What's Next

I have not written in my blog for awhile. I had been sick with problems with my heart but God has seen fit to heal my heart thank you Lord. I decided to share a devotion I gave 3 years ago about how I trust and set my mind on God even in trying times.


Romans 5: 1-8
1 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through whom we have gained access by faith in to this grace in which we now stand And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance: 4 Perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."(NIV)

These verses tell us that we can rejoice when things are wrong and that we have power to do so because of God’s love and that love is shown from Christ dying for us even when we didn’t deserve it. So when troubles come along this is how I look at things.

WHAT’S NEXT!
This statement can be meant in more than one way. It can mean, so what else can happen to me, OR, it can mean, alright I am done with this so what next needs to be done. It’s all in the way you choose to look at it. It’s all about choices we make. We can choose to have a good day or a bad day even in the midst of trying times. We can either look at things that happen as a challenge or a tribulation. It’s all in how you choose to go through it.

The easy way is to look at what you are going through as a tribulation and throw a big pity party, sitting around feeling sorry for yourself and complaining all the time. Or, you can put your faith to work and look at it as a challenge that you are going to meet head on with God’s help. You have to put you’re faith in action. Faith takes what is a big problem, and through our faith with God’s help, they are turned into smaller challenges, as long as we trust in God and let him lead us.

Which are you, an ostrich or and eagle? You can choose to be either an ostrich or an eagle. Do you stick your head in the sand, waiting and moaning and groaning about everything God is letting happen to you, or do you, like the Eagle overcome the difficulties with strength and cunning with God’s help?
I don’t mean that it isn’t difficult at times, but nothing is too difficult if we go through it with God. Phil. 4:13 says, "I can do all things (not some things) through Christ who strengthens me."(KJV) The key to any problem is not worry, anger, pity, or questioning, even though these are normal feelings. The Key is GOD and our trust in him.

It’s easy to say I trust God, but then when the sickness or troubles come along we crumble, we stumble, we complain, we think God’s forgotten about us or is mad at us, and we just know we aren’t strong enough. We think How could God let this happen to ME or Why ME! Or, when those troubles and illness come we say God is going to see me through, but, then we never talk to God or even if we talk to him we don’t listen to him because we are too busy worrying.
Is it a mountain or a hill?
Something Impossible to overcome or something we can overcome with God’s help.
Tribulation or challenge?
We have to set our minds on God and the mountains will be hills, the tribulations will be challenges and we will overcome and the peace and joy of the Lord will be ours.
In Nehemiah 8:10b it says, "The Joy of the Lord is our strength."(KJV)
Is it easy to think this way? Not always, but it can be done. When I became sick I remembered how important prayer is and believing that God has a perfect plan and to draw on my faith. This helped me to never question, Why me? But I said, Why not me. I just say thank you Lord for trusting me enough to use me in this way and help me to be able to be a witness to others for you.

We can know that God loves us and like it says in the song I like so much “Sheltered in the Arms of God” “So let the storms rage high the dark clouds rise, they don’t worry me for I’m sheltered safe within the arms of God. He walks with me and naught on earth can harm me, for I’m sheltered in the arms of God.”
God shelters us from whatever we have to face. Being sheltered by God’s arms goes beyond God just putting his arms around us. It’s more than just a hug from God. It is protection, strength, and love. The best thing is it’s for each and every one of us. We are sheltered and God is our strength. We can make it through anything if we choose to face it with God’s help.

So I say
Hill not Mountain!!
Challenge not Tribulation!!
Winner not Loser!!

So in closing What’s Next? I say it should be us as Christians overcoming, with God’s help, in everything. So we can say this is finished what now do you have for me to do Lord! We need to be on fire for God in all aspects of our lives including the hard times. Remember there is nothing to big or too small for God to see us through. Let the world see that we are believing and living for God in all parts of our life’s, hard times or not. Let’s live by the faith we all have. Remember in Ps. 121:1 it says, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help, my help comes from the lord who made heaven and earth.”(KJV)

Written by Deb Forbes
Copyright 2008

Woman with out a past!

What does this mean do I have amnesia? No. Am I in the witness protection program? No. Did a space ship drop me off? I don’t think so. Then how can I be a woman without a past? Simple I have been forgiven and I am a child of God. So you say how does that make you not have a past? Because when you ask Jesus into your heart and ask forgiveness for your sins then God erases them and remembers them no more.
Ps 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”(KJV)This doesn’t mean that we don’t remember our past mistakes, but it does mean that we can move on from them, once we have been forgiven. So many times we let our past mistakes haunt us and even though God has forgiven us we don’t forgive ourselves. We get hung up on the guilt to the point that we don’t leave room for the joy and peace that is ours from God. Guilt can lead to unhappiness and depression and can eventually destroy us. That doesn’t mean we can’t feel bad about what we did in the past, but it means we have to remember that we were not the same person we are in Christ and that we have been washed clean and now are new creations. 2 Cor. 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”(KJV) We can’t change the past but we can leave our past mistakes in the past and move forward. When we are forgiven by God then we need to forgive ourselves.

It is not just that we have to forgive ourselves of our past but we have to tell others when they bring it up that we have been forgiven and so our past has been covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. We don’t have to let them make us feel guilty or let them try to destroy us by bringing up our past. Instead we should explain about how Christ died for our sins and when we accepted him as our Savior he forgave our sins and we don’t have to feel guilty for them anymore. Rom. 4:7 “Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.”(KJV) Don’t let the devil use people to make you feel guilty and take away your blessing of being forgiven and your sins covered.

A last thought is that just because we have been forgiven of our sins and they are remembered no more, doesn’t mean that we can go out and sin again because we know we can ask to be forgiven and the slate will be wiped clean again. When we have Christ in our hearts we are to be like him and in him was no sin. I John 3:6 “No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.”(NIV) When we have Christ in our heart we don’t want to sin anymore. We will because we are human and make mistakes but that is different from blatantly sinning when you know you are going to sin.

So the main thing to remember is: 1. that we all sin Rom 3:23 “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (KJV) 2.Then the next thing is to know that God made a way for us to be forgiven our sins through his Son Jesus Christ John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosesoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”(KJV) Rom. 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”(KJV)
Heb. 10:10 “And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”(NIV) 3. All we have to do is confess our sins and ask Jesus into our hearts and we are forgiven it is a done deal.
I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”(KJV) 4. Finally we have to strive to be Christ like in our lives. I John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”(KJV) Then we are covered by the blood of Christ and our sins are forgiven to be remembered no more Heb. 10:17 “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”(KJV)

So I am a woman without a past who has been forgiven and I can now put away my guilt and not let anyone, including myself, make me feel guilty over what has been forgiven and forgotten by God. I have been cleansed by the blood of Christ and I am changed from that person in my past to a new person in Christ. Thank you Jesus!

To Love And Help Others

A HELPING HAND

What would you do what would you say?
If you were the one going hungry today.
There are children all over the world who have little to eat.
Their poor little bodies are ravaged by hunger and disease.

What would you do what would you say?
If you were homeless with no where to stay.
People and families all over have no where to turn.
For a place to stay, for a home they do yearn.

What would you do what would you say?
Would you do what you could to help or just turn away?
Children, families, and people all over the world need hope.
They need to be helped and loved so they can cope.

Will you lend them a helping hand,
Giving them love and doing all that you can
Or will you just turn away, thinking what really can I do
I have nothing to offer and no way to give help to you.

God’s people should reach out to love and help them
God’s people should never turn away or condemn
Will you follow Jesus’ heart and heed the call
Will you give of yourself, giving help and love to them all?

