"Have YOU Ever Done This?"

Want to know something really COOL ? I hope so, because I'm gonna tell you!!

The Bible says God is Holy.
This means He is perfect. He has never sinned, cannot sin, and will never sin. He is so perfect that sin cannot live in His presence.

On the other hand, the Bible says man has done wrong.
I've lied - you've lied. I've coveted/been jealous - you've coveted/been jealous. I've dishonored my Mother and my Father - you've dishonored your Mother and your Father. The Bible calls wrong doing - sin.

And there is the great problem.
Our sin cuts us off from God. If sin cannot live in the presence of God and sin is in us, then we cannot live in the presence of God. Our sin cuts us off from God in this life. Therefore, when we die, we will go to a very terrible place called Hell.

But God loves us SO much!
In spite of our sin, God sent His one and only son, Jesus. This is why Jesus Christ is such a BIG DEAL! Jesus Christ came into this world and died on the cross for our sins. God took all of our sinfulness and placed it on Jesus. So, when Jesus died, He was paying our penalty for our sins. And when Jesus arose from the dead, our debt was paid in FULL ! So....now anyone can have their sins forgiven and have a personal relationship with Him.

The Bible says if you believe this is true. . .

• God is perfect
• Man is sinful
• Sin cuts us off from God
• Jesus died for our sins

and you are willing to surrender yourself to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior - then you will be made right with God.

Have YOU ever done this?

Since this is a Blog and I have no way of knowing your personal answer to that question, I'm going to give you choices of what your answer might be. You choose where you best fit in.

Yes - that's fantastic!! I'm a Christ Follower too! The Bible tells us that when we receive Jesus, as our Lord and Savior, He gives us a new heart! He gave me a new heart by wanting to know Him, seek Him, and live only for Him. How has it changed you? Where is your relationship with Jesus Christ now?

No - You can do this right NOW in this very moment!

As I've shared in previous Blogs, it's as simple as A,B,C!

A= Accept that you are a sinner in need of a Savior.

B= Believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and rose from the grave.

C= Confess, with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and call upon Him to save YOU from your sins.

Know that Jesus is right there with you and hears you when you call upon Him.

"For EVERYONE who calls on the name of the Lord will BE saved!" Romans 10:13.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and that NOT of yourself, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no man can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9. >>If it were by works someone would ALWAYS be better than you. Whose to say where the line would be drawn??

What do I do after I have received Jesus as my Lord and Savior?

Find a church! Get baptized! Read the Bible - start with the book of John or my favorite - Psalm.

But know that these things do not seal or complete your salvation. Your salvation was sealed when you accepted, believed, and cofessed. These are just steps that God asks us to take in order to grow in Him as we should. Baptism is only an outward expression to others of an inward change.

And so as I close this Blog, I leave you with this one question again. . .

Have YOU ever done this?

"Have YOU Been Adopted?"

There is a sweet couple in our church who has just adopted a son from China. I would love to show you his sweet little face, but I've not asked their permission to do so....so I won't. They are writing a Blog throughout their journey and adventures of being in China as well as welcoming a new life into their hearts and home. I have to say that I've literally fallen in love with this family through these writings! My husband and I know them through church as well as volunteering at our church mission. But, there's just something real and special when you are welcomed into their own personal world through their writings. I hope that many of you, who may read the Blogs I share, will have that same sense of being drawn closer to me in knowing that I am real and I am human....making me a real human. :-) Although, I may not be the most outgoing person in the face to face world.....I give you my heart and soul in my writing.

Enough about me.....

This couple knew from the beginning that they were being led by God Himself when they began this process. As with any adoption, I'm sure there were times of feeling anxious and overwhelmed by it all. But, when they saw their son's face, in person, for the very first time.....I'm almost sure that the sheer joy and blessing of that very moment made them realize - - God is AWESOME and it all was worth it!! I love it how that very day they titled it "Gotcha Day!" They had one full day with this precious child, sent from God, and then they were given the decision as to whether or not to keep him as their own. They did not decline, and officially and lovingly received this sweet little boy into their hearts and family!

And now?
Now comes the FUN stuff. . . Life, living, adjusting, accepting. . . all done with a heart of thankfulness to a God who knew....who cared......and who loved. I have encouraged this couple to continue on with their Blogging of their many wonderful stories. And I'm looking forward to each and everyone of them too!!

Some may wonder why did you title this Blog "Have YOU Been Adopted?"
I hope it did make you wonder. :-)
For this entire story is also very symbolic of what God Himself has done for you - child of God!
Or it is very symbolic of what God Himself can DO for you - child without God!

You see....we were ALL once (and some may still be) an orphan! We all know that the very word "orphan" brings sad thoughts to our minds - - for it is one in need of someone to love them, to provide for them, and to take care of them. And that's where our Heavenly Father - The One and Only True and Living God Almighty steps in and says "I love YOU, I have provided for YOU, and I want to take care of YOU."

Friend, know that God Himself knows all about you, for he created you, and still loves you with an everlasting love. Just as this sweet couple has heard of the difficulties and hardships this little boy has lived in his short life - they too love him with an everlasting - love - no matter what!
Second, He has provided for you a salvation, that none other can provide, through his Son Jesus Himself in paying all of the debts we ourself owe. Just as this little boy had no way to pay his way into the hearts and home of a loving family, therefore relying on the grace and love of two people to pay it for him. (Kinda the same thinking in a way anyways). 
And lastly, God does care and he cares in such ways that continue to amaze and astonish us daily! I'm betting this little one, when old enough, will look back and be amazed and astonished at the genuine care and well being that they have given him.....simply because they loved HIM.

