Is this all

Slightly over two years have passed since I last posted anything. The question that is  foremost in my mind, is this all there is? My answer is no there is more. We look to things, people and events to define our life and when we do not receive them we think," is this all there is?"
  My life has not progressed on the loss of weight like I thought it would but my knee is fixed. My finances are not where I thought they would be at this time of life but all my bills save 2 small and my house are all paid for. My relationships with those around me are not where I thought they would be but this has made me look to the one who is my closest friend.
 You see we all have those moments when we wonder what we should have done different and yes sometimes you have to do differently. But other times it is life in a fallen, sin filled world. BUT this world is not my home. The word tells me I am just a traveler passing through. The world tells me that God's heaven is my home. The world tells me that I am more than a conqueror in Christ who strengthens me.
I have so many deaths of loved ones in the past two years but they were ready and I will see them again. I have been called names, lied on, but as long as Jesus accepts me who are they. " I am mad," really? Of whom shall I fear. "You are hard hearted!" no just leaning on Jesus and not turning into a chicken little. I have been emotionally and verbally abused and yes it makes my heart sad, I am human after all BUT my comforter the Holy Spirit will heal the wounds you have inflicted in ignorance, meanness or because you need to deflect instead of dealing with your own feelings.
SO to answer my foremost question, " Is this all there is?" Maybe for the moment BUT I am waiting on God to move in my behalf and I WILL REST until He does.

Royal Connections: Firecracker or Dud

Royal Connections: Firecracker or Dud: Apostle Paul makes a point in 1Cor. 15:31 that he dies daily. Dies daily you question? What does that mean to die daily? Rest assured he is ...

What IF?

The word IF is used appx. 331 times in the Word of God(KJV). IF can mean uncertain or can also be a condition. Let us look at the condition. IF, IF  only, IF I had.. How many times have you said this to yourself? IF I had only done this then that would not have happened. IF only that then I would be in a better place. Well  there is another if.. IF my people that are called by My name shall humble themselves and pray, then WILL I hear from Heaven, forgive their sins and heal their land.

 Now in truth God was speaking to the Israelis and referring to their actual country. I would say and you would more than likely agree that our country needs healing. However, I pose a question..what IF we as individuals humbled ourselves before God  and our spiritual man(Land) was healed, on fire and full of the Holy Spirit? What IF the church(the people, not the building) began acting more like Jesus and less like the world? What IF the houses of God would be full of His glory and power. What IF? You could do away with gimmicks, because you would be burning for Christ and people would come just to see you 'burn' if not for any other reason .lol. Our marriages, children, families, finances, in other words our lives would flourish and be a beacon for the lost and dying.

We feel helpless and frozen in place from all the missed choices and chances. We have turned right when we should have gone left, we have stood when we should have sat..In short we have messed up our lives most royally. I like many of you think of all the what IFs? Let me bring you some wonderful news... The past is gone and wallowing in guilt and self condemnation will not change it. The GOOD NEWS is this--- The Lord's mercies are new EVERY morning and IF we repent and turn from our wicked ways, our self propelled choices He WILL forgive us, restore us and set us on the path to life in abundance. Then we will walk in victory and power causing change all around us :)  So let me ask, "What IF?"

Not a list of rules

Eph.3v7- I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of His power. In times past and still ongoing in some places you are handed a list of rules to follow..this is what you must do to be a Christian.  You must not do this, You must do that, step out of line and no no no, you are no Christian. You must speak a certain way or you are not in Faith. Lord help us. Paul said it well. He became a servant/follower of the gospel not of his own doing but by the working of God's grace brought to bear by God's power.
         Should you be reading the bible? Should you be praying? Should you be attending worship services? Should you be???? Yes however none of these things make you a servant of the gospel. Pastor this weekend spoke on the differences between being religious and being 'born-again' or a servant of this gospel. Following a list of rules of do and do not's will not reconcile you to God. It will just make you religious and miserable. You can not work your way into God's good graces. When you make Jesus Lord of your life you will find love at work.. You read, pray, attend ect because you are so in love with The Lord . It becomes a Joy not a chore, rule ect.
       I heard a few years ago something that tickled my mind. A religious person and  a servant of the gospel will many times end up in the same place, doing the same things. The difference is one is doing it in their own power and grit their teeth getting there and the servant of the gospel is involved, doing it in joy. You can only grit your teeth so long. Have you noticed the ones who live by religious rules not Holy Ghost fuel are most miserable. Sour faced, sour spirited, sad, sad, sad. But let them fall in love with Jesus and their countenance changes.
    So does this mean anything goes? As Paul said one more than one occasion,'Heaven Forbid'. Of course there are behaviors that should not be named among the brethren.Of course as you grow there are expectations of better behaviors..But those behaviors, lifestyles, ways of being are fueled by the power of His(God's) grace. We attain it through Him, our love of Him spurring us onward and upward. So it is all in Him and through Him that we come, grow and live. No list of rules can accomplish it..but by the power of His grace we shall overcome.