Will you let the love of Jesus be seen in and through you?
Will you help and do all that God asks you to do
Please show them love and do all you can
Give to each one a helping hand

What can you do just ask God to show you
Let God show you how you can help and what you can do.
So what will you do? Will you please answer the call?
Will you please help and show love and compassion to one and all!

By Deb Forbes July 2009

I wrote this because all of us can find some way to help others. We should love and want to help all that is part of Serving Jesus


Love is an important part of being a Christ follower. It's not just love for God and Christ but love for others and by loving others showing them Jesus and God's love through the way we love and care for them. I John 3:16-18 "16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."(NIV) Like the poem I wrote says we all should love and help and not condemn. We all can find some way to help others and show them God's love. We should all strive to be more Christ like in our love for others. It is also not just saying we love our brothers but by showing it through what we do. Words alone won't work we have to do. I John 4:21 21 "And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother."(NIV) God says if we love him we must not should but must love our brother.

We all can serve God and help others. No matter your situation you can do something. Ask God and he will show you ways to serve and help and then follow through and do what he shows you to do. I hope we all find ways to serve and help others.

Importance of Memorizing

When my granddaughter Mattie was probably 7 or 8 she had been given memory verses to learn at a kids krusade and she new them right off. A week or so later she was asked by my Aunt to tell them to me. She sat there and I said "we all should memorize God's word and hide it in our hearts. Can you remember your verses?" She looked at me and said "I did hide them but now I can't remember where I put them." We all just lost it and laughed and she was off the hook. I tell you this because we all should put Bible verses to memory(and not forget where we put them) so that we can recall them when we need to. PS 119:11 "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."(KJV)

There has been two instances lately that I was so glad that I had put some verses to memory because I couldn't read my Bible. The first was when I was having the chemical stress test done and the verses I remembered were a comfort to me while that test was going on. I recalled the verses and prayed and praised God during the whole test. I was so thankful that I knew the verses to recall. The other time is when my diseases act up and I can't read my Bible.
With my Myasthenia Gravis sometimes I have trouble with my eyes focusing and can't read easily. This is a nuisance to me because I read all the time but most important is I try to start each day off reading my Bible and spending time with God. When my eyes don't want to work then I resort to going over verses and passages I have put to memory in place of reading the Bible. This way I am still in God's word and he still speaks to me through his word.

Another reason that I think it is important to memorize God's word is that when we are in a place where we need comfort, guidance, help in resisting temptation, or reassurance, God will bring those verses to our minds. This can be anywhere at work, school, driving down the road, or yes even during medical tests. 2 Tim 3:16 (16)"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17)That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."(KJV)

I am going to try to learn at least one new verse a week so that when I need to recall them I will know them.
My verse for this week is: Is 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

We have a friend

A FRIEND


I’m there to hold your hand
When you desperately need a friend
I’m there with open arms
To keep you from all life’s harms
My arms are opened wide
So in them you can abide
I watch over you both day and night
Making sure that you are alright.
In times of sorrow and grief
I am there for you to call on so you see
You are never alone for I am always with you
I know where you are and all that you do
I am your friend and on me you can call
I am there to catch you when you fall
My love I give to you
I am always there to give help to you too
I know you and you know me
So I know what it is you need.
I call you mine now and for all eternity
You are so important and special to me
I am your Savior and I am your Lord
A friend to you I am for now and forever more

By Deb Forbes
July 21, 2009


I was talking to someone the other day and they said they really didn't have any friends. They just didn't have anyone they could count on and that they could trust. I was thinking that is kind of sad but I understood what they meant. People can come and go and sometimes you don't feel like you have anyone you can turn to or count on when you really need a friend. I told them that they could always have one friend they could count on that would always be there and they could always trust. The best friend you really can have is Jesus. Heb 13:5b "for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."(KJV) Jesus never leaves us and will always be right there for us. He understands what we need and what we are going through. It says in Rom. 8:38-39 that nothing can separate us from him Rom.8:38-39
38 "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."(KJV)
What better friend could you ask for than one that understands, stands by you, and never leaves you. Jesus wants to be your friend and all you have to do is ask him in to forgive you and to live in you and you will always have a friend. Jesus loves each and everyone of us and we can talk to him any time any where and about any thing. What better friend could there be. Last he gave his life for us and that is someone who loves us and cares about us. He is interested in every part of our life so next time you think you don't have a friend or know someone that thinks this remind them of your friend JESUS.

Dash between the years

I heard more than once from our pastor friend that on our headstone there will be the year we are born, then a dash, and then the year we die. That small dash between the years represents our life. It is such a small thing that represents all that we are and have done. This got me to thinking what will that dash represent for me? What will I have accomplished and how will I be remembered.

I want to be remembered for being a good wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, mother in law, and friend. But most of all I want to be remembered for being kind, compassionate,loving, and above all else as an obedient, loving, follower of Jesus. I don't want to be remembered for the things I have or for being famous, but for being a person that loved God and my family and did good for others. What really is a better legacy than to leave with the people you love the knowledge of your love for God and your love for them.

I want to live life where I can serve God and others. I want to give love to as many people as I can and make their lives better. I want to tell all I meet about my God. I want, in every part of my life, to glorify God. I want to share and spend time with my husband and family and make good memories with them.

At church, Westside Family Church, our new series is on Treasure Hunt and what treasure do we hunt for, is it stuff or God. I want my life to be a hunt for the treasures of God and heaven and not stuff. The verses we studied were Matt.6:19-20 (19)Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. (20)But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.(NIV)I want, when people think of me, to know that I was on a hunt for heavenly treasures through out my life, treasures I willing shared with all.

Here are some of my quotes I have made into bookmarks:

MEMORIES TAKE A MOMENT TO CREATE AND A LIFE TIME TO ENJOY

REMEMBER WHEN ONLY HAPPENS WHEN YOU SPEND TIME WITH EACH OTHER

WHAT IS A LEGACY? SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU RICH AND FAMOUS OR SOMETHING I CAN LEAVE TO YOU TO REMEMBER THAT I WAS HERE AND I LOVED YOU

GO THROUGH LIFE MAKING SURE YOU TOUCH THOSE AROUND YOU IN A POSITIVE WAY

STRIVE TO BE KNOWN NOT JUST FOR HOW YOU LIVE BUT ALSO FOR HOW YOU GIVE

MAKE SURE WHEN PEOPLE SEE YOU THEY SEE CHRIST

Let us all take time to make that dash between the years stand for a life well lived loving, giving, and sharing but most of all serving and glorifying GOD!

Our Lighthouse In Life

My Life’s Light

I will trust you where ever you lead me
I will trust you in both the calm and stormy seas
I will follow the path you set before me
I will lean on your love and hope you give me freely
For you are the light that guides my path along my way
You are my guide through each and every day
Like the captain on the sea I will look to the light
Always keeping that beam in my sight.
For you my Lord, are my light
On whom I will keep my sight

By Deb Forbes July 2009


If you come to my house you will see lighthouses everywhere. I love lighthouses and collect them in all forms. I have pictures of lighthouses on my walls and just about everywhere you look you will see at least one lighthouse in some form or another. The lighthouse is a reminder to me really, that Christ is the lighthouse or light in our lives.

The lighthouse was there for the sea captain and its ships to guide them safely into the harbors and to keep them from running into trouble of unseen hazards coming into shore. The lighthouse is also a fixed point that the captains and ships can keep their eyes on to guide them in calm and stormy seas. It is a comfort and a security for them when they follow it they will be kept from harm until they are safely in port. The light was there to help in the worst fog and storms but also there to guide in the calm and clear times.

