Testimony

Testimony:  

your witness,

 your profession (of faith),

 your confession (to what you have experienced)

your declaration (manifestation)

It is your story!

It isn't just knowledge, it's about sharing your relationship (Jesus + you) with others.

Ever have something continually pop into your head (heart)?  Well, for the past few weeks God has been depositing "testimony" into my spirit.  When this happens I always begin to look around me and to ask the Holy Spirit what it is in it that He wants to teach me. I dig in deeper and open up my bible and study tools to get a deeper and clearer understanding of the word itself (and the meaning within the word!)  I listen and look for the word or deed being done.

So in pressing in to understand testimony, 

 I have discovered a hidden gem. 

I have shared my faith many times over the years, a few times behind a microphone, in group situations, one on one situations as the Lord led me and on this here blog.  But never did I truly understand the impact and power that is within each of our testimonies.

  As we share, it releases the power of God to go out and to reach the hearts, minds and souls of those who have ears to hear.  It can change lives, open doors and bring others to greater faith, never mind to salvation!

BUT

This year for our homeschool (and also in our regular family devotion time) we will be pressing in to learn HOW to share our testimony.  We will be jotting down our thoughts, which in turn will lead us to share our testimonies with each other.  Like all things, practice makes perfect!  (not saying that in any given situation that you can't just spontaneously share your testimony, but I am saying that with practice you will be more confident and clearer with what you are trying to express).  

This in turn will give us MORE opportunity to let God open doors for us to minister to others for Him!  Even the smallest child can do this (and so can YOU!)

I feel like God is asking me to be 'the poster child of testimony.'  Perhaps, in me sharing it with you, that God will begin to stir your heart to share your testimony with others.  Perhaps you have, perhaps you haven't done this yet. 

Wondering how many of you have officially shared your testimony with someone?  

Was it recently or do you too need to dust of your story 

and get ready to willingly and joyfully share it!

Revelations 12:11

They defeated him because of the Lamb’s blood
and because of the message of their witness.
Even when facing death
they did not cling to life.

Do You Feel Unworthy or Inadequate

Do you remember that elementary saying,

 "I'm rubber, you're glue, whatever bounces off of me, sticks on you!"

I was thinking about how this gluey statement reflects on, how we talk to ourselves.  I think we are our own worst enemies in many ways.  We look at ourselves not with grace, but mainly with a very critical eye. When we gaze into a mirror, instead of seeing the beauty God has given us- we pick ourselves apart focusing on every "flaw" we can find.  

you know it goes something like this:

wow, do I look tired.

man am I fat.

i look old.

how did I get so many gray hairs?

i am not pretty.

i am not attractive....

my teeth aren't straight.

i wish my teeth were whiter.

when i smile i look so phony.

my face is so wrinkly...

i am not good with conversation.

i am terrible at small talk.

i never know how to start a conversation...

Have you heard any of these words before?  Do they ring all too familiar to your achy heart? 

Did you notice anything about all of those sentences? 

 Come on...look back and see if you can see it.

It is all about "I" or "Me."

That my friend's is what I am talking about negative self-talk.  If you are feeling unworthy, you are either talking badly to your self or you are believing lies someone else spoke to you in the past. 

Time to change our self-talk!  Time to catch ourselves before we let the thought come out and thus allow it to rope us into to believing it.  Now, I am not saying this is a quick one-day graduation program, but I am saying, that with some effort you can transform how you talk to yourself.  

For a couple of days let's see the thoughts that come to us.  Let's jot them down and consider how they are effecting us both mentally and spiritually.

The Word says we are have to have the mind of Christ (Jesus).  We are also to not let any unwholesome thing to come out of our mouths.  

Now I know that Ephesians 4: 29 is referring how we talk to others, but I think this also applies how we speak to ourselves.  Why do I think this?  Well, I think if we are speaking with unwholesome talk to ourselves (basically condemnation) that we limit the Holy Spirit's ability to use us.  How can we consistently step out to serve Him, if we are condemning ourselves?  

