Thursday, March 31, 2011

John 15

My next few memory verses are found in John 15, beginning with verse 1. (If the Lord leads me to other verses in a few weeks, I will listen and sow the verses He chooses in my heart.)

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also 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.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

In a world which seems to be imploding, wars, nuclear accidents, earthquakes, a tsunami, financial meltdowns, cruelty, etc - we know Jesus is coming. He died on the Cross to save all people. Keep your eyes on Him and pray for non believers to come to know Him as Lord and Savior. I pray He pours out His mercy and grace in the war zones as well as Japan.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Praise Report

My friend Patty's surgery went miraculously well. They feared ovarian and or breast cancer. They discovered a much, much smaller tumor on the peritoneum, the membrane that holds the organs together. The cancer was not attached to any organs and was contained by the membrane. They clipped it out and the glory is the Lord's.

Her 5-7 surgery last less than 2 hours and her week-long hospital stay will now be as little as the next two days!

Monday, March 28, 2011

Patty

Patty has surgery tomorrow, the surgeon estimates the surgery will take 5-8 hours. I do not know how advanced the ovarian cancer is, I know from reading, the symptoms Patty has indicates it may be fairly advanced. But Patty and I as well as you know the Great I Am is bigger than any cancer!

Jesus came to make us spiritually, mentally and physically whole as He destroyed the works of the devil. He came to bring abundant life, in my book that means destroying sickness and disease.

Patty and I got to know one another through Community of Hope. We attended the same training class, we joke we were locked in the church's conference room for 3.5 hours on Sundays for 16 weeks. We enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner at Larry's Mexican Restaurant and we love studying God's Word together. She is a part of my home girl posse.

I am so thankful the Lord put her in my life. I am looking forward to the praise report blog post. Patty is a woman of faith, she faced cancer head on a few years ago. I vividly remember her telling me, "Annette, I want to live to have more time with my husband and children, but I am filled with peace and ready to meet God face to face." She still would like to be here longer and meet her twin grandbabies who will make their arrival soon, but I know she trusts in our God and His purpose and to Him be all the glory.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Friday, March 25, 2011

Knocked for a Loop

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

For the 1st three weeks of March one of my friends and I have been trying to get together for lunch at my house and a day at the Houston Rodeo. I had to cancel lunch. She canceled the rodeo the 1st week because she didn't feel so well. I invited her and her youngest daughter to attend the last day of the rodeo, she said yes then had to cancel because she was not feeling well.

She had been to the doctor for a couple routine tests the 3rd week of March and is now waiting to go to MD Anderson next Tues. The doctors suspect ovarian cancer.

Since Monday I've wanted to cry. I think of her 1st grandchildren (twins) who will make their arrival soon, her daughters, her son, her husband and most of all her. I feel as though there is no air in my sails. But I know what to do: pray, pray, pray and stand on promises found in Scripture. I know God is Who He says He is and I KNOW He can do what He says He will do.

This is another life circumstance in which we need to know His word, we need more than believing in Him we need to know Him.

I ask you to pray for my friend, God knows her name (they have not gone public yet), her pain levels are intense and she is in limbo until she goes to MD Anderson next week.

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
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.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Whisper

Monday as I worked on a project for a client, I felt as if something was off as I reached page 4 of their request. I continued doing the work and the impression was stronger. I repeated all the requests on page 4, the impression continued, the Lord was whispering in my ear. I began the entire project again, I discovered I missed something on page 1.

So many times we expect claps of thunder and lightning when the Lord speaks to us, but in my experience, it's mostly whispers.

I had missed something and my client sent incorrect information, but the Lord saved us both a lot of time and trouble.

God speaks to us in many ways: through His Word, worship, sermons, Christian music, creation to name a few.

I am so thankful I listened to Him! I praise Him and thank Him for His protecting me and my client from disaster. I praise His Holy Name!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Ides of March

My SSMT verse for 03/15 is the continuation of a passage from Matthew. I am memorizing Mt 5:45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (It makes sense in context: You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

If you have any prayer requests, please leave a comment.

Monday, March 14, 2011

New Zealand and Japan

New Zealand and her people still need prayer. Our minds are reeling over Japan. The news grows more dire each day.

Israel and the Palestians are closer to the brink of all out violence than ever before. We see the protests and violence in Libya and other countries as well.

We can search Scripture for signs as prophecy is fulfilled before our very eyes but we really need to be praying. Scripture tells us: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

We also need to be fully awake, the Bride should be prepared for our Bridegroom.

Please join me during the remainder of Lent and pray for Jesus to be revealed as Messiah to non believers and for the humanitarian needs of the people of New Zealand and Japan as well as all Christians to wake up as well as the other matters the Lord impresses upon us.

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Love Your Enemies

My SSMT verse for March 1 is Matthew 5:43-44, NIV:

You have heard it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy, 'But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

I will memorize Matthew 5:45 next.

It can be hard to love our enemy and pray for those who persecute Christians, but His grace is more than enough for us to accomplish what He asks.

If there were ever a time to pray for our enemies, for those who persecute the church, it is NOW.

As the violence in the Middle East continues and China warns it's citizens about protests and dissension, let us lift up the people of these nations in prayer.