As followers of Christ we can say that Christ is our lighthouse. He is our guide and safety in calm and stormy seas. John 8:12 "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."(KJV) John 9:5"As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world"(KJV)Christ is the one we should keep our eyes on because he is the light in the world of darkness. If we, like the sea captain, keep our eyes fixed on Christ, our light, then we will not lose our way and he will warn and keep us safe. He is there in calm and stormy times lighting our way as long as we look to him. If we take our eyes from him, our light, that is when we lose our way and run in to the hazards of life. Just like the sea captain if we don't follow or look at the light that is there to help and keep us then we like the captains ship will be lost or wrecked. We should always look to our light which is Christ till we have reached our harbor of eternal life in heaven.

Christ is the one we should look to and trust in our lives. He is our lighthouse and guide in our journey of life. Keep your eyes on Jesus and don't look away. If you fix your sight on the Lord and follow the path he shows then your life will be complete and your way made for you till you reach that heavenly shore. Sometimes when the storms of life are calm we want to look away from the light and try to make the way on our own, but just like the captain of the ship he needs to watch the light even in calm seas to warn and keep him from straying off course or running aground, we need to still keep our eyes on Christ to guide us even when things are going good or we tend to get in over our heads and lose our way till we again look to our light, which is Christ. Christ is the light of the world and the light in us. Let's try to keep our eyes on the light and let the light shine in and through us.

There in the Scan Machine

I was in the hospital after having trouble and they were running a chemical stress test on me. They did the first part and then I had to do the resting pictures. The problem with my having Myasthenia Gravis and my other diseases is that I can not lay flat and breath too. Breathing is a necessity I have found so this test in which I had to lay flat and not move in a scanning machine was going to be a challenge to get through since only a few seconds can cause me to struggle breathing. I asked my husband to pray with me and then when we got to the test and they were getting ready to put me on the table in the machine the technician said she was there and if I got into trouble they would stop and go from there. I told her no problem I had prayed and God was going to be with me during this. She looked at me funny and got me ready to go. They started the test and I started saying Bible verses in my head that I knew and praying. The longer I laid there the more I hurt and I then prayed and sang along in my head to some of my favorite worship songs from church. Finally after 20 minutes, which with out God's help wouldn't be possible, I had to literally be helped up off the table because my muscles in the rest of my body were too weak and I hurt so bad and my joints would not work, so they had to pull me up and support me to get me in the wheelchair. The tech. looked at me in amazement and said well you made it with no breathing difficulties and I smiled and said I knew I would because I had prayed and God was with me. When I got back to my room they told me they had seen something and needed to repeat that part of the test tomorrow which meant another 20 minutes of lying flat again. I just laughed and said to myself okay God must want to prove something to this tech. The next day she came to get me again and said well it will be just like yesterday and I will be with you all the time. I smiled and said thank you and God will be with me too because I prayed. Again she just looked at me funny. We went through the same thing getting me set up and starting the tests. I started praying the minute I was laid on the table and reciting verses I had memorized. I repeated the same process from the day before but the thing was it was harder the second time because I was still feeling the weakness and hurting and stiffness from the day before. I just prayed all the more and after 25 minutes we were done and again I couldn't move, not even to put my arm down from where she had it strapped above me. She literally had to pull it down. They had to lift my legs and pull me up off the table and my body was shaking so bad from the muscles giving out and she looked at me and said well you made it again. I smiled and said yep because I prayed and God was with me. She didn't say any more until we got to the room and my muscles still didn't want to work so I was helped to bed and when she was leaving she said you have a good spirit and I thanked her and said that's because God goes with me even in your Scan machine. You see they were prepared for the worst, for me to stop breathing and God had taken care of me and made sure that I was able to breath until the test was done. The nurses hurried in and said that the tech. just couldn't believe how well it had gone both days and she was telling everyone what I said about God going with me. The nurses had to come see for themselves and I got a good laugh because what they see as being something amazing, which it was, I knew could only happen because God had been with me and provided a way for me to do what I can not do with out his help, which is lie flat and breath too. I have not been able to lie flat in over 9 years and even have to sleep in a recliner chair at home and not a bed. So God is good to us and he goes with us every where even in a scan machine to comfort and provide for us all we have to do is ask. Praise God

Master Plan

MASTER PLAN

WHEN YOU LOOK ALL AROUND
AND YOUR TROUBLES SEEM TO ABOUND
DON’T WORRY OR DESPAIR
GOD REALLY DOES CARE.
SO REMEMBER NOT TO FRET
AND YOU CAN ALWAYS BET
YOU ARE SAFE IN GOD’S HAND
BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU AND HAS A MASTER PLAN.
SO DON’T LET FEAR AND DESPERATION CONTROL YOU
JUST GIVE IT TO GOD AND HE WILL HELP YOU THROUGH.
GOD LOVES YOU AND HE UNDERSTANDS.
THAT’S WHY HE HAS A MASTER PLAN.
SO REST ASSURE THE STORMS WILL BE OVER
AND WITH GOD’S LOVE WE WILL BE COVERED.
WHEN WE HAVE THE LORD IN OUR HEARTS
THEN GOD WILL NEVER LET US PART
WE WILL ALWAYS BE SAFE IN HIS MASTER PLAN!

BY DEB FORBES 2005
Copyright 2008

When I was a kid we went to South Dakota and one of the highlights of that trip was when we stood and watched an artist paint pictures. My parents and grandparents got one but I think the thing that most impressed me was that he used regular house painting brushes to do the paintings and they ended up beautiful. The ones we took home were of deer by a stream in the mountains and they were wonderful. To watch him do it you would think they wouldn't be anything at all beautiful but nothing but a mess, but as he continued on it all started to take shape and eventually turned into a beautiful painting in the end. The artist knew all along what it would look like and that it would turn out just right and beautiful but we by just looking at it at first couldn't see that it would turn into anything at all. We didn't know or see what the artist saw until when what the artist knew and saw in his mind started to reveal itself to us.

It is the same way with God's master plan for our lives. We don't always know or understand what God is doing, but he does and he knows that it is right and perfect for us. We just have to trust that he loves us and has a perfect plan for us. It will start to reveal itself to us, just like that painting did, and in the end we will see the whole wonderful perfect plan God was working in us. Rom. 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."(KJV) This is a promise that all things will work to good when we love God and are walking in what he has for us. We don't have to worry because we are assured of God's love and since he loves us we know that he is caring for us and walking with us in all situations. We don't have to understand but we do have to trust. Prov. 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thy own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct thy paths."(KJV) It says to trust and he will not might but will direct your path. God is good and loves us and will walk with us through out. Just trust in God and his love and eventually his perfect wonderful plan will be revealed to you. PRAISE GOD

