Life…Living…Loving

I know, it’s been awhile since I’ve blogged.  It’s been a busy time for our household the last few weeks. 

First, Bud was laid-off from his job along with about 35 other men in his department.  Downsizing finally hit the hospital.  Fortunately, he has been there long enough (10-years) that he was offered severance.  This of course helps for the next couple months.  Trusting God for our future.

Second, we left for Wisconsin Wednesday morning of the 15th.  Stopped in Southern Illinois to pick up our middle son, Jason and got into New Berlin, WI around 12 midnight or so.  It was a long trip and we ended up going through Chicago anyway as we somehow missed our direction in Decatur, IL.  But since we were going through there around 10:45 pm… it was breeze!  I grew up driving around Las Angeles… so traffic, etc. doesn’t bother me… I’m just kind of lazy about driving now and didn’t want to go through Chicago.  Oh well, it made me appreciate my “little city” of Chattanooga.  If I want the BIG city, I’m less than 2-hours from Atlanta,GA. 

We were heading to Wisconsin for our oldest grandson’s wedding.  Tim(Brian as we call him) and Christina(Tina) became husband and wife on Friday the 17th.  He was handsome and she was a beautiful bride.  Our granddaughter, Kailee was a bridesmaid, and she was gorgeous. Chloe, our great-granddaughter, and Brian and Tina’s daughter was the flower girl.  She was adorable.  I enjoyed my time with her.

They had a beautiful warm sunny day for their wedding. 

They took photos at a park not too far from the church, Apostolic Life Tabernacle in Waukesha, WI.  Papa Bud performed the ceremony.  It’s neat, because he performed the marriage ceremony for all three of his sons and now his first-born grandson!  Time sure whizzes by!

 

Mother and daughter before the wedding.  Tina’s youngest brother is standing to the left admiring his sister.  She was beautiful!

 

Right:  Brian surprised Tina with “something blue” after the rehearsal.

 

 

 

Chloe getting ready to practice her “flower girl”… although, she called it being a “princess”.

      Right:  Our beautiful   granddaughter, Kailee. 

                          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Awwwww….how sweet!

 

Right:  Chloe loved her Uncle Jay.  He played with her.  She asked him “where you come from?”  She didn’t remember seeing him before. 

She climbed up and patted his cheeks with both hands and then rubbed noses.

 

 

  One tired little girl.  She finally gave up.

She definitely is her granny’s girl… she loves her coffee!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Chloe enjoying herself at the reception!

 

I’ve more photos and have the cd that my daughter, Terri gave me.  I’ll get those posted soon. 

Bud had the 7-day flu and was sick the whole time of our visit.  We “doctored” him up for the rehearsal and the wedding ceremony and then he made a brief appearance at the reception and Tim took him back to the apartment so he could go back to bed.  He was in bed the whole time we were there and on the drive up and back home.  He ran a 102.3 fever and was almost delirious.  At one point, I thought I might have to take him to the hospital.  He was miserable and I didn’t get much sleep either.  I drove up and back.  I drove home in one day… that God for books on tape!  Kept me awake.  We got home around 1:30-2:00 am Monday morning.  I was exhausted.  His fever and illness finally broke early Wednesday morning.  He said he felt like he’d been in a thick fog.  I asked him if he even remembered the ceremony    and he said he did!!! 

Well, enough for now… will try to post again soon.

Technorati Tags: wedding,marriage,grandkids,family

 

Bless the LORD, O my soul…

 

I woke this morning with a heavy heart and “my spirit” was downhearted.  Not totally aware of the reason for my downheartedness, I worked through the morning, being careful NOT to let my spirit reflect outwardly.  

At 1:30pm I jumped into my car for my hour lunch break thinking I was going to run some errands like I usually do.  I soon found myself  parked in a parking lot just down the street from where I work, asking myself “what am I doing here?”  I soon discovered the reason I had parked.

Grabbing my Bible out of my satchel, I opened immediately to Psalm 103… these words jumped out at me: (the underlining is my emphasis)

Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.

