Monday, June 30, 2008

Prayer

If you want a copy of this prayer to print, e-mail me and I will send it as an attachment.

Heavenly Father,

We lift up all those involved in the Mexican Drug Cartels from the top of the organization to the lowliest position as well as all people they have bribed and have on their payroll. We lift up prison officials and guards as well as drug dealers and drug users, we know all these people are involved in something that is sin to You.

We thank You Lord through Your resurrection power each one of these people will repent, and each one will be born again and baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. We pray they are also infilled by the Holy Spirit. We ask You to call them by name and draw them into the Body of Christ. You know them by name, You love them, Your Son died for them.

We pray they reverence You and walk humbly in Your sight and hate evil.

We pray for their smuggling tunnels to become unusable. We pray for the kidnappings and executions in Mexico to stop. We pray for the Mexican army regulars who have been committing crimes in AZ to hear the Gospel as they are jailed. We ask You to demolish the growing operations and labs where drugs are produced. We know You can do this while saving those who work for the cartels. We pray You deliver the lowly people working for the cartels from fear. Pour the heart of Jesus and His courage and strength into them. Give them an alternative source of income. We ask You to bring into the Light all that is done in secret in the dark pertaining to the drug business.


Lord, We ask You to miraculously dry up the business on this side of the border. Deliver Americans from drugs, make them distasteful to users.

Lord we also pray for the families of the people affected by drugs, we pray for them to be strong in Christ, to come to know His saving Grace, and to show their wayward family members Christ's love. We ask a special hedge of protection for all the innocent children who are affected by this sin, whether in their families, or innocent victims getting caught in crossfire.

We know this is a big prayer, but we know You are the One and Only God who can accomplish this and we turn to You and pray in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Books

The books are in large envelopes with bubble wrap all ready to go to the post office. Paula, I need your address.

Prayer points are coming along regarding the drug cartel and the problems they cause.

I saw my woodpecker, he's grown up now still pecking at other birds, still does not want to share the food. Kind of reminds me of when you visit a church and sit in "some one's pew", maybe this is unique to the Episcopal Church. The owner of the pew will stand in the aisle and stare at you until you move over a bit and they can squeeze in or they decide to huff away to another pew. Another thing unique to the Episcopal Church from what I can see when I visit other churches, you must arrive early to an Episcopal Church if you want to sit in the back.

The woodpecker has become territorial, are we like that in ministry at our churches? Do we consider it my ministry? If we do, we are destined to fail. There is no mine about it at church unless you are 2 and in the nursery. The church belongs to Jesus, He is the Bridegroom. It's not about us, it's all about Him. Take a good look at yourself and make sure you are not hanging on to a ministry which the Lord called you to but now wants to give someone else as He moves you to something new in this season of your life, He may think it's time for you to take a sabbath rest from ministry as well.

Eph 1: 22-23
And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Col 1: 17-19

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,

Just a couple of verses pointing to the fact the church is Jesus' and not ours. Listen to the Lord as He calls you to ministry and obey Him. He will bless you for your obedience.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Houston Chronicle

I read a story in the Houston Chronicle which really made me angry. A police chief and his body guard were executed in Mexico. The chief was honest and fighting a drug cartel. Certain areas of Mexico are very dangerous because of drug cartels, we all have a sense of the corrupt govt in Mexico, but every year officers are killed trying to fight huge crime down there.

For once I was angry and sinned not, I thought Lord what is the most effective way to pray. I think we need the Lord to give us specific prayer points to pray against the drug and violence caused by the cartels. If anyone feels led to do this, let me know and I will send you what the Lord gives me as an attachment so you can print it.

I want to pray against the cartels and all the crimes associated with them for several reasons but the 2 main reasons are - the drugs end up in America and the violence will be here before we know it. This type of violence used to only be found in Columbia and now the demonic tentacles are spreading.

First and foremost is obvious, all the people from the top to the lowly delivery people of the cartel to be saved. Praying for their market to dry up is a non violent means to an end. I will post something later today or tomorrow regarding prayer points.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Winners

Had a bit of a medical drama with my father yesterday. He's ok and back at home. My mother called a few minutes before I left for work to tell me she was taking him to the acute care center. I must say the winds were knocked out of my sails, he's been so much better.

I got into the car and How Great is Our God was playing on the radio station (KSBJ) I listen to, then His Love Endures Forever, so I praised the Lord on my very short commute. I did keep 1 hand on the wheel and 1 eye open.