BE NOT AFRAID

A couple of weeks ago the grandkids and I were talking and we got to laughing about me as a kid being scared of things. I told them of some of the things my brothers and sister had done to me to scare me because I was such an easy target. As a kid I was known in our family as the big chicken, scaredy- cat or what ever else you can come up with for some one who was afraid of everything. I mean I was afraid of my own shadow and my siblings took advantage of that. I was afraid of the dark and that someone would get me. I was afraid that when my sister held a pillow over my face I would suffocate. They would hide in the house and jump out and scare me. I was afraid of the unknown also, like when I got up at night to go to the restroom, I was afraid that maybe someone had gotten in the house and was waiting to grab me. I just wasn’t sure because I wasn’t able to see down the long dark hallway so the uncertainty of not knowing if someone was there or not really scared me.. I was afraid of heights and closed in places, I was really claustrophobic. I truly was a person that got scared easily and by everything.
We laughed and laughed at all the antics that were played on me and how I reacted. Like the time my parents were gone and my sister decided to scare my brother and I. She went to the basement and made a lot of noise so we went outside to go in the garage and see if we saw anything. We got scared and ran back up to the front door and as I started in it there she stood. I was frozen in place screaming. I saw it was her but I was so frightened that what I saw and what my brain was telling me was two different things. Or how about the time when my little brother at night decided to get into the back of our suburban while I was in my parents house and when I came out he sat up and I scrambled out of that vehicle as fast as I could screaming. See they liked to scare me because it was so easy and my mind turned to mush and didn’t register that it was them until it was too late.
I really was afraid of everything and it was traumatic for me to get up at night. My poor grandmother, bless her soul, had to go with me to stand guard at the bathroom door at night to make sure no one was down that hall and was just waiting to grab me when I came out. She was my security and she never complained. She was my protector and security blanket.
I told them that when I got sick at first it was the not knowing what was wrong that was the worst part. I was slowly getting to where I couldn’t breath or stand or even hold my head up and they didn’t know why. I explained how I could have slipped right back into that fearful person but I had my security, my protector , and my Saviour Jesus to help me through.
Is. 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”(KJV) See all I had to do was turn it all over to Jesus and he was, like my grandmother my security and my protector. I didn’t have to live in fear but knew that God had it all in control. Psalm 27 says that we don’t have to fear and that the Lord is our strength. Ps. 27:1 “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (KJV) I was frustrated waiting to find out what was wrong but never afraid because I had turned it over to God. We do not have to be controlled by fear but just turn to Jesus and rely and rest in him. He sustains me also with living with my illness so that I still do not have to be afraid. I keep my eyes on Jesus and he gives me strength to get through each day. One of my favorite verses is in Ps 21 and if I remember to do what it says I will be able to face each and every day with out fear.
Ps 121:1-2 “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. (KJV)Leave the fear behind you and trust and rely on Jesus. He loves you and is your strength and help through every thing. Turn to him..

Waiting on the next shoe to drop!

( I had started writing this a couple of months ago and then our series for Church for this 3 weeks is on uncertainty and it fits right in with this, isn’t it funny how God will speak to us so I decided to finish it and post it.)

Have you ever heard this expression of “waiting for the next shoe to drop”? I have, when things seemed to be going wrong my Mother in law would say just wait till the next shoe drops meaning there was more trouble coming. Or how about the expression “just wait you haven’t seen anything yet”. These expressions are of gloom and doom lurking around every next turn where you just know something bad is going to happen, something worse than what is already happening. You just wait in anticipation for something really big and bad to happen. That’s what she was always thinking and we would say now wait you don’t know that something is going to happen but in her mind it had to happen. This is a miserable way to live waiting on something that might happen. Worrying gets you no where when we can’t control the future it is in the hands of God who loves us. Luke 12:25-26 “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 26Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”(NIV) We don’t have to think that something bad is about to happen all the time. It is so easy when it seems things are going wrong and everything is piling up on you to think negative like this but we don’t have to. Rom. 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”(KJV) This doesn’t mean things won’t be tough but it means we don’t have to sit around waiting for the next shoe to drop either. Being negative breeds negativity, being positive breeds positivity.
I have been told just recently that I am too optimistic and joyful all the time, but I don’t know any other way to be. I have peace from God and a hope and knowledge that God makes a way for me no matter what. I choose to be happy and positive and refuse to wait on the next shoe to drop. When I got sick I could have very easily gotten negative and every time a new disease springs up (last count 9) I could get discouraged and think what next or think oh no when is the shoe going to drop, but when I got sick I prayed and God gave me the peace to know I am in his plan for me and I don’t feel that way. Jer. 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”(NIV) God is with us through everything and we just have to trust in him and know that he loves us and wants good for us. He never leaves us and he knows what is going on in our life. If we can rely on God and Trust in Him then we don’t have to worry or expect something bad to happen, we can live life to its fullest and know that peace that passes all understanding. Phil. 4:6-7 6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)
PRAISE GOD

Boxed In

How many times have we heard or quoted the verse Phil. 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me? I am sure numerous amount of times. When it comes down to it though how many times do we still say I don't think I can or that isn't possible or I can't do it? I guess we think the verse reads I can do most or some things. I am always saying that people limit me because of me being in a wheel chair and then when I was talking to my Granddaughter a couple of weeks ago about going on mission trips I guess I was caught thinking this way too. We were both saying how it would be great to go on one of the mission trips. I told her as a teen I wanted to be a missionary or go on a mission trip but didn't have the opportunity to and now that I am in a church that has mission trips I can't because of being in a wheelchair. Immediately this voice in my head said " So now you are limiting me in what I can do" so I quickly corrected what I was saying and said I would be able to still if God provided a way for me to go. See I was putting God in a box and limiting what he could do when it came to me. I was not having faith that even where I am God can and would make a way for me to go on the missions trips if that was what he had for me to do.
If God tells us he wants us to do something then we can do it because he will go with us and provide a way for us to complete the task he has for us to do. Our church Saturday with 10 or 11 other churches in the metro area had a serve day and went out and met needs of organizations that are helping people. My husband Mike and the grand kids were going to go work and so I was praying that God would help me not to be jealous and envious of their getting to go and me not being able to and then I tacked on to the prayer that if God could find a job for me to do so that I could help too that would be greatly appreciated. The next day when Mike talked to them about what he and the kids were to do on Saturday he happened to ask if there would be a place for me and sure enough they had a job that I could do in registration. God has answered my prayer and I was so excited. Saturday came and it was to be one of the hottest days of the year yet and with my myasthenia heat makes me weaker and with my breathing problems heat and humidity makes it difficult to breath. I am not suppose to be in the heat or humidity for long because I can get into a crisis easily but I just prayed that God would provide a way. I shouldn't be able to go and then stay out there but I decided not to box God in but trust him and if I was to be there then he would make it possible. God was good to me that day. We got there about 6am and we started in about 6:30am. I was in the sun until about noon but there was a breeze. Mike and the kids worked hard all day and I was able to stay there until 3:30pm right along with them working at my registration table. There was 276 registered volunteers doing yard work, plumbing, carpentry, painting and cleaning out 6ft window wells as well as a number of other things and I was one of them. When we got home Mike and I were talking about how my being able to stay all day and never getting too hot or having trouble breathing or getting to weak was definitely a God thing because the temperature was in the 90's and it was a hot day and I should not of been able to last more than an hour at the most. God answered my prayer and made a way for me to do what shouldn't have been possible for me to do with my conditions. See God has a job and purpose for all of us no matter where we are. We are the ones who put God in a box and limit him in what he can do for us. So next time you feel like God is asking you to do something you don't think you can take the lid off the box and let God do his wondrous works through you. Do not limit God and he will greatly bless you and others around you.

Being Content

What does it mean to be content? Websters dictionary says content is being satisfied. When I think of being content I think of being happy and satisfied as well as at peace with where I am. That is how we can feel when we are in God's will for our lives. It is not having many things or necessarily even having your health it is doing what God asks of us as well as living daily in his will for our lives. Paul tells us in Phil. 4 that he has learned to be content. Phil 4:11-13 "11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength."(NIV) We can learn to be content too in our lives by relying on God and holding on to the knowledge that no matter what comes our way that God is there to see us through and to hold on to us. So I have learned to be content where I am here in God's will. I know that I am where God wants me to be for the moment and that he is using me for his glory and that brings peace and contentment. Remember to look and ask God to show you what his will for you is and then be content when you know that you are living in Gods will.

