Hey did you know that God is a God who sympathizes and identifies with our weaknesses and suffering? In Hebrews 4:15 it lets us know that. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet was without sin."
God really made this verse stand out to me yesterday as our pastor shared the real meaning of what it's saying. I am no pastor, but I will try to put into words what I learned through this message. . .
When we hear this verse it can almost seem cold in a way. . . as if God is seated on his mighty throne in Heaven looking down us with our pain, sickness, struggles and says "You poor thing. I see you from way up here and you look miserable. That's a pity. Not sure what it's like, but I will say a prayer for you."
But that's not it at all!
God came to earth as Jesus himself and has lived YOUR life. Some may say well he's never been married to my spouse or had my children to deal with. . . and this list could go on. And although those could be true statements, that hasn't stopped him from having every single feeling you have, every single thought you have, every single challenge, every struggle, every fear, every doubt, and even faced the same temptations you have. He lived through it ALL as a human here on earth. He knows. He is not some distant God who is unable to identify with all that we have ever been through and will go through. Let me say it again. . .He has lived YOUR life.
God not only knows, but he even gets in our weakness with us when we are experiencing the pain, suffering and struggles of it! He feels it with us and doesn't just leave us on our own to figure it all out! How amazing is it that we know he doesn't just know. . . but he feels it along with us?! He feels sadness, pain, fear, lonliness, rejection, worry right along with us.
The second part of the verse "but we have one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet was without sin." lets us know this >> God has lived our life and he aced it! When he walked here on earth and was faced with all matters of fears, doubts, worry, struggles, challenges - he made the right decisions. He made the right choice, took the right path, chose the way that led to righteous living, freedom. And as the verse said he was without sin - he led a sinless life.
So in understanding all of this we see that: 1. God sees our struggles. 2. God came to earth and lived your/my life....feeling every pain, sorrow, doubt, fear, worry. 3. God gets in our struggles with us NOW. 4. In living and knowing, all the while living a sinless life, he is able to navigate us through them and out of them!
God gets you and me, my friend. He understands. He isn't someone removed from knowing all the pains and struggles of our life here on earth. Trust him to navigate you daily through this journey of life. Draw near to him. If it has been awhile since you have, it's never too late to do so. If you have made wrong choices in life, God was/is with you in those times and he can and will lead you out of them. No life is ever too wrong, too distant, too messed up to turn to God and tell him "I messed up. I need your help."
O and an add on here: God not only shares and feels our pains and weaknesses, but he also shares and feels our JOY, our VICTORY, our HAPPINESS, our FREEDOM right along with us as well!! So rejoice in and with him today!
Thank him for not only knowing, but leading us through too!! :)
Monday, January 2, 2012
Monday, December 26, 2011
"Miracle Number 3!"
Three significant miracles have taken place, in our family, over the last 2 weeks. . . and yesterday was one of them! All three of our children not only came to church with us, but they even rode with us in the same car. . .my little Dodge Neon no less! I wish someone could have taken a picture of us all packed in the "little yellow car that could".
Going as a family to church may sound trivial and something to be taken for granted, but NOT in this family. It rather is, as stated, something no less than a miracle!! I know that God needs absolutely NO help from me, but this Mom stuck to her guns and didn't back down when setbacks that tried to step in. There was no setbacks going to happen - - we were going to church together. . . period.
I was so thankful that I even documented the miracle with picture taking too!
Going as a family to church may sound trivial and something to be taken for granted, but NOT in this family. It rather is, as stated, something no less than a miracle!! I know that God needs absolutely NO help from me, but this Mom stuck to her guns and didn't back down when setbacks that tried to step in. There was no setbacks going to happen - - we were going to church together. . . period.
I was so thankful that I even documented the miracle with picture taking too!
I pray daily for these three gifts in my life. They have each been raised in a solid christian atmosphere where God was/is leader of our home. They have attended church during their growing years, but somewhere at some point got mixed up. Moreso my girls. Now church is a place where people judge you, people are hypocrits, people don't accept you as you are, people are unfriendly, and people are boring. I know very well that God can remove this thinking and open their blinded eyes and softened their hardened hearts. I truly believe....no question about it. And in His timing - - He will.
I say those very personal thoughts to share with you an incident that occurred during our Sunday morning miracle.
I share this incident with limitations, for I do not wish to show anger or rudeness. . . because it could turn that way. Rather I give an account of something we all need to be aware of and careful with. While the service progressed, Savannah had a slight cough. As she coughed, I began noticing a lady seated in front of her. The lady was beginnng to seem agitated. Let me say here that Savannah's cough was in no way loud, she wasn't leaning forward when she coughed, nor was it constant. She would cough just every now and then. At one point, the lady in front of her turns herself completely around, sitting on the edge of her chair, gives a look that said "Did your really just cough?!?!?" and turns herself around. My daughters found it amusing and rude. As time went on, I saw the lady close her Bible with a little added force, grab her coat and her purse. . . and continue to sit there. I knew she was on the verge of leaving by now....rather obvious. Well, as you guessed it.....Savannah coughed once more as time passed by. Lady jumps up, sitting on the 3rd row from the front of church, says to her friends with a look of disdain "I can't take the coughing anymore."...... and leaves.
