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Showing posts from March, 2009

Hosannah!

Palm Sunday. We celebrate the triumphal entry on Palm Sunday. The day that the disciples went and found the colt, right where He said it would be, and He rode it into town. The people threw their coats and clothing down for Him to ride across their clothing. They waved the palm branches...the children shouting, "Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest!" He should have been riding a fine horse but instead a young donkey...the Savior of the World with the people whom He loved. The ordinary people not the elite and rich just the regular people and the kids... I am so thankful that Jesus loves us, the ordinary people...His kids. I am excited for this Sunday to come and see the kids in our church celebrate Jesus with their Palm Branches. To worship the King...I have been picking the music and when I hear it and imagine the children in my mind waving the Palm Branches for Jesus it makes me cry. I can only imagine how He felt and He knew what was coming! Then I get excited to think how He m...

It is sooo Worth It!

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. I Cor 15:58 Planted deep....immovable...always consistently abounding in the work of the Lord. How do we do this? By staying in the Word and putting one foot in front of the other. Not quitting! Keeping focused on God! Whenever I get discouraged I think that is when I struggle with the "knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." One time I had questioned the Lord about moving to Burley because it just didn't seem to grow like I thought it should. I remember very clearly as I was leading worship. I looked out in the congregation and there was "Aunt Mary" worshipping the Lord with her hands raised. Mary is an elderly woman who didn't know Jesus her whole life. She accepted Jesus late in life through our ministry. I heard the Lord ask me very clearly..."Would you have come just for her to know ...

Out of the Box

4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: I Cor 12:4-7 I am so glad that I serve such a big God that He ministers in many ways in different people! He gives us different gifts! One God but many avenues of ministries. We, as humans tend to put God in a box. Actually it isn't God who is in the box. He isn't limited either! We need to poke our heads out of our box, (that we try to put God in), and look for God moving and ministering! We need to pray and seek God to see if He would have us minister in a way that will reach people out of our comfort zone. Remember there are diversities of gifts but the same Spirit! Different ministries but the same Lord! So how do you know? Does it line up with scripture? Because God will not go against His Word....

An Escape Plan

12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape I Cor. 10:12-13 I had a friend many years ago who told me something that I would never forget...it truly was a piece of wisdom that I have kept close to my heart. I had asked her how someone could cheat on their spouse especially when both of them were Christians. She told me as soon as you think it can never happen to you or that you would never do that (no matter the situation or sin) then be very careful because that is just where the devil wants you! It's a trap!That is when or where he will trip you up! Vs 13 says no temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man! It is the ordinary everyday stuff that can trip you up especially when you get comfortable and unguarded! The good news is that the...

Good News!

29 The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the righteous. 30 A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health. Proverbs 15:29-30 NLT I am so excited that God hears our prayers! He is so faithful to answer our prayers. We are what I like to call "prequalified" not by anything that we have done but just simply because He died for us and we accepted His gift of Salvation. It grieves my heart when I hear people say, "God doesn't answer my prayers." He always answers them...it isn't always yes, but He will always give us an answer. God loves to spend time with His kids. The question is "Do we like to spend time with Him?" Do we listen for His answers? Do we work to keep the lines of communication open? Are we keeping our hearts clean? In verse 30 it talks about a cheerful look brings joy to the heart. I think a cheerful outlook and good report (or news) brings joy to the heart! So sometimes I have to go and l...

He Loves Me As High As The Heavens!

10 He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; Psalm 103:10-13 I am so thankful that God doesn't treat us like we deserve to be treated! I am really glad that he doesn't repay us according to our sins! Not only does He not do both of those things but it says as far as the east is from the west he has separated us from our sins! YES! He loves us so very much. He has compassion for us! God has compassion for us. He just doesn't put up with us or allows us to simply exist...He LOVES us! He LOVES ME! I think if we could just grasp that He loves us soooo much we would live our lives much differently. He loves us as high as the heavens are above the earth...that is ...

