Saturday, May 30, 2009

We're Called by Name

Jesus called us to Him by name, He loves all people and wants no one to perish. While we know that, do we know how to abide in Him and really know Him?

One definition of abide is to remain stable or fixed in a state...are we remaining stable in Jesus or running around like chickens with our heads cut off? Are we fixed in Him and on Him or fixed in a state of the sky is falling?

The more time we spend in His word whether alone or in a Bible study, the more we are able to remain stable in Him because we know what He promises us. We are in a covenant with Him. He will never break it. The more we abide in Him, the more like Him we become. The more like Him we become the less freaked out we are when life throws a curve ball. Life happens, no one promised us a walk through the tulips, however the Lord promised us eternal life.

His word says:

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.


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. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

"For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

Have a blessed Sabbath dear sisters.

Love, Annette

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Acceptance is All in a Name

My cousin Julie let her daughter join Facebook. Emma's friends are relatives and close family friends. Her mother chose who she could invite to be her friend. I received a friendship request from Emma, accepted it and received a message in my inbox from her, it read: Do I really know you - really really know you, my mother does, but do I? I wrote her back and said you call me Anne not Annette, I am aunt Barbara's daughter. She wrote back and said OK, I accept you.

Aren't you glad, the One who counts really REALLY knows us, He knows me no matter what name I use...He knows the number of hairs (and their real colours) on our head...He knew us before we were knit together in our mother's womb...He called us by name...if you feel far from Jesus, if you are hiding from Him...please know He loves you, nothing can separate you from His love.

The Bible tells us:

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Rest in Him - He loves you so much, He died for our sins and transgressions, He died for our illnesses and infirmities, call on Him - He is waiting...

Friday, May 22, 2009

Memorial Day Weekend

How is it Memorial Day Weekend already? It seems like it was just New Year's and dad was home and things were looking up with his health. Then I griped via the blog he wanted me to take his watch back to Torneau in the Galleria one Sat. in January...that of course never happened because he died the day after he requested I make the trip.

Much of this year has been a combination of doing enough in the house and yard to get by, filled with tears which still fall, putting one foot in front of another as well as filled with joy - lots of joy...the Lord has filled me with joy and it has been my strength. My blogging sisters have sustained me with prayers. Mafia Wars has provided diversion in the evenings as well as planting flowers and working in the yard again. (My neighbors must be doing the happy dance, since I am getting it back into good shape.)

Many parents, sibling, children, brothers, sisters, friends, and spouses are dealing with loss which we honour on Monday, they have lost loved ones recently or in the past...let us remember with thanksgiving all who have given their lives for our country. I come from a family which has a tradition of serving as police officers and in the military, somehow we have not lost anyone serving our country since the civil war.

Please keep those suffering loss of family and friends in Iraq and Afghanistan in your prayers. Please keep those who serve our nation in your prayers. And I pray we bless God.

And because this was dad's favorite Psalm, I end with Psalm 121:

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;

4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;

8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Attacked

I play Mafia Wars on Facebook...such a wholesome game - NOT. We rob and attack other players for points and money...you can try to kill players on the hit list...there are jobs to do which involve stealing, corrupt DA's, etc.

I made a comment on FB the other night about someone attacking me 23 times and a friend wrote back because she was very concerned. She had not heard of Mafia Wars and didn't know I was commenting on a game.

Thankfully she asked me about it. Can you imagine the gossip that might have started had she gone to someone else. Christians must be very careful...it can be difficult not to stray into gossip...wholesome conversation one minute, gossip the next.

I know a woman who goes to the prayer team at church when another member is receiving prayer and leans in as she tries to listen to their need or situation. When I was director of prayer ministry, I would direct other prayer ministers to cut her off at the pass so to speak and pray with her. She wasn't all that interested in receiving prayer when she could not hear what the other prayer recipient was saying. These are 2 extreme examples, one very funny - Mafia Wars, but gossip is not funny.

Ladies guard your lips. The Bible says:

A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.

A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.

A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Sunday

I attended church at 1st Baptist Houston with Annette G of Annie's Eyes blog fame. We went to lunch afterwards, so nice to see her in person again. The service was wonderful as was conversation at lunch. I met her niece and a few of her friends.