 Let's take a chew at what unwholesomeness actually means:

• injurious to physical, mental or moral health
• suggestive of disease or degeneracy
• offensive or loathsome 

How about condemnation: 

• to express strong disapproval of
• to pronounce judgement against: sentence
• to judge or declare to be unfit
• to lend credence to or provide evidence for an adverse judgement against
• severe reproof; strong censure  

Those definitions are real eye-openers to how we speak to ourselves and what the outcome is from that kind of bad talk. It doesn't build up-condemnation always tears down.

Let's ask God to help us in this area.  I know I need it for my "self" critical eye.  Anyone else willing to step out with me in this area?

(leave me a note!)

Dig into it...The Bible

Let's take a path together for a minute. 

 Let's dig into a bit of God's Word and see what it speaks to us.

  God's Word still speaks to us, it is active and alive, unlike any other book.  It not only is the best read book of all times, it is full of love stories straight from the Father's heart...shot like an arrow that points us to His Son, Jesus.

Tonight I was reading Ephesians 1:16-17

(let's read it together)

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.  I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.

Paul was praying the the Ephesians would come to know their Savior (the Christ) better. Jesus is our role model for this life.  The more we get to know Jesus, the more we press into the Word, the more we seek to know Him, the more we will become like Him.  

If we study Jesus' life through the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) to see what He was like on earth some 2,000 years ago, we can take those life lessons He gave and apply them to our lives for today.  We will gradually become more and more like Him!

We can choose to get to know Him in prayer too. We just need to come to Him and ask of Him.

Personal knowledge of Christ

(Jesus the One who came to save us)

will change your life forever!

Do you know Him?  Can I pray for you?

 

Prayer Request Sunday PLUS (link to a great audio bible study!)

Would you like me to pray with you this week?  Leave me the details on what we are joining hearts on and we can get to it.

I love God's Word. 

 I love to read it, I love to think on it, I love to study it and I LOVE to teach it to my children-never mind the joy I get in passing it on to you. 

 I have gone through 

a time of hunger for more of God's Word and a longing to fill that place that desires the deep things of God.  Yesterday I found a place that will help me dive in deeper over the next few weeks (34 weeks for the study I chose).  

Check it out:

Verse by Verse Ministries

and I am choosing to study the book of

Revelation.

They offer a slew of studies!

each week has a totally understandable (you don't need to be a brain surgeon to get it!) audio file (about 60 minutes worth, notes, illustration helps, along with teacher helps).  You can do it with a group or do it alone- there are so many studies to choose from, but as I long for deep and as I love the prophetic, thinking this is a great place to dive into currently.

  I love the notes they offer in the Revelation book study, as it really helps you to get your mind/heart around what is being shared.  The notes link very closely to what is said, and are printable and can be put into a notebook as you push forward into the study. Of course the illustration helps are of interest too.

And

  there is a promise to those who would venture into studying the book of Revelation

 (the last of the 66 books given to us by God)...

 Rev. 1:3

 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

 It will give us a system boost, so we can gain understanding and realize the time is short to share the good news of the gospel.  Jesus came to give us life and give it to the fullest.  

Don't be shy, jump in too!

Discouragement from Comparison

The Trouble of Comparison

Last night I found a bit of time to read and discover some new blogs.  I love meeting new people and I love it when something clicks that they are sharing. 

 I happen to be visual, so if their blog is what I would term   beautiful then it is even better!  

However sometimes I fall into the comparison trap.  You know when you see what you've got (in this case my blog) and look at what they've got (their blog) and find yourself coming up short.  

Oh the evils of comparison!

comparison:

 The act of comparing; the act of considering the relation between persons or things, with a view to discover their agreement or resemblance, or their disagreement or difference.

Suddenly what was a seemingly innocent way to pass a few minutes became evil, as I happened upon a blog that did a prayer request and there were 44 responses in the comments.  Suddenly my heart took a dive.  This girl's blog was beautiful, her heart for God was clearly passionate, her words were deep and power filled.  I had been joyful to have stumbled on her...but then comparison jumped its ugly self in and

 everything changed.  