Next we had donuts at work, I don't like them and we rarely have them, but these were chocolate covered cake donuts, I do like cake donuts and I do like chocolate. They were miniature donuts so I ate not 1 but 3. Karen brought me a gift bag of Arbonne skincare products. We took them all out and went through them, I never did get it all packed in the bag again, kinda like folding a road map. At lunch I did very well. After lunch, I returned to the office and Kathy brought home made cake in for my birthday. I ate a piece. (Not on a healthy eating plan.) My husband took me to dinner and I did very well on portion control, ate all the salad, 1/2 the entree and brought the rest home and ate 1 serving of garlic bread. Did not order dessert, thank You Jesus, You gave me the strength to say no.

And the winners are:

Connie - Final Quest
Paula - Beth Moore Devotional
Annette (A1) - Under Healing Wings
Valerie - The Healing Touch
Mitzi - Beauty for Ashes

Stephanie C - Beth Moore Siesta Fiesta wristband. (Can you stay w/ your brother?)

Please e-mail me your home or work address and I will mail the books. This was fun. I think I will have a Christmas book drawing as well.

We are all winners, because receiving Christ as our Savior and declaring Him Lord of our lives makes us winners.

PS 18: 34-36
He trains my hands for battle;my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great. You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn.

Use your armor today and race to victory!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

100th Blog & Birthday Eve

It’s my birthday eve…I will be 47 on Wed. To celebrate my birthday and 100th blog (I got this idea from Stephanie when she had a 100th blog giveaway) I am giving away 3 books, which I will mail to you. You must post a comment and I will enter your 1st name in the drawing. There will also be a grand prize drawing which is a wristband to the Beth Moore Siesta Fiesta in San Antonio, August 22 – August 23. If you want to be entered in both drawings let me know in your comment. If you are not interested in the Siesta Fiesta mention that in your comment, I will enter you in the drawing for a book. I am giving away:

Get Out of That Pit Devotional by Beth Moore
The Healing Touch by Norma Dearing
Under Healing Wings by the Rev Dr Jack Sheffield
The Final Quest by Rick Joyner
Beauty for Ashes by Joyce Meyer and

I will post the winners Thursday. I will most likely not make it to the post office until Saturday, but don’t fret I will mail everything 1st class.

Originally, I got a blog address so I could leave a comment on Lproof’s blog. Stephanie a former classroom assistant/ballet and pointe student of mine suggested I blog. I thought about it and began slowly blogging in January when my father was in the hospital, it helped me think about something else. And now, I am blessed to have so many blogging sisters/siestas. (And one brother – Jack who reads my blog occasionally.)

Two years ago a prophetess, Sharon Billins prophesied over me in San Antonio. She had never met me, didn’t know me from Adam, she said I had to stop making funny but deprecating comments about myself. She also said I would exhort the Body of Christ. I believed her, but wondered how I would exhort the Body of Christ when I was a prayer minister and led Ladies’ Sunday School classes. As an Episcopalian, when she said exhort, I automatically thought of the Exhortations in the back of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. I do not know if they are in the back of the “new prayer book” because I have never looked in the back of it. I rarely attend the Episcopal Church these days. I believe some of my posts do exhort the Body of Christ based on comments and e-mails. I have cut way down on the comments about myself, but need to work on that some more.

Since it’s my birthday eve, I am going to post a few of my favorite Scriptures:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.


For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.

He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Round Rock Healing Conference

The Lord showed up in a big way this weekend, of course I knew He would. The praise and worship team did a wonderful job, they were so in tune with the Holy Spirit. Jack and Anna Marie were anointed, their messages full of Scriptures and testimonies from other conferences and what they see God do at Christ Healing Center in San Antonio. (They take prayer appointments Tues through Thurs, no counselling, all prayer, donations accepted but not required.)



People are so hungry to hear the Gospel preached in love with boldness and clarity, we need something more than a positive message, we need Jesus and His resurrection power. We need to not only believe in God, we need to believe Him...how do you believe Him? You know His word. (Buy Beth Moore's book Believing God or do her Bible Study of the same name.) Church is not supposed to be dreary or a positive thinking experience, it's supposed to be alive with the power of Christ and His message.


