Thursday, April 30, 2009

PC and the Swine Flu

Maybe I have not had enough coffee this morning, but as the Swine Flu story seems to be the lead story on every newscast and in every newspaper I have to laugh at this:

People in the Holy Land find pigs offensive and want the name Swine Flu changed. Does anyone else find that ridiculous? The flu is named Swine Flu because it comes from a pig virus...How has humanity become so sensitive and PC? Should we call each other offensive names? No!!! But to change the name of a virus, give me a break.

My county has at least 30 cases, I suspect schools may close next week. I will shop early in the a.m. when the grocery store is not crowded. I will sanitize my hands when I get into my car. I will wash them when I return home. I will not touch my face. I will sleep, eat well, take my vitamins and minerals, drink plenty of water, and probably not hug and shake hands at church or in public for the next couple of weeks.

But my number 1 strategy is this:

I will plead the Blood of Jesus over myself from the top of my head to the soles of my feet daily. I will trust in the Lord and not be afraid. I will pray protection from sickness and disease over myself and family.

I dwell in the shelter of the Most High, I rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I declare the Lord is my refuge and my fortress. I trust my God.

God will save me from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.

God covers me with His feathers, I will take refuge under His wings. His faithfulness is my shield and rampart.

I will not fear the terror of night or the arrows that fly by day.

I will not fear the pestilence that stalks in the darkness or the plague that destroys at midday.

Pray Scriptures over yourself and family...it's a powerful way to pray!

Love, Annette

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Left Overs

Ever wonder what to do with left over brown rice? I found this breakfast recipe:

here's a great, healthy recipe for left over brown rice...

for 1 serving

1/2 cup cooked brown rice
1/4 cup soy, rice, or regular milk
1 tablespoon dried cranberries or raisins
1 teaspoon sliced almonds
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon

combine all the ingredients in a saucepan (I stored the left over rice in the pot I used to cook it and used the same pot right out of the fridge to cook it the next a.m.)

heat over medium heat until warmed through, about 5 min

tastes great...

Monday, April 27, 2009

Swine Flu

To my knowledge there has been 1 other Swine Flu outbreak in my life prior to this outbreak. I have noticed many of the articles printed in newspapers across the country as well as articles I read last week on websites seemed more about scaring people than informing people.

Do I think we need to take the possible epidemic seriously? Yes! Do I think we should be shaking in our boots? No! If we have loved ones in a weakened physical state or with a suppressed immune system, we must take extra care when it comes to them.

As of last night, Swine Flu is in TX, OH, KS, NY, Mexico, Canada, Israel, and New Zealand. People are calling for the Texas border to be closed...it's kinda late - you know the cow out of the barn thing. We would have to ground planes, trains, buses, cruise ships, close all businesses, and schools for 7 to 10 days at least to stop the virus from spreading.

If the flu comes to my area, I will resume shopping at the least crowded times, I will eat more meals at home, I will focus more on whole foods like I do during the winter cold/flu season, better nutrition, sleep, hydration, and continue to wash my hands through out the day. I was concerned about bringing viral and bacterial infections to dad, if I had been at the pharmacy, grocery store, any where with crowds, I changed clothes when I got home before I went to visit dad. I also left my shoes by the back door instead of walking through the house in them. Something about walking into the bedroom with shoes that had walked on hospital floors when you heard all the MRSA talk...

I also plan on staying focused on the Lord and not the media and their sensational reporting. Are any of you concerned about the possible epidemic? I know if my father was still alive, I would be concerned about taking him to the doctor and exposing him to people coughing and sneezing in the elevator etc.

Do any of you have concerns about the Swine Flu? If so, are you going to make any lifestyle changes? Do you have advice for those concerned about it?

I say be cautious but do not be afraid. Psalm 91 is a great psalm to pray over yourself and your loved ones:


1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I dwell in the shelter of the Most High, I rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say [b] of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

I declare the Lord is my refuge and my fortress. I trust my God.

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

God will save me from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

God covers me with His feathers, I will take refuge under His wings. His faithfulness is my shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

I will not fear the terror of night or the arrows that fly by day.