My heart sank and I heard,

 "you mine as well give up, you've never had that kind of response to offering prayer requests.  you are obviously not making an impact.  her words and her blog are much better.  you are just wasting your time.  why are you still doing it.  what is the point?"

One click and I was off the page with a spirit of heaviness that followed.

Now let me make this clear.  The voice I heard was not God's.  It was not mine.  It was the one who condemns us and he is the enemy of our souls (i.e. : satan).  

As I felt defeat and discouragement rise up, I laid it before God.  I told Him what I had experienced and gave Him my heavy heart.  

We all want to make a difference.  We all desire to be used by Him.  However, He gets to decide how that looks like.  He decides when, where and with who we will have influence.  My life is not comparable, it belongs to Him and I need to submit all of it into His hands.  In doing so I know He is trustworthy to use it as He decides best.

Discouragement comes easy,  courage to stand takes strength.

  When we humble ourselves, He comes and lifts us up (encourages us, honors us).  

Sometimes we need to speak life to ourselves, thus defeating the enemy that is roaming around trying to knock us off our feet.  

Join me won't you?

Oh my soul, be not discouraged, be not fearful or dismayed.  Trust in the One who loves you unconditionally.  Follow Him and don't let your eyes or your heart lead you away from trusting fully in Him.  Let not discouragement rule you, let not fear over take you. 

 Don't sit here focusing on the why not's, but instead focus on what He is asking of you.  Do it. 

 Don't be mopey.  Don't be comparing yourself to others.  Let your life be used for His purposes, ones you don't even see currently.  Know that He controls all things and is over all things. 

 Seek Him first and He will do the rest.

What do you think? 

 Has this happened to you?

What do you do?

A Christian Woman's Thoughts on Joy

As I have been studying how to gain confidence at the stage of life I find myself currently in and as I press into the heart of my Father; I have also been led to study JOY.

Now I have had many moments of joy over the years, but I can't confess that I am always joyful.  Quite honestly I find myself too busy to even locate joy most days.  I am usually happy and always content with the place I find myself standing.  Of course there are those days that find their way in, that honestly I am ready to quit my day job as 'Mother' and find a new career path to significance and worth.  

However, in my opening up the subject with 5 of my girlfriends every Tuesday night for the next several weeks, we have stumbled from how to walk in confidence as Christian women and how to enter into living joyfully.  (We are reading A Confident Heart by Renee Swope).

It boils down to this...confidence comes from being fully assured and trusting in Him (for every aspect of our lives).  Confidence is an emotion.  It is a feeling that we have or don't have.  If we don't have it, it is because we haven't fully relied on him or don't fully understand all that He wants to give us.  You see we settle for close enough and instead live in the 'Land of Doubt.'  This girl is sick enough of doubt and fear and is ready to dwell in the land of joy (that isn't temporal like happiness, which is SO conditional to what is occurring or not occurring in our lives.)

 Now maybe one of you could help me with a Greek definition of Joy...

it is kauchaomai:

(verb)

used 38 times in the New Testament.

it means:

1.  to glory (whether with reason or without)

2. to glory on account of a thing

3.  to glory in a thing.

I guess I am trying to get my mind around "to glory"

Are they saying when we are in joy that we are "in glory?"  Or are they saying we are merely bragging or boasting?

Is the Glory of the Lord His Joy?  (or one aspect anyway of the word glory?)

okay my scholarly bible friends, hook a sister up!

Bible Study Helps

Blue Letter Bible

I highly recommend this wonderful site.  It is full of all kinds of helps for studying your Bible.  If you want different versions of the Bible at the touch of your hand, just click away.

John

If you click on John you will see small blue squares with a letter in each box.  The first letter in the top row is a K.  This stands for Treasury of Scripture Knowledge-Basically this pulls apart words and phrases that are also found elsewhere in Scripture.

