12 Gifts From God Gift # 7 Peace

GIFT NUMBER 7: PEACE
By Deb Forbes copyright 2008

Gift number 7 from God I want to look at is Peace. Peace to me is a calm assurance. When I was a kid I went sleigh riding down a hill that had just a very small path down the middle of nothing but trees. Well I started down, hit a rut, and went headlong into one of the trees. I was hurt and scared and they took me to the hospital but I didn’t calm down and feel better till my Dad got there and once he got there I knew he would make everything alright and I calmed down and was at peace because he was there. The Peace that God gives is a calm assurance that He loves us and has everything in control. This peace is brought to us by His Son Jesus who gave his life for us so that we can have the assurance of God’s love and our home in heaven. In Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”KJV this is the promise and gift from God that because we believe and accept Jesus as our Lord then we are guaranteed peace from God for our lives.

When in 2000, after being sick for awhile, I finally was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis I didn’t fall apart or get angry or upset. I prayed about it and then I had the peace from God that I was where He wanted me to be.  I felt thankful because God trusted me to use me in this way. Myasthenia Gravis is a neuromuscular disease where your body sees the receptors, that is how the nerves talk to the muscles, and blocks or destroys them because they are seen as being a foreign body and they need to be destroyed. It causes muscle weakness in the voluntary muscles like eyes, eyelids, face, swallowing, talking, chewing, breathing, limbs, neck and back muscles. You can get into a crisis and choke or not be able to breath so it can be very dangerous and life threatening in a crisis. I tell you this because I want you to understand I wasn’t afraid even though this is a serious disease and just one of many I have but because of my faith in God and having Jesus as my Saviour that I have the gift of peace even in my time of trouble. John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”KJV This verse tells us that peace is given to us and we don’t have to be afraid. That is why I can have peace even in sickness and not be afraid of what could happen.

Peace or calm assurance that we are loved by God and are in God’s master plan even as it says in John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”KJV though we have troubles and tribulation in the world we can be calm and at peace because Jesus has overcome the world and as a believer in Him we can overcome too,therefore we have the gift of Peace. It is also a peace because we know our final outcome will be in heaven with God forevermore. So remember that even in this world when things are up or down we have the gift of peace from God to hold on too. Phil 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”KJV Pass this gift of peace on to others by sharing your faith and telling them how to receive the gift of peace from God. Thank you Lord for your peace and calm assurance that you have given to each of your children.

12 Gifts From God Gift # 2 Jesus

As we look again this year at the devotion I wrote in 2008 about the 12 gifts of God the second gift is the Gift of Jesus. I love the song THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THAT NAME by
(Bill Gaither / Gloria Gaither)

The lyrics are

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus There's just something about that name

This is so true just speaking the name Jesus brings so much peace and comfort

and that is because of God's gift He gave us in His Son Jesus. Next time you are stressed, afraid, sick

or troubled try just saying His name and call out to Him.

GIFT NUMBER 2: JESUS

The second gift from God is his son Jesus. Luke 2:11 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord”. He sent Jesus here to earth as a baby, made him human to live here on earth and he was born specifically to die for us. He was made human to know the pains and hurts suffered by humans and then he went to the cross to die for us. This is such an important gift from God to all of us. Jesus was sent here to save us and to be our Savior. John 3:17 “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved”.

Jesus lived among the people and knew what it was to be hurt, loved, hungry, thirsty, to lose someone and to be tempted by the devil. Jesus and God know exactly how we feel when we have these things happen to us too and that can be such a comfort. It should make us feel better when we are going through a loss or sickness or a time of trouble and tribulation or the next time we are tempted by the devil, to know that God has felt these things by sending Jesus to earth. So not only did God send his Son to be our Savior but He insured by this act that we can have confidence that God knows our feelings because He has felt them also. This is another way that Jesus was a gift from God to us.
In sending his Son Jesus it makes all the other gifts we are going to look at possible too. Jesus is the key to all in our lives here on earth and Eternal life. So Jesus is the most important gift from God first because He is our Savior and second because He came  as it says in John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” to give us abundant life. This makes the gift of Jesus the most important part of our lives and all we have to do is accept the gift of Jesus from God to have abundant life and all the other gifts too.We should continue to thank God daily for this gift of his Son and most importantly to accept this gift. So with the gift of Jesus we also get within this gift 1. A Savior 2. Abundant life and 3. Understanding. So thank you Lord for your wonderful gift of Jesus.

written by Deb Forbes
2008 copyright

Christmas Thoughts 12 Gifts From God

I wrote this devotion back in 2008 and each year I re-post it so that we can remember the gifts we have been given. God has given each of us so many things but I have chosen these 12 for this devotion.