I then read on:

Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases.

Who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies,

Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.

He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

Read all the verses… but then again beginning with vs.17:

But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children.

To such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them.

The LORD has established His throne in heaven and His kingdom rules over all.   (Read on…)

The last verse of Psalm 103:

Bless the LORD, all His works, in all places of His dominion.  Bless the LORD, O my soul.

Well, needless to say, after reading this chapter… my heart was once again refreshed and full of God’s love and mercy and my faith and trust in His will was strengthened!  How could I ever have doubts about His will?  After all these years…. you’d think I’d have learned to trust Him in ALL things, right?  Be honest though… you have your moments or days too.  But WE Don’t STAY there!  We press on toward the prize…

I still am not totally sure what the heavy heart was all about… but I know that when He is ready to show me, He will !!  One can always find just what is needed and required for the soul through prayer and His precious WORD! 

I have never been disappointed in God’s response to my prayers! 

My afternoon was much better than my morning!  I was re-assured of His love and mercy and so thankful for His longsuffering!  God is Good ALL the time!

I’m thankful I have that hour during the middle of the day to “touch base” with Him when the morning quiet time just isn’t long enough!  He is so gracious to “reach out” and meet me there!

Technorati Tags: Prayer,Soul,Musing,thoughts,Mercy,THE WORD,Bible,Psalm 103

 

Just a thought…

Have a BLESSED 2009!

Just some thoughts in my reading in Proverbs:

Six Things God HATES, Seven are DESTESTABLE…

Proverbs 6

16 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers

God is Love, but there are things that God HATES! If asked, “What does God hate?” We would probably automatically say, murder, blasphemy, lying, abuse of children… those are the typical things that cross our mind.

But in reading Proverbs 6… there are 6 things that God hates and he lists a 7th one also that we tend to overlook as NOT a terrible sin. But God hates it and finds it destestable… vs. 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a man [or woman] who stirs up dissension among brothers…

Wow… GOD HATES that! I wonder why He finds these things destestable?  Could it be because if we are doing those hateful things we are keeping someone besides ourselves from salvation? I surely do not want to be the responsible party that discourages a lost soul from finding salvation.

Yet this does occurr! How displeasing that is to God! I do not even want to know the final judgement of someone guilty of dissuading a lost soul from the truth of salvation. I do not want God to look at me and my actions with HATE! I want to see the love and compassion in his eyes when I get to look upon His Face!

We should be in the business of redeeming lives, not turning them away from salvation.

I am so excited about this coming year. I believe even though there have been trials & testing, and I’m sure even more in the coming year… that we are going to see souls entering His Kingdom… becoming Sons and Daughters of the King of Kings. I am committed to the cause of Christ… I do believe this is a sifting time and the true believers will STAND for TRUTH and preach the soul saving gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

There won’t be time for petty gossip and dissension among true believers. There’s “a work” to accomplish. We don’t have time to sit around and discuss if they’re doing it right or wrong, or it should be done this way or that, or he’s doing it wrong, or not fast enough, or slow enough, or not moving in the right direction. Yes, the Body of Christ is one in unity! But we are also diverse in our character and personality. We are one in doctrine and in anticipation of our LORD’S returning!

Until each one of us as individuals makes a commitment to do and be all we can for Jesus Christ… we are limited as a body of believers. Working together for God will accomplish what needs to be done.

Just some thoughts towards the NEW YEAR of 2009! MOVING ON to GREATER THINGS in 2009. HE is LORD of ALL! I want him to be LORD of ALL in MY LIFE!! Nothing else is important enough to take His place in my life.

Have a GREAT YEAR in 2009, blessed beyond measure!

 

The Edge

Why?

Why do some people have to try to live right on the edge of their Belief?  I guess you could call it their Belief.  However, if they really believed they wouldn’t be walking on the “edge” in the first place, would they? 

When you walk on the edge… it’s only a matter of time before you fall off.  It may be a slip, a stumble, a push or shove, or carelessness of walking too close to the edge and the edge crumbles and down you go… all the above are simply living  “off balance”. 