As a protecting mother, I was mad << best word to use. But as a positive mother, I chose to tell my kids that this lady was looking for a way out beforehand and she found one. She must have felt uncomfortable, out of place and needed an escape plan.....Savannah became her ticket out. My kids, of course, didn't see it that way. As I related the incident to my Mom later, she said something about praying for the lady and going on. I told her right away "I didn't pray for her!" This was an example of someone living out in the flesh exactly what I had been trying to guard my kids from seeing.....making what they think of christians today and churches all around.....the truth!! How could she?! But as time passed and I thought about what my all so wise Mother told me, I decided I WOULD pray for this lady.....for only God knew of any pain she may have been feeling, what fears she may have been experiencing, what problems she may have been facing.
As I did pray, my thoughts changed to a more positive thinking. I know because of this incident my kids are not damaged and in time will return to church again. I also know that I canNOT nor have I ever been able to guard them from really anything in this world. What I can do is to keep praying for each of them to have their eyes opened, their ears opened, their desires to be God's, and their fellowship- with a God that loves them more than I do- to be R E A L.
So please the next time you may feel the need to be annoyed by something, don't like the way someone is dressed, tempted to say an unkind word, don't approve because they aren't like YOU.....take a moment and realize that this someone may be needing God and a closer walk with Him and your disapproving may be the thing that steps in and hinders that from happening.
In the front of my Bible I have written these very true words: God is infinitely more concerned over my children than I ever could be. He IS abundantly able to care for them in any and every situation. The same applies for your children {no matter the age} as well, my friend! :)
As always.....thanks for letting me share!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
"My Gift to Me and How We Met!"
As the Christmas season is in full swing, we eagerly await the big day when we can share our love through gifts with those we cherish. If your family is like my family EVERYONE but the baby is the hardest to buy for! Nonetheless....we attempt to please and hope that it will be the thought, love and time put into our endeavor that wins them over. :)
I want to share with you what my biggest and BEST gift is this year and every year. . . simply put. . . .my David. For all of you who may want to say "Not another my David bragging story!" go right ahead. I don't mind in the least. You see my David is everything to me apart from God Himself! In fact, if truth be told, David is the highest example of God to me in my life. Don't get confused....I'm not calling David - God! What I am saying is that David is love to me, forgives me, forgets my wrongs, believes the best in me, encourages me, strengthens me, gives hope to me, accepts me as I am, and is solid FAITH to me. I pray with all my heart that someday God WILL bring a man such as David into my daughter's lives!! I will smile with the biggest SMILE and thank Him always when He does! :)
I always LOVE to hear how couples met! So maybe you would like as well for me to share how my David and I came to be. . .
Hope I remember the details right!
Way back in March of '85, I was invited to go and watch a co-ed church softball game by my then boyfriend , Jim Allred. It was then that I was introduced to David Moore. David Moore - the guy you would've never guessed today was the HYPER guy who never sat down, never even stood still at a game. He was either swinging his arms wildly coaxing the players around the bases or jumping up and down in one spot because he had so much ENERGY! He ran so FAST that no one wanted to be batting in front of him. He was lightning fast as I called it! Watching him run was so graceful and exciting!! haha!
Jim and David were good friends. . . David once said "If I had a friend at that time, I guess I would call him Jim." {That's a compliment, Jim, if you're reading this!} He never was much on having a so-called main friend in his life. Mike Webster and Jim are about the only 2 ever mentioned in fact. In time, David took a liking to MY friend, Tammy Sparks Glover. And thus began the 4sum dating....Jim and Debby, David and Tammy. We had some really great times together!
Jim was a absolute wonderful first real boyfriend. I believe I loved him with a sincere different kind of love apart from the "I want to be with you forever" love. He was kind, gentle, loving, caring and he would be probably the first to notice that someone was beginning to come into a clearer picture in my mind. I will forever and always hold a special and dear place in my heart for this boy who as he says "set me free to see if I would come back and when I didn't ..... knew that I was not his to have." He would even be the one to encourage David to ask me out for he knew what his heart probably didn't want to tell him.
Tammy was the fun loving friend that we knew and loved too. She would go away to college that Fall. She would soon meet her future husband there as well. As Tammy was in college, time was moving on, and things between Jim and I were thinning out. I think it was on Labor Day that the official end to our realtionship between Jim and I would end. And as you can guess, David and Debby would come to be as well as Ron and Tammy too. November 23, 1985 I drove my car down David's street. I had my brother, who is 7 years younger, with me. When I saw David I told Dan to duck down....I tried ducking too! LOL! It was a small neighborhood street and I felt very noticable! I took Dan home and told my Mom "David is outside...he's outside!!" She said "Well, go see him!" So I drove my car right back to his street and parked myself right in front of his house! He was out still (thankfully). He came over seemingly happy to see me, we talked for awhile, he invited me inside his house. Continued talking. . . . His mom later cooked tacos for us and afterwards we would go out on our first official date that has not stopped 26 years later!
Sidenote: After my Mom told me to go see David that day, she would not see me return until after 2am that following morning after my Dad was sent to retrieve me. Haha! Hey she just told me to go see him....she didn't say when to return!! :)
It was a bit awkward at first being as though Jim and David attended the same church. Previously I would go with Jim to church as a couple....and now it would be David and I. The intial shock and reality of it set in for Jim one Sunday when David had to come and say to him "Hey guess who I'm dating now?" I know it hurt. . . and I did not want to see him hurt. But in time, with this being God's plan, Jim would accept it being the sweet friend he was to us both. . . and I thank him for it. He remained our faithful friend throughout time as well Tammy did too....we are blessed with their friendship!
