SEASONS MAY COME AND SEASONS MAY GO BUT.....

WITH THIS TIME OF YEAR COMES A CHILL IN THE AIR AND A COLOR ON THE LEAVES THAT IS BREATHTAKING ...... IT IS SOBERING TO SEE THAT TIME CHANGES EVERYTHING AND THAT NOTHING EVER REMAINS THE SAME ..... THIS GIVES MEANING TO THE NEWS THAT GOD IS ALWAYS IN CONTROL ..... DO WE SEE BEAUTY IN EVERYTHING AROUND US OR ARE WE DISGRUNTLED
WITH THE COMING OF WINTER ON THE HORIZON ..... IN THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES GOD GIVES US A REASON TO BE CONTENT WITH JUST OUR MERE EXISTENCE WHEN HE REVEALS THAT EVERYTHING HAS AN EXACT ORDER, PLACE & TIME ..... HE SAYS THIS: " There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven. A time to give birth, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to tear down, and a time to build up. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing. A time to give up, and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together; A time to be silent, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate; A time for war, and a time for peace. " ECCLESIASTES 3:1-8 ...... THESE ARE VERY DEEP & POWERFUL WORDS THAT APPLY TO EVERYONE FOR EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE WE ENCOUNTER ...... WE HAVE A TENDENCY TO WORRY HOWEVER GOD SHOWS US HOPE BY LETTING US KNOW HE IS IN CHARGE ...... IT MAY BE DIFFICULT FOR US TO GRASP THIS BECAUSE OF THE DAILY TRAGEDIES WE SEE UNFOLDING BEFORE OUR EYES ...... IT IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND HOW A LOVING GOD COULD ALLOW SO MUCH TO HAPPEN .....HERE IS THE TRUTH : " For MY thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways MY ways." ISAIAH 55:8 .....
AS GODLY PEOPLE WE COME TO KNOW AND ACCEPT THAT GOD HAS A PLAN THAT WE FIND HARD TO UNDERSTAND ..... " And we know that GOD causes all things to work together for good to those who love GOD, to those who are called according to HIS purpose. " ROMANS 8:28 ...... SO IT IS INEVITABLE THAT WINTER WILL TURN TO SPRING AND SPRING TO SUMMER AND THEN SUMMER TO FALL ..... GOD IS IN CONTROL AND CHANGE IS ALWAYS OCCURRING ...... DO NOT WORRY, GOD IS IN CONTROL ...... YOUNG WILL GROW OLD AND NEW WILL TURN TATTERED BUT THINK OF THIS, GOD IS CONTROL ...... LIVE EACH DAY TO THE FULLEST AND REMEMBER, GOD IS CONTROL AND HE LOVES US VERY VERY MUCH " For GOD demonstrates HIS own love for us in this :While we still sinners CHRIST died for us. " ROMANS 5:8 ......SO PRAY, SING PRAISE, REFLECT, BE KIND, LOVE, LOVE MORE, AND LOVE MORE STILL YET BECAUSE GOD IS IN CONTROL ....... SEASONS MAY COME AND SEASONS MAY GO BUT GOD IS IN CONTROL ..............................................SUMMER

A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE

WE HAVE ALL BEEN STUCK BEFORE ..... STUCK FOR WORDS, STUCK IN THE MUD, STUCK BETWEEN TO WAYS TO GO, STUCK BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE .....IT IS A BEWILDERING PLACE TO BE ...... STUCK, THAT IS ..... SO NEXT TIME WE FIND OURSELVES NOT KNOWING WHAT TO SAY , IT WOULD NEVER HURT TO GO TO GODS WORD WHICH SAYS, " A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger . " PROVERBS 15:1 ..... AND WHEN WE ARE FORCED TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHICH WAY TO GO IN LIFE GODS WORD TEACHES US THIS , '' Enter by the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. " MATTHEW 7:13-14 ..... BUT WHEN WE ARE STUCK BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE THIS IS WHAT THE BIBLE REVEALS, " The LORD is my ROCK and my DELIVERER; my GOD is my ROCK , in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold . " PSALM 18:2 ..... NEED WE KNOW ANY MORE ? ..... HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY ..........................................SUMMER

CHERISH YOUR FREEDOM

FROM THE LOOKS OF THINGS GOING ON ALL AROUND US WE MUST LEARN TO LIVE SIMPLE AND SIMPLY LIVE FOR EACH MOMENT THAT OUR DEAR LORD GIVES US ..... TODAY IS A DAY THAT HAS NOT COME EASY ..... MANY MANY AND STILL YET MANY MEN & WOMEN HAVE FOUGHT THE FIGHT TO KEEP OL' GLORY WAVING HIGH OVER 200 YEARS SINCE HER BIRTH ..... BEING AN AMERICAN IS A BLESSED GIFT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN BY OUR CREATOR ..... IT IS BY NO ACCIDENT OR COINCIDENCE THAT EVERYONE OF US HAS BEEN BORN HERE ..... WE ALL HAVE BEEN CALLED TO A MUCH LARGER PURPOSE WITH THE FREEDOMS AND LIBERTIES WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN ..... JESUS WANTS US TO BE A TESTIMONY OF OUR FAITH AND AN EXAMPLE OF WHO HE IS AND HOW HE LOVES US..... HE WANTS US TO GIVE HIM THE GLORY AND HONOR HE SO DESERVES ..... IN THE NEW TESTAMENT PAUL SPEAKS TO THE ROMANS AND SAYS, " And we know that in all things GOD works for the good of those who love HIM, who have been called according to HIS purpose. " ROMANS 8:28 ..... AS PEOPLE WHO LOVE THE LORD AND CHERISH THIS GREAT NATION, LET US REMEMBER TO THANK THOSE WHO DEFEND THE PRECIOUS FREEDOM WE ENJOY HERE ON THIS SOIL ..... AND FOR AS MUCH AS WE ARE GRATEFUL TO BE AN AMERICAN, WE ARE EVEN MORE GRATEFUL TO BE A CHRISTIAN CLOTHED IN THE RIGHTEOUS BLOOD OF THE LAMB WHERE WE CAN ENJOY AN ETERNAL FREEDOM ..... A FREEDOM THAT WAS PAID WITH THE SHED BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR TRUE SOLDIER AND FRIEND .....HAVE A HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY AND REMEMBER TO CHERISH YOUR FREEDOM TODAY AND FOREVER............................................. SUMMER

MOTIVATION TO LIVE BY

WHEN LIFE BECOMES A BURDEN WE OFTEN RETREAT TO ISOLATION OR SINFUL WAYS OF COPING ..... IT IS NOT OUR HUMANLY DESIRE TO SEEK AFTER GOD ..... WE SEE IT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURE WHICH REMINDS US OF HOW INCAPABLE WE ARE AT REAL LOVE , " We love because HE loved us first. " 1JOHN 4:19 ..... IT IS EASIER FOR US TO THROW IN THE TOWEL AND SUCCUMB TO THE EVIL ONES TEMPTATIONS ..... THEY DANGLE BEFORE OUR EYES LIKE SHIMMERING JEWELS ..... THE APOSTLE PAUL REMINDS US WHEN HE SAYS, " I know that nothing good lives in me, that is,
in my sinful nature . For I have the desire to do what is good, but cannot carry it out . For what I do is not the good I want to do ; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing . Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it , but it is sin living in me that does it . " ROMANS 7:18-20 ..... SO WE FIND OURSELVES STRUGGLING AND IN A QUANDARY OVER THE CHOICES IN LIFE THAT WE SEE ARE BEFITTING FOR US AND DECISIONS THAT COULD PRODUCE GOOD FRUIT..... THEN SUDDENLY WE BECOME FEARFUL AND CONFUSED WONDERING IF OUR LIVES WILL EVER AMOUNT TO ANYTHING GOOD FOR GOD ..... AND THEN WE MAY OR MAY NOT SEE HOPE ..... BECAUSE TRUE HOPE CAN ONLY BE FOUND IN GODS WORD ..... PARTICULARLY THE SCRIPTURE THAT TELLS US , " For GOD did not give us a spirit of fear ; but of power, and of love and a of sound mind. " 2TIMOTHY1:7 ..... SUCH MOTIVATION FOR US TO LIVE BY ................................................................SUMMER

