Winter Gear
What to wear out in the cold world

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:12-14

We recently returned to an old familiar passage to remind us how we are to dress this winter. All of us, some maybe more than others, forget a “piece of clothing” here and there. Dropping off what we don’t want to wear, leaving it where it lay, walking over it, passing over it, but never giving it a second thought. In Christ, we are not given the choice as to what to “wear” nor are we to take what He wants us to wear off.

First Garment Compassion: Gloves Eph. 4:32

Compassion comes in many different forms. Many times our compassion leads us to acts of kindness and service and it should whenever possible. However, not always can we “do” something for someone. Especially if they are a victim of their own sin, but we can still have compassion. Compassion is born in the heart with a love for others. I chose the gloves because of the hands that can PRAY for those people. If there is nothing else, you can do, pray for them! Do not underestimate the power of prayer.

CLOTHE YOURSELF IN “GLOVES” OF PRAYER!

Second Garment Kindness: Boots 1 Thess. 5:15

Kindness is often a “tangible act.” Or it can be a word of kindness, kindness expressed only by our words. But often it is by a meal, a gift, a service, etc. So I chose boots for this “winter gear.” For you have to have good heavy boots to walk a life time of kindness to others!

CLOTHE YOURSELF IN “BOOTS” TO WALK IN KINDNESS!

Third Garment Humility: Socks Phil. 2:3

Humility is an attribute of Christ that is hard to wrap our minds & hearts around. When we look at Christ, He is the perfect picture of humility from His birth through His life, to His death. Socks came instantly to my mind in that it covers the most “offensive” part of our body (stinky and dirty). I was reminded of one of the most humbling acts of service Jesus did in His ministry was to wash His disciples feet! That was an awesome example of humility. He humbled Himself on His knees and cleaned the dirtiest part of the disciples. We need to do likewise. Not just washing of the feet, but humble yourself to your friends, your children, your husband, your neighbors, the lost. Put others first and yourself last in acts of service, conversations, and your heart.

CLOTHE YOURSELF WITH “SOCKS” OF HUMILITY!

Fourth Garment Gentleness: Pants/dress Phil. 4:5

Gentleness is often a hard one to recognize the “lack of” and often hard to change. God has to do this work in you! I thought of the pants or dress that covers the legs because it reminds me of the part that rushes through, not taking the time to SIT and listen to others, or Sit & take the time to speak kindly, admonish & correct others gently, and to gently discipline our children! Ask God to show you & change you & He will!

SLOW DOWN & CLOTHE YOURSELF WITH PANTS/DRESS OF GENTLESNESS!

Fifth Garment Patience: Scarf Col. 1:11

Have you ever crocheted a scarf? I did that very thing when I first learned to crochet. As a matter of fact, I got so excited I bought enough yarn to make everyone in the family one. Such zeal for my new learned art. However, I did not bargain on how loooooooong it would take to crochet the length of a good, heavy, long wrap around scarf! This was a good lesson for me in patience!! As well, this is how we are to be with others. Patient and long suffering with the lost, with babe Christians, with our spouses mistakes, our kids mess-ups, our neighbors, the person in line in front of you who needs a price check!! Patience is another of the attributes that “autographs” us as genuine Christians!

CLOTHE YOURSELF WITH A SCARF OF PATIENCE SO YOU CAN KEEP A WARM YOUR THOUGHTS!

Sixth Garment Forgiveness: Long Sleeve Shirt Prov. 4:23

If you are going outdoors, you definitely need a warm think long sleeve. Flannels, wool, & corduroys are good for this. Why the shirt for forgiveness? I thought of Jesus on the cross, His hands stretched out, nailed to the cross, representing the ultimate forgiveness. Our Scripture text tells us to bear with one another and to forgive as Christ forgave. It is not a “Choice piece of clothing” but a command. And yes, this is for our own good!

CLOTHE YOURSELF WITH LONG SLEEVES AS YOU STRETCH OUT YOUR ARMS IN FORGIVENESS.

Seventh Garment Love: Coat 1john 3:10-11

I find it interesting that the end of this thought is that LOVE binds all this together. Thus the coat that covers most all the body and has the most warmth, is the coat! Even the above things mean nothing without love! (1 Cor. 13:1-3) To me, love means laying aside all my desires for someone else. Sounds kinda like Jesus when He died for you and me. Not that I am at all even a fraction close to understanding that and obeying like I would like. But I am realizing more and more, it is not about what I do but how I love!

CLOTH YOURSELF IN THE COAT OF LOVE, SO THAT YOU CAN SHARE IT”S WARMTH WITH ALL YOU MEET!

Whatever the reason for discarding the “clothing piece” whether it be itchy, too tight, too loose, not the right color, wanting change etc.

DON”T TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES

OR YOU WILL GET COLD!

Praise without ceasing

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

That boy praises without ceasing

Most recently, I was humbly rebuked by a tiny little 4 year old. I share my shame in that maybe you too will find a much needed rebuke as well. We should never think there is nothing to learn from these little ones. For most often if we will simply take the time to watch them, we can understand more what Jesus meant when He said: Mark 10:15 "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." Forget about what you thought religion was all about and come to Jesus and find out what following and living in to kingdom of the King of Kings is all about!

I do not want to go into a complete & comprehensive explanation of this verse, but an observation of an application. Many times, we make things more complicated than they need to be. So I don’t want to do that, or you will miss the simpleness of the Truth.

In December, we had some very dear close friends come for a visit. They have 3 boys all bundles of joy. The oldest kindergarten age, then the 4 year old and a 10 month old were a delight to have in our home. And we love the parents too. But as the children played, I noticed their carefree hearts. The oldest was not feeling well so he was quieter than normal. But the middle child is the one who had the rebuke for me.

He played for hours upon hours. From the time he got up until he crashed at night, he toddled around and played, making all sorts of things with his imagination. That doesn’t seem so abnormal. But what was different is that he sang the whole time. He never ceased to sing. He was not doing it for attention, for many of the times he played by himself. But he sang the entire day. I asked his father, “Does he ever stop?” He just laughed. I said “that boy Praise (prays) without ceasing” and I thought, if we could only “Praise without ceasing” like Scripture says to “Pray without ceasing”.

The context of that Scripture actually is both:
Rejoicing/thanksgiving
&
Praying

All rolled up into continues “Prayzing”

May we be like this little boy, and not let the cares of this world steal our joy!
May we praise God without ceasing!

laura

Saved by the Storm
A story of what seemed a bad thing turn to a blessing!

Have you ever grumbled about rain, better yet a thunderstorm “raining out” your plans??!! Recently I got a glimpse of a new view of that thought. It made me really think about how often I am “saved by the storms” of life. I thought about how many times God has put a “storm” in my pathway in order to save me much sorrow, anguish & possible destruction.
This is how this reality came about. We had a friend who just had a baby and I was going to take a meal to her in the evening. But feeling like I did not have the ingredients for a really nice meal, I decided to go to the store to get some special things. However, right after lunch I decided to take a quick nap before heading to the store. That’s when it happened………..

I opened my eyes to a very dark living room. I awakened to the deafening sound of booming thunder and blazing lightening in the sky! Angry clouds swirling around in the sky above the house. “Oh brother, I don’t want to get out in all that mess to go to the store (some distance away).” It was really nasty outside. Even as all those thoughts were swirling through my mind my oldest son was telling me, that we needed to head down to the basement right now. As it ended up we were down in the basement under a tornado warning for over an hour. Sitting listening to the crashing wind & the storm smashing against the basement walls and watching the bolts of lightening through the tiny windows was a bit scary.

When all was “blown over” there was no time to go to the store before preparing the meal for this family. So I had to change my meal plans to a more simpler meal of roast, mashed potatoes, green beans, peaches, biscuits & blueberry cobbler. My husband had asked that I have it ready when he got home from work so that he could drive me and the kids over (the family lived and hour away from us). So I was ready when he came home. The skies had calmed down and it was just cloudy with a sprinkle here and there.