David and I were best friends from the start. The only time we were ever apart from that November day was he or I went on family vacations. We have never tired of spending each and every hour possible together. I would rather be with no one else on the face of this planet than my David. That is why I find it so weirdly ODD when couples speak of needing breaks, day offs , etc...from one another! With as much time as we already do spend together, I look forward with great anitcipation to the day when he retires and not even something called work will separate us!! :) We got engaged in February of '87. I remember this well. We had already talked about marrying, even went and picked out the rings together. So I knew it would happen soon....just wasn't sure when! One night he invited me to a very NICE restaurant ....it was fancy....SOMETHING was about to happen! :)) Years later we would go back and I would take a picture of the very seat (I guessed) we sat in as my sweet David proposed to me! After the proposal, my family and I were going on a skiing trip with our church. My Mom always said it was a bad idea from the start to take that girl away from the man who just proposed and gave her a ring! He was all I though about and when I was able to finally reach him on the resort's phone (no cells back in the dino days) it was pure heaven to me! As our bus returned back home, following the forever loooong week, he would be the first I would see waiting in the parking lot for me! I was overJOYED!
As we prepared for our wedding, I remember taking David WITH me and my Mom to pick the wedding dress. We chose a store, found the dress and I went to try it on. The saleslady found out that David was the fiancee and told us in no uncertain terms that he was not supposed to be there! I quickly handed the dress back to her and said "If you don't want him here you don't want me here! Goodbye!" She quickly changed her mind and stood back. WHO was this dress for afterall??? It wasn't for anyone in the world except my David...he should be the one to pick it out!! :)
The beautiful day arrived on August 15, 1987! We were the first family from my home church to be married in our new location and sanctuary! My favorite, very much loved pastor and friend, would marry us. Pastor Rodger Phillips and his beautiful wife, Martha will forever be remembered in the hearts of those who knew and loved them....which are many of my FB friends. There will never be another.
And remember that first boyfriend I told you about - Jim? He was right there in our wedding with us! :)
Fast forward to April 29, 1988 and that day would make the union of two people become that much more stronger and sweeter as we welcomed our first baby girl into our world and forever in our hearts! Heather Marie.
That is how God brought two people together and blossomed a lifetime of love . . . forever.
I want to share with you what my biggest and BEST gift is this year and every year. . . simply put. . . .my David. For all of you who may want to say "Not another my David bragging story!" go right ahead. I don't mind in the least. You see my David is everything to me apart from God Himself! In fact, if truth be told, David is the highest example of God to me in my life. Don't get confused....I'm not calling David - God! What I am saying is that David is love to me, forgives me, forgets my wrongs, believes the best in me, encourages me, strengthens me, gives hope to me, accepts me as I am, and is solid FAITH to me. I pray with all my heart that someday God WILL bring a man such as David into my daughter's lives!! I will smile with the biggest SMILE and thank Him always when He does! :)
I always LOVE to hear how couples met! So maybe you would like as well for me to share how my David and I came to be. . .
Hope I remember the details right!
Way back in March of '85, I was invited to go and watch a co-ed church softball game by my then boyfriend , Jim Allred. It was then that I was introduced to David Moore. David Moore - the guy you would've never guessed today was the HYPER guy who never sat down, never even stood still at a game. He was either swinging his arms wildly coaxing the players around the bases or jumping up and down in one spot because he had so much ENERGY! He ran so FAST that no one wanted to be batting in front of him. He was lightning fast as I called it! Watching him run was so graceful and exciting!! haha!
Jim and David were good friends. . . David once said "If I had a friend at that time, I guess I would call him Jim." {That's a compliment, Jim, if you're reading this!} He never was much on having a so-called main friend in his life. Mike Webster and Jim are about the only 2 ever mentioned in fact. In time, David took a liking to MY friend, Tammy Sparks Glover. And thus began the 4sum dating....Jim and Debby, David and Tammy. We had some really great times together!
Jim was a absolute wonderful first real boyfriend. I believe I loved him with a sincere different kind of love apart from the "I want to be with you forever" love. He was kind, gentle, loving, caring and he would be probably the first to notice that someone was beginning to come into a clearer picture in my mind. I will forever and always hold a special and dear place in my heart for this boy who as he says "set me free to see if I would come back and when I didn't ..... knew that I was not his to have." He would even be the one to encourage David to ask me out for he knew what his heart probably didn't want to tell him.
Tammy was the fun loving friend that we knew and loved too. She would go away to college that Fall. She would soon meet her future husband there as well. As Tammy was in college, time was moving on, and things between Jim and I were thinning out. I think it was on Labor Day that the official end to our realtionship between Jim and I would end. And as you can guess, David and Debby would come to be as well as Ron and Tammy too. November 23, 1985 I drove my car down David's street. I had my brother, who is 7 years younger, with me. When I saw David I told Dan to duck down....I tried ducking too! LOL! It was a small neighborhood street and I felt very noticable! I took Dan home and told my Mom "David is outside...he's outside!!" She said "Well, go see him!" So I drove my car right back to his street and parked myself right in front of his house! He was out still (thankfully). He came over seemingly happy to see me, we talked for awhile, he invited me inside his house. Continued talking. . . . His mom later cooked tacos for us and afterwards we would go out on our first official date that has not stopped 26 years later!