No Condemnation

At the purpose series this week we talked about what it means to be a follower of Jesus. It means turning away from your old way of life and turning to the new in Christ. It isn't a religion but a relationship with Christ. We should strive to live with Christ as the center of our lives and to have a real relationship with Him.

We also talked about how when we walk in Christ we are not condemned any more. That also means self condemnation. Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.(KJV) That means that we need to stop putting ourselves down because there is no condemnation when you have Christ in your life and are living the way Christs says to. Sometimes we are our own worse critics for the smallest things. We need to stop this because we are not condemned anymore because Christ came and took our sins away and we are now new creatures and followers of Christ. There is nothing that we can do to make God love us and there is nothing we can do to make God not love us. He loves us period so we need to hold our heads up high. When we make a mistake we should not say how stupid we are but ask God to forgive us and move on. We don't have to miss out on life with God in the center of it because of things that we have in our past we just have to ask for forgiveness and God wipes the slate clean and we put on a new self and start from that moment on. God made each of us and he loves us so we need to live a life full of Jesus and walk in our new life loving others and ourselves.

Mission and Commitment

At Church Sunday we had the privilege to hear Arthur Blessitt speak about his 40 year mission of walking around the world carrying a cross and telling people everywhere about Jesus. He was very interesting but mostly the message I got from it was that we need to commit to God and be willing to that unconditionally. He also said every Christian has a mission to do and though circumstances change the mission God gives us doesn't. I also got from listening to Arthur that the safest place to be is in the center of God's will. If we are doing what God asks of us then he will provide and take care of us.

We went again last night to hear Arthur and he talked about the last week of Jesus life leading up to the Crucifixion. Again he was very interesting and he also talked about John being a prisoner on Patmos and how he never wavered from his faith in God and Christ. Arthur reminded us that to be a follower of Christ is to not to worry about what others think of you because people will persecute you for your belief and you have to not worry what they say or do as long as you stay in the center of God's will doing what God has for you to do. He reminded us that we should be like John was on Patmos when he said he was in the Spirit everyday all day.

Arthur's film The Cross is at theaters now and I would encourage everyone to go and see it. Arthur said he walked over 38,000 miles and went across the world carrying the cross and praying and telling people about Jesus and this film is about the 40 year mission.

Last I want to say we should all strive to live more Christ-like and to live in the center of God's will. We should listen to the call that God has for all of us and make a commitment to God to do that mission. I feel like Arthur said that God uses everyone in some way or another so don't think you don't have a calling just seek God and ask him to show you what he has for you to do then commit to that calling and follow through with it. You don't go through the mission alone Jesus goes with you.

Go See the movie "THE CROSS"

Talking With God

Wednesday night we started a new Purpose series or learning to be closer to God by learning to love Jesus more and to be more Christ like. It is a nine week series and my husband, son and his fiance and I are going and I am really looking forward to renewing and strengthening my relationship with God.

One of the things I was reading in my daily Bible readings got me to thinking that if we don't ever talk to God how can we have a relationship with Him. Communication in friendships, family, and marriage is so important to staying close so why wouldn't it be the same with God. Praying is just that talking to God you don't have to be fancy with words but just talk like you would to a friend and then the key is to take time to listen too. When Jesus was asked how to pray He gave them the Lord's Prayer and if you are in a tough time and really don't know what to say or how to start just say the Lords Prayer. Matt.6:9-13 "9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." (KJV)

Talking and Listening to God also includes Praising him. God loves to hear our praises and thanks. When we pray then we should 1.talk, 2.listen, and 3.praise and worship Him. God wants us to talk to Him, nothing is to big or to small or to unimportant to talk to Him about. He wants to know how you feel, what your concerns are, what your fears are and everything that is important to you. God loves us and He is our heavenly father and loves to hear from us.

When we pray to God about a need we then need to make sure we thank Him when we pray also for what He gives us. We should not forget to say thanks for what God does for us. When you do something for someone else isn't it nice when they tell you thank you or isn't that one of the things we teach are children when they are very young to tell some one please and thank you? The same is true when we ask God and He answers or does something for us to thank Him. In Luke 17 Jesus heals ten lepers when they ask Him and only one comes back to give glory and thanks to God.
Luke 17:11-17 11"Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a]met him. They stood at a distance 13and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" 14When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. 15One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. 17Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."(NIV)" Jesus asks where are the other 9. The other 9 were healed also but they never said thank you and Jesus questions were they not healed too or maybe He is thinking where is their thank you. The lesson is that we should not take God for granted. He tells us to ask but then after we ask we should say thank you and give Him the glory and praise He is due. We have had several answers to prayer recently some things were small but one big issue we had and we had been praying about turned out good and when the lady told us it was taken care of we thanked God and we told her she was an answer to our prayers. She was taken back at first and then she said thank you that is really nice to know. So we were blessed by our answered prayer and her being the messenger and us taking time to thank God first and then her passed a blessing on to her.

When I pray I always say your will God not mine and thank you for what you are going to say or do for me. I then thank God again when the prayer is answered whether it is in the way I want or not. I think God answers our prayers with either yes, no,or wait awhile. That's why we need to listen to His answers and understand that He has the best interest for us at hand.
One last thing when my husband was off from work due to a surgery he had and we had no money coming in and they said that his short term disability wouldn't start right away I prayed for help. When he called they said it could be 6 to 8 weeks before he would get his first disability check and I said oh great. Bills were due and we do love to eat like everyone else and I needed medicine but I prayed again. It probably wasn't 10 minutes later I got a call from my parents saying if we needed money for anything just to let them know until we got our first check and then not 5 minutes later our Son got the mail and there was the first disability check. We laughed and I said thank you Lord and this little voice said you asked and I told you I would take care of it. So we also should pray expecting answers and listen when God talks and believe He is going to do what He says.
The most important thing I want to get across is this; talk and listen to God and your relationship and closeness will grow with Him. In 1 Thes.5:16-18
"16Rejoice evermore. 17Pray without ceasing. 18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."(KJV) we are told to rejoice and pray without stopping and to give thanks and we should all try to follow this because God asks it of us. I am going to try to talk to God more and even more importantly to listen to him more also and to always thank Him. I don't want to have just an acquaintance with God where we talk occasionally but I want a relationship with him where we talk daily several times a day. I hope all of you will try to do this also.

The beauty of God's hands

Ps.19:1 "The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands."(KJV)

Have you ever just sat and watched a sunset or sunrise? The beauty of it, like in the two pictures above that we took of a sunset in the summer of 2007, is breath taking. How many times did you watch a deer or bird or sit by a stream and think about God's creation. King David said it well in the Psalms verse above. We so often take God's handi-work for granted. We rush through our lives never slowing down to take time to appreciate nature around us and all that God has made. When I sit in my wheelchair out in the trees along a stream on one of our favorite trails I don't think about why I am in a wheelchair but I think and meditate on God's wonderful creations. It is peaceful and beautiful there and I could sit for a long time praising God and feeling close to God. Take time to see what God has made. Make time to watch a sunset or sunrise and then praise God for all He has made and done. We as Christians need to slow down and appreciate God. God loves to hear our praises and our worshiping. Think about and Thank God for His wonderful works.
Ps. 8:1 "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens."(NIV)

God has good in store for us.