Friend, YOU may be an orphan today and not even know it. Or maybe you are aware and are in great need of someone to love you, provide for you, and care for you as only our Heavenly Father can. Know, today, this very thing. . . God has chosen YOU to be HIS child both now and forever and always. How do I know that? Because God says he wants no one to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9. He also has provided for YOU, as stated above through his Son Jesus paying our full debt, that we owe ourselves, for our sins. And in that knowledge of our sins, God has provided a way unto him...the only way and no other way. And today, you can receive this way and be welcomed into the eternal family of God as an adopted child!

What must I do then?
It's as simple and easy as A, B, C!! Nothing more and nothing less!!
A= Accept that you are a sinner in need of a Saviour!
B= Believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead!
C= Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and call upon Him as your Lord and Savior to save YOU!

Romans 10:9-10 - "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."

THAT'S IT!!!!

Galatians 4: 4-7 - "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."

Friend, he chose you, he redeems you, and he makes you his adopted and forever child of God!!!

So....again, I will ask - - Have YOU been adopted?
If you haven't......what better time than TODAY to become adopted!
Say YES to the BEST!!!

"Don't Touch Me Mom!"

Out of the 40 something Blogs I've shared I've probably written about or touched on this subject somewhat before. That's alright. . . I can repeat myself. . . I'm at that age that allows it. : )

I will tell you that I REALLY really wanted to be inspired to write something this past weekend and I kept coming up with blanks mostly but not entirely. I told my Mother that I was having a hard time finding just the right story to share. I pray always before I write and I sit and wait after that. I had in fact started going in a direction but didn't finish. That's when my ever present, always willing to help Mother texted me this morning with the simple words of "A Mother's Touch". . . and thus begins my Blog. . . .

Yesterday, while leaving church, I was walking out with David and Levi. While still in the building I happen to reach over and just lovingly pat my son on the back. He immediately jerked away and made quite a mad face. He said "Why did you have to do that?!?" to which I replied "Because I'm your Mother and I didn't know I wasn't supposed to." When we got to the car, he still seemed pretty mad about it. He said "I just don't see why she had to do that." David spoke up at this time and said "Because she's your Mother, she loves you and she wants to touch you." He still didn't get it of course. . . and David ends the conversation with "Someday...... you will."

A Mother's touch is so important throughout our lives. I can remember every single day that I lived in my parent's home that I always came and hugged my Mother before starting my day. It's just what I needed. Today, when I visit,  I still hug her as well. There is something comforting and securing in that hug. I believe, that in those days of growing up, it gave me the strength I needed and to know that I was loved. . . always. Today I have my own children to love. . . and love them I do! But I will tell you . . . they each are different. Although I love each of them with great amount, they each respond differently to it. I have a child who comes often to give and receive a hug of love and comfort. . . but it must be of her decision because when I come to give it myself it doesn't hold the same meaning it would seem. This child loves to hug with great aggression due to her personality. She will hug me anytime and anyplace. I have another child who has not let me even so much as reach out and touch in her anyway whatsoever for a very long time . . . and this hurts. Not even on a birthday or holiday. Through time I have come to accept it and know that God's great ways of overcoming things in our lives are always able and present. . . . I choose to wait on Him. And then, of course, there's my "sweet" son. No, really he is my sweet son and for the very most part he allows me to hug him, play with him and I even sneak in a kiss on his cheek when we are wrestling. I understand too though that he is growing up and doesn't need a "Mother's touch" out where he can be seen by others. : ) Sidenote: Although I didn't find it TOO noticeable when we are walking through a crowded room of people all with the mindset of finding their family and leaving! Haha! Ah well. . .

So as much as I love my children I also accept the fact that they all respond differently to my touch.

How about when we think of God's touch in our life? How does God touch our life?

I will be honest with you and tell you that I get really put off when I read stories of how people have just felt that "overcoming sense of God putting His arms around me and hugging me tight and everything just became better". I know God very well CAN do that. . . but just the same I don't think He's ever chosen to do that in my life and believe me when I say I've needed it! There's is kind of a funny situation here as I think about this. . . .I was upset no make that VERY upset. . . I was crying and praying and just really needing God to be close to me. While being like this, I started feeling very WARM all along the back of me. I was sitting and praying out my prayer window. As this warmness came upon me it started making me feel sick. I told God through tears "Ok God....you're standing too close and it's making me feel sick!" :) Heehee!

Although God may not choose to physically reach out and touch/hug me, I most certainly believe He does still touch us in many ways! There are touches through other people God places in our life! Our family members (I am SO blessed with the family members who give me God's touch often), there are friends (many of you have given me God's touch through your encouragement), there are godly leaders God gives us, even strangers can be used by God to touch us! It can be something simple like a song on the radio, a song at worship, words spoken through devotions/messages, books, ...... you name it! And one very important way is through God's Word....the Bible. Any and every part of life we live (yes, in this day) is covered in His Word. But don't forget. . . God does also speak to our hearts and you will know it.

How will you respond to all the many ways God is reaching out to touch you today? I hope and pray that you will willingly and gladly accept each and every single one of them! For He happily gives them! Will you accept them, draw strength from them and be renewed from them? Or will you turn away from them, going your own way and drawing from your own strength? The choice is yours my friend!

I hope that you will choose to be touched by God today and be on the lookout for all His many ways! I know I have been through, a distant in miles though near in heart, Mother's touch of a text leading me to share this Blog with you. I love you Mother! :)