Anna Marie and I prayed with several people, as did Jack and his prayer team. Many prayer recipients had bad backs, lots of people in casts and those orthopedic boot/cast sorts of things. (Are you impressed with my knowledge? Just Kidding.) We prayed with a woman in the midst of divorce who was grief stricken. We prayed with men & women crippled by fear, some afraid to be alone at home. Most of them have felt this way their entire life. We prayed for a man with cancer. One man's leg left deformed by childhood polio grew 3 inches. I know it's hard to believe in our culture, but it's true. That night he got up and walked to the restroom, his wife said you are out of your wheelchair. Next time we are praying over his knee and for muscles and tendons to grow. His doctor is going to be shocked to say the least. Lot's of emotional healing. People left the conference so free in Christ. Glory to God! He loves us so much.


I think 1 of the most effective ways to witness in the world is walking around in victory. The walking wounded of Christ are not always impressive. If we are seriously wounded (spiritually, mentally, and or pyhsically) how can we wear and carry the battle equipment He gives to us which is described in Ephesians 6?


Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Calling a Spade a Spade

I have whined to my husband and cracked jokes about being overweight and no longer enjoying exercise. As I have done the 1st 3 days of No other gods homework, I have decided in my case I must call a spade a spade…not only is food an idol because I eat when I am bored and when I am stressed instead of turning to our Lord, it oppresses me. I feel crummy because I weigh too much. If I were at the correct weight for my age and height, I would feel better. In letting food become an idol, I am also guilty of gluttony. (Not a word we hear much these days.) As I sit around in a lazy way blaming it on the heat, etc I am also guilty of sloth. (Another word we hear infrequently.)

I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings; I am not pointing fingers at anyone. I am talking about me. Sure I had a season for several months this year, in which I sat for hours at a hospital and ate from a vending machine or cafeteria, but I could have squeezed a little exercise into my day. Food choices would not have been as easy; I did little grocery shopping at the time, but when people offered to bring meals instead of saying no, I could have asked for salads and fruit. I didn’t take any help which was offered.

I think if I am honest with myself and call it what it is, I will be delivered from the oppression I have allowed into my life more quickly than if I pussyfoot around and dance around the idol. I must not go through life in my own strength but must depend on the Lord and His strength. My friend Sandy (of Sweet Tart and O J’s Beauty Lotion fame) sent me this verse in an e-mail today, and it so applies: Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a tower of strength. The righteous run to it and are safe. The following verses build me up and edify me, I hope they do you as well:

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

I have repented…may have to repent again, but I know I am forgiven. The sin is under the Blood of the Lamb!

Thursday, June 19, 2008

No Other gods...

For all of you who began the Siesta Study – No Other Gods…how excited are you?

I think the study is going to be very convicting. I am looking forward to discussing the homework with my small group in 2 weeks.

I certainly want to rid my life of idols and sin because I want to be the daughter He called me to be. I want to be more effective in ministry as I pray with people. Here are 3 verses from the Bible pertaining to idolatry and sin:

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.

I will be in Round Rock, TX this weekend at a healing conference. Please pray for my safety as well as me to be gifted by the Holy Spirit. I am looking forward to posting the praise reports. I am also looking forward to the praise and worship, as many people receive healing during worship. The presence of God will be so thick it will be hard to stand. If you are in the Round Rock area, come to the conference. Details can be found at: http://www.deepriverministries.com/

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Exercise in an Unusual Place

Yesterday I had my annual check up at a specialist's office, mammograms and ultra sound. I left work at 1:20p expecting to return by 4:00...HA! The mammograms began on time. Memorial Hermann Southwest had 1 ultra sound machine down, as a result I was still sitting in my little seersucker robe and jeans at 4:00p. I finally made it through the ultra sound and then had to go to another building to see my doctor. They instructed me to take a shuttle.

I went outside and headed toward the shuttle stop, I saw people about to faint in the heat. I thought forget it and walked over the the doctor, the walk was about 2 blocks, it was 101 surely this means I burned an extra calorie! Saw the doctor, received a clean bill of health, and then walked back to my car which was about the equivalent of 6 blocks from the doctor's office. More exercise in the massive Memorial Hermann parking lot.

The Lord blessed me in the rush hour traffic and I made it home in time to host Bible Study. It is so good to be meeting with my sisters again. We finished Stepping Up in May and I haven't seen them in a month.

I did well in the eating too much department yesterday. Did well grocery shopping on Monday night. No chips or junk food. I am praying to lose the desire to eat crummy food and eat mainly vegetables and fruits.

So I exercised a little yesterday, will walk tonight, I will be up to 2.5 miles 4 to 5 days a week soon. Now it's time to renew my mind in the Word.

