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Showing posts from 2013

Evangelism at its Finest

Yesterday at church, we had a visitor. This visitor was about 11 years old. Later on in the afternoon I was told that our little visitor loved church and had told the people who brought him that he wants to start coming to church every Sunday. You have no idea how this excites me! First of all let me tell you that every visitor excites me regardless of age! What especially thrills me is that my grandson, Gabe, was the one who invited this young man to church. Gabriel had been sharing with this neighbor boy and then invited him to church! Evangelism at its finest. I am so proud of Gabe. I even got more excited as I listened to the details of the story. I am hoping that more people starts sharing like Gabe did these past few weeks. It just goes to show you that anybody, at any age or stature, can share about Jesus! This is just the first of the fruits yet to come. Just had to share the good news with someone! I am so proud of all of our kids at The Kid's Connection! I am excited

My Safe Place

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,       a stronghold in times of trouble.   Those who know your name trust in you,      for you, Lord , have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:9-10 NIV Our God is faithful. No matter what situation we face we can take comfort in knowing that God is the safe place that we can turn to. We can run to Him and know that He will always be there for us. Today another senseless act of violence has shaken our Country but I know that God is my refuge. He is the One that I trust in. I am thankful for that assurance that no matter what...no matter what...God is our comforter, safe place and protector. I can trust in Him and He will never let me down. Trusting in Him, Shanin

Joy Suckers

I will give thanks to you, Lord , with all my heart;      I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:1-3 Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;    it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Psalm 33:1 Joy suckers are the things or events that try to sneak in to suck the joy out of you! Joy suckers can be as small as an innocent comment taken wrong or disappointing news. Joy suckers come in many different shapes, flavors and colors. But how do you guard against Joy suckers? You guard your heart and mind with the Word! Put on that Christ like filter and if you find yourself falling into the trap pick yourself up, dust off your pants and start rejoicing! It is fitting for the upright to praise Him! We are the upright! What better way is there to drive the enemy out of our presence than to enter into God's presence?  Sing praises! If it is an offense that is robbing you of your joy then forgive them and move forward

Take the Challenge!

23 “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.” 24 And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the LORD our God and obey him.” Joshua 24:23-24 NIV Before Joshua spoke to the Israelites, he gave them a Word from the Lord reminding them of where their journey had begun. Their journey began with their ancestors Abraham and Nahor and they served other gods before serving the Great I Am. The Lord gave Abraham, Isaac and all of the descendants that God had promised Abraham. God then reminded them of the journey out of Egypt and the miracles and victorious battles that God had given them. Then Joshua picked up where the Word of the Lord stopped. Joshua told them that they should fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness. He then gave them “the challenge.”   He told them that they needed to choose whom they would serve. They could either pick the gods of their ancestors, or the gods of the peop

Forget Slavery, Enjoy Freedom!

5  It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galations 5:1 We are free. Jesus paid the price for us to have freedom. Why then do we constantly enslave ourselves to the very sins that Jesus forgave? It is easy to do especially when we compromise just a small amount at a time. I think back to the Israelites when they were having some bad days in the desert. They had been freed from the Egyptians and then you start to read where they just started reminicing about the "good ol' days of Egypt." Really? You want to shout out to them, "remember the beatings? Remember hiding your babies instead of celebrating a birth?" But we do that. Have you ever moved away from someplace that you hated at the time but a few years later when the new place becomes your home, and you have a bad week, and you start to talk about how awesome living in your old hometown was? That's th

He Goes With Us!

  3  He shall say: “Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. 4  For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” Deut. 20:3-4 This was part of the instructions to the Israelites before going into battle. We can still use it today. Let me rephrase it a bit . Listen up everyone who serves the Lord! Today, every day we are in battle. We are in a war that is not necessarily flesh and blood but a spiritual battle but don’t get freaked out because we have God with us! When we are on His assignment, He goes with us. Stay calm and remember that we are equipped with the Word and prayer for our weapons and if God is for us who then can stand up to that? We will have the victory because God will fight for us we just have to keep our focus on Him and be aware. He has us covered! He will give us the win! Amen? Shanin

Live the Life

4  Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6  These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.   Deut. 6:4-9 NIV Love the Lord God with all your heart, soul and strength. Stress the importance and demonstrate loving God with all your heart, soul and strength to your kids! Make it a lifestyle, a part of your everyday life. By living it out everywhere (Home, work, school, grocery store, church) God will become a part of your life and your children’s lives. If you live it all of the time, in every way, everywhere, people (including your kids), will know that it is the real thing.

Did He Just Spit On That Guy?

