

I am thankful for my friends and family
For all the Things God's Given to me.
I'm am thankful for Life that's free.

I am thankful for My salvation.
I am thankful for God's creation.
I am thankful for my Heavenly mansion.

Are you Thankful my friend, As Thanksgiving day is near?
Have you Thanked The LORD the creator for all that's dear?
For the ONE who died for you have you shed a thankful tear?

Remember this: God has been so good to us. He has given us many promises. He promises never to leave us nor forsake us. He promises to keep us in His hand and no one shall ever pluck us out of it. When things look to hard, and life has you down, look up my dear friend! God wants good things for us. He truly loves us! "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." ~ John 15:12-14.

Trust and Obey

2009-11-04T06:51:00.000-08:00

Read Jeremiah 32 to better understand this Devotional.

Jeremiah did what God said and bought his cousin's field. Only to find out that the land was shortly to be overthrown by the Chaldeans. Jeremiah cried out to God. He told the LORD that he did what God had asked of him. It was almost like Jeremiah was saying "Why God?" God's Answer to Jeremiah's cry was this: "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?" ~ Jeremiah 32:27.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you had obeyed God, but it wasn't turning out like you thought it would? And you found yourself asking God why? It is almost as if we obey God because we believe He is going to reward us for our obedience. Yet we should be obeying Him because we love Him. We shouldn't question God. However, we are fallible. Even Jeremiah questioned God. God knew this would happen. Look at the LORD's Reply. He said, "Behold, I am the LORD." The name Lord or Jehovah means the Existing One. God was telling Jeremiah, "I am the one in charge." God then said, "The God of all flesh." The LORD was reminding Jeremiah that He is the creator and that Jeremiah was nothing but flesh. The LORD went on to ask a rhetorical question. "Is there any thing too hard for me?" He told Jeremiah basically this, "Look, I am the LORD, the Existing One. Do you think you know more than me? You are nothing but flesh and I Am the One who created all flesh. Do you really think there is anything too hard for me to do?"

How about you child of God? Are you asking God why? Are you obeying Him because of what He will give you? Or are you obeying because you love Him? All The LORD wants from His own is for them to Trust and Obey!

"The Past"

2009-11-03T05:42:00.000-08:00

I cannot go back and undo wrong deeds done.
Looking back I find that I'm dwelling under the sun.
We cannot turn the clock to become young again,
None can change their past, no not even one man.

Remember Lot's wife, who with one glance she died.
Don't reflect on hurts or the tears you have cried.
Remember God promises He will with us dwell,
He is by my side and I know all is well.

Know this little heart, God Loves THEE!
Our God will forgive all your iniquity.
Set thine heart on His Highway!
Cleave to God's Hope this very day.

"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." ~ Jeremiah 31:3

"Vessels - Valor or Vanity"

2009-10-28T06:01:00.000-07:00

I came across this verse a while back "What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory," ~ Romans 9:22-23. During this short life of mine, I've seen many people fall. I grew up with three older siblings who left my parents house as young teenagers. I've seen them make a lot of wrong choices. And I've learned from their mistakes.

We all have made bad choices at one point or another in our lives. God can use those choices to mold and shape us. "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour." ~ 2 Timothy 2:20. No one wants to be a vessel of dishonour. But God can use vessels of dishonour to teach otheer vessels. And even vessels of dishonour can be broken and molded again. "And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it." ~ Jeremiah 18:4. The key to being changed is this "Be yielded to the Potter's hand."

As Children of God, we are to be holy vessels. But too often the World calls our name and we answer that call. We run to the World by listening to its music, its movies and its method of thinking. The World's philosophy penetrates our minds and consumes our being. Music plays a big part in brainwashing Christians. The sad sappy love songs make us long for a relationship. It's girl wants boy / boy wants girl themes cause us to dive into shallow relationships or worse. Everywhere we turn, the lights are flashing ... huge neon signs are telling us what we absolute must to have to live. The Word of God simple says: "Be ye holy, even as I am holy."

Today, I am saddened at the lack of concern we, as Christians, have for the things of Christ. The more we listen to the world music, the harder it is to listen to good Christian music. And We find ourselves thinking like the World. God took me out of the gutter when he saved me, why would I ever want to go back there? Why would I want to think that way again? Why are there so many boarder-line Christians? What is missing here? The Christian that yields their life to Christ is broken and molded into a vessel of honor. That Christian is a vessel full of valor. But the Christian that runs back to the World is a vessel of dishonor. They are full of vanity and pride. Dear friend, which one are you?

"Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD." ~ 1 Chronicles 22:19.

"Which in His times He shall Shew"

2009-10-27T05:55:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wanted to rush God's timing? Did you ever think God was taking His good old time and you wished He hurry up? Have you ever thought that you could help the LORD by doing your own thing. When we rush God's timing and when we take things in our own hands, we are ultimately saying to God, "I don't trust you, Lord."
1 Timothy 6:15 says, "Which in His times He shall shew, who is blessed and only Potentate, the KING of kings, and LORD of lords." In truth, We Can Trust The LORD with Our LIfE!!!

O foolish Christians, are your times in your own hand?
O foolish Christians, Alone? Do you think you can stand?
Weary friend, You act as if you are your own Master,
Not trusting God? You're setting yourself up for Disaster.

Can you not trust the Great, Almighty Maker?
Can you not see the Works of Our Wonderful Creator?
The LORD hath made all things beautiful in His time.
You think you can do much better than this God of mine?

Trust in the LORD will all thine heart, the Bible does say.
Are you still resting in you, or will you Go God's Way?
O Dear Friend, God knows so much better than you.
Let go, let go! Trust your life with the God who's TRUE!

"Speaking Things They Ought Not"

2009-10-26T06:39:00.000-07:00

Ever find yourself saying something you shouldn't? Ever realize that the conversation your involved in has turned to gossip or backbitting? Have you ever walked away from a conversation and thought "Lord, Why did I say that?"

In 1 Timothy 5, Paul addresses how the older and younger widows are to conduct themselves. Look at Paul's description of the older widows. "Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work." These older widows are praised for their good works. Paul proceeds to say that the younger widows need to remarry because they are prone to gossip and being busybodies. He wants them to remarry so that they "give none occasion to the adversary"... "For some are already turned aside after Satan." Look at the difference between the older widows and the younger. The older haven't let their circumstances get the better of them. The haven't become so ripened with age that they are rotten. No, instead they have used their time wisely to help others. Those older women knew that complaining about their circumstances wouldn't change anything. Instead, they were uncomplaining servants. The younger widows that "turned aside" allowed their circumstances to consume them. They were bitter and hateful. They weren't loving servants. They were cold, uncaring, cynical women.
The Bible says in Philippians 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice." And Philippians 4:8, tells us what we should think about so that we will change what we talk about. "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." 1 Thessalonians 5:8 says, "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation." Someone once said, We never PRAY for People we Gossip about and we never GOSSIP about people we Pray For. And let me add... We never really Pray for people that we don't love with God's Love.
If your tongue is out of Control... there is a problem with your heart. Where is your first love? Have you left Christ to pursue other dreams? When you get overwhelmed by your circumstances look at the characters in the Bible who faced great challenges. Look at those who overcame like Daniel. Daniel never complained, nor did he get bitter or critical because of his circumstances. Instead, He just obeyed God and continued where God put him. He did this without compliant. The attitude opposite of complaining is praising. Will you ask the LORD to help you reflect on His Blessings this week?

"More Than a Head Knowledge"

2009-10-26T06:22:00.000-07:00

For a long time in darkness I wandered,
Truth had no meaning the longer I pondered.
I did my duty and had my check list,
But there was no light found in the midst.

Then one day, I saw my eyes held no light,
They were closed and black as the night.
I finally yielded my ways to the LORD,
Putting my complete trust in God's Word.

More than a head knowledge now it is clear,
No more doubts, nor darkness; no more fear.
Now I can see; the light of truth did heal,
And I know, I know, Yes, I know it's real!

Dedicated to all those that recently have
come out of the darkness and into the Light.

Dreams.... hopes... wishes and waiting?

2009-10-23T07:57:00.000-07:00

Waiting... waiting is a huge part of the Christian Life. We have to wait on God for a lot of things... Such as, answers to prayer, God's timing, the right mate...etc. God wants us to wait, but while we are waiting, we should be loving others with God's love. In this time of waiting, we should not be pinning away or having self piety parties. This is a time when God wants to use us and direct us. While listening the radio today, I heard Phil Vischer tell his testimony on what happened after he lost "Big Idea"... He said his dream was gone. Everything that defined him as who he was had been taking away from him. He wrote about his experience after losing VeggiTales in his book "Me, Myself, and Bob"... One of things he says: "Sometimes God asks you to give up your dreams. He tests you to see if you love your dream more then God." Phil said that when "Big Idea" was gone, he realized that the only thing that matter was His relationship with God. His dream defined him, but God took his dream away to show him that his relationship with God was suppose to be the only thing that defined him.
I read 2 Thessalonians 5:5 this morning and the words leaped off the page at me. "And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ." And the LORD Direct YOU(r). Where is the Lord directing me? Where is He leading me? Am I listening? Or am I trying to do things my own way? Look at the rest of that phrase. And The LORD direct your hearts. God's needs to have our hearts. He needs to be our first love. Sometime we get ideas in our heads that the LORD may give us but He might require us to give those ideas back to Him. Christ needs to be our everything. God wants to direct your hearts into the Love of God. He wants you to rest and wait patiently on Christ. Let God take over in your heart. Yield your dreams my friend!

Ye Careless Women - Isaiah 32:10

2009-10-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

What does it mean to be careless? Webster's 1828 Dictionary states that carelessness is having no care; heedless; negligent; unthinking; inattentive; regardless; unmindful; followed by of or about; as a careless mother; a mother careless of or about her children, is an unnatural parent. When I think of carelessness I think of a house disorderly and un-kept with trash everywhere and a stink that penetrates the whole house. I recently was in Florida. One day, the Florida Newspaper showed pictures of a house so full of trash that it was amazing that anyone had actually lived there. Yet someone had lived there, a Floridian woman. I have never seen a house so atrocious in my life. Cigarettes were piled two or three feet high. There was not one part of the house that was not covered with pizza boxes, old food, dirty diapers and cigarettes. The Newspaper also took pictures of the bathroom and kitchen, these rooms looked the same as the rest of the house, except for a few more items.... Cleaning Products! Seems that this woman had good intentions of cleaning her house, but never got around to it. CARELESSNESS!

That house was in disarray because of that woman's carelessness. This was a physical home, but here is my question to you: "How is your Spiritual House?" When is the last time you or I did some spring cleaning in our lives? Have we gotten careless? It is so easy just to let sin slide... a thought fester. You know, that lady didn't one day have huge mounds of trash appear in her house. No, it was just neglecting to clean up one thing and then neglecting to clean up another... until her house had three feet of trash all the way around it. We need to check and guard all our thoughts. One at a time. If we get careless over time they will pile up. That house so full of junk was beyond an easy clean. The only way to get the stink out of that house would be to gut it and start anew.

Someone once said, "Keep Short Accounts With God." This means that you need to confess your sin as soon as you do them. But can I challenge you not to just keep confessing your sin on a daily basis, but to guard against carelessness? Keep so close to the LORD and capture every thought. Apply Philippians 4:8 to your life and you will begin to clean out the mess in your heart. "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 of Carelessness!

"He hath made every thing beautiful in His time"

2009-09-19T05:53:00.000-07:00

Everything Beautiful in His time? Are you facing something that you wish was over or maybe your facing something you wish had never taken place? Everything? Can every thing be beautiful in God's Time? I know when I face a trial, I try to find a way out of the trial. I put my effort into fixing the problem and fail to depend on God to wait it through. Proverbs 19:21 says, "There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand." Did you know that the trial you are facing is there for a reason? God is working and has a purpose for bringing that trial into your life.
"My Times are in Thy Hand." This little phrase became very precious to me in 2002. I was in Prague at the time. I had been there three months, and of course I wanted to stay longer. I did everything in my power to make that happen. But to no avail I had to return home. The day before I left, I came across this phrase in Psalms 31:15. "My Times Are In Thy Hand." I returned to the states the first week in April. Upon arriving at home I learned that my older sister was very ill. She passed away three weeks later. I know that God wanted me to leave Prague. I didn't know at the time why... but I left trusting Him, knowing that He had everything in His control.
God knows what is best for you. Have you placed your life in His hands? In the darkest of times, He will be right there... showing you the beauty of His Holiness. "And surely He has lead me along, and been more than my heart could every bear." ~ Bro. Lester Roloff.
Take Heart, My Friend, Everything is Truly Beautiful in His Time!