Next is a C- this stands for Concordance and it is also a Hebrew/Greek Lexicon.  A Concordance is a great study tool it takes every single word (in alphabetical order) and tells you where you can find it in scripture. It can help you locate a verse that you don't know the chapter or verse for.  The Lexicon feature allows you to look at each word (by their number assigned to them) in the original:
either Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament).
I love this feature and use it all the time.

The next handy-dandy letter is L, this leads to commentaries, both in audio/video and in written study form. As you can see there is a drop down bar located to the top....click on this and scroll to find what would help you in your study, highlight it and click on GO!

Next tiny icon is a musical note...this leads you to music/hymns. Again this comes to you from a long drop down menu- click on it and highlight your choice, click Go to arrive safely at your destination ;-) Not all verses have this option available.

The V button gives you various translations and versions of the verse you've chosen.

I am showing you John 1:1 in various translations.

For other versions (like the Amplified version- which Joyce Meyer uses, or The Message...) I like Biblegateway.com.  You use the pull down menu bar near the top of the website, click on the little blue down arrow (next to the search bar) and it will drop down all the translations they offer.

And last but not least is the Dictionary Aid icon.  This will bring a drop down menu for your verse and let you dig a little deeper in other texts (encyclopedia's, topical Bible...)

Hope this helps you dig a little deeper into the Word.

2 Timothy 2:15 (*thanks Elias! for fixing my typo!)

 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

I Did IT!!

 

I Finished!

I started January 1st, 2011 and on December 29th I completed my reading through the Bible chronologically.  I loved it, as I had never read it in this order before.

I thought getting through this last few weeks on time was nearly impossible, but I burned the candle late some nights to keep on track.  Last night after enjoying a wonderful dinner at my sweet friend Betty's house and arriving home to a sleeping house, I cozied up with a good fat blanket and my last few chapters of Revelation.

Tears were in my eyes as I got to the last few words...

Come Lord Jesus come...

what a wonderful year I had with Him.

I am not sure what I will be studying this year...the Holy Spirit hasn't said much as of yet.  I am asking though, as I want to follow His heart for me and don't want to miss a thing.  I long for deep and meaty times with Him.  I long to have more time in prayer with Him.  I long for Him to transform me into His likeness, definitely less of me and more of Him.  I want Him to teach me how to give to each what they need from me in that moment.  I want to learn to be intentionally present.  I want to be a better listener and a kinder friend.

I have a heart full of adoration and thankfulness for what He called me to, that He enabled me to stick the coarse and finish well.  I encourage each of you to consider reading through the Word this year.  If you've done it before, maybe it is time to begin once again.  I honestly was amazed at how it spoke to me afresh this time through.

I pray He uses it all for His glory and that somehow it encourages you too to press in harder. 

Come Lord Jesus, please do come!

picture courtesy of my friend Jeff Crandall

Jesus and Prayer

 

This morning as I cuddled on the couch with a hot cup of yummy coffee and my Bible, I came across this passage that I probably have read a hundred times, but this morning the Holy Spirit showed me something new.

Luke 6:12

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, who he also designated as apostles...

What I learned from this ...

*sometimes when we have a big decision we need to pull an all-nighter with God (in prayer)

*God speaks to us with specifics, as we seek Him with listening ears and a humbled heart.

*sometimes prayer requires us to separate ourselves (a moutainside).

*which also tells me that wherever we go (safe place or not...I imagine going to a mountainside in the dark is not a place you want to be sitting alone with your eyes closed) you need to empty yourself of your fears and fully trust God.

*sometimes God requires of us (especially when we are making BIG life decisions) a bit of self sacrifice (Jesus prayed, not slept).

*Sometimes the answer comes very specifically by morning (this verse goes on to say the exact disciples that He was to call to His service).

*sometimes we aren't the ones who are picked, but still we must follow with a good heart attitude. (the verse tells us he calls disciples in the morning (many) but then only picks 12).  How often my heart has ached for not being 'picked' and how I've had to wrestle with this seeming rejection.

*His inner circle of servants were hand picked by God (following with abandon means God may give you more opportunities to serve Him in greater capacities.)