When we try to do things our way and live in both worlds… and take a little of each world and try to “mix” them together… it just doesn’t work!  Light can’t mix with dark and dark with light.  Speaking of spiritual and unspiritual.

Now… I know there isn’t a one of us perfect, yet!  But at least some are striving to be more like Him.  Others seem to be more concerned with how close they can get to the edge without falling off.  And spend all their time tempting God.  It’s a wonder He just doesn’t give a quick shove and get it over with.  

“When will we ever learn?”

We are fortunate and blessed that He knows and understands we are still in this fleshly carnal body and need His grace, mercy, and longsuffering.  He truly is compassionate towards us!  He really does love us. He’s proven that to us!

 

Mother of a Prodigal

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

3 John 1:4 

I realize that John is speaking of “spiritual children” in this verse of scripture; however, I have made it personal to me as a mother whose desire is to see her children walk in truth.

I’ve posted this short verse on the closet door in my study/office/computer room. It is prominently displayed and catches my eye the moment I sit down or walk by. It’s a reminder (as if I needed one) to pray for my children, ALL my children (those in our church family, other ministry friends children, but especially for the ones I physically birthed).

How blessed you are if your children are walking in truth. You should THANK God continually! 

Satan knows the heartaches he causes parents when he “thinks” he has drawn a pastors or ministers child, or one of our church family’s kids away from the truth. He is attacking our children every day no matter what their age. He goes for the “jugular”… he knows how precious our children are to us. He means to draw blood… He means to hurt, kill, and destroy. But MY FAITH is in God’s WORD!

But I have NEWS for him… and I’m not being “smug” either… because I know that anyone of us can falter at any moment… after all, we are still in this degenerate WORLD and we still wear this fleshly robe. I am CLAIMING my children, my grandchildren, my church children, my friend’s children in the Name of JESUS!

I remember once hearing Sister Nona Freeman speaking at a Ladies Retreat in western Maryland… she was telling us about how she prayed for her lost children… YEARS of prayer… telling us “DON’T STOP, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY”. I have the tape…still. It never leaves my mind. I can hear her words to this day… and that is approximately 18 years ago.

Don’t stop, Mom and Dad, keep praying. There is HOPE in their returning. The Word of God gives us that!

One Mother’s Day Sunday, I spoke on God-appointed Mothers in the Bible and the challenges they faced, including our mother of origin, Eve.

I also read the following:

Mother of a Prodigal

Where is the mother of the prodigal son
On that day so long ago?
What were her thoughts
And what were her fears
As she watched him turn to go?

How many times in the dark of night
Did the tears slide down her face?
Did she get out of bed
And fall on her knees,
Just to pray that her boy was safe?

How were the days when she did not know
Was he alive? Was he warm? Was he well?
Who were his friends?
And where did he sleep?
Was there anyone there she could tell?

But, oh, on that day when she looked down the road
As she had looked since her son went away,
Did love unspeakable flood her soul?
Did she cry?
What did she say?

I think when the father had welcomed their son
And the boy had greeted his brother,
That the servants made a path
For him to enter the door
And the waiting arms of his mother.

I don’t know who wrote this, but they surely had a mother’s heart.

I WILL NOT lose the vision of seeing my prodigals coming down the road to home. I still have HOPE and belief that TRUTH will prevail.

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray,
and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
Ps 55:17

I know that some of my children may read this… please remember I love you very much and pray for you continually! 

Technorati Tags: family,prodigal,motherhood,prayer,HOPE,Vision,long road home

 

Will our economy Collapse?

World Network of Prayer

September 26, 2008

Dear Friend and Prayer Partner.
    I am sending you information I received in a letter from Pastor Ken Wilde, head of the National Center in Washington, DC. He is onsite with a prayer team as you receive this letter.
    Yesterday he met with a Senator who is on the Senate Banking Committee. That senior Senator proceeded to inform him of the details of the crisis that we are now in and its ramifications. He informed us that last Thursday we were hours away from a total collapse in our economy! 