Have a blessed day.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Letting Go...

It’s time to say goodbye to an old friend, my 1990 Kenmore washing machine, we bought it just before our friend’s baby Blake was born in January of 1990, which is how remember it’s age. It has sprung a leak which my husband says cannot be repaired. He is going to buy a new washing machine this week. (I hope it’s not my birthday present, I want a reel mower.)

The machine is old and outdated, but I know how to work it in a comatose state. No thinking involved. That’s how bad habits or besetting sins can be in our lives. Maybe we think about them and repent and then sin again, maybe we lug them around like an old friend, maybe we have swept them under the carpet and never think about them because it’s not like we are out there murdering people. But sin is sin is sin is sin.

The Bible tells us:

You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. (Newsflash - they aren’t a secret!)

If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Sin weights us down and hinders us.)

About 4 years ago, I forgave my mother-in-law after she made a remark excusing sexual abuse of children which took place under her nose and with her knowledge, I then became angry with her again and judged her, then I forgave her, then I cycled into sin again and was like a gerbil on a wheel – forgive/angry/forgive/angry. The phone would ring and I saw the hospital name on the caller ID and I would not answer it, nor would my husband. It took a lot of prayer to really forgive her. I never got the love back I had for her before the truth came out, something broke inside of me. I asked the Lord to fill me with His love for her, He did, but I never got the family type love I had for her back. I really prayed for her to love her children as she should and for there to be wholeness in our relationship with her before she died. That didn’t happen, but through the Lord and His grace I could love her with a Christ like love.

I looked & acted like a child of God during the cycle of sin, but the Lord knew the true state of my heart and it was not pretty. Only 2 people knew about the remark she made and why I was so angry, I let others assume it was the way she treated my husband which factored into my anger as well. I was just as much in sin as she had been while children were being sexually abused. Her sin just sounds worse. The Bible tells us be angry, sin not…however I was angry and sinning big time. I judged, criticized, and excuse the language, just plain bitched to 1 of my sister in laws over and over and over – picture gerbil on the wheel again.

I am so thankful the Lord did a big work and me and anger is no longer a besetting sin which weighs me down. I carried it around for nearly 2 years. I am now praying and really working on not eating too much and exercising too little as I have gained 25 lbs this year and was already 30 lbs overweight in January. I want to be a healthy child of God, whole in Christ Jesus. He will help me conquer this sin and He will help you conquer besetting sin in your life too, just ask Him. Through Christ we can run the race free of the hindrances which weigh us down.

Monday, June 16, 2008

The Revelation of the Table of Contents

One day last summer my friend Anna Marie (she lives in San Antone) and I (I’m in Richmond) were reading the Bible and calling each other back and forth to discuss the passages. Our husband’s were out of town and we had all day to ourselves. (Thank goodness long distance is no longer expensive!)

I decided to let the Bible fall open and read whatever was before my eyes, I was going to call Anna Marie back with the great revelation. Many times when I have just let it fall open, the Lord has led me to a passage that speaks to me about a situation in my life or the situation a friend is in at the time. I looked to see where the Bible opened….would it be the Old Testament, 1 of the Gospels, an Epistle? No it was open to the table of contents. We laughed so hard. I think God must have laughed too.

I think sometimes we are just too serious. The Bible speaks of joy; I take that to mean the Lord intends us to be filled with joy. The Bible speaks of laughter; doesn’t that mean we should laugh at least occasionally? Let the following verses speak to you:

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.

But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy

Let your Bible fall open today and may you have a better revelation than the table of contents.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Ray Stevens The Mississippi Squirrel Revival

Thought I would post something humorous this morning.

Friday, June 13, 2008

A Thief & Fog

A woman about my age and I entered Walgreens at the same time after work, she did not head for the moisturizers like I did. A 20 something man entered the store just behind us.

He stared at me, I stared back (I would normally look away, but was impressed to stare), he stared at the other woman, she didn’t notice him. He looked back at me, I stared back at him and he began to follow the other woman around the store.

A cashier called a manager to the front of the store. As the manager approached the front of the store the man ran out with bath products he had stolen. I was shocked; it was broad daylight in Richmond, Texas...