Blurry Vision

2009-09-18T06:36:00.000-07:00

For those of you who where contacts, have you ever put your contacts in and they were blurry? No matter how many times you tried to clean them with solution, you still could not get them to be clear? In the Christian Life, we can often have blurry vision. In Ecclesiastes, we find Solomon having a very strong case of blurry vision. One doesn't have to read very far in the book of Ecclesiastes to see that Solomon was very overwhelmed with the gift of wisdom that God had given him. In Chapter 1 - Solomon had an un-thankful spirit. He saw the Wisdom that God had given him as a burden. The Wisdom that he had probably brought a huge burden, but instead of giving that burden over to the LORD, he tried to drowned it out. In Chapter 2 - Solomon is drowning out his burden with mirth. In verse 9 of chapter 2, He states, "also my wisdom remained with me." He could not get rid of it. In verse 17, he comes to a place where he says "Therefore I hated life." His vision was blurry because he was looking at life under the sun, instead of looking at life through the eyes of the Son. Solomon had all the wisdom one could ever need or desire, yet he forgot where the origin of that wisdom came from. He even forgot why he had asked for it.

How terrible everything is when we have blurry vision. When we get our eyes off of Christ. Remember Peter? He was doing fine walking on the water that is until he took his eyes off of Christ. All of a sudden the waves looked too high. The sea was over whelming and Peter began to sink. When we look to our self and our own reasoning, we find that the waves look too high for God to overcome. The Darkness is darker then any natural storm. There are no silver lines and no day-breaks. The unclouded day will never been seen. And as Peter, we begin to sink into the sea... all because our eyes are off of Jesus.

My Friend, Take Heart! Look Up! Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith! Don't settle with blurry vision! Go to the Great Physician and get your vision fixed!

Your Idols May Be Broken And Cease....

2009-08-12T06:21:00.000-07:00

Idols? I don't have idols. There are no statues in my home to which I worship. I don't worship gods. I don't worship any god but the true God. I don't have idols, I don't place anything thing above God.... Or do I? Webster's 1828 Dictionary Definition States: "1. An image, form or representation, usually of a man or other animal, consecrated as an object of worship; a pagan deity. Idols are usually statues or images, carved out of wood or stone, or formed of metals, particularly silver or gold. 2. An image. 3. A person loved and honored to adoration. The prince was the idol of the people. 4. Any thing on which we set our affections; that to which we indulge an excessive and sinful attachment." Anything on which we set our affections... Do I set all my affections on the LORD God? Or are there things in my life that God doesn't have any control over? Do I place my friends, my family, and my own selfish desires over the LORD's will? Does my LORD have my affections or does someone else have them? I could be doing so much in the name of the LORD and it not be for the LORD. "I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." ~ Revelation 2:2-4. This church was diligent for the LORD. In all appearances, they looked to be on fire for the LORD. But God knew their heart. He knew they had left their first love. They were busy doing but it seems they started doing the work with the wrong motives. Motives such as: Duty, The Praise of Men, Image, Self-righteousness, etc.
Have you left your first love? Can you say that you are setting your affections on things above? Or are there things in your life that you have placed above Almighty God? I hope we will all purpose that our idols be broken and cease.

"If Thou Shalt Confess..."

2009-08-10T06:46:00.001-07:00

In my devotions this morning, I was reading in Romans Chapter 10. In my reading, I came across verses that are used individually in the Romans Road. In many Christian circles, the Romans Road is often the main used witnessing tool. Some may even go so far as to think that the Romans Road is the ONLY witnessing tool. However, there is something that doesn't seem to set right with me when someone uses just the Romans Road. And today, I think I have come to understand why. I used the phrase that these verses are "used individually" because the Romans Road plucks out a verse from one chapter and another from another chapter. It takes these verses out of their chapter and in reality out of their context and these individual verses make up the Romans Road. Romans 10:9 says, "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." This verse is one of the verses used in the Romans Road. This verse is also used as a rebuttal to the question "The Sinner's Prayer is not found in Scripture." Now bear with me, I am going somewhere with this. I believe that the Sinner's Prayer is very dangerous to use. I believe that often the Sinner's Prayer becomes in the minds of the lost and even in the minds of the saved... a Magic Prayer. Have you ever heard someone say, "I'm saved because I prayed the Sinner's Prayer." or "The Sinner's Prayer just confirms what is already in the persons heart."... ? These are things often said to justify why the Sinner's Prayer is a very good and needed thing. "Well, it says in the Bible, "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the LORD Jesus"... I always like to tell people, God gives the words to say. I don't have to give them the words to repeat. "Well, where is that in the Bible?" Today, I found exactly where "That" is in the Bible. I didn't have to look far, it is right above the verse that is often used to confirm the Sinner's Prayer. "But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is the word of faith, which we preach; That if though 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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." ~ Romans 10:6-10. God gives the words. God puts the words in the heart and gives the words to say. How easy it would be, if we all could have thousands of people pray the prayer and get saved. Just repeat after me and 1-2-3 your a Christian. But I'm afraid that too often this method is used and "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? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." ~ Matthew 7:22-23. Salvation is not complicated. God does the saving. He is the one that gives faith and repentance. But too many people are concerned with "fruit" that they lead many who do not even understand into a prayer and they never truly received Christ. "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." ~ Matthew 7:13-14. Remember our responsibility is to go and tell... we are not given the command to save. God does the saving!

"In Thy Presence"

2009-08-07T07:49:00.000-07:00

During Singles Class this past Wednesday night, I was struck with the idea that on God's Path there is so much to look forward to. At one point in the class, we expounded upon Psalms 16:11. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of Joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
Q: What do we find in this path?
A: We find Life, Joy, Pleasures... But stop and think for a moment. What else do we find? ... How about God's Presence.
God walks with us, when we follow His path. He doesn't just leave it on our own to find out where His will is.... He goes with us every step of the way.
In Proverbs 4, God says that "I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest, they steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble." God goes with us. He guides us. Such a simple truth. But in this day, when the world with all its glitter calls our hearts to stray, we need to be reminded of this simple truth daily. Sometimes in this Christian life, we think we need something more than a Sunday School answer to help us live. But it is those Sunday School answers that hold the most truth. Read My Bible and I will grow? That's so clique! Maybe So, But IT IS THE TRUTH!!!!! The Bible Clearly says we are not to be of the World. We are not to envy the world. "Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways." ~ Proverbs 3:31. You might say that you would never do ____ fill in the blank. But do you envy the world? Do you watch certain things and find yourself wanting ......? It all starts in our mind. What we dwell on will effect what we do. This is a simple truth that we who have grown up in Christian homes have heard time and time again. Yet it is a truth that we often ignore. We entertain worldly thoughts and then we proclaim... "I WILL NEVER DO THAT!" Are you so sure? How is your thought life? If we don't start with the simple truth of being in God's Word, we will not be able to walk on God's Path. And if we aren't on God's Path... We are on a path that leads to the way of the wicked. "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble." ~ Proverbs 4:18-19. "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away." ~ Proverbs 4:14-15.
A good beginning to walking on God's Path is by reading a chapter in Proverbs every day.
Those who want to walk on God's Path usually are walking on God's Path because they have purposed to do so simply by seeking God in His Word and Praying.

"But Thou Art The Same...." ~ Psalm 102:27a

2009-08-05T06:27:00.000-07:00

Over years people change. You and I change. We can change for the good or for the bad. We can grow more sweet or become more bitter with time. Time plays a important part in our change. Time causes us to grow older physically and mentally. Circumstances tend to change us. People tend to change us. Sin changes us. We are a constantly changing people.

Here are some Things about our Unchanging God. God is not bound by Time. Time can not change Him. Circumstances do not change God. There has never been a circumstance that has taken God by surprise. People cannot and do not ever change God. God is without sin. Sin can never change God. God is always the same. He was the same since before the beginning of time and He will be the same beyond the end of time.

So Why Does It Matter That God Never Changes?

1. Friends and even Family come and Go but God Never Leaves us. "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." ~ Deuteronomy 31:6.
2. There is not one person that is good all the time and yet God is always Good. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." ~ Jeremiah 29:11.
3. People make promises and break them. There has never been a promise that God has relinquished on.
PROMISES SUCH AS:
* "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us," ~ Ephesians 3:20.
* "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24.

I can't help but think of that Hymn Every Promise In The Book Is Mine. Just stop and reflect on the goodness of God today. Lift praise up to Him for being a wonderful God that is always the Same!

A Simple Truth Found in a Simple Psalm

2009-08-04T06:45:00.000-07:00

How often have we heard this Psalm especially around Thanksgiving. I remember growing up and memorizing this Psalm every November in my Elementary years. Psalms 100 ~ "Make a Joyful Noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." In reading this Psalm, I began to reflect on how often I neglect to give thanks and praise to God. Someone once said "Thinkfulness is Thankfulness." There is two roads that we can take when it comes to Thanksgiving. The first road is the one of Unthankfulness. When we are not Thankful, we are in return unthankful people. The end of unthankfulness can be found in Romans 1. Romans 1 speaks of a people whose minds are darkened and God gave them up to a reprobate mind. The start of their demise is found in Romans 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." There is a second path of Thankfulness and that is the road so often not taken. "O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." ~ Psalms 34:8. The Bible says, that the LORD IS GOOD! When was the last time I praise the LORD for His Goodness.
Here are some practical tips to walk down this road of Thankfulness:
* Remember Your Salvation
* Reflect on the Thankfulness Scriptures
* Remember the Past Victories
* Receive others by Edifying and Serving them
* Renew Family Blessings
* Rest in Spiritual Decisions

"What a Good God!"

2009-07-29T07:04:00.000-07:00

Psalms 92:15 says, "To show that the LORD is upright: He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him." Our God is a Righteous God. When I first read of this verse I thought of the passage where the LORD talks about how even worldly fathers want to give their children good things. "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" ~ Matthew 7:11. The LORD wants to give us good things. Psalms 92:15 - Reminds me that God has good things prepared for us along the way. No matter where God guides us... He not only goes with us but so does His goodness.
I love this Quote: "God will surprise you your whole life long, if you just stay on the Old Path." So often when I do things my own way, I fail to see His everlasting goodness. When I think God is taking to long to give me what I want, I begin to think I know better then God. Yet everything God does or brings into my life is for a purpose. Even better yet the things God doesn't bring into my life is for His divine plan. Someone once said, "Has it ever dawned on you that NOTHING ever dawns on God."
So when you think things aren't happening in your timing... When you feel like God doesn't care and your life is falling apart... Remember God is still a GOOD GOD who wants good things for His Children and it is always for OUR GOOD and for HIS Glory!

The Pillars of memorial

2009-05-27T09:35:00.000-07:00

"And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that one the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz." 2 Chronicles 3:17.
Have you ever wondered why those names for the pillars? Did Solomon choose Boaz to honor his great great grandfather? Who was Jachin? I was pondering this very thought and began searching the name Jachin. Much to my surprise, I found that I was asking the wrong question.

The names of the pillars were not named to honor man. Rather, the pillars' names cause the people to reflect and glorify God. On the right was the pillar named Jachin. When the people read that name, they were instantly reminded that the LORD established them as His people. When they looked to the left pillar, they read the name Boaz. They were reminded that in the LORD is strength. All the splendor that Solomon would accomplish would only be through the strength of the LORD.

These pillars were set up for a reminder of who God is and what He had done for His people. However, the people and even Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, would forget that. The truth is we all forget. We forget that it is the LORD who has established us. We forget that it is in His strength that we live. When we look to the right hand or to the left hand let us reflect on who our God is. He is the One that has given us the life we so foolishly claim as our own. We are bought with a Price. We belong to Him. Are we living like it?

The Past, The Present and the Future....

2009-02-11T09:57:00.000-08:00

The Past ~ Sometimes the past seems to enshroud me. Like a thick cloud that won't fade. Mistakes and Memories and faces come into the mind as if they were but yesterday. People I've said goodbye to and those who I never had a chance to penetrate into my heart.

The Present ~ When times like these come in, my days are spent in reflection. Hours spent in regret and shame. And I become useless for the cause of Christ.

The Future ~ Days of reflection cause my future to be bleak and uncertain with no where to turn and no place to run. I sink in despair with no hope.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

But in the stillness of my soul whispers the old hymn... In Times Like These
(Ruth Caye Jones - Mother Jones)

In times like these, you need a Savior
In times like these you need an anchor
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock

This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He's the one
This Rock is Jesus, The only One
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock

In times like these you need the Bible
In times like these o be not idle
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock

This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He's the one
This Rock is Jesus, The only One
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock

In times like these, I have a Savior
In times like these, I have an anchor
I'm very sure, I'm very sure
My anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock

This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He's the one
This Rock is Jesus, The only One
I'm very sure, I'm very sure
My anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock

With Christ as my Guide

The Past ~ is in the Past. Friends can be found there, Memories can hold such joy, and reflection can cause me to go forward.