STARTING THE DAY OUT RIGHT

HERE ARE A FEW PSALMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT SO THAT WE MAY START THE DAY OUT WITH OUR LORD IN MIND : " Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers . But his delight is in the LAW of the LORD , and on HIS LAW he meditates day and night . " PSALM 1:1-2 ...... " Answer me when I call to YOU , O my righteous GOD . Give me relief from my distress ; be merciful to me and hear my prayer . " PSALM 4:1 ...... " O LORD , our LORD , how majestic is YOUR name in all the earth ! YOU have set YOUR glory above the heavens. " PSALM 8:1 ...... " LORD , who may dwell in YOUR sanctuary ? Who may live on YOUR holy hill ? " PSALM
15:1 ...... " The LORD is my SHEPHERD , I shall not be in want ..... " PSALM 23:1 ......
"The LORD is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear ? The LORD is the
stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid of ? " PSALM 27:1 ...... " Love the LORD , all HIS saints ! The LORD preserves the faithful , but the proud HE pays back in full . Be strong and take heart , all you who hope in the LORD . " PSALM 31: 23-24 ...... " Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong ; for like the grass they will soon wither , like green plants they will die away . " PSALM 37:1-2 ...... " Blessed is he who has regard for the weak ; the LORD will deliver him in times of trouble . " PSALM 41:1 ...... " GOD is our refuge and strength , an ever-present help in trouble . Therefore we will not fear , though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea ." PSALM 46:1-2
...... " Create in me a pure heart , O GOD , and renew a steadfast spirit within me . "
PSALM 51:10 ...... " My soul finds rest in GOD alone ; my salvation comes from HIM . " PSALM 62:1 ...... " May GOD be gracious to us and bless us and make HIS face shine upon us , that YOUR ways be known on earth , and YOUR salvation among all nations . " PSALM 67:1-2 ...... '' Save me , O GOD , for the waters have come up to my neck . " PSALM 69:1 ...... " Whom have I in heaven but YOU ? And earth has nothing I desire besides YOU . " PSALM 73:25 ...... "Teach me YOUR way , O LORD , and I will walk in YOUR truth ; give me an undivided heart , that I may fear YOUR name . " PSALM 86:11 ...... " Give thanks to the LORD , for HE is good ; HIS love endures forever . " PSALM 107:1 ...... " The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom ; all who follow HIS precepts have good understanding . To
HIM belongs eternal praise . " PSALM 111:10 ...... " How can a young man keep his way pure ? By living according to YOUR WORD . " PSALM 119:9 ...... ''YOUR WORD is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path . " PSALM 119:105 ...... " My help comes from the LORD , the MAKER of heaven and earth . " PSALM 121:2 ...... " Search me , O GOD , and know my heart ; test me and know my anxious thoughts . See if there is any offensive way in me , and lead me in the way everlasting . " PSALM 139:23-24 ......" Let everything that has breath praise the LORD . "......PSALM 150:6
...... LET US NOT END HERE , LET US CONTINUE TO SEARCH THE WORD OF GOD SO THAT WE MAY COME TO KNOW HIM IN A DEEP AN ABIDING WAY
...... AS WE DO THIS WE WILL TRULY BEGIN TO ENJOY OUR DAY AND BE AT PEACE WITH OURSELVES AND OTHERS .......................................Summer

THE CHILDREN TRULY DO BELONG TO GOD

THE MOST IMPORTANT LEGACY WE WILL EVER LEAVE BEHIND IS THE LEGACY OF A CHILD WITH A FIRM FOUNDATION IN THE LORD JESUS ..... TO UNDERSTAND THIS WE MUST BE ABLE TO LET THE CHILDREN GO AND ENTRUST THEM TO GOD ..... THIS IS ONE OF HARDEST TASKS A MOTHER HAS BEFORE HER BECAUSE IT IS OUR HUMAN NATURE TO KEEP THE CHILDREN CLOSE BY AND CAUDLE THEM ..... RIGHTFULLY SO WE WANT TO PREVENT THEM FROM BEING HARMED ..... GOD TEACHES US TO LET GO WHEN HE REVEALS TO US A TRIED AND TRUE SCRIPTURE ..... " Trust in the LORD with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding ; in all your ways acknowledge HIM , and HE will make your paths straight. " PROVERBS 3:5-6 .....IF WE ARE TO TAKE OUR ROLE AS A MOTHER SERIOUS , WE WILL SEEK TO INSTILL THE MORALS AND VALUES THAT CHRIST TEACHES INTO OUR CHILDREN FROM A YOUNG AGE .....WE SEE THAT JESUS TAUGHT US BEST TO LOVE GOD WHEN HE SAID , " One of the taechers of the law came and heard them debating . Noticing that JESUS had given them a good answer , asked HIM , " Of all the commandments , which is the most important ? " " The most important one , " answered JESUS , " is this : Hear O Israel , the LORD our GOD , the LORD is one . Love the LORD your GOD with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength . The second is this : ' Love your neighbor as yourself .' There is no commandment greater than these ." MARK 12:28-31 ..... IN ORDER TO CREATE A CHILD THAT WILL BE DEPENDANT ON THE LORD AND SEEK AFTER JESUS WITH ENTHUSIAM WE WILL FIRST NEED TO HAVE OUR OWN FOUNDATION ROOTED IN THE LORD .....THE FOLLOWING 2 NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES CLARIFY JUST THIS " Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on rock . The rain came down , the streams rose , and the winds blew and beat against that house ; yet it did not fall , because it had its foundation on the rock . " MATTHEW 7 : 24-25 & " By the grace GOD has given me , I laid a foundation as an expert builder , and someone else is building on it . But each one should be careful how he builds . For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid , which is in JESUS CHRIST . " 1 CORINTHIANS 3:10-11 ..... LET THEIR BE NO QUESTION ABOUT IT , IF WE DO NOT WANT TO DIVIDE OUR FAMILIES THEN OUR FOUNDATION NEED TO BE ONLY IN THE LORD JESUS ..... WE AS MOTHERS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY ALONG WITH OUR HUSBANDS IN LAYING A FIRM FOUNDATION FOR THEIR FUTURE HENCE AFFECTING HOW THEY WILL REACT TO THE LORD ..... WHEN THERE IS ABSCENCE OF A FATHER THIS ROLE MAY BE DOUBLED ..... THEIR TENDER HEARTS AND OPEN MINDS WILL REAP THE SEEDS WE SOW INTO THEIR YOUNG AND IMPRESSIONABLE MINDS ..... AS MOTHERS WE NEED ALSO TO PRAY FOR OUR CHILDREN BECAUSE SATAN MAY USE THEM AS A TOOL TO PLACE A STRAIN ON OUR FAITH SOMEDAY ..... THE GOSPEL TELLS TO PRAY ALWAYS ..... " Pray without ceasing . " 1 THESSELONIANS 5:17 .....AS WOMEN , WE CAN PRAY FOR OURSELVES AND FOR EACH OTHER ..... WE CAN PRAY FOR THE LORD TO PROTECT OUR LITTLE ONES ESPECIALLY AS THEY GROW INTO BIGGER ONES ..... WE CAN ALSO PRAY THAT GOD SOFTEN THEIR HEARTS AND REVEAL HIMSELF TO THEM WHETHER THEY ARE SAVED OR NOT ..... AND FINALLY WE CAN PRAY FOR OUR CHILDREN WHETHER THEY ARE 5 OR 50 YEARS OLD
..... PRAYER IS A VERY POWERFUL AND NECESSARY TOOL AGAINST THE EVIL ONES DESIRE TO ATTACK OUR PARENTING SKILLS AND DEVOUR OUR CHILDREN ..... GOD ENTRUSTS OUR CHILDREN TO US FOR A SHORT TIME HERE ON EARTH ..... IF WE ARE BEING GODLY MOTHERS THEN IT IS OUR DUTY TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN ABOUT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST ..... ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS OF TEACHING WILL COME IN THE FORM OF A GOD FEARING AND GOD LOVING PARENT WHO GIVES GLORY AND HONOR TO THE LORD ..... WE CANNOT DEPEND ON OUTSIDE INSTITUTIONS OR PEOPLE TO DO THE JOB THAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO US ..... THIS IS EVIDENT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURE THAT READS : " Train a child in the way he should go , and when he is old he will not turn from it . " PROVERBS 22:6 ..... MOTHERS AS WELL AS FATHERS WILL BE LOVED , APPRECIATED AND RESPECTED IF WE FOLLOW THIS GODLY ADVICE ..... WE WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO GAIN THE WISDOM IT TAKES TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE CHILDREN TRULY DO BELONG TO GOD ..... THE SAME GOD WHO HAS ALSO BEEN TAKING CARE OF US ..... HAPPY MOTHERS DAY ............................................SUMMER