Sidenote: After my Mom told me to go see David that day, she would not see me return until after 2am that following morning after my Dad was sent to retrieve me. Haha! Hey she just told me to go see him....she didn't say when to return!! :)
It was a bit awkward at first being as though Jim and David attended the same church. Previously I would go with Jim to church as a couple....and now it would be David and I. The intial shock and reality of it set in for Jim one Sunday when David had to come and say to him "Hey guess who I'm dating now?" I know it hurt. . . and I did not want to see him hurt. But in time, with this being God's plan, Jim would accept it being the sweet friend he was to us both. . . and I thank him for it. He remained our faithful friend throughout time as well Tammy did too....we are blessed with their friendship!
David and I were best friends from the start. The only time we were ever apart from that November day was he or I went on family vacations. We have never tired of spending each and every hour possible together. I would rather be with no one else on the face of this planet than my David. That is why I find it so weirdly ODD when couples speak of needing breaks, day offs , etc...from one another! With as much time as we already do spend together, I look forward with great anitcipation to the day when he retires and not even something called work will separate us!! :) We got engaged in February of '87. I remember this well. We had already talked about marrying, even went and picked out the rings together. So I knew it would happen soon....just wasn't sure when! One night he invited me to a very NICE restaurant ....it was fancy....SOMETHING was about to happen! :)) Years later we would go back and I would take a picture of the very seat (I guessed) we sat in as my sweet David proposed to me! After the proposal, my family and I were going on a skiing trip with our church. My Mom always said it was a bad idea from the start to take that girl away from the man who just proposed and gave her a ring! He was all I though about and when I was able to finally reach him on the resort's phone (no cells back in the dino days) it was pure heaven to me! As our bus returned back home, following the forever loooong week, he would be the first I would see waiting in the parking lot for me! I was overJOYED!
As we prepared for our wedding, I remember taking David WITH me and my Mom to pick the wedding dress. We chose a store, found the dress and I went to try it on. The saleslady found out that David was the fiancee and told us in no uncertain terms that he was not supposed to be there! I quickly handed the dress back to her and said "If you don't want him here you don't want me here! Goodbye!" She quickly changed her mind and stood back. WHO was this dress for afterall??? It wasn't for anyone in the world except my David...he should be the one to pick it out!! :)
The beautiful day arrived on August 15, 1987! We were the first family from my home church to be married in our new location and sanctuary! My favorite, very much loved pastor and friend, would marry us. Pastor Rodger Phillips and his beautiful wife, Martha will forever be remembered in the hearts of those who knew and loved them....which are many of my FB friends. There will never be another.
And remember that first boyfriend I told you about - Jim? He was right there in our wedding with us! :)
Fast forward to April 29, 1988 and that day would make the union of two people become that much more stronger and sweeter as we welcomed our first baby girl into our world and forever in our hearts! Heather Marie.
That is how God brought two people together and blossomed a lifetime of love . . . forever.
(This is an awesome video of describing what a wonderful GIFT my David is to me. Please watch it!!)
Sunday, December 11, 2011
"And You Thought It Was Impossible!!"
1. Our God can conquer ANYTHING in YOU!!!!
Fear. Doubt. Worry. Anxiousness.
{and the list goes on. . .}
Is anything too hard for the very Creator of our lives and the world as we know it??
No - for He is Sovereign and He is God. "I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" Jeremiah 32:27.
God and God alone has the power to do that which we cannot for ourselves! We are not consumed by these negative things for they hold no power over us. "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassion never fail. They are new every morning great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23. When we fully understand that we are not alone in our desire to be healthy and strong, and that the Lord is our strength, we begin to trust in His faithfulness.
When we seek Him and swing wide the doors of our heart to Him - it is then that His life changing power enters in and does for us that which we cannot do for ourselves. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you." Matthew 6:33. Then step by step, moment by moment He begins a good work in us. Things we do not need in our lives {fear, doubt, worry, anxiousness} are cut out. Discipline is applied where needed. Priorities are rearranged. In some areas He works quickly. In others, painfully slooooow. But His timing is PERFECT! "I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.' The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." Lamentations 3: 24-26.
So take heart, my friend, for there is HOPE! If you struggle with these area{s} then seek God and His power to remove them from your life. And remember. . . in some areas He works quickly. . . and in other areas He works slooooow. Nevertheless trust Him and His perfect timing! "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped." Psalm 28:6-7. "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27: 14.
"Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security." Jeremiah 33:6.
YOU are no challenge for almighty God!!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
"Sharing Twice. . . One Year Ago. . . ."
I shared this Blog one year ago and I felt led to share it again. Hopefully God will lead new readers to share in it as well.
In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season do you ever stop and ask yourself "What is this all about? What does it all really mean?" I believe that Thanksgiving as well as Christmas are totally a time to see God in everything. We see Him in the time of Thanksgiving being totally the reason we are so very thankful for how He has blessed our year throughout with His provisions of grace, mercy, forgiveness, blessings and love. And we see Him in the time of Christmas, of course, because it is centered on Him coming in the form of a baby to save us all. It also reflects on the gifts of sharing our love with those we love because He loves.
But, this Blog isn't really about what I think of Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's about knowing the Maker of Thanksgiving and Christmas in a personal relationship. I will say that most likely all my FB friends know Him in a personal relationship....but there may be just that one who isn't sure or doesn't know Him that way....and for that one I share the following.
Have you ever heard the question asked "If you were to die today and went to Heaven and God stopped you and said 'Why should I let you into my kingdom?' what would you say?" Many people have what they feel are genuinely perfect answers for this and many consist of them being simply good enough to earn their way in. Or. . . Church membership. Baptized. Family heritage. Giving enough money. Others may believe that a loving God could never send anyONE to such a horrible place as hell and therefore make their way in as well. Well, sadly...none of this thinking is right. There is only ONE way and ONE way only....and that being through the perfect blood that Jesus shed on the cross for our salvation. Through His sacrifice for our sins, we receive the grace that He freely gives. We receive it through faith and faith itself is also given to us by and through God.