I was told the other day that they don't know how I can think that being sick and my life being changed by my physical limitations is not upsetting. I told them that it is all in God's plan for my life and he has good in store for me.
Jer. 29:11 " For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."(NIV) God loves us and because he loves us He watches out for us and takes care of us. He has a perfect plan for us and as it says in this verse: He has a plan to prosper us and not harm us and that His plan for us gives us hope and a future Praise God! We don't have to understand it all just have faith that God is in control and it is a perfect plan. He uses each of us in different ways and though I may not be the same as before the illness I am still his child and I am still loved by God and I know His plan for me leads to hope and my future is bright. Now faith is what gives us that hope because we have faith in God's love for us and faith that He wants the best for us. We all as Christians have hope and our futures are good no matter what is going on here on earth because our hope is in Christ and our eternal home with Him. Because of God's love and grace we can persevere through anything that comes our way even illness. He makes us strong and we just have to know that God has us in his loving arms helping us through his plan for us. Trust in him and then happiness is right there for you. Rom 5:1-4 " 1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4And patience, experience; and experience, hope"(KJV) This tells us that through it all we can know that it all works to good and hope is ours even through our troubles. Troubles last for a short time but our hope, peace, and strength from God lasts forever as long as we trust Him. Rely on God and his plan for your life and then you, can like I am, be happy and at peace even through illness and trouble. God Loves You and Me so hang on to that assurance and ask God to help you through and to help you stay in his perfect plan and it will all work for good.

Right Here, Right Now, Right Where I Am Suppose To Be

I was thinking that this month, March 2009, I will have been diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis and in a wheelchair for 9 years now. That got me to thinking about how my Grandkids said they can't really remember me not ever being sick and in a chair and that they feel bad for me. I had to laugh when they said that and when I think about it now because that is not how I feel at all. Do I miss the days of being able to do what I want and get around on my own? Well of course, I wouldn't be human if I didn't, but I am not sad or depressed or upset in anyway because I know that I am right where God wants me to be.

In Ecclesiastes 3:1 "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:"(KJV) it talks about a season and time for everything and my season and time for being out of the wheelchair is done and I am now in the season of being where I am right now. I know that God is using me by my having Myasthenia Gravis and other chronic illnesses and being in the chair. I have grown so much in my faith in these last nine years. I have had more time to spend with God and to study and grow and to depend more on God. I have had more opportunities to witness than ever and I am able to understand and talk to others who are facing similar things like I am. I have been able to slow down and concentrate on the things and the work God has for me to do and I truely believe that I am in God's perfect plan for my life. God walks with me through this journey and season so I have peace and I am content knowing that I am doing God's work. God uses us in different ways and our jobs change from time to time but I know that God doesn't make mistakes and that what others see as weakness I see as God's using me to reach others. In a poem I wrote "Vessels" I wrote how others might see me and others like me as broken but we aren't we are just being remade into vessels capable of doing the job God has for us. I wrote this poem after I read Jer.18:4 "And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.(KJV)"
God is the potter and we are the vessel that he will make to be used. Never look at an illness, or handicap as being a broken person but a wonderful vessel that God has made to use for his wonderful work.
As Paul said in II Cor.12:9-11 9 "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.(KJV)" our strength is made perfect in weakness because of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is the power that I can draw on at this season of my life when I have illnesses and am in my wheelchair. I may not physically be able to do what I use to but I have the power of Christ and that makes me able to do so much for him. God's power surges through me and gives me that peace, joy, and contentment and understanding for where I am now. So yes right here, right now, I am RIGHT WHERE I AM SUPPOSE TO BE PRAISE GOD! I thought I would include my poem Vessels that I wrote. It is copyrighted but if you want permission to use it pls send me a note at lhxpmdj@aol.com.
VESSELS

I’m not a broken vessel, just a different one than you.
God made us both different, with different jobs to do!
God is the master craftsman and we are the clay in his hands,
He works us till he forms us into what is in his plans.
He lovingly creates us into vessels for the job he has for us to do.
The job he gives to me is not the same as the one he has for you.
Each job has its requirements to get the job done,
Each vessel is made a special way and matched with just the right one.
Sometimes our work it changes as life continues on,
So the vessel that we now are may need changes to get along.
The job that we are given is a very important one,
We have been specially chosen to make sure that it gets done.
So God never throws the vessel away, but changes he will make
A new vessel you will become, and remember God doesn’t make mistakes.
So I’m not a broken vessel just a different one than you,
God with his loving hands has made us just right for the work that we must do.

Deb Forbes January 2006
Copyright 2008

Words A Powerful Tool

Words are powerful tools that can be used to help, uplift, and encourage or they can be used to hurt, destroy and discourage. As a kid do you remember the song that the lyrics say "be careful little mouth what you say" well as we get older sometimes we forget this little warning. I was shopping with my husband one time and these teens were being rude and obnoxious and when they came by me in my wheelchair they said "hey look an extreme makeover reject" and then they laughed as if what they said was really comical. These few words were hurtful and degrading and if I had let them they could of really depressed me. Someone else in my place may have been destroyed by these few words. They didn't do anything but speak but those words could be like daggers if I had let them. I considered the source and figured they hadn't been taught better but I also prayed that they would someday realize what they were doing was wrong and change.

This example may be extreme you think but look at all the bullying that is done in schools and online between kids. Look at put down humor that is out there or just name calling that goes on. Words can destroy and hurt and we need to be more aware of what words can do and teach our children to be aware also.

As Christians we need to think about this also. Sometimes Christians can be cruel too with what they say. Gossip is nothing but hurtful, discouraging words. Then there are those who think they are more holy than the rest and proceed to tell others where they are wrong and how much of a better Christian they are than them. Where are these Christians being encouraging with their words when they are putting others down; they aren't! How are they any better than those teens saying what they did to me in the store? We should uphold each other and be encouraging in what we say and do for others not discouraging. James 3:8-10 8 "But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be." We need to think before we speak and make sure what we say are blessings and not evil as it says in these verses. If we have something negative to say we should stop and pray instead and then pray blessings on the person we were thinking about. The old saying if you have nothing nice to say say nothing at all is true but maybe we could add to that and say a blessing on that person also.

Think about how nice it is when someone says something encouraging to you or tells you you are great or smart or wonderful. Remember how that feels when these things are said. We should try to say something nice to people everywhere we go. It can just be have a good day with a smile and that can be encouraging. We try to do this when we go into the stores where we shop and now we are known there and some of the workers come to me to get a hug and a smile and a kind word and all it took was being nice and speaking to them and telling them to have a good day. Blessings not curses should flow out of our mouths. Remember to say encouraging words to the ones you love and to the people you meet. Pray for those who are negative and have nothing good to say and keep trying to encourage them. Remember words can be powerful to the good or the negative. Let's try to make our words powerful to the good and see how things are changed. Remember like the song says "Be Careful Little Mouth What you Say"

Go Ye Who Me?