We are experiencing early March type weather today. It is cool enough to have windows open, no a/c running...and LOW humidity. It's going to be in the 50's tonight which is very unusual in southeast Texas. Thank You Lord!

I have to think about re-arranging our bedroom tonight,the gigantic TV my mother bought for us is here. I almost hyperventilated when I looked at the box. I knew it was big at the store, but I didn't think it was this big. The same line I used on my husband to explain a Christmas tree one year. I wanted a 28 inch screen, he wanted something larger...I compromised and we got a 40 inch screen...my cousin Wayne explained there is no such thing as a TV which is too big...just isn't...in fact he reasons if it fits through the front door without removing the door frame it may be too small. Oh well...it's a gift and I am grateful...really, I am. (I just wish it were smaller...in a grateful way.)

Enough blabbing for now, I leave you with these words from Psalm 9:

1 [a]I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonders.
2 I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

Friday, May 15, 2009

So Many Verses - Which 1 to Choose

Can you believe it's already Siesta Memory Verse time!!! I cannot believe it myself. The year is speeding right along. Normally this time of year Indianapolis 500 fever has spread through my family. Dad susbscribed to the Indianapolis Star every May. We would pour over statistics, facts about the cars and drivers, etc and talk about all the Indianapolis 500's we attended over the years. Last year, I really hoped to attend in person this year. I will watch it on TV and will not answer the door or the phone during the race.

Imagine if I poured myself into the Word, prayer, and sitting in the Lord's presence like I do the Indy 500. (My aunt is no longer alive, she will not be offended I shortened the name of Indianapolis.)

I feel like I have been a slacker in prayer and Word time lately, but I can tell energy is returning.

It was hard to narrow it down this week, there were several potential verses. I chose this one, Psalm 18:30

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.

Can't wait to see your verses...have a blessed weekend...

Love, Annette

Thursday, May 14, 2009

JACK BENNY BING CROSBY BOB HOPE

Jack Benny still makes me laugh...

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Penny

I have two elderly mutts, Penny & Midnight. Midnight lays at my feet in the office most week days, Penny lays across the office door way or on the couch most days.

Today she was sound asleep on the couch for her serious, do not disturb me unless you are giving me wonderful, human food, taking me for a walk or a ride in the car nap. As she slept, the lawn service my husband hired to come twice a month pulled up, started mowers, edgers and weed eaters...the princess was disturbed...she looked with disdain out the window and stomped down the hall and got in our bed.

Christians can be like that sometimes, can't we??? Sometimes we feel contempt or disdain for someone who we perceive as different from us, or has a different opinion, or maybe is of a different faith.

I know at our church we have people who sing with their arms uplifted...others who would not do that to save their lives and some of them look down their nose at those who raise their arms in praise. The next time a negative thought comes into your mind or mindset about someone, ask the Lord to show you that person or idea through His eyes. Look at it through the lens of the Gospel because Jesus died for all people. He wants everyone to be saved. Our job is to love and pray, not save...

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([a]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

For as in one physical body we have many parts (organs, members) and all of these parts do not have the same function or use, So we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ (the Messiah) and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another]. Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: [He whose gift is] prophecy, [let him prophesy] according to the proportion of his faith...

We are 1 body not lone rangers...go out and share His love....

Monday, May 11, 2009

Happy Monday

Years ago I had a coworker named Lois Ann, she was a very funny lady, intelligent, knew the business inside and out and was a great mentor to younger people in the office. She hated Mondays because she had 1 client in particular who would begin calling the office 15 minutes before we opened. 2 of us came in 30 minutes early to have everything ready to go for the day and usually we took the answering service off as soon as all the computers were up and running, the printers were ready and we had called the home office where much of what was printed was generated and let them know we were ready. On Mondays we took the answering service off precisely at 8:00am. This one man set the tone for the morning on Mondays...

Aren't you glad, through Jesus Christ we can reset the tone by the minute if need be! Through Jesus our attitudes, our hearts, our minds, our circumstances can change. He brings peace, healing, love, forgiveness, dying to self, holiness, grace, mercy, wisdom and much, much more.

If you need a little adjusting call on Him, His word tells us:


Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

"You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.


Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Let us endeavor to remain focused on the Lord and consider the fact Monday is really Tuesday Eve.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Michael W. Smith - You Are Holy (Prince of Peace)

Have a wonderful mother's day and a blessed Sabbath!