WHO'S DOING THE PLANTING AND THE WATERING

HAVE WE EVER SEEN A FLOWER IN A BAD MOOD OR FOR THAT MATTER, AN UGLY FLOWER ..... CONSIDER WHAT THE LORD HAS TO SAY AND MAYBE WE WILL LEARN WHY ..... " Listen , O heavens and I will speak ; hear , O earth , the words of MY mouth . Let MY teaching fall like rain and MY words descend like dew , like showers on new grass , like abundant rain on tender plants. " DEUTERONOMY 32:1-2 ..... SPRINGTIME IS A SEASON OF NEW GROWTH WITH BUDS SHOOTING UP EVERYWHERE .....THESE BUDS TURN INTO BEAUTIFUL PLANTS AND FLOWERS ..... THERE IS GREEN GRASS ALL AROUND US AND EVERYTHING WE SEE FROM GODS CREATION IS ALWAYS IN A GOOD MOOD ..... BEAUTY SPRINGS FORTH AS THE LILLIE'S AND TULIPS SING OUT ..... NOTHING WE ACQUIRE WHILE WE ARE HERE ON THE EARTH WILL EVER COMPARE TO THE BEAUTY AND CONTENTMENT THAT COMES WHEN THE LORD GOD DOES THE PLANTING AND THE WATERING ..... GOD CONFIRMS THIS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT WHEN HE SAYS ..... " Consider how the lillies grow . They do not labor or spin . Yet I tell you , not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these . '' LUKE 12:18 ..... LIFE IS HARD ..... IT POSES MANY CHALLENGES BEFORE US ..... WHEN WE COME TO KNOW THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL IT GIVES US A SENSE OF RELIEF , NOT BECAUSE WE GIVE UP BUT BECAUSE WE GIVE IN .....WE GIVE IN TO HIS PLAN FOR WHAT HE WANTS FOR US AND HOW HE WANTS US TO LIVE ..... THIS UNDERSTANDING GIVES US THE ASSURANCE THAT HE CAN AND WILL CHANGE OUR HEARTS AND LIVES ..... SO WE CAN ASK OURSELVES TODAY WHO'S DOING THE PLANTING AND THE WATERING IN OUR OWN LIVES ....................................SUMMER

"SO IF THE SON SETS YOU FREE , YOU WILL BE FREE INDEED !! "

THIS IS THE DAY FOR CHRISTIANS ALL OVER THE WORLD TO PROCLAIM OUR FREEDOM .....THIS IS A DAY UNLIKE ANY OTHER .....THIS IS THE DAY WE CELEBRATE VICTORY OVER DEATH .....THIS IS THE DAY THAT JESUS CHRIST HAS RISEN FROM DEAD ..... THIS DAY IS RESURRECTION SUNDAY ..... " On the first day of the week , very early in the morning , the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb . They found the stone rolled away from the tomb , but when they entered , they did not find the body of the LORD JESUS . While they were wondering about this , suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightening stood beside them . In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground , but the men said to them , " Why do you look for the living among the dead ? HE is not here ; HE has risen ! Remember how HE told you , while HE was still with you in Galilee : ' The SON of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men , be crucified and on the third day be raised again . ' " Then they remembered HIS words . " LUKE 24:1-8 ..... AS WE CAN READ HERE OUR LORD IS ALIVE ..... THIS IS A GOSPEL TRUTH ..... SOMETIMES IT IS HARD FOR US TO CONCEIVE THIS YET IT IS TRUE ..... WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN A SAVIOUR , A LIVING GOD THAT HAS DIED FOR OUR SINFUL WAYS AND ROSE FROM THE DEAD IN ORDER THAT WE MAY BE SET FREE FROM THE STING OF AN ETERNAL DEATH .....SO ON THIS DAY , IF WE DO NOT HAVE REASON TO CELEBRATE THIS TRUTH , AND WE DO NOTHING ELSE WE CAN DO THIS : REPENT OF OUR SIN , HUMBLY ASK THE LORD JESUS INTO OUR HEARTS AND THEN PRAISE HIS NAME BECAUSE IT IS TRUE ..... " So if the SON sets you free , you will be free indeed . " JOHN 8:36 ..... HAVE A BLESSED EASTER SUNDAY ....................SUMMER

THE FINISHED WORK OF GOD

" God saw all that HE had made , and it was very good . And there was evening , and there was morning - the sixth day . Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array . " GENESIS 1:31 & 2:1 ..... GOD CREATED THIS BEAUTIFUL PLACE WE CALL HOME FOR NOW .....THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT WHEN WE GAZE UPON GODS CREATION WE SEE MAJESTY & BEAUTY FAR BEYOND WHAT ANY MAN HAS OR WILL EVER CREATE ..... GODS FINISHED WORK CANNOT BE COMPARED TO AND SO FOR THAT WE HONOR HIM ON THIS DAY THAT MAN HAS ASSIGNED AS "EARTH DAY "..... TODAY IS ALSO THE DAY WE CELEBRATE ANOTHER ONE OF GODS FINISHED WORKS ..... THE DEATH OF HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON , JESUS CHRIST ..... "Later , knowing that all was now completed , and so the Scripture would be fulfilled , JESUS said , "I am thirsty ,". A jar of wine vinegar was there , so they soaked a sponge in it , put the sponge on a stalk of hyssop plant , and lifted it to JESUS' lips . When HE had received the drink , JESUS , " It is finished . " With that , HE bowed HIS head and gave up HIS SPIRIT . " JOHN 19: 28-30 ..... THE INFALLIBLE WORD OF GOD GIVES ALL PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT UPON THEIR LIVES AND CONTEMPLATE EXACTLY WHAT WE WILL DO WITH THESE TRUTHS' ..... LET US GO TO THE BOOK OF GENESIS TODAY AND GIVE GOD THE GLORY FOR HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS ..... LET US WORSHIP THE CREATOR INSTEAD OF HIS CREATION ..... LET US ALSO GO TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN TODAY AND READ ABOUT THE DEATH OF JESUS IN CHAPTER 19 ..... LASTLY , LET US ASK OURSELVES WHAT OR WHOM WILL WE GIVE OUR HEART TO ..... PRAYERFULLY IT WILL BE IN THE FINISHED WORK OF JESUS CHRIST...................SUMMER