I could really draw this blog out with more lengthy discussions. But I believe that salvation is simple and therefore should be presented in a simple manner. That statement reminds me of a very special Christian kindergarten teacher I had a long time ago. I had asked Jesus into my heart at the age of 5 (also being the time of attending her class). She had ran into my Mom years later and had heard that I was struggling with doubts of my salvation. She replied to my Mom "Tell her to quit making it so HARD." Salvation is not a complicated thing...but sometimes we as humans tend to make it hard.
First, know that we ALL have sinned. If you have broken just one commandment...and we all have....then you are guilty of sin.
Romans 3:10 - "As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one."
Romans 3:23 - "For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Romans 5:12 - "Therefore just as sin entered the world through one man (Adam) and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because ALL sinned."
Second, the price has been paid!
Romans 6:23- "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord!"
Romans 5:8- "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Third, how we receive our gift!
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."
It's as simple as ABC!
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 to save YOU!
Lastly, we know that when we call - He hears!
Romans 10:13 - "For EVERYONE who calls on the name of the Lord will BE saved!"
Ephesians 2:8-9 - "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." If it were by works anyway...someone would ALWAYS be better than you. . . and whose to say where the line would be drawn?? Side tidbit there. :)
There are many more proofs of God's love, His forgiveness, His grace and His salvation in the Bible. If you have a question regarding this topic, I would gladly TRY and seek an answer and get back with you. So ask! I don't have them....but I know WHO does! :)
Thanks for letting me share something SO very important with you!
And remember.....you are never too far gone, too bad, too unforgivable for God to pick up, dust off and say "Welcome my son/daughter!" He loves you that MUCH!
In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season do you ever stop and ask yourself "What is this all about? What does it all really mean?" I believe that Thanksgiving as well as Christmas are totally a time to see God in everything. We see Him in the time of Thanksgiving being totally the reason we are so very thankful for how He has blessed our year throughout with His provisions of grace, mercy, forgiveness, blessings and love. And we see Him in the time of Christmas, of course, because it is centered on Him coming in the form of a baby to save us all. It also reflects on the gifts of sharing our love with those we love because He loves.
But, this Blog isn't really about what I think of Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's about knowing the Maker of Thanksgiving and Christmas in a personal relationship. I will say that most likely all my FB friends know Him in a personal relationship....but there may be just that one who isn't sure or doesn't know Him that way....and for that one I share the following.
Have you ever heard the question asked "If you were to die today and went to Heaven and God stopped you and said 'Why should I let you into my kingdom?' what would you say?" Many people have what they feel are genuinely perfect answers for this and many consist of them being simply good enough to earn their way in. Or. . . Church membership. Baptized. Family heritage. Giving enough money. Others may believe that a loving God could never send anyONE to such a horrible place as hell and therefore make their way in as well. Well, sadly...none of this thinking is right. There is only ONE way and ONE way only....and that being through the perfect blood that Jesus shed on the cross for our salvation. Through His sacrifice for our sins, we receive the grace that He freely gives. We receive it through faith and faith itself is also given to us by and through God.
I could really draw this blog out with more lengthy discussions. But I believe that salvation is simple and therefore should be presented in a simple manner. That statement reminds me of a very special Christian kindergarten teacher I had a long time ago. I had asked Jesus into my heart at the age of 5 (also being the time of attending her class). She had ran into my Mom years later and had heard that I was struggling with doubts of my salvation. She replied to my Mom "Tell her to quit making it so HARD." Salvation is not a complicated thing...but sometimes we as humans tend to make it hard.
First, know that we ALL have sinned. If you have broken just one commandment...and we all have....then you are guilty of sin.
Romans 3:10 - "As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one."
Romans 3:23 - "For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Romans 5:12 - "Therefore just as sin entered the world through one man (Adam) and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because ALL sinned."
Second, the price has been paid!
Romans 6:23- "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord!"
Romans 5:8- "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Third, how we receive our gift!
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."
It's as simple as ABC!
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 to save YOU!
Lastly, we know that when we call - He hears!
Romans 10:13 - "For EVERYONE who calls on the name of the Lord will BE saved!"
Ephesians 2:8-9 - "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." If it were by works anyway...someone would ALWAYS be better than you. . . and whose to say where the line would be drawn?? Side tidbit there. :)
There are many more proofs of God's love, His forgiveness, His grace and His salvation in the Bible. If you have a question regarding this topic, I would gladly TRY and seek an answer and get back with you. So ask! I don't have them....but I know WHO does! :)
Thanks for letting me share something SO very important with you!
And remember.....you are never too far gone, too bad, too unforgivable for God to pick up, dust off and say "Welcome my son/daughter!" He loves you that MUCH!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
"A Mother's Heart....Shared With You."
To my daughter, Savannah Ann, whom I love more than you even begin to know.
You entered our world on the day of June 14, 1991 and we were blessed. God wanted to take a little extra loving care and time to mold and make you into the beautiful baby you became. I carried you 41 weeks instead of the normal 40 weeks. Maybe it was because God knew I would need that extra 1 week to hold you as close to my heart as I ever would. Unlike the first C-section surgery I had with your sister, Heather, I would feel this one in great intensity. But the pain was worth it....and you became ours to hold and love now with our arms and not just our hearts.