*a disciple is a student

*an apostle is a messenger

Isn't it funny how much you can pick up out of such a seemingly small verse?   

Oh how I love the Word!

A Word from Heaven (training our childen)

subtitled:

when your child has a rebellious spirit, 

but your prayer is heard in heaven...

I have shared over the past weeks that one of mine has been walking on the edge of a bitter spirit and a hard heart towards God and His Kingdom.  My heart has been battling for her and many a night has my soul been overcome with tears.

Yesterday God showed me something He spoke over my life many years ago,
when I was but the mother of two.  

Psalm 128 

My labor being this work He has called me to, mothering many.  I have poured myself out in this calling.  I take my mission to heart and daily work to train my children in the Way they are to go.  Early on we anoint our children to Him, we dedicate their lives into His loving hands.  We ask that they would know Him early (receive Him as Lord and Saviour of their lives) and would never walk a day apart from Him.

The good news is that there is a promise here for me in Psalm 128 (and for you too!)  I can trust that I will enjoy this task that I labor at...which is my children in right relationship with Him (and with us). My work is not in vain, but will produce good fruit.  I am not going to be discouraged, even when it seems that still there is so much to do, instead I will continue to battle (by prayer) for her heart and will lay my heart firmly on His promises to me.

the devil wants us to be discouraged. 
he wants us to quit and throw up our hands.
  he is a liar and we need not lock onto anything he tries to convince us of.  
he is the enemy of our souls (our minds, our will and our emotions).

I WILL benefit from the fruit of my labor...I will see all of my children walking with undivided hearts before their Lord and their God.  How thankful I am that His Word ministers to us, that it is active and alive.  Sharing this in hopes that it ministers deeply to your heart too.

Want a Summer Bible Study...

Would you like a Bible study, but not sure where to look?  I found a great site online that offers several for FREE.  The only thing you will have to do is print them out and then make the time to do them.  They are simple and I am sure will be a blessing to you my friends.

Remember God's Word is active and alive and sharper than a two edged sword!  It is able to give you wisdom and understanding for your life today. If you want to know more about Bible Study and why we would want to...or if you would like to know how to become a Christian (a Christ follower)...drop me a line and I'd love to share my heart with you.

Great Bible Studies

and if you want to know more about where these originated from check out 

Christianity Works

 (And the good news is that understanding isn't up to us, we just begin with prayer, humbling ourselves before Him and the Holy Spirit comes and teaches us.)

How cool is that!

Jesus and Me-Removing Evil

As I have been spending this month in prayer and time with Jesus, I have been learning that truly there is power in words.  The words that a friend spoke to me not only hurt me in that moment that they were spoken, but they have clung to me and have oppressed me.  I began to see that the words were not only mean, but injurious to my very spirit.  

The words began to torment me and cause a great sadness to fill my heart.  All of this I brought before God.  I humbled myself under His hand and asked Him to reveal anything in me that needed to be confessed; anything that was sin in His eyes regarding the way I had conducted myself within this friendship.  He brought no charges against me, but has showed me that I only spoke what He had shown me.

It is definitely hard to do the right thing.  Sometimes it can bring injury to your very spirit.  

Last night as I was coming home from a prayer class I am taking at my church, my girlfriend said she could not only see the oppression I have been under, but she could actually feel it.  She began to speak wisdom to me, to pour confidence back into my heart.  She prayed over me release.  Something I hadn't prayed for for myself, but agreed that it is time.  I have spent enough of myself, perhaps more than was asked of me in holding this injurious friend up.  Instead of cursing, I chose to bless her in my heart and in my prayers.  Though I had a growing fear of her rising over me, which I guess I was unaware.

However, it began to consume me and my heart became heavier and heavier under the burden.  I do think it is good to have your heart broken for the things that break God's heart, but there is also a time to remove yourself from evil (things that are hurtful, and injurious to your being).  

God led me to Psalm 37 this morning, as Jesus beckoned me out of bed to spend time with him. 