WHERE DO WE STAND BEFORE GOD

WHEN WE BECOME SAVED (JUSTIFICATION) THAT IS A MIRACLE ....."For it is by grace you have been saved , through faith - and this not from yourselves , it is a gift from GOD - not by works , so that no one can boast . For we are GOD'S workmanship , created in CHRIST JESUS to do goods works , which GOD prepared in advance for us to do ." EPHESIANS 2:8-10 ..... WHAT WE NEED ONCE THAT MIRACLE OCCURS IS TO BE TAUGHT THE WORD ..... "Jesus answered , "It is written : Man does not live on bread alone , but on every word that comes from the mouth of GOD . " MATTHEW 4:4 ..... GOD'S WORD NEEDS TO BE LEARNED LINE BY LINE AND SCRIPTURE BY SCRIPTURE IN ORDER FOR US TO UNDERSTAND IT CORRECTLY ....."For the WORD of GOD is living and active . Sharper than any double-edged sword , it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit , joints and marrow ; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart ." HEBREWS 4:12 ..... WHEN WE LEARN THE WORD OF GOD CORRECTLY WE BECOME CONVICTED TO SEE THE DEITY AND HOLINESS OF CHRIST AS THE TRUE SAVIOUR THAT HE IS ....." For in CHRIST deity all the fullness of the DEITY lives in bodily form , and you have been given fullness in CHRIST , who is the head over every power and authority . " COLOSSIANS 2:9 ..... WE ALSO LEARN OF THE MAN WHO JESUS WAS AS WELL ..... HE WAS A GREAT HIGH PRIEST WHO HAS BEEN ABLE TO SYMPATHIZE WITH US BECAUSE OF HIS LIFE HERE ON EARTH ..... "Therefore , since we have a great HIGH PRIEST who has gone into the heavens , JESUS the SON of GOD , let us hold firmly to faith we profess . 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 . Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence , so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need . Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to GOD , to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins . He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray , since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own people . No one takes this honor upon himself ; he must be called by GOD , just as Aaron was . So CHRIST also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest . But GOD said to HIM , "YOU are MY SON ; today I have become YOUR FATHER ." And HE says in another place , "YOU are a PRIEST forever , in the order of Melchizedek . "HEBREWS 4:14-16&5:1-6 ..... IT WAS WHILE JESUS WALKED THE EARTH THAT HE WENT TO HIS FATHER MANY TIMES TO PRAY FOR HIS FATHER TO SAVE HIM FROM DEATH ON THE CROSS HOWEVER WE SEE THAT HE WAS PERFECTLY OBEDIENT TO HIS FATHER , OUR GOD , IN THE END ..... "During the days of JESUS' life on earth , HE offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the ONE who could save HIM from death , and HE was heard because of HIS submission . Although HE was a SON , HE learned obedience from what HE suffered and , once made perfect , HE became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey HIM and was designated by GOD to be a HIGH PRIEST in the order of Melchizedek ." HEBREWS 5:7-10 ..... WE NOW CAN SEE THAT JESUS WAS 100% GOD AND 100% MAN ..... THE LORD GOD CHANGES PEOPLES HEARTS AND LIVES ..... "Therefore , if anyone is in CHRIST , he is a new creation; the old has gone , the new has come !" 2CORINTHIANS 2:17 ..... NOW MATTER HOW WE TRY TO FIX OUR LIVES , WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT HAVE PEACE UNTIL WE RECONCILE WITH JESUS ..... "Do not be anxious about anything , but in everything , by prayer and petition , with thanksgiving , present your requests to GOD . And the peace of GOD , which transcends all understanding , will guard your hearts and your minds in CHRIST JESUS." PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7 ..... AND SO WE ARE LEFT WITH SOME SCRIPTURES TO STUDY: ALTHOUGH WE ARE CHOSEN , WE MUST REMEMBER AND KNOW THAT CHRIST DIED FOR EVERYONE (HEBREWS 2:9) ..... AND FOR ALL (1TIMOTHY 2:6) ..... AND FOR THE WORLD (JOHN 3:16) ..... AND FOR THE SIN OF THE WHOLE WORLD (1JOHN 2:22) ..... AND FOR THE UNGODLY PEOPLE (ROMANS 5:6) ..... AND FOR THE CHURCH (EPHESIANS5:25) ..... AND FOR YOU & ME (GALATIONS 2:20) ..... SO NOW THE QUESTION ARISES WHERE DO WE STAND BEFORE GOD ......................................................SUMMER

THE DEADLY ARROW & THE SWEET BLESSING

THERE IS NOTHING WORSE THAN THE STING OF A HARSH WORD YET WE HAVE ALL FALLEN PREY TO EITHER BEING THE CULPRIT OR THE VICTIM OF SUCH ..... GOD SPEAKS OF THE TONGUE NINETY-THREE TIMES IN THE BIBLE .....MOST OF THE MENTION IS IN REFERENCE TO ITS ABILITY TO CAUSE DESTRUCTION.....AS IT IS REVEALED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT , "Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body , but it makes great boasts . Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark . The tongue also is a fire , a world of evil among the parts of the body . It corrupts the whole person , sets the whole course of his life on fire , and is itself set on fire by hell . All kinds of animals , birds , reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man , but no man can tame the tongue . It is a restless evil , full of deadly poison . With the tongue we praise our LORD and FATHER , and with it we curse men , who have been made in GOD'S likeness . Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing . My brothers , this should not be . Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring ? "JAMES 3:5-11 ..... WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE WE CANNOT IGNORE THE INTENSITY OF WHAT IS BEING SAID HERE ..... IT IS DIFFICULT TO GO THROUGH AN HOUR , LET ALONE AN ENTIRE DAY, WITHOUT FACING THE CHALLENGE OF KEEPING OUR TONGUE IN LINE ..... NO DOUBT AS HUMAN BEINGS WE HAVE MANY GOOD THINGS TO TALK ABOUT ..... WE COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER , TALK KINDLY OF ONE ANOTHER , GIVE GOOD REFERENCES FOR SOME AND SPEAK HIGHLY OF OTHERS ; BUT USING THE SAME BREATH WE BELITTLE , CURSE , GOSSIP AND SLANDER EACH OTHER WITH THE RISING AND THE SETTING OF EACH DAY'S SUN ..... AS THE OLD TESTAMENT STATES , " A deceitful tongue crushes the spirit . " PROVERBS 15:4 ..... AND YET THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES REVEAL EVEN MORE ABOUT THIS SUBJECT WHEN IT SAYS , " Their tongue is a deadly arrow . " JEREMIAH 9:8 ..... WE WANT TO BELIEVE THAT WE CAN FIX THIS PROBLEM ON OUR OWN , HOWEVER THERE IS ONE THING THAT WILL ALWAYS GET IN OUR WAY ; THAT IS OUR SIN NATURE ..... BECAUSE THE HEART OF MAN IS DECEITFUL OUR TONGUES CANNOT BE TAMED WITHOUT THE HELP OF GOD HIMSELF ..... IF WE ARE TO PLEASE GOD AND GIVE HIM THE GLORY HE SO RIGHTFULLY DESERVES , WE MUST LEARN TO CONTROL OUR TONGUES ..... HUMBLY GOING BEFORE GOD ON A DAILY BASIS AND ASKING HIM TO ASSIST US IN THIS MATTER IS A NECESSITY ..... ASKING THE HOLY SPIRIT TO FILL OUR HEARTS AND MINDS IS THE BEGINNING OF HAVING A MORE SELF-CONTROLLED TONGUE ..... WHEN WE DO THIS HE WILL FILL US WITH HIS FRUITS AS IT IS SPOKEN OF IN THE NEW TESTAMENT , " But the fruit of the SPIRIT is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control . Against such things there is no law . " GALATIONS 5:22 ..... DAILY DEPENDENCE ON THE LORD JESUS , PRAYER AND STUDY OF HIS WORD WILL ENABLE US TO BECOME THE PERSON WHOM GOD HAS INTENDED US TO BE AND ALLOW US TO BRING A SWEET BLESSING TO THOSE AROUND US ..... THIS IS TURN WILL BEAR WITNESS TO THE FACT THAT OUR GOD TRULY IS AS HE SAYS , " I AM the ALPHA AND THE OMEGA ," says the LORD GOD , " who is , and who was and who is to come , the ALMIGHTY . '' REVELATION 1:8...............................Summer