Off we went to our friends house, meal in the back of the car. We were not 15 minutes down the road, when spssssssssss was heard in our ears. Yes, you got it right, we had a flat tire! Well on these country roads there is not always a place to pull over. We found a house driveway soon and pulled into it. We had to unload all the food. My husband said well what a good time to teach our teen boys how to change a tire. So he went through the procedure all the while the rain began again. When they were done, they dirty and wet. My husband being unsure of the spare tire traveling as far as we needed to go said we needed to head home and change vehicles. Happy groans from everyone!

So needless to say we were very late getting the meal to the family waiting on us. And we ourselves got home at 9 pm and skipped our own meal for a good nights rest.
In the morning as I reflected on the storm & how I thought is messed up my plans, I realized it really saved me!! For I would have been the one out in the NASTY storm flagging down help to change a flat tire in the pouring down rain, severe thunder and lighting. That is if the flat tire had not caused me to get into a wreck. Had I persisted to head to the store against common sense, ignoring the bad storm, it would have been a disaster. Praise God He saved me by the storm!
How many times do I grumble against a “storm” of the Spiritual realm, that “blows” into my life and “messes up” my plans?? How often I do not see the “thunder & lightening” as blessings in disguise. I only see perhaps the pain or turmoil of the situation. How could God want this for me? How could He think this was a “good” idea? Doesn’t He know what He is doing? Doesn’t He care what suffering this is???

The Answer to those questions is an undoubtable YES! Yes God does care and YES He does know what He is doing! It is only when I get down in the “basement”, down on my knees in desparate prayer of surrender, and pour out my heart in His Word, are the eyes able to see. Through the tiny “window” you may get a glimpse of what you are being saved from. But many times we are not given that much sight. We just have to trust!!

We have to trust that God is Wise, Right & Good! All He has planned for us will turn out for His glory. The question is………….will we miss it??

Both Job and Joseph come to mind. Neither knew what the future was going to be. And not only that, but things in their lives kept getting worse. Did that mean God had “messed up” or made a mistake. We can see the end of the stories, and know of course that God had a purpose. So it is with our lives too…….

Don’t resist the “storms” God brings in your life. They are there to make you stronger in your trust in God. They make you certainly more faithful in your Faith. And make for a more easy and complete surrender to the Will and Purposes God has you here for!
So prepare for the “Storm”, it’s a comin’! Get water (The prayer life line) & food (God’s Word) and go down to the basement! You will sure to be safe!

But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.
Psalm 33:11

In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
Proverbs 16:9

Beltloop Bondage
The “Cell” Jail
The “bondage” to cell phones in today society

This particular article has been on my heart for over a year now. But for fear that all my friends & family will be disgruntled with me, I have not written it until now. And though I could still stand the chance of unhappy responses, I must write on. And I might just say here, this is not about any one person, but a society in general. Nor am I saying that having a cell phone is a sin or wrong. I am NOT saying that at all, so please do not misunderstand. And as I write I realize that there is not a family I know that does not have a cell phone………..but please hear out my “call” to you!

I have been observing this trend for some time. Since it has come from a trend into full bloom of necessity, it has changed quite a bit. From the beginning of a few business or traveling men having cell phones as a means to more easily contact their business or home it has become a blown all out of porportion. Due to being busy and away from land phones most of the time this was an extreme help.

However, it has rapidly moved from a convenience of a few business men to become a monster of necessity! Now you see everyone has a cell phone. Family packs are the norm for selling packages. So everyone can have one. You know you need one! So now every man has one, and the wife needs one too. And don’t forget the kids, they may have an emergency we are told.
While I don’t think the cell phone is a bad thing, what is happening in our society because of the availability & miss use of cell phones is sickening!

What would you do if you had an accident or a flat tire one might ask? Well, we have had many of these type of things happen where a “Cell phone” would have been “handy”. And I am not doubting the “handiness” of cell phones in such times. However, each and every time God has allowed us a way out without needing to use one. What did they do years ago before the development of these “beltloop bondage phones”? A good question. Huh?

Now I will say again, I do not have a problem with the idea of the cell phones. I so have a problem with what it is doing to people’s lives. Here is what I see as the “cell jail”. One can not seem to live without one. You see it on every beltloop & purse around. Kids that have no business having one do. And the rudeness that has come along with them has turned me away from ever considering one. I have been in a grocery store and heard women talking to “the air” only to see they are on the cell phone and you can not even get by much less do I want to hear this person’s private conversations. I do not want to hear someone’s heated argument that he is lost into at the gas station counter. It has been proven that there has been a trementdous rise in car accidents since the invasion of high cell phone usage. People just don’t pay attention to their driving when on the phone! It is irritating to get behind someone on their phone! Not to mention, is it not extremely rude to be in a car with someone and be on your cell phone holding a conversation with someone else. Rudeness has come in like a plague. Or better yet better explained as a by negative product of a potential positive helping tool. People don’t even talk to one another anymore they just “text” one another on their phones. What is this world coming too?

Not to mention having the annoying little things beeping off at the most inopportunitive times. Such times as in church services, in the bathroom (made me jump out of my skin!), in a nice restaurant, the library, the hospital, in line. Really anywhere that it invades the quietness or space of another individual is inconsiderate. This is the real problem I have with the cell phones. Is the rude inconsideration our nation now thinks is OK. I mean how rude is it to listen to another woman in the bathroom stall next to you answer her phone and hold a conversation all while using the bathroom! How rude! It concerns me the “craze” of the convenience now claimed “necessity” of cell phone ownership. And that we are becoming a less friendly & gracious people because of this phenomenon is a bit concerning. We are becoming more introverted, lazy, rude & inconsiderate in the mist of valuing this intended helpful convenience.
So I just ask, are you one of these who use your cell phone irresponsibly? Have you thought about the rudeness of having “public conversations”? Have you considered that you might be in “beltloop bondage”~~ cell jail and not know it?

Which is it? You make “The Call”!

Cross eyed vision

Having this eye problem, you will be laughed at & mocked.
And the world will want to change it!

This thought struck me recently as I was contemplating The Breaking of Bread and Drinking The Cup. “Cross eyed”, yes, “Cross eyed” is the way I want to be…………..

For you see, if I keep my focus on the cross. My eyes fixed on Jesus Christ, His sacrifice for my redemption, I am transfixed! All else falls away at The Cross. All my hurts, fears, sorrows, worry, future concerns etc. melts at the Cross. For you will find it all comes back to the Cross. If I have learned anything in my journey as a Christian it is to bring it back to the cross! Even all you read about in the Bible either points to or comes back to The Cross.

It is not about us, it is about what our Savior did on the cross that should fill our minds and hearts. And thus flow out of us a deep appreciation for our Salvation & an intense love for God’s Word and to know what pleases the Lord with the heart & readiness to obey.

I am in no way advocating just “wear a cross necklace” and you are good to go. It has amazed me the amount of immoral, wicked people parade themselves with a “cross necklace”. Do they have any idea what The Cross really means? I dare not think so.

But if you are “single minded, married to Christ” my way of thinking “Cross eyed” you will be ridiculed, made fun of. Just like those who have the physical eye impairment are harassed and uncared for by many. And you better believe that if you are going to “make it” in this world you better get that “crossed eyed” vision impairment fixed! Is that not so true in this “world” !

But in the hearts of the believers may we grow more and more crossed eyed everyday! until we are TOTALLY fixed on glorifying Christ in ALL we think, say and do!

The eye is the door to the heart, stay looking to The Cross!

A Sinsative Subject
Notes from a Sermon & and a few added thoughts

Are there too many sermons, messages about sin?? I think not! Sin is at your door even as I speak. It is a daily visitor and most of the time sure enjoys a good long visit with plans to move in. So for me, I can not listen to enough admonishment in this area. My prayer is that you will feel the same. I heard a great message this morning. Actually one out of a series on Coming out of Temptation a Winner, by Rex Blankenship. I hope you will be encouraged by my feeble notes to grasp all he had to say from the Lord concerning this “Sinsative Subject”!

A question to think about: DO I HATE SIN THE WAY GOD DOES?