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,nor the plague that destroys at midday.

I will not fear the pestilence that stalks in the darkness or the plague that destroys at midday.

If you have Scripture you pray over yourself and your loved ones, please share it with us.

Love, Annette

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Be Unto Your Name

May we be aware of our Lord's holiness, power, might, love, and forgiveness.

Friday, April 24, 2009

What is Done in Secret

Every mother knows how to spot a teenager up to no good a mile away...even when the teen is not your child, related to you, or a friend of the family.

Yesterday as I returned home from the post office around 11:00am, I noticed a teen riding her bike at a furious pace down the street...I see her roller blading, walking her dog etc many times a week, I helped her when she fell one summer day a couple of years ago. I do not know her name, she was crying so hard when she fell (it was a bad fall) I didn't understand what she said. I see her with the other students each morning as they wait for the school bus, I thought maybe she missed the bus and had to ride her bike, or did she ride it to skip school? My suspicion was confirmed when she did not go to her house but another house in the neighborhood and hid her bike. Then she saw me and turned a pale, PALE shade of white. I waved. She sorta waved.

What she did in secret was out in the open for God and apparently a neighbor to see.

We think if we do not say the ugly thought out loud or if no one hears us it may not be such a big deal...but nothing we do is truly secret. Our Lord sees and hears it all. Thankfully His mercy never ends, His love endures forever...His grace is new each day.

The Bible says:

But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:"Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

When we confess our nasty dark thoughts and words, when we let God into to secret, dark, broken places in our lives...they are exposed to the Light. The Light brings healing, forgiveness, restoration - NOT condemnation or reproach. If God is dealing with you in any area, deal with it...you will never be sorry.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Mike Kidda

Tonight I am going to a surprise party, Mike Kidda turns 87 today. The party is during the weekly small group meeting at their house, so he won't think anything is unusual as people begin to arrive.

Mike and his wife Ann moved to Richmond from Shreveport about 4 1/2 yrs ago and have been a huge blessing to me. Ann is one of my best friends. I wrote about them several months ago when their son died.

Mike is 87 today, still active in prayer ministry, he is an Eucharistic minister (a fancy way of saying he assists with Communion during Sunday services.) He is a lay reader. He mows his lawn with an electric mower just like mine. He jogs 1 mile a day and rides his bike to the grocery store. (I pray for him when I see him riding his bike across FM 762.)

Mike exudes the love of Christ in all that he does. I hope all of you have a Mike and or Ann in your life. And now we count down to their 65th wedding anniversary party in a few weeks. 65 YEARS...I can't imagine!

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Monday, April 20, 2009

Like Ocean Waves

2009 has been a great year in many ways for me and in other ways, it has been stressful and filled with grief with many serious prayer needs. My father died at the end of January...that definitely tops the stress and grief scales. My mother is doing well, she has Alzheimer's and thankfully lives 6 blocks from me.

My husband is the legal guardian of his aunt Margaret. She will be 90 in Sept. She resides in a nursing home about 60 miles from us and is completely senile. She fell last Sat. and was rushed to the hospital, thankfully she was not seriously injured...I sped on the way to the ER with tears at the surface, memories of 2008 and Jan. 2009 were flooding into my mind, my husband resisted the urge to tell me to slow down, he knew (we thought hospice was being called in for his aunt) I wanted to get there in time for him to say goodbye.

I have attended 6 funerals since 01/01/2009 plus my father's and skipped 3 others because I just could not do it. I talked to my friend's parents Arch and Betty yesterday. He has leukemia and Alzheimer's, decided to go off all meds and let leukemia do it's thing, I certainly understand. Betty has blood clots in her brain, we prayed yesterday, she has surgery in 2 weeks. She is stressed about who will care for Arch. He doesn't do well without her and heaven forbid if his routine is interupted. He was in the past yesterday and wondered why I didn't spend the night with their daughter anymore. (He remembers the laughter and shrieking I suppose.)

Water got into 1 room of my house Saturday during storms. I think about 2 inches...some items in the room floated. It's a mess. My husband said not to worry about it, so I cleaned part of it and left part of it. (I can follow advice when it suits me!)