Witnessing is a very important part of being a Christian. We are to share our faith with others. Jesus says in Mark 16:15-16 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."(KJV) Jesus tells them go ye; not send someone into the whole world and tell them about God and to lead them to Christ. The key here is that it is a job for all to do not just some. So go ye does mean you and me also.
Now to go into the whole world doesn't mean we all have to go to the far reaches of the earth as missionaries unless God calls us to do that but it does mean that we witness to our world which includes first our families, then our friends, then our co workers and neighbors and then to all we meet. So you think are we to go stand on a street corner and preach to everyone we see, no not unless that is what God has called you to do but it means that you do tell people about your relationship with God and tell them about God. You don't have to be pushy but you do need to make sure they know that you are a Christian and tell them how to be saved and become a part of Christ's family.
It is more than just telling them about your relationship with God but it is also how they see you in your actions everyday. One of the best witnesses we have is how we live daily. Do you know people that say they are Christians and then the way they talk, or act you wonder if that is true or not. That is what I am talking about its how we live and act that witnesses to others around us. I once heard a person say that if that is how a Christian acts then what's the difference I might as well still do what I am doing it is no different from them. So the witness of that person to the world was not a good one. This is something we all have to think about. When people know we are Christians they know we should be different than they are and they will watch to see if what we say matches what we do. Romans 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."(KJV) At work my husband is known as a Christian and he says that when the others he works with are around him they watch their cussing and the things they say so as not to offend him so my husbands witness is showing and they know that he is different and doesn't want to hear this. There are others there that are Christians and they cuss as much as the rest of them but are embarrassed when they slip around him. He never says anything to them but it is his witness that makes them embarrassed to act that way when they know they profess to be a Christian too and they know the way they talk is wrong. So yes we should go into the world and tell them of Christ and it should start at home. It should be more than just words but our actions and attitudes too. Remember next time you are in a line at a store and the person working there is rude to be kind and not repay them with rudeness also and this too will be a witness. I have been told by my daughter that at times I am too perky and happy but I know she knows why I can be that way even though I have a lot of physical limitations. She would be the first to notice if I wasn't that way too. So remember that joy comes from the Lord and we as Christians should be joyful and remember to let our faces know too. Put a smile on your face and be happy because we as Christians know that no matter what; we have joy in our hearts from the Lord. Now we should Go ye in to all the world and let them know about our Lord.

Words to remember

I was listening to JCTV on The TBN stations the other day and it was music videos. I heard a song and I can not tell you who was doing it or the name of the song but just these words stuck with me, He has a soul, she has a soul, We all have a soul. I thought that's a good song when I heard it but didn't think any more about it. Then later in the week I was upset with someone, who I won't say who it is, but I know that he is doing things that aren't right and I was thinking that is it I give up on him when these words came to mind He has a soul, she has a soul, We all have a soul and I kind of laughed and said Ok Lord I get it. When I told my husband about it he laughed too and said when he gets mad at this person he would try to pray for him too, which is a big step for my husband because he at times would rather tell him off . So instead of being angry I have tried turning that anger into blessings and praying for him and his soul. I guess the lesson needed to be taught again when a woman where my husband works was causing trouble with some of the people at work and she had done this since she started and I was thinking that they should just fire this woman and again those words came back to me He has a soul, she has a soul, We all have a soul, and once again I decided when I thought of her it would be to pray for her soul. The video was talking about homeless people and drug addicts and others we might just ignore but God used these words to remind me that he loves everyone and that we are not to judge but to witness to them and pray for them so that their souls won't be lost. We are all the same in God's eyes we are his children that he wants to come back to him because he loves us and wants us to come home so now I laugh when I hear these words or they are brought to my mind because I know that God doesn't want me to just love and pray for those I love but for everyone no matter how wrong I think they are or how irritating . I am sure that I irritate people and make them angry too at times. My lesson is to love everyone and pray for all those people I know and come in contact with. In the last couple of weeks people have been laid off where my husband works and even though I don't know all of them I did know a couple who I didn't much care for do to their personalities and their gutter mouths but I remember those words and so I pray everyday for all of them. I think by my praying for everyone that I get a blessing too. I hope you will think about this when you see someone or have someone that needs prayer to remember He has a soul, She has a soul, We all have a soul.

Puzzle Pieces of Life

MY PLACE IN THE PUZZLE OR WHERE DO I FIT IN!

Do you sometimes feel like you don’t fit in anywhere? I think we all have felt that way before even at church sometimes. Have you ever felt like you’re not as important as everyone else or that you’re not needed there because you have nothing to offer. Do you think that someone else is more important than you are and that you don’t have anything special about you? I think everyone has probably felt this way at sometime or another. It is easy to think that what you have to offer isn’t as important as what others have to offer but God says we are all important and we all have our own special work that we can do. God loves each one of his children the same and wants each of us to use our talents that he has given us to glorify him. We are all important to him. It is like a shepherd and his flock. All the sheep are important and if one is lost the shepherd will go and look for that one. Luke 15:4 “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?”(KJV) All of us are important and one is not more important than the other person. We all are the same and we should work together to the Glory of God. It is like a puzzle, is the corner and straight edge piece more important than the inside pieces? No they are all important for if you are missing just one piece no matter if it is the edge piece, corner piece or inside piece of the puzzle the picture or puzzle will not be complete. So each piece is just as important as the next piece and has its own special place in the puzzle. The same is we all have an important job to do for God just like each piece of the puzzle and if we try to forget our job and do someone else’s it doesn’t work just like if you try to force a piece of the puzzle into the wrong place, you might get it to sort of fit but the picture will still not be right. We should not think that someone else’s job is more important and therefore we should be the one to do it and get the recognition because first it isn’t about recognition and second it won’t work out and neither job will get done. We need to go where God wants us and do what he has for us to do and do it to the Glory of God and not to our glory.

Then we should also not limit people and assume that they can’t do anything important either. If we limit people we are limiting God too. An example of this is
when I got sick and had to be in a wheelchair I had so many people say to me that they felt sorry for me now that I couldn’t do anything. I just laughed because I can still do a lot of things just not the same ones as before maybe. They just couldn’t see past the physical limitations to see that I was still a vital part of God’s work. It’s true I have things I can’t do but they are replaced with things that I can do like holding others up in prayer. That is one of the most important jobs we can have in God’s work is to be a prayer warrior. I also can still witness and teach. You see they thought I wasn’t as important anymore but God knew just how important I was and God uses us all and has a job for all of us to do so I am still a piece of the puzzle that is needed to complete the picture or puzzle. We are all needed in Gods work, every single one of us believers and every believer is called to go out and witness and work for God. Mark 16: 15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (KJV) Each of us is important and needed in the puzzle of life to be completed when Jesus comes again. So next time you think that I can’t preach, or I can’t sing or I can’t teach or I am not important remember that everyone has something they can do for the Glory of God and each one of us is important and we all have some kind of talent that God has given us to use for his work. We all fit into the puzzle somewhere and each of us is just as important as the next one.

Faith a Way of Life

All these examples of Faith are not just about these people having faith in God but that they exercised their faith. Faith then is believing and trusting in an all powerful, all knowing God who is the creator of everything. It is trusting that God is a loving, merciful God who will reward and protect us. Faith is living in the center of God’s will and never questioning or doubting God is watching out for us and has a perfect plan for our lives. Faith is a relationship with God not just a belief in God. Faith is just knowing that God is who He says He is and not doubting that God can and will do what He says. Faith is more than just belief though; it is a way of life. Faith is assurance that God is with us in the good and bad times and that He loves us and takes care of us. It is having courage to live for God even when it is not the popular way to live. Faith is believing and knowing without a doubt that God hears our prayers and answers them. Faith is living for God in God’s will no matter where He leads us.
When things are going smooth we say we have faith and are living for God but we need to rely on our faith when there are problems and troubles that come our way too. Faith is knowing that God is still God in good and bad times and that God is in control. Faith is a relationship with God and it is how we should live. We should continually pray and read our Bible so our faith grows. Faith is the love we have towards God and our wanting to live for God and be more like God. We should be like these examples from the Bible and our faith should be unquestioning, unwavering, obedient, unchanging, courageous faith just like these examples. Jesus says in Matt. 17:20 that all it takes is a small amount of faith and then nothing is impossible. Matt. 17:20 “And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”(KJV) God is awesome and is able to do anything and all we have to do is have faith and believe in Him and what God can do and nothing then is impossible for us either.
As I conclude this study on faith it is important to remember that faith should be not just what we believe, but how we live in good and bad times. Exercising our faith daily is how we grow in our walk with the Lord. Do not just say I have faith but practice the faith you have. If you live by your faith then your witness to others will be great and God will be able to use you in the work he has planned for you. It is so easy when things get rough to falter, but living by faith means that we rely on God and the knowledge that God provides and takes care of His children. We don’t have to understand everything that we go through we just have to trust and believe that God is in control. In Mark it tells us that if we have faith and don’t doubt then we can move mountains or in other words nothing is impossible for us with God’s help. The key is to believe and not to doubt, to ask and expect to get an answer. Mark 11: 22-24 22“And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”(KJV) My desire is to grow in my faith and to live daily in my faith. To have a faith that is unquestioning, unwavering, unchanging, obedient and courageous so that God can use me how ever He sees fit. I pray that all Christians will grow in faith and live by faith too.