*Sin is enmity toward God. Enmity is a MUTUAL hatred. Sin actually hates you (it seeks to destroy you) and it hates God.
*Sin comes after you. It does not dawdle around, it is swift, fast & seeks to over come you and destroy you. It is must like the Kudzu Ivy wild plants that you can see just covering the sides of the forest with relentless smothering attacks. You can not see any signs of life after the Kudzu covers the trees and foliage with it choking vines. That is much like sin. Just thought I would share a visual that came to mind.
*Sin wants to steal any happiness from you if you are a believer. Sin wants to steal the souls of those in your family, friends and sphere of influence.
*Sin says “I leave you alone & you leave me alone” But what it means is that it does not want you trying to kick it out, just let it be……….
*Sin is transgression of the Law.
*Sin is disobedience.
*When we transgress the Law, we see what sin looks like.
*Sin is Spiritual deadness. Even though as believers, we do not have the penalty of sin (eternal damnation), we do still have a “death” of sorts. We quickly “die” to: the love of The Word, desire to witness, to purity & dignity, to fellowship with others. We lose the steadfast pursuit to righteousness. Sin causes a “death” to the desire to love God more than ourselves.
***Sin is a “defection of an Affection to God***
*Sin is deception and causes a person to think & act irrationally.
*What is sin? Desiring to please oneself! (Oouch!!)
*No one sins while trying to please God!! (if we could just live that out!)
*Sin lures us away from God and The Bible.
*Sin is a DAILY battle.
*Sin always desires to go after God and those who belong to Him.
*Christ died to delivered us from the penalty (curse) of the Law, but not
From obeying the Law!
*We are to keep the Law: Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, strength, and others better than yourself. Since fulfilling this sums up the Law.
Five Points of Victory over sin
Gal. 5:16-26
1. The Condition: If (Romans 8:13)
If you live by the Spirit, If you live by the flesh both have end results!

If you live by the Spirit, You shall live!
The “If” is connected to the promise—you shall live

If you live by the “Flesh” you shall die!
The “If” is connected to the promise—you shall die

How to get to the place to “Live”

2. The Subject: You
If YOU (me) put to death the deeds of the body (vs. 19-21)

What are the deeds of the body? Sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.

Put to DEATH the enmity of sin.
That is our “Business” here on earth!! This is what will bring Glory to God!


3. The Means: By The Spirit
(The transportation between the Obedience & the Promise)

Walking, living in The Spirit is how you get there.

A. TRUST: What Christ has done on the cross. Do you place your trust in that? Do you believe you have been set free not to sin any longer?

There is no other way/help to get rid of sin. This world will offer a cheaper, better, quicker, easier, and painless way to rid sin, but it is a LIE. Jesus is The Only Way!

B. EXAMPLE: The example of what God did on the cross is in you and me!! We need to put our Faith in God for what He wasn’t to do in me!

***No other way to rid sin but by The Spirit!***

If one should succeed at getting rid of sin in their own way, then at the very least if would be called “Self Righteuousness”!

So think about how you are going about sin ridding! Is it to just do better, resolutions, therapy, works, determination, self invoked pain, denial etc.
*If self can do it, then it is not the work of God!*

4. The Act: Obedience -- to put to death the deeds of the body (flesh)

*The body (flesh) is opposition to Christ

*Son of snake or Son of Christ
*Son of sin or Son of Christ

Crucified with Christ is what we must be

*Annialate – kill- the sin in my life!---By the power of Christ on the Cross!
***Not Perfection BUT Direction!***
*Not being perfect is NO EXCUSE not to pursue Righteousness. We are to go after EVERY sin in our life—AGRESSIVELY!

How do we do this? How to get rid of sin?

To do this you WALK WITH GOD! IT is not about going after “The Big Sin”—It will just turn around and bite you from another place!!

***THIS IS KEY***
****Get a greater Affection!!****
As you love God MORE your sin will grow LESS!!
That is a WONDERFUL thing! The more you love God the more you will put to death the evil deeds of the flesh!

*How do you love God more? By having a greater affection for the things of God. Like: Reading/studying His Word more and more, memorizing/meditating on Gods Word, Believing, Obey, and Trusting what you read about God in His Word, Finding out what pleases God and doing it, Singing praises to God, Fellowshipping with the people of God and so on…
5. The Promise: You shall Live!

And He means REALLY live! You will have joy and abundance of His Mercy & Grace. Abundance of the Fruit of The Spirit!
Your main goal now is to: *Live to the Praise of His Glory!

*If you stand firm in The Lord---Then you are really Living!

*Standing firm in The Lord IS standing (crushing) on the sin in your life!

*A stronger affection & addiction to loving God, will result in a habitual lessening (weakening) of sin in your life!
***The “Struggle” is the evidence of The “Fight”!***
Are you going to stay fighting???
*Pursue Holiness with all diligence!
*Obedience to our Faith in Christ will see results: a weakening/
lessening of sin in our lives.
***Ask God to give you a greater love for Him!***

Hit by Sin
Sin will come on so fast you won’t know what hit ya!

Not too long ago we were coming home from a Bible Study late in the evening. As we were driving down this country road talking about what we had just studied it happened!! All of the sudden out of the dark night an eight point deer jumped out into the road right into our head lights! Bam! All I saw was eyes and antlers!

Coming to a screeching halt, we took a deep breath, and backed up to find this magnificent creature, our lips licking thinking of the delicious jerky it would make! And the rack, well it would be awesome. Especially since we have not ever killed a deer in all our hunting attempts. So I must say this was an easy catch, so we thought!

When we hit the deer we were by a field, ah very easy to find him we cheered. Only to find NOTHING! He was GONE! I mean “out of this chicken outfit”! We could not find a trace of it anywhere. We looked well with our headlights, looking here and there. No buck to be seen. Where oh where did it go? There was quite a bit of damage on the car. It sure happened. It was not in our imagination.

Yet it hit us so fast then was gone just as fast. I thought about that a lot. It is so much like sin for us. Here we are “driving” down the road of “life” when all the sudden we get hit by sin. I think the thing that bothers me so much is that is like the deer, the destruction it leaves behind, yet it is no where in sight. I thought about how satan works. He has no scruples about you and me as far as the extent of devastation he desires and pursues for us. But guess what?? When we wake up and find ourselves surround by the consequences of satan’s lies, wallowing in a pit of raw sewage (those are the nice gifts satan gives us). Where is that “little devil”??? Have you ever given thought that satan is no where to be found when the “police whistle” blows? When you are caught “red handed” so to speak, you look around to point at your “partner in crime (satan)” --- he is no where to be seen. He’s out of there! You can’t find him anywhere.

All you are left with, like the deer, is the damage! This was such a clear analogy, it made me shiver. What a mess to our car being hit by a deer made. What a mess to our lives when hit by sin. I would like to make a more at home comparison to this thought. For example, in many adulterous affairs, the fornicator does not set out to fornicate. But because of many reasons (we will speak on them) before he/she knows it they have committed this most serious of crimes, when the act is over, the devastation that is left behind is staggering & scarring for life. Where is satan?...............off to his next victim, laughing all the way.

How could we have prevented being hit by the deer? (Not that this is a complete exact comparison, for accident like this are not sin, and they are not always preventable!)

~We could have been aware of the darkness.
~Believe they are out there.
~We could have slowed down our pace.
~We could have been more watchful for them.
~We could put a deer alert signal on our car so they would know danger was ahead.
~We could take a more populated route.

As I made this list, notice how similar it is to the list of prevention to being “Hit by Sin”

~Be aware of the darkness--
Romans 1:28-31 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

Do not be ignorant of the world, just don’t be part of it!


~Believe they are out there—
1 Peter 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

~We could have slowed down our pace---
Colossians 3:1-2 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
It is true that the busier you are the less time you have to pray, meditate, put on the WHOLE Armor of God, thus making you easy prey for satan to grab.

~We could have been more watchful for them---
Luke 21:36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."

