tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66138081368424909542024-03-13T07:22:08.421-04:00Crazy PeaceInspirational words for every day living!Larihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779303513200742729noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613808136842490954.post-27878940621429695342019-11-22T12:02:00.001-05:002019-11-22T12:02:22.974-05:00~Combing my Blogs~<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I am combining two of my blogs...you can now find writings in </i></span><a href="http://popcorn-chocolate.blogspot.com/">http://popcorn-chocolate.blogspot.com/</a><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>They will be a mix of the inspirational writings and my new adventure in life...I have been writing in Popcorn & Chocolate since last December and not able to keep up here. So please add that blog to your browser if you want. Thank you!</i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>I am sitting here sipping my Super Irish Breakfast Tea...my go-to caffeine! </i></span><br /><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>I have decided to combine my Crazy Peace blog (inspirational writing) with this blog since I am here to write most of the time giving this blog my energy. So, this blog will be a combination of MEMEMEMEME (grins) my adventure and inspirational writings as Father and I communicate and He tells me what He wants me to write. </i></span><br /><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>I simply love my friends! I love watching them grow and learn in Jesus. You know those people you grow up and you wonder how they turned out? Some fully encourage me as I have seen awesome Jesus changes in their lives. I have lived so many places and made so many friends that well, I do get confused as to who lived where and who knows whom. I keep thinking that some friends of mine on Facebook know other friends of mine...not so...(laughs a little).</i></span><br /><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>I have lived no more than 5 years at some places while growing up. When I married, I lived for 5 years in one town...then 4 in another as I worked for the university my husband attended...then 5 1/2 in southern Indiana as my husband was a youth pastor there...then we moved back to Michigan and have been in the same community for about 18 years. My boys grew up here. They have a home town. I don't. I never regretted my many moves. I looked forward to them as I didn't have to deal with people knowing me at certain phases of life. My move when I was very young, never left a trail. A move in elementary school I didn't mind. Junior high years weren't always grand...as is the case for most of us. I was called goodie two shoes which...yes I guess I was (no regrets there). I moved my first year of high school and was the new girl in town. I made good friends there. My senior year of high school I moved to Pennsylvania. Some have asked me if that was difficult for me...no...it really wasn't. I had no roots anywhere so moving was part of life...no I can't relate to military kids but I did move enough to not "stick" anywhere. I made friends in Pennsylvania too.</i></span><br /><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>I've always been the friendly, smiley girl. College was a time of meeting new people from all sorts of places. In growing up, the friends I made in the various towns mostly all grew up there and together...I had no togetherness. College was a time of meeting new people with such varied backgrounds...and I met my best friend forever...my husband.</i></span><br /><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>I say ALL of this to tell you that in each adventure of my life, people from ALL of the places I have lived are still a part of my life and they pray for me and encourage me. Father has reasons for EVERYthing. He sees my past, He sees my now, and He sees my future. Those places I lived all had people who would continue on in my adventures with me. Some have known me when I was an infant and they knew my parents well so they they feel a closeness to me because of my parents. Some knew that goodie two shoes and are still friends with me (grins). Some knew that friendly girl who enjoyed being alone, reading, writing, and listening to her music. The wonderfully amazing thing is that, as I have said, some of those people are still in my life. Father had reasons for me to live in all of those places. Some knew me as the adult who worked alongside my husband with teens...some know me now working alongside him with a variety of people. </i></span><br /><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>I thank Father nearly daily for all of the people He has placed in my life! I get teary thinking of His loving care for me and that He knew those people...you friends...would still be in my life...and that you would all be such a blessing to me!</i></span><br /><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>I guess this post is pretty much MEMEMEME oriented...not much change here yet (grins). I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your friendship and I wanted to let you know a little more about me.</i></span><br /><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>I do know this. A friend, who was actually one who hung out more with my sisters in a teen choir, sent me a fantastic video clip on prayer today. Prayer is our weapon. It reminded me that I am a Warrior Princess...and Father has me in His hands. When I am down on my knees (mentally or physically) is when I am stronger in praying to Him. This warrior princess is His child. </i></span><br /><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>As, I said above...this blog will be varied in topics...MEMEMEME or inspirational. Whatever God wants to flow from my brain to my fingertips to the keyboard...and of course adventure updates (smiles)</i></span><br /><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>Blessings to you all!</i></span></span></div>
Larihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779303513200742729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613808136842490954.post-24912759221237839022019-05-08T10:56:00.003-04:002019-05-08T10:56:56.359-04:00~Symphony...I Lift My Hands, Louie Giglio~<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I wanted to share this with you! PLEASE take the 50 or so minutes to watch, listen, and worship. God is truly an amazing and creative God...and ALL of creation worships Him! </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Symphony...I Lift My Hands, Louie Giglio</i></span>Larihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779303513200742729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613808136842490954.post-70839942701709694772019-04-09T12:07:00.003-04:002019-04-09T13:36:43.369-04:00~Crave~<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Sitting here sipping tea with you...I have been thinking through things I would like to share with you...</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Crave...it's a powerful word with a powerful meaning...to have an intense desire for....and intense...strong or extreme...so, to Crave is a powerful act.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I think we use many of our words too loosely or without much intent. We use the word "love" weakly, "I love vanilla ice cream"...."I love horse back riding"...is a minor example.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>To Crave...to TRULY Crave...it is that deep, down, strong desire like no other in your innermost being. That is an act I have been experiencing over the past few weeks regarding the Three...Father God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. From every part of me I have been craving more of the Three. So, here I sit, hoping that what is written here will inspire you to Crave...Crave like you have never craved before.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Oh, if I had sprinklings of "Crave dust" I would toss it over you so that it would land and absorb into your being. No one can force cravings. I will hope to help you see the need for the craving for the Three.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Ah, your walk with Jesus is good you say? You talk to Him and not just talking to Him about your "wish list" but you really talk with Him and listen? That's fantastic and I commend you for that! You read His word? Wonderful! </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I want to challenge you to make even more time for Him...The more time you spend with someone you love the more you want to spend with them. In this case it is a wonderful cycle. I find that the more time I read His Word, the more I want to read His Word and the more time I spend communicating with Him...the more I want to communicate with Him...and the more I am quiet with Him...the more I want to be quiet with Him.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I am able to meet with Him in the morning and often times I can meet with Him at length. I find myself not wanting to leave His presence. When I have to leave to get on with my daily life of housework, errands, paperwork...etc....I don't want to. I want to stay right with Him. Oh, I know He is with me in all that I do all day long and I talk with Him on and off all day long...but it is different...there are distractions. My Craving is to be Still with Him...to learn from Him...to have the Holy Spirit quietly in me, guiding me, counseling me...I don't want to budge from where I am so that I can take all of Him in. Oh, I know that is not reality...life is out there...I have to go live and show people how they can know Him and how wonderful He is to have in your heart. But I truly crave Him as absorbing the sunshine as I sit on a beach...basking in the Sonlight.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>So, the craving...how can it become part of who you are? Make time to be with Him. Read His Word. The more you read His Word the more you know and understand who He is. Study His Word. Focus! The Holy Spirit will speak to you...listen. When the Holy Spirit speaks to you, take it all in. You can also talk to the Holy Spirit. Jesus left Him with us to be our counselor. Jesus talks of this in John 15: 28 and 16:7-15 The Holy Spirit is Love and Truth. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Jesus prayed for believers in John 17.</i></span></div>
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<span class="text John-17-20" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">20 </span><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">“I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in me through their word.</span> </span><span class="text John-17-21" id="en-CSB-26770" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">21 </span><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">May they all be one,</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-CSB-26770AL" data-link="(<a href="#cen-CSB-26770AL" title="See cross-reference AL">AL</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> <span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">as you, Father, are in me and I am in you.</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-CSB-26770AM" data-link="(<a href="#cen-CSB-26770AM" title="See cross-reference AM">AM</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> <span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">May they also be </span><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">in us, so that the world may believe you sent me.</span> </span><span class="text John-17-22" id="en-CSB-26771" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">22 </span><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">I have given them the glory</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-CSB-26771AN" data-link="(<a href="#cen-CSB-26771AN" title="See cross-reference AN">AN</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> <span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one.</span> </span><span class="text John-17-23" id="en-CSB-26772" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">23 </span><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">I am in them and you are in me,</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-CSB-26772AO" data-link="(<a href="#cen-CSB-26772AO" title="See cross-reference AO">AO</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> <span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-CSB-26772AP" data-link="(<a href="#cen-CSB-26772AP" title="See cross-reference AP">AP</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> <span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">them as you have loved me.</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-CSB-26772AQ" data-link="(<a href="#cen-CSB-26772AQ" title="See cross-reference AQ">AQ</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-17-24" id="en-CSB-26773" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">24 </span><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am,</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-CSB-26773AR" data-link="(<a href="#cen-CSB-26773AR" title="See cross-reference AR">AR</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> <span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">so that they will see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the world’s foundation.</span> </span><span class="text John-17-25" id="en-CSB-26774" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">25 </span><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Righteous Father, the world has not known you. However, I have known you,</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-CSB-26774AS" data-link="(<a href="#cen-CSB-26774AS" title="See cross-reference AS">AS</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> <span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">and they have known that you sent me.</span> </span><span class="text John-17-26" id="en-CSB-26775" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">26 </span><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">I made your name</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-CSB-26775AT" data-link="(<a href="#cen-CSB-26775AT" title="See cross-reference AT">AT</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> <span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love you have loved me with may be in them and I may be in them.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Read those verses. Read them again slowly. Read them out loud. Read them out loud again. Hear what you are reading. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I hope that you Crave...that you Crave all Three...that you strongly desire to know more, listen more, communicate more...Read that passage from John 17 again...out loud...listen to the words you speak. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>As you make more time for Jesus...you will crave more time! </i></span></div>
Larihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779303513200742729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613808136842490954.post-30498795758578075532019-03-18T11:53:00.002-04:002019-03-18T11:53:32.180-04:00~Gentle Boldness~<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Sipping my tea here again...how have you been? It's been a while since we have been here together. I had no intentions of being away for so long. Please forgive me. I have missed our time here!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I have been having some wonderful Inspirational times with Father. I have learned something in the past couple of months...I have learned that I need to be still more. I had been doing so for a long time and then some "life" interrupted. Oh, I continued with my Inspirational times but they were more of me talking to Father, reading scriptures, and devotionals...but not being still and listening...not making that time.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The other day I made that time...and oh I am so glad I did...and will continue! I was home alone so I thought I would have my Inspirational time and listen to some praise/worship music on YouTube. I spent time in our Inspirational time (Father and I) then flipped YouTube on. That's not what was needed. Off went the music. The "noise". I needed to spend more time with Father...still and quiet time. I am so thankful for that time.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>This is what Father impressed upon my heart....the words Gentle Boldness. I am that personality that has a difficult time speaking properly. Oh, writing is totally different. Writing is my oxygen! Writing is my way of expression! When I speak, my brain jumbles and words don't come out as I hope or they are not a tone I like. So, Gentle Boldness!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Let me explain...I was led to many scripture passages on being gentle. I have this neat application in my phone for note taking...so I posted the verses in that application under, "Gentle Living". Gentle Boldness is a lifestyle. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>In Philippians 4:5 (CSV) we read, <b>"</b></i></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">Let your graciousness</span><span style="background-color: white;"> be known to everyone. The Lord is near." How do we live being gracious? True graciousness demands that you have time for others. So listen. Be attentive to what others say. Respond without interruption. Can you imagine Jesus and a fisherman talking. The fisherman begins to tell Jesus about his huge catch of that day and Jesus interrupts and says, "Huge catch you say, let ME tell you about how I made the net break the catch was so huge!" Imagine the man sighing and knowing that he was not important enough to be heard. Jesus always made the time to truly listen. A gracious person does not dwell on themselves. A gracious person gives...time and ears.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">Another verse is in Proverbs 16:24 (CSV), "Pleasant words are a honeycomb; sweet to the taste and health to the body." How do your words "taste"? Trust me, I know it isn't always easy to use "sweet" tones and "sweet" words. I believe it is even more difficult to use such language in the home because, well, "they know me at home and I can be myself". Who is the self you really want to be? Do you really want to have "tones" and "bitter words"? I don't. So, how do we go about speaking more gently, a bit sweeter? Well, a study on the life of Jesus in the gospels and how He treated people would be one way to learn. After all He is the Master. He is the true Life model. I also suggest talking to the Holy Spirit about having the right words, the right tones, the right attitude in dealing with all people. Trust me again on this as I know all too well how some people can simply get under your skin and it can be hard to keep gentle words and tones. But you know what? You can do ALL things through Jesus who gives you strength. Talk to the Holy Spirit as you have your time reading the bible and praying. Ask Him for guidance and gentleness. Pray that if you need to speak boldly, your gentleness will be evident and the boldness well received. There have been times when I have been talking with someone and prior to each bit I say, I breathe a prayer on how to word things so that it is taken well. There may be some long pauses in your conversation if you are dealing with a situation that takes Jesus Boldness because you are taking the time to sort what you hear and you take the time to mentally pray for your words and tone.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">In Ephesians 4:1b to 2 (CSV) Paul writes, "(I) urge you to live worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love." Humility is not letting people walk all over you. A humble Jesus follower is confident in who he/she is in Jesus; knowing where true strength lies...seeing the value of each person.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">I didn't share all of the verses I logged in my application. I didn't want to overwhelm you. My hope is that I have inspired you to be a Gentle Bold person for Jesus. I hope that you seek out some scripture on gentleness and talk with one of the Three: Father, Jesus, or Holy Spirit about what you learn and read. Wait quietly. What needs to be changed in your mind, heart, and soul to be a truly gentle Jesus follower? Remember, gentleness is not acting as some sort of wimp. Gentleness has been defined as restraint coupled with strength and courage. I like that! We are strong (bold) because of Jesus and we are courageous because of Him and also because of Him, we can restrain ourselves.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">My friend, as a Jesus follower, practice Gentle Boldness. Practice graciousness. Practice humility. Study the life of Jesus. Live as He modeled.</span></i></span>Larihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779303513200742729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613808136842490954.post-43593170704647439052019-01-23T11:42:00.000-05:002019-01-23T11:42:01.001-05:00~Make The Appointment~<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I sit here sipping my tea with you...it has been a while since we were together last...glancing out the windows I see a beautiful act of Father's creation...snow....all sorts of snowflakes coming down...it's a cozy feeling...</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>So much has happened since I last sipped tea here with you...I didn't mean to neglect you...I just got carried away in a variety of this and that's and I was also sorting things in my head...</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I want to inspire you to set aside alone time with our Father. That is so important! Today I simply want to talk with you about time alone with Him.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I believe I have told you that every morning I collect up my things for my Inspirational time and make sure I have a cup of tea beside me. I have a place in my home that is set up for my Inspirational time. I have a comfy chair and a stand for holding my belongings in a quiet area of our home. I have sort of a mess of things that I deal with rather sloppily laid across my lap. I have my cell phone for the bible applications and highlighting (saving bible verses), I have a devotional book, I have my bible, and I have my journal.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I realize we all have our own ways of having time with Father and whatever works for you, do it!!! What I do goes with my scattered mind...the flitty mind. First I set quietly with Father asking Him to show me what I need to learn form Him today. Secondly I read from the devotional book and go over any scripture there. I may pause to talk with Father during this time. I note the verses that "hit" me and save them in the phone and I turn to my bible with the paper pages, read the verse and mark up the page with thoughts that "hit" me, underline words, and write the date by it. After the devotional book, I pick up my cell phone to go to the bible application. I pretty much do the same thing with that as I do the book. As I go along through each of these devotionals, I will take a pause and write in my journal whatever comes to mind. When I am done with the devotionals, I sit quietly with Father asking Him to tell me what He wants me to remember from our time together. I stay quiet for a while. I talk to Him on and off. I listen. For some, sitting still and being quiet is difficult. Learn to do it! Discipline yourself! Sitting still with Father before and after our reading and learning time together is a MUST for me. In quietness I tune in to Him. I may or may not hear from Him but I am tuning in to our time together. Focus. When we conclude our "chair time", I praise Him and thank Him for all He has done and is doing for me or for others (I name them to Him in thankfulness). I talk with Him as a daughter would talk to her loving Father because HE is the perfect Father...the One Who has compassion...justice...love...peace...truth...When I am ready to get out of my chair, I finish up my journal by writing what I call Inspirational words for the day...something like....Trust! Hope! Life! Truth!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>We can't all make the time in the morning to sit alone at length with Father. What I propose to you is this...each day set a specific time that is for you and Father alone. It is your "appointment" and appointments need to be kept. Start with the length of time that you know you will be able to give Father. Maybe you will find that is the only amount of time you can give or maybe you will discover that you can add more time to your appointment. Do what works!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>When I think of what Father has done for me...created me for one...sent His only Son as a sacrifice for my sins...helped me through many health issues...and so much more...how can I NOT want to give of my time to be with Him? How could I go about my day giving time to family, work, church, social events, even cleaning...and more....and let Him slip off to the side. How SELF-ish!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Father has given everything of Himself to me! Can I really and truly be so selfish as to maybe give Him a quick "hello" in the morning or a "hit the pillow prayer"? Father is relational! He wants to be in your life! Give Him time!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>As we go about our day, we can always carry on a conversation with Father. Just talk with Him as you would a good friend. I believe I have said earlier in my times here with you that I talk with all Three...Father my creator, Jesus my friend who teaches,is Truth, and is along side me as I go through life's issues, and the Holy Spirit who guides and comforts and fills me with Peace and Joy when I ask. All Three are worthy of our praise and thankfulness. They are always there and so easy to talk with. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I hope that you are excited to have your time with Father (well really all Three). I hope that you understand the importance it is to your spiritual well-being. Believe me, your soul will sing! I hope that you will be giving of your time...as much as you can give Father. He loves you! He wants to sit quietly with you, teach you, listen to you, and comfort you! </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Make the appointment...Keep it! </i></span>Larihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779303513200742729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613808136842490954.post-82303804140539623692019-01-01T17:00:00.002-05:002019-01-01T17:02:06.142-05:00~AWEsome Day~<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Sipping tea here with you on this sunny New Year's Day...I want to share with you something that I am not sure will ever occur again...and something I will remember for my lifetime...</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I am dealing with getting some testing done for some spots on my lungs...2 spots...I have never smoked in my life so that came as a surprise to me. When I first learned of the spots, I honestly felt like I was going to pass out...shock I guess.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Anyhow, time went on for a few more days. I kept praying my prayers that the spots would not be cancer. I am just feeling like a "normal" person from having had breast cancer and chemo (finished March 2016). </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i style="color: blue; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I was prayed over in our church on a Sunday. The following Saturday, I was doing laundry, changing loads from the dryer to a basket and the washer to the dryer as my mind suddenly felt fearful of the possibility of those spots being cancerous. I said to God and to myself, "I can't let those demons of fear and doubt grab hold of me!" Right then and there I prayed to Jesus to get rid of those two! I felt the release. Then as I stood there talking to Jesus, I felt this sense of being prayed for. "I don't know who is praying for me or if just one person is praying for me," I told Jesus,"but thank You for putting me on someone's heart and mind to pray for." Then I began to pray for God's Crazy Peace...that peace that you cannot understand until you experience it...that peace that Paul talks about in Philippians 4:7 "</i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">And the peace of God,</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29450C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29450C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white;"> which transcends all understanding,</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29450D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29450D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white;"> will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." I immediately felt that peace in my heart, soul, and mind. I thanked Jesus for it. I stood with my hands lifted in praise to Jesus thanking Him for His peace...for a while...right there in my laundry room with a basket of clean clothes on the floor at my feet and the dryer spinning.</span></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">Something AWEsome occurred...I felt angels. I felt the "hush" of their wings. I picked up the laundry basket to take for folding. I could almost see the angels...well...I could see or sense four or five of them. They hovered over and around me. I heard their wings touching each other...they were that close to each other to surround me. Even as I write this to you I get the shivers that I felt at first when they were so near to me.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">These angels were angels of peace. I could feel their peace! I heard it in their wings! I have never experienced anything like this before. All day long they were with me...hovering over and surrounding me. </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">God had not only given me His Crazy Peace inside my own soul, heart, and mind, but He sent His angels of peace to comfort me...to surround me. During the entire day I never once even thought of the issues in my lungs. I went about the day feeling the presence of the awesome peace angels. I felt this amazing serenity. I would thank Jesus for them being with me...for Him sending them to attend me on this day...on and off I thanked Him during the day.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">I knew they were with me all day...I felt...faintly saw...and heard their brushing wings at times. It was so AWEsome! </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">As evening came, I felt them leaving. I smiled inside my soul. I knew they had come for me to do what they as that type of angel were to do...hush all around me...hushing my mind and soul...that feeling of them hovering and surrounding me is one I will always remember...it was so comforting.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">That night as my head was on my pillow, I thanked Jesus for sending them to me...I lifted my hands in praise to Him (my husband had his back to me but he would have been fine with my arms sticking up in the air). Tears rolled down my cheeks as I thanked Jesus not only for His Crazy Peace...but for His compassion for me in sending those peace angels.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">When I sit alone in silence,remembering, I can still faintly see them and faintly hear the brush of their wings. It truly was an AWEsome experience! </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">I am so thankful for my Best Friend and how He takes care of my needs. I debated on sharing this with you but then I thought...why not? It may bring encouragement to someone. I hope it does! </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">My faith, trust, and hope is in Jesus. I hope yours is also!</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>Larihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779303513200742729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613808136842490954.post-91440819250951927362018-12-29T12:02:00.001-05:002018-12-29T12:02:23.175-05:00~Too Long Gone~<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Wow! I recently realized how long it has been since I have sipped tea here with you! I have been learning a lot, growing, and resting in Father God. I will be back and sharing here soon. I have missed writing! and I have missed you!</i></span>Larihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779303513200742729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613808136842490954.post-65367189184686740452018-12-05T10:06:00.000-05:002018-12-05T10:06:10.342-05:00~New Christmas; New Body~<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Sipping tea as I look out the window and see the scattered snow flakes falling...the sky is gray...wanting to share with you for a few minutes...</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>It's the Christmas season...a mixed emotion time for many. Of course we know the "reason for the season"....Jesus Christ our Lord, Immanuel , "God with us"...is celebrated as having been sent to mankind through the Holy Spirit by way of the virgin Mary. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>There is much reason to be grateful this time of year and as I said, it is also a time of a variety of emotions. I will be honest here with you, as always. Christmas is a mixed emotional time for me. In the month of December, God received two very important ladies in my life. On December 1, 1974, my mom was escorted to heaven by her angel and December 10, 2011 my sister was given her new and healthy body.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>For me, this season is a time of joy and sorrow. I remember Christmas songs playing in the background as Mom made and decorated Christmas cookies. I remember entering my sister's house daily for four days as God was preparing her for her new body. I remember music in the background of her home each day. Her home had more of a presence of angels every time I entered. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>As my sister was telling us (my other sister and me) that she wanted her new body, the two of us would each take turns hugging her and telling her things in her ears. Sometimes I would sing to her. One time I told her how lucky she was that she would be celebrating Christmas in heaven with our parents (Dad passed September 28, 1998). She would grin as she knew she would be with them.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>A new body. My sister was given a new body. Jesus came to earth as an infant and had a human body. God with us was human. His new body was not perfect. Jesus allowed Himself to leave his glorious heavenly home filled with angels singing, prophets swapping stories, the "cloud of witnesses" mentioned in Hebrews all praising Jesus and worshiping Him...and so many more gathered to sing and tell of His praises. He left all of that to take on a body that could and would be beaten...a body that would be bruised and have nails pierce it. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I have no doubt that the angels surrounded Him when He arrived in that cave/stall. The angels told the shepherds of His arrival...an entire host of them (an army of angels). Can you imagine that night as you care for your sheep...suddenly the skies are lit up with an army of angels. Imagine the brightness! Imagine the singing! Imagine the angel announcing to them about the birth of "God with us"! They surely felt the angels. Can you just imagine an army of angels totally taking over the skies? </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I got a bit excited just then thinking of how it felt each time I went to my sister's home and could feel the hush of angels...the shepherds felt the excitement and bustle of angels as they sang in celebratory voices of Jesus now in a new form; a baby.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>We have so much to celebrate! We get caught up in singing a variety of Christmas songs. Do we really listen as we sing the words or are they so familiar that they just sort of roll off our tongue and stumble through our teeth? Have we heard the story of the birth of Jesus so often that it is simply something to be repeated like reciting a childhood story?</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>My hope is that you take the time to truly realize what "God with us" has done. I can't imagine leaving the splendors of heaven...taking on some perishable body to come here to be accepted by some and rejected by so many...to ultimately give life as a sacrifice on the cross.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Think about it...Jesus, our Saviour, lived among the people. They saw a difference in Him...not just because He did miracles but there was a difference in His attitude, His reactions, His mixing with the down and out and with those who others wanted nothing to do with. Just think about Jesus. Flip through the gospels sometime (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). Study His way with people! </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I want to encourage you to REALLY think about our love gift from God this season. Really focus on His life. Focus on: His Kingship, Servanthood, Him being Immanuel (God with us), His compassion, and His friendship you can experience. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I get excited and the inside of my head dances because the more I learn about Jesus and obey Him; desiring to learn and grow in Him, the more my soul rejoices and sings. There is this deep indwelling of His Holy Spirit (that He left with us when He returned to heaven) that flows through me. Sometimes it's as if everything about me is dancing inside, other times it is more hushed and calm, but He is always there! </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Because Jesus came, I have a Joy and a Peace that cannot be explained. When He is part of your life, His Spirit is in you. I wish I could explain it better. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>My desire for you, my friend,is that you experience this Christmas season with renewed thinking! Realize the promise! Realize that because of Christmas and the birth of Jesus we have Easter and His resurrection...our Eternal Hope!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>We will all be able to sing with the army of angels in our new bodies one day! Thank you, Jesus, for coming to earth and taking on a body that would be crucified on a cross. Because of Jesus and His powerful name, sacrifice, and rising again, we have power through the Holy Spirit! Amen!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>Larihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779303513200742729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613808136842490954.post-78380239132478067202018-11-27T10:59:00.003-05:002018-11-27T11:02:24.734-05:00~Three is Me~<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Sipping tea as usual with you...I like to take my time with my tea...and I sip it at any temperature...there is so much on my heart and mind...we in the United States of America have just enjoyed ThanksGiving day...we have much to be thankful for...we are blessed...My heart, soul, and mind is in this...what I call a la-la state...simply mellow...sure my mind is ever going...always filled with a song and a variety of scenes as if plays or movies are always going through my mind....and my heart...it is mellow although it is going through a time of remembrance during this season...and my soul...oh my soul...it is also mellow...a sweet calm.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The reason for the calm? I have a short answer; prayer and the Holy Spirit. In all of my life, I have always talked with our Father Creator and Jesus. As a young girl I knew I could talk to Them/Him any time I wanted. I knew I could talk out loud or in my own mind. That was always such a comfort to me.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Later I learned of the Holy Spirit. I learned I could talk to Him also. We have talked about communicating with the Three. So, I won't back-track.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Spirit living is the focus here! Trust me it can be extremely exciting! Nothing heebie-jeebie. It is Jesus-y! In 1 Thessalonians 5:23 & 24 we read that we have a spirit, soul, and body. I know I always talk about my heart, mind, and soul but that is because my brain thinks in that way. I think of my heart as my emotional me, my mind as the thinking me, and my soul as more like my psyche. Those are my "human" definitions of the make up of self. The Bible tells us we are, spirit, soul and body. Our spirit is not the Holy Spirit. Those who follow Jesus can have the Holy Spirit inside but "He" is not "me". The spirit comes from the Greek word, pneuma, meaning breath or wind.The soul is </i></span><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>the principle of life, feeling, thought, and action in humans. The body is, well, our body. The physical you. So, 1 Thessalonians spells it out for us, we have spirit, soul, and body. These "three" are so very wonderful and unique as part of each person. We need to properly care for each of the three. We can read about caring for our body. We understand that pretty easily. Eat less; move more! (grins) Well, you can research things for caring for your body as today I want to talk about our spirit and soul care.</i></span></span><br />
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<i style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> </i><i style="color: blue; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In Jude verse 20 and 21, he tells us to build ourselves up in the most holy faith, praying in the Spirit, keep ourselves in the love of God, waiting expectantly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life.</span></i><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Let's break that down. Yes, I know it is already pretty brief...but let's break it down. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>#1 Build yourself up in the most holy faith. How do we do that? Well, Jude goes on to tell us in his following words....</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>#2 Pray in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is your moving and guiding power. He is the one who motivates you to pray. We pray according to His direction.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>#3 Keep yourself in the love of God. This happens by continuing to pray. Pray on all occasions. Pray about anything on your heart. Give praise. Give thanks. Petition. Cry out to Father. Prayer is our oxygen with our heavenly Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Without prayer, our relationship would suffocate. Breathing is essential; Prayer is our breath of life!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>#4 Wait expectantly for our Savior. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The body is easy to sort and define. We can touch it, move it, see it. The spirit and the soul are unseen. All three are mentioned in the scriptures. All three are "me". All three need care. All three are unique. The body "houses" the spirit and soul. The soul is the "psyche". The spirit is designed to be in charge of your body and soul. The spirit is the inner person. The real you when you accepted Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit reveals truth to your spirit and guides you in the will of God. How wonderfully amazing when there is communication between your spirit and the Holy Spirit! The breath of life!</i></span><br />
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<h1 class="passage-display" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">
<span style="color: purple;"><span class="passage-display-bcv" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding-right: 6px;">1 Thessalonians 5:23-24</span><span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"> (ESV)</span></span></h1>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="color: purple;"><span class="text 1Thess-5-23" id="en-ESV-29628" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">23 </span>Now may <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29628A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29628A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>the God of peace himself <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29628B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29628B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>sanctify you completely, and may your <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29628C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29628C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>whole <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29628D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29628D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29628E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29628E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.</span> <span class="text 1Thess-5-24" id="en-ESV-29629" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">24 </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29629F" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29629F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>He who calls you is faithful; <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29629G" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29629G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>he will surely do it.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>Larihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779303513200742729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613808136842490954.post-77508788703610145732018-11-20T11:49:00.000-05:002018-11-20T11:57:42.129-05:00~I am a Stone~<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Sitting here sipping my tea...now cold as it has been setting out...still tasty...I drink tea in any temperature...I am so excited about sharing with you today...You have been with me through much of my listening and obeying God times...</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Always learning...always growing...always sharing...that is what we are to do as Jesus followers...I am just so inspired! I have my Inspirational times with the Three every morning. Sometimes they are only about 30 minutes long...other times they have been as much as two and a half hours...it all depends on what all the Three and I are sharing. I read, I journal, I listen, They take turns talking to me, I talk with Them...I cherish our Inspirational time.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I have also included praying to the Holy Spirit in our Inspirational time now. I pray to Him to give me the words that I need to say to whomever...I pray to Him to flow through me to help me show compassion...I pray to Him to comfort me...I pray to Him to guide me...I pray to Him...for a variety of things....</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The other day He and I were communing and I was praying that I would have the words to say that He would want me to say to people in general, to my husband, to my son...I had to run some errands in town and was in a grocery store. I was selecting items from a freezer bed when across from me there was a lady who seemed to be in need. I asked her if she was looking for something in particular. She told me what she was looking for and asked if I knew it the store had it. We conversed briefly. She then turned the corner to be nearly cart to cart with me and somehow we struck up a conversation.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>She and I talked as if we had known each other for years. We began sharing our variety of health stories. We shared stories about our doctors...our travels for health reasons...and at one point I looked at her and said..."Well, I have Jesus..." and I began to tell her how I dealt with my health issues over the past years. As soon as I said, "Well, I have Jesus," her face lit up and her eyes sparkled. She had Jesus too! We both shared more excitedly. When we concluded our conversation we hugged and went about our business. I believe we talked by that freezer bed for nearly 30 minutes. The peculiar thing to me was those words that so easily flowed from my mouth, "Well, I have Jesus..." I knew those words popped right out with the help of the Holy Spirit. As they came out it was almost as if I wasn't speaking them. The power of words caused her to shine and sparkle. The power of the Holy Spirit gave me the courage to share Him and Jesus through my words.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Obeying, listening, trusting, sharing...it is who we are (or who we should be) when we follow Jesus. He has been doing some pretty terrific things in my life. For instance, He has told me to go through the book of Ephesians in the Bible. I am not to merely read it and be done...I am to pick it apart...really focus on the verses...the key things...</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I believe the things I am learning were easy for the Ephesians to comprehend. For me, I am reading them with new eyes. I am reading them with eyes that dissect. I want to share with you some things that I have picked up in reading Ephesians so far.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>First I want to say, I have fun keeping a journal. I think as I write. When I read some verses from Ephesians 2 today, I worked them out as if working out a math equation and I don't like math. I dissected the verses....and I don't care for science. Maybe what I did was parse them out as in the old fashioned way of handling some grammatical situations. At any rate...I "spelled them out" for me to grasp and I want to share it with you.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I was reading Ephesians 2 today so I will share with you my "take" on Ephesians 2.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>In verse 5 it simply states that we are saved by grace. Verse 6 tells me that I am seated with Christ in the heavens...there is a place JUST for me! I am not saved because of anything I have DONE (works) but only because of God's grace (v. 9). In verse 10 I learned WHO I AM in Jesus...I am His workmanship whom He created to do good works FOR Him. I am not saved because of my good works; but because I am a Jesus follower I am to do good works FOR Him!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Reading further to verse 13 I learn that I have been brought near Jesus because of His blood. In verse 18, I know that everyone has access to the Father in one Spirit. Oh! The Holy Spirit pops up here!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Okay now here is where I begin to dissect. The first bit of chapter 2 was pretty easy to grasp. The next verses...verses 20 to 22, I pick apart...</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Jesus is the Cornerstone of the temple.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The apostles and prophets are main stones of the temple.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The saints (believers) are stones of the temple.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>In Jesus, the whole building grows into the temple in the Lord.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>God's dwelling of the Holy Spirit is why we are all being built together (put together).</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Again:</i></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>God's Holy Spirit dwells in the temple made of prophets, apostles, and saints (believers) and Jesus is the Cornerstone...where we all begin!</i></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The temple is to be cared for and maintained...added to with more believers (saints). The Church is the whole! The Holy Spirit is in and among the Church!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Do you understand what I am saying? Saints (believers), the prophets and apostles, and Jesus being the very base for us, the Cornerstone are ALL the Church! Jesus gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit, so He is IN the Church.The Holy Spirit, as I have stated before, gives the saints (believers) more power than what raised Jesus from the dead!