Your sister took sole responsibility for you even at the very young age of just 3 years old. There are several pictures of this little "mother" taking care of her "baby". She loved you then.....and she loves you now....even when you don't believe it.
We chose your name, Savannah, the very day before having you. We were strolling around the mall and stopped by JC Pennys. They had a furniture collection by the name of Savannah on it and thus became your name. The name Savannah would not become popular until 13 years later therefore allowing you to be that unique beauty you always have been.
At 3 months of age you were dedicated to our Lord Jesus by Mom and Dad along with Pastor Dale Williams at Southgate Chapel in Irving, Tx. You had a very dirty diaper at the time and Pastor Dale handled you and the dedication service with such love. Dale if you're reading this....know that as I have told you before....there has NEVER been another Dedication Service for both of my baby girls that you gave them that was more sweet, caring, genuine, heart-felt and sincere. Thank you for that!!
Later, you would go to Cubbies for Awanas at the age of 3 at Spring Memorial in Spring, Tx. You received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, at the tender age of 5, at this same church. And you would later be baptized, at the age of 5, at Lakeland Baptist by Bro. Gary. I write these into this letter because I count them of great importance. For you see - all of life is centered around what Jesus has done for you in your life!
As time moved on, you grew to be the you that God would create you to be. You was a child that loved the human touch of skin to skin. Your great grandmother, Mama Rea, would in fact be the one to figure this out very early on. You cried and cried one night shortly after bringing you home from the hospital and I couldn't for the life of me figure out what was wrong. Exhausted I let Mama Rea take over and she knew just the thing....place you skin to skin alongside of her. . . calming you right down. It would continue to be that way throughout the years. As a baby, seems you only wanted to sleep when I was holding you, as a toddler you always, always requested being rocked before going to sleep, and as a child you were often found sliding in bed with your sister with your entire body draped across her. As well there were many nights you ask that I lay down beside you letting you fall asleep before I go. I would always know to wait for that special twitching of your body that would signal you were now fast asleep. As much as I thought I was SO tired and just wanted to go to bed in my bed.....I now know those days were few and they are missed.
I also will always and forever remember our special prayer time each night that we had together. They were special times AND funny times. As we would talk about the prayer request to pray for somewhere at some point silly times would slip itself in. As you would start to pray you would get the giggles....and just as sure as you would get those giggles....Mom would also get them! I can remember having to get a pillow and hold it up to my face with one hand while the other hand is holding yours just so you couldn't see my smile. That's all it took....just seeing Mom smile made you giggle all the more HARDER! At times I thought we would NEVER get through those prayers!! :) I'm sure God must have enjoyed listening to all the laughter shared between a giggly precious child and the Mother who shared right along with her. As soon as the prayers were finished, the hug would begin. My dear child.....you cannot even begin to understand just how much I miss those hugs. If I let myself I will soon begin to start crying....and then I won't be able to type. Those hugs were worth more than you can imagine. I didn't realize just how much at that time. You would reach up and pull me down to you, while laying on your bed, and all the while just hold me close.....heart to heart, cheek to cheek, ear to ear. Sometimes you were still giggling and others you just seemed to never want to let go. If I could go back in time ..... it would be to those nights..... and I would never let you go.
OK....now I am crying.
There have been times I have wondered, that as you and your sister got older and she began experiencing more things in life and would call me into her room to talk about them....that I was rushing yours and my time together to go and talk with her. You often would teasingly get onto me for how much time I would spend in Heather's room compared to yours. In fact you would time me giving me the exact number of minutes I spent in her room verses yours! I was excited to hear about all the new things in life Heather was experiencing and may have seemed anxious to get in there. But you was always on my mind too.....I never ever wanted to make you feel second best. And if I did that or have done that, Savannah, for that I am truly sorry in the most sincerest way.
You entered our world on the day of June 14, 1991 and we were blessed. God wanted to take a little extra loving care and time to mold and make you into the beautiful baby you became. I carried you 41 weeks instead of the normal 40 weeks. Maybe it was because God knew I would need that extra 1 week to hold you as close to my heart as I ever would. Unlike the first C-section surgery I had with your sister, Heather, I would feel this one in great intensity. But the pain was worth it....and you became ours to hold and love now with our arms and not just our hearts.
Your sister took sole responsibility for you even at the very young age of just 3 years old. There are several pictures of this little "mother" taking care of her "baby". She loved you then.....and she loves you now....even when you don't believe it.
We chose your name, Savannah, the very day before having you. We were strolling around the mall and stopped by JC Pennys. They had a furniture collection by the name of Savannah on it and thus became your name. The name Savannah would not become popular until 13 years later therefore allowing you to be that unique beauty you always have been.
At 3 months of age you were dedicated to our Lord Jesus by Mom and Dad along with Pastor Dale Williams at Southgate Chapel in Irving, Tx. You had a very dirty diaper at the time and Pastor Dale handled you and the dedication service with such love. Dale if you're reading this....know that as I have told you before....there has NEVER been another Dedication Service for both of my baby girls that you gave them that was more sweet, caring, genuine, heart-felt and sincere. Thank you for that!!
Later, you would go to Cubbies for Awanas at the age of 3 at Spring Memorial in Spring, Tx. You received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, at the tender age of 5, at this same church. And you would later be baptized, at the age of 5, at Lakeland Baptist by Bro. Gary. I write these into this letter because I count them of great importance. For you see - all of life is centered around what Jesus has done for you in your life!