The Present ~ is a new day of life. The LORD is here beside me, and He will guide me.

The Future ~ is full of Hope and Faith... Trust and Resting in the arms of my Savior. And there is no fear in His arms.

"For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." ~ Psalms 84:11.

With Just One Touch

2009-02-03T09:16:00.000-08:00

With just His hand, He touched a dying land.
With just one touch, He did so much!

The Lame could walk and the Blind could see.
The dead were quickened and the devil made to flee!
Christ took Wisdom and understanding and sealed it into a willing heart.
He gave strength to the weak and power to those falling apart.

With just one Word spoken, the bind of sin was broken.
With Just a finger, The power of His spirit did linger.

Christ blesses all who are on His side.
He gives hind's feet so they do not slide.
He provides forgiveness to all who call,
And picks up all those who fall.

With just His hand, He lifts up those who are on sinking sand.
With just one touch, He did so much!

Our cup He continues to fill every day,
And Joy Our Savior gives for us today.
To Know Him Better, He draws us near.
Our every cry He does wait to hear.

With Just a Word He does say, He Guides us along the way.
With Just a finger still, He points us to His will.

In a bottle He places every tear,
Near the LORD, we have nothing to fear!
He Knows thee by name, cleave to the LORD!
Remember He is near, Stay in His Word!

For My Good and for HIS Glory!

2009-01-28T09:22:00.000-08:00

In a basic 1700’s home, the mother was known as the weaver. She taught her daughters who were called spinners. The mother would pass her trade down to her daughters. When one of her daughters would marry, that daughter would become the weaver in her home and pass the skill onto her daughters. A daughter who remained single beyond the conventional age for marrying was known as an old spinster. Spinster is not a term we hear often in our society and even the term old maid isn’t often used.

However, in Christian circles today marriage is the highest of callings. At Christian Colleges, women are prepared to make good wives for their husband; while the men prepare for the ministry. By the time a girl is ready to graduate at the age of 22, she should be ready to settle down and marry. And a ring should presently reside on her finger, while she prepares for that big day. The day she has waited all her life for. Yet if this young woman is still single at 22, she begins to regret her circumstances. She sees the “good” of all her friends around her. Couples are constantly lined out her window “talking” and yet she sits sadly inside waiting for her prince charming to come her way. By the age of 24, if this woman still remains unmarried, she begins to question what is wrong with her. She finds herself discontent and uneasy. She has remained at the college, hoping and waiting for some man to notice her. She constantly feels as if she is getting older and time is not being kind, stripping her of beauty while younger beautiful girls constantly are entering college and taking away her chances of ever finding true happiness. She pines away, discontented with her life and in truth discontented with the path that God’s has given her. She has regrets. She regrets being now 26 and unmarried. She has spent what she feels is a life time waiting.... waiting.... waiting. But then one blissful and happy day, he comes! They get married and now at 27 she is married and.... content... Or is she? She has spent the past 10 years wanting nothing but this. Yet now that she has what she has wanted all this time, she doesn’t feel the sense of contentment. Maybe she thinks if I have children, I’ll be content. She feels that she is getting older and needs to have children now because she doesn’t want them when she’s in her 40s. If only she had gotten married sooner... if only.... She has regrets.

As woman today, we are encouraged to marry. It is our highest calling after all. Or is it? How does a woman wait on God’s timing and still be content with her life? How does she wait and yet have no regrets with what God has put before her. Why is it that we must wait patiently for the LORD to do what He desires in our lives? What is His desire for our lives? Is it to get married? Is that His ultimate goal? At college it was stressed, that this is God’s plan for every young lady’s life. However, that is a wrong thing to stress. Revelations 4:11 says, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” God created us for His pleasure. He has a glorious individual purpose and plan for our lives. The LORD is making us to be more and more in His image. He takes us through purging and fiery trials to root out wickedness in our lives. We need to accept that God is up to something in our lives and that is ultimately for our good and His glory. Romans 8:28-30 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” God’s not done working on us. In God’s timing, He will bring the right man into your life but only when God knows that it will bring you closer to being what He has you to be. So how can I say at 31 and single I have no regrets? I know that God has guided my life. I can look back on my single season and know that I couldn’t have done anything different to change the state of my singleness. This is exactly what God has planned for my life and it is for My good and for His glory. How about you, dear friend, do you have regrets? Do you regret where God has brought you and what He has or hasn’t put into your life? Remember that no hurt is too deep that God can’t reach down and heal you. God’s love doesn’t always keep us from trials but it is a love that keeps us through them. Apply the healing ointment: The Word of God – Psalms 107:20 says, “He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” God’s Word is true – God keeps His promises. God’s Word is the truth that we should live by. I love this quote: “A Bible that is falling apart usually is in the hands of one who isn’t.” So my dear friend, don’t worry if by others’ standards you’re an old spinster. By God’s standards you are exactly where He wants you and it is for YOUR Good and HIS Glory!

"Like a River Glorious"

2009-01-24T15:46:00.000-08:00

Frances Havergal has to be one of my favorite Hymnist. She understood what it meant to give up all and follow Christ. She understood the true meaning of putting Christ above all... all family, all friends, and all her plans. And she understood where she could find true peace of mind and soul. She did not blame God for her sickly circumstance or her singleness. Instead she gave her life to Christ.

In full and glad surrender
I give myself to Thee,
Thine utterly and only
And evermore to be.
24 December 1873

The article below is taken from http://www.continuingcofe.org/havergal.htm:

It is hard to put into words the motions of the soul, and Frances was experienced with the pen. Let us be satisfied to know that she was brought into a deeper relationship with Jesus, to a fuller knowledge of His grace, and a more perfect trust in the grace of God.

For her the time from the end of 1873 to her death was the most peaceful part of her life, and when she lay dying she rested in the finished work of her Saviour Jesus, Whose blood alone could make her acceptable to God.

Her love for the Saviour shone through from the moment of her conversion to the moment she died. Her life of obedience is before us as an example of complete consecration to God. These are the things she sought to declare in words and song, as she who was ‘Kept for the Master’s Use’ gave herself in full and glad surrender to the One who had bled and died for her.

Like a river glorious
Is God’s perfect peace,
Over all victorious
In its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth
Fuller every day;
Perfect, yet it groweth
Deeper all the way.

Stayed upon Jehovah
Hearts are fully blest,
Finding, as He promised,
Perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow
Of His blessèd hand,
Never foe can follow,
Never traitor stand;
We may trust Him fully
All for us to do;
They who trust Him wholly
Find Him wholly true.

Stayed upon Jehovah
Hearts are fully blest,
Finding, as He promised,
Perfect peace and rest.
1878

"Who Am I?"

2009-01-22T10:22:00.000-08:00

In the Word of God there are a few men who said “Who am I?” Moses said, “Who am I?” in Exodus 3:11. “And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” But a few chapters over in Exodus 6, Moses doubts God and gives excuses. Moses said, “I am not....” He doubted what God could do with him. When I like Moses say but LORD, I am not, or I can’t... then I am full of self and pride. But when I say who am I... I am emptied of all that I think self can or cannot do. The attitude of “Who am I?” is an attitude of “I am NOTHING!” “This is not an attitude of “it’s all about me” but rather it is the attitude of “it’s a privilege and not a right.” When we say “Who am I?” to the LORD, He says to us “I will make you.” All through the Bible, God makes people into things they are not. David said “Who am I?” three different times. The first time was in 1 Samuel 18:18. “And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?” David said, “Who am I about my marriage?” The right perspective on marriage realizes that there are three groups: the me group, the my family group, and the my spouse’s family group. The right attitude is I don’t deserve this person. The attitude is of a humble sincere spirit before God. The second time David said, “Who am I?” is found in 1 Chronicles 17:16. “And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?” David said, “Who am I about my ministry?” David was lost in God through humility. To be lost in God a person must lose their identity. He must increase but I must decrease until there is nothing left of me and Christ has filled my cup. He has consumed my entire being. Thirdly, David said “Who am I concerning my money?” But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.” ~ 1 Chronicles 29:14. David embraced the fact that God told him no regarding building the Temple. David set his affection on God even thou he had to step down in position and let his son build the Temple. The result of his attitude was that the people offered willing and it caused them to rejoice. Our Attitudes affect others! What we say can cause others to rejoice or become bitter. Daivd’s attitude could have led the people to an uprising against God and against Solomon (God’s Man – God’s new King). But instead David’s “Who am I” attitude lead the people to a humble spirit. Are you asking God “Who am I?” Or are you tell God who you are?

God's Higher Calling Despite Adversity

2009-01-19T10:53:00.001-08:00

Trouble and Anguish have taken hold of me: yet Thy commandments are my delights.” ~ Psalms 119:143
“Moses and Daniel and prophets of old they were trusting God I’m told and He drew nearer to their troubled souls. Trials are worth more then gold. Through fire and water if that’s where HE leads I am willing go, if more like Jesus I’ll be, trials are worth more then Gold.” I wonder how many songs that I have sung that proclaim this same message and I wonder how willing I am to go through adversity? Could I say as Job said in the mist of trouble? “The Lord gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD:” ~ Job 1:21b. This was Job’s first reaction to adversity. What I wonder is our first reaction to trouble and trials? I know what I want to do when trials come that seem so over whelming and that I can’t bear them. I want to wallow, to have self pity and others attention. “Woe is me!” is the attitude I find myself content to have.

God’s Higher Calling is not just for the strong, the well, the financially set, and the emotionally stable. God’s Higher Calling is for the weak, the sick and the poor and the emotionally unstable. Two years ago I ended up getting Bell's Palsy along with Lyme's Disease.“The upright shall dwell in Thy presence.” I had no idea what would unfold on that day, but my Abba did. “But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day.” ~ Deuteronomy 4:4. My first understand of all this was that God has a purpose. I did not know what that full purpose was, but was I willing to trust God with this? Was I cleaving to the LORD? I had to remember that God’s got me! I knew I was in His hand. “Nothing ever takes God by surprise.” I once heard this saying: “Has it ever dawned on you that nothing ever dawns on God.”

So how does one face adversity? How is one supposed to live when all strength seems to fail? Joshua 1:9 ~ “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” A friend gave me this verse to dwell on. I’m so thankful that God gives us the right kind of friends that encourage us with scripture. The Word of The LORD was so precious to me over those days when I was ill. It has been no small matter that every day my devotions had a verse about being “quickened.” The word “quickened” means to be made alive; revived; vivified; reinvigorated. God gives us the strengthen we need to face each day. He gives us the direction in which to go and guides our steps along the way. Is it any wonder that Job was able to say? “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” ~ Job 13:15.

God’s Higher Calling seemed so clear to me that Friday morning, but by the next day I found myself wallowing in Self pity. My thoughts were something like this: “Should I rest and not do those things I know are required of me?” That night, I dreamed of the “Pattern on the Mount.” I dreamed that Moses decided to build the tabernacle his way instead of God’s. What might have seemed like a silly dream really wasn’t to me. My way right then would have been that the Bell’s palsy would be gone and that I would be instantly healed. But God’s way for me was that the Bell’s palsy would remain.

That Sunday morning in my devotions the LORD gave me this verse: “Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;” ~ Deuteronomy 4:9. God wants us to continue to go up higher even when we don’t feel like it. “You don’t want any adversity such as “Bell’s Palsy” to stop you from serving Don’t do what you just feel like… reach for God’s Higher Calling in the midst of adversity.” ~ Journal entry, August 5, 2007.

Little do we know what adversity waits around the corner. We do not know what tomorrow holds. What we do know is that whether the trail be cancer, blindness, bankruptcy, the death of a loved one, or Lyme disease… etc, we need to not quit on God. I have this quote written in my Bible from a guest speaker that preached a few years back. “I don’t want my last years, my last months, and my last weeks to dishonor God in any way for whom I’ve lived for all these years.” ~ Bro. Henderson. We are to live for God even in the mist of trials and troubles. If we quit serving, we will stop going forward for the LORD and sadly, we will find ourselves moving backwards away from His plan and purpose. God understand our adversity and our trials. I keep having this verse echo in my heart: “Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” ~ Luke 12:27. We don’t have to worry about all that will unfold with the adversity that stands before us. The LORD has us in His hand, all we must do is cleave to Him. I didn’t have to worry about when the LORD’s going was to heal me, I knew that in His timing and if He willed it He would.