I have a new understanding of this verse:

27  Depart from evil, and do good, and dwell for evermore

Depart (from Noah Webster 1828 dictionary) : to go or move from, to separate from, to remove

Evil:  having bad qualities of a natural kind, qualities that lead to injury, that which brings sorrow or calamity or loss, that which disturbs your peace, which impairs happiness, and destroys perfection of natural beings.  That which brings pain or distress.

It is clearly time to let go.  Time to move forward and not to carry the baggage any longer.  The words she had spoken became an oppression to my spirit.  Perhaps even a spirit was attached to those harmful words spoken to me, that last night I suddenly became aware of in my tears.  I realized that beyond the pain, that I could feel a spirit of oppression sitting on me.

  Quickly I commanded it to go- with the authority I have been given in Christ.  I am covered not only by my loving God and Savior, but by my true friends.  

I am seeking God for His wisdom, for strength and for Him to help me not walk in fear (worry, fret, anxiety) in this situation, but to now walk in courage and in boldness in it.  

Courage is a decision...

boldness begins in the heart and flows out into our actions. 

Courage is knowing who our confidence is in, 

boldness is executing that courage from within to without (how we choose to live and be).

In courage and in boldness (from Him) comes freedom.  

 Certainly it gives a liberty from oppression caused by evil.

I am living my life to please Him, I am walking forward in a new strength, with hope, courage and expectation that He is not only the keeper of my head, heart, soul and spirit; but also that He is giving me peace from that which has been controlling me this past year.

Wisdom from God's Heart

Did you ever have that moment when you are reading God's Word (the Bible) and it screams for you to insert your name into the passage to make it your own.  

Well, yesterday as I was reading through my Chronological Bible Reading Plan that happened to ME!

1 Chronicles 29:9-10

And you my son, Solomon (insert: daughter/Kimmie), acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.  If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.  Consider now, for the LORD (Yahweh) has chosen you (Kimmie) to build a temple (your very body given to Me as a dwelling place) sanctuary. 
Be strong and do the work.

How big is God's love for me (and YOU) that He loves us, calls us, fill us, leads us, even when He knows the worst about us, but loves us with His great LOVE anyway.  sigh...pressing in for more...

Want to join me?

Some principles we can live by from this passage:

1.  We need to get to know God personally

2.  We need to learn God's commands and ask Him what it is He wants us to do

3.  We need to worship God with complete undivided hearts (wholehearted!)

4.  We need to be faithful and keep at our Christian walk

(meaning it is not just about getting saved, but learning daily to live for Him)

5.  We need to serve Him with eagerness and willingness

6.  Don't let fear sneak in: discouragement is a form of fear. NO discouragement allowed!

(I know, but it is what HE tells us!)

Bless My Mama's Heart

As I began to wind down yesterday,

 4 of my children came to me and asked me what I was doing. 

I told them I was reading through the Bible Chronologically.  

They asked if they could join me. 

First our 13 year old Ethiopian daughter asked for a copy of the day by day readings (13 years old- 14 next week!), then Princess Sunshine (12 tomorrow)...a few minutes later the crowd began to grow when Princess Giggles (9) asked if she too could read through the Bible, as they think it historically happened.  Last but not least, King Meemer (8) begged me for a copy too, as he really, really wanted to do this with us.

Wow! 

How blessed my heart is that 

my children desire to be in God's Word.  

How thankful I am that I will share this journey through time from the beginning with them...can't wait to see what He teaches us.  (and my other children are reading the Bible daily, but have already set their plans down before the Lord as to what He is teaching them in His Word.)

Won't you join us too?  

Bible Reading Plan for 2011

 

I thought maybe someone would want to join me in reading through the Bible Chronologically this New Year!

I started 2 days ago, I printed out the plan from this site and am so excited.  I've never read it in the possible order that it was written...have you?

Won't you join me?

Please let me know and we can encourage each other to stay the course (and also won't it be nice to have someone to share with as we go along through the year?)