I still remeber those long, beautiful ringlets of hair you had. If I remember correctly, you would later put or get gum stuck all in that beautiful hair too! I tried my best to get it out, but ended up cutting alot more of your hair than I wanted. So it was at 6 years old that you would receive the biggest haircut ever taking several inches off. Some people told me it would come back even curlier.....and although you still had a wave and body in your hair....your sweet baby ringlets were now gone.
As time moved on, you grew to be the you that God would create you to be. You was a child that loved the human touch of skin to skin. Your great grandmother, Mama Rea, would in fact be the one to figure this out very early on. You cried and cried one night shortly after bringing you home from the hospital and I couldn't for the life of me figure out what was wrong. Exhausted I let Mama Rea take over and she knew just the thing....place you skin to skin alongside of her. . . calming you right down. It would continue to be that way throughout the years. As a baby, seems you only wanted to sleep when I was holding you, as a toddler you always, always requested being rocked before going to sleep, and as a child you were often found sliding in bed with your sister with your entire body draped across her. As well there were many nights you ask that I lay down beside you letting you fall asleep before I go. I would always know to wait for that special twitching of your body that would signal you were now fast asleep. As much as I thought I was SO tired and just wanted to go to bed in my bed.....I now know those days were few and they are missed.
I also will always and forever remember our special prayer time each night that we had together. They were special times AND funny times. As we would talk about the prayer request to pray for somewhere at some point silly times would slip itself in. As you would start to pray you would get the giggles....and just as sure as you would get those giggles....Mom would also get them! I can remember having to get a pillow and hold it up to my face with one hand while the other hand is holding yours just so you couldn't see my smile. That's all it took....just seeing Mom smile made you giggle all the more HARDER! At times I thought we would NEVER get through those prayers!! :) I'm sure God must have enjoyed listening to all the laughter shared between a giggly precious child and the Mother who shared right along with her. As soon as the prayers were finished, the hug would begin. My dear child.....you cannot even begin to understand just how much I miss those hugs. If I let myself I will soon begin to start crying....and then I won't be able to type. Those hugs were worth more than you can imagine. I didn't realize just how much at that time. You would reach up and pull me down to you, while laying on your bed, and all the while just hold me close.....heart to heart, cheek to cheek, ear to ear. Sometimes you were still giggling and others you just seemed to never want to let go. If I could go back in time ..... it would be to those nights..... and I would never let you go.
OK....now I am crying.
There have been times I have wondered, that as you and your sister got older and she began experiencing more things in life and would call me into her room to talk about them....that I was rushing yours and my time together to go and talk with her. You often would teasingly get onto me for how much time I would spend in Heather's room compared to yours. In fact you would time me giving me the exact number of minutes I spent in her room verses yours! I was excited to hear about all the new things in life Heather was experiencing and may have seemed anxious to get in there. But you was always on my mind too.....I never ever wanted to make you feel second best. And if I did that or have done that, Savannah, for that I am truly sorry in the most sincerest way.
And time marches on. . . . .
And here you are today. . . .my always beautiful Savannah Ann.
Somewhere, somehow along the way you quit believing in our love. Somewhere you quit receiving and giving the many forms of love. . . hugs, smiles, sharing time together, kind words. This all seem to become foreign to you....and for the life of me and your Dad we have never once figured out why. You would even one day just basically pack up and leave our home to live in another. This hurt more than you know. It would seem another family would become your family. And as any Mother knows you will always fight for what's yours. But just as sure as I knew you were mine and I loved you dearly.....I also knew that I had to believe God had a plan in all of this....for absolutely NOTHING happens in our life without God allowing it and having a reason, a plan, and a purpose in sight. So.....I let you go.....physically....but never internally....for you are mine and always will be. I hold no grudges regarding the family you went to be with....although it was very hard harder than you know....they were there for you to be whatever God wanted them to be in your life.
Through time though, as you have went away to college and are now once again back in our home, I see changes that God has brought. I am forever grateful as well!! So grateful that I wrote a Blog about it! Read it sometime....it's all about you! :) It's titled "When God Brings a Distant Child Home".
Savannah, God loves you more than I do, and even though you may not see that as much.....please know that it is. I know that words can just be pretty words and sound good, but please know that my words I offer to you are so much more than pretty words with empty meaning. They are from my heart....the truest, most sincerest place of any person living. Above all.....share a relationship with God. Put Him first. Live your days for Him. Talk with Him. Seek all that you need in Him. Wait on Him. And trust in Him. This world has nothing even on it's best days to give you. It's empty and will leave you empty. But in and with God ....is everything! I pray that God will give you the eyes, that comes with maturity, to see and understand this.
And it is with this purpose that I write this to you my child. . . . to know that I love you, I am proud of you, I thank God for you, I believe in you. For we are never guranteed tomorrow. . . .
Monday, November 7, 2011
"Struggles?"
Yesterday was Blogger Sunday as my children so "lovingly" say, but Blogger Sunday slipped by and has now turned into Blogger Monday. I love to see what God will bring me to write about each weekend, but I was just a little unsure as to where He wanted me to go on Blogger Sunday..... and thus we come to today!
Maybe I had no real direction yesterday because God was waiting to show me at the very end. David came home and we sat on the couch watching his DVR'd football game. I fell asleep as usual and awoke to David saying "ok lets go to bed". As he took the game off, our TV switched channels and on it comes.....the reason I'm writing this Blog. :)
A man's voice was coming over the airwaves. He was casting off a whole LIST of things we will have rest from if we will only put God first in our life. I stuck my fingers in my ears like a little kid and told David "I DON'T wanna hear him! Turn him OFF!!" David did so and wouldn't you know it he was blaring upstairs in my son's bedroom on his Tv.....with Levi asleep. David opens the door and I told him "I SAID TURN HIM OFF!"