12 GIFTS FROM GOD
written by Deb Forbes
Copyright 2008

At this time of year we all think about what we can get to give to others or what we would like to get for Christmas. The Christmas music is playing and decorations are everywhere. The other day I was thinking about the Christmas song the “12 Days of Christmas” and how on each day they get some different item or gift and that made me think that God has given us gifts and why not go through at least twelve of them each day till Christmas so these are the 12 gifts of God that I have decided to look at. The thing about these gifts is that they are life changing and they are for ever and not something you will only have for a short time or till the next Christmas.

1. Life
2. Jesus
3. Love
4. Forgiveness
5. Salvation
6. Hope
7. Peace
8. Joy
9. Grace
10. Mercy
11. Comfort and the Comforter
12. Eternal Life

GIFT NUMBER 1: LIFE

The first Gift of God is the ultimate gift and that is the gift of Life. Now you might think why would I choose this as a gift but it definitely is because if God hadn’t spoke us and everything else into existence we wouldn’t be here now. In Gen. 1 it tells us how God created the heavens and the earth, sun and moon, water, animals, vegetation, and man and woman. Gen 1: 27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them”. So the first gift has to be the gift of life to all things including us humans. Then he also gave us our lives. You might ask what do I mean by this that God gave us our lives. The answer would be that I believe that God made each one of us unique and for a special purpose. It says that God knows each hair on our heads Matt. 10:30 “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered” and if He knows us intimately enough to count the hairs on our head then He took great care and time in making each and everyone of us. Therefore if He would take that much time when He was making each of us wouldn’t He then, don’t you think, have a specific purpose and plan for us and make us just right to fit into that plan? So literally God gave each of us our lives and not only our lives but a life with a purpose Praise God. Next time you think your life is going no where then remember that you have a gift given to you by God and that gift is Life and not only life but a life with a purpose straight from God himself. So Life is the first gift of God and we should remember to thank him for this wonderful gift each and everyday and strive to live fulfilling the purpose God has for us.

Good Training

Last night I couldn’t go to sleep because I ached so bad and my Fibromyalgia was hurting me also. I could have gotten up and read or watched TV but instead I prayed for my family and friends. I called their names out to God to watch over them and to keep them safe as well as for their health and needs. I spent my time just talking to God and letting God speak to me. I think it was good that I couldn’t sleep because I had quiet time with God and  by the time I was done praying and talking to God I could go to sleep and slept good even though it was only about 3 ½ to 4 hrs.

While I was praying I kept going back to the verse that says “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” Proverbs 22:6 KJV I claim this verse for my kids and grandkids. I know it to be true because my parents brought us up in a Godly home where we learned to love God, to pray and they led by example. We went to church and we were active in our church. We sang in the choir, we went to youth group and Sunday school and when we had revivals we were there or anything special we were there. My Dad and Mom both didn’t just go to church but were leaders in the church too. We knew the importance of worship and knowing God and how to pray. I am so thankful that they showed us the way and trained us up right in the Lord. It didn’t mean that I didn’t stray but just like the verse says because I was trained up then I didn’t depart from that way. I am so glad too. I don’t know how people get through life without God.

I know that it makes me proud and does my heart good to see my little 3 year old Grandson 

Ian on first day of Summer preschool

              Ian love to go to church. He gets excited to go. I love that he is learning verses and it was so cute to see him try to preach to his Mom and Dad. When we were over for Memorial Day they got out a DVD of the lesson from their Wed. night class to watch and Ian was so excited that Pastor Rusty was on their TV. He grabbed a seat and watched it and kept telling me Pastor Rusty Nana. When it was done he told his Mom again again. I hope he always is that excited about hearing Gods word. 

When Paul  and Silas were  in prison they prayed and sang Praises to God. Then an earthquake came and the doors of the cell opened but they didn't leave. The jailer started to kill himself because he was sure they had escaped but Paul yelled and told him not to harm himself that they were all still there. He got a light and looked and saw they truly were all still there and he asked Paul how he could be saved and Paul tells him to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and he and his family will be saved.  The jailer had heard them singing and praising even though they were locked up and then when they had the chance to escape they didn't and they spared the trouble that would cone to the jailer for having prisoners escape on his watch and the life of this jailer by staying when they could have left. He then realized he needed the God that these men followed and asked them to show him the way. Their words but even more their witness of their faith by staying saved this jailer. Not only the jailer but also the jailers family.