Ken Wilde goes on to say:
It was barely averted by taking some steps to bolster the mutual fund accounts. This Senator has been in coordination with his committee and with the Treasury Secretary, the Federal Reserve President, and with the President in attempting to come up with a plan that will bring our economy back to solvency. This is a serious and major concern because it affects all of us.
I think that this is no less a threat than the attack by terrorists on September 11, 2001. Once again it is time for Christians and Americans to humble themselves and pray to the one true God that we would hear from heaven and He would heal our land. I felt the Lord speak to me that it is time to call for Sacred Assemblies to be held across the nation and that we in concerted effort cry out to God in humility and repentance to heal our land. We may not be a nation that is known for setting up idols of wood or stone, but perhaps, we as a nation have been guilty of worshipping the idol of materialism and greed. I do know this, if we repent, God will relent!

Perhaps we need to heed the words Benjamin Franklin spoken during Constitutional Convention he spoke these words: I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth-that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the Ground without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without his Aid?”
We are now at a moment in time at which we, and our leaders, must devote ourselves to a time of prayer and repentance and acknowledgment that we surely cannot survive unless God himself intervenes.

With the multiple crises facing our nation it appears that a “Perfect Storm” of spiritual darkness is brewing in the atmosphere of our country.
If you take even a brief look at the various events in today’s headlines you begin to see that we are on the brink of a “perfect storm” of darkness. The recent terrible hurricanes earlier this fall that ravaged the gulf coast give us a glimpse in the natural of the raw destructive power of storms. It was declared on many newscasts by reporters and governmental officials that our gulf coast infrastructure cannot take much more of this! We must gather our spiritual meteorologists, reporters, aid workers, appointed officials, and financial resources and prepare to push back, offer aid, and strengthen the spiritual infrastructure to withstand the chaos that threatens to swirl around us. One glance at today’s headlines gives us a glimpse at our national stormy spiritual weather forecast. Probably foremost on our minds is the economic storm that threatens to engulf us!

This is not a Republican storm, nor a Democratic storm! This is an American storm!
Regardless of where you stand politically, I am certain of where you stand spiritually! America has been the largest mission sending, humanitarian providing nation that has ever existed! Do you think that the Kingdom of Darkness will sit idly by and not try to hinder? If evil can stop us from continuing to send missionaries, and stand for freedom and justice, then all the good that our nation has done spiritually and economically for the past 200 hundred years ceases! If Satan can deplete our resources, perhaps he feels he can diminish our destiny! When our president states that “Our entire economy is in danger” that brings a dark cloud over missions financing and evangelism.

THERE IS MORE AT STAKE THAN JUST THE ECONOMY!
What does it mean when the cumulative headlines scream at us and our enemies pronounce our end! The ardent Muslim president of Iran, Ahmadinejad, declared a few days ago at a United Nations speech right here in our nation that allows the “freedom of speech” (while Christians are persecuted for speaking up for Jesus in his nation!), that the ‘American empire is reaching the end of the road’! I pray that his bitter words not be fulfilled! The European Union warns us that Iran is nearing the ability to arm a nuclear weapon. North Korea removed the seals from its nuclear plant and chased out the inspectors stating that it was restarting its atomic program. Russia arrived with its Navy in Venezuela for exercises today! I am not trying to be political! I am trying to be practical!

You have never heard me speak like this, but please don’t tune me out! I am not trying to become an “Endtimes Fanatic”! These are all real headlines! This appears to be a Satanic “Perfect Storm” of events! It’s not about whether America has always done everything right, we haven’t. It’s time to repent for our nation, and the spirit of greed and pride that seems to have brought us to the brink of calamity!
There is no doubt that we are in perilous times. There is more at stake than your mortgage or retirement!