We all have times where life seems to buffet us like waves crashing into the shoreline. My life is not unique. Each and everyone of you has seasons where you think, come on - enough is enough. There is sickness, disease, teenagers, school, spouse issues, parents, jobs, elections, all kinds of things that cause problems in our lives.

I don't know how people who do not believe in God or believe what He says endure times of stress and grief. I know the reason I have been able to have extreme joy through my grieving process is because the joy comes from the Lord. His joy is my strength.

If you believe in God, but don't know enough about what He promises us, please begin to read the Bible. I think a good place to start is the Gospel of John. Find a version you understand such as the NIV or the Amplified Bible. I think King James is a little difficult for many people to use at the beginning. The New King James Version is wonderful.

These are a few of God's promises to us:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff,they comfort me.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

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

In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

I Lift My Eyes Up (Brian Doerksen)

I pray we have a blessed Sabbath and are a blessing this day.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Siesta Memory Verse/Slacker

I had narrowed down my 04/15 Siesta Memory Verse to 1 of 3 verses from Psalm 118 on Sunday. Today I chose it around 6am. My friends on Facebook can attest to this fact.

I went to the Lproof.org blog this morning to post my verse and lo and behold before my very shocked face was my verse. Beth Moore had chosen 3 verses from Psalm 118. I think my mouth fell open and my eyes opened very wide. I feel kinda like a slacker but not enough to add 2 more verses because I don't quite have my 04/01 verses down, I know them in so many versions that I have not learned the version I chose this time.

Psalm 118 is so beautiful, I want to share a few verses with you:

5 In my anguish I cried to the LORD,
and he answered by setting me free. (the verse I chose to memorize.)

6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?

7 The LORD is with me; he is my helper.
I will look in triumph on my enemies.

8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.

9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.

For those of us memorizing Scripture, let's persedangvere...we can do all things through Christ, He gave us a sound mind...let's use them to His glory!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Strange Weekend

Our weekend was a little strange. Friday afternoon I came home after church and did a few chores around the house and went to get my hair cut.

Saturday I was tired, just pulled most of our belongings out of the closet and was going to decide what stayed and what left the house, when my mother called to see if we were going to the nursery, I asked her to delay it. I was dressed in very grubby clothes, even too grubby for the nursery. The phone rang again, I almost didn't answer it. It was the nursing home in Bay City, my husband's 89 year old aunt had fallen. I said does she need to go to the hospital? The woman on the phone said yes, I said we are on the way. I looked around my room trying to decide what to wear since I had mounds of stuff from the closet sitting everywhere. I grabbed a blouse and a pants and called my husband and said we need to get to the hospital.

As we drove to Bay City, I could feel that knot trying to form in my stomach. I was praying for Aunt Margaret. We were led to believe we may need hospice care. I didn't want her to be in pain or suffer. We arrive at the ER, different hospital, different town, but the old dreaded ER. They let us in to see her. Her CT Scan was clear, she was alert (as alert as she can be) and her head did not hurt. There was no swelling, she needed 2 stitches. I was so thankful. We stayed with her until she was released and then we headed home.

Sunday's church service was glorious. The music, the sermon, the worship - all beautiful. I pray it was as glorious to the Lord as it was to us.

Saturday and Sunday were from 1 extreme to the other. Just like us before we make Christ our Lord and Savior. Our life is a mess one minute and the next we are a new creation in Christ.

I hope we are able to remain Easter people through out the year. I hope Easter did not end on Sunday night for us.

Alleluia - He is Risen - the Lord is risen INDEED! Alleluia

Monday, April 13, 2009

The Original Spice Girls

So many people have the opinion God the Father Almighty hates women and created us to be 2nd class citizens. If that is a fact, why did He trust women to prepare Jesus' body after the Passover and why did women, the original spice girls, discover He was not in the tomb? If God, thinks women are 2nd class citizens don't you think men would have discovered the tomb was empty?

John 20:

1Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"
3So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. 8Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9(They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Dolly Parton - He´s alive (Full song)

He is Risen! He is Risen! He is Risen!

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia...