INSTRUCTIONS FOR TODAY

DURING THESE DARK AND TRYING TIMES IN OUR WORLD IT IS DIFFICULT FOR US NOT TO BECOME DISCOURAGED ..... BECAUSE OF WHAT WE HEAR AND SEE ON THE DAILY NEWS WE MAY BE FEELING THIS WAY MORE THAN NOT ..... TWO THINGS WE ALL COULD USE TODAY ARE ENCOURAGEMENT AND HOPE ..... GOD HAS SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT EACH ONE IN HIS BIBLE
..... IN THE OLD TESTAMENT GOD SPEAKS TO US WHEN HE SAYS : "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth ; meditate on it day and night , so that you may be careful to do everything written in it . Then you will be prosperous and successful . Have I not commanded you ? Be strong and courageous . Do not be terrified ; do not be discouraged , for the LORD your GOD will be with you wherever you go . " JOSHUA 1:9 ..... JOSHUA CONQUERED THE ENEMY AND SUCCESSFULLY GAINED THE PROMISED LAND NOT BECAUSE OF ANY FANCY STRATEGIES OR " STATE OF THE ART " WEAPONRY ..... THE REASON FOR HIS SUCCESS WAS OBEDIENCE TO GOD AND CONSISTENT MEDITATION ON GODS LAW ..... BECAUSE OUR GOD IS THE SAME YESTERDAY , TODAY AND TOMORROW WE HAVE MUCH TO GAIN FROM THIS ADVICE MENTIONED ABOVE , EVEN IN TODAY'S MODERN WORLD .....WHEN WE ARE DISCOURAGED IT CAN BRING ABOUT FEELINGS OF HOPELESSNESS ..... WHEN THE
DRUDGERY OF LIFE'S DAILY BATTLES ARE CAST UPON US IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO LOOK AHEAD AND SEE BRIGHTER DAY ..... OUR GOD , IN HEBREW HIS NAME IS TRANSLATED AS ELOHIM-YACHEL , IS THE " GOD OF HOPE " ..... HE DOES NOT WANT US TO SULK OR GIVE UP..... WHEN WE STUDY THE BOOK OF ROMANS CHAPTER 15 VERSE 13 SPEAKS VOLUMES AS IT SAYS , " May the GOD of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in HIM , so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT . " ..... WHETHER WE ARE FACING A TIME OF DISCOURAGEMENT OR A SEASON OF HOPELESSNESS ,
OUR INSTRUCTIONS FOR TODAY ARE BEST TAKEN FROM THE BIBLE .....HERE WE FIND THESE WORDS NOT ONLY FLAWLESS AND TRUTHFUL BUT LIFE CHANGING AS WELL....................................SUMMER

WHAT HAVE WE DONE LATELY

TODAY WAS A DAY OF MUCH ACTIVITY FOR EVERYONE YOUNG AND OLD ,RICH OR POOR ,HAPPY OR SAD .....BEING KIND TO EVERYONE AROUND US IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE LEARN EVERY DAY THAT EVERYONE IS FIGHTING SOME KIND OF BATTLE .....WE PUT ASIDE OUR OWN AGENDA'S AND WE PRAY ..... THE LORD TELLS US , "This , then , is how you should pray : 'Our FATHER in heaven , hallowed be YOUR name , YOUR kingdom come , YOUR will be done on earth as it is in heaven . Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts , as we also forgive our debtors . And lead us not into temptation , but deliver us from the evil one . ' " MATTHEW 6:9-13 ..... HAVE WE TAKEN THE TIME TO SMILE AT SOMEONE ..... IN THE OLD TESTAMENT GOD REVEALS : " A happy heart makes the face cheerful , but heartache crushes the spirit . " PROVERBS 15:13 ..... SO EVEN IF IT SEEMS TO BE A BAD DAY ,SMILE ..... HAVE WE SET ASIDE SOME OF THE TIME WE SPEND ON THINGS WE ENJOY DOING SO AS TO SPEND TIME WITH OTHERS ..... THE GOOD NEWS IS THIS : " For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS one and only SON , that whoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have eternal life . " JOHN 3:16 ..... KNOWING THAT GOD GAVE UP HIS ONLY SON IS AN ENCOURAGEMENT FOR US TO SURRENDER SOME OF OUR OWN TIME TO BENEFIT OTHERS ..... HAVE WE TREATED OUR BODIES WITH RESPECT ..... GOD DESIRES US TO BE HOLY AS WE SEE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT , "Therefore, I urge you , brothers in view of GODS mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices , holy and pleasing to GOD - this is your spiritual act of worship . " ROMANS 12:1 ..... HAVE WE THOUGHT ABOUT GOOD THINGS
..... DO WE REALIZE THAT WHAT GOES INTO OUR MINDS WILL COME OUT IN OUR LIVES......IN THE WORD WE LEARN : " Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world , but be transformed by the renewing of your mind . Then you will be able to test and approve what GOD'S will is - HIS good , pleasing and perfect will . " ROMANS 12 :2 .....HAVE WE TRIED TO PLEASE THE LORD TODAY.....
KNOWING HIM IN A DEEP AND ABIDING WAY MAKES US WANT TO SUBMIT TO HIS STATUTES .....WHEN WE READ THE BIBLE IT REVEALS , "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh , but those who live according to the SPIRIT set their minds on the things of the SPIRIT . " ROMANS 8:5...... GOD IS DELIGHTED TO SEE US CONFORMING TO HIS WAY ..... HAVE WE CONSIDERED NOT ONLY BEING A CHILD OF GOD BUT BEING IN HIS FAMILY AS WELL ..... GOD'S MERCY & GRACE ARE GIFTS HE FREELY GIVES TO ALL WHO WILL ACCEPT ..... WE SEE THIS WHEN WE READ , " Yet to all who received HIM , to those who believed in HIS name , HE gave the right to become children of GOD - children born not of natural decent , not of human decision or husbands will , but born of GOD . " JOHN 1:12-13 .....ACCEPTING THAT JESUS DIED FOR US AND TOOK THE PAYMENT FOR OUR SINFUL NATURE ALLOWS US TO ESCAPE THE PERILS OF AN ETERNITY IN HELL .....THE GIFT FOR THOSE WHO REPENT , COMMIT AND BELIEVE IS ETERNITY IN HEAVEN .....LET US REFLECT ON WHAT HAVE WE DONE LATELY ........................SUMMER

