Blessing
It has been a great two weeks. I have been on vacation from work. I was hoping to get a lot of work done at home--but the Lord had a different plan.
The first week I was able to get together church history and work on that. We are celebrating our 75th year this year. I am working on it today to finish up the first draft of a small booklet so all the information is in one place. I have a person who is going to proof-read it. Sometimes it is hard to proof-read your own work. If you are a writer you know this very well.
I also had a lot of quiet time the first week. My husband is retired from his main job but is custodian at one of our local churches. So he usually cleans when I am work at the library near by. But the first week he went to work and I stayed home. It was a good time just to relax and do things at my own pace. I was drawn closer to God by having this time alone.
The second week was nice also but I went to work with my husband due to having doctor's appointments and other things going on where it made more sense to go with him so he wouldn't have to come all the way home and then leave again. This worked out good also as I am reading a great Christian book and I to read as my husband while my husband worked. I did some of the lighter work but he did all the heavy stuff.
One other thing I want to mention is how blessed I am to have the husband I have. He is so caring, so loving, and gentle with me most of the time. Of course no marriage is perfect. But he has been my caregiver now for about 44 years out of our 48 years of marriage. He doesn't complain and he is always there for me when I need him.
Another blessing is writing to you. I am home today as I have two days off of work and work three days. So I wanted to get caught up on writing to you. Sometimes when I work a six hour day or a five hour day or even a four hour day when I get home I am just wiped out and so I am not always able to get to the computer to send a post.
If you think of me just pray that I will be faithful to what God has called me to do and that is to write this post to encourage you, share with you what God is doing in my life so it may help you, and for me to pray for you as a group, for I don't know who you are. That I will continue to be healed in body, soul, and mind.
Thank you in advance.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Friday, October 24, 2014
Prayer and Fasting
Blessing
I met with my small group last evening and we talked about prayer and fasting. Those reading this post know how important it is to pray to God the Father. Sometimes He is referred to as Father, My Heavenly Father, Abba (which means Daddy). When we pray to our Father we tell Him how great He is. Next we as Him to forgive us of any sin we have done. Then we thank Him for things He has given to us. And then we ask Him for things. Healing of a sick one, a safe trip etc. Pray, prayer, prayers are mentioned a lot in the Bible.
Fasting is only mentioned seventeen times in the whole Bible.
What is fasting? It is abstaining from food either entirely, like Jesus did in Matthew 4:2, or for a predetermined period of time. It is voluntary and it is to be done in secret. In otherwords don't go around telling everyone that you are fasting. Fasting is between you and God.
Please check with your doctor before you fast. If you have medical problems like having diabetes, or other issues it may not be safe for you to abstain from food. However, you can fast by say giving up watching TV or playing computer games as an example. Then spend that time humbling yourself before God.
You may want to fast if you are in a severe stress mode, or lost of a loved one, major health issues, family problems. There are a lot of reason why you might want to fast. Maybe you just want to have a notebook, pen, Bible and a quiet place and just talk to God and have Him talk to you through His Word.
I met with my small group last evening and we talked about prayer and fasting. Those reading this post know how important it is to pray to God the Father. Sometimes He is referred to as Father, My Heavenly Father, Abba (which means Daddy). When we pray to our Father we tell Him how great He is. Next we as Him to forgive us of any sin we have done. Then we thank Him for things He has given to us. And then we ask Him for things. Healing of a sick one, a safe trip etc. Pray, prayer, prayers are mentioned a lot in the Bible.
Fasting is only mentioned seventeen times in the whole Bible.
What is fasting? It is abstaining from food either entirely, like Jesus did in Matthew 4:2, or for a predetermined period of time. It is voluntary and it is to be done in secret. In otherwords don't go around telling everyone that you are fasting. Fasting is between you and God.
Please check with your doctor before you fast. If you have medical problems like having diabetes, or other issues it may not be safe for you to abstain from food. However, you can fast by say giving up watching TV or playing computer games as an example. Then spend that time humbling yourself before God.
You may want to fast if you are in a severe stress mode, or lost of a loved one, major health issues, family problems. There are a lot of reason why you might want to fast. Maybe you just want to have a notebook, pen, Bible and a quiet place and just talk to God and have Him talk to you through His Word.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Ambassadors For Christ
Blessing For The Day
Last evening, at prayer meeting, we had a missionary speaker. He spoke to us on Sunday morning also. So a lot of the information was repeated. But after he told us more details about his mission field in Canada, with the Native American reservations, he went to II Corinthians 5:20. It was here that I received my blessing.
Here is the verse taken from the New Living Translation: "We are Christ's ambassadors, and God is and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, 'Be reconciled to God'"
So it gives be great joy when I can pass on my blessings to you when it is concerning my Lord. I am His ambassador, I speak on His behalf. I am His month by using His words from His book-the Bible.