Happy Easter...

Love, Annette

Thursday, April 9, 2009

The Last Supper & the Garden

When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me."
They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?" Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."
5Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" Jesus answered, "Yes, it is you." While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."
Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the[b] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."
When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Jesus Predicts Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: " 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will." "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same. Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

How Great Is Our God

For God so loved the world...

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

What Jesus Said About Forgiving One Another

Matthew 6:

12Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

' 14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Matthew 18:

21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
22Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times
23"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents[b] was brought to him. 25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii.[c] He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.
29"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
30"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

There are 3 areas of forgiveness:

1) God – does He need forgiving – No, but He knows you are mad at Him because something did not work out for you, you were a victim of abuse as a child, a spouse left you, whatever has you angry with God – forgive Him
2) Forgive Yourself – quit the self hatred and loathing. Ask God for the grace to forgive yourself, whether it’s poor decisions you made, abusing your body, quitting school – what ever it is…forgive yourself
3) Forgive others – when we say we will forgive but not forget, we are still in bondage to those who hurt us, they have a power position in our life and we open the door for satan to act in our lives. In the natural, we want revenge, but God is supernatural and gives us the grace we need to forgive. A measuring stick I use to determine if I have truly forgiven someone is to see if I can earnestly pray for God to bless the person.

We need to forgive the living and many times people who are dead. The forgiveness exercise works for all types of situations. You can do it silently as you lay in bed. You will not believe the physical, spiritual, and emotional healing which comes when you forgive everyone. Sometimes you are forgiving people for something which is not real, other times it is very real. You may need to forgive doctors and hospitals or other institutions.

Corrie Ten Boom has a powerful testimony she shared about forgiving the man who betrayed her and her family to the Nazis which led to their arrest. Most of her family died in Concentration camps. She was also able to forgive a guard who did not recognize her and wanted to shake her hand after she gave a speech.

The Bible tells us we must forgive or the God cannot forgive us. I have enough sin in my life without adding unforgiveness to the list. I need all the forgiveness I can get from our Heavenly Father.

Part 1: Hold your hands in the air, palms up (like you are releasing a butterfly)
Hold up to the Lord all the things a person has done that bother you or has hurt you. Pretend you are stacking them up in your hands. When you are finished with your list, turn your hands over in a symbolic release to the Lord.

Then pray something similar to: Lord Jesus, I give you each one of these things and ask that you take them and pour your love and healing power through them. I thank you, Lord, that you have the power and grace to redeem them. I ask you, Lord to release the pain and hurt that has been involved which each one of these things (List them if you need to do so) that you lift it from ______________(their name)’s heart, mind, and spirit. I ask you to lift the burden of these things from ____________ shoulders. I give all this to you Lord, and trust you to deal with them. Amen

Part 2: Hold your hands in the air again, palms up (same as above) and make a stack of things that bother the person your are forgiving about yourself, these can be real things or imagined things. When done, turn your hands over in a symbolic release to the Lord.

Then pray something similar to: Lord Jesus, I ask you to pour your love and healing power over these things, each and every one of them. I ask you to take them, deal with them, and release them from ____________________. I trust you to heal the hurt and pain. Amen

Part 3: With hands in the air, make a list of your hearts desire for this person. Turn your hands over and release it to the Lord. Pray something similar to:
Lord Jesus, I give person’s name to you, I thank you that you are able to handle him better than anyone else. Bring your perfect will for _______________ and let your love pour into ______________ and your healing power flow over ____________. I release him into your care. Amen

Part 4: Hold your hands in the air, make a list of things you would like Jesus to do in your life – now…then turn your hands over and pray something similar to:

Lord, I release these things to you and ask you to pour your love, mercy and grace into them. I thank you that I can and do trust you with these things. Surround me w/ your heavenly angels. Show me once more how much you love me. Amen

Monday, April 6, 2009

Ellen

This is not what I had planned to post today,in fact I was going to e-mail it to someone, but I realized someone else needs to read it as well. The names have been changed, though the woman who was healed has given permission for her testimony to be shared.