You need to be aware of what sin tendencies you are prone to, places you go, things you read, watch or hear, things you may lust after etc.
When you see the sign—deer crossing here--- PAY ATTENTION! They are to keep you out of trouble!

~We could put a deer alert signal on our car so they would know danger was ahead.
Philippians 4:6-8 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things.

Absorb yourself with God’s Word, think on Godly things, surround yourself with God fearing friends that will hold you accountable to follow in the ways of Jesus

~We could take a more populated route.
Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Prevention is the best Intention

……….Walking thru “Closed Doors”
If God has closed the “door” why do we try to bust it down!

This particular thought has been on my heart recently. It is a difficult thing to ponder. That is the “doctrine” if you will, of “Walking in The Spirit”. This is the “Spirit” of our “walking out The Gospel” in our lives. I will further explain & give some examples.

But before I continue, I just wanted to make clear that I am NOT talking about doing things on a whim. I am not saying that you can do whatever you want and call it God told me to yet it is against Scripture. That is NOT right nor what I am speaking of. Walking in The Spirit gives no freedom to us at all, but more bound to Him to listen ever so closely.

I am talking about such things as regarding to relationships. For instance that you take The Word & and use it as The Holy Spirit guides you. I have had several situations with people lately who are lost that my heart just bleeds for them. I want so badly to just spell it out to them in black and white, bull dozing where I am not invited. As I see their deep sin and desperate need for a relationship with Jesus and I know Scriptures that will change their lives of despair to joy, do I just spill it out on everyone wherever I am?. Does that give me “license” to bust down the “door” that God has clearly NOT opened? Are we His tools are not? Yet I want so badly to just blast in on those who are SO CLEARLY in rebellion to God & tell them all that is on my heart & mind.

Yet am I listening? Am I walking in The Spirit to know the when to speak and when to be silent? There has been times that in earnest prayer about these particular situations I have agonized before God to save these people. Only to have no doors open at all. So my tendency is to push harder on “the door”. Surely He wants me in! I must remember I am NOT the “eye opener”, God is. God opens eyes as He so deems.

I have known people who have made themselves such a stench to the lost around them by bulldozing Scriptures over and over without being in The Spirit. I am sure the non believer really does not want to have anything to do with being a Christian after being barged in on by someone walking in the flesh. This is not the work of Christ Jesus, nor does this please God! Not to mention the more damage is done when the door is finally burst open!

If I walk thru a “closed door” I walk in alone!
God is not with me, I will be in the flesh not in The Spirit!

Beautiful Hands

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
James 5:16

Recently I asked a “handful” of friends to put their “hands together” in prayer for me and my son. I only told a few ladies, not that more would not have prayed but it was such a sensitive subject and I was so out of control of my emotions that I could not speak about it. I want to share with you the power of prayer. God has had mercy upon all of us during this time of prayer. I would like to share the Mercy of the Lord with you. To protect my son, and not to make this article Tooooooo looooooong to read. I am not going to discuss all the details & to keep this simple.

We are not sure what really happened to my son, but he sorta had an anxiety breakdown about 4 weeks ago. This was TOTALLY not his normal self at all. He is a very loving, gentle young man. He had really began to show The Fruit of the Spirit in his love for others and putting others first including his brothers. God had really done a Supernatural Work of Salvation in him this year. So we do not fear for his eternal life. I say all this so you have a basis to know just how different the “break down” made him.

He has always had an interest in Law so he got some books at the library. I long time ago quite reviewing his reading material as he is a speed reader and I would never get anything done if I did. Not to mention that by 11th grade he is well able to discern what is good and bad. Needless to say, he got this book on law and it had very detailed cases of domestic violence. He quit reading the book and was so shook up that he begged me to pray with him almost hourly. He read his Bible, prayed, sang. Just trying to walk in the Spirit. Yet this info was so disturbing. I can not discount the fact that I feel satan took full advantage of my son’s vulnerability at that time and sifted him without ceasing. He could not do his school work. He was unable to do his chores. He wanted only to be with us (the family) continually night and day he would not leave the room we were in. He lost all desire of other things on the farm. He did not want to take his driving lessons etc. It was so debilitating. This was VERY scary to me as a mom. To see my normally VERY capable young man, turn to an incapable little child. He was not rebellious or angry. He cried about his problem. But we were all stunned. Our son when he was two had cancer and went through intense treatment for 2 ½ years and we thought perhaps his cancer was back. Whatever it was, it was defiantly something really really bad. He then went to washing his hands constantly. He began to pick up trash of the ground/floor down to little tiny specks. Just obsessed with his hands. He did not want to give anyone the cold he had at the time. He carried things in his arms or by his pinky finger. He shook hands oddly. And so on…………

I cried many nights on my pillows. Prayed many mornings in the quiet hours alone. This was a HUGE change and a HUGE burden. What could we do? He had his yearly cancer check up coming within a few weeks so we held out for it and thought we would talk to the Doctors then. Sunday a lady caught me before we left church (we did not want our son made fun of or be in an awkward situation so we left). She hugged me and asked what was wrong. I began to cry and she held me while I told her that something was terribly wrong with our son. She said she would pray. I asked her to tell two other ladies I knew would pray too. I talked with a friend out of town and she was praying. We did talk to one of our Pastor/Friends. And he gave us very good counsel. He talked with Samuel and gave him very encouraging counsel. It was the first reprieve we had. His next day (Monday) was better. Tues. & Wed were ok. Thursday was his appointment at the Doctors in Memphis. It was a long day. The Doctors there were very alert to our son’s situation and immediately thought he should see a psycho and be put on med. We said absolutely no. And eventually the social worker let it drop & she would check in with us in a month. I say all that to share the answers to prayer I saw. Now I do not know what these ladies prayed and even some may have fasted on our behalf. Words can not even begin to express my gratitude of the time spent in prayer on my behalf!!

1. Safety in travel to & from Memphis.
2. Complete calmness in the three days prior to Dr. visit. Our son seemed to be less troubled.
3. His lab results showed he is still in remission!
4. He was checked as well for brain tumor—good report there too.
5. We asked for discernment in what they may suggest as treatment for our son. This was the hardest trial. Yet I saw answered prayers their too. God gave us peace in the midst of the world’s view.
6. We were able to take the planned overnight trip after that, my son did very well.
7. I am assured in my heart that God is in control and that He loves my son more than my husband and myself.
8. I was afraid I would be just a basket full of tears!! I usually cry when I am there. Yet God just dried up the river! That was so unusual!
9. We were sustained in the entire day going here and there to all the different clinics and tests we had to do.
10. Our son share much about God and The Gospel as he explained his problem. That was neat!
11. Our son told the social worker in very kind but firm terms he did not want to be seen alone. Anything she had to say could be said in front of us his parents.
12. We are home and still working through this issue but we KNOW we are not alone!!

How does one put a “price tag” on prayer?
Thank you to each person who went to the Throne on our behalf!

Sold Out for JESUS!
What would you trade for Jesus?
Matthew 13:44-46

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:44-46

What would you give in exchange for Jesus?

This was a parable Jesus taught. He is not saying you can “purchase” salvation. So please do not misunderstand what I am saying. BUT, it was the joy, excitement and TRUE value that was placed on the hidden treasure and the pearls that caused the person to SELL EVERYTHING they had to get it.

I am awed by their COMPLETE love of t his treasure. Do we love Christ that way? Are we “Sold out to Him and Him alone”? I fear t hat I could not say I have done as these in the parable with my “treasured” Salvation. Not that it is an exchange, but a heart of gratitude that NOTHING can compare to the “Treasure” of having Christ Jesus as my Lord and Master. How do I treat my “Precious Treasure”? Have I “sold” everything that I desire to be to be His Only? Have I “sold” my agenda to the “plans” Christ has for me? Have I “sold” out my life for my husband and see to his every need & desire as though he is Christ to me? Have I “sold” out my desire to use my tongue as an evil weapon or letting my gentleness be evident to all? Have I “sold” out all my control of the future to the Sovereign Hand of God? Have I “sold” out my time for the investment of training my children in The Way they should go?