Acts 16: 25-31 KJV

²⁵ And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
²⁶ And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
²⁷ And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
²⁸ But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
²⁹ Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
³⁰ And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
³¹ And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

This is so important to me and I claim the last verse that not only will I be saved but my house or family too. That is a promise I cling to when I am praying for a relative that doesn't know the Lord. I believe that the reason the family will be saved too is first through the Holy Spirit working on their hearts and second by my change when I gave my heart to God and my witness in my daily life, just like Paul"s witness by staying put, that it will lead them to God also.
This is a great promise to cling to when you are praying for a family member who needs to be saved. It can be an encouragement and comfort.

Next time you can't sleep try praying for family and friends and know that you are  being prayed for by me when I can't sleep, as well as other times too.

 If you have a prayer request just leave it in the comments and I will be glad to pray for you.

 

Throwback Thursday Post From Past On Being God's Masterpiece

I hate that kids and people are bullied and hurt by actions and words of others. With the Internet now days the bullies have found a way to humiliate and destroy others and it has to stop. People are being destroyed by these acts. I wish that I could take each one by the hand and tell them they are special and loved. For throwback Thursday I have re posted one of my past post about us being God's Masterpiece. We have to pray and step in to stop bullying.

Monday, February 25, 2013

God's Masterpiece

Matthew 5:14

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid

 I love the verse Eph. 2 : 10 NLT  ^"For we are God’s Masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago". I love to quote or think of this verse every time I think that I am not good enough or I am not special. When I think there is nothing that I can do or I have no talent I recall this verse and know that none of that is true according to God's word. We are special and God created us and made us new in Christ so that we could do the things He has planned for us. It might not be what we would think of doing, but it is what God has planned for us. He made each one of us unique and special, His masterpiece. So when I am thinking that I am not enough then I am really criticizing God for He is the one who made me into who I am. God has a job for all of us to do, we just have to pray, and meditate on what it is and then jump in and do what God has planned for us. Most of all I try to remember that I am special because God made me and He made me and molded me into the person He wants me to be.

Another favorite verse of mine is Jer 29:11 NIV   ^"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."
God has a plan and it doesn't include harm but hope and a future. What a great promise from God.

I try to repeat both of these verses everyday along with Rom 8:1KJV "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit". and also Rom 8:28 KJV "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." and Rom. 8: 31 NIV "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"

So next time you are feeling down or thinking that you are talentless or not special remember these verses.  Try to memorize them so that they come to mind when these feelings start and remember most of all YOU ARE GOD'S MASTERPIECE and HE LOVES YOU

Ash Wednesday Beginning of Lent

Today is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. As a child we would give up something we really loved for Lent but I don't think I ever really understood why. We are not Catholic but we always did follow Lent. I know one year I gave up candy, another sweets, and once mashed potatoes, which are all of my favorites. I just did it because we all were but didn't really think about it much except for the fact that it would be a long 40 days.


Now that I am older I understand that Lent is a time to focus on God and to draw closer to him. This should be everyday I know, but this is the time to prepare our hearts for Easter. It is a time of reflection and looking at what we need to change to be closer to God and ask for forgiveness. It is a time spent on God and spiritual things that gets our hearts and minds ready for Easter. I want this year during Lent to be spent reading and meditating and spending time with an open heart with God, growing closer to Him.


I have started a reading plan on youversion.com for the Lent season that focuses on the last week of Jesus' life before His Crucifixion. I have read these passages so many times before but I want to really study and I am praying that the Holy Spirit will reveal what God wants me to learn and see and to grow closer to the Lord.


I hope you will spend time in prayer and reading your Bible and just letting God speak to you too this Lent season.


youversion. com has many Bible reading plans for Lent season at http://blog.youversion.com/category/reading-plans/


Most of all just find a devotion or study or just start reading the Gospels about the last week of Jesus life and spend time focusing on God, Jesus and prepare your hearts for Easter

Bring on Spring Please

     Is anyone else, besides myself, ready for it to be Spring?  I am tired of the cold and snow. Bring on Spring Please I am so ready to be able to open the house up and let the sunshine and cool spring breezes in the house.  Sunday it snowed a little, I mean about an inch, but it was enough that I slipped and rolled my ankle going out of the house and pulled my back. I am so thankful that I had my hiking boots on and was holding on to my husband so I didn't go clear down but I am sore still.  I want to be able to get out and do some hiking and walking, to enjoy the flowers and cool breezes. A picnic would be nice too. So yes I am more than ready for spring.