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>My friend, WE, the Church, the body of believers (saints) have or can have that awesome Holy Spirit Power. My goodness, I asked Him to help me with words to say...how much more can He do than simply give me words! </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The Church has Jesus as the Cornerstone! If we have a body of praying believers who truly rely on the Three and know and claim that Holy Spirit power...how much can be done in the name of Jesus! We need to be that Jesus Church! We believers have that common ground just as I knew the lady in the grocery store knew Jesus because as soon as I said, "Well, I have Jesus..." she shined Jesus more. We, the Church, needs to obey, listen, trust, and share Jesus! My friend, we have the Holy Spirit to guide, counsel, give words, give us power...and so much more...live it! </i></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>We are each a stone of the Church of Jesus. Each believer is important and is equipped and being more equipped with the ways that God wants to use them in His church. Obey, Listen, and Share!</i></span>Larihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779303513200742729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613808136842490954.post-66766564100537585952018-11-07T10:55:00.002-05:002018-11-07T10:55:30.143-05:00~The Three; The One~<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Sitting here again...sipping my tea...surrounded by windows full of gray skies...my mind...oh my mind wants to explode telling you things that it has been taking in lately...but explosions are not always so good...so I will choose to let bits of my mind out little by little...</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The explosion could be an issue if it all bursts out to much and too fast...it would just smatter around and not be any good...it may also hit you in areas that you are not ready to take it yet...I say yet...</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>You see, and some of you know this of me, I have Jesus and Father, with the Holy Spirit inside me. Yes, the trilogy...not a biblical word, I know this. I love knowing all three of them...I know I am not supposed to choose a favorite...but because of the type of person I am, I do have a favorite...be assured that I know the importance of all three for me...but my favorite...if you asked...is the Holy Spirit. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: blue;">There is SO much I could write here about the Holy Spirit. I won't overwhelm you (grins) Jesus was excited for us to have the Holy Spirit. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: purple;">In John 16:7 He tells His disciples, "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go I will send Him to you."</span><span style="color: blue;"> Jesus was here in body. He was among the disciples and the people walking and talking with them...teaching...doing miracles...living as a man. Jesus knew that we could know his teachings...we could remember things he taught...but that He could not possibly be IN us. He knew that when He left, He could and would leave His Spirit...that Being who could be inside us, teaching us, guiding us, comforting us...His Spirit could always be a part of us as long as we had a relationship with Jesus because together they were One (and yes with the Father). So, Jesus wanted to leave in order for us to have some of Him (Spirit) with us always! He knew that was the only way. How exciting and giving!</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I get all excited knowing that the Holy Spirit is inside me. I learn more about Him daily. I know that I need to lean into Him always. I need to pray to Him before dealing with any issue or people in order to give godly words or advice. I know that I need to be talking with Him as I go about my day. Of course I can talk to Jesus. He is my friend and Savior. I can also talk to Father. He is my creator. But when I talk to the Holy Spirit, it is different as He resides in me. He courses through my mind, body, and soul. He knows just what I need and when. He will give me the guidance. He will give me the comfort in difficult times. He will give me words to say that are far better than any I could come up with. He will keep me in tune with Father and Jesus. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>As I said, I get all excited in the Holy Spirit! I get all excited in prayer! I have dancing of the Spirit inside my head! My soul sings Him! My heart rejoices in Him!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I want to encourage you to study up on the Holy Spirit. Look up scriptures about Him! He is a unique person not simply a power or influence as He may be grieved (Eph. 4:30), He may be quenched, (1 Thes. 5:19) and He may be resisted (Acts 7:51). He is the author of the Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16) as it is God breathed. He convicts and regenerates (John 16:8-11, John 3:1-16, Acts 2:38). He is our comforter (John 14:16-17, Eph. 2:14, Phil. 4:7). The Holy Spirit empowers us to live in Christ's righteousness (Rom.8:26, Phil 4:10-13) and He helps us to read the Bible and pray (John 4:25, 16:12-15, Rom.8:28). There are so many attributes of the Holy Spirit! Seek more.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>As I said, I did not want to overwhelm you with the dancing going on inside my being (of the Holy Spirit). I think it is so fabulous that Jesus was so thrilled to give us the Holy Spirit when He left earth. He so wanted us to be a part with Him and that is how it was to be done! </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>All Three are One! All Three can be prayed to. Most of us are not as familiar with praying to the Holy Spirit. I encourage you to write out a prayer to Him. I was going to do it here for you but I know that when you learn more about Him on your own...reading scriptures about Him...you will want to put prayers to Him in your own words! Your words will penetrate your heart and soul. I also want to encourage you to turn to Him, as He is in you if you follow Jesus, when you need guidance...comfort...words to speak to someone... </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I thank Jesus for leaving us His Spirit the part of Him that is possible to be in us! </i></span>Larihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779303513200742729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613808136842490954.post-89774224623109100902018-10-30T09:44:00.003-04:002018-10-30T09:44:58.300-04:00~Task-y~<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Sipping tea here on this brisk, gray morning...During my Inspirational time this morning...I was telling Father that I had so many things running through my mind that I needed to do...I told Him I know that is part of who He created me to be...a lady with multiple things coursing through her mind at all times...and these things were a variety of tasks...tasks that actually sound fun to begin and accomplish...but tasks that are in no order and being in no order...nothing...not one of them...gets completed or sometimes not even started.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I told Father, "You know that who you created me to be is also a list maker. It just feels good to make a list". I also told Him, that I may write things down and look the list over and then feel overwhelmed and do nothing. THAT is part of who He created me to be too. I accept that. I like the lady He created me to be. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>As I sat writing in my journal about needing to do these tasks, I told Him..."I know, I know, I just need to begin somewhere." He agreed. Of course He would. I never consider it a task to have time with my Father. Those are moments I look forward to. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Even as I write, the "list" of tasks run through my mind. It isn't even a "time thing" with me. It is just a thing. I don't consider myself a procrastinator, I am simply an "oh this is a good idea to do" lady who then finds other things to do. I don't know if you can relate to this or not, but I have all of these "neat" things to do in my mind, it's just the reality of needing to begin and complete one at a time.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Are there things that God is calling you to do? I know that the more I make the time to be with Him, the more I hear from Him. At times I sit quietly "talking" with Him mentally. I love it when He fills my mind. The task thinking stops (grins) and I focus on Him. Do you take time to focus?...to focus on what He desires of you? </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>No task should ever take His place. He should be the Ultimate "Task". When we study His Word, He reveals things to us. He reveals His desires for us. When we communicate with Him, He lets us know the desires of His heart for us and they become the desires of our heart.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I want to encourage you to make the time in your day to be with Father. Listen! Learn! Communicate! The "tasks" he desires of you, will not be beyond your capability. How do I know this? I know this because Father gives us all that we need to accomplish all that He desires of us. He may stretch us...and He usually does....but He will be there to assist and give the strength, courage, knowledge...all that we need. Believe that He will ask of you things that you never dreamed you would do. He wants your obedience! He wants you to grow in Him! He wants you to show His character here in human form!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>When we take on the task that Father desires for us to do, we become closer to Him! Sometimes the task may not be a very "popular" thing to do. Do it anyway! Obey! Each time you obey Him, you will feel a renewal within your soul and you will feel (and be) closer to Him. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>If you are like me, you have multiple tasks floating around inside your head to take on. When you listen to God, you will know what He desires for you to take on. It may not be anything that is going through your mind at the time. It may be something new! Something Challenging! Something that will "show off" your God-given gifts! </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>As it says in Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart". The desires of your heart will be in tune with His heart as you get to know Him more intimately on a day to day personal basis. Your heart will become one with His. THAT is how and why He will give you desires of your heart. THAT is how and why you will be able to do all that he asks of you to do.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Take it a step at a time...day by day...Jesus is always there to assist you in what He wants you to accomplish. You will be amazed at the joy and peace you will have when you fulfill what He asks of you as you go about your daily life. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I do know that His main "task" for us all is as He says in Matthew 28:19-20, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>This I know, Jesus' desire is for us to put into practice Matthew 28:19-20. In order for us to do so, He will guide you as to how He wants you to be doing this for Him. You may face rejection. You will be strengthened. He will give you all that you need to be as His "hands and feet". Take time to learn from Him. Obey Him. DO what He desires of you! Your desires will collide and be the desires of both your hearts. Each time you do something He wants of you, it will make it easier for the next time. You will have trusted Him to help you with one "task" of His...and then you will be ready for the next knowing how He was there with you to do His will.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>Larihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779303513200742729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613808136842490954.post-81244684890928893802018-10-23T09:50:00.001-04:002018-10-23T09:50:06.619-04:00~Sing Your Heart & Soul~<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Sipping tea here...listening to songs of praise to Father and His Son...</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Sometimes a song is what we need...Sometimes we need to sing a praise or prayer song to our Lord...Sometimes we need to get caught up with Him in a song...</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>This song, "Yours Will Be", is one of my favorites and I want to share it with you...there is a sort of "silly" part of singing la-la's but I get caught up in the words...I close my eyes...raise my hands...envision all of it...I sing my heart and soul out...</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The words touch my heart and soul...I soak in the words...The only name that matters to me!...and The friendship and affection I need...He truly is the only true friendship that matters! </i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; text-align: center;">Yours will be the only name that matters to me</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; text-align: center;">The only one whose favor I seek</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; text-align: center;">The only name that matters to me</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; text-align: center;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; text-align: center;">Yours will be</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; text-align: center;">The friendship and affection I need</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; text-align: center;">To feel my Father smiling on me</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; text-align: center;">The only name that matters to me</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I Hope that you will listen and soak in the words to this song at least twice (especially if it is new to you). I hope that you will sing out with your heart and soul and truly be "with" Jesus as you sing. </i></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>When I wake up in the land of glory, with the saints I will tell my story, There will be one name that I proclaim! Imagine it! David, Moses, Joseph, Esther, Rahab, Paul, Watchman Nee, Brother Andrew, so many who truly had a relationship with Father...envision friends and relatives you plan to see when you wake up in the land of glory! How amazing!</i></span></span><br />
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Larihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779303513200742729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613808136842490954.post-85586662001680473252018-10-15T12:01:00.000-04:002018-10-15T12:01:05.223-04:00~The Dream~<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Sipping my Irish Breakfast tea...I had a dream last night that I didn't want to leave...I was with my dad...</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Some background information on me and my dad...we would take long road trips together while listening to music or a sermon and talk only when something hit us just right about the song or sermon or some topic hit our mind...we sometimes would discuss the sermon as it was being spoken and/or sometimes after...we would watch sporting events together in our family room while we each had our own large bowl of popcorn...we would "hang out" at the church where he was the pastor, he in his office, me either in the secretary's office as she was gone or "performing" on the stage in the sanctuary where I had songs set up and would sing along pretending I was in concert (dad was near so we were together)...when Dad and I were together...we rarely spoke...but we were together and that presence thing was what mattered most to me....As dad was on his last days in his hospital bed we had many quiet moments; some with conversation. During one particular conversation I looked at Dad and said, "you know, Dad, we never really talked a lot." He turned and looked at me and said, "no, only about what was important." THAT was our relationship! We had a togetherness but didn't need a lot of words...just about the meaningful things. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Dad and I approached this little greenish house that was surrounded by cedars and beautiful pine trees. The yard was that grassy-sandy yard. The front door was a metal screen door with window panels and there was a heavier inner wood door. We stepped inside. I could smell a sort of woodsy smell from our surroundings. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Dad and I walked through the rooms. None of them really stand out. We didn't talk. We walked and observed. Every room was a hue of green. I felt him beside me so I knew he was there. We came to the last room to view. It was the living room. There were built in book shelves. There was no furniture in the room. There were no books on the book shelves. Everything in the house was tidy and clean. The empty book shelves bothered me as I like to read and checking out people's books sort of tells something about the person living in the house. We stood side by side and I said to my dad, not turning his way but continuing to stare at the emptiness in the house and on the book shelves, "everything is empty. There is nothing here." He replied, "they were ready to go!" His words stood still inside my head. "They were ready to go!" We stood looking at the emptiness, neither of us saying a word. I could smell the closed up woodsy smell of the house and feel the coolness of the atmosphere. Dad spoke meaningfully yet simply as he did another time to me when he was on his hospital bed. He looked up at the ceiling and said, "people need to learn to think about nothing." I asked, "how do you do that?" He turned to me and said, "you just do!" So, whoever lived in this now empty house was "ready to go!" So simple! Few words needed. Dad and I stood beside each other until I awakened.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>So simple! That house was empty, clean, fragrant, with a pleasant atmosphere. Whoever lived there was ready to go! They had given all! </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>How do you see that house? What do you make of it being empty? What does my dad's statement, "they were ready to go" mean to you? </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I don't know where the belongings of this house were. It doesn't matter. The owner had cleared everything out and was ready to go! </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The house was empty. Empty of all but what needed to be there. The foundation was there. The various rooms were there. The aroma, that woodsy smell, was there. Does your mind, heart, and soul have space for Jesus? Does your mind have the space for learning scriptures? Does your heart have the space for more compassion? Does your soul have space for the Holy Spirit? Do you need to clear out your "house" to be ready to go? </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>That house had a comfy~cozy feeling...a feeling of familiarity. The one who was ready to go did leave something behind. What was left behind was the knowing! Knowing that we need to de-clutter ourselves and create the vacancy to be filled with learning more of what Father wants. The bookshelves were empty. The reading (learning) had been done. There was nothing to dust. There was no furniture. What had been needed...gone! </i></span><br />