He paid the Price to make you “Sold”!

Words say so much
Every word matters!
Matthew 12;33-37

"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
Matthew 12:33-37

I have been reading in the book of Matthew this week. As I came across this passage, I was very convicted. Even though God has been doing some mighty changes in me in this area of my words. Including joking (though seemingly innocent), tones, anger, slander, just ugly comments about others to puff myself up etc. These indeed must not be in one of His children and He began many years ago to purge these from my life. So that I would become more of Him and less of me.

This whole passage is a VERY sobering one!! Extremely strong language! Not too long ago I told my boys in morning Bible study that our tongues (the words we speak) really is over half of our walk!! More like 90 % cent of illuminating or desecrating Christ Jesus in our lives is done through our speech!! This has really been a burden on me and I pray for my family as well. I see with such awe God changing us.

The first part of the passage speaks of fruit. What fruit shows on your “tree” for all to pass by and partake of. Is it the good fruit of kind words, encouragement, uplifting conversations, thinking/speaking the best of others (Phil 4:8, Gal. 5:22-23).
Or is it just like the world, who seeks their own justice, retaliates when hurt, demands their rights, gets angry at anything done wrong to them, can joke like t he best of ‘em, complain about how their lives are etc. What kind of fruit is on your tree? Not whether it is apples, peaches, pears etc. But is it mostly fresh, bright, heathy & good. OR rotten & worm infested? Think back to the list I mentioned. How much of our fruit is shown in the words that come from our hearts? There is no way to “hide” what is been living in your heart, it will eventually “come up” when you least expect it. It will either be from the good store up in your heart that words of compassion reach others ears or from the evil stored up inside your heart will belch out evil words.

As if that were not enough He goes on………….to tell us that we will give an account for EVERY careless word!! I don’t know about you but that ouches!!
WOW! Every careless word! So does that mean in order to “obey” this one must become a monk and never speak?? By no means! Because that would be easy wouldn’t it? Except that then you would still be plagued by evil thoughts and actions if that is what you are storing up inside yourself!

Thus the only way to “obey” this Scripture is to OBEY it! Take captive every thought so that you make your words “Obedient” to Christ! This is moment by moment, preferring others over yourself. This my friend will Glorify The King!

Then to speak on the last verse which is chilling! By our VERY WORDS we will be condemned or saved! WOW! It is a matter of the heart. Again our words only reveal what we have saved up in our hearts. In essence, our words are the “overflow” of our hearts. Thus our heart of gratitude and proclamation of Who Jesus is & what He did for us. Our cry Abba Father I need You to save me! And our confession of our filthiness before God & repentance will acquit us.

Or by our words we will be condemned. What will it be?................

Choose your words carefully!

What happens when your
“gift” gets “canned”
All of the microorganisms of Faith get killed!
(a laughable quote from my son--- who did not like canning!)

Well ladies, I feel as though I need to introduce myself again!! For it has been SOOOOOOO long since I wrote anything on this blog. But yes I am still among the living! Actually, those of you who know me personally, I need to apologize for my inward focus as of lately. I will explain………

Where to begin………well first let me just address the “gift” part of this title. I have never been one to think much of Bible studies devoted to “finding your Spiritual gift”. I think it is a waste of focus (my opinion of course!). The reason I think this way is actually quite simple. If you are walking in complete obedience to God. If you love the Lord God with all your heart, soul, mind & strength, and your neighbor as yourself……………guess what happens??

Your Spiritual Gift(s) will show up!

You will already be doing them!

Probably two of my Spiritual gifts that seem to “show up” the most in my heart and my actions are Encouragement & Hospitality. I love doing both! And when I am prompted or see a need. Know of someone down or discouraged, Someone challenged in obedience, or just needs a hug—then it is my greatest joy to serve God in sending them a Word of encouragement. This is my heartbeat!

BUT when I get too busy to encourage others that come across my paths in need. When I ignore the promptings of God because I am too busy. Then I am in disobedience and I suffer greatly. This recently happened to me and I was a wreck! So many people (and people I dearly love!) I just basically ignored because I was busy!

I have written before and am a big “soap box” fan speaking directly against being too busy. Yet very cleverly the enemy satan so arrange a sneaky assault on me that I was not aware until I was buried under a great load.

Here is what happened. This is the second year of canning for us. I have made apple butter for years. And last year I did do a lot of canning too. It was rough then too! But I did not know as many people then and it seemed not so bad. But this year was the first year we had a garden that produced anything. From the mid month of May up to last week, I went 90 to nothing. Very unuasal for me. But there are things in life that do make for hectic times (such as my son getting Baptized, a death of a dear youth at church and the possible adoption all in one week!) But from that we went out of town and had some company a few times. Not to mention my husband traveled a few trips in this time frame. As well as putting our house up for sale and getting things fixed, repaired, & cleaned and keeping it that way. But if that were not enough………

In June for two weeks we went Wild Blackberry picking each morning until about noon. Since we could not get blueberries this season as the frost had gotten them. I made two batches of jam and froze the rest. They were very yummy! Then the garden stuff came rolling in!

It also ran smack into canning season! A lady down the road from me shared her garden with me and I mean shared. She had the most fabulous growing garden ever! So though I bought a bit from a lady I knew to help out with what I thought I needed, the rest came from the lady down the street. She was so generous. So I just kept canning and canning and canning! It all started with a cucumber, or shall I say hundreds of cucumbers. Before I knew it, I was in a real pickle!! I canned so many different kinds of pickles, I think I could feed a starving country----I just did not know when to quit. My kids at this point (which was at the beginning of the season) were ready to scream if someone gave us one more cucumber!! So I did give some to the pigs simply because I could not get to them all. My kitchen ahhhhh let’s just say there was not a place to sit! We will never eat all those pickles. And I kept having my husband stop by and pick me up more jars and spices (I was drowning in my canner!!) We spent a “fortune” on canning jars!! It really put me in a pickle as I said, and this was just the start!

Snapping green beans all day and into the night many many times! My children thought I was a harsh task master, but I just could not throw them away…..That was just the beginning! Did I mention shelling 2 huge bushels of purple hull peas too?? She shared tomatoes galore, plus more! Plus our garden had tomatoes. I gleaned from another place of tomatoes. I actually at one point had so much tomatoes juiced to be canned and I was so weary I ended up wasting two huge pots full. I made V-8 juice, spaghetti sauce, tomato soup, tomato paste, tomato juice, whole tomatoes, ketchup, & salsa. Then peppers came popping out. I did jalapeno peppers until I do not wish to see another!! My hands were about to fall off by then. This was not to mention the stuff that went into the freezer (squash, zucchini, okra, onions, cabbage). Also, we canned 3 bushels of peaches. That day was not too bad, we had a good time all together working---but we were tired.

But during all this time, the world kept spinning while I was whizzing around dead on my feet in the kitchen. But things began to fall apart and unravel quickly…….i began to get grouchy, my kids were not getting a break from work either. We still had to do the bare necessities cooking cleaning, laundry, taking care of the animals etc. We had company a few times and a few birthdays in the middle of all this. And many many times It took me days to finish the table load of food. But then it would get filled again and again. So many opportunities went by to help others. I noticed I began to say things and not follow thru like saying I would call someone and not do it. I was unable to return emails or phone calls. One of my sons and I frequently went into big arguments (which was not normal). It really took over my life. My poor neighbor who I was hoping I was being a witness to must have thought I only wanted to be her friend for her garden, which was not true. But I was canning so much I did not have time to go to visit her. And when I did she gave me more garden stuff!

Let me say here that I am not complaining that I was blessed indeed by food this year. And canning is my no means a sin. But ignoring the Lord and what He tells me to do, and ignoring people who are in your life because you (i) was too busy canning, is a sin.

It all came to a head one week. Here is what happened: I had gone down to visit in the evening with my neighbor (the garden lady) a bit, I knew her mother had been in the hospital and had come home that day. So I took her some bread and visited with her a bit. The next morning as I was having my quiet time an ambulance and police cars went down the road. I just knew it was the lady’s mom. I was prompted to get up and go to her. But I was paralyzed with fear and I had a “ton” of canning to do. So I turn my ear away from the needs of my neighbor, and went on with the so called “important” things of my life. Besides someone else can help her I told myself.