There are eternal consequences to this moment in history!
During these difficult times I have been comforted with a scripture out of Psalms:
“I would have been without hope if I had not believed that I would see the lovingkindness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord. Be strong. Let your heart be strong. Yes, wait for the Lord”. (Psalm 27:13-14, NLV)

Today, I (Pastor Ken Wilde), with the National Prayer Center is meeting with more Senators and Congressmen. Not to politic, but to pray! Not to decide who was right and who was wrong, but to ask for God’s mercy. Would you please pray that God will give them favor? And that the leaders that they meet with would have the courage to call for a time of prayer and repentance. That they would have the wisdom of Solomon and that many would join them in humility before God. He is the only one that can help in times like these.

These are critical times-the time to pray is now. Please join us in prayer and invite your friends and church to a season of prayer until we see breakthrough for our nation. This is about more than banks, and stock markets, this is about darkness against light. The only answer is to seek God and His wisdom.

Here are some Prayer Points:
1. Pray for a spirit of humility and repentance among our leaders.
2. Pray for an answer to this economic crisis.
3. Pray for favor for Pastor Ken Wilde and others when meeting with Congressional leaders.
4. Pray that Congressional leaders would heed the call for prayer at this moment.
5. Pray that Christians would understand the signs of the times activate prayer at a new level.
6. Pray for wisdom for our President, Congressional Leaders, and Financial Leaders.
7. Pray that God would hear our prayers and heal our land as we humble ourselves in repentance before Him.
Please feel free to forward this to anyone you feel would benefit from it and would be interested in praying.

Thank you for your concern and prayers.
Thetus Tenney
International Coordinator
World Network of Prayer

 

Technorati Tags: Economy,Economic Collapse,Prayer,United States,NEWS,Endtimes

 

Who’s Your GOD?

Again, I refer back to my Sunday School class last week and the lesson for that day.

“Jesus Loves you and wants to be your God”

In teaching the lesson to my young students I was again reminded of what’s important from the simple lesson I was teaching.

All week I’ve been mulling over in my mind the simple lesson title and realizing that is really all God wants from us, is to be our GOD.  God with a Capital “G”.  We have many gods (lower case “g”) in our lives.  They can be all encompassing gods or as trivial as a “Starbucks” latte.  It all depends on our attitude. 

Can you “take it or leave it” or is your life “upside down” if you don’t have it? or do it? or buy it? or wear it? 

I remember a time many, many years ago and hubby had ben laid off from his job and there wasn’t any money coming in.  NONE!  We had two infant sons at that time and didn’t have any money to pay the gas bill.  It was disconnected!  Oh me!  I thought the world had come to an end.  I was very young then and pregnant with our third son…     Life changed drastically for me for a few days!  It was winter and cold.  I went into a “pity party” attitude.  We finally got a small electric heater and put it in our bedroom and that was the only warm room in the house.  We lived in that room for several days.  Cooked on a hot plate and ate in the bedroom. 

Needless to say, we survived!  At the time I thought life was awful  .  Whew, has my perception of life changed.  After 38 years…. YES, Praise God, it has. 

Even what we think of as necessities can become “gods” or “idols” in our lives.  Not everyone in this world has the luxury of “flipping the switch”.

In spite of all the above… all HE wants is to be MY GOD through whatever comes my way. 

I feel that the United States is spiraling downward quickly and not just in morals, etc. but in the way we live and consume.  I feel that eventually we’re going to be “owned” by China.  My son’s plant just closed down because of China.  We get everything from China.  Oh my, I won’t get on that soap box.

Do I live the simplest life I could?  NO!  Do I still consume? Of course!  But I’m trying to learn not to buy needless junk… stuff I find that once home I never use.  I really NEEDED it didn’t I?  I am trying to eat healthy and eat more organic (without additives and hormones added, or genetically grown) foods!  It’s hard to change. 

I’m not doing away with change or learning new things or even technology in general… but hey, let’s LIVE LIFE and not lead a life fed to us by the MEDIA or Hollywood.  Our individual time span on this earth isn’t very long.  Let’s make the most of it.

CHOOSE GOD to be your GOD!

 

A Pastor’s Wife muses…

Once again… God has shown how awesome he is!  I never cease to be amazed at how God works with his people.  He is so patient with us.

