May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.15.13.ESV
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an FYI to my friends and followers
It seems everyone these days is offended or angered or disappointed by everything and everyone. I’m rather tired by all the unwarranted and unjustified attacks, slanders, and libels directed at people when someone expresses an opinion that they don’t share. So, just so there are no surprises to any of my followers here on WordPress, Facebook, or Twitter, here’s what you need to know about me.
- I am a daughter of the Almighty God, a humble disciple of our LORD Jesus Christ, and a proud American.
- My ideas of right and wrong come directly from God and His Word, the Bible.
- I believe in the power of prayer – it is the conversation that shows us the heart of God, grows our relationship with Him and draws us into the source of power, comfort, and joy, Jesus Christ.
- I do not support or agree with extremist views in any way, shape or form, whether to the right or to the left.
- I learned a long time ago not to care about what other people think about me.
- I respect your right to disagree with the opinions of me or anyone else.
- I stand on THE SOLID ROCK.
- If you have a problem with any of the above, I freely grant you permission to unfriend me, unfollow me, disassociate yourself with me.
FYI, I also stand with the Oak Ridge Boys! Prayer matters! @oakridgeboys @DUANEALLEN @joebonsall @RASterban @wlgolden
https://twitter.com/DUANEALLEN/status/1158451362629378048?s=20
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/statement-from-oak-ridge-boys-you-stand-us-duane-allen
Prayer IS Power
It becomes more apparent everyday have far America and the world have moved away from the God of the Universe, how thoroughly they have rejected Jesus. In the midst of the media and political attacks of everyone who disagrees with someone, and in the wake of the mass shootings in Gilroy, Dayton, and El Paso, the natural response of a Christian who is not and cannot be one the scene is to pray. Pray for healing for the wounded, comfort for those who lost people, for the heroes and first responders and their continued safety.
And yet, I have seen good, strong Christians attacked an belittled for calling for prayer. Men like Franklin Graham, the Oak Ridge Boys, and many others. And the real problem here is that we have denied God, denied Jesus, taken all things godly out of educating our children, and left them without any knowledge of TRUTH and morality. Matthew 10:33 says “but whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.”
Today I am going to leave you with two things – one to read, one to make a choice about – a choice to stand for or against something.
First from Oswald Chambers on the power of the prayer we have through the Spirit: Resting in God
Second, will you stand with The Oak Ridge Boys in prayer? LindedIn statement or Twitter statement?
The choice is yours.
#ShineTheLight2019
My Own Little World. Wait, What?!
Reality or fantasy? Do you have a firm grip on what is real and true? Do you recognize the difference between the “reality” of our own creation (fantasy), and true reality? I wonder. Have you ever seen someone talking to someone who is not there? We all have. And, we’ve all done it. I know I do. Before my husband died, I got used to having someone to talk to, especially at night while sitting home. So now, I often conjure up a listener – someone to “talk” to. However, I am fully cognizant of the unreality of that interaction, the falseness of that “world.”
On the other hand, a great deal of humanity has created their own version of the world, without regard to what is really true. How do we do that? By choosing to believe what we want and not what God says is true. I know some of you are now offended by that statement, but our reactions to and choices of belief or disbelief do not alter reality. Truth is truth. God says his name is “I AM.” (Exodus 3:14). His name says it all – everlasting, eternal, not changing. We say, “God is contained by the scope of my mind, my ability to define him.” God says “I am first and last, and there are no gods besides Me.” (Isaiah 44:6) We say, “I elevate (money, status, my ego, my possessions) above God and seek after that instead. ” God says, “I created all, am sovereign over all, forever.” (Isaiah 40:28). We say, “Man is creator and ruler of all.”
God does not restrict definitions of Himself to the Old Testament, however. Jesus says “I AM” as well. “I AM” eternal (John 8:58). ‘I AM” the way to eternal life (John 11:25). “I AM” the only way to be in a right relationship to God (John 14:6).
We often choose, however, to believe only those biblical truths that fit our our manufactured or culturally acceptable worldview. Worldviews that elevate man and his abilities to near godhood. Oddly however, when we look back at ancient civilizations like the Egyptian pharaonic era, we shake our heads when we see the pharaohs declaring themselves gods, and say to ourselves, how foolish they were. But do we do less? Not really. We say that we cannot imagine a god who can: part the sea, raise the dead, live forever, (you fill in the blank.) but isn’t that the point? If we can define, limit and label who God is, then are we not constructing a God only capable of being human? Isn’t the point of God is that He is more than? Beyond our understanding? Are we not then indulging in the fantasy of creating something less than reality?
Why bother? And why be satisfied with “less than?” After all, we are not usually willing to live in the fantasy world of a movie or book for the entirety of our lives. Why do it in relation to God? Sometimes we remake God out of fear – fear of having to give up something, or surrendering something. Sometimes it’s simply fear of the unknown. Yes, believing God will change things. It will change the way you think and act. But what do you lose? You lose the fear of death because Jesus promises eternal life. (John 11:25). You lose hopelessness (Psalm 39:7). You lose fear (Joshua 1:9).
And what is there to gain? Heaven, for one (Luke 23:43)! Also, a sense of purpose (Jeremiah 29:11) Most of all, you gain a constant abiding presence, a close companion, and a guide in your life (Joshua 1:5, John 14:16, Psalm 145:18).
But I cannot force belief or reality on anyone. All I can do is challenge you to look for yourself. Search ot the words, the truth for yourself. God himself promises that if we seek him out, we will find him (Jeremiah 29:13., Jeremiah 33:3). So that’s my challenge – seek, and find. And let me know the results of your search!
#ThankGodForKids
While we sometimes perceive kids as being all about themselves, don’t tar them all with the same brush. Today I stopped at the Wawa in Vincentown for something to eat for lunch. There was a young boy in the check out line in front of me. He had a cookie in his hand and a drink on the counter. He glanced back at me, then reached in front of me and put the cookie back. When he got to the cashier he told her he was paying for his drink and my chips! What a special young man.