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Larihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779303513200742729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613808136842490954.post-19906118151337650202018-10-02T11:53:00.001-04:002018-10-02T11:53:19.095-04:00~It's Sneaky~<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Sipping my tea on a gloomy, gray, misty day...Lately my mind has been on both sides...and somewhere in the middle. People on what we call the left and right side...and then there are those caught in the middle. All three positions believe they are correct in what they have to share.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>People voice verbally...People write their views in magazines, newspapers, social media...People are full of opinions...all of us are varied; even those "on the same side". This makes for a very negative and critical assembly of people. Our thinking begins to focus on two things...one; that WE are the one who is correct (pride), two; the others are just annoyingly wrong (critical).</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>All of this world view "stuff" begins to skew our minds. It becomes natural to view people critically and think nothing of it. Perhaps some were of a more critical nature anyhow. Some may have slipped into being critical so subtly and slowly that they didn't even notice.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>People begin to annoy you. People who are maybe more peripheral in your life. Someone will say something that you deem questionable and you cringe inside. Or you will be scanning through your social media and there will be a post that your eyeballs happen to read and you will wince. "Why does he/she post that meme or make that rant?" You will ask yourself. This is where that critical spirit enters along with pride. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Pride; you think you are above the individual and that critical spirit has "no clue" how they could say such a thing and not realize the sphere of influence they may have over their group of friends who read them. That enemy is a sneak isn't he? He creeps into your mind with little whispers..."you are so much better. You don't post things that make people wince or cringe like that." "Yes! You declare, I am better." You continue reading to see what comments are made or how many "likes" are given. "Don't those people get it? This is not something that should be stated." "That's right," chimes in the enemy. "you would never post such a thing or say that." You're feeling pretty proud of yourself and you are wishing that others would be so "righteous". </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>You are with a group of people. Someone begins to share a story they think is funny. Your ears begin to burn as you listen. "How can they think that is funny? It's pretty 'iffy' to share with these people." "Yes, you would never share such a thing," whispers the enemy. "No, I wouldn't," you respond. Each time the enemy chimes in, when people speak or write/post you thought it was our Father. The enemy can be tricky. He can come at you in any way you will accept. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>You "hear" a still small voice as you are having your prayer time with Father. "Do you really think I condone your thoughts and attitude toward that person?" "But Lord, look at what they do and what they say? It's really not appropriate," you defend. "Who are you say that?" Father responds. You sit in silence for a while. Your thoughts whirling. What some say or do is just so....so questionable! Father sits with you waiting quietly...allowing you to think. Prayer! "Okay, Father, I hear you! You want me to pray for them." You realize that you have had a critical spirit mixed with some pride. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>You have a revelation! Whenever you hear or see something questionable, you will pray for the person stating it. Or if the person merely comes to mind, they are there for a reason. You will pray! It is so very true that prayer changes things. We have all been told that when you pray for someone to change...you change...your attitude changes! </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Pray away a critical spirit. That spirit can hide and be sneaky. Pray away pride. Pride can also be sneaky. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I encourage you to "pick apart" this passage from Ephesians 3 and pray it for that person(s) you have issues with. Or of course pray as God leads...this is an example: </i></span><br />
<br />
<span class="text Eph-3-14" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">14 </span>For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Eph-3-15" id="en-ESV-29250" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">15 </span>from whom <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29250AI" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29250AI" title="See cross-reference AI">AI</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>every family in heaven and on earth is named,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Eph-3-16" id="en-ESV-29251" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">16 </span>that according to <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29251AJ" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29251AJ" title="See cross-reference AJ">AJ</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>the riches of his glory <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29251AK" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29251AK" title="See cross-reference AK">AK</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>he may grant you</span><span class="text Eph-3-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <span style="color: purple;">(</span></span><span style="color: purple;">the person<span style="font-size: x-small;">)</span></span></span><span class="text Eph-3-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> to be strengthened with power through his Spirit <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29251AL" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29251AL" title="See cross-reference AL">AL</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>in your <span style="color: purple;">(the person)</span> inner being,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Eph-3-17" id="en-ESV-29252" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">17 </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29252AM" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29252AM" title="See cross-reference AM">AM</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>so that Christ may dwell in your<span style="color: purple;">(the</span> <span style="color: purple;">person's)</span> hearts through faith—that you<span style="color: purple;">(the person)</span>, being <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29252AN" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29252AN" title="See cross-reference AN">AN</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>rooted and <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29252AO" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29252AO" title="See cross-reference AO">AO</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>grounded in love,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Eph-3-18" id="en-ESV-29253" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">18 </span>may have strength to <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29253AP" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29253AP" title="See cross-reference AP">AP</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29253AQ" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29253AQ" title="See cross-reference AQ">AQ</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>height and depth,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Eph-3-19" id="en-ESV-29254" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">19 </span>and to know the love of Christ <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29254AR" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29254AR" title="See cross-reference AR">AR</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>that surpasses knowledge, that <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29254AS" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29254AS" title="See cross-reference AS">AS</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>you <span style="color: purple;">(the person)</span> may be filled with all <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29254AT" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29254AT" title="See cross-reference AT">AT</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>the fullness of God.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I leave you with this encouragement...from Ephesians 3:</i></span><br />
<span class="text Eph-3-20" id="en-ESV-29255" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">20 </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29255AU" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29255AU" title="See cross-reference AU">AU</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>Now to <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29255AV" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29255AV" title="See cross-reference AV">AV</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29255AW" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29255AW" title="See cross-reference AW">AW</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>according to the power at work within us,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Eph-3-21" id="en-ESV-29256" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">21 </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29256AX" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29256AX" title="See cross-reference AX">AX</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>Larihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779303513200742729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613808136842490954.post-36081658379359892452018-09-25T10:26:00.001-04:002018-09-25T10:34:39.865-04:00~Brain Change~<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Sitting here sipping my tea with you...the skies are gray...the air is humid...thinking...the brain is truly amazing. It can retrain itself. I won't go into all of the scientific detail or terminology. There has been a case where someone re-trained their brain out of autism (The Brain That Changes Itself, Norman Doidge, M.D.). We can train our brains to believe a non truth if we tell it to ourselves often enough. The "wiring" in our brain will change and it will be true...to us. The brain weighs about 3 pounds and is mostly made up of water with some "decent" fat. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I have studied the brain for a few reasons: my youngest was born with most of his corpus callosum (the middle part of your brain, a thin membrane) missing. There is Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum (Acc, total absence) and Partial Agenesis of the CC (P-Acc). The Corpus Callosum is the bridge that transfers messages to the hemispheres. Like a bridge allows cars to cross over, the corpus callosum allows neurotransmitters to cross over. The amazing thing about having Acc or P-Acc is that the brain can actually form other routes for messages to cross to the other hemisphere. The brain changes itself. Things for a person with Acc or P-Acc won't be fully just like someone with a corpus callosum, but some things can re-route. The amazing brain! What all it can handle!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I also studied the brain because I had a benign brain tumor and I wanted to know more about it and where it was located...what it may affect. The tumor was 3 mm from optic nerves, boring into my skull, and on sinuses. Prior to learning I had this tumor, at times I would say words backwards...not a natural given talent but it came with the tumor. After having most of it removed by surgery and then the rest zapped out with the gamma knife, there were changes in my brain. I lost some of my long term memory. It does make me sad as I likely won't have that back. My brain took a while to rejuvenate...to snap back. Some who know me wonder if it is fully back...ha! </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Think of it, there are tiny tools prodding around inside this gel blob. Who knows what all is being pushed around. My focus was not there for a while after it was gone. I had difficulty keeping my attention on reading, writing, and listening. The brain, as I said, is amazing!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Think about it. The brain can re-train itself! The brain can snap back after the gel being pushed around! The brain can be so full of information that you feel a major over-load! The brain can feel like your head will simply explode because you have so many bits of knowledge and trivial things floating around inside it. The brain stores your emotions! It stores your memories! The left and right side of your brain vary so! One side is the more logical side, the other the more creative side! Your brain is amazing! You can fill it with information of your choice! Your brain can let both sides sort of collide! When your brain hemispheres collide reading the Word, you can experience amazing insight!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The bible tells us we need to guard our hearts. We also need to guard our brains! As it says in Romans 12:2, </i></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Do not be conformed to this world,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> but be transformed by </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28232E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28232E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28232F" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28232F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I want to inspire you to fill your mind (brain) with things of God. I want to inspire you to dig deep into your Bible! Really study it! </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I have been reading a book that has been inspiring me to see some of the scriptures I have read in the past in a different way...re-training myself. I am reading passages such as Ephesians 3:8-10 differently. I have been shown the need to "pray" Ephesians 3:14-21. My mind is waking to learning! It's almost like recovering from brain surgery! I read scriptures and have "ah ha!" thoughts. My brain is being spiritually retrained.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>My hope for you is that you truly begin to dig deep into the Word of God. There are a variety of ways to do so. Some read books by Christian authors who help spur our thoughts and get us into the scriptures seeing things in a different light. Some of us dig deep on our own. Some do both. Some do both at different times. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>What I know is, the brain is an amazing thing! The more we dig into scripture, the more the mind will be changed. When you begin to read the Word, ask Father to speak to your heart and mind. Ask Him to show you what you need to know. As you read and learn, talk to Him throughout the reading. I journal thoughts, prayers, and verses. Maybe you want to do that. What I know is, the more you study God's word, the more your thoughts, words, and life will change! The changing of your brain, brings about life change!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I want to inspire you to make the time! Spark up your brain for Jesus! Learn! Apply! Change!