I have to say that as I sat down Sunday night to read, I found myself crying as I read the chapters.  WHY?  Well, not because it was new to me, as I have read through from beginning to end several times now.  But because I prayed and asked God to teach me new things from His Word and you know what...so many parts of those first few chapters suddenly sounded so different to me.  Parts that were hidden from my understanding, now had me saying, "OH!" 

I was so excited that I kept reading through the next days chapters, though my eyes were heavy, still I fought back sleep and finished the last few verses with a renewed love for His Word.

Hope you will join me...its not too late by any means!

Sharing the Word

Don't you just love it when you read the Bible and it speaks to you. 


I mean not in a voice that says, "HEY!"

But a voice that grabs your heart, because it is just what the Holy Spirit has been whispering to you.

This morning I was finishing up the books of Thessalonians...I became exuberant when I got to this part...

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
*from The Message Bible:

Because we know that this extraordinary day is just ahead, we pray for you all the time-

----pray that our God will make you fit for what He's called you to be, pray that He'll fill your good ideas and acts of faith with His own energy so that it all amounts to something.  If your life honors the name of Jesus, He will honor you.  Grace is behind and through all of this, our God giving Himself freely, the Master, Jesus Christ, giving Himself freely.

Why does this make me giddy?

Well, God put it on my heart to do a series of posts on my blog on sharing our faith, kind of like a 101 on how to lead others to Christ.  I have been praying and asking God if this is really what He is asking me.  As I read this, God said, "I am praying for you...I am speaking this over your life." 

So guess what...I am going to be seeking Him and asking Him the best way, to simply share what's on my heart with you!  I've asked a friend to join me in this venture...would you pray for her to hear from God on this too?  Let nothing hinder us preaching the Word to the ends of the earth.  Indeed a blog is one way to go into all the world and preach the gospel (the Good News of Jesus!)

My life verse is Matthew 4:19, God spoke it to me when I was thirteen years old; I have been holding it tightly since then..

"Come, follow Me,"  Jesus said,  "and I will make you fishers of men."

Orphan Care.. Deeper into the Father's Heart

Day 4- of 40 Day Prayer Guide for Orphan Care

God's HEART for the ORPHAN

Today, ask the Lord to help your church congregation to FEEL His heart for the orphans as seen in

Psalm 68:5-6
"A Father (Abba-Papa-Daddy) to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His Holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families...."

This verse is about God's love, care and deep concern for those who are fatherless (orphans, those without one or more parent.)  It says, (be still my HEART) that He places the orphans (the lonely) in families! This means He is all about adoption. Oh that more Believers would ask if He want them to adopt!

A little word study:

definition of lonely: solitary, only, only one, dear one, precious one, the forsaken, the wretched. (Strong's Dictionary H3173).

definition of orphan: A child who is bereaved of father or mother or of both. (from the Noah Webster
1828 Dictionary).

definition of set: to dwell, have one's abode,to cause to abide, set,, to cause to dwell, to set, place. ( from Strong's H3427- yashab).

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This clearly means that God's intention is for orphans to not be in orphanages (this is not a family!!) He desires that these cast offs, these fatherless ~are dear and precious to Him (as if they were the only ones before His eyes and very dear to Him)...He places and sets them into willing families! Oh God, please hear our prayer and move your Church. Change Believer's hearts about adoption, make them aware of your command to care for your orphans. Oh Lord that we would see You move in our own churches, that you would SET orphans into families in our church.

Oh Lord, there is in excess of 147 MILLION orphans today in this world, how this must sadden your heart; knowing that You have commanded us to care for them and it is YOUR heart's desire to place them into families. Let the Believer's awaken and let these orphans be arrows in your hand.

Oh Father, let them become ours and let us wholeheartedly embark into training them to serve You. What a powerful testimony each of these precious children has, what a powerful tool in Your hand and what an army of 147 Million that can carry Your gospel into all of the world. Arise Oh God and hear our cry. Bring us into a new level of your Love and understanding.

 In Jesus' Name I pray. amen!

                                                             James 1:27 if you're curious what it says...

Talking from my Heart

Thinking about church. 

How it is supposed to be. 

How God desires for us to meet together and to love one another.