It’s as if He sees that the messages over the past few months just haven’t made it quite to the heart, so He sends another messenger with the same message and I can see the eyes open wide and almost hear the “click” of the brain matter working.   :D   Then I look around and see the “heart & mind” connect and it becomes a SOUL response!

It’s kind of like when I was in high school and we would get a substitute teacher…  I remember my math teacher was off for a couple days and we had a substitute teacher and he went through the same problems that we’d been through… but used a slightly different approach and suddenly “I GOT IT” (an algebra problem)… something I’d been struggling to understand.  After it “clicked”… I could hear my regular teacher’s voice in my head and realized he’d explained the solution to the problem in almost exactly the same way.  Do I know why it finally clicked?  No… but I do know that somewhere in my little brain (with an Algebra BLOCK)… I’d been absorbing what my teacher had been saying all along… I just hadn’t put all the pieces together in the proper order.

My inquisitiveness causes me to notice the difference between a service that individuals respond to and those when you wonder if there really is a living soul in the body sitting there! Please bear with my  humor… this is from my perspective through many years of watching people’s response to the Word of God and to those ministering the Word.

I’ve seen services enter into real “worship” with only a short entry of praise.  Why?  Because we came to that service expecting something and we were participants not just spectators!  We cannot leave a service and complain we didn’t get anything from it.  If we do…we’ve only ourselves to blame.  I’ve seen my pastor husband go into a service so tired from working, studying, praying, and finding the will of God for that service and still through the weariness of his body, still praise and worship.  I’ve seen this over and over, even when he was assisting.  Have you ever gone to church so tired you felt you just couldn’t move a muscle?  Then after the service started you forgot all about being tired and by the time the service ended you were “refreshed”.  Oh, I have many times.  I worked midnights for years and would come to Sunday Morning service exhausted… but would be so refreshed afterwards that it would be hard for me to sleep between the morning and evening services.

My Pastor husband works a secular job as well as pastoring.  Our church is not financially able to support a full-time pastor yet.  So, he must manage his time carefully and can be torn between pastoring and going to his job (and we thank God for his job).  He has to make time to study, pray, fast, and still have family time.  If you’re not part of the pastor’s family… you probably don’t have any idea of the time required or the struggle to divide your time wisely.  Would he choose anything else?  NO, or he would have done so years ago!  We are blessed!

Church in the Park 2008

God has a way of honoring faithfulness.  While we may never be honored on this earth… there will come a time when HE will reward the faithful. I want to be among those He called and found faithful.

 

Out of the mouths of babes…

Where do I start?  I wish I had been journaling all these amazing things I hear from my Sunday School students!  I could write a book.  Children are wonderful and amazing little people, if you REALLY listen to them.  Hardly a Sunday goes by that I’m not either almost in tears (they can relate some heart-wrenching stories) or chuckling to myself listening to them.

Children are much more aware of what’s going on around them than we realize!  They can be as talking, doing some activity with their hands, and even scuffling with their best friend and STILL be aware of what you’re saying and what’s going on in their presence.  Don’t be fooled by that “blank” look they can give you!    

I’ve been teaching on angels, heaven, salvation, etc. the last few Sundays and this past Sunday I was teaching on heaven, what it’s like, how to get there, who’ll be there, etc.  When I gave the illustration of  “in the twinkling of an eye”… and we’ll rise to meet Him in the air… and I said “kind of like a balloon when you let it go”… one little guy said, very earnestly and seriously, ” You mean we’re going to BLAST off?”  “Yes, Robert… one of these days we are going to blast off this ole earth… and we’ve got to be ready.”

Kids do make you think about things… sometimes we just rattle something off to satisfy their persistent curiosity… but they do hear what we say!