</i></span>Larihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779303513200742729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613808136842490954.post-5422877372533494532018-09-11T11:43:00.000-04:002018-09-11T11:43:05.355-04:00~Really Pray~<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>My tea is nearly gone...cool now as I have been sipping it for a while...I am starting this later than usual as today is the sad anniversary of 9/11 and respect for that day was a must! </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Learning and growing...isn't that what we are to do as Jesus followers? In my learning and growing, I am finding that there is SO much more learning and growing...do you think so too? The more I learn and grow closer to Jesus...there is more the need and want to learn and grow even more...what a wonderful cycle to be a part of...learning and growing to learn and grow in Jesus.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>My mind, heart, and soul are full of all sorts of things to share. The "topics" are all dancing around inside me! I sort and pray; wanting to share from Father here...not from me. So, I sit, pray, and wait. Grinning I realize you, reading, have no idea of the wait period. Maybe that's a good thing! </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Prayer...there are a variety of types of prayers. There are "pillow prayers" (as you drift off to sleep), there are "help me" prayers (said urgently in time a a real crisis), there are prayers sent up to Father for healing, there are prayers of simply conversing with Father, there are fervent prayers (in which you make the time to talk to Father about a certain issue), there are simply many types of prayers.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I want to inspire you to make time to pray with all of your mind, heart, and soul for something you know needs much time in prayer. Often such prayers will wipe us out emotionally and/or physically as we take them to Father pouring out our hearts. The prayer could be anything from talking to Father about a relative, something of our own personal concern, praying for the leaders of our country, praying for the leaders of your church...any variety of concerns on your heart. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>In my humble opinion, we as a people have been slacking in prayer. We wonder why our country is in the shape that it is. Really? Do we need to wonder? Do people still pray for our country? We wonder why there are so many issues with people at our church. Again, Really? Do we pray for the people at our church? Do we pray for the leadership? We have family who are in need of Jesus. Maybe you have been praying earnestly for them. Keep praying! </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>"Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God"~ Phil.4:6 Did you catch that? I have read over it many times...read that again! Don't rush through...take it in! It says...Don't be anxious! Some prayers take TIME to be answered for whatever reason! In your requests ask or petition humbly with adoration and with thanksgiving! If you are not sure how to begin your prayer, you can always begin with praising and thanking God...the rest of the words will follow.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>You may say, "Oh, but I don't have the time to really gut it out with Father and pray earnestly." To that, I say, You don't have the time NOT to be in earnest prayer with our Father. Make the time! Prayer is of utmost importance. Can you just imagine your life, the lives of those you care about, your church, the schools,...I could go on...if you or others made the time to REALLY get down on your hands and knees and truly pour your heart out to Father about issues? Lives would be changed! You would be changed! Our God could do so much in fighting through those spiritual realms! Don't you just get all excited in thinking about the awesome changes that could be made JUST because you PRAYED? You prayed in earnest! You set aside time and continued to make the time for pouring out to Father God! </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Make prayer both your lifeline and your lifestyle!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion, and power both now and ever. Amen."~Jude 24-25</i></span>Larihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779303513200742729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613808136842490954.post-20201855189307103582018-08-29T10:47:00.002-04:002018-08-29T10:49:04.965-04:00~After Forgiveness pt. 2~<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Sipping tea on this dreary gray day...after the storm. The storm took out our internet...but many nearby are without power. I am thankful that we have power. In the last blog, I wrote about forgiveness...there is power in forgiveness. Power in forgiveness? That same power that Jesus used to forgive.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Jesus, hung on the cross for each of us. As he hung and looked down at the crowd of people yelling up at Him, a sadness in His heart for all of us, knowing that He came to the earth to show us that we could have a relationship with Father God, Daddy. He looked and saw the crowd. Did he also see those who weren’t there? Those of us yet to sin? To spit in His face? To mock Him? I don’t know. I do know that He took upon Himself all of the sins that were and that were to come. He looked out at the crowd and said, “Father forgive them…” That was powerful! That was from the Holy Spirit! How else would He have the strength to forgive? </i></span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>There were theives hanging by His side. One theif mocked Jesus. The other rebuked the theif who mocked Jesus saying, “Do you not fear God since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the the reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong. And he said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And He (Jesus) said to him, truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.~Luke23:40-43</i></span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>There is a difference in the crowd and the theif who asked Jesus to remember him. There is a difference in Jesus’ forgiveness of the crowd and of the theif. The crowd continued to mock Jesus. To accuse Him. To taunt Him. The crowd, like those in our lives who have abused, threatened, caused harm to a loved one, deeply wounded us...The crowd was forgiven by Jesus. He gave them the grace of His Father. He showed mercy and compassion. So, like Jesus, we have that power to forgive because of the Holy Spirit in us. As gut wrenching and difficult as it may be...we can...in Jesus name and with the power of the Holy Spirit...forgive. As, Jesus demonstrated, He forgave! There was a difference in the “after” of the forgiveness for the crowd and for the theif.</i></span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>To the theif hanging by His side, He said, “today you will be with Me in paradise.” Jesus forgave the theif! Jesus would have a relationship (in paradise) with that theif. The “after” came with grace! It came with mercy! It came with compassion! Unlike the mocking crowd. The crowd that caused Jesus so much heart ache whose “after” was a “type” of comfort...if they cared to know...they were forgiven. Jesus didn’t say, “hey, today we’re going to have a big party! We are going to celebrate that I forgave you!” Nor did He say, “I forgave you so now let’s hang out sometime.” No, Jesus forgave! They still mocked! Their hearts were still hard! Whereas to the theif hanging beside Him, Jesus said, “you are forgiven! You and I will be together in paradise! We will hang out sometimes!” </i></span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>We are told to forgive! Forgiveness takes Holy Spirit power! As in 2 Corinthians 2: 5 and 7, we are told to comfort after we forgive. We have given mercy! (that is a tough thing to do without Jesus and the Holy Spirit). The “comfort” after forgiving someone may be that smile you give them when you see them. It may be a note in the mail. It may be hanging out with them some. OR with some whom we need to forgive who have shattered our lives, is Father asking you to comfort them? Maybe, maybe not. Jesus didn’t command it. Sometimes it isn’t possible to comfort the offender. Even if you “comfort” someone who has offended us, we are not guaranteed a positive response. </i></span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>After you have forgiven an offender, have a real heart to heart talk with Father. Your willingness (obedience) to do what He tells you...is what He wants. I know in the previous blog (first part) I encouraged you to forgive and comfort. In that instance, I was more referring to more “simple” wrongs done against us...slander, attitude issues, an argument that no one “won”....resentments you need to deal with...forgive! And yes comfort! (show mercy). The more heart wrenching, gut wrenching offenses need to be forgiven...you need healing time...but with that Holy Spirit power, you CAN forgive! As in the situation with the crowd, unless you are told by Father, there is a difference in the result. You can have mercy! And heal and move on with God.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>With the power of the Holy Spirit, you can forgive! The true Comfort comes from Him! When you forgive, you will have freedom! Freedom! Joy! Peace! </i></span></span></div>
Larihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779303513200742729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613808136842490954.post-30226901731649541042018-08-28T09:56:00.000-04:002018-08-28T09:56:52.235-04:00~After Forgiveness~<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Sipping my tea with you...I'd like to talk with you about something that for some maybe makes you uncomfortable or wince a little...I want to talk with you about.......Forgiveness.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Many of us are familiar with reading or hearing things like, "Forgive others because that sets you free." "You need to forgive others so that God will hear your prayers and forgive you." (Mark 11:25) These things are familiar to us right? </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>To forgive someone who has deeply hurt you emotionally, physically, or mentally is extremely difficult. We can't do it on our own. I am not going to spend time here detailing various abusive situations that need forgiveness. To be able to forgive someone, you need to have a heart to heart with Father. Pour out your heart, mind, and soul to Him. Search the scriptures. Father is there for you to lean on, cry on...He has BIG shoulders and He is your amazingly wonderfully caring and compassionate Daddy. He loves you like no one ever has! He wants the best for you as only He can. I encourage you to go to Him and ask Him for His help in forgiving that one who hurt you so deeply.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I want to focus on something regarding forgiveness but not delving into details of deep wounds (you and God can gt into those details if you need to forgive a deep wound). Some of you need to forgive others simply for the way they treat you. Maybe whatever it was that happened has driven a wedge between you an another...it dug at that tender spot in your heart. Or whatever you need to forgive of someone is something they have done against you...lied about you...slandered your name...nothing truly extremely abusive but they have offended you and there is hurt there...an emotional wound.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>So, we know we need to forgive that person. Jesus told us to forgive others as our Father in heaven forgives us. Did you know that you have a responsibility AFTER you forgive? </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Check this out:</i></span><br />
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<b><span class="versenum" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Now </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28813E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28813E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">if anyone has caused pain, </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28813F" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28813F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">he has caused it not to me, but </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28813G" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28813G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you.....</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">so </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28815I" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28815I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.~2 Corinthians 2:5,7</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Paul had not been with those in Corinth (to forgive anyone) but he was telling them that if someone caused THEM pain, they are to forgive the person. Did you read that next part? "and comfort him". What?!?!? We not only are supposed to forgive the one who hurt us, wronged us...but we are to comfort that person? </i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Think about this...we, the Jesus follower, once hurt Jesus...wronged Jesus...with our attitudes and actions. In order to become a Jesus follower, we needed to ask His forgiveness. He forgave us for all that we did against Him. Was that easy? No! He went to the cross for us! He bled in agony with nails in His hands and feet and a nasty crown of thorns pressed down on His head. He sacrificially forgave us. </i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Jesus forgave...then He comforted. He rose from the dead...to walk out...to tell us that He would be with us always and that He was sending His Spirit to be with us...to comfort us. After all the things we did to Him...took Him to that cross....He forgave and comforted! </i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Jesus follower, you are to be like Christ. Forgive! Comfort! After you have had the help of Jesus to forgive the offender, ask Jesus how it is He wants you to comfort that person. Maybe it's simply to smile at them whenever you see them. Maybe it is to do some sort of an act of kindness. Maybe send them an encouraging note. Ask Jesus, He is the Comforter of ALL comforters! He will guide you.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>I urge you, to take to heart that passage in 2 Corinthians...forgive and comfort! When you obey Father in doing this, you will be changed! Your communication (prayers) with Father will be more heart felt and you will hear Him more clearly. Your heart, soul, and mind will have real Joy. You will have an amazing Freedom!</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Forgive! Comfort!</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>Larihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779303513200742729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613808136842490954.post-51217813317417408422018-08-21T10:11:00.001-04:002018-08-21T10:11:54.575-04:00~God Smack~<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Again I am sipping my tea here with you...reflecting. The rain was pouring down outside and now appears to be slowing down. We needed the rain. The earth was dry. Refreshing! YES! Now the earth is refreshed. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I have completed reading the Psalms and have begun to read a new book...well new to me. The book is all about fervent praying. I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel and think I am more Jesus-y than I am...more spiritual. Then I get a subtle smack of reality. I am me here...open...honest...so I will tell you that I have been "smacked" with the reality of my "Jesus-y" life in the past couple weeks.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I was reading a devotional about pride. Pride? "Na, can't relate. It's never been an issue with me", I told God. Father said, "really?" Looking up at Him, "well I am not one who goes around saying 'Oh look at me! See what I have done! See how good I do things.' So, no, God, it's not an issue with me." Again Father whispered, "really!" This time more in a "tone". So, I sat in my chair thinking. Well, this was a wake up call. I HAD been being prideful in a way I never thought I would or that I thought of as prideful until I searched my heart and soul. I needed to humble myself. I was prideful in being Jesus-y. What? How can you be prideful in that, you ask. Easy! I cherished my time with Father and all that I was learning from Him. That isn't prideful, you say. You are correct! Learning from Him and being with Him is not prideful BUT the pride came in when I began to think, (oh and this is even humbling to admit), but I began to think that I was a better Jesus follower than some. Ouch! That hits at my heart and soul. It is the truth. It was pride. So, I had to deal with that with Father! We dealt with it! So now, I can honestly say, I no longer think or feel that way! Whew! Then I was recently "smacked" with another reality.