   The one thing that this weather and snow has done is to remind me of the time when I was a kid that we were staying at my Grandma and Grandpa Jesters house and Grandma went out with us to play in the snow. They had a slight hill down to the street in their front yard so we got our disc out and decided we would go down the hill on it. The trick was you had to go down it just right and at the last minute grab hold of the gas meter and swing around to keep from going into the street. I wasn't brave enough to try at first because I had been injured sledding before. Grandma must of felt sorry for me so she came out of the house, all bundled up and took a turn going down the hill. She did it perfect, she slid down and just when we thought she would go in the street she grabbed the gas meter and swung around. We cheered and she jumped up laughing and grinning, I could tell she loved it and I figured if she could do it and not get hurt that I could too. I was scared to death, but I got in the disc, and they pushed me and off I went. I grabbed that meter and swung around and dumped out into the snow. I jumped up and dusted off, and whooped and laughed all the way back up to the start. We spent the whole afternoon out there with Grandma going down that hill.  Grandma stayed the whole time and was just like one of us, enjoying herself too. It is one of the best memories of winter I have.

   As I get closer to the age Grandma was when she went out to play in the snow with us I admire her even more because I know what she sacrificed to do it. She must have been sore the next day from it, but she never let on, she never missed a beat that night or the next day. Grandma gave us a great day and a wonderful memory to hold on to.

    So I choose to think on the memories of that snow day we spent with Grandma and not focus on the cold and snow now until Spring it gets here.

Cold Cold and More Cold Bring on the Coffee and Good Book

  I don't know what it is like where you are but it is cold here today again. The wind is blowing and there is just a chill in the apartment today, so I think it is a good day to spend reading and drinking coffee.

  This has been a roller coaster ride kind of winter here. Like yesterday it was a high in the teens and today suppose to be in the 30's. Tomorrow is a little warmer and Sunday is suppose to be 50 degrees before it starts back down the hill to a low around zero and highs in single digits to low teens. Then back up to the 30's. You have to love the  weather.

   Life can be a roller coaster ride also. Things are going good and then all of a sudden here comes a big hill that leads down down down to a valley that you have twists and turns in and then you start back up a hill. God never said we wouldn't have trouble actually just the opposite He said in John 16:33 NIV "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." God tells us that He has overcome and so can we when we trust, obey and rely on God. He also gives us peace. What more could we ask, God is riding with us and comforting us and giving us strength to make it on the roller coaster we call our lives.

   So enjoy your day where you are. Live it for and with God as the focus and hold tight on the ride.


   Started my day with reading the Bible and spending time with God and here is a verse that I want to share besides the one above.

Joshua 1:9 KJV "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

New Challenge

I have been thinking for awhile that I really need to get back to memorizing Bible verses. I kept telling myself my memory isn't what it use to be and I don't know if I can remember the verses now like I did when I was younger. Really if you think about it we remember all sorts of things that are really useless, like what happened last night on our favorite TV shows.  Sometimes I think we fill our minds with the wrong things. We need to know God's word and as the Bible says to hide it in our hearts. "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Psalm 119: 11 KJV Our hearts and minds should be on God and knowing his word helps us grow in our walk with him. I read in a book one time, when I was a kid, that we should memorize God's word so that if they ever took our Bibles from us we would still have his word with us. I thought at the time that they would never take the Bible from us but now as I get older I am not so sure. I want to delve into God's word with a renewed passion and let God speak to me through his word. I also am challenging myself to memorize at least two verses a week. As Christians we need to start arming ourselves to be able to stand up for our faith and our God.

My two verses for this week are Psalm 119: 11 and Matthew 22:37

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Psalm 119: 11 KJV

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind Matthew 22: 37 KJV

I hope you will join me in this challenge. Let me know if you are going to try and learn and memorize along with me.

Have you been watching The Bible on History

Last night was night two of The Bible on History Channel and I was wondering if anyone else was watching and what you think of it? I think that it has been good and well done. It moves through the stories pretty fast so you have to pay attention. Pleased so far with all they have done. I find that it makes us dig into the Bible to read the stories again to make sure they are following the Bible and it gives us a conversation starter too. I am looking forward to watching the rest of the series. What is your take on the series?