The other woman missed it all, she had no idea he had followed her around the store and no idea he stole shower gel and such 3 feet from her. She was walking around in a fog, we’ve all done it. For safety reasons we shouldn’t. But we also don’t want to be in a fog and miss what the Lord is doing in our lives and around us. We also don’t want to miss or ignore promptings from the Holy Spirit which could save us a lot of time and trouble. My friend Anna Marie disregarded the Holy Spirit prompting her to turn right one night as she left her office, she said that’s not the way home and turned left…she was stuck behind a wreck 5 minutes later and it took her over 2 hours to travel just a few miles. We need to be alert and go through this life with our eyes open. How can we receive from the Lord if we are not paying attention or so set in our ways we disregard Him?

I prayed for the thief to be convicted to stop stealing and have no peace as he used the products he stole and turn his life over to the Lord. I also told God, I was sorry for wanting him to break out in a rash after he used the shower gel and I was sorry I wanted to smack him. God knew the thoughts flew through my mind, thought I ought to be honest.

I pray we live our lives with our eyes wide open and focused on the King of Kings and the things of the Kingdom. Sure we have to have focus in our daily lives, but we don’t want to be so weighed down and burdened we live in a fog. The Bible says:

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Have a blessed weekend. If I am able to leave the office on time tonight, I will attend the Astros game.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Worry

Have you ever read the annual skin cancer articles in wormen's magazines? I do every year....I don't know why I do this, I suppose because I am a native Texan, fair complected, and have spent years out in the sun and on the water. I look at the pictures of skin cancer and think, thankfully nothing on my body looks like that. About 30 minutes later, I look at a large freckle or mole on my arm and think - did that always look like that?A seed of worry tries to plant itself in my mind. If I let it, I will be frantic to get an appt with a dermatologist. (I am not suggesting that we ignore suspicious spots or growths on our skin!) Worry is a sin...I remember how flabbergasted I was when I first discovered that fact. I thought wow, many women in my mother’s family worry about everything. I take after my father’s side and rarely worry. That side of the family tended to have other types of sin….such as control instead of worry.

As I read some of the verses pertaining to worry in the book of Matthew for the 1st time as an adult 25 years ago, it dawned on me if I worried, I was not casting my cares on Jesus, I was lugging them around with me.

Jesus talks about worry, He says:

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I want to obey our Lord, so when a seed of worry tries to plant itself in my mind, I usually pray out loud against worry or begin to praise God. The worrisome thought is usually gone in less than a second. Besides, I cannot afford to worry, my face has enough lines and age spots as it is!

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Are we cracked?

We had a brief little rain shower yesterday, towns around us received an inch or more of rain, I had hoped we would receive an inch or more. The ground is very hard around here and cracks are starting to show in my yard where I have not watered.

Our hearts can become hard when we let the cares of the world or bitterness and anger choke out the Word of God. Just like soil during a drought, our cracks begin to show. If we have told everyone we are fine, we will not be able to keep up the façade for long. God knows the truth, no matter what we tell people.

When we become hard hearted and bitter, for whatever reason we make it very difficult for the Lord to work in our lives. He is still there, He is still knocking, but we miss His voice and His message, we tune out the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we begin to isolate ourselves from other Christians when we really need them.

It’s hard to pour out His love if we are not receiving it. The Bible has a lot to say about our hearts, here are a few verses:

Ezekiel 36:26I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

Psalm 73:26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

2 Corinthians 3:3You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

If you feel isolated and or hard hearted, pray, the Lord will answer. He may require repentance, He may require action from you, but He will be right there with you every step of the way. Ask your trusted friends to pray with you and for you, or ask your pastor/minister/priest to pray with you and for you. The Lord will deliver you from a hard heart, His word says He will and I believe it.

Lord, I thank You that You are the strength of our hearts and our portion. I ask You to fill us to overflowing today with the Holy Spirit. If our hearts are stone or have an area which is stone, please conduct a transplant and make our entire heart a heart of flesh. We want to be Your letter from Christ as we are out and about in our daily lives. I praise You & thank You because You are the Living God, You are true to Your word. In Jesus’ Name I pray.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Loving through an Awful Monday

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I had to laugh at work on Monday; though part of me wanted to cry, of course an attack came after my post on love. 1 coworker is on vacation, another was stuck working out a problem for a client and it took just over 4 hours, the problem was from the pit of Hell, none of us have ever seen anything like it. Since she could not take calls or clients, I took more calls and clients than usual. Some were very nice people and some in the natural were not so loveable. Years ago, I would have “vented” over it, isn’t that a nice way in some cases to describe griping, whining, and complaining.