BLIND TRUST and the ABSOLUTE GUARANTEE

HOPE IS WHAT TURNS BLIND TRUST INTO ABSOLUTE GUARANTEE......A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THIS IS WHEN WE GENUINELY PLACE OUR TRUST IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND HE GUARANTEES US AN ETERNAL HOME WITH HIM IN HEAVEN ...........HERE ARE SOME OF THE SCRIPTURES THAT VERIFY THIS TRUST AND GUARANTEE.....WE BEGIN WITH THE OLD TESTAMENT WHEN GODS WORD SAYS : "May YOUR unfailing love rest upon us , O LORD ,even as we put our hope in YOU ." PSALM 33:22 ......WHEN THE WORD HOPE IS TRANSLATED INTO HEBREW HERE IT IS SAID " YACHAL" WHICH MEANS "TRUST".......ANOTHER OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURE WHERE THE WORD TRUST IS MENTIONED IS WHEN GOD STATES : "But now , LORD , what do I look for ? My hope is in YOU . " PSALM 39:7 ...... THE HEBREW DEFINITION OF THE WORD TRUST IN THIS LINE TRANSLATES TO THE WORD "TOWCHELETH" ROOTED IN THE MEANING OF EXPECTATION ...... FOR THOSE WHO CLAIM JESUS AS THEIR SAVIOUR THE SUBJECT MATTER OF HOPE IS FOUND NUMEROUS PLACES THROUGHOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT ......JESUS' WORDS RING TRUE WHEN SPOKEN THROUGH THE APOSTLE PAUL AS HE STATES : " the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of the truth , the gospel that has come to you ."COLOSSIANS 1:5 ...... THIS LIVING HOPE IS A DEFINITE GUARANTEE GIVEN BY OUR SAVIOUR JESUS ......FURTHER INTO THE NEW TESTAMENT WE FIND EVEN MORE TRUTH WHEN OUR BROTHER PAUL
REVEALS GODS' SINCERE PROMISE : "a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life , which GOD , who does not lie , promised before the beginning of time , and at HIS appointed season HE brought HIS WORD to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of GOD our SAVIOUR ." TITUS1:2-3
......TO ASSURE US OF THIS HOPEFUL ETERNITY GOD OFFERS HIS GRACE TO EACH AND EVERY MAN , WOMAN AND CHILD WHO TRULY ACCEPTS IT .....THIS UNDESERVING MERCY IS OURS COMPLETELY FREE BECAUSE OF JESUS' WILLINGNESS TO ATONE FOR OUR SINFUL NATURE BY DYING ON THE CROSS AND RESURRECTING INTO HEAVEN .....CAN WE COUNT ON THIS HOPE BEING REAL ? ......WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SCRIPTURES , GOD SPEAKS THROUGH THE BELOVED APOSTLE JOHN WHEN HE STATES : " I write these things to you who believe in the name of the SON of GOD so that you may know you have eternal life . This is the confidence we have in approaching GOD : that if we ask anything according to HIS will , HE hears us . " 1JOHN 5:13-14.......ARE WE ABLE TO CLAIM THIS GUARANTEE OF ....... WE PRAISE OUR LORD IF SO
........ AND IF NOT , THEN THIS MAY BE THE MOMENT THAT GOD HAS ORDAINED JUST FOR THAT PURPOSE......... SO AS TO CLAIM THE HOPE THAT TURNS BLIND TRUST INTO ABSOLUTE
GUARANTEE ...............................................SUMMER

LIVING HOPE THAT IS PRICELESS !!

JUST ATOP THE VINTAGE GREEN SERVER SITS THE ROSEMARY PLANT THAT WAS IN THE GARDEN LAST SUMMER ......TRANSPLANTED FROM THE PICNIC TABLE TO THE BRIGHT SUNNY WINDOW IN THE KITCHEN LAST OCTOBER WITH THE HOPE THAT IT WOULD SURVIVE THE WINTER ......WHAT A BEAUTIFUL HERB IT IS ......LUSH GREEN CONIFEROUS STEMS WITH A SCENT THAT LINGERS AROUND THE TABLE EVERY TIME THE HEAT COMES UP ......SUCH AN ESSENTIAL KITCHEN HERB ROSEMARY IS ......IT SERVES A PURPOSE IN MANY A DISH FROM CHICKEN AND PORK TO BUTTERED CARROTS AND ROASTED NEW POTATOES ......WITH THE ANTICIPATION THAT THIS PLANT WOULD LIVE THROUGH THE DETRIMENTS OF THE WINTER SEASON , HAPPINESS COULD BE FELT IN THE AIR TONIGHT......AS THIS
COLD AND DARK SEASON COMES TO AN END THE SCRIPTURE THAT COMES TO MIND THIS EVENING IS ONE FOUND IN THE OLD TESTAMENT , " See ! The winter is past ; the rains are over and gone . Flowers appear on the earth ; the season of singing has come , the cooing of doves is heard in our land ." SONG of SONGS 2:11-12 ......MISS ROSEMARY SITS ; AWAITING THE RETURN OF FRESH AIR & WARMER TEMPERATURES , HOPE HAS PREVAILED ONE MORE WINTER SEASON ......TO SEE THIS POT OF LIVING HOPE REMINDS ME OF THE HOPE THAT THE LORD JESUS GAVE WHEN HE BECAME THE LAST BLOOD SACRIFICE FOR ALL MANKIND ......GOD EXPLAINS IT BEST WHEN HE SPEAKS THROUGH THE APOSTLE PETER IN THE NEW TESTAMENT PROCLAIMING , " Praise be to the GOD and FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST ! In HIS great mercy HE has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST from the dead ,and into an inheritance that can never perish , spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you , who through faith are shielded by GOD'S power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time . In this you greatly rejoice , though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials . " 1PETER 1:3-6 ......THESE WORDS , EVER SO TRUE , ASSURE ALL THOSE THAT PLACE THEIR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST THAT HE IS THE LIVING HOPE THAT WILL SEE US THROUGH INTO ETERNITY ...... NOW THAT IS PRICELESS ....................................SUMMER

ARE WE IN AGREEMENT WITH THE LORD

THINKING ABOUT CHEATING THE GOVERNMENT ? ......LETS SEE WHAT THE LORD JESUS HAS TO SAY ABOUT THIS ...... " Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to JESUS to catch HIM in HIS words . They came to HIM and said , " Teacher , we know YOU are a man of integrity . YOU ren't swayed by men , because YOU pay no attention to who they are : but YOU teach the way of GOD in accordance with the truth . Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not ? Should we pay or shouln't we ? But JESUS knew their hypocrisy . "Why are you trying to trap ME ? , HE asked . Bring me a denarius and let ME look at it . " They brought the coin and HE asked them , " Whose portrait is this ? And whose inscription ? " ,HE said . " Caesar's , " they replied . Then JESUS said to them , Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to GOD what is GOD'S . " And they were amazed . " MARK 12:13-17 ...... WHEN IT COMES TO GODS LAWS , INSTRUCTIONS AND WISDOM , THERE ARE NO ENTITLEMENTS ...... NONE ...... APRIL 15TH WILL BE HERE SOON ......ARE WE IN AGREEMENT WITH THE LORD .....................SUMMER

APOLOGIES

SO VERY SORRY FOR THE COLOR ON THE PREVIOUS POST .....ALL THINGS ASIDE YELLOW IS STILL A CHEERFUL COLOR !!....................SUMMER

ALL THINGS YELLOW

YELLOW IS SUCH A CHEERFUL COLOR.....I ACTUALLY THINK IT CREATES A CHEERFUL HEART.....AND AS IT IS FOUND IN GODS WORD "A cheerful heart is good medicine " PROVERBS 17:22 ..... I HAVE A VERY SOFT BRIGHT YELLOW SUMMER SHIRT THAT HAS BEEN WITH ME FOR SUCH A LONG TIME , YET IT STILL LOOKS SO BRIGHT E & MAKES ME FEEL UPLIFTED WHEN I WEAR IT .....I ALSO HAVE A PAIR OF YELLOW FLEECE PAJAMAS , SO COZY & WARM THAT I WAS GRATEFUL TO HAVE THEM THIS WINTER..... I ALWAYS TRY TO MAKE LEMONADE WHEN LIFE GIVES ME LEMONS .....GODS TELLS US THIS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT WHEN HE REVEALS THE SECRET ON CONTENMENT , " I am not saying this because I am in need ,for I have learned to be content , whatever the circumstances . I know what it is to be in need , and I know what it is to have plenty . I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,whether well fed or hungry , whether living in plenty or want . I can do everything through HIM who gives me strength . " PHILIPPIANS 4:10-13 .....AND LET ME NOT FORGET THE PRETTY YELLOW TULIPS THAT COME UP EVERY SPRING IN THE GARDEN.....AND THE TINY YELLOW FINCH THAT COMES TO MY FEEDER MOST MORNINGS.....AND THE TASTE OF THE HOMEMADE BANANA PUDDING IS SO VERY YELLOW ,SIMPLY DELISH.....AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST MR. SUNSHINE , ALL THROUGHOUT THE SPRING & SUMMER , OH HOW I AWAIT THEE .....ALL THINGS YELLOW MAKE LIFE BRIGHTER DON'T THEY ................................SUMMER