I am praying about it.  Heavily. 

I am a church goer, I passionately love my God.  However, sometimes

I find that church can be hard.  It can hurt. 

As I praying and thinking, this verse popped into my mind.  It was about 3 a.m. when it came to me.  When I got up I went to the Bible (the one I use online...Blue Letter Bible).  I looked up the verse and began thinking about the love God is talking about. 

John 13:34

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

He's not talking about any old love, but the kind Jesus gave himself to us.  The kind of love that is sacrificial and puts off self.

I must admit I am lacking in this kind of love very often. 

When I read the definition of this love Jesus was speaking of I realized how short I fall.

Love:  Greek-agapao;

1) of person

                                       a) to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly

 2) of things (like church)

                                        a) to be well pleased, to be contented at or with a thing

                      I need to continue to pray.  Past disappointment. Past hurt.  Looking to Him and looking hard at my own Love walk. I am sure that this  is where I will find my answers, healing and peace.  I want contentment and I want to experience Love. 

        For He calls us to gather together and asks us to Love one another; just the same way, as He loved us. Worship and church should  be a reflection of His agape Love. 

                              Lord, let it begin with me. 

And the Word....

Reflections on our Christmas.

And so you know...Santa isn't invited to our home.

We found that he takes away from the true meaning of Christmas.

He hasn't come for over 10 years to our house

and honestly we don't miss him.

And the Word (Jesus) was made flesh...

• Jesus really came. (He is the only Son of God-our expected Messiah)
• So did Saint Nicholas. (he was born in the 3rd century to a Christian family)

• Jesus is God- He was and is, and is to come.
• Nick was a follower of Jesus, who did good works.

• Jesus was Truth sent from God.
• Nick we are told was a Christian -a mere man, who set about to put his faith to action. Nick died on December 6th 343 a.d. (in Myra) and stayed buried.

• Jesus died for our sins and on the third day rose from the dead.
• Nick was remembered and his story grew larger than life over time.
• Jesus came to reveal God's love, His story (the Word of God) speaks the same truth, yesterday, today and forever.

• Santa was nice, but he is very dead, he can't do diddly-squat for you today.
• Jesus is very alive and still speaks to us through His Word (the Bible) and through His Holy Spirit, that He gives to us when we receive Him as Lord.

• In all truth Saint Nick only worked a small area of God's kingdom in his lifetime.
• Jesus finished the all work (for the whole world) the Father gave Him.

• Santa has become a religious icon. We are told to not worship anything but God.
• Jesus Christ waits for you to worship Him. He sits at the right hand of God waiting for you.

Won't you receive Him and invite Him into all 364 days left of this New Year?

The Only Answer to *Why?*

Ecclesiastes 3:14 ~from The Message Bible:

I've also concluded that whatever God does, that's the way it's going to be, always. No addition, no subtraction. God's done it and that's it. That's so we'll quit asking questions and simply worship in holy fear.

When faced with life, sometimes I ask God why. An example would be,

"Why was Princess Sweetness in an orphanage for 5 years."

"Why didn't you send us to her faster Lord?"

The reality is this...what is the purpose of life?

The purpose is that we are to revere God, as He alone is all powerful. To revere means that we respect and stand in awe of Him because of who He is. Purpose in life starts with who we know, it does not lie in what we know or how good we are or in anything we do. It is impossible for us to fulfill our God given purpose unless we revere God and give Him first place in our lives.

God decides the plans and purposes in our lives. If we live in obedience to Him, we can rest that we are walking in His perfect will. We won't miss a thing.

That being the case, I can rest that the length of time that Princess Sweetness has been in the orphanage was and is in God's hands. It isn't what I did or didn't do, as I had the first part right...my life is in line with reverence towards Him. My Knight and I have worshiped and been in awe of Him for many years now. Daily we come before Him, submitting our lives into His hands.

So, what should I do now?

I should live in awe of Him, I should submit moment to moment to Him, I should live those minutes given to me in worship. Worship. Simple worship.

Want to join me?