It was one week later, ashamedly, I went down to visit with her. I asked about her mom. She said through shaking sobs that her mother had died during the night/early morning of the day I had visited last. She went of crying her heart out and told me every detail. She spared nothing and it was quite a horrific scene that she shared with me. And her words………….and I was all alone, I did have anyone to help me……………..had a immense effect on me. Boy did they ever! I was not there for her! Oh I was a sober person walking home that day. Not only was I not there for her, but it took me one week to get back to see her. I am so ashamed. That is not in Christ’s likeness at all! I was overtook with grief. I was crushed under the immense conviction of the Holy Spirit. It was all to obvious that I was having a half hearted relationship with my Jesus. I had been under conviction some the Wednesday night before (which prompted me to gooooooo to see my neighbor the next morning). Boy I cried off and on that whole day and at Bible study that night I just had the tears streaming down my cheeks of how I had disappointed my Father, who has lavished His love so freely on me.

*A Broken and contrite heart I (God) will not turn away*

R E P E N T E N C E
is a beautiful thing
The next day my sister came for a visit and we cleaned for two days, on Saturday i got the call that my fruit was in!! I just wanted to cry! I was trying to change yet, the end was not over yet! And I must finish what I committed too financially I had purchased this order though 6 weeks prior. I was beyond discouragement……………….but I did cancel the next order arriving in September. Now I had two HUGE bushels of apples to peel, core, slice, cook, blend, can into applesauce. Plus 4 boxes of grapes to juice. On the second day of apples & grapes I got the call that my pears were in that was supposed to come with the peaches I had done a few weeks back!! Discouraged!! Will it ever end?! I was scared that my repentant heart did not mean anything---yet I was stuck! It was a YUCKY thing! We canned yet another week. BUT then we were done! NO MORE I said. I must stop and be obedient!

I know we are still learning how much will last all year and that takes some doing. As well, as my husband and I desire this kind of life style so it was not wrong for me to can. Yet because I did not stop and represent Christ Jesus when He so desired me to, was wrong. And I deeply regret not talking with my dearest dearest friends. That my family had to suffer with me not at my best. I can only pray that God will indeed allow me to redeem the opportunities lost. And that He will not allow me to fall in to that trap again. So to note:

When your “gifting” gets “canned” it really “spoils” everything!

I can truly say that some 1,000 jars later

Sittin’ Down on the Job
Spiritual Weariness

This is actually a very visible Biblical lesson that happened to me not long ago. Well you know here on the farm we are still “New” at this “Country Living” thing. So this is the first time we have done any milking of any kind (except pour it from a carton!!) So we thought goats would be easier here at our place. We have had two Nanny Goats. The first one had something wrong with her teats and we could not milk (or so we thought). So we purchased a LaMacha as you may have read on our family blog http://www.trisonschickery.blogspot.com/. When she kidded which was a Surprise, we waited what we thought was the “right time” and went out to milk her. Now that sounds so easy doesn’t it? Well that is after you catch her, carry the heavy beast to the milk stand, lock her in, get her feed, hobble her, (all while keeping all the other goats out of there) then squat so low ya think ya gonna fall over and begin to milk those little teats! Only to have her break her hobble and knock over the bucket! About the second day of trying to milk this goat this is what she did: We had to chase her, catch her, carry her (100lbs) to the milking stand, get the other goats out, lock in her head, get her feed, and hobble her in a homemade flimsy hobble. I began to milk her as best I could (I have weak hands) and had already felt like I had done a work out! On this day she would not eat! Stubborn ole thing I thought. Just about that time, I could not believe it, she began to slowly sit down. Throwing up my hands, I can not believe this (you can’t reach the teats at all if she sits!!). Smart/stubborn goat. How could you just “Sit Down on the Job” don’t you know that is what you are here for?? To provide my family with milk. And here you are sitting down on the job!! (And I am talking to the goat!) Deciding to forget the whole thing and try again when she has another kid, I went into the house “udderly” defeated.
How similar are we to that scenario?? How often do we “Sit Down on the Job”? I know I do so often. Especially when it is hard. When it is hard to obey the Lord. Hard to trust in His Will for my life. When I physically am worn out or don’t feel well. I excuse my bad attitude to “hormones” (which then just dethrones God as King over everything in our lives!). Sitting down on the job in waiting for God to find us a house instead of me helping Him out. You know God wants us to obey Him. Where do you “Sit Down on the Job” in the area of being His servant? Do you serve others or are you to busy “Sitting Down on your Job”. How about accepting God Will for you at this very moment with Joy (which is commanded in Scripture) whether it be a miscarriage of a baby you so desperately wanted, to never being able to have children. Perhaps you marriage is not what you expected. Your husband is out of a job. You have to move and leave dear friends. You can’t find fellowship with others etc. But this is where you are---don’t “Sit Down on the Job” just because you do not get you way (as Snowflake our goat did)
We do this in so many ways one is by just ignoring what God wants you to do. Spiritualizing your own agenda (which is usually easier and more appealing). Perhaps it is procrastination which is not a Godly trait “I’ll get to it later”. Sometimes it is as simple as writing a note, making a phone call, but you don’t do it because you have other things to do. May you be challenge and encouraged to get movin’….
With some

Scriptures to “STAND up on the Job”


2 Thessalonians 3:13 And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.

Psalm 119:28 My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.

Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Galatians 6:9-10 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Romans 5:3-4 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

The Salvation Equation

What really Counts?
What man has added, that needs to be subtracted
What are the true factors
How to sum it up
How to multiply the product
Why we find ourselves divided

This topic it the basis for everything in this world---and the world to come. Yes there is a heaven and a hell. We are ALL eternal beings. So EVERYONE will either go to Heaven or Hell. There is no in-between. There is no simply “falling asleep” and that is all there is to it. You will face God at death (or at the end of the age) and He will tell you either:
A) Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
Matthew 7:22-23

B) All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. Matthew 25:32-34

I think most all who claim to any form of religion agree on this above information for the most part. We agree there is an eternal end to all lives. However, because of our excessive need to think we all go to Heaven we (the churches of today), have so prostituted the Truth with man’s ways that we have swarms of “illegitimate” people who call themselves “Christians” but who really have no reason to call God their Father!


What really Counts?
Is not weather you know God, but does He know you?


What got me to thinking so much about this was Galatians 6:12-16

Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.

I began to wonder what would this look like today? In these modern times, we do not worry about circumcision (as means of religious obedience). It is not a big deal. If we want it done we have it done to our babies before we leave the hospital as a means of everyday stuff.

So what would the battle of the uncircumcised and the circumcised be like today. This section that Paul speaks so fervently about. It weighed on my heart heavily. And I must conclude that everything that man has added to salvation just like the list below must be subtracted from the salvation equation for it has nothing to do with it. Just like they tried to do this in Jesus time.
Because of this terrible state of “making sure” everyone gets to go to Heaven we (churches of today), have so badly bastardized how we are “saved” or rescued from hell. In the following list (which is not exhaustive) are observations that I have seen in the past several years in many different “denominations” and churches. They may not say it in their “constitution” but it is written on their hearts in the way they talk and act. How they socialize or criticize, Do they love or think themselves above? do they edify or try to rectify you, how they welcome or reject others etc. Actually by holding up a “banner” is what I call it. This is what we believe, they leave the Gospel out all together. Today many of the “banners” are even listed on churches signs, so that you know just what they are about (instead of Christ) before you even get out of your car!

*are listings for women only.