Friday, May 8, 2009

I love Lucy Vitameatavegamin

I needed a laugh this grey morning.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

National Day of Prayer

Heavenly Father,

I thank You for America. I thank You for the natural resources You have given us. I thank You we have not had a war on our soil since the Civil War. I pray we never have a physical war here again.

I ask forgiveness for the sins we have commited against You as a nation. I pray our current administration makes decisions which are righteous in Your sight. I pray this administration does no harm to Israel and does not advise Israel to do anything that would harm Israel.

I pray we return to You as a nation. I ask You to pour forth Your healing on our land. I pray for revival Lord.

I pray we take the vast resources You have given us and use them to advance the Kingdom not man.

I pray we no longer label one another Mexican-American, Chinese-American, liberal, conservative etc. I pray our labels are sons and daughters of the Most High God.

I pray we praise You as a nation. I pray we feed on Your Word as a nation. I pray we worship You and You alone.

In Jesus' Name I pray.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

May 7, 2009

While May 7th is the 30 anniversary of my senior class' Skip Day...more importantly, it is the National Day of Prayer.

Please pray for our country...I want so much for the USA to serve the Lord...I want the USA to be a sheep nation, not a goat nation...

2009 Prayer for Our Nation
by Beth Moore, Honorary Chairman



Father in Heaven,

We lift our eyes toward Your Throne, where You reign in righteousness.

Your Word assures us that when Your people cry out in sincerity and humility, You will never turn a deaf ear to us.

We call upon You now, seeking Your forgiveness and favor.

Look over this fevered landscape and heal us, Lord.

Drop knees to the floor and raise eyes to the sky, for we know where our help comes from.

Unite these States again in devotion to You, and blur every dividing line.

Do not give us over to our sins. Give us, instead, over to passionate prayer that moves Your heart.

“May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You.”

In the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ

Amen

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

National Day of Prayer

2009 Prayer for Our Nation
by Beth Moore, Honorary Chairman

Father in Heaven,

We lift our eyes toward Your Throne, where You reign in righteousness. Your Word assures us that when Your people cry out in sincerity and humility, You will never turn a deaf ear to us. We call upon You now, seeking Your forgiveness and favor. Look over this fevered landscape and heal us, Lord.

Drop knees to the floor and raise eyes to the sky, for we know where our help comes from.

Unite these States again in devotion to You, and blur every dividing line.

Do not give us over to our sins. Give us, instead, over to passionate prayer that moves Your heart.

“May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You.”

In the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ

Amen

Monday, May 4, 2009

Acknowledge & Bewail

This weekend was Calvary Episcopal Church's 150th anniversary as a parish. There was a celebration on Sat: Ice Cream Social, many people dressed in costumes from various periods over the last 150 years, there were skits, story telling and a black choir and preacher came to lead a praise and worship service. At one point in our history, the land on which the church was built as well as the surrounding houses, were deeded for whites only. It's hard for us to believe, but this was a common practice in the South after the civil war. There are little lots in the area which were deeded for coloured people because employers wanted their servants living on the property. Thankfully we have come a long way and we are still moving towards equality. Racism has no place in the Body of Christ!

I am so thankful in heaven we will truly see people as God sees us. No partiality.

Sunday, we used the 1789 Book of Common prayer and sung hymns written prior to 1859. It was nice to visit the old liturgy. In the 1789 confession, we acknowlege and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness which we from time to time greviously commit....from time to time...those words make me laugh out loud, they are in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer as well...there are days when I commit them from minute to minute and I don't think I always acknowledge or bewail them...until later in the day.

Let us live out the Gospel and love all people, Scripture tells us:

Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.

And let us acknowledge and bewail accordingly...

Friday, May 1, 2009

Siesta Memory Verse - May 1st

I can't believe it's May 1st and time for another memory verse. WOW - the year with the great, the good, the mediocre and the bad is flying by...

I love checking in on the Lproof blog through out the day and seeing the numbers of our Siestas participating, I love reading the Scripture we all choose.

Feed on His Word, counter act all that comes into our hearts, minds, spirits and souls via the world, life, the enemy etc.

Phillipians 4:7-9 tells us this:

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Have a great weekend. Stay in the Word and let's persedangvere!