Enlighten

Enlighten our eyes,
show us your ways,
that times of refreshing may come.

Enlighten our eyes,
strengthen our resolve,
to put away those things which are not pleasing to you.

 We live in a world,
Help captive by sin,
little by little sin has crept in.

Enlighten our eyes,
 show us your ways,
that Revival may come to your people.

Nevertheless

Today in my scripture reading I was directed to the Old Testament. 2nd Kings 13:1-5a. Israel once had straying into 'sin'. They were doing evil in the sight of God so God had brought the King of Syria against them as correction.Jehoahaz, the King of Israel, pleaded with God to deliver them from the hardships and distruction that they were experiencing. God sent them a deliverer so that they once again experienced peace and dwelt in their tents. NEVERTHELESS....they did not depart from the sins that Jereboam had led them into. In fact they walk in said sins.
     How many times have we walk in sin. We stray and worship idols of our day--self, money, partying, stuff, power, our rights ect. We drink, whore, cheat, fight, judge, in other words sin. Our world at some point comes crashing down around our heads. We find ourselves in financial, spiritual,mental or relationship distress. So what do we do? We do like Israel and we call out to God. God answers and restores our peace, our joy, our homes, our finances and our relationships..NEVERTHELESS...
     We do not quit living the lifestyles that got us into the messes to begin with. When will we learn? I guess is is said well in our venecular, " How's it workin' for you?" Another saying that I feel expresses it well is this..." The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results."
     Do you want a true change? Then make a change. Not only cry out to God for help, call out to God and make His Son Jesus Lord of your life. Put away your 'idols'. You will find in him everything you will ever need.

Don't be a NEVERTHELESS person be a BECAUSE OF JESUS one.

What can I give the Lame...man?

In Acts 3 v 5-6  we hear of the Lame man who looked to Peter and John expecting from them. Their answer was 'silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you..rise up and walk.' In our day and age people have their hand out all the time. Expectations...Now don't misunderstand me I am not  referring to cash only.
     People are desperate. They will take money of course, but they also will take of your time, emotions and energy. People in general are poor of spirit. They are desperate and they will grab onto any lifeline available. They are not necessarily bad just emotionally and spiritually crippled( in pain.).
  Peter and John gave this man who was lame the most perfect gift. They gave they had to give..Jesus and His power. I got to thinking about this scripture. How many times have we given of ourselves to people in emotional, spiritual , physical or financial distress? We give comfort, council, words and our shoulders..all good things to be sure BUT- What they need is Jesus.  Only He can give them ultimate peace, deliverance and prosperity and health. In and of ourselves we have nothing. We need to give them what we have- Jesus.
     But therein is the problem--We as a whole no longer walk in power. We don't have an anointing to minister, are no longer instant in season and out. Why? We are saved aren't we? Yes we are but for many of us there is so much going on that we have left our first love and no longer spend the time needed in meditating on the word, praying and seeking Christs face. We do not spend enough time with Jesus so we don't have any Jesus to spare. We have become ineffective. Instead we depend on psychological and spiritual babble, spiritual cliches as it were. I have been guilty of it and if you are honest with yourself so have you.
      What is the solution? More personal time with the Master.{Prayer, Praise, meditation on Him and His word}. Then when folks have their 'hands' out  we will like Peter and John have something to give..Jesus.We will say,"I on my own don't have any answers, but by the power and authority of Jesus be made whole." We will deal with them in the spiritual level not just on a carnal mental plane. We will PRAY with them not try to talk them into wholeness..You see.. when Jesus comes He does it right.
     When we do it in our own power, by patting of the hand, verbally 'talking' them through their problems(and there is a time and place for it, however) the Lame will be comforted but as we can not affect a permanent change, that only Jesus can do, they will become empty again. Only Jesus can take their hunger and thirst away. Who is all sufficient? Jesus! Who is savior? Jesus! Who supplies our needs? Jesus!
THANK YOU LORD FOR ALL YOU ARE! YOU ARE TRUE AND YOUR MERCIES ENDURE FOREVER!