“As you exercise God’s Higher Calling you’ll find your faith increasing.
Cleave to God! On this path continue to trod!
Seek God’s face! Despite adversity run God’s race!
Purpose to do God’s Will! Seek His purpose daily still.
Keep fast in prayer! Casting to God all your care!
Don’t quit on God! Persevere! Continue to faithfully trod!”
~ Journal Entry, August 5, 2007.

Remember this: “God is in Control!” Nothing can happen without God’s being in control! On August 8, 2007, I received a phone call from the Doctor’s office that confirmed that I had tested positive for Lyme disease. It was not something I wanted, but God knew that I would get Bell’s Palsy and I would have Lyme’s. He had a divine purpose in it all. “Will you let God use this situation to fulfill your purpose that Souls may be reached?” ~ From Sunday Night’s Message, August 5, 2007.
August 8
Confidence Not Misplaced
"The LORD God will help me"
(Isaiah 50:7).

These are in prophecy the words of Messiah in the day of His obedience unto death, when He gave His back to the smiters and His cheeks to them that plucked off the hair. He was confident in divine support and trusted in Jehovah.

O my soul, thy sorrows are as the small dust of the balance compared with thy LORD's! Canst thou not believe that the LORD God will help thee? Thy LORD was in a peculiar position; for as the representative of sinful men -- their substitute and sacrifice -- it was needful that the Father should leave Him and cause Him to come under desertion of soul. No such necessity is laid upon thee: thou art not bound to cry, "Why hast thou forsaken me?" Did thy Savior even in such a case still rely upon God, and canst not thou? He died for thee and thus made it impossible that thou shouldst be left alone; wherefore, be of good cheer.

In this day's labors or trials say, "The LORD God will help me." Go forth boldly. Set your face like a flint and resolve that no faintness or shamefacedness shall come near you. If God helps, who can hinder? If you are sure of omnipotent aid, what can be too heavy for you? Begin the day joyously, and let no shade of doubt come between thee and the eternal sunshine.

~ From C. H. Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotional.

“Why LORD?”
Written in 2002 after my Sister passed away

Sometimes in life we face difficulties and trials. Truth is we all have stories of heartache and pain. Many times we ask God: “Why, Why me Lord?” Sometimes the only answer we receive from the Lord is simply this: “Just Trust me.” In our human heart we cannot understand why God would allow these things to happen to us or to others around us. The pain that enshrouds our heart seems to choke out any understanding or peace that we so long to have. The statement “Trust the Lord,” seems to be something that is easy to say but harder to do. People that say this to us sometimes can make us feel like they have no idea what we are facing. They could not possible understand our situation. God’s grace seems so far and distant. We can feel alone and rejected. We just don’t see what the Lord is doing. If our eyes could be open to the spiritual realm, we would see that God has turned up the furnace of trials in our life to work out the dross that has been building up. We would see that every time we cry, God gently works on us and cries with us. God says: “Trust me, I have everything under control.” He hears our distant reply: “No, Lord! I don’t know what you are doing and the pain is too much for me to bear.” God has not truly left us; he is ever present with us. However, we still yell out: “Why me, Lord? ... Why?”
The Lord is in control. He is the Great Potter molding us into vessels of honor. He is the Great Gardener pulling out the weeds that don’t belong in our lives. “What a privilege it is to know that … I am a field under heavenly cultivation ~ not a wilderness but a garden of the Lord, walled by grace, planted according to a divine plan, worked by love, weeded by heavenly discipline, and constantly protected by divine power.” ~ Charles Spurgeon. We might think, “Sure this sounds all good and easy, but this thing that I am going through no one understands.” It’s true that I might not have gone through the trial that you are going through and you might not have gone through the trial that I am going through, but God knows our pain. He suffers with us. He bears our burdens. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” ~ 1 Peter 5:17. This means that he takes our pain upon Himself. He removes it from our heart, and places it on His and in return He replaces our fears with peace. Just as a loving father protects his child, so the Lord protects us. “Yet the LORD will command his loving kindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.” ~ Psalms 42:8. In times of adversity and heartache, we need to continue to remind ourselves that God is in control and that He loves us and cares for His children. Remember God always gives us the strength we need when we tap into it. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9.
Practical Application:
Get alone with the Lord, even when you don’t feel like it.
In times of trouble keep key verses with you.
Remind yourself of this truth every time you begin to question… “Why Me?” Why me Lord? Why did you allow me to hear the Gospel? Why out of Billions did you reach down your hand to me? Lord, when I think about how narrow the road is to heaven and how broad that road to Hell is, I have to question… Why. Why did you allow me passage on the narrow road? Is it not but for the Grace of God?
Ask God to use this trial to reach the lost around you.
Remember: Keep on Keeping on and Don’t quit on God!
I did not understand all that God was doing when I had Bell’s palsy, but one thing that is always sure; God’s design for our lives is to live in His Higher Calling. There is no other way to live. “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn of Thy statutes.” ~ Psalms 119:65. If you know someone going through affliction pray for them fervently. Take time to pray for them and take your eyes off of your own problems. When you pray count how many times you ask for things for you and how many times you ask of things for others.

I thought of Heaven today
And all of its Beauty and Splendor.
And longed to go away
To see My Savior so lovingly tender.

I long for a place where no more sin
May plague this heart of mine.
A place where fear and worry are not kin
And where truth and light forever Shine.

The more I thought on Heaven’s Light
The closer my heart drew near to Thee.
I thought of that moment when I behold Thy Sight,
And tears my eyes will no more see.

Then I reflected on This, my Life
And why I’m here today.
Living, breathing, and yes facing strife,
But praying all the way.

Will there be prayers up in Heaven, LORD?
And Will I cry in prayer over a soul?
Will my heart break in two as I cry over Thy WORD?
Will I rejoice in prayer as one is made whole?

Father, will I have compassion
And seek your face in prayer?
Or will Heaven be in another fashion,
A different type of Care?

I long for Heaven that is true,
But today my LORD showed me
That Prayers on earth may be few
But Prayers on earth must be.

So I shall be content here,
To pray and seek and live.
For others are very near
And my all I must willing give.

My Friend Take heart! Don't wallow in Self Pity. Don't Criticize others. Don't Blame God. Take Heart! Look To Christ! He has a purpose. Watch what you say!

"Around the World in 80 days" ...

2008-08-22T10:14:00.000-07:00

Not really :-) more like "Through the US in six days"

We headed out on Friday the 18th of August. While in PA, we avoided a car that blew out a tire. This reminded us to pray for safety and praise the LORD for His protection. We arrived safely in Greenwood Indiana after 10 hours of travel. We spent Friday night and the entire day of Saturday with family. Even went to a prairie town museum. Sunday, we ended up leaving later then planned but just in time to stream line LVBC's Sunday Service. What a powerful message that would help us through the rest of the trip, especially the part about going to God with the big stuff but trying to handle the little stuff on our own until we get so overwhelmed. In Indiana, my map-lover Cousin helped us pull out the atlas and plan our route. We knew we were heading to MO to spend the night with family friends. But there was a little mix up in translation. One of the traveling partners thought the place we were staying at was closer to Kansas City but in all reality it was in the opposite dangle corner. So we planned or route to Missouri and on through Kansas where the news is about cows and corn... I kid you not! On Sunday night, we spent the night at a family friends house near Poplar Buff Missouri. On Monday morning, very early we set out for our next stop in Colorado. We couldn't wait. Neither one of us had ever been in that state. A new adventure. :-) We drove up through Missouri and then on through Kansas. What a boring state... Sorry Pastor Hammett. :-) We arrived at Burlington Co... but to our disappointment it looked like Kansas. We planned on staying there Monday night and all day Tuesday. We then would leave Wednesday morning. Since we wanted to see the Rockies so badly we desided to drive to Boulder and spend the day there. It was so beautiful! We then left around 4 and headed back to the hotel. On Wednesday, we set out to go home. While driving through New Mexico, one of the traveling partners realized that we were passing right by our new found friends! :-) We just had to stop and stay the night. Thursday morning, we set out. We quickly realized that finding a rest stop in the west is very challenging especially one with a bathroom. At one point the GPS said continue for 186 miles.... Let me just tell you, there was nothing on this road. Not one gas station ... not one bathroom ... not one town. We made it home fine though without running out of gas or having any accidents of any sort. I also, want to add this about New Mexico. They really need to work on their service signs. For the blue sign might list four places for food but they forget to mention that you could go almost an hour out of your way to get there. Needless to say, New Mexico is special ... it holds a special family and in the lower region is a very specially brother who is in training as a Border Patrol agent. We pulled into Florence Arizona at 5 pm Az time. Tired but Happy :-)

"Thou Art my KING, O God:" ~ Psalms 44:4a

2008-07-26T07:30:00.000-07:00

When the dark tempest rise
Thou art my KING!
When storm clouds rush near
To Thee I will sing!
When surrounded by fateful lies
Thou art my KING!
When it seems nothing is clear
To Thee I will cling!
The Fire can't harm me
Thou art my KING!
Fear may try to have dominion
But Peace Thou doest bring!
The water can't alarm me
Thou art my KING!
Others may state their opinion
Yet I'm safe under thy wing!

O my God, THOU ART MY KING!!!!!!

God will provide!

2008-07-17T11:14:00.000-07:00

Though my faith may wavier, God will provide
Through endless labor, God will provide
When the storms of life set in, God will provide
And when I doubt and sin, God will provide.

My God never changes, He's always the same.
God never moves away from you and me.
When the skies darken and God seems far away,
It is you and I that are no longer in the way.

Though may faith may wavier, God will provide
Through endless labor, God will provide
When the storm of life set in, God will provide
And when I doubt and sing, God will provide.

Camp Battles, Burdens, Blessings, Benefits!

2008-07-05T09:22:00.002-07:00

I thought I'd share some of the blessings of camp along with a funny story! I believe God did a work. For a long time, I felt as if God was so far. I didn't understand why. Last year I was so on fire.... and then something happened. "BAM" (note the old batman style effects). I hit a trial. It was one of the darkest trails I've faced so far. Before I was so excited to press on for the LORD, but when it became unbearable to do so... and the darkness became to great to bear. I stepped back. I was living for God’s higher calling until this trial hit. "Wham" And I gave up. Oh the LORD was still there. Still calling me back. But slowly, I began to fail to feel convicted over things I did. And then found myself going backwards instead of forward. I gave up a lot of stuff last year after camp and I took them all back. I'm thankful for the message Pastor Preached on Sunday. I really went expecting God to work. And HE DID!

Day 1:

Message 1: Monday night ~ Bro MICK. "A perfect heart" "And he (Amaziah) did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart." ~ 2 chron 25:2. Decisions determine Destiny. Every Decision has a cost. Wants will cost you. Going half way is not finishing and is bad business. Amaziah made six decisions... four of those decisions were good and only two of them were bad. Amaziah obeyed God's WORD, Prepared for war, then made a carnal choice to hire Israel's men, then he listened to the prophet and trust God, but his carnal choice cost him and 3000 people died. Amaziah obeyed in Battle, but then mace a fatal Decision. He chose not to worship God but he instead took the gods of the enemy home to worship them. One bad decision ruined his life. When God destroys someone all he does is just leaves them to themselves. You can make the majority of your decisions right and still end up destroying your life. God wants your whole heart. Amaziah was half hearted. He only did what was right when it was convenient for him.

Day 2:

Tuesday's personal devotions. Q: Job 17:15 ~ And Where in now my hope? A: Job 18:25 ~ For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. (At this point, I still felt dead... unmoved... and uncaring... I knew something was wrong but I didn't know what was hindering me from going forward.)

Message 2: Tuesday morning ~ Bro. Chris Gable. Esau's life - four things about Esau's life that I need to ask myself. a. Do I desire to measure up or surpass the spiritual dedication of my parents? Your parents are a resource ask for advice. b. Do I share my innermost thoughts with my parents? c. Do I bad mouth about my parents or allow my friends to bad mouth my parents. d. Do I show my love for my parents? Proverbs 19:26; 30:17; 20:20. Practical things: Treat my parents with respect. Say thank you for the common things. Say I love you. Clean your room. (:-) that really was a point ;-) Spend time with them. (I began to make a list of things that needed to change in my life. But it was just a list and I had no motivation to change those things).