THE MOST EXCELLANT WAY

" If I speak in tongues of men and of angels , but have not love , I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal . If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all the mysteries and all the knowledge , and if I have faith that can move mountains , but have not love , I am nothing . If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames , but have not love , I gain nothing . Love is patient , love is kind . It does not envy , it does not boast , it is not proud . It is not rude , it is not self-seeking , it is not easily angered , it keeps no record of wrongs . Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth . It always protects , always trusts , always hopes , always perseveres . Love never fails . But where there are prophecies , they will cease ; where there are tongues , they will be stilled ; where there is knowledge , it will pass away . For we know in part and we prophesy in part , but when perfection comes , the imperfect disappears . When I was a child , I talked like a child , I thought like a child , I reasoned like a child . When I became a man , I put childish ways behind me . Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror ; then we shall see face to face . Now I am known in part ; then I shall know fully , even as I am fully known . And now these three remain : faith hope and love . But the greatest of these is love . " 1 CORINTHIANS 13:1-13..........WHEN WE THINK OF LOVE LET US REMEMBER THESE TRUTHS......WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT KNOW THIS KIND OF LOVE IF WE DO NOT KNOW THE KIND OF LOVE JESUS CHRIST HAD FOR US WHEN HE SHED HIS BLOOD FOR US ON CALVARY........IT IS HIS LOVE THAT IS EXCELLENT AND PERFECT IN EVERY WAY.......WE CAN READ ABOUT THIS LOVE IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN.........IT IS HIS LOVE THAT WE DESIRE TO MASTER AND SEEK AFTER WHEN WE ACCEPT HIM AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR........AS WE COME UPON VALENTINES DAY LET US REMEMBER THE MOST EXCELLENT WAY OF JESUS AND PRAYERFULLY MAKE A DECISION FOR HIM..................SUMMER

WHAT'S ALL THE "HOOPLA " ABOUT

I LOVE GOD , I LOVE JESUS TOO ..... I JUST DON'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ALL THE " HOOPLA " IS ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE AND GOD OR PEOPLE AND JESUS ..... I AM NOT PERFECT HOWEVER , I KNOW THAT WITHOUT THEM I WOULD NOT BE THE PERSON I AM TODAY ..... I ALSO KNOW THAT WITHOUT THEM I CAN BE SELF-CENTERED , INCONSIDERATE , SELFISH , DEMANDING , UNRULY AND JUST DOWNRIGHT MEAN ..... GOD'S WORD TELLS ME THIS IS TRUE WHEN I READ JOHN 15:5 , " I am the vine , you are the branches ; he who abides in ME and I in him , he bears much fruit , for apart from ME you can do nothing . " MY BROTHER JESUS AND MY FATHER GOD GIVE ME WHAT I CAN'T GIVE MYSELF OR OTHERS , UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND GRACE ..... SO FAR IN LIFE I HAVE NOT MET ONE HUMAN BEING WHO COULD GIVE THOSE 2 ATTRIBUTES TO EITHER THEMSELVES OR OTHERS FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME BEYOND A FEW HOURS OR DAYS ..... THAT'S BECAUSE ALTHOUGH WE ARE ALL GOOD AT TIMES AND WE DO GOOD THINGS SOMETIMES , WE CANNOT BE " GOOD ENOUGH " ..... JESUS CLARIFIES THIS FOR US WHEN HE SPEAKS IN MATTHEW 19:16-21 " Now a man came up to JESUS and asked , " Teacher , what good thing must i do to get eternal life ? '' " Why do you ask ME about what is good ? " JESUS replied . "There is only ONE who is good . If you want to enter life follow the commandments ." '' Which ones ? " , the man inquired . JESUS replied , " ' Do not murder , do not commit adultery , do not steal , do not give false testimony , honor your father and mother,' and ' love your neighbor as yourself . ' ''All these I have kept , " the young man said . "What do I still lack ? " JESUS answered , '' If you want to be perfect , go , sell all your possessions and give to the poor , and you will have treasures in heaven . Then come , follow ME . " ..... WE CANNOT MEASURE UP TO ANY PERFECT STANDARD .....THAT IS WHERE THE LORD CHRIST ENTERS INTO THE PICTURE .....THE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND GRACE GIVEN TO US MEET US RIGHT WHERE WE ARE IN LIFE AND TAKE OVER .....IT'S LIKE YOU'RE WALKING AND WALKING AND WALKING AND WALKING , AND THEN YOU START TO GET TIRED SO YOU NEED TO STOP WALKING BECAUSE YOU'RE TOO TIRED TO CARRY ON , BUT YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO WALK SOME MORE .....WELL AT THIS POINT YOU CAN EITHER GIVE UP AND STOP WALKING ALL TOGETHER OR GIVE IN AND LET GOD AND JESUS DO THE WALKING FOR YOU .....IT HAPPENS SOONER OR LATER TO EVERYONE .....I CAN ONLY PRAY IT HAPPENS TO YOU SOONER THAN LATER ( YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN ....BEFORE YOU DIE ) .....BECAUSE THINK ABOUT IT .....DO YOU REALLY KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING WHEN YOU DIE ? MAYBE YOU DO .....BUT MAYBE YOU DON'T ..... GOD AND JESUS KNOW AND THEY WANT YOU TO KNOW TOO .....JESUS TELLS US THIS IN 1 TIMOTHY 2:3-6 , "This is good , and pleases GOD our SAVIOUR , who wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one GOD and one mediator between GOD and men , the man JESUS CHRIST , who gave HIMSELF as a ransom for all men -the testimony given in its proper time . "..... GOD REALLY DOES LOVE ALL MEN ," For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS one and only SON , that whoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have eternal life . " .....SO YOU SEE BELIEVING AND TRUSTING IN THE LORD JESUS IS NOT HARD TO DO .....IT DOESN'T MAKE US FREAKY EITHER .....IT JUST GIVES US WHAT WE CANNOT GIVE OURSELVES .....A GUARANTEE THAT WHEN WE DIE WE WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN HEAVEN WITH HIM AND GOD .....NOW THAT'S NO "HOOPLA " ...........................SUMMER