Since I had meditated on love verses Monday a.m.; I was able to behave in a godly way. I didn’t have nasty thoughts or “vent”. I was able to smile. I will admit to praying no one else would come in after 4:45p because we close at 5:00p. Am I ever glad my commute is less than 10 minutes because I didn’t arrive home until 6:30p. I am tired but still filled with love. 10 years ago, I would have come home, griped to my husband and used it as an excuse to do nothing else for the rest of the evening. It’s nice to have a measuring stick upon occasion to see how I am progressing on my Christian walk. Still a long way to go; but the walk is not as far as it used to be.

Here are two more verses pertaining to love to bless us:

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Lord, I pray we are filled with love and by the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to pour love out, just the way Jesus poured out His precious blood for us. I pray Lord for You to make our love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else. Lord, we want to be blameless and holy before You when Jesus comes. In the Mighty Name of Jesus I pray!

I am off to walk now. Have a blessed day.

Monday, June 9, 2008

But the greatest of these is love.

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. I John 4:9-11

God’s love is not a revelation to Christians, but the lavishness of this love is hard for our finite minds to grasp. The Bible has a lot to say about love. Here are a few verses:

Eph 5:1-3 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.

PS 32:10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.

Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

We are surrounded by His love, isn’t that amazing! I rarely think about it, but I should. When I was young I watched a show that was truly awful, though I loved it – Lost in Space. Sometimes they used an invisible force field to surround the space ship and protect them. When I was young, I thought God’s love is my force field. Of course now, I know His love is much better than something from Lost in Space. We are covered in His love, He envelops us with His love.
Be a vessel of love today, you never know how that love may bring a new believer into the Kingdom, bless someone who really needs a blessing or cause someone to rededicate their live to the Lord.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Penny & an Aerobic Moment

Today will be a busy day. I have a lot of housework to catch up on (I may post a pic, my husband cooked for my parents and left town and a mess in the kitchen.) as well as adding a few more bags of mulch to the flowerbeds, and a graduation party to attend. We had a bit of a sprinkle, if the ground is a little softer, I will try once more to move the Asparagus Fern. I decided to transplant it to a terra cotta pot on my porch. I maintain my position, we must plant the Word of God so deep, nothing can kill it.

I should be reading the Maffetone Method, but I am blogging. The book was recommended by Annette, her blog is fabulous, http://www.annieseyes.blogspot.com/
I have gained lots of weight this year and am finally interested in knocking it off, I am just not motivated to walk and bicycle in the mornings which I did for years. I need prayer to be disciplined and motivated.

I’ll be right back, 1 of my dogs; Penny just ran through the house with a squirrel in her mouth. (I love the doggy door…I love the doggy door…) OK…Penny is not happy with me, I took the dead squirrel away from Penny and disposed of it. Can you say Lysol the couch! Well my heart seems to have had an aerobic moment this morning.

Here are a few verses to bless us this a.m. and motivate us:

The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

O LORD God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you.


I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."


Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

Friday, June 6, 2008

Gift of Truth

I used to tell people I had the gift of truth as a license to say what I wanted to say at any given time. As we see below, there is not fruit called truth or a gift called truth.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

We can be right on an issue, but still need to keep our mouths closed. I shudder sometimes when I read what the Bible has to say about our words.

When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.

The verses I chose to list are just a few verses listed in the Bible concerning our mouths. How many times do we curse people in traffic on the way home from Bible Study or Church? I don’t mean just using vile language; I mean calling people names – stupid, jerk, etc.

The next time you call someone a name, pray something similar to:

Lord, I ask for forgiveness for cursing him/her with the words of my mouth. I ask You to bless him/her today. I plow up the bad seeds planted by the words of my mouth and I thank You for ending the process of failure, sickness, lack, and fear. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Are We Immature Woodpeckers?

I looked outside this morning and a young Red Bellied Woodpecker came skidding in for a landing at the bird feeder. He didn’t want other birds around and kept trying to scare them away from the feeder. The mature birds looked at him like he was a twerp. This happened the other day with another young bird. The woodpecker made noises, flew a couple inches up into the air, and jabbed the birds with his beak.

It reminded me of the Body of Christ when we peck at each other over matters that are not related to salvation. My former church has a contemporary service and a traditional service, when I scheduled prayer ministers (people who were serving others) some prayer team members refused to attend one service or the other because they hated the music, or it was too early or too late. They lost sight they were there to serve others. Christians fall out over is there a Rapture? Is the Rapture pre-trib, mid-trip, or post trib? Christians argue about wine or grape juice at Communion. Churches split over the gifts of the Spirit. And let's not even talk female pastors/priests/ministers...