Saved

Circumcised
Baptized
Saying the sinner’s prayer
Walking down the church isle
Jew
Member of church
*Wearing dresses
*Having lots of children
*Wearing a head covering
*Long hair
no tattoos
wearing a suit to church
singing in the choir
not wearing any makeup
KJV only
Home school
Home business
Perfect church attendance
Beards(or vice versa)
no musical instruments
no wine
no swine
whole food nuts
under the law of Moses
non-resistance
anti-government
patriotism=godliness
no playing cards allowed
programmed discipleship
no wedding bands
G/PG rated TV/Movies

Unsaved

Uncircumcised
Not baptized
Crying out to God for Mercy
Praying on your kitchen floor
Gentile
A no membership church
Wearing pants
Having 1 or no children
Not wearing a head covering
Short hair
Tattoos
Wearing what you have
Praising God in the pew
wearing makeup
obeying what we read in any version
public school
working for others
missing church to witness
clean shaven
musical instruments
wine in moderation
eat anything just don’t “pigout”
do the best you can
liberty in Christ
Military
Law abiding citizen
Allegiance to The Lamb alone
playing card games
one on one investing in others
wedding bands
taking every thought captive

As you can see it is a lengthy list. Many you may be shaking your head or laughing at. But I can tell you they exist. Perhaps even in your own church. And many more little issues are in our churches today. We have confused Salvation with an outward appearance or performance. None of which God has said is true Salvation.
The factors of Salvation is repent and Believe in God! This is not an “easy Believism” at all. It is believing that Jesus is God’s Son, that he was born, died and rose again, that He is the perfect Lamb needed that allows you to come to God. Believing that you are but dust and need a Savior. You realize that you are bound for hell unless God intervenes. You can not get to God in any way of your own.
Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
Matthew 21:32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
Luke 13:3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

John 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
John 5:38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent.

Faith sums it all up! It is through Living Faith that God is my God and my love for Him causes me to seek what pleases Him and to obey it. This is the “fruit” of repentance and a changed life. Not a prayer, a pulpit, not anything from the above list has anything to do with Salvation. Not to mention that it is God who gives us this “gift” of Faith anyway!
Luke 5:20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."
Luke 7:50 Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Luke 17:19 Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."
Luke 18:6 And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says.
John 2:11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
John 7:31 Still, many in the crowd put their faith in him. They said, "When the Christ comes, will he do more miraculous signs than this man?"
1 Corinthians 2:5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
1 Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
2 Corinthians 4:13 It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak,
Romans 1:17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
Romans 3:22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,
Romans 3:25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—
2 Corinthians 5:7 We live by faith, not by sight.

When we have repented and are walking in this kind of Faith with God. Listening to the Holy Spirit as He teaches us we will multiply the product that is produced in our lives as we pursue righteousness. The LOVE we have for God and others will be the “shoes” of our “walk” ---- NOT the things on the above list!!

What divides so many churches and people is that we want to come to Faith and walk out our Faith---our way (the list etc.). When Christ said to lay down your life then come follow me. You can’t have both your way and His! Either you are crucified with Christ or you are living for self.
There is ONLY ONE way to Faith. Jesus said He is the Way the Truth and The Life………no comes to the Father except by Him (His ways only! Not by any traditions of man!). Actually churches have forgotten that it is really the “few” not the “many” that come to Him anyway. I do not know why it is such a big deal to have a big church---the more you have the less of Christ there is……….(just a thought).

I praise God that I do not have to be a math major to figure this out!
Just believe in what really counts
Faith
The rest of the answers will come!

Applesauce Bullion

Well I am sure that I have peeked your curiosity! I have never heard of the product Applesauce Bullion, at least not until recently! Have you ever heard of such a thing?
Well of course it got me to thinking when this funny turn of events happened. Things are not always as they seem. You have heard of that I am sure. But we do not often practice seeing things from the “others” point of view. Furthermore, things are not always the way we think they should be according to God! Now that is getting touchy isn’t it! If it does not make sense to us, then surely it is not God’s will right??!!
God has said: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9
One morning I was in the kitchen making my family’s favorite homemade soup! Creamy, Yummy Potato Soup with fresh bread on a cold day is the best!! So I asked my oldest son to go get me the main ingredient that makes it so yummy out of the freezer. Fresh, thick, strong “yard bird” broth is what really makes a terrific soup---Fantastic! So I always try to keep some on hand from when I cook up chicken in the crock pot. To make it simple I just put it into freezer containers and freeze it. It is the right amount too.
So on this morning after my son brought me the container I just wet the bottom and it slips right out. I put the pot on low and let it melt as I added the chopped potatoes and carrots. I have done this so much I could do it in my sleep! But on this morning as I was adding about 5 more cut up potatoes, something was not right. I was not hearing the right sound. Which is not sound at all as the broth melts. Instead I was hearing a sizzling sound. So I looked into the pot. There was a faint sweet smell. There was a pile high of cut potatoes sitting in half melted applesauce!!! I screamed, turned off the stove and just stared. Could this really be applesauce? Yep one lick and sure enough---applesauce. Well now what am I gonna do?
I took out the remaining frozen applesauce and put it in a bowl in the refrigerator, then I put all the potatoes in a strainer and rinsed them well, cleaned the pot, and started over! I thought I had used up all the applesauce a long time ago! And since I don’t label my freezer containers (I only use them for broth, and I can tell the beef broth from the chicken broth by color!) I look for what the outside looks like. But I did not think about the applesauce!! We had made applesauce way back in the summer. And since the spare freezer is in the basement workshop, I do not often go down there. The boys had told me we were out of applesauce months ago.
What a lesson! It looked like broth on the outside, it slid out like broth, but it was not broth!! Many times in the Bible we have seen this kind of “mistaken identity” My will over God’s?? Take for example the story written in I Samuel 16:1-13. God tells Samuel to go anoint the new king. After looking at all Jesse’s sons (at least the most promising ones). The ones that Samuel and Jesse thought God would choose was not God’s choice at all. We look on the outside and God looks on the inside. 1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
Just like the mistake I made with the applesauce, we can make in our thoughts of other people, in our thoughts of God’s will in our lives. And whether or not we will be obedient to ideas and scriptures we do not understand etc. I challenge you to renew your mind in God’s Word. Get to know Him better and you will begin to think more heavenly minded.
I was able to clean up my “mistaken identity” with the applesauce bullion! But many times in our lives it is not so easy to “clean up” thoughtless bullion! Think about it!

Snow Flake or So Fake?
I had to wait some time for this inspiration to come “floating” down from the sky! This had been on my heart, but I wanted to wait for the first snow fall! And that was on Thursday! How beautiful to wake up to the snow white world. For everything to be so perflakely covered with glistening white stuff! Peering out the window before anyone has gone outside to molest the scene of perflake harmony of the snowflake’s unity on the earth!
It is equally amazing to me the contrast, though, when the untouched, unified snowflakes are marred by an intruder. The minute that footprints, dog prints, other animal prints begin to assault the “unified snowflakes” how very very ugly it gets. Then there is no return to it’s beauty. It is unity completely ruined forever. Then the inevitable fights, customary snowmen and igloo’s take care of the rest of the yard’s beauty. The streets ever so quickly splash their black dirty juices on the roadside plowed snow. Making it hideously obvious of our busy world! The beauty of the untouched, uncomplicated display of God’s splendor now in mucky brown undesirable ruins.
As I watched these big soft flakes float gingerly down to the yard, I thought isn’t it amazing how just one snow flake does not do anything but come down and melt. I thought it sure is gonna take a lot of those snowflakes to make a blanket of white stillness. Just one snow flake won’t do!! But when there are more than one, say a lot more. Then some more added, then before you know it, they are shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand, unified I might add, in order to do one mission: Display God’s Glory!! And when that happens, the majesty is speechless to look upon. A beautiful white blanket of Splendor sent from Heaven!
So it made me think of the “church”. Each body member being a “flake”. Just one alone can not do what the “body” was designed to do. Only through the complete unified effort of each flake (person) can the uncanning beauty of God’s children –displaying God’s Glory! This kind of unity in the “church” is missing today. Both inside the local “church’ and between “churches”. I have been in many churches—unity? Many do not know the word much less what God says about unity. It is sad. Not to mention that unity between others churches/denominations if you will---is usually unheard of.
Why I ask? I think it is because there are fake flakes in the mist of these bodies of believers that distract, redirect, disregard from the mission, thus molesting the unity that should be there. I think back to the early church and this is how they are described: Acts 2:42-47 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.4 All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Acts 4:32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.