Message 3: Tuesday night ~ Bro MICK. (This was the turning point message for me, before this I was asking God what was it... what was holding me back... this was it) "The beginning of a really really really really really bad road" 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Zech 7:11-12 ~ they were hard hearted because they were unthankful. Modern Fables: God's word is compromised. Apostasy - the forsaking of truth and positions once held. Compromise in personal convictions: 1. Entertainment. 2. Music. 3. Appearance - trying to fit in with the newest fad. What does the Bible say.... What do you really believe about: God.... The BIBLE.... CHURCH.... ACCOUNTABILITY.... What you believe will influence you. What you look at, listen to and who you associate with will influence you. (Here is where the message hit home for me). Romans 1:21-25 - They were NOT THANKFUL! Not satisfied, vain imagination, became a fool, foolish heart was darkened, changed view of God, Changed truth... AND God gave them up to perversion. How did they get to that place it started with one simple thing. They had an unthankful spirit. Lesson one: Draw nigh to God and he will draw near to you.... Lesson two: turn away from God and He'll turn from you. (I had to realize that I could end up down that road... I could be the one that quit on God and ended up out of church. And Bro Mick said the end of that road was found in Romans 1. We don't think we could go that far but we can. And it all starts with being unthankful. I wasn't thankful. I was worn and sad. Consumned with life's problems... I had lost my joy. Remember what Pastor said Sunday if you have a bad attitude start thinking positive for 10 minutes and you'll have a good attitude. The same could say about being unthankful. If you have an unthankful spirit start being thankful for things and watch the change.

Day Three

(HUMP DAY - This was a bad day ~ I had a bad pressure headache and the devil was attacking all of us from all sides. He attacked in the area of unity. He worked to turn each us against each other and for a while it worked. But then God stepped in I was going to ask the girls to write down their name, team, age and one thing they won't have in heaven but decided against it... maybe the day would have been different).

Personal Devotions: One verse and a song: Job 23:10 - But He knoweth the way that I take: When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. "O LORD thou art my God, and who am I to walk without thee. What ever my lot what ever the cost draw me closer to thee every day. He knoweth the way that I take, a new heart within He'll create, that I might walk worthy and come forth as Gold he giveth and taketh away."

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Message 4: Wednesday Morning ~ Bro. Kenny Fryman. "It's not my Job mentality." Col 3:17-24. Developing a good and godly work ethic. God's command for it. Whatsoever ye do! God should get ht e glory for everything we do and everything we think.... in sports (if only I had paid more attention to this, cause God gave us the means to fight the battle but we failed to us it.) in ministry, in work and in being a godly example. 1 Cor. 10:31 ~ do all to the glory of God... that excludes some jobs.... Never work where alcohol is served and never work where you miss church or church activities. Never work where you have to give out ungodly materials or sell cigarettes. Deuteronomy 6:5 ~ And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Pslams 2:119 ~ Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. Proverbs 3:5 ~ Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Joel 2:12 ~ Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: Always work to the best of your ability, do more then required, if you can do more you should do more! There is freedom in the second mile... it's not duty. There is fun in the second mile. Work to the best of your capability ~ As to the LORD. We are ambassadors for Christ. An ambassador - one who acts in the place of another. Since we work for the LORD we should treat our employer like we treat Christ. Be on time ... that means five minutes early... be honest... Come to work ready to work. Work with sincerity ~ Eph 6:5. (I left after this point, because my headache was too bad.)

Side Note: I was in charge of girl games at camp. Let’s just say my attitude, along with the girls attitudes, and the counselor attitudes was very stinky. We allowed our tiredness, and some... our pain, along with an unthankful spirit to creep in. And the games weren't fun and they certainly didn't glorify God. And later on in the evening that ununified attitude will sweep in over those we girls influenced.... and to put it right... over those I influenced.

Message 5: Wednesday night ~ Bro Mick. "All or Nothing" The ministry of a servant of God. What does it mean to be a servant of Christ. 1. 1 Cor 6:19-20 - it speaks of possession. No choice, no longer your own, ask the LORD about everything. 2. It speaks of purpose to please His master. No longer to make money, or have a good time or please self. As a servant I am to HONOUR AND GLORIFY GOD. 3. It speaks of a plan. Who has the right and authority to make plans in our life? God will never be satisfied with anything less then complete surrender to HIS plans for us. 4. It speaks of personal rights - personal property. We have no rights! 5. Without his master, we would have no quality of life. Our quality of life is found only in Christ. 6. It speaks of position. The most honorable thing in the World is being God's servant! God's servant sees answered to prayer, doesn't feel empty and it comes with responsibility. (I wrote in my notes: I just want to be God's servant... Little did I know that I would begin to see answered prayer and any emptiness remaining would flee. But first some dross needed to be rooted out) Luke 14:16-24 - The MINISTRY OF A SERVANT. 1. Represents all believers. All must be done a servant doesn't get to pick what he does. The story is not about what the servant desires; but it is about what the servant wants. You are in sin if you don't give all or nothing. We only do what we want to do. Doing our all is a matter of character. Deut 10:12-13... now what doeth the LORD require of thee. (that was the verse the LORD gave me last year at camp) a. Fear the LORD b. Walk in all HIS ways - obedience. c. Serve with everything you got. Definition of require - To demand to ask as a right of authority. (I believe it was this message... that Bro. Mick shared about how he loved fantasy baseball and then God asked him to give it up... it was a god in his life. "SLAM!" You see I had taken back the things I gave to the LORD. They were my gods. I didn't want to give my gods to the LORD. And now "Jennifer" what doeth the LORD require of thee. That's what I said last year. I burned movies, gave up things I wore. But I took them back.) The LORD requires: Daily service; dependable service - faithful. 1 Chron 16:37. (Then Bro. Mick said how he has health issues and he said he only missed maybe three services. Now remember I had a headache all day and it occurred to me that God gives me the grace to sit and listen to a service even when I feel like my head is in a vice. So I wrote in my notes: don't let health keep you from service!) Declared Service - Keep your promises. Demanded Service. Discarded Service - Deut 18:19. (I wrote FINISH WELL!!!!!! in my notes because that has been my heart's cry since the day I received Christ. I've seen too many start well but few finish well. After the message I talked with Bro Mick about how I had given up stuff last year but took it back cause I hit a dark trial. He said when you give up stuff expect to be hit. And that God will keep testing you until you pass. Sound familiar ;-) Those of us who were aware of the tension of the day began to pray that God would give us peace and a sweet spirit through out the following day... also a friend and I sat outside until 1 am discussing our gods and how we need to keep each other accountable because we don't want to be put on the self and forgotten.... we don't want to be down the road and out of church because we wouldn't give up our gods.)

Day Four:

Woke up with a clear head and an feeling that God was going to work!

Personal Devotions: A purpose of heart and a word of edification.
Purpose of heart ~ Job 23:10-11 ~ But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Job 27:4 ~ My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit. Job 27:8 ~For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? Word of Edification ~ The LORD gave me something to talk to the girls about before the games began.

Message 6: Bro Jonathan Purks - (page is missing cause I wrote points on the other side and gave it to the point keeper. :-( and I can't remember)

GAME TIME: Acts 11:23- "Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the LORD." What is our purpose? That with purpose of ONE heart they would cleave unto the LORD. The LORD wants us to be in ONE heart with the purpose of glorifying God. That one heart isn't for each team but all of us collectively as a whole. 2 Cor 13:11 - "Finally, brethren, farewell, Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you." So today, I want each one of us to encourage each other to cheer for your team but also to cheer for the other teams. If you win cheer, if you lose cheer. But most of all lets play with the right attitudes giving all the glory to God. OUR time is God's ... even when we our playing games and having fun this time is God's time. Let's praise Him. (I then handed out a piece of paper asking for the teens' name, age, team, and One thing they are thankful for at this camp. I later would use those cards to pray for the kids. You can tell a lot about a person's spiritual condition by their answer.) The game time spirit was soooooo sweet! We had a great time. Here's the funny story. I was standing watching the girls pick up the trash can full of water ... and Tiffany screamed and started running. I was like o they are going after the game's leader.... then I realized ... hey wait a minute... I'm the game's leader. I started running ... was tackled and everyone told me that I grabbed my nose as if I was going to jump into the pool :-) What can I say ;-)

Message 7: Bro. MICK - Real Faith. Unfeigned - not counterfeit, not hypocritical, not fake. Luke 18:18 - Rich young ruler. He was searching for something, he didn't go to religion, He went to the right source, he didn't go to a college or to the world. (It was during this message I prayed over those cards I had in my hand.) After the message, a few went forward for salvation and two of those that went forward were the girls I was praying for. Two Girls received Christ but one girl left us in turmoil. Her soul still hangs in the balances. Later that night, we had team tally time. One counselor was so moved, he felt it stupid to have the team time. However, God gave me the words to say to him. This was not of me ... for I too thought it stupid... but then I thought of the other kids... sitting there who look up to us. And I walked over to the counselor and I encouraged him to be there for his team ... they need him too. I told him of how Hezekiah spread the letters before the LORD in the temple and that God can take care of that soul and we need to give her to the LORD. God then worked and gave that counselor the strength to go forward and cheer with his team. It was awesome to see God give him the strength. He like me shows his emotions on his face... and yet you couldn't tell that he had been moved with compassion for this soul’s need. I believe God did that for the reason that this brother was needed there and God wanted to portray the LORD's strength through this brother. After team tally time it was time for testimonies. Now I was in the back moved to tears over these kids. I couldn't speak, I just stood in the back praying. I wanted to say something but I knew I could never do it. So I told the LORD... I'll never be able to speak unless HE gave me the strength. I thought that’s ok I don't need to say anything. Then Bro. Chris said how when he told one of the guys he went to school with that he had a awesome testimony the guy told him.... "Chris, I wanted to be you... in school I wanted what you had but I didn't know how to get it." After Chris said that I knew that I should say something. I saw Bro. Nadaskay motioning to me to speak. I shook my head and mouthed I'll never get through it. He nodded and mouthed yes you can. So I stepped forward. And it was hard to speak and the emotion overtook my voice... but God got me through. I told them how I wanted to be my older sister. How I did everything she did. And then she left home at the age of 16 and ended up having kidney failure and dying at the age of 29. I told them how saved me at the age of 14 and that I didn't have to go out into the world. I told them how God had worked on my heart this week and how I had given thing to the LORD but when the trial came that was sooooo dark and unbearable I gave up and took those things back. I told them that I had wanted to go up higher but when it got too hard, I settled for the mediocre life. I mentioned how me and that friend sat outside on Thursday night knowing that if we didn't turn from the gods in our life, we would be out of church. I encouraged the ones who were saved to press forward and make their goal to finish well. So many in the Bible didn't finish well, and if we purpose in our hearts to finish well... we will be able to.

Afterwards some visitors came up to me and thanked me for my testimony. I later found out that one of those girls is newly saved and she is getting hit on all sides and wondering if it is worth it. I didn't know that ... but God did.

Day Five

Personal Devotions: Job 28:3; 18; 22-28 ~ "He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death. * No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies. * Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears. God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof. For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven; To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure. When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder: Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out. And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." LORD, you know the shadows of darkness we walk through.... and you know the devises of destruction that wait at our doors. Each one of us has different devices. And you give us that protection and strength we need when we fear you. Neh 4:9 ~ "Nevertheless, we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them." The darkness is there trying to get in ... and I need to pray ... not for myself but for others. I watched as darkness could lie at the door of my life... if it was trying to get in my life... then it was also attacking other peoples lives.... and If God allowed me to "see" it .... then I was suppose to pray!

Message 8: Last message ~ Bro MICK. "Building up your faith" Neh 2:17-20. It is the will of God to build... numerically and spiritually. 1. Opinions of others cannot count.... the only opinion that counts is God's. Unity in purpose is to glorify God. 2. Deal with the garbage ... there is garbage in your life that keeps you from serving the LORD. Sin in your life - secret and blatant sins. Proverbs 23:17 - heart envies sinners.... Wanting what sinners have. Hebrews 12:1. Neh 4:14 - stronger need to fight for the weaker. Bear on anothers burdens. Things that hinder >>> Loss of purpose - because of distractions. >>> Disloyalty - having the wrong father - no evidence of Salvation. Neh 6:17-19. Things to Do a. Have standards you can't come down from. b. Don't quit - Sometimes you have to FIGHT. c. Build on the word of God. Neh. 8:5-8

Premier Designs, Inc

2008-06-07T16:48:00.000-07:00

Hello Ladies

If you're reading this you probably received a Business card from me already :-) I found it easier to have a short description about Premier on my blog rather then have it all on the back of my Business card, however I've been informed that this is a no no... so for more information email me at praguegirl2002@yahoo.com or call me using the number on my business card.

A new trade in my life. God has allowed me to do so many things and now I am a Premier Jeweler! And I love it. I believe that the LORD allowed me to get into this business for his glory alone. He has promised to provide for my every need. And that doesn't mean He needs Premier to do it... He has used a yard sale, a tax return and a friend to meet my needs.