Are you His ambassador?
Last evening, at prayer meeting, we had a missionary speaker. He spoke to us on Sunday morning also. So a lot of the information was repeated. But after he told us more details about his mission field in Canada, with the Native American reservations, he went to II Corinthians 5:20. It was here that I received my blessing.
Here is the verse taken from the New Living Translation: "We are Christ's ambassadors, and God is and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, 'Be reconciled to God'"
So it gives be great joy when I can pass on my blessings to you when it is concerning my Lord. I am His ambassador, I speak on His behalf. I am His month by using His words from His book-the Bible.
Are you His ambassador?
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
One Of Those Days
We have been looking at blessings that I have received as a results of being in a Small Group at my church. Yesterday I had a chance to put into practice what I been learning.
It was a very busy day especially for my husband. He is 74 years old and he has raked our backyard at least four times.( 250 feet) Yesterday he wanted to finish up the piles he had started the night before. He was planning on going to his regular job after doing the leaves.
So he went out and spent about an hour-and-half raking the rest of the leaves. So when my husband got through it was lunch time. So we ate lunch at home. Then we started out for the next job.
We arrived and I went and cashed my husband's check while he started in cleaning the church that he cleans every week. I got back and I checked the bathrooms and did some of the other work that needed to be done. I sat down and starting to read a new book I got. My husband finished what he needed to for the day and then we went to Barnes and Nobles.
It was here that the disasters of the day began. I had taken out our membership card and was holding onto it so that I would have it when I went to pay for our items. My husband handed me his item and I had mine and I got into line and was about to pay and realized I didn't have our membership card. So got out of line and we started looking for it. My husband saw one on the desk and the person working there was just calling me to tell me that another customer found it. My husband said that it was mine. He turned around but I had gone to another place. So they found me and the manger gave me my card. I was so thankful.
Then we went on to supper and then we stopped at Radio Shack as we needed a new phone and a speaker. A nice young man helped us find what we were looking for and I was going to pay by check. I looked into my holder and no check book or the book telling me how much money I had in the bank. Panic struck!
So my husband and I started back to Barnes and Noble and on the way I made a call to the store asking if they found a check book. They hadn't, So I prayed and asked my Heavenly Father that the check book would be found.
We arrived back at the Barnes and Noble and my husband started to look in the parking lot and I went into the store. There was no one in line and there was a person cleaning up the area. I told her my name and told her what happened that I had written out a check that afternoon and that---before I could finish the sentence she said, "And you left your checkbook?" I said yes and she said, "I just found it. It was laying on the counter where I had paid for the items. I thanked my Heavenly Father and thanked the girl. We went back to Radio Shack, picked up our things there, then had to stop at the grocery store. We got home about 7:00.
My hockey team played last night and heard some of game in the car and then the rest of it at home. My team lost six to five. So that was how the day ended.
But I was at peace even though I thought I had lost the checkbook, I knew God was with me and even if I did lose it He would show me what to do next. But I am so glad that this time my prayer was answered right away as the girl had found it just before I came into the store.
Blessing
I have a great God and He hears my prayers and gives me peace through storms.
It was a very busy day especially for my husband. He is 74 years old and he has raked our backyard at least four times.( 250 feet) Yesterday he wanted to finish up the piles he had started the night before. He was planning on going to his regular job after doing the leaves.
So he went out and spent about an hour-and-half raking the rest of the leaves. So when my husband got through it was lunch time. So we ate lunch at home. Then we started out for the next job.
We arrived and I went and cashed my husband's check while he started in cleaning the church that he cleans every week. I got back and I checked the bathrooms and did some of the other work that needed to be done. I sat down and starting to read a new book I got. My husband finished what he needed to for the day and then we went to Barnes and Nobles.
It was here that the disasters of the day began. I had taken out our membership card and was holding onto it so that I would have it when I went to pay for our items. My husband handed me his item and I had mine and I got into line and was about to pay and realized I didn't have our membership card. So got out of line and we started looking for it. My husband saw one on the desk and the person working there was just calling me to tell me that another customer found it. My husband said that it was mine. He turned around but I had gone to another place. So they found me and the manger gave me my card. I was so thankful.
Then we went on to supper and then we stopped at Radio Shack as we needed a new phone and a speaker. A nice young man helped us find what we were looking for and I was going to pay by check. I looked into my holder and no check book or the book telling me how much money I had in the bank. Panic struck!
So my husband and I started back to Barnes and Noble and on the way I made a call to the store asking if they found a check book. They hadn't, So I prayed and asked my Heavenly Father that the check book would be found.
We arrived back at the Barnes and Noble and my husband started to look in the parking lot and I went into the store. There was no one in line and there was a person cleaning up the area. I told her my name and told her what happened that I had written out a check that afternoon and that---before I could finish the sentence she said, "And you left your checkbook?" I said yes and she said, "I just found it. It was laying on the counter where I had paid for the items. I thanked my Heavenly Father and thanked the girl. We went back to Radio Shack, picked up our things there, then had to stop at the grocery store. We got home about 7:00.