What has happened to this beginning?..........well, in short, we have left our first Love. We have sold our hearts to a modern day organization. The church now has all the amities that a club or businessman needs. Exchanging personal involvement with one another to group programs. In this process of keeping up with the world, new buildings, gyms, programs, entertainment etc, has sprung up. Regrettably, with those things came unneeded massive expenses & debt. I think this is when there was the beginning of huge influx of “So Flakes”. People who are not saved. People who are only in this for the entertainment, etc. The church has to pay it’s “bills” somehow.
Thus our big mega church & large churches are full of “So Flakes” so there can not be the unity of “Snow Flakes”. In order to keep everyone happy much is compromised. And the small churches many times are no different and are on their way to being big and offer all they can!

Can a church full of “So Flakes” ever perflakely produce the beauty and glory of true unity that “Snow Flakes” can?

Are you a “Snow Flake” or “So Fake”
?

Uncovered Righteousness

Ladies, have you ever wondered what you will wear in Heaven? Well I had not even considered this until recently. What caused me to ponder this is what I am wearing today!! Which is a mossy oak breakup jumper and an hunter orange T-shirt under it with a matching mossy oak bandana style head piece. This is really wild to some………but it is modest!

There is much controversy in clothing these days. From being in “style” to traditional clothing. From modest to immodest in both arenas. I have been in churches that my sons had to constantly look down because of the indecently dressed women and girls in the auditorium, that it was sickening. But this was common and accepted practice, ignoring scripture that speaks directly against such immodesty ( 1 Timothy 2:9 I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes). Modesty is not defined here, yet one can understand it does mean clothing cut low in the chest and short in the legs is immodest. And thus some just decided to go around the “letter” of the law, ignoring the “Spirit” of the law to covering all parts, just form fitting-------this too ladies is immodest. What are we trying to prove, show or advertise? Proper decent attire is part of our “walk” as Christians.

Now while this is true, There are other groups that feel it immodest to have part of your arms showing! Or not having a certain conformity of pattern or the right type of material. Some even cover their feet. The problem with this in general is that it is a fertile bed for growing legalism and pharisitical righteousness. What I mean is………I had a lady give look upon me with contempt because I did not have the normal noted attire for a certain group. She did not know me but I thought how sad that she thinks I am not a Christian because my modest clothing does not fit her “list” of style pattern and print of the clothes. It was as though I was pronounced on the spot “lost and worldly” in just a sneering glance. This is so wrong. I have visited other churches that too had legalism about clothes (not as spelled out), saying that because some young men were now wearing suits and cutting their hair properly were obviously saved and going to heaven. This again is wrong!
So in laughable discouragement I thought: You know what I will never please these people---for I am not a people pleaser. But a “Truth pleaser” (Ephesians 5:8-10 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. )
You know what? in Heaven it is not going to matter what I wear, I ain’t taking these clothes with me. And wearing the legalistic clothes list does not impart anymore righteousness than simply obeying---dress modestly. It is not in what we wear it is in WHO we obey. In heaven we are not going to wear make-up, or get perms, or wear cape dresses or for that matter head coverings either.

I guess my point is that so many people get so wound up (many times it is in their silence not just their words) about the clothes/hair/makeup/jewelry being their righteousness (which it is not on any “fruit” listed in the Bible) that they miss “the boat” so to speak. They put this command of modesty above all others. Not having love and grace for others as God has bestowed on us. I am not saying modesty is not important. BUT so is Love your God with all your heart, soul, mind, strength. And love your neighbor as yourself. Be submissive to your husband, give to those in need, encourage those in the body and so on……So in our “dress codes” we have forgotten to love others. We have made it into a “banner” of “covered righteousness” and have forgotten the “banner” of love. And as Scripture says without love you are nothing.

We need to remeber to give the same grace and mercy to others that we desire ourselves.

The Naked Truth

Now I know what you are thinking. Is this even fit to read??? Well yes, get past the title and you will find a very good lesson. Having spent many years on the coast of California, we spent a lot of time “catchin’ waves”. There just isn’t anything like staring at the vastness of the ocean and reflecting of God’s Power, His Majesty, His Might, and yet His love and care for us. The wonderful thing about the beaches we went to was that for the most part, they were colder beaches and most of the time jackets were worn, and in general more clothing than at the more southern beaches. This was a blessing.
But we all probably have seen the sight of a woman or a man in a in a skimpy swim suit lounging or walking along the beach. Follow me down the beach for just a moment. This profound little picture has such a spiritual meaning! When people are dressed as such or undressed as I like to say. Many of them barely have on enough clothing to cover a flea. As you glance at this picture---you see A LOT of flesh. And that is just the way we should expect it. What do I mean? Well, for the unregenerate person all he/she can do is live their lives in the flesh. That is all that shows. Boy do they show a lot of flesh.
However, we as believers also get into the “flesh” many times. And I just want you to think for a minute what that looks like----all that flesh hanging out!! We think of the beach scene aghast. But yet we will literal go naked at home, or out shopping and even to church!! We do not hesitate to tell a sister a “thing or two”, or gossip. How about being impatient with our spouse or children for not moving quickly enough? How about when there is a need turning your head in the opposite direction while saying someone else can do that job. Not being available for a listening ear. Not having compassion on those who need it. Most often it is our tongues that “lick” us! We intentionally hurt someone. Or tell someone the Truth – without love. I could make this list as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. But I think you are beginning to get the idea. There are many deeds of the flesh (Col 3:5,7-9, Eph. 4:31-32, Gal. 5:19-21), and every time we walk in the “flesh” we look like that lady who was quite heavy in her bikini and flesh was everywhere! (That was a true sighting---please note I am not making fun of heavy people, I myself am of the heavy side too----but I do not wear bikinis!) That is sickening!! It made me really think! As I was teaching my boys about this, I would remind them every time they were knowingly sinning I would say,: Are you walking around naked? Do you need to go to the clothes closet and change?
Change into what:
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14

Change our inconsiderate actions for ones of compassion. Change our uncaring hearts for hearts of kindness. Trample our pride and replace it with humility. Round our rough edges with gentleness. And change our snappiness to patience in all things. Having a heart of forgiveness at all times. Change our many hateful attitudes and actions to ones of love, which clothes us completely.

This is how you properly clothe yourself so as to not run around naked!

I ask you to think about what you look like when you walk around in the flesh---I promise you it is ugly!! Let us consider how we are to clothe ourselves and not go around showing our flesh and in doing so we will glorify the Lord!

The
Crooked Tree

I was driving down the road one early December day, when I passed a field dead and brown for the coming winter season. In the middle of the field was a tree. The tree was probably an Old Oak Tree. Perhaps older than my parents. But what struck me was it’s bent.

It had been striped of it’s magnificent rich green leaves that summer is shaded with. As well as it’s glorious Autumn’s colorful bouquet now gone. Now you could clearly see what all it’s “adornments” had so carefully covered, it’s bent. There in the middle of the field was this one lone tree, and all that was noticed was it’s bent. It’s imperfection now glaring at all who pass by.

I thought to myself, that is so like us!! We try to hard to hide our weaknesses, inconsistencies, our deep dark secret sins. But there will be a season to which all sin is exposed---just like this tree.

We all have a bent to sin since the time of the garden and first sin. But I challenge you that as in this tree that you do not allow sin to camp at you door so long that it becomes a permanent part of you life (like the bent tree).

That when all “adornments” are off (like a winter tree) it is the inner beauty of one who loves the Lord God with all her heart, soul mind & strength and loves others – this is what people will see when they pass by.

I praise God for the times in my life where He has striped me bare to reveal my bent ness so that through my repentance & contrite heart, He may begin to prune away branches and limbs. Scourge out diseases that may have begun, so that righteousness may take root.

I challenge you this winter while all the “leaves” are off to examine your life in light of Scripture & see if you are bent.