Courageous Faith

The last example of faith I want to look at is a courageous faith in God. This example of courageous faith can be found when we look at Daniel who because of his obedience and faith in God he is put into a lions den. Daniel has favor with King Darius and he is going to appoint him chief overseer of the whole kingdom and the other leaders decide they have to find away to get rid of Daniel. They could find no wrong with him so they decided to use his faith in God against him. They get the King to order a decree that no one in the kingdom can pray to anyone but the King or they would be put in the lions den. When Daniel heard this he still went three times a day with the window open and looking to Jerusalem and prayed to God just like he always did. Daniel was not afraid to stand up for his faith in God and not for his own safety to just go along with the decree. The other leaders knew that Daniel had that strong of faith in God and would not even for safety sake go along with the decree which says a lot about Daniel’s witness and his faith. Dan. 6: 3-9 3“Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 4Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 5Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. 6Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. 7All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 9Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.”(KJV) As soon as they saw Daniel praying they brought him before the king and the king could not get out of the decree he made but he was upset that he had to put him in the lions den. The king tries all day to think of a way but he couldn’t so he had Daniel brought and he put him in the lions den and sealed and then said to Daniel your God will protect you. So even the king understood Daniels strong faith in God. Dan. 6:10-18 “10Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. 11Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 13Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day. 14Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. 16Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. 17And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. 18Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.”(KJV) God closed the lion’s mouth and when the king came the next morning and opened up the den Daniel was fine. God had rewarded Daniel for his steadfast and courageous faith. The king proclaimed that all in his kingdom while he was king would worship this God of Daniel so Daniel’s faith that didn’t waiver but even in the face of death was strong brought a king and his kingdom to God. Dan 6:10-28 “19Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. 20And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? 21Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. 22My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. 23Then was the king exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. 24And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den. 25Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. 27He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. 28So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”(KJV)
We need to have a courageous faith like Daniel and not be afraid even when it isn’t popular in the world or our families to believe and have faith in God. God will reward and protect us just like he did Daniel and the world and our families will have a witness of God and his faithfulness to us also. Never let fear come between us and God.

Simple Faith in Action

Two more examples of faith is when a ruler tells Jesus his daughter is dead but that if Jesus would just come and lay his hands on her she would live again and Jesus followed him and as they were going there in the crowd was a woman who was sick for many years and she knew if she could just touch Jesus’ garment she would be healed and when He passed the woman touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and Jesus knowing this had happened turned and told her that her faith had made her whole. Matt. 9:18-25 18 “While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. 19And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. 20And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 22But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. 23And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, 24He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. 25But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose” (KJV) These two people had a faith that was simply knowing that Jesus was who He said He was and they knew they just had to ask or do and it would happen plain and simple they were confident that Jesus could help them. What a faith to have to just simply know with out question that God can do what is needed but not stopping there to be bold enough to then just put into action that faith expecting the miracle to happen. Because they believed that Jesus could and would help them then because of this faith it happened. So many times we think we can’t ask God for things or if we do ask then we never believe it really will happen so we limit God by not asking or believing. We need to be like the ruler and the woman in the crowd and believe, ask and know that God will. We have at our church a sign that say Expect a Miracle. It is a reminder not to just ask for a miracle but expect it to happen too. We need to have faith and act on it knowing that if it’s God’s will it will happen. Next time you pray for someone or yourself remember to not only believe in God’s ability but have faith he will take care of your or the one you pray for. Expect and answer and Expect a miracle.

Job a faithful Servant

Before I share this next devotion on faith I would like to ask prayer for my Grandson's friends. They went to school yesterday and while they were there they got word their Mother died. We don't know what happened but God knows and these kids need prayer.

Job's faithfulness to God

We all remember Job. The people in the world were wicked and full of sin and Satan says to God that he is running around the world and the people are following him not God and God says have you considered my servant Job. Job 1:6-12 6 “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
7And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 9Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. 12And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.”(KJV) Job was so faithful to God that God told Satan that it wouldn’t matter what happened Job would still be faithful to him. This means that we all should strive to be like Job that our faith is so strong that no matter what comes our way we stay faithful to God. Job lost his family, his wealth, his health and still he was faithful. Even his wife and so called friends told him to curse God and he refused to. God knew Job would stay faithful and that is why he allowed this all to happen. Sometimes, today even, people see someone going through tough times or a sickness and they say to them you better get things straightened out with God because you must have made God really mad at you, just like Job’s friends told him. Maybe God is just using that person to touch others by their faithfulness to him through trouble. When you become like Job’s friends then you show your lack of faith when you believe that God is out to get you is the only reason that trouble is there. God didn’t forget Job but trusted him to stay faithful. Because of Job’s steadfast faithfulness God gave Job more than what he had lost. Job 42:10 “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.”(KJV) What a testimony that 1. Job was so faithful to God that God trusted him to be tried by Satan, 2. That all through the trials Job was steadfast in his faith to God even when his friends tried to get him to curse God, 3. Job even through all his troubles obeyed and prayed for his friends and 4. Because of Job’s faithfulness God rewarded him. God is always a just and loving God and he rewards our faithfulness. I hope that the next time there is a bump in the road that we like Job will be steadfast in our faith and trust in God. Let us be good uplifting friends helping those around us to be strong in their faith too and not be like Job’s friends and be more of a hindrance than a help. Let us be faithful to God so that God can say of us have you considered my servant.

Noah's Faith

Noah Builds An Ark

Another example of a man of faith is Noah.Gen.6:12-22 12 “And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. 13And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. 15And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. 16A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. 17And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. 18But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee. 19And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. 20Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive. 21And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them. 22Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.” (KJV)God told Noah to build an ark and Noah did. He showed faith because he built the ark even though the world was ridiculing him. He obeyed God even though he didn’t understand all that God was asking of him. He shows faith in just being picked by God to build the ark. God picked him because he was faithful. Gen 6:8 “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” (KJV) God knew that Noah was faithful and that he had been following him so he laid this job on Noah and Noah stepped up to the task and not only started it but faithfully completed it. Noah exercised his faith by building the ark and doing it exactly as God asked and not straying from the plan God had and trying to make it his own. Noah was a faithful man of God so that is why God could use him. We should try to be this faithful also so that God can use us in anyway He sees fit. Then Noah had a complete faith in God and God’s plan and did exactly what he was told. How many times do we tell God your will be done and then try to tell God how we think it should be done. We try to improve on God’s plan and in the end we just mess everything up. Or better yet we tell God we will do his will and we start doing the job God has for us only to never finish it because it becomes hard or we get bored or we decide we aren’t getting enough attention for our work. What ever the reason we just never get it finished. We need to be more like Noah with our faith and follow through on our work for God. Noah completely trusted God and did what was asked of him with out question. Gen 6:22 “Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.”(KJV) We should strive to be faithful and live for God so that he is able to use us for his work and then like Noah to follow God completely and finish the task as God has told us too. We should have a complete and trusting faith in God. That is my prayer to be ready at anytime for God to use me.