My hockey team played last night and heard some of game in the car and then the rest of it at home. My team lost six to five. So that was how the day ended.
But I was at peace even though I thought I had lost the checkbook, I knew God was with me and even if I did lose it He would show me what to do next. But I am so glad that this time my prayer was answered right away as the girl had found it just before I came into the store.
Blessing
I have a great God and He hears my prayers and gives me peace through storms.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Once We Are Saved Are We Going To Feel Like We Are?
Once you become a believer are you always going to feel like one? Let's look at Philippians 2:12-13:
"Dearest friends, you were always so careful to follow my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away you must be even more careful to put into action God's saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases Him."
Let's Look A Little Closer
Paul is not with us and we can not see our God or Lord, but we have their words written down for us to guide us and we have the Holy Spirit living within us. So even though they are not before us we are to be careful to follow the Bible's instructions so that we can please our Father and also by obeying we show reverence and respect for Him.
What if we fail? I John 1:8-10
"If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts."
Here we see that we all are sinners. Even after we are saved, we sin. Sin is doing what God does not want us to do. If you steal-steal no more.
When we go to God we tell Him what are sin is. He knows already, but He wants us to see what we have done or haven't done and tell Him about it and then turn from that sin. Then He will forgive us and cleanse us from that sin. Then we can again have the full fellowship with our Father.
We may do it again, and if we do, we go back and confess again. It doesn't mean we should keep on sinning the same sin and God will forgive us, but we are truly trying to be more like Jesus. That is the goal. So we need to inspect our lives and confess the wrongs we see we are doing and go on and become a stronger believer.
"Dearest friends, you were always so careful to follow my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away you must be even more careful to put into action God's saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases Him."
Let's Look A Little Closer
Paul is not with us and we can not see our God or Lord, but we have their words written down for us to guide us and we have the Holy Spirit living within us. So even though they are not before us we are to be careful to follow the Bible's instructions so that we can please our Father and also by obeying we show reverence and respect for Him.
What if we fail? I John 1:8-10
"If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts."
Here we see that we all are sinners. Even after we are saved, we sin. Sin is doing what God does not want us to do. If you steal-steal no more.
When we go to God we tell Him what are sin is. He knows already, but He wants us to see what we have done or haven't done and tell Him about it and then turn from that sin. Then He will forgive us and cleanse us from that sin. Then we can again have the full fellowship with our Father.
We may do it again, and if we do, we go back and confess again. It doesn't mean we should keep on sinning the same sin and God will forgive us, but we are truly trying to be more like Jesus. That is the goal. So we need to inspect our lives and confess the wrongs we see we are doing and go on and become a stronger believer.
Monday, October 20, 2014
One To One Study
Our church just started what is called Small Groups. There are about 5 sets of leaders that have taken a training class. All the leaders are couples so the couples meet in a home of someone in the church. Those who wanted to attend a group signed up with the leaders they wanted or the home that was closes to them. We have a lot of elderly people and it is hard for them to drive at night.
Each group meets at a certain time, has a light meal, then a Bible Study time, and get to know each other a little better time.
One of the leaders of the group preached Sunday night at church and said he had received a blessing from his group. And that gave me the idea of sharing with you the blessings I am receiving from my group.
Here is the first blessing. Ephesians 2:8, 9
For my grace are ye saved through faith and that not yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.
I have been a Christian for a very long time but sometimes even I have not the true understanding of some of the words used in the Bible. So I sat down the other day and tore about these verses and looked up in my Strong's Concordance the words I wanted to know the Greek meeting of.
For my grace. What is grace? Here are some of the definitions I found.
you are saved. Saved from what?
Each group meets at a certain time, has a light meal, then a Bible Study time, and get to know each other a little better time.
One of the leaders of the group preached Sunday night at church and said he had received a blessing from his group. And that gave me the idea of sharing with you the blessings I am receiving from my group.
Here is the first blessing. Ephesians 2:8, 9
For my grace are ye saved through faith and that not yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.
I have been a Christian for a very long time but sometimes even I have not the true understanding of some of the words used in the Bible. So I sat down the other day and tore about these verses and looked up in my Strong's Concordance the words I wanted to know the Greek meeting of.
For my grace. What is grace? Here are some of the definitions I found.
- Favour,
- That which affords joy
- Pleasure
- Delight
- Sweetness
- Charm
- Loveliness
- Grace of speech
- Good will
- Loving
- Kindness
Kindness of God
- Gives us holy influence on our souls
- God turns us to Christ
- Keeps, strengthens, increases us in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles us to exercise Christian virtues.
you are saved. Saved from what?