22  They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23  He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” 24  He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” 25  Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Mark 8:22-25 NIV This blind man from Bethsaida begged for Jesus to touch him. People who Jesus touched were healed. I am sure his reputation spread like wildfire. Whenever people heard that Jesus was in town they would want to just "touch" Him. Jesus healed many people in different ways. Some were healed just by touching the hem of His clothing, others were healed when He touched them, Lazarus was raised from the dead by Jesus telling him to rise up! Jesus spit on his eyes and then put His hands

The Prayer of Desperation

Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" Mark 9:23-24 NKJV This was a desperate plea of a father for his son. The son had been mute and having seizures or episodes since childhood and his dad was wanting his son healed in the worst way. He was pleading with Jesus to have compassion on them and to heal his son. Jesus was good at showing compassion. After all, Jesus is love. Many times before in the gospels you read something like, "And Jesus was moved with compassion or Jesus had compassion on them." I love Jesus's response to the daddy, " If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Now notice that Jesus didn't say , "If you sow the seed of faith in a monetary form, you will have breakthrough" No, Jesus told him that if he could believe...that all things

No Talk Time

32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was. Mark 1:32-34 NIV Jesus was ministering in Capernaum. I have been to this very place in Capernaum, it is very beautiful. I got to stand in the place where Jesus taught. I saw where Peter and Andrew’s house was and it was pretty close to the synagogue. I loved the big lush palms that have grown and surround the remains of the town. This was the place where Jesus taught in the synagogue with authority. I loved being in Capernaum, seeing the place where I had read about so many times before in the Bible. Earlier in verse 24 it says, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” Jesus silenced the demonic spirit immediately. He then c

Bartimaeus, the Man who wouldn't be hushed:)

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

You Can Be Used For God's Glory!

18  And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. 19  However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” 20  And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled. Mark 5:18-20 Before the superbowl game on Sunday I was watching the interview with Ray Lewis. Ray has recently declared that he is now a follower of Christ. (Please know that I am not here to argue whether he is saved or not. I am excited that He now claims Christ as his Savior.) During his interview they were questioning him on his participation or involvement in a January 2000 fight that resulted in an indictment on murder and aggravated assault charges. He was never convicted of these charges but on a charge of obstruction of justice. Okay the part that disturbed me was his response, “If you real

Act On It!

29 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. 31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them. Mark 1:29-31 Jesus healed Peter's Mother-in-law. The next sentence is important... And she served them . Peter's mom-in-law didn't sit and think, "I had better wait and see if I am really healed..." She didn't think that she should rest in case she had a relapse. She got up and served them! She took her healing and then used it. She served Jesus...probably in a practical way like getting them lunch. Whenever the Lord heals you, you need to act on it! We need to take advantage of that healing and serve Him! We need to be thankful to the Lord! Rejoice! But whatever you do, do not let the devil talk you out of your healing! Take that healing

First Hand Witnesses

28 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. 5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” 8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they c

Betrayal

Matthew 27:1-8 NIV   Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. 2  So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor. 3  When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4  “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” 5  So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. 6  The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7  So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. 8  That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Judas, betrayer of Jesus. How sad. Judas had been one of Jesus's twelve

Watch, Pray and Stick Together!

69  Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” 70  But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.” 71  And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72  But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!” 73  And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.” 74  Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. 75  And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly. This portion of scripture happens right after Jesus was betrayed (by one of his close friends), taken to the Sanhedrin and accused and beaten. Jesus had already told the disciple

Time for a Spring Cleaning!

12  Then Jesus went into the temple of God [ and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13  And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” 14  Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. 15  But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant 16  and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?” Matthew 21:12-16 NKJV I am not one who likes confrontation. While growing up in my family, my role was the peacemaker, so I would do everything within my power to avoid confrontation of any kind. With this being said, I hated

David and Goliath, Facing Life's Giants con't

40  Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine. 41  So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him. 42  And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking. 43  So the Philistine said to David, “ Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44  And the Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!” 45  Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46  This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will

David facing the Giant Part One

32  Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” 33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35  I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. 36  Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37  Moreover David said, “The Lord , who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!” I Samuel 17:32-37 First of all I encour

Compassion

29  Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. 30  And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” 31  Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” 32  So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 33  They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” 34  So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him. Matthew 20:29-34 NKJV I love how much compassion Jesus displays. Earlier in Matthew chapter 19 the disciples started to shoo away the little kids and Jesus took time for the children and blessed them. Now in this part of Matthew two blind men are crying out to Jesus and the crowd tried to shush them up but they yelled even louder. What does Jesus do? He stops a

I Would Have Been Afraid For Sure!

23  Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 24  And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. 25  Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 26  But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27  So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” Matthew 8:23-27 I had the privilege of going to Israel last February. It was the most awesome experience and I would encourage anyone to go if they have the opportunity. One of the things that my tour group got to do while in Israel was to sail the Sea of Galilee or as it is now called the Sea of Tiberius. When we sailed this huge body of water it was so nice and calm. We sailed across it on a BIG boat and it took quite a while and we had a motor! I cannot even imagine rowing y