Verses for today to memorize are :
John 13: 34-35 KJV ^{34 "}A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. ³⁵ By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

Micah 6:8 KJV " He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"

Quote for this week:
God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.
C. S. Lewis
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/c/c_s_lewis.html#Pm2pBvWqwJC3OoY9.99

I will be back on schedule for blogging now that I am feeling better. Have a great week and remember
CHOOSE TO HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Gluten Free Beef Teriyaki and Rice

Last night was one of those nights where I had to go to the freezer and pantry and use what I had there because I needed a fast easy and delicious dinner. I had frozen vegetables, rice and ground beef, so I made Gluten Free Beef Teriyaki and rice. It was wonderful and the husband loved it which is a big plus to any recipe. Truth be told I spent most of the day finishing a baby afghan and wrist warmers so I had completely forgotten about dinner so had to have a fast solution. If you ever find yourself needing something good and quick give it a try.

Ingredients:
1 lb lean ground beef
1 pkg frozen Vegetable Medley ( mine had the mix of broccoli, red peppers, and green beans)
1 cup cooked rice
1 13.5 oz bottle of Island Organic Teriyaki from Organiville Foods. They have two different gluten free teriyaki sauces and either one would be great for this dish. http://organicvillefoods.com/category/products/teriyaki-sauces/

Directions:
Brown ground beef in large skillet and drain. While browning the ground beef cook your cup of rice. I cooked mine in a rice cooker which made it really easy. Also cook the frozen vegetables while browning the meat. Add the frozen vegetables, rice and bottle of teriyaki to skillet, mix well lower heat and let simmer for 10 minutes or till all is heated through and the flavors have mix in well.
Serve with more rice or with a salad and you have a great meal.

Num. 6: 24-26 KJV
The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
 The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

God's Masterpiece

Matthew 5:14

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid

 I love the verse Eph. 2 : 10 NLT  ^"For we are God’s Masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago". I love to quote or think of this verse every time I think that I am not good enough or I am not special. When I think there is nothing that I can do or I have no talent I recall this verse and know that none of that is true according to God's word. We are special and God created us and made us new in Christ so that we could do the things He has planned for us. It might not be what we would think of doing, but it is what God has planned for us. He made each one of us unique and special, His masterpiece. So when I am thinking that I am not enough then I am really criticizing God for He is the one who made me into who I am. God has a job for all of us to do, we just have to pray, and meditate on what it is and then jump in and do what God has planned for us. Most of all I try to remember that I am special because God made me and He made me and molded me into the person He wants me to be.

Another favorite verse of mine is Jer 29:11 NIV   ^"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."
God has a plan and it doesn't include harm but hope and a future. What a great promise from God.

I try to repeat both of these verses everyday along with Rom 8:1KJV "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit". and also Rom 8:28 KJV "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." and Rom. 8: 31 NIV "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"

So next time you are feeling down or thinking that you are talentless or not special remember these verses.  Try to memorize them so that they come to mind when these feelings start and remember most of all YOU ARE GOD'S MASTERPIECE and HE LOVES YOU

Month of Love

February the Month of Love, the month that we show our love to others with cards, flowers and candy. We write love notes and add them to those cards, flowers and candy to give to that special someone that we love.  We want to make sure that our Valentine knows how important they are and how much we love them.  I think that we get caught up in showing our love in special ways just one day a year when we should show the ones we love how special and loved they are everyday.
No it doesn't have to be candy or flowers any thing like that, it can just be little things like a special note in there lunch or making a special dinner. Baking cookies or a snack that they really love. When you get a chance to just hold there hand or just listen to them when they are talking can be special. We think big when it is the little things that are important. When Mike, my husband and I were dating there was a cartoon in our paper that was a girl and boy and the caption always was Love is followed by something that love is. One of my favorite ones was Love Is You and Me. Mike would cut those out and give them to me and it was really special. I kept them for a long time just because it was our special way of telling each other how much we loved each other. To others that would seem silly but to us it was special. That is what you should do, find out what is special between the two of you and then cherish each other by doing it.
I also think it is important to say I love you to each other and not just assume they know it. Every time I talk to Mike on the phone or he leaves for any reason we say I love you to each other. People might think we are crazy, but at times we can just be watching TV and look at each other and say" you know I Love You." We have been married 39 years and have been together 41 and I can truthfully say I never get tired of hearing him say I love you even though I know he loves me. I guess what I am saying is don't just spend one day telling the one you love that you love them and try to show them all in one day, but let them know each and every day.