- Save from danger or destruction
- Keep one from dying
- To be delivered from penalties of God's judgment
- To be saved from evils which obstruct the reception of God's deliverance
through means of, reason by which something is or not done or on account of.
faith
- Belief
- NT conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things.
- Trust
- Holy Fevour born of faith and joined with it
- Conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things
- The provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ
- A strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through when we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God.
Not of yourselves it is the gift of God. Not of works
- An act, deed, thing done
- Any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, industry, or mind.
So if we put these verses in a modern day wording without taking away from its meaning it could read like this:
For by God's favour we are keep safe from danger, destruction, death, and God's judgment and it is by trust, believing, and having conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things. Salvation is that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God.Not of anything deeds, acts, or things done or think, least any man should boast.
Summary
This verse comes down to trusting, believing that Christ alone is what gives us salvation. Not by anything we do but what Christ has done.
Question
How do you know for sure that you are a Christian?
Answer
Believing in your heart, not just head knowledge, that Jesus is the Son of God, sent down to earth, lived for about 33 years, crucified on the cross and shed His blood, was buried, and rose again so that we can have a relationship with His Father who is God. Without shedding of Christ's blood there is no remission of sin in our life.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
I Did It!
I mentioned in my last post that I had gotten a new camera and I was trying to put the pictures onto my computer so I could share with you some of the beauty of Upper New York State. Well it took me awhile but did figure out and did put the pictures on my computer. Now let's see if I can share them.
As you can tell most taken from a moving car. The last picture that I have here I took from my back steps looking across the river and on the hillside. The colors are just beautiful.
Hope you like the pictures.
As you can tell most taken from a moving car. The last picture that I have here I took from my back steps looking across the river and on the hillside. The colors are just beautiful.
Hope you like the pictures.
And remember God is so good!
Monday, October 13, 2014
Strange Things Happening Before I Come To The Computer
It is already the middle of October. It does not seem possible. Here in my area the leaves have already turned colors and now the trees are becoming bear. We had some beautiful oranges and red colored leaves this year. I got some great picture but they are on a new camera and haven't figured out yet how to get them over to my computer so can use them. As soon as I do I will post some.
I love this time of season. The air smells different, the trees are beautiful colors, and it just a great time of year. I am thankful that I live in an area with the different seasons. Winter is a little hard but it is still can be a beautiful time.
I haven't written as I am still recovering from the car accident that my husband and I had in August. I did not get hurt to bad, like broken bones and things like that, but I did get a bad whip lash and the seat belt cut into my throat and I have no protection for my vocal cords so they have been bruised so I am not suppose to talk at all. Have you ever tried not to talk? It is very hard. I do know some sign language and that helps when I am in church and what to join in the singing. I can sign most of the songs. I am able to talk a little more, but still lose my voice after a few minutes. Also it hurt to sit for at the computer for any length of times so that is the main reason that haven't written.
I went to a chiropractor for the first time last week. He said I might hear some popping noise. I didn't hear any but sure felt when he jerked my neck back in place. I feel so much better. It sacred me at first thinking if he just made a slight mistake I could be damaged for life. But he knew what he was doing and it worked out fine. I go back to him today.
Will I guess that is all the things that happened before I came to the computer to write. I am really wanting to write each day. I miss not doing this. But I just couldn't sit to long at a time without hurting as I mentioned above.
Thank you for your prayers and I do hope I will be faithful in writing how the Lord is working in my life and this will encourage you that He can work in your life too. We have a great God!
I love this time of season. The air smells different, the trees are beautiful colors, and it just a great time of year. I am thankful that I live in an area with the different seasons. Winter is a little hard but it is still can be a beautiful time.
I haven't written as I am still recovering from the car accident that my husband and I had in August. I did not get hurt to bad, like broken bones and things like that, but I did get a bad whip lash and the seat belt cut into my throat and I have no protection for my vocal cords so they have been bruised so I am not suppose to talk at all. Have you ever tried not to talk? It is very hard. I do know some sign language and that helps when I am in church and what to join in the singing. I can sign most of the songs. I am able to talk a little more, but still lose my voice after a few minutes. Also it hurt to sit for at the computer for any length of times so that is the main reason that haven't written.
I went to a chiropractor for the first time last week. He said I might hear some popping noise. I didn't hear any but sure felt when he jerked my neck back in place. I feel so much better. It sacred me at first thinking if he just made a slight mistake I could be damaged for life. But he knew what he was doing and it worked out fine. I go back to him today.
Will I guess that is all the things that happened before I came to the computer to write. I am really wanting to write each day. I miss not doing this. But I just couldn't sit to long at a time without hurting as I mentioned above.
Thank you for your prayers and I do hope I will be faithful in writing how the Lord is working in my life and this will encourage you that He can work in your life too. We have a great God!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)