This same little guy, who is into all the ACTION heroes of this world… when I was telling about how Jesus could have called 100’s, 1,000’s, and even 10,000’s and more of angels to save him from dying on the cross… Robert’s little eyes became very thoughtful and he repeated after me, “100’s, 1,000’s and tens of thousands of angels, WOW, a whole ARMY of Angels“.  He was totally in awe that Jesus didn’t call his army of angels to save him from dying.  That he chose to die on the cross for our salvation.  It is awesome.  It never ceases to saturate my soul with His love and compassion when I hear this preached or relate this to my students.  It is not an “occurrence” way in the past!  When we come to Jesus for salvation… he has died for each and every one of us.

The ANGELS rejoice when we find Jesus!  How awesome can that be?  My students thought that was neat and proceeded to “rejoice” like they thought the angels would!  (I wish we could let loose and do what they were doing in our worship services, or at least do it more often than we do.) 

He is JOY Unspeakable and FULL of GLORY…

 

(I will try to remember and write what I hear… it’s awesome and amazing to listen to these little people.)

 

Ready, Willing, Waiting…

Judges 4:15-22 (English Standard Version)

15 And the LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army before Barak by the edge of the sword. And Sisera got down from his chariot and fled away on foot. 16And Barak pursued the chariots and the army to Harosheth-hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not a man was left.

17But Sisera fled away on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 18And Jael came out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Turn aside, my lord; turn aside to me; do not be afraid.” So he turned aside to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug. 19And he said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a skin of milk and gave him a drink and covered him. 20And he said to her, “Stand at the opening of the tent, and if any man comes and asks you, ‘Is anyone here?’ say, ‘No.’” 21But Jael the wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand. Then she went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple until it went down into the ground while he was lying fast asleep from weariness. So he died. 22And behold, as Barak was pursuing Sisera, Jael went out to meet him and said to him, “Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking.” So he went in to her tent, and there lay Sisera dead, with the tent peg in his temple.

Jael had become tired and disgusted with the injustice in the land.  She was not easily intimidated or fearful.  She was not a “me” person.  Her interest went beyond herself and she observed what was going on around her.  She was concerned for “all” involved and how what was happening effected all around her.  She was not a “for the moment” person.  Jael realized there was more than just her needs and desires.  Her interest and concern went beyond her own peace and security!  She knew there was MORE! 

When her time came… she didn’t hesitate to drive that peg through his head.  She killed the enemy.  She took advantage of the opportunity that came her way and accomplished her purpose for that day! 

How many times have we let the opportunity to “kill” the enemy slip by us?How often do we wake up feeling… “LORD, what does today hold?”  “What is my purpose for today?” 

I recently heard… “heavy clouds today, but no rain…”   Do you often feel the heaviness of heart (a burden) but don’t see any rain?  We look up and see the rain clouds, but never feel the rain fall on our cheeks! Could the rain we need to feel on our cheeks be the tears of repentance, submission, and commitment?  We must be in a place to receive the rain from above. 

Jael was willing to risk her own life so that others could find peace, security, and prosperity.  Are we willing to sacrifice so that others can find this truth? 

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking    lately… and one of my thoughts has been on the question, “What are the IDOLS in my life?”  “What keeps me from praying, reading THE WORD, studying THE WORD, and my total commitment to soul winning?”

Think about what IDOLS you have in your life.  Is it something that takes up your time?  Is it something that puts you in financial bondage?  Is it something that consumes your thoughts?  Is it something unbiblical? 

Please, don’t misunderstand me…  We are here in this world and we live “LIFE”.  I’m not talking about never having any enjoyment in life or even having things we enjoy.  But when they consume us and deprive us of an “intimate” relationship with Jesus our Savior… something’s not right.  

Sure, there might be times when we must miss church for work… but not consistently!  If we choose (and I know these are hard times financially) to miss church consistently, eventually it will show outwardly because inwardly we are starving and malnourished.  We must HEAR the WORD preached and taught. 

God’s choice to use Jael was because she was willing, obedient (the opposite of obedient is rebellious), and had a yielded heart.  She was READY to be used.  She was WAITING to be used.  She ANTICPATED being used, and GOD used her.

Are we WILLING, READY, OBEDIENT and WAITING in ANTICIPATION for God to use us?

Just a few thoughts on my heart… God’s blessings on all.