Also we always have one who loves us unconditionally and thinks we are special and that is God. God loves us and has given his most precious gift His Son because He loves us.
John 3: 16 KJV  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Never think that you have no one who loves you or that your not special because God Loves You and You Are Special.

And In This Corner The Battle With Our Past

Have you ever felt like you were in a boxing match with your past? I can hear the announcer now "and in this corner weighing in with all the past hurts and mistakes is the one and only vicious PAST. And in this corner there is little old ME." "PAST comes out swinging with all its might first with a hurt to the heart, then a mistake to the gut doubling ME over and right back with two more hits to the heart and ME is down for the count." "I believe its over for ME this time with hits like that ME won't recover." That's how it feels when your past hurts and mistakes try to defeat you. It is like you have been thrown in a ring to take a beating from the heavy weight champion, but it doesn't have to be this way. Once we give Jesus our hearts and life and he has forgiven us our sins, then the past is just that the past. It's like a tag team match, we just have to take the hand of Jesus and he goes in and defeats the past in our place.

When we become Christ followers we don't have to be hurt by our past mistakes and we don't have to let the old hurts hurt us, but even the strongest in faith will have times that the past will cause them pain. It doesn't mean our faith isn't as strong, it just means that is when we need to reach out to Jesus and remember that we are forgiven and a changed person. We aren't that person we were when those things occurred. We are a new creation in Christ, a new person. 2 Corinthians 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)
In the past couple of days I have had to remind myself that the past is past and that my Heavenly Father loves me unconditionally. The things of my past don't have power to hurt me anymore because I am a child of God, a co-heir with Jesus, loved by my Heavenly Father and forgiven. We all can think of something that we wish we hadn't done, or think of things that have been said or done that has hurt us and if we let it, it can and will beat us up. If we give our past power it will hurt us, but we don't have to give it that power. We take its power away by turning it over to Christ Jesus and then leaving it there.

Recently my past mistakes were thrown at me by someone close to me. It is easy for me to let it get me down. In fact I was very hurt by them bringing it up. The blow from my past knocked me to the ground but didn't knock me out. I called out to Jesus and he helped me back up off the mat and got me back into the fight only this time I let him take control. Jesus gave me the power over my past.

The apostle Paul had a past of persecuting the Christians, but once he gave his life to Christ and became one of the believers, he went on to tell others about Christ. He had a past that he didn't like, but he used it to remind people that Christ took all that with him to the cross and totally forgave him. He couldn't change what he had done, but he could change who he was then and that is exactly what he did when he asked forgiveness and became a follower of Christ. No longer was he that man that persecuted believers, he was a man who gave his life trying to encourage believers and show sinners the way to Christ.


Christ wipes our sins away when we ask forgiveness and remembers them no more.
Ps 103:12 " as far as the east is from the west,so far has he removed our transgressions from us"(NIV) That doesn't mean that He can't use our past to help others. He can use that to help us witness and tell others what he has done for us. Paul reminded others of his past so that they can see how far he had come from that past and how much Christ had done for him. So our past doesn't have to have power over us and hurt us anymore. Just remember we are forgiven and we are not the person we were in that past because of Jesus. PTL

KO the PAST in Jesus name. Ask forgiveness and it is done. Ask Jesus in your heart and you are a new person. Let God change you into that new creature in Christ. Then the PAST no longer has power to hurt but can be a powerful tool to help. Thank you Jesus for your love, mercy and forgiveness and for this new person in you.

Written by
Deb Forbes
Aug. 20, 2010

4 months of walking

On Jan. 28,2010 it has been 4 months since I started walking again and I haven't
slowed down yet. We walk all the time and do things we haven't done for years like hiking and we are even planning a camping trip with the grandkids and going canoeing. God is giving us ideas of ways we can serve him also and have really enjoyed being able to get more involved. We are noticing and finding joy in everything. It is funny how the little things can set grown people to giggling, smiling and bring such joy. The other day we were waiting in a rather long line at the checkout, this can be frustrating, but Mike just leaned into me and said this is nice because for a change we could stand there together leaning on each other, the little things. Parking at the very back of the parking lot and walking instead of having to park in the handicap up front, or just holding hands strolling through the store, or how about him being able to put his arm around me when we sit in church. These are things that you do and don't give it a second thought, but these are also the little things until I started walking again we couldn't do. So if you see two grown adults break out into smiles or laughs it might just be Mike and I finding joy in the little things we can do again. Appreciate and be thankful for everything you do and have because they are a gift from God.