This left me feeling mad and anxious! ! ! My David who usually is there to calm me down, wanted nothing but to go to sleep ...... it was way past his working bedtime. So I was basically left to sort things out myself. As I lay there and feeling anxious of things, I began thinking. You see I know that I put God first in my life in all areas.....He is who I live for. But do I have struggles, worries, fears, doubts, concerns?? YES SIR I DO!! I even struggle with the fact of hearing some guy's voice and it leading me to question IF I'm doing what I'm supposed to in my life to be right with God! That's where I have to learn to turn him/she/they O F F!
But in my Bible, God's Holy Word, it says "In this world you WILL have TROUBLE. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33. Also, it says "A righteous man may have MANY troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all." Psalm 34:19. We see too that David, a man after God's own heart, wrestled with his thoughts and had sorrow in his heart, and had enemies triumphing over him in Psalm 13....but a few verses down we see that he STILL trusts in God's unfailing love and he rejoices remembering how that God has been good to him. And later in Psalm 55 he is seen crying out to God once again in DISTRESS and knows that God will hear him even delivering his from the BATTLES waged against him. (Sorry for all the capital words....just attempting to prove a point a little more vocally.)
So if I'm reading God's Word correctly then it is telling me that yes we will have troubles, we will have fears, we will have battles, we will have struggles! And it is NOT a matter of putting God first in your life or not.
Maybe I had no real direction yesterday because God was waiting to show me at the very end. David came home and we sat on the couch watching his DVR'd football game. I fell asleep as usual and awoke to David saying "ok lets go to bed". As he took the game off, our TV switched channels and on it comes.....the reason I'm writing this Blog. :)
A man's voice was coming over the airwaves. He was casting off a whole LIST of things we will have rest from if we will only put God first in our life. I stuck my fingers in my ears like a little kid and told David "I DON'T wanna hear him! Turn him OFF!!" David did so and wouldn't you know it he was blaring upstairs in my son's bedroom on his Tv.....with Levi asleep. David opens the door and I told him "I SAID TURN HIM OFF!"
This left me feeling mad and anxious! ! ! My David who usually is there to calm me down, wanted nothing but to go to sleep ...... it was way past his working bedtime. So I was basically left to sort things out myself. As I lay there and feeling anxious of things, I began thinking. You see I know that I put God first in my life in all areas.....He is who I live for. But do I have struggles, worries, fears, doubts, concerns?? YES SIR I DO!! I even struggle with the fact of hearing some guy's voice and it leading me to question IF I'm doing what I'm supposed to in my life to be right with God! That's where I have to learn to turn him/she/they O F F!
But in my Bible, God's Holy Word, it says "In this world you WILL have TROUBLE. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33. Also, it says "A righteous man may have MANY troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all." Psalm 34:19. We see too that David, a man after God's own heart, wrestled with his thoughts and had sorrow in his heart, and had enemies triumphing over him in Psalm 13....but a few verses down we see that he STILL trusts in God's unfailing love and he rejoices remembering how that God has been good to him. And later in Psalm 55 he is seen crying out to God once again in DISTRESS and knows that God will hear him even delivering his from the BATTLES waged against him. (Sorry for all the capital words....just attempting to prove a point a little more vocally.)
So if I'm reading God's Word correctly then it is telling me that yes we will have troubles, we will have fears, we will have battles, we will have struggles! And it is NOT a matter of putting God first in your life or not.
Just as sure as I know that we do still have struggles, I also know that just as the verses stated above.....God does deliver and He has made promises of it! But sometimes we must wait. Waiting teaches us far more than we probably ever perceive. For God is always seeking to teach us and train us in the faith life. When we have made our request for God to remove our burden, or give us rest from it shall we say, and He does not do it....what are we to think.....that we have not put God in His rightful place in our life?? NO, rather keep believing God's promise...stand firm on it and never be moved away by what you see or feel. He has promised to deliver the righteous from his troubles and that means ALL. God cannot lie and in Hebrews 6:18 we are assured of that! "God often delays on purpose and the delay is just as much an answer to our prayer as in the fulfillment when it comes." "The fact of looking at the apparent contradiction as to God's Word and being unmoved from your position of faith makes you stronger on every other line." "When God has spoken of his purpose to do, and yet the days go on and He does not do it, that truly is hard; but it is a discipline of faith that will bring us into a knowledge of God which would be otherwise impossible." Psalm 27:14 reminds us to "Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." And along the same lines of christians having distress in their lives we see that Paul, the great and mighty missionary for God, suffered as well. Do you think he was putting God FIRST in his life? I do!! But just as sure as he expresses his despair of even life itself in 2 Cor. 1:8-10....he assures us that God did, God does, and God will deliver. (vs.10) And even sometimes our struggles that we encounter are so that "We might not rely on ourselves but on God who raises the dead." (vs.9)
So my friends, take heart when you have struggles for it does NOT mean that your life is out of wack with God....it simply means you are human, God loves you, and He will see you through.
So my friends, take heart when you have struggles for it does NOT mean that your life is out of wack with God....it simply means you are human, God loves you, and He will see you through.
Just as the ocean is not always calm....so is life! But we have hope and we have trust in a God who knows and He is in control!
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