Remember God never Fails and is always in control when we trust in HIM!

May the LORD bless,
Jennifer Byerly

"The Vapor of Life"

2008-06-03T09:41:00.000-07:00

All throughout the Word of God, we see a short description given of mens lives. "They went here... They did this... They died." Again and again, we see this. We see the Good they've done or the evil they did. Life is a Vapor and we are given a glimpse of these men's lives. Their stories are written to teach us what to do... or what not to do.

Let's look at the Vapor of Asa's Life ~ 2 Chronicles 15-16

1. Asa and the people vowed to seek the LORD with all their hearts and souls.

2. Asa Removed the Queen and broke down her idols, but the high places from years before remained.

3. After awhile, Asa began to neglect asking God for help. What caused this I do not know, but apparently Asa didn't believe God could handle the situation.

4. A prophet came to him and told him a very powerful message that we all should heed. He told him God's eyes run back and forth through out the whole world... Looking for a person that God could show Himself strong to.

5. Asa was called foolish by the prophet because Asa had made the decision to rest in Human strength.

6. Asa because furious at the prophet and put him in prison.

7. Later, Asa became diseased in his feet - He had already turned from seeking God long before this. Now when he should have seen the direr need to turn to God, he turned and sought after the physician's help. But they couldn't help him and so he died. Without the strength of the LORD by his side.

Lessons from Asa:

1. When you vow a vow remember to keep it for God will hold you responsible. (Numbers 30:2, 2 Chronicles 15:14).

2. It is easy to start off well, but few finish well. (Luke 9:62; 2 Timothy 4:7).

3. Don't rely on yourself or others strength. (Job 6:11; Psalms 22:15; Psalms 59:9).

4. Remember God is want to show Himself strong to you. (2 Chronicles 16:9)

5. There are consequences when you rest in your own strength. (2 Chronicles 16:9b; 16:12; James 1:14-16).

6. At all times you must turn to Christ FIRST and FOREMOST ~ not to men, such as doctors. (Hebrews 12:2)

7. REMEMBER, God wants to do good things for us - He long to help us. We just need to let go of our reasoning and our strength, our will and even our emotions.

* Reasoning ~ In the Bible when they use the word reasoning, their thoughts are directly against God's thoughts. (Mark 2:6; Mark 12:28; Luke 9:46; Acts 28:29).
* Strength ~ When we do anything in our strength, we will fail! (Proverbs 24:10)
* Will ~ We need to crucify our will to the Cross daily. (Gal. 2:20).
* Emotions ~ we must not base our decisions upon our feelings. Feelings are fickle and can change with circumstances. But one thing is constant and that is our LORD, He doesn't change. We need to LOOK to CHRIST continuously. Our emotions will lead us to thinking we are right, however we need to judge our actions by the Word of God and not by what we feel about a circumstance. (Proverbs 12:15).

Conclusion: Why do we base our life on our personality or our way of thinking. We make excuses for lower living. We base our life on our emotions and we make our decisions on our emotions. We rest in our reasoning and our strength. Why do we think we know better then God? Why is it so hard to say "Not my will but Thine O Lord" .... ??? If every Christian, including myself, lived Galatians 2:20 every day ... how different this world would be. Why did the Christians of Acts turn the world upside down? The answer I think can be found in this quote by a friend of Ann Judson. Speaking of Ann, the friend had said this... "Redeeming love... was now her theme. One might spend days with her, without hearing any other subject reverted to. The throne of grace, too, was her early and late resort. I have known her to spend cold winter evenings in a chamber without fire and return to the family with a solemnity spread over her countenance, which told of Him with whom she had been communing. Nor was her love of social pleasures diminished, although the complexion of them was completely changed." ~ from My heart in His hands. Why can't that be said of Christiantium today? Whats wrong with us? ... !!! What are we missing? We spend our days engulfed in pleasure. Watching tv and movies, hanging out with friends, going shopping, texting, emailing, facebooking, iming, and other such pleasure. Life is just a vapor and our time is being taken away by all of these things. My dear friend, I appeal to you how much time do you spend with the LORD in a day? 5 minutes, 10, 20, 30, maybe 60? Now how much time doing all those other things? I am very convicted in writing this for I too fall in the category of spending more time in pleasure then with the LORD.

Dear friend, Take heart... every moment of every day Give you life to God's full control.

"Are you a Martha or a Mary?"

2008-05-30T08:39:00.000-07:00

References Luke 10 and John 11

Martha was cumbered
Mary was compelled
Martha complained
Mary cleaved
Martha was full of common sense
Mary was full of Compassion
Martha had contrary facts
Mary had child like faith

Which one would rather be? Every moment of your life you can choose to be a Martha or a Mary.

Martha had a servant's heart but she lacked a "be still" attitude.

God wants each of us to serve Him but He also wants each of us to spend time with Him so we can be guided by HIM.

Do you want strong faith? ... Have a teachable be still heart!

"The Destruction of PRIDE"

2008-05-29T09:33:00.000-07:00

Solomon had it all and yet he ended up turning away fro the LORD. And it seems right when he became the richest king in the World, his pride took control of his life. Pride became his downfall. All the wisdom he had could not keep him from becoming proud.

What would have happened if, when the Queen of Sheba came, Solomon had praised the LORD?
The Queen praised God with her own mouth ~ 2 Chron 9:8. Yet we don't see Solomon praising the LORD.

What would have happened if Solomon, when he heard of how he was praised in distant lands, would have proclaimed that the LORD had done it all?

Pride took over! Pride became his destruction! It destroyed his family! It rent his kingdom! And in the end it lead to Israel's destruction. And yet it could have been so different.

Solomon started out as a humble man, unsure of how he could run a kingdom. God told him to ask whatever he wanted and God would give it to him. Solomon asked humbly for Wisdom. God in His goodness gave Solomon not only wisdom but also riches and honour. Solomon could have been known for the rest of his life as the humble king ... but instead he was known as the richest king in the world. Can you picture Solomon the Wise being humble before the LORD and the people. Would he have said "don't think my wisdom comes from me, but understand it comes from God and is only because of Him, I am what I am." He might have had that attitude in the beginning of his life. But he changed. The Word of God says "For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father." 1 Kings 11:4.

PRIDE WILL CAUSE YOUR DESTRUCTION AND WILL CAUSE THE DESTRUCTION OF THOSE AROUND YOU!

"Where is your Beauty Emphasis?"

2008-05-23T09:22:00.000-07:00

There are two types of Beauty: Beauty that is Outward and Beauty that is Inward.

Outward Beauty, though it is not wrong to have, should not be our emphasis. Here are some facts about "Beauty" found in the Word of God.

Negative things about Beauty ~ Emphasis on the Outward.

Proverbs 31:30 ~ "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised."

1. Absalom had outward beauty. ~ 2 Samuel 14:25.
2. Outward beauty is consumed away. ~ Psalms 39:11.
3. The rich man's beauty shall consume in the grave. ~ Psalms 49:14.
4. Outward beauty is vain. ~ Proverbs 31:30.
5. Outward beauty leads to pride. Outward beauty is a fading flower. ~ Isaiah 28:4.
6. Destruction comes to those that trust in their own beauty. ~ Ezekiel 16:15. Other examples: Ezekiel 27:3; 27:11; 28:7; 28:17; Zechariah 11:7.

Positive things about Beauty ~ Emphasis on the Inward.

Isaiah 61:3 ~ " To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified."

1. Arron's garments were for glory and beauty. ~ Ex. 28:2. Arron was the High Priest. He was to be clothed in Glory and Beauty for God's Glory. He was identified with God as God's High Priest.
2. We are to worship the LORD in Beauty of Holiness. ~ 1 Chron. 16:29 & 2 Chron. 20:21.
3. The LORD is decked with majesty, excellency, glory and beauty. ~ Job 40:10.
4. "Behold the Beauty of the LORD." ~ Psalms 27:4.
5. The King's daughters were to beautiful and to worship the LORD. ~ Psalms 45:11.
6. Zions is the perfection of Beauty where God continually shines. ~ Psalms 50:2.
7. "And let the Beauty of the LORD our God be upon us:" ~ Psalms 90:17. God's Beauty is to be on us. We are to let the LORD shine through us and when He does; His beauty reflects on us.
8. Strength and Beauty are the LORD's Sanctuary. ~ Psalms 96:5
9. Those who live for the LORD shall see the KING in His Beauty. ~ Isaiah 33:17.
10. God give His Children beauty for ashes. ~ Isaiah 61:3

"I Love the LORD!" ~ Psalms 116:1a

2008-05-20T10:02:00.000-07:00

Psalms 116:9 ~ "I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living."

By... (Col. 4)

* Continuing in prayer
* What in the same
* With Thanksgiving
* Praying for open doors for the gospel
* Walking in Wisdom
* Redeeming the time
* Speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt
- that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

"Just an Ordinary Day"

2008-05-15T08:09:00.000-07:00

A young boy sat in a field
Just keeping watch of sheep
Unaware what the day would yield,
David looking o'er his little keep.

Just an ordinary Day, but it wasn't for me.
An ordinary day, to walk the narrow way.
It just took one day to change my History,
God rewrote my life with an ordinary day.

A man searched for his lamb
but turned aside to see
Unaware he'd hear from the great I Am
Moses would be used to change History.

Just an ordinary Day, but it wasn't for me.
An ordinary day, to walk the narrow way.
It just took one day to change my History,
God rewrote my life with an ordinary day.

A stranger in a distant land,
Serving a foreign King.
Hearing of the Walls torn down,
Nehemiah started tearfully praying.

Just an ordinary Day, but it wasn't for me.
An ordinary day, to walk the narrow way.
It just took one day to change my History,
God rewrote my life with an ordinary day.

The KING of all the age
Stood before a mob so angry,
"Crucify Him!" they rage,
Jesus Christ died for you and for me!

Just an ordinary Day, but it wasn't for me.
An ordinary day, to walk the narrow way.
It just took one day to change my History,
God rewrote my life with an ordinary day.

"Take Heart!" ~ From 2 Kings 19

2008-05-13T08:55:00.000-07:00

2 Kings 19:33a & 35a ~ "By that way that he came, by the same shall he return, and he shall not come into this city, saith the LORD. ... And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote..."

When the Battle rages look up, dear heart!
Can't you see the LORD is standing nigh?
Remember from you HE shall not depart,
See God's Army surrounds you on HIGH!

When troubles come spread it before the LORD,
Don't be discouraged, take heart!
Rest and cleave, cleave to God's Holy Word,
Trust in the LORD, Do not depart!

It may seem the Enemy is about to charge in,
And the enemy's tumult overwhelms you;
But look up to Christ the LORD! Rest in Him.
The Holy Spirit will guide you to what's true.

When troubles come spread it before the LORD,
Don't be discouraged, take heart!
Rest and cleave, cleave to God's Holy Word,
Trust in the LORD, Do not depart!

Though the Battle surrounds you;
The Enemy is closing near,
Keep fast to what is true,
Remember my friend, don't fear!

When troubles come spread it before the LORD,
Don't be discouraged, take heart!
Rest and cleave, cleave to God's Holy Word,
Trust in the LORD, Do not depart!

"Give up those High Places!" ~ tune from "You are my hiding place"

2008-05-12T09:30:00.000-07:00

"But the high places were not taken away:" ~ 2 Kings 12:3
Break down those High places
The places in your heart
Where you hold sinful traces
From these you must depart.

Break down those High places
Leave that wicked fold
Lay down those sinful traces
Flee from that strong hold.

Cleave to God's Holy Word
Run this faithful race
Keep your eyes on the LORD
Give up those High Places!

"Being Salt and a Light"

2008-05-10T12:20:00.000-07:00

"In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." ~ John 1:4&5. The LORD Jesus Christ is the LIGHT OF THE WORLD. That Light can shine through us if we allow the LORD full reign in our hearts. "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. ." ~ Matthew 5:13.

Some truths about Christ's light from John 1

1. Christ is Life and the LIGHT of men ~ vs. 4... Only Christ has the ability to free men and give them life.

2. Christ shineth in darkness ~ vs. 5... All around the world are dark places... places of people who are living trapped in their own lies. Those dark places are right out your front door. Every time you go to the store, you are surrounded by people in darkness. And my friend if you don’t know Jesus as your personal Savior you too are trapped in that darkness.

3. Christians are to have the LIGHT of Christ shining in us... we are to be witnesses of that LIGHT. ~ vs. 7-8.

4. Christ is the TRUE LIGHT. Many people think they have found truth and that they are enlightened but they are still walking in the darkness of man’s philosophy.