THE SECRET PLACE

TO APPRECIATE THE SANCTITY OF LIFE AND THE DEPTH OF LOVE OUR LORD HAS FOR US , WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT EACH OF US HAS BEEN KNOWN TO GOD EVEN BEFORE OUR PLACEMENT IN THE WOMB "Before I formed you in the womb i knew you , before you were born I set you apart ; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. " JEREMIAH 1:5 .....IT IS IN THIS VERY FIRST CHAPTER OF THIS OLD TESTAMENT BOOK THAT WE DISCOVER THAT OUR GOD KNEW JEREMIAH BEFORE HE WAS EVEN FORMED , WHAT A DELIGHT TO FIND OUT THAT WE HAVE A GOD THAT LOVES US SO MUCH THAT WE WERE ON HIS MIND EVEN BEFORE WE WERE FORMED .....FOR WE HAVE EACH BEEN GIVEN A SPECIFIC TIME OF ARRIVAL AS WELL AS AN APPOINTED TIME TO DEPART ..... WHEN WE COME TO UNDERSTAND THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD WE ALSO BEGIN TO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR PURPOSE IS TO GIVE HIM THE THE GLORY AND HONOR THAT HE DESERVES ..... SHOULD WE SAY THAT WE KNOW AND LOVE OUR LORD WE CANNOT DENY OR INTERFERE WITH THIS , AS IT WILL ONLY LEAVE US UNSETTLED IF WE DO .....THEREFOR AS THE NEW TESTAMENT SAYS , " let us draw near to GOD with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith , having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water . Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess , for HE who promised is faithful . " HEBREWS 10:22 ..... TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE VALUE OF EACH AND EVERY LIFE , WE CAN TURN TO THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES , " 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 . My frame was not hidden from YOU when I was made in the secret place . When I was woven together in the depths of the earth , YOUR eyes saw my unformed body . All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be ." PSALM 139 :13-16 ..... SUCH POWERFUL AND CONVINCING WORDS TO REMIND US THAT WE ARE ALL VERY VERY VALUABLE..... EVEN BEFORE OUR ARRIVAL , BEFORE SELF-ESTEEM..... AND BEFORE ANY ONE EVER TELLS US THAT THEY LOVE US .....AND EVEN IF NO ONE EVER TELLS US THAT THEY LOVE US ......LET US REMEMBER THAT WE MEAN A LOT TO GOD YESTERDAY,TODAY AND TOMORROW ..................................SUMMER

HOW AM I MADE

BECAUSE WE HAVE A GOD WHO HAS CREATED EVERYTHING FROM NOTHING THE ANSWER THAT WE SEARCH FOR MOST OF OUR LIVES IS PLAIN TO SEE IN THE BOOK OF PSALMS ....... GOD TELLS US THIS , "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 .My frame was not hidden from YOU when I was made in the secret place . When I was woven together in the depths of the earth , YOUR eyes saw my unformed body . All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be . " PSALM 139: 13-16.......... WE ARE GODS MOST PRECIOUS CREATIONS AND IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS HE REVEALS TO US JUST HOW MUCH LOVE HE HAS FOR US WHEN HE SAYS , " Then GOD said , " Let us make man in our own image , in our likeness , and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air , over the livestock and over all the earth , and over all the creatures that move along the ground . So GOD created man in HIS own image , in the image of GOD HE created him ; male and female HE created them . " GENESIS 1:26-27 ........ WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE KNOWING THAT GOD LOVES US DEEPLY BY READING THE SCRIPTURE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT , " For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS one and only SON , that whoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have eternal life . " JOHN 3:16 .........WE CAN ALSO REST IN THE WORDS OF HEBREWS 2:5-8 WHEN THE LORD JESUS REVEALS , " It is not to the angels that HE has subjected the world to come , about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified : '' What is man that YOU are mindful of him , the SON of man that YOU care for HIM ? YOU made him a little lower than the angels ; YOU crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet . " ......... HAVING A FATHER IN HEAVEN WHO HAS FORMED US WITH HIS OWN HANDS AND BREATHED LIFE INTO OUR VERY EXISTENCE AS WELL AS PROMISES US THE GLORY OF ETERNAL SALVATION IS A COMFORT TO US WHEN WE TAKE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AT OUR SIDE ......... IF WE TRULY UNDERSTAND HOW WE ARE MADE THEN WE REST IN THE COMFORT OF HIS PROMISES .......... IF NOT WE ASK FOR GOD TO DRAW US NEAR TO HIM AND THEN WE BEGIN TO READ HIS HOLY WORD , THE BIBLE ............................................SUMMER

PASSING THROUGH ON OUR WAY HOME

ALTHOUGH WE MAY CALL THIS EARTH OUR HOME AND WE MAY SET UP HOUSE AT A PARTICULAR STREET ADDRESS , THE LORD REMINDS US IN HIS WORD THAT OUR TRUE RESIDENCE IS WITH HIM IN HEAVEN ........" PASSING THROUGH " IS A WAY OF DESCRIBING OUR LIFE HERE ON EARTH ........ DEFINITELY FILLED WITH A VARIETY OF TRIUMPHS AND TRAGEDIES WE ARE CONSTANTLY UP AGAINST CIRCUMSTANCES THAT LEAVE US AMAZED, BEWILDERED, CONFUSED AND EVEN FRIGHTENED.......AT TIMES "LIFE AS KNOW IT " CEASES TO BE , CHALLENGING EVEN THOSE MOST MATURE IN THEIR FAITH....... AS PROFESSOR AND THEOLOGIAN D.A.CARSON SAID , " THERE IS NOTHING IN SCRIPTURE TO ENCOURAGE US TO THINK WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE FREE FROM THE VICISSITUDES THAT PLAGUE A DYING WORLD. " ........ SO , HOW IS IT THAT WE ARE TO PERSEVERE WHEN THERE ARE NO WORDS ........ IN THE 2nd BOOK OF CORINTHIANS 4:17-18 GOD'S WORD DESCRIBES OUR TROUBLES AS SUCH , " For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far out weighs them all . So we fix our eyes not on what is seen , but on what is unseen . For what is seen is temporary , but what is unseen is eternal . " ........TO UNDERSTAND THIS SCRIPTURE WE MUST BELIEVE AND UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A HEAVEN ....... JESUS CHRIST RESIDES IN HEAVEN WITH GOD OUR FATHER AND HIS MOST HOLY SPIRIT ......... WHEN WE COME TO KNOW JESUS AS OUR SAVIOUR WE FIND OUT THAT WE SERVE A LIVING GOD WHO IS ALWAYS PRESENT WITH US IN TIMES OF JOY AND SORROW AS WRITTEN , " Be strong and courageous . Do not be afraid or terrified because of them , for the LORD your GOD goes with you ; HE will never leave nor forsake you . " DEUTERONOMY 31-6........ THEREFORE SINCE GOD HAS CREATED US WE WILL SOMEDAY RETURN HOME TO HIM ........ "Do not let your be troubled . Trust in GOD ; trust also in ME. In MY FATHER'S house there are many rooms; if it were not so , I would have told you . I am going there to prepare a place for you . And if I go and prepare a place for you , I will come back and take you to be with ME that you also may be where I am ." JOHN 14:1- 3 ......THE HOPE OF HEAVEN ALLOWS US TO PUT THE DARK TIMES OF LIFE IN PERSPECTIVE ....... AND ALTHOUGH THE BIBLE ENCOURAGES US TO ENJOY THE BLESSINGS THAT GOD BESTOWS UPON US AS SAID IN THE 1st BOOK OF TIMOTHY 6:17 , IT ALSO REMINDS US , " Do not love the world or anything in it . If anyone loves the world , the love of the FATHER is not in him . " 1st JOHN 2:15 ......... KNOWING JUST HOW MUCH GOD LOVES US GIVES US THE COURAGE AND THE STRENGTH TO OBEY HIM AS APOSTLE PAUL DID WHEN HE SAYS ," I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which GOD has called me heavenward in CHRIST JESUS . " PHILIPPIANS 3:14 ....... AND ALSO WHEN HE SAYS , "Rejoice in the LORD always . I will say it again: REJOICE! Let your gentleness be evident to all . The LORD is near . Do not be anxious about anything , but in everything , by prayer and petition , with thanksgiving , present your requests to GOD . And the peace of GOD , which transcends all understanding , will guard your hearts and your minds in CHRIST JESUS . " PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7 ........AS THE NEW YEAR BEGINS THERE WILL BE TRIALS AND THERE MAY BE TRAGEDY AND YES , THERE WILL BE JOY AS WE ARE PASSING THROUGH ON OUR WAY HOME ........MY PRAYER IS THAT THE LORD BE WITH YOU..........................SUMMER