Don't Quit

18 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand.” And Joshua stretched out the spear that was in his hand toward the city. 26 For Joshua did not draw back his hand, with which he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai. Joshua 8:18;26 Joshua had experienced failure in war against Ai before this victory. He went before the Lord and asked why they lost the battle and God told him that there was sin in the cammp. Joshua then didn't ignore the sin and went on he went and searched it out and then got rid of the sin and then went back before the Lord again and this is when God says to stretch out his spear and that He would give it to Joshua's hand. It wasn't over once God gave the promise. Joshua still had to go take the city or land of Ai. Do you think that it was easy for Joshua? I don't. It was still work, but I love verse 26 For Joshua did not draw back his...

Just One Stone of Many

21 Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ 22 then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land’; 23 for the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, 24 that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever.” Joshua 4:21-24 We need to set up stones so that when our children ask in time, "What are this stones?" We can tell them what God did in our lives! So what has God done in your life? In my life I have seen God miraculously provide for us in ways I could have never figured out on my own! I have seen God heal cancer! I have seen God's hand move in many circumstances. But tonight I want to share a story to you about a man...

Be Bold and Strong! God is With Us!

6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:6-9 NKJ Be strong and courageous!Do not turn from it to the right hand or the left...so how does a person do that? Well, the word tells us how in the very next verse, this book of Law shall not depart from your mouth! Meditate in it da...

Worship and Rejoice!

“Then you shall set it before the LORD your God, and worship before the LORD your God. 11 So you shall rejoice in every good thing which the LORD your God has given to you and your house, you and the Levite and the stranger who is among you. Deut. 26:10-11 NKJ This is talking about bringing the tithe before the Lord after they possessed and dwelled in the promise land which God gave them...just because God gave them the land didn't mean that the work was over. They had to possess it and then live in it and work the fields. When the harvest came they gave God the first fruits, that is where this verse comes in. Then you shall set it before the Lord your God and worship before the Lord your God. I love verse 11 so you shall rejoice in EVERY GOOD THING which the Lord your God has given to you and your house! Man, how often do we get caught up in the work of things that we start to complain instead of rejoicing in every good thing? It wasn't easy to possess the land. Then after th...

Celebrate revised edition

Hey I was so tired when I posted last night so I thought that now while I am awake I will fill in some of the great details. I said that my husband got to lead someone to Jesus but it was a great example of team work. Someone planted the seed and many of the guys watered the seed. Then yesterday at a meeting the guys had been sharing and my husband got to harvest the seed. What a great example of sowing, watering and reaping. PTL! God is good. This makes the second salvation in a week's time. God is moving. So please remember some of you are planting, some are watering and some get to harvest but everyone plays an important role in the whole process. Don't get discouraged when sharing the faith...because even when it doesn't seem to make a difference because someone is watching! Live your life for Jesus and share when you can and pray all the time! Keep the faith! Shanin

Celebrate!

Today I have a reason to celebrate...my husband had the wonderful opportunity today to lead someone to Jesus. Man, that means that the angels were celebrating big in heaven tonight! Yes...another life saved. I have another praise too. I received a raise yesterday. I am thankful for a good job that God provided for me. Have a blessed night and don't forget to reset your clocks tonight. it is time to spring forward! Shanin

Blind Bart

46 Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” 50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. 51 So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. Mark 10:46-52 NKJ I love the story of Blind Bart. First of all he cried out to Jesus. They warned him to be quiet but he y...

Jesus I Believe, Help My Unbelief...

23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:23-24 NKJ Man, I am so there this week. Lord Jesus, I believe but I really need help with my unbelief...the flesh part of me. God has given us promises and there are days that I get weary in believing if they will ever happen during this lifetime. Then I *know* that God's word is true and He says all things are possible to him who believes. I believe that God can change the hearts of Kings...I believe that man cannot stand in the way of what God has planned or promised. Yes! God can do anything! He has a plan...it is so big and so detailed that I cannot even fathom how it will come about but I do know that God delivers on His promises....not in my time in His time, which is perfect! I get excited when I look back and see where the hand of God has moved in my life. Just like Mary did...