I have noticed over the years in prayer ministry many women with severe and ongoing back problems are survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Many of them also have autoimmune diseases and are perfectionists as well as have the desire to control all things in their home which is because they had no control as little girls when they were abused, usually by a "loved one".

Ellen was going to a prayer appointment once a week for 2 hours at a Christian ministry which has licensed psychologists and psychiatrists on staff. You have prayer then see your therapist. Ellen's back was a mess, she had severe scoliosis and her vertebra's were disintegrating. Her internal organs were being crushed. So her friend talked her into going for prayer and therapy, especially since it was free.

Ellen wanted prayer for her back, not much happened, but the pain was gone. Through out the next year, she continued the prayer sessions and therapy with a psychologist. She described being raped by her father and grandfather beginning at age 4 and then by her brother when he was in high school. Her mother was aware of it, left her husband and married someone else who raped Ellen as well. The more Ellen was abused, the more in control she wanted in her life and who could blame her. She left home at 18 and never looked back. About this time her spine began to curve and in her early 20's her vertebrae began disintegrating. She was carrying all that baggage from the past and it was too heavy for her back.

She really began to forgive her mother and the abusers. Not much change in her back, but still pain free. Her emotions and spirit were healed. Her husband was thrilled. He could see an amazing difference in her countenance. On the year anniversary of her 1st prayer appointment the prayer ministers and psychologist said we have not prayed for your back in a while, let's pray for it. They prayed. Her back starting snapping and popping, it didn't hurt while this took place and suddenly she was standing upright. Ellen had truly forgiven the abusers and other people in life who had failed her. She had forgiven herself and quit hating herself. She had forgiven God. Did He need forgiving no, but He knew she was mad at Him, and forgiving Him was a step in her freedom. Her spirit and emotions were healed and then her physical body.

The Lord wants to heal us, because living with a chronic illness is not His best for us. The Bible tell us:

"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Is everyone healed on earth no, but we are to seek it believing we will be healed.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Be persistent...the widow was:

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' " And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says.

Tomorrow I will post the Forgiveness Exercise Ellen did with the prayer ministers and did in the privacy of her own home.

Remember I am not telling people they are ill because of something they have done or not done, I am not telling people they do not have enough faith. I am telling people to seek the Healer...His body was broken and His blood was shed for you.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Palm Sunday's "All Glory, Laud, and Honor"

I loved singing this hymn at chapel in school and on Palm Sunday.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Palm Sunday

Sunday is the day on which most churches with the exception of a few Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate Palm Sunday.

Many churches have processions with the congregation carrying palm leaves and the much of the music is festive compared to other music played during the Lenten Season. If you grew up in a liturgical background before services were modernized you sung a few dirge like hymns each Sunday. The words always pierced me, the melody usually made me want to yawn. I was too young to understand the purpose behind the dirge like melody.

I urge you to ponder Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, His ultimate betrayal and arrest. The mockery of a trial and His execution this week and then celebrate Easter with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength.

Jesus died for me, He died for you. He died for every person on the planet - past, present and future. He loves you, He loves me...His love is perfect and whole. Please receive His love and receive His promises.

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

New Covenant Girl

On my other blog which details my thoughts and impressions as I read through the Bible chronologically this year, I often state (emphatically) that I am glad I am a New Covenant girl. I stated it frequently through out our readings in Leviticus and probably Numbers as well.

As a result of this statement, my newest Siesta Memory verse is from Luke 22: 19-20, in the New King James Version:

And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

I pray as we enter Holy Week on Sunday, we really reflect on the New Covenant and what the Lord did for us. He was humiliated, beaten to a pulp, mocked, scorned, took on every sin that was ever committed and every sin that would be committed as well as every illness and disease that people had suffered and would suffer as He experienced an excruciating execution. He was separated from His Father for the 1st time. That really hits home this year as my own, dear earthly father went home to be with our Abba Father 2 months ago.

Pray as you receive Communion, pray you are transformed, and Comminion is not something you partake of out of tradition. His body was broken, His blood was shed for you and for me...let us always be thankful...

I cannot wait to see all the memory verses roll in this morning...and once again I proclaim, I am glad I am a New Covenant Girl!