Do we ever stop to consider how that appears to the unsaved? People watch how we act in the real world; they listen to what we say in the real world. We must live the Gospel, it cannot be a Sunday thing, it must be a daily thing. The Bible tells us:

If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Ask the Holy Spirit to convict you if the fruit in your life is not a harvest of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

I am off to pray and watch birds. Have a blessed day!

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Speechless

This does not happen often, I have nothing to say…no opinion to share, nothing to blog about… I could blab away with fun stuff, but instead I think I’ll pray for my blogging sisters (and brothers if there are any brothers):

Dear Lord,

I thank You for these wonderful Christians I have met through blogging. I thank You for the prayers they have prayed on my behalf as well as for my father Charles. I know I probably won’t meet most of them on earth, but I will dance with them on streets of gold as we worship You in heaven.

Thank You Lord that we cannot be shaken because we are rooted and grounded in You. I pray You are our consuming fire, that we serve You in reverence and obedience, always in awe of Who You are. I pray we always have Your words to testify about You and Your love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness.

I pray we seek and treasure Your wisdom, we seek Your word and sow it deep in our spirit. I pray our words are Your words. I pray we live in Your resurrection power.

Lord, You know how to bless my blog sisters and I ask You to do so now. Answer their prayers, deliver them, and meet their needs. Please give the weary a fresh revelation of Your love as well as mental, spiritual and physical refreshment to them. Convict them of anything that prevents You from blessing them. In Jesus’ Name I pray.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Asparagus Fern

Since my father was hospitalized for 5 1/ 2 months this year beginning in early January, I never got to the big spring yard clean up. I didn’t prune, our shrubs are shaggy…some will remain shaggy because birds have nests in them which I do not want to disturb. I suppose I should name this post: It’s still a jungle out there…

I left an asparagus fern in the ground all winter that popped up in a flowerbed; it had berries so I left it for the birds. Two weeks ago, I began to dig it up to transplant it. I could not dig it up to save my life. I normally don’t use poisons in my yard, but it was hot and I was desperate, I drove over to Home Depot and bought Round Up. I cut the fern back and sprayed it…I sprayed it a lot. It began to die. I thought yes, and tried to dig it up again on Memorial Day. I could not get it all. Yesterday I went out to water, I almost fell down in shock, that darn thing is sprouting green again and growing. See picture to the right....

I thought that's how deep I need to plant the Word of God in my spirit. His word says:

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

Jesus replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

As many churches and people fall away from the word of God, strive to hide more and more of it in your hearts. Sow His word deep….it is vital…

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Just ask Him

My husband came in the other day as I was writing some notes in a workbook. He asked if I was grading my Bible Study group’s answers. He was serious. I said no, there are no wrong answers unless you accidentally look up the wrong passage. I explained we might not always agree, but the point was to grow in the Lord not be right. I also told him, we discuss our answers, I don't grade. (Can you imagine grading your Bible Study group's work?????)

That got me to thinking…which may or may not be a dangerous thing…how many of us are set back on our walks with the Lord because someone legalistically tells us we are wrong when we are new Christians and just beginning to know God and His word?

I have friends who were turned off by that type of treatment by mature Christians, or someone was patronizing to them when they asked a question at Bible Study. One of my friends was kicked out of a Bible Study at a large Baptist Church in Houston because she missed 2 weeks in a row when her father-in-law died. (I am not making this up, it really happened.) The leader’s words wounded my friend to the core of her being. She did not attempt to find another Bible Study for years.

We must be mindful of the words which come out of our mouths…a whole lot of words come out of mine…I am sure friends and family wish I thought of this approach to life 35 years ago. God’s word says:

But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

He who answers before listening— that is his folly and his shame.

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

We must be bold and not water down the Gospel, but we must say it in love and truth without a hint of Pharisee in us. In fact, I used to pray for the Lord the blast any bit of Pharisee right out of me.

I want the words of Jesus to pour out of my mouth when I deal with people at work, the store, the post office, etc. I want the love of Jesus to pour out of me when I am in public (and at home). When I ministered at the Astrodome after Hurricane Katrina, you better believe I needed His words, not Annette words! Of course He came through for me. He’ll come through for you too….just ask Him.