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I am reading a book now, as I said, about praying fervently. The very first chapter was focused on praying to get your passion back. "Well, God, I will read this chapter because I really like the author and how she 'talks' and I will very likely find some good things in here that she says," I told Father. I began to read. She had very good things to say. Besides, I like her writing style because it is real and it is like she is there talking to me. As I was reading, Father tapped me on the shoulder. "Um, you do commune with me a lot, but you don't get down and passionately talk to Me." I took a pause in my reading. I searched my heart and soul. Wow! Smack! I do talk to Father on and off all day long...and I love that communication. I talk and listen as we go about our day. But He was right, of course, it has been a long time since I truly fervently and passionately prayed. Oh, of course I pray for issues and people as need arises. I have not been fully participating in prayer! I learned, in reading, that I need to return to the heart wrenching prayers! The lifting of my hands up in prayer! The deeper life prayers! </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I was "God smacked" twice within a couple of weeks. Some may call them "wake up calls". It's important to soul search. The time of reading the Psalms taught me the importance of obeying God. There was a reason and learning from Him wanting me to only focus on the Psalms and no other written books. For me, the main reason was obedience. I listened to and learned from Father by obeying. Other authors had become my learning. Father showed me that my learning must come from His Word and not what others have to say about His word. Yes, He gave them the gift and ability of writing and that is well and good BUT His Word is Truth and THE Word! The Psalms showed me things....and then I was ready to move on back into reading what people had to say. This time with a different approach. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I want to challenge you. Maybe challenge is the wrong word. I want to Inspire you to look deep into your heart and soul. Maybe you will get assistance from a book. Searching scriptures WILL help. But, look into your heart and soul. Is there something hidden that you need to take care of with Father. I honestly had no idea there were a couple hidden things in me that I had to go to Father with until I read from things others had to say. Maybe someone has confronted you with something you need to change and you put it off as more of a criticism. Whatever the case, talk to Father about it. He listens. Wait for Him to respond. Be still! Sit quietly with Him! </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span class="text Jer-29-11" id="en-ESV-19647" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">"</span><span style="background-color: white;">T</span><span class="text Jer-29-12" id="en-ESV-19648" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">hen you will call upon me and come and pray to me, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-19648D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-19648D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>and I will hear you.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Jer-29-13" id="en-ESV-19649" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">You will seek me and find me, when you seek me <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-19649F" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-19649F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:12-13</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." Mark 12:30</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you, I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh" Ezekiel 36:26</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>Larihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779303513200742729noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613808136842490954.post-71190416376668499292018-08-07T10:37:00.002-04:002018-08-07T10:37:34.244-04:00~Praise~<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I enjoy sipping my tea here with you as we share together. If you have been reading along here for a while you know that I have been reading the Psalms. I have read many of them before but now I am reading them in the order written in the Bible. There are a variety of emotions expressed in the Psalms. They were written by different people...some of whom I had not heard of before....you can check them out for yourself :) </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Sometimes I read just one Psalm a day. Sometimes I read a few...it all depends on the flow of the Psalms. Many Psalms repeat historical stories for the people of that day in order for them to learn from their past. Some of the Psalms are lamenting. Many give praise to Father. As we go back and forth in our emotional and spiritual talks with Father...praising Him, whining (lamenting)...praising Him....so does the Psalmist at times in the same passage. We are so human! </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>We express our needs, wants, desires to Father. We know we sound so selfish in that as He has given us ALL we need. He is our strength! He is our hope! He is our Joy! He is our constant! He IS! As I said, it is so human to lament...or whine. Think of this, Jesus gave up the sounds of heaven...the singing, the rejoicing, the praising...to come to this chaotic world. Jesus gave up the beauty, beauty that cannot even begin to be described...to come to this world His Father created that has lost its "shine". Jesus gave up being side by side with His Father, to come to earth to walk among people and yes, still be able to talk with His dad but had to dwell among the people here who doubted Him, came to Him only for their needs, lied about Him...oh yes, some believed He said He was who He claimed to be. He lived here with people who were always wanting from Him.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Are we any different? There were some who "sang" His praises. Some understood that He was God in flesh as He claimed. They wanted to be near Him. They worshiped Him. One lady poured her most expensive perfume over His feet. Was that a waste? No! Jesus gave His all for all! This lady knew His worth! As I said, most WANTED from Him...Few PRAISED Him for WHO He was(is). </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>We need to realize His "worth". Jesus, our Lord, gave up Everything for each individual person. He gave His life on the cross. </i></span><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">“</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Worthy</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">is</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">the</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Lamb</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"> who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”~Rev. 5:12</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>How is it then that we forget to give Him praise? We go about our daily life doing this and that. When troubles come, we are SURE to go to Him and tell Him our woes. Sure it is easy to praise Him and sing His praises when everything in life is peachy. Oh, we lift up our hands in our church worship services praising and singing...that is all well and good! Keep doing that! But out and about in our daily life...how often do we praise Him? How often do you thank Him for something minor...like remembering where you put your cell phone? or thanking Him for the beautiful birds that come and eat out of your feeders? How often do you tell Him you are glad for this or that? or that you are thankful for that one amazing friend in your life? </i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>We need to praise...praise...PRAISE...keep Praising! "They" say that when you do something for 30 days in a row, it becomes a habit. Challenge: as you go about your day, for the next 30 days Praise/Thank Jesus for small and large things in your life. It will become a habit! As you go about your day, shoot up a praise to Him on and off. </i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span class="text Ps-104-33" id="en-ESV-15605" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; position: relative;">"I will sing to the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-15605A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-15605A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>as long as I live;</span><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="text Ps-104-33" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">I will sing praise to my God while I have being."~Psalms 104:33</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Live that Psalm! Memorize it! Our Lord is so worthy of all of our praise! He is our Life and Breath! He is our Strength! He is our Peace! He is our Joy! He is our Savior! He is our EVERYthing!</i> </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">"The Lord is my Strength and my song, and He has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him, my father's God and I will exalt Him"~Exodus 15:2</span></span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif;">Hallelujah~to boast in God, let us praise the Lord</b><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>Larihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779303513200742729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613808136842490954.post-14614974034269589472018-07-31T10:30:00.002-04:002018-07-31T10:36:50.674-04:00~Teapot for Jesus~<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Sipping my tea here with you...savoring the taste...I look up at a shelf on my wall with special tea cups (they were either my mom's or my grandma's) and see a very special teapot. The teapot has survived many years...and many teas. My mom used to have teas at our home. I remember the ladies sitting around our dining room table smiling and talking but what I remember most is the teapot. I would follow my mom around the table from lady to lady as she poured the tea from this teapot. You see, this teapot would play "Tea for Two" and I enjoyed hearing the tune. There was a little thing you wound up on the bottom of the pot that could not be seen unless you were looking at the bottom of the teapot. Who looks at the bottom of a teapot? The tea bags were in the teapot to steep and create tasty tea. The pot had beautiful flower designs on the outside with an attractive spout. The song, oh the song was cheery that came from within. Amazingly, the lovely teapot has withstood time. There are no cracks in it. It still sings when wound. It can still hold the hot water and teabags. It still has a purpose. I prefer to allow it to set, along with my other collectible tea things, on a shelf above the rest of the room.</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsr8w-0ekDJyDkxklkd3FmhgM1pEuqLzZuZ_Cfn6bQ_uNf0X_-4Vx-XOgQLryZ40BthCCa2t3569Kiww5DAxxtXqwRw-97Bc3qfdnyX60B5yZiWdHtUa3KpCYEqSoKxcIFGJ3HvXluOp30/s1600/mom%2527s+tea+pot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsr8w-0ekDJyDkxklkd3FmhgM1pEuqLzZuZ_Cfn6bQ_uNf0X_-4Vx-XOgQLryZ40BthCCa2t3569Kiww5DAxxtXqwRw-97Bc3qfdnyX60B5yZiWdHtUa3KpCYEqSoKxcIFGJ3HvXluOp30/s320/mom%2527s+tea+pot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>How like the teapot we are....or should be. The tea bags are set inside and the string and tags draped over the side. We are given Truth, the Word of God. If we add the water (baptism) of the Holy Spirit the flavor of the Word will steep and filter through our souls. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit so we need to do our best to care for them. We need to eat healthy and keep active in some way. Just as the teapot is attractive on the outside keeping the pretty flowers and no cracks and there are no issues on the inside. The song in our heart and soul comes from an inner source, Jesus. As it says in Psalm 118:14, "<b>The Lord is my strength and my song, He</b> has become <b>my</b> salvation." Therefore, what pours out of us, as the spout of the teapot, is the flavored tea....the Truth inside us.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>I have written of the Truth in previous writings. When we truly make time to be with Father, we will know Truth because HE is Truth. His Word is Truth. There are several verses in the Bible telling us that He is Truth. You can do a search. When we obey Him and learn His Truth, we will have whatever it takes to fight off the enemy. The enemy doesn't want the Holy Spirit poured into your soul. He doesn't want you to steep the Holy Spirit because he knows that when you do, you will have more power than he could ever have in the name of Jesus. When we have that Holy Spirit Power we have more power than that that raised Jesus from the dead. THAT is a LOT of POWER! Imagine if even a fraction of those of us who say we are followers of Jesus would truly believe, obey, and receive that Power! Wow! We would be HOT (like the hot tea water) for Jesus and whatever needs to be done in His name. We need to soak up the Word of God so that we can pour out His Truth to those around us AND when the enemy comes to attack. Because of the Power, the enemy is a saucer (under that teacup waiting to be filled with the Word) but he doesn't have the hold if we take captive every word and thought (2 Corinthians 10:5) and obey Christ. When we reach out to those around us, filling them with the goodness (Truth) of Jesus, we have obeyed our Father and now ti is up to the person has to decide what to do. The other aspect of Truth, as I have said, is that the Truth is a sword (as in Ephesians 6) and when the enemy comes at us, we need to use that sword to battle for our soul. Know the Truth! Memorize!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>The teapot has been taken care of. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 it reads, "</i></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Or do you not know that your body is a </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">temple</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">of</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">the</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Holy</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Spirit</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were b</span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">ought with a price. So glorify God in your body." <i>This is an issue for many of us. It is easy to be lazy and eat whatever and not move our bodies more. To me, this says to obey God and take care of our bodies. Do the best we can with what we live in. The teapot is the outer shell as our bodies are our outer selves. The teapot holds inside what is truly important, the Truth but it also needs to be well cared for. I urge you to talk to Father about what He wants you to do to take care of your body!</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><i>Ah, the song! Jesus is OUR song! As long as we keep Him "wound up" inside us we will have the melody Jesus gives. Just as that little wind-y thing on the bottom of the teapot needs assistance, so we need to keep Jesus active in our hearts, minds, and souls! Until recently, I never really thought of Jesus as a song in my heart and soul. I never really "got it". So, what does it mean that Jesus is our song? What does a song do? It expresses the attitude and emotion of the composer. We, followers of Jesus, have the Composer living within us who gives us the song in our hearts and souls! Read again, </i></span></span><i style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Psalm 118:14, "<b>The Lord is my strength and my song, He</b> has become <b>my</b> salvation." </i><br />