I never asked God to heal me and make it so I can walk but that he would just use me how ever he wanted to. I was so surprised when my season of life changed again and He has me walking. I know that it is God who is making a way for me to walk because of all that is and has happened since that day. First from the moment I stepped out when God said walk and I took that first step my leg muscles were there. They were defined and my grandson was amazed at how defined my calf muscles are just like I had been walking or running all this time, God did this my muscles should have to gradually come back but they were just there. Then there is the fact that I still have Myasthenia Gravis my neuromuscular disease along with osteoarthritis and osteopenia in my back along with some other things that cause problems with the nerves so I should not be able to stand let alone walk again only by God.

In this last 4 months I have seen just how awesome God is and how it is all him that makes it possible for me to walk. The least little illness sets my autoimmune diseases off and my autoimmune system into overdrive. I have had my back go out which should have stopped me from walking but it didn't. I was slower and bent over but still up and going with God's help. Then my knee slid out of place and though very painful I could at least get it back in easier and was able to walk on it sooner because of having muscles to help this time and so I continued to walk. These are just a few of the things that have happened in the last 4 months that anyone of them should have put me down sick for weeks and still I walked on Praise The Lord!

So a last thought is this, My strength comes from the Lord who has given me back my ability to walk inspite of all the odds against me and in so doing shows his power by my being able to walk, full circle. My prayer is that I will continue to glorify him in all that I do and to always be thankful. So if you see Mike and I acting like teenagers again and laughing at the little things just know its the joy of the Lord and all he does for us.PS 27:1 1The 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?

Do you know who this is?

I am sure many of you have had this phone call and conversation. Your phone rings and the caller id is unknown so you answer it and the voice on the other end says "Hello do you know who this is?" Immediately that voice recognition software in your brain starts trying to figure out if you know that voice, but you finally say "no who is it." The voice then laughs and says " you should know who it is because you know me." Okay now your brain goes into overdrive trying to think about every person you know and if this voice on the other end, that is by this time irritating you, is anyone you know. Finally you say "I don't know who it is so you are going to have to tell me" and they laugh and tell you who it is and sure enough you know them but you didn't recognize their voice. There are many reasons that you might not have recognized the voice. 1. You might not have recognized them because it had been a long time since you had seen or talked to them. 2. You might not have recognized them because you really weren't that close so you didn't talk much. 3. Maybe you didn't recognize them because even though you know them you just didn't know there voice because really when you talk you really don't pay attention to them. I had just this sort of call the other day and I could not think who they were and really didn't recognize the voice at all. They finally told me who they were and I had not talked to them since a mutual friend had died. We really had not talked much at all before so I was surprised she called first of all and there was no way I ever would of thought of her when asked do you know who this is.

I say all this because sometimes when God "calls" or talks to us we don't recognize or know him. We don't hear him because we don't know his voice. So why don't we know his voice could it be like the reasons above, when we don't recognize the caller,1. We don't know his voice because it has been a long time since we talked to him or maybe 2. We didn't know his voice because even though we know God we really aren't that close to him, we lack a truly personal relationship with him. Or 3. Maybe we do pray and talk to God but when it is our turn to listen we don't so it is hard to know God's voice if you never listen to him. You see God speaks to us and he answers us but we have to be able to recognize his voice and listen.

So in order to recognize Gods voice we need to know God. I don't mean just be acquainted with God but really know him. This woman that called me I was acquainted with her but she was a friend of my friend so even though I knew her I just was acquainted with her and didn't know her voice.

We need also to not do all the talking when we talk to God but talk and then be still and listen to what he wants us to hear. In a relationship if one person does all the talking and never listens to the other person then that can lead to unhappiness nd misunderstandings. You miss out on so much when you never listen and really interact with the other person and it is the same with God. Yes he wants to listen to us and wants us to talk to him all the time but and this is a big but, a one way conversation doesn't accomplish much. You miss out on God's answer to what ever you are praying about if you don't give him a chance to talk.

So make sure that you are familiar with God's voice so when he speaks you will know it is him. Get familiar by talking and listening to God. Make sure to get close and know God so that you will know Gods voice.

"Hello, Do you know who this is?"

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.

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

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.