5. Christ as the TRUE LIGHT witnessed to others. ~ vs. 35-51.

6. We are to witness to others giving Christ’s LIGHT.

When is the last time you handed a tract to someone? When is the last time you prayed for lost souls? When is the last time you prayed for someone to share Christ too? Are you busy being a LIGHT to this world... are you salt or have you lost your savour?

"Princess ~ King's Daughter"

2008-05-09T12:27:00.000-07:00

Jezebel was a King's Daughter... A princess. When I think of a princess, I think of a woman that is kind and gentle, a woman of excellence. Think of Disney's Sleeping Beauty or Snow White, they had sweet meek dispositions. A princess... what comes to your mind? When you think of a princess do you think of Jezebel? "Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a king's daughter." ~ 2 Kings 9:34b Jezebel a princess... a King's daughter? Yes, but a woman not of excellence but one of a wicked heart.

To be a KING's Daughter pure and right;
To walk in the KING's way, in HIS light.
Turn not aside, O Daughters of the KING;
Look not to what Worldly treasures bring.
The KING has given you life a new;
Be Glorious, O Daughters and true!
Be Holy, for you bear you Father's name;
Be careful, for the tongue no man can tame!
Let the KING guide your way,
And help you in what you say.
Give thy Father thy heart, O Daughter,
For in His presence is Joy and Laughter.
Set your eyes on the treasures of the KING.
Wait! Dear Daughter for the One He'll bring.
Be content with what the KING has bestowed,
Remember Jezebel, she reaped what she sowed!
She could have brought great honor to her Father,
She didn't know what it meant to be a King's Daughter.
But we are the Daughters of the Great God
His name we must not down trod!
O Daughter when you feel you cannot sing,
Remember your the Daughter of the KING!
Look up! O Daughter see the KING in Sight
Walk on! You are stepping in His Light!

The Dutchman's Lost Gold Mine ~ Superstition Mountain

2008-05-08T12:09:00.001-07:00

Traveling in the west, there are many mysteries to uncover. One of those mysteries is found near Apache Junction. The Legend of the Dutchman’s lost gold mine holds many mysterious clues. Some claim it truth while others think it just a myth. Though no one seems to know when the old miner found the mine, there is however, an understanding of when it was lost. Upon the Dutchman’s time of death, he stated to Julia Thomas and the Petrasch brothers these last words. “The northwest corner of the Superstition Mountains. The key is a striped polverde tree with one limb left on, a pointing arm. It points away from the rock, about halfway from between it and the rock, and 200 yards to the east. Take the trail in. I left a number of clues.” Then, he died.

But the story of the Dutchman’s mine does not begin there. Jacob von Walzer, known in America as Jacob Waltz, was born in Württemberg, Germany in 1808. He arrived in America in 1839 and on July 19, 1861, he is recorded in Los Angeles as becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States. Jacob Waltz had a close friend by the name of Jacob Wisner. In 1874, Waltz moved to Phoenix, Arizona. And here the story of the Dutchman mine begins to unfold. Waltz was nicknamed the Dutchman, a name that he would be called well beyond his death.

In 1877, Waltz and Wisner started working together on the mine. Time has given the story many uncertain twist and turns. What little of the truth is know is replaced with legend. It is said that the two Jacobs worked the mine together, one standing guard while the other mined. On a certain day, Waltz left the mine to get supplies; he was in town for five days. When he returned to the camp, he found the area raided and his long time friend missing. All that was left was Wisner’s bloody shirt with his Masonic pin on it. But then the story takes another twist... Legend says that Wisner escaped the Apache attack and fled to the home of John Walker. Yet there is question why Wisner would pass Jim Bark’s ranch and not stop there for help when he was injured. Legend also says that upon returning to the camp Waltz found Wisner burnt over a fire. And when people scoffed at Waltz, saying that he had shot Wisner, Waltz would reply “Go find Wisner’s grave. I buried him near the mine.”

Jacob Waltz never returned to the mine to mine for gold again. He never revealed its location and hid his trail by tying blankets behind the animals which swept the tracks away. He never filed a claim on the mine because he proclaimed: “I was not a citizen of the United States, nor had I declared my intentions of becoming one. So, for that reason I couldn’t locate and record the mine.” Why he lied about not being a citizen has made many wonder over his claim of even having a mine at all. Some believe he and Wisner stole the gold and hid it in the Superstition Mountains, while others believe there is a mine overflowing with Gold.

In the summer of 1884, two young soldiers found the mine by chance. They rode into the town of Pinal with their saddlebags brimming with gold. They claimed it was a “funnel-shaped mine in a canyon near a sharp pinnacle of rock.” To prove that the soldiers could find it again, they headed out for more gold. They never returned. A search party found their mutilated bodies dumped on the trail, leaving more questions and mysteries to the legend. The Apaches also claim to have a legend of an apache mine in the Superstition Mountains. They claim that in 1882, they hid their mine covering it with rocks and logs and natural cement. They claim that their mine was a “funnel-shaped” mine.

When Waltz was 80 years old he made his way back to the mine and hid the mine leaving clues for himself to find it again. He bragged, “You could drive a pack train over the entrance to the mine and never know it was there.” He died shortly after hiding the mine. After his death, Julia Thomas and Rhinehart and Herman Petrasch set out to find the mine. They went out in mid-summer when the Mountain was very hot. The Arizona Republican 1892 paper calls it “A Queer Quest in Search of Gold.” “Another ‘Lost Mine’ being hunted for by a woman. Mrs. E.W. Thomas, formerly of Thomas Ice Cream Parlor, is now in the Superstition Mountains engaged in a work usually deemed strange for a woman’s sphere. She is prospecting for a lost mine.” They stayed in the Mountains for five weeks and came out without any gold. Julia invested everything she owned into this expedition, but returned penniless. She never attempted to find the mine again. Rhinehart accused his brother Herman for not paying attention at Jacob’s bedside. The brother never spoke again. Over the next fifty years Rhinehart would search for the gold, until his eyes failed him. Upon realizing that he would never find the mine, he committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. Herman died a few years later still searching for the mine.

This statement was made by one man: “For nearly two hundred years, treasure hunters have hunted for the fabled mine. A few of them may even have found it, but curiously, they all died before they could tell their tale. Is the mine cursed, as some claim? It is also worthy to note that those who claimed to have found it, did so by coming down an obscure trail from the north to the south, and not vice versa as most modern-day seekers do. They also all claimed they had to traverse a tunnel of some sort... When Jacob Waltz died, he left a trunk of ore and a list of clues to a hidden fortune in the Superstition Mountains. It has never been found. Legend or not, the Dutchman said ‘he found gold there.’ If it happened once, it could happen again.” ~ Lee Paul source http://www.theoutlaws.com/gold1.htm

Though Mr. Paul makes this statement “if it happened once, it could happen again,” there is another side to this story and many other like it. For two hundred years, many, many people have searched for this treasure never to return again or to come out penniless. Many have even been driven mad with their thirst for gold. The Dutchman himself who found it was not satisfied. The two soldiers never got to enjoy the gold they found, they went back searching for more. Julia and her partners never found it. She died a poor old woman, while the two brothers would never speak again. Both would die sad deaths. And the thousand others that went out searching only to come back empty handed. And what of those now who are still searching?

The Gold of the Dutchman’s mine will not satisfy. The treasures of this world will not last. The Dutchman died and did not take his gold with him. Julia died without taking any money with her. What people accumulate in this world won’t satisfy. Nothing this world offers will satisfy. The Word of God says “The Fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied: he shall not be visited with evil.” ~ Proverbs 19:23. All of these men and women that went out searching for this treasure had some evil befall them. The poor Dutchman was accused of killing his only friend, of being a liar, and of being a mean man. He had gold that he hid and he invested his life in a lost cause. “A Good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” ~ Proverbs 22:1. The truth is that all these people died and will stand before the LORD and the treasures of this world will not by their life. They will stand before the LORD their creator. “The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is maker of them all.” ~ Proverbs 22:2. The only thing that satisfies is the LORD Jesus Christ. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” ~ John 14:6. What are you seeking to satisfy? “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” ~ Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

Remembering our Maker!

2008-05-07T10:25:00.000-07:00

I've always been fascinated with the Titanic. This fascination started a few years ago when my younger sister wrote a report on the Titanic. I really was not interested in watching the movie when it came out in 1997. I felt the movie would not portray the real story of the Titanic, however; I finally rented the Titanic movie, and though it is an interesting story, it fails greatly to portray the message of the real Titanic. The movie sparked a new interest in my heart to research the true story of that great ship that met its doom almost 94 years ago. In my quest for the truth of the Titanic, I learned a whole lot more. I already knew that there were not enough life boats, life boats half full and unheeded warnings. During the movie, I noticed a great deal of blame being placed which seemed to be the hidden message. That hidden message blamed the captain, the engineer, and many other head officials. Only twice was the statement made: “The boat which even God could not sink.” I wonder … blaming God? Even though, the movie portrays the arrogance of the first class people, it fails to show the great hand of God.
In my studies, I came across a book that was written shortly after the Titanic tragedy. There are two stories to the Titanic sinking. The one is a story of men’s arrogance; men who think they know more than God; men who believe technology can explain away God. The other is a story of Heroes, Heroines and of Cowards. There are so many reasons that have been given why the boats were only half full. The real reason why most of those first boats that were let down were only half full was because most could not believe that the great Leviathan of a ship was sinking. The realization of such a catastrophic event taking place could not be imagined. It was not until the great ship lifted in the air and sunk to its grave did most in the life boats realize the truth.
Many might say: “How could a loving God allow this to happen?” The truth is the Titanic sinking showed the World who God is. “The list of ‘if only’ is seemingly endless: If only they had heeded the iceberg warnings; if only there had been enough lifeboats, if only they had not misplaced the binoculars, if only Titanic had not reversed engines, if only the ship in the distance had come, if only the wireless operator had been willing to receive the final message… The mathematical probability of all those circumstances happening in the order in which they occurred is so infinitesimally small as to force even hardened skeptics to acknowledge that the orchestration of these events could not be the product of mere chance. God was making a point.” ~ Douglas W. Phillips, publisher’s introduction to the reprint of “The sinking of the Titanic and Great Sea Disasters." God allowed this great event in history to happen, if anything it should serve as a reminder to all to realize that God is our Creator. He is the one who holds our lives in his hand. “Who hath measured the waters in the Hollow of His Hand.” ~ Isaiah 40:12.
On that day, God’s hand was on many lives. Yes, so many were lost to the depths of the sea. Yet there were some that were spared, 705 to be exact. Most of those saved were women and children. And the stories that they tell touch the heart. There are tales of bravery for the men that stayed behind and the woman who were placed in the boats. I cannot state who was braver the men who died so that women could live, or the women who left their husbands and some who left their sons. Even after the ship went down and the screams from men and women who died grew silent, those women in the life boats took their place behind the oars and rowed all night long. Their stories have sadly been forgotten and replaced by a movie that portrays a love story instead of the true story of the Titanic. The true message of the Titanic is a message of human arrogance, those who forgot who God truly is … their Creator and Savior and a message of human sacrifice, those who knew the meaning of “He died that others might live.”
On April 14, 1912, 1635 souls would lose their lives on board the Titanic… I wonder if this message had been posted before the Titanic set out… Would anybody have believed it? In our world today, if a message was sent out that life is short and there is life after death either heaven or hell and who you make your 'god' to be will make all the difference… Would anybody listen? The people aboard the Titanic, those who refused to believe that the great ship build by man's hand could sink... they made their 'god' technology... My friend, God holds your life in His hand, whether you like it or not.

“Into the liquid tomb he fell, moments from paradise,
With one last grasp he clawed the waves and caught his dear one’s eyes.
His frozen face, his numb-ed hands, his body stiff and cold –
An ocean legacy of heroism told.

Down through the depths Titanic sank, and into her watery grave,
Bound by such forces that God had decreed would render the hulk its slave.
Downward she plunged through the darkness so cold, taking no inventory
Of perishing hundreds who crowded her decks, bound for hell or glory.
For women and children first they died,
For women and children first;
They put their faith before their pride,
For women and children first.

~ Douglas W. Phillips
April 15, 1997
Titanic Men’s Memorial
Washington, D.C.

The Way of the LORD is in the Sea

2008-05-07T10:21:00.000-07:00

“I am the LORD thy God that divideth the sea”

Job 26:12 ~ He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.
Jeremiah 31:35 ~ Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:

Psalm 33:7 ~ He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.

Psalm 72:8 ~ He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.

Proverbs 8:29~ When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

“God’s ways are in the sea”

Psalms 77:19 ~ Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.

Psalm 107:23-24 ~ They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.

Psalm 103:7 ~ He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel .