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<i style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Remember, dear one, Jesus is Truth and our Song! With Truth we can show others who He is! With Truth we can overcome the enemy! With the Song we can have His Joy and Peace! My dear friend, keep the Melody in your heart and soul! Go about your day in the victory of Truth! </i><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>Larihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779303513200742729noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613808136842490954.post-43188660133932142642018-07-24T10:10:00.000-04:002018-07-24T10:10:41.030-04:00~Divine Introductions~<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>As I sit sipping my tea, I think back to last week. I was away. It was a family time of relaxation and simply being alone together. That doesn't happen enough with families. During our time together we made a stop at a place that I saw along the road through town. We stopped. It wasn't open but would be open until 5:00 p.m the next day. My husband assured me that we could return tomorrow.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The following day, the promise was kept. It was the first place we stepped foot in when we arrived in that city. Introductions were made to the lady working there and we began to strike up a conversation. During our chat, another lady entered and the four of us began conversing.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>There was something about this lady. Her eyes shown. She was alight with conversation with words telling me she knows our Father. It was pretty cool. I was glad to see someone with such energy and boldness. The two of us hit if off conversationally. She cheerfully asked to "friend" me on Facebook. We set that up right then and there on our cell phones. We talked some more and then were on our way.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I excitedly talked to my husband about the new friend I met. In my head I was thinking, "I really want to get to know her. She seems like a truly sincere follower of Jesus but I don't want to blow her away and throw all sorts of information about myself at her." I was thankful that God introduced us.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Settling back at the place where we were staying. I picked up my cell phone and got into Facebook. I became a "stalker" ha ha! as I noticed that she had some friends who had mutual friends of mine. I was intrigued so I scrolled through some of them. Some of her friends knew my aunt right next door to where we were staying, some new two different cousins of mine, some knew my friend in the Upper Peninsula, some knew people from my church. This was NOT a coincidence that we met.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I decided to message her and get to know her a little better. We talked a little in messenger. Come to find out, some of the people who were friends of mine and her friends knew each other through the ministry, Keryx. This is where the truly God introduction part comes in...my new friend told me that her father in law lived in my town. She said his wife had passed away and she was concerned for him. She shared with me how she had been praying that he would attend a church. She told me she would mention to him meeting some people from town. She wanted to be careful in her wording to him. In all of this...I have no doubt that God introduced us that day.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>First of all, we (my family) did not have plans to be vacationing in northern Michigan during the week we met. Our plans were changed and it worked out for us to stay in the quietness of the North. Secondly, the place where I had stopped had been closed during my first stop. Thirdly, people don't just wander in during that time of day and strike up conversations. Our Father allowed us to have a connection for a divine purpose. My friend asked me to pray for her father in law. I LOVE to pray! Of course I will pray for him!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>God is good...All the time...All the time...God is good! </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Father heard a prayer I said to Him just a day before meeting my friend. I had asked for another Jesus-y friend. Father only knows what will become of this friendship. My new friend is on FIRE for Jesus and it was encouraging to see and hear! As I said, you could see Jesus in her eyes! This meeting was from Jesus. Her father in law needs prayer, and I am blessed to be able to pray for him. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>In sharing this whole encounter with you, I hope that you will be encouraged in realizing that you never know who Father may introduce you to. He uses a variety of ways to introduce. I met another friend (now friends on Facebook) because I was a consult for my plastic surgeon (from having reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy). I would be asked if I would talk with various patients. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I contacted a patient who had some questions and concerns. We began to open up and talk more freely. Somehow she had met my son at a conference where her son spoke. The truly awesome thing was that she was a follower of Jesus and now we converse some and I asked her if she would read over a devotional I feel led to write (to begin in the fall). She said she would be glad to.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I thank God for introducing me to these two ladies! You never know...as God only knows...who you may meet up with, strike up a conversation with, and begin a friendship with.....through the Divine Introduction of Father! </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I want to inspire you to continue conversing with Father as you go about your day but also to pour out your heart to Him during your times of quiet aloneness with Him. During such times He will speak with you! He will hear your heart cries! I find it helpful to keep a journal of my thoughts and prayers to Him. I like to look back, reading what He and I have been through together and read answers to prayers. I want to encourage you to do these things because I believe it will prepare your heart, soul, and mind for Divine Introductions. We never know who we will meet. We never know upon meeting someone that our words to them could encourage them. God knows! God introduces! Fix your heart, soul, and mind on Jesus. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up just as you are doing." ~1 Thessalonians 5:11</i></span>Larihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779303513200742729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613808136842490954.post-47750125118160322232018-07-10T11:28:00.003-04:002018-07-10T11:28:38.033-04:00~Freedom in De-Cluttering Heart, Soul, and Mind~<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Have you ever had one of those "this and that" mornings? Today! As I was talking with Father this morning during my Inspirational time...I was telling Him how I had to take care of some things before I could sit down here and talk with you. I had to take care of a few little "this and thats" before I knew I could fully focus here with you. I also told Him...we...(He and I) would write together here. I so enjoy expressing with Him!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I have been going through a variety of writings about de-cluttering and minimalizing. I am far from a minimalist but I am closer than I was! I have been de-cluttering THINGS in my home. A meme on Pinterest reads: Minimalism isn't about removing the things you love. It's more about removing the things that distract you from the things you love.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>There are so many "types" of de-cluttering. For instance, I de-cluttered my summer clothes and my clothing barely takes any closet space. I love that! I only wore what I liked anyhow, so now only what I like hangs in my closet as a choice. I de-cluttered "stuff"...and still am! If it was buried in a cupboard somewhere...what good was it? Gone! There are many things we can de-clutter. Today I got rid of a social media site that quite honestly just takes up time to check out. Sure the pictures and memes were fun and interesting but my eyes and mind have enough to do with what I do have in social media. There comes a time, when you sit down, evaluate, and realize that "I have a lot of STUFF in my life". Is it all necessary? </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>We can clutter our homes with things...oh it was on sale so what a bargain...is it a bargain if it brings more clutter to your home and atmosphere? We can clutter our lives with all sorts of social media...busy-ness...people...We can clutter our minds with worry...stresses...fears...</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>It is truly liberating when we free ourselves of STUFF...TIME HOGS...MIND WASTERS! I am not here to tell you of all the things and ways to de-clutter. You can do searches online for all of that. I am here to inspire you to begin to think about doing such things because when you de-clutter it is truly liberating! You feel a freedom. Your mind becomes more alive, fresh, and alert.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Who doesn't want to be more alive, fresh, and alert in Jesus? When our homes and lives are de-cluttered we have that sense of more freedom...more freedom in Jesus. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I have been learning this summer. I thought that I had it mostly all learned because of my different health issues in the past. I thought I had learned to relax mentally taking time to simply sit with Father. I did learn. It was simply the start! I have learned more this summer. I have learned to simply sit! Sit with my cup of tea. Listen to Father. Converse with Father. Yes! I have done those things but...As I am learning to de-clutter my home and more...I am learning to de-clutter time with Father.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>When I sit with Him, there is a freedom. A mental freedom. A spiritual freedom. Freedom in my soul! As it says in John 8:36, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!" </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>How do we receive this freedom? We de-clutter our hearts! In verse thirty four Jesus tells us that whoever practices sin is a slave to sin. We know that sin is anything that goes against God and Truth and the Truth of God's Word. There is no need for me to list the variety of sins. You know your battles and struggles. If you continue to give in to them, Jesus says you are a slave to them. Your struggles, battles, and sinning clutter your mind, heart, and soul. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>So, how do we de-clutter our mind, heart, and soul? Jesus gives a simple answer in verses 31 and 32. "If you abide in my word you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." It's that simple! Clear your clutter! Clear things out of your heart, soul, and mind that have no business being there. You know what they are! Simply take them to Jesus. Give them up. Tell Him you want to "clean house". Talk things out with Him and listen. He will tell you what to get rid of. Then as it says in verse thirty six...."So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!" Now what? You have that awesome spiritual freedom in your heart, soul, and mind. What are you in for?</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I believe that true freedom from Jesus is different for us all as we are all individuals and He knows our inner most being (Psalms 139). So, it is up to us to MAKE the time to experience Jesus. As I said earlier, I have been learning this summer. I am learning how much MORE of Jesus I need. I have also been learning to BE STILL with Him. I can hear you now. Be still? My life is too busy and too hectic! There is just way too much going on. My response. Read from the beginning of what I am telling you...DE-CLUTTER! Get rid of time wasters in your life. You know what they are. Ask Father to help you de-clutter your schedule. Trust me! He will! He wants more than ANYthing to be with you! To sit with you! To converse with you! </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I cherish more than ANYthing my stillness with Father! Sometimes I simply sit quietly with Him. I wait for something to enter my mind. I ask Him why I just have a calm and no real "whoosh" of His presence. His answer is simply, "My calm is what you need! You don't have to FEEL some sort of hovering over your mind." (That hovering is like a hand I have felt before on my mind, His hand) "I am more than a feeling. Sometimes you merely need My calm!" I sit in stillness...in His freedom of heart, soul, and mind. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I hope to inspire you to let yourself be free in Jesus. His freedom is for everyone and it is such an exhilaration! De-clutter your heart, mind, and soul. Experience His Truth! Experience His freedom INDEED! Make time with Jesus your priority! Remove the things that distract you from your First Love...Jesus!</i></span><br />
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<br />Larihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779303513200742729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613808136842490954.post-65059427617359605942018-07-03T11:07:00.002-04:002018-07-03T11:07:56.565-04:00~Refreshed Soul On Fire~<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Join me on this hot July day...sipping my iced tea from my Libby goblet. It is so refreshing! Speaking of refreshing...it is a good time to refresh your soul. Your soul....</i></span><i style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">.<b>the moral nature, the quality that causes emotion and sentiment, the spiritual and moral force...</b></i><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>As I have mentioned, Father has told me to read through the Psalms. For me, He has told me not to read any other "Christian" books at this time but to focus on the Psalms. I am learning why! So much "soul" is written into the Psalms. There are moments of refreshing, moments of heart cries to God, moments of proclaiming very passionately how God is truly needed, exclaiming that Father God is our Rock...our fortress. He is our stronghold! I am seeing and grasping what Father God wanted me to glean from the Psalms. Also, He was wanting me to be obedient...DO what He says!</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Yes! The Psalms are full of "soul". I am going to start now saying, when I write to you I wont apologize for what I say as I am speaking Truth in love. Think what you want of the writer here, but this lady is bursting inside her head and dancing with Jesus. Our dances vary. I am not one to burst out what I know as Truth or what I believe. I do so in more subtle ways. Sometimes here when I talk to you, I don't hold back as much as I do verbally. Writing is my passion and Father wants me to talk with you :) </i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Your soul...that moral nature, the quality that causes emotions and sentiment, the spiritual and moral force...needs tended to.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>So, how do we tend to our soul? Return to that familiar Psalm. The twenty third Psalm. I chose the familiar although there are several written about refreshing and resting in Father. When you read the Psalm, don't just say to yourself, "yeah, yeah I know this one" and read over it quickly...focus...focus on the familiar Psalm.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Verse 1~ The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>What does that mean to you? I am giving not answers here as my hope is that you are in a quiet place listening to Father God. What does this mean to you?</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Verse 2~ He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Oh how wonderful! Notice that it isn't suggested that you lie down...you are MADE to lie down...it is NECESSARY to get the rest for your soul...so..Go with me to that lush greenness! Imagine the plush and lush green pasture and lying in it looking up at the wonders of the sky. Truly make the time to absorb Jesus and rest and refresh. You can hear the quiet waters nearby...the trickling of water over the rocks.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Verse 3~ He refreshes my soul, he guides me along the right paths for His names sake.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Allow your soul to refresh in Him...Speak His name a few times...Jesus...Jesus...Jesus...let HIM fill your soul...oh and when He does...WOW! then he will guide you along the paths He wants for you. Talk with Him. Seek His guidance.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Verse 4~Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil for You are with me. Your rod and your staff they comfort me.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>No matter what you are dealing with at this time of your life, there is no reason to fear (or worry). Father God is right there with you. As the shepherd to the sheep, He guides with His "rod" and "staff". As long as you are with Him, He will keep you in His Peace...His comfort.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Verse 5~You prepared a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows. </i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Because Jesus is with you, you can "rest" (not worry) easy and go about your life. </i></span></span><span style="font-family: Bitter, Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><span style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"> </span></span><i style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Preparing the table with your enemies present...What is God telling you that means for you? Anointing your head with oil in the days of David was a generous gesture saying he was an esteemed guest. How Father God wants to lavish you with such esteem.</i><br />
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<i style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Verse 6~Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever! </i><br />
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<i style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As you continue to follow Jesus...staying close in communion with Him and living as He would want you to live...His goodness and love will be with you ALL the days of your life and you will be with Him when He receives you into His Kingdom.</i><br />
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<i style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, my friend...now you have refreshed your soul! This is where there are no apologies in speaking Truth! You can have that inner dwelling of the Holy Spirit! He can fill your soul! He can light you up from the inside out! He gives you that same power that raised Jesus from the dead! WOW! That' is a LOT of power in Jesus name! Amen!</i><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>There is so much to be given you when you are a Jesus follower! Remember to take the times to refresh your soul! Remember to be still before Father and really listen! Remember to be in His Word! Remember to talk with Him any time and anywhere! </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Know that keeping your relationship fresh and refreshed with Jesus, you will be able to do mighty things in the Name of Jesus and His mighty power! Take His hand...walk with Him...dance with Him...sing with Him...Be that soul on Fire! </i></span><br />
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