“God’s will is for us to go through the sea”

Exodus 14:22 ~ And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

Isaiah 48:18 ~ O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:

“God carries us through the waters of the sea”

Psalm 66:12 ~ Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.

Psalm 107:29 ~ He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

Psalm 107:30 ~ Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

Isaiah 43:2 ~ When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

“Some interesting facts about the sea found in Revelation”

Revelation 10:2 ~ And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, ~ Christ will stand on the Sea.

Revelation 15:2 ~ And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. ~ Those who go through the tribulation will stand on the Sea.

Revelation 21: 1 ~ And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. ~ The new earth will have no Sea.

The Three Trees ~ Author Unknown

2008-05-07T10:19:00.000-07:00

Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: “I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world! ” The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. “I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world!” The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. “I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world.”

Years, passed. The rain came, the sun shone and the little trees grew tall. One day three wood cutters climbed the mountain. The first wood cutter looked at the first tree and said, “This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining ax, the first tree fell. “Now I shall make a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!” The first tree said.

The second wood cutter looked at the second tree and said, “This tree is strong. It's perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining ax, the second tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty waters!” thought the second tree. “I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!”

The third tree felt her heart sink when the last wood cutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the wood cutter never even looked up. “Any kind of tree will do for me.” He muttered. With a swoop of his shining ax, the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the wood cutter brought her to a carpenter's shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, or treasure. She was coated with saw dust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals. The second tree smiled when the wood cutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead the once strong tree was hammered and awed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river, instead she was taken to a little lake. The third tree was confused when the wood cutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. “What happened?” The once tall tree wondered. “All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God...”

Many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feed box. “I wish I could make a cradle for him.” Her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and sturdy wood. “This manger is beautiful.” She said. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and a thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She new she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through the wind and the rain. The tired man awoke. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, “Peace.” The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the King of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten wood pile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hand to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God. That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.

"Tears"

2008-05-07T10:15:00.000-07:00

Ever feel like your life is weighing down on you and you wonder if the LORD cares? Do you know that your tears are precious to Him. Here is some Encouragement from the WORD of God.

1. Psalm 56:8
Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

2. Psalm 6:6
I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.

3. Psalm 39:12
Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

4. Psalm 42:3
My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

5. Psalm 56:8
Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

6. Psalm 116:8
For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.

7. Psalm 126:5
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

8. Isaiah 16:9
Therefore I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer the vine of Sibmah: I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh: for the shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen.

9. Isaiah 25:8
He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.

10. Jeremiah 9:18
And let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters.

11. Jeremiah 13:17
But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD's flock is carried away captive.

12. Jeremiah 31:16
Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.

13. Revelation 7:17
For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

14. Revelation 21:4
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

How Am I Walking?

2008-05-07T10:13:00.000-07:00

Come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.” Is. 2:5

“This is the way walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” Is. 30:21

“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing,” Col. 1:10

“See then that ye walk circumspectly,”

Eph. 5:15

“They shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.” Rev. 3:40

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” 3 John 3 & 4

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation

wherewith ye are called,” Eph. 4:1

"The Dress Devotional"

2008-05-07T10:09:00.000-07:00

During Summer Camp of 2005, God began to work on my heart. He showed me an illustration of how the world claims our hearts. He gave this too me the day before I left camp. It was an illustration I had seen when I was a teenager. The sad thing to me was that the girl who gave the illustration was no longer living for the LORD.

To do this illustration I needed a dress. Not just any dress, I need a dressed that was precious. I brought with me my high school graduation dress. I had no intention of destroying the dress when I brought it. But during one of the messages God required it of me. To have full effect for this illustration the dress would have to be cut bit by bit… piece by piece.

Dress Devotional:

"The Value of Beauty"

How many of you wake up in the morning and say to your self, how can I make myself look as ugly as possible.... There is not one of us that does that. Even Ladies that don't need to have the newest clothes and that don’t wear a lot of makeup still want to look nice.

See this box, isn't it pretty? _______ will you open this for us. (she takes out the tirira, necklace, slippers, and lace handkerchief) Now, girls which is prettier the outside or the inside? Answer: The Inside.

Proverbs 31:10 - "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is fare above rubies." When we look at this verse what is it that we see about this woman? Answer: The Inside.

(Holding up box) It's ok to look pretty, there is nothing wrong with that. But what is on the inside is going to shine forth to the outside. 1 Peter 3:1-4 - The key in these verses is not what the woman is putting on but what is in her heart. What is one thing that you have to give to the Lord; if you do not have this you would not have anything...? Answer: My LIFE.

You have a little bit of life that God has given you, what are you going to do with it?

2 Kings 4:1-6 - The widow with the little bit of oil....

I have this little Bit

It's all I have this Little Bit

To pour it out

Oh How it would spoil

It's all I have this little Bit

I have been told that I must pore it out

and I will receive all the more.

Oh, how I want to shout!

It's all I have this little bit.

To pour it out would cost me great

Can I not keep it safe this little Bit

Oh what shall be my fate;

It's all I have and no more

I've shut the door expecting no more

then only what is on the floor

So quietly into the vessels I pore

And from this lesson I've been taught

that God can use a little bit

and give more then I could ever wrought

I must give my little Bit!

... When you give your little bit to God, God can use it and give you more then you could ever imagine.

(I hold up a beautiful dress, white lace shimmering). Let's say this dress is you as a saved young lady. This is your life. (One of the girls has scissors in her hands ready to cut).. What happens when? (as I list these things; picture her cutting into a white lace dress; with each thing I say she snips)..

You stop singing in church

Laugh during the service

Look around during service

Back talk

Give in to peer pressure

Think about Boys

Have wrong friends

Wrong hobbies

Vanity

Pride

Selfishness

Rebellion to parents

Gossiping

Jealousy

Flirting

Wrong music

Country music

Bad movies

Letting things of this world take the place of God

Snippet remarks

Worldly standards

Low necklines

Tight clothes

Wrong thinking ....

(By the time I had finished saying this; the dress was destroyed; the girls were silent... When _____ first started cutting they had been screaming no don't do that... afterwards they were quiet)

I looked at all their faces held out my hands and said ... you have this little bit of life what are you going to do with it... you can either use it for self and look like this dress or use it for God...

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

The next night there was a bonfire with all the teens and I took the dress along... ________ got up and explained the whole story of the dress, because most of the boys did not know of the dress. When it was my turn to speak, I got up and picked up the dress and said “This dress was beautiful but it’s not anymore... if this is your life as a Christian then this is your life as a lost person.” I tossed the dress into the fire... it began to melt and soon began to burn. I continued, “All those things that you hold on to now are going to burn away and you will burn forever in hell. In my hand are the buttons from the dress; if you will take the little bit of life that God has given you and give it back to him; he can make you into something beautiful as a woman and for you guys, He’ll make you into godly men of integrity.

Christian Perfection ~ Oswald Chambers

2008-05-07T10:07:00.000-07:00

CHRISTIAN PERFECTION

"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect. . . ." Philippians 3:12

It is a snare to imagine that God wants to make us perfect specimens of what He can do; God's purpose is to make us one with Himself. The emphasis of holiness movements is apt to be that God is producing specimens of holiness to put in His museum. If you go off on this idea of personal holiness, the dead-set of your life will not be for God, but for what you call the manifestation of God in your life. "It can never be God's will that I should be sick." If it was God's will to bruise His own Son, why should He not bruise you? The thing that tells for God is not your relevant consistency to an idea of what a saint should be, but your real vital relation to Jesus Christ, and your abandonment to Him whether you are well or ill.

Christian perfection is not, and never can be, human perfection. Christian perfection is the perfection of a relationship to God which shows itself amid the irrelevancies of human life. When you obey the call of Jesus Christ, the first thing that strikes you is the irrelevancy of the things you have to do, and the next thing that strikes you is the fact that other people seem to be living perfectly consistent lives. Such lives are apt to leave you with the idea that God is unnecessary, by human effort and devotion we can reach the standard God wants. In a fallen world this can never be done. I am called to live in perfect relation to God so that my life produces a longing after God in other lives, not admiration for myself. Thoughts about myself hinder my usefulness to God. God is not after perfecting me to be a specimen in His show-room; He is getting me to the place where He can use me. Let Him do what He likes.

How to Inquire of the LORD

2008-05-07T09:25:00.000-07:00

So often we fail to inquire of the LORD because we come to the LORD as if he was some version of Santa Clause. We wonder why the LORD will not hear us... but the LORD does not hear those who come to him with a haughty "I want that attitude." Here are some Biblical ways to inquire or pray to the LORD...

We are to inquire wanting to hear from God. ~ · Judges 20:23
We are to inquire specifically ~ · 1 Samuel 10:22
We are to continually inquire of the LORD and not just when we think we need God’s Help ~ · 1 Samuel 14:37
We are to inquire of the LORD to meet our needs. ~ 1 Samuel 22:10
We are to inquire of the LORD in ever area of our lives no matter how petty. ~ 1 Samuel 23:2
We are not to expect God to answer us if we never inquire of the LORD except in the time of need. ~ 1 Samuel 28:6
We are to inquire diligently … until we have the LORD’s full answer. ~ 2 Samuel 2:1
When we inquire of the LORD, we need to be ready to hear God’s perspective and not our own. ~ 2 Samuel 5:23
There will be times when we haven’t inquired of the LORD and we need to come back to the state of talking to the LORD about every thing. ~ 1 Chronicles 13:3
When we want to hold on to our sin, we will not inquire of the LORD. ~ Isaiah 30:2
Sadly, those that continue to ignore the LORD, there will come a time when the LORD will not hear them. ~ Ezekiel 20:3

"Lesson in Humility"

2008-05-07T09:21:00.000-07:00

A woman sat on the swing of her front porch. Four friends greeted her.

“Hello” they said.

“My name is Riches” replied the one.

“And Mine is Honour” said the Second.

“And mine Wisdom” said the third.

“And mine is Humility.” replied the last a little more timidly then the other three.

“You may choose which one of us you would like to have.” Wisdom stated.

The woman pondered on this. If I had Riches... I could get out of debt and I could give to my friends and I could live comfortably for the rest of my life. She thought. But if I chose Wisdom... I could help others and change things for the good. What a difference I could make. Yet what of Honour... I would love to be honored. People would think highly of me and they would respect me. The woman looked up. Her eyes glancing over at each one. Then she thought of how many times she had thought I could this and I could that... and then she knew her choice.

“I choose Humility” she said as she opened the door to her home.

Humility walked up the porch stairs and into the house. Then to the woman's surprise.... Wisdom followed then Riches and then Honour.

“I don't understand” the woman said in shock.

Then Wisdom answered, “Where Humility goes we all follow. If you had chosen any other one of us we wouldn't have been able to go... because without humility we won't last.”

"What is truth"

2008-05-07T09:18:00.000-07:00

Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. ~ John 18:38.

“What is truth?”

One day a man stood before a King

The words he said would forever ring

He cried “What is truth?” and went out again

He wanted to hear the advice of men.

“What is truth?” would echo in every heart.

But from truth man’s heart would farther depart.

People today they don’t want the truth

They rather see fiction or hear of some sleuth.

So often we hear there are no absolutes

Everyone’s running after their own pursuits.

I wonder if Pilate regrets that day

Wished he had stayed to hear what Christ would say.

“What is truth?” echo’s in his heart

He and God will always be apart.

Never to see the Power of God

He will always regret the path that he trod.

My friend you must see Truth is here

Standing right before you, it’s very near.

Jesus said I am the truth, the light and the way

And I’m calling you this very moment this very day.

“What is truth?” echo’s in your heart.

Will you stay and listen or will you depart.

Your eternity waits; it’s all up to you

It really depends on what is really true.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. ~ John 14:6.

Take Heart, My Friend By Fernando Ortega

2008-05-07T08:52:00.000-07:00

Take heart, my friend, we'll go together
This uncertain road that lies ahead
Our faithful God has always gone before
And He will lead the way once again

Take heart, my friend, we can walk together
And if our burdens become too great
We can hold up and help one another
In God's love, in God's grace

Take heart my friend, the Lord is with us
As He has been all the days of our lives
Our assurance every morning
Our defender in the night

If we should falter when trouble surrounds us
When the wind and the waves are wild and high
We will look away to Him who rules the waters;
Who speaks His peace into the angry tide

He is our comfort, our sustainer
He is our help in time of need
When we wander, He is our Shepherd
He who watches over us never sleeps

Take heart my friend, the Lord is with us
As He has been all the days of our lives
Our assurance every morning
Our defender every night

Take heart my friend, the Lord is with us
As He has been all the days of our lives
Our assurance every morning
Our defender in the night.