Little Things, Big Things

Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning, for on You do I lean and in You do I trust. Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my inner self to You. Psalm 143:8  

One way to learn to trust God and hear His voice in the big events and decisions is to hear Him in the little things.  Things as small as praying to find your car keys or that lost remote control. Suddenly the gift of the Holy Spirit drops either a picture or a word into our spirits and we find what we are looking for.  On several occasions,  I have driven on dark roads and the Holy Spirit would warn me of deer, no sooner than that word of knowledge was deposited into my spirit I would see a deer standing beside or running across the road. (1 Corinthians 12:8)  This gift and others are available to everyone who is filled with the Holy Spirit.  The gifts are supernatural endowments of power given to believers to help us live our natural lives in supernatural ways.  God loves us.  He cares enough to speak to us whether through a thought of showing us a picture or a vision about the little things in our lives.  Just think how eager He must be to talk to us about the bigger things also.  Remember that God cares about you so much that He wants to speak to you about even the little things in your life.  I know that I have learned allowing Him in on the little things and the big makes life so much more perfect...We are in His will...about my Father's business.

Come Close

Not everyone is willing to pay the price required to be close to God.  Not everyone is willing to simply take the time required or make the investments needed for spiritual growth.  God doesn't ask for all of our time.  He certainly wants us to do things we don't consider "spiritual".  He designed us with bodies, souls, ( minds, wills, and emotions), and spirits, and He expects us to take care of all these areas.  Exercising our bodies and caring for our souls takes time and effort.  Our emotions need to be ministered to; we need to have fun and be entertained, and we need to enjoy being with other people.  Our minds need to grow and be renewed daily.  In addition, we have a spiritual nature that needs attention.  To stay balanced and healthy, we must take time to take care of our entire being.  I believe the whole issue of intimacy with God is a matter of time.  We say we don't have time to seek God, but the truth is that we take time to do the things that are most important to us.  Even though we all have to fight distractions every day, if knowing God and hearing from Him is important to us then we will find time to do it.  Don't try to work God into your schedule, but instead work your schedule around time with Him.  Getting to know God is a long-term investment, so don't get discouraged if you don't get instant results.  Be determined to honor Him with your time and you will reap the benefits.  Come close to God and He will come close to you.  James 4:8

I Hate My Mother

My mom only had one eye. I hated her… She was such an embarrassment. She cooked for students and teachers to support the family. There was this one day during elementary school where my mom came to say hello to me. I was so embarrassed.
How could she do this to me? I ignored her, threw her a hateful look and ran out. The next day at school one of my classmates said, ‘EEEE, your mom only has one eye!’
I wanted to bury myself. I also wanted my mom to just disappear. I confronted her that day and said, ‘ If you’re only gonna make me a laughing stock, why don’t you just die?’
My mom did not respond… I didn’t even stop to think for a second about what I had said, because I was full of anger. I was oblivious to her feelings.
I wanted out of that house, and have nothing to do with her. So I studied real hard, got a chance to go abroad to study.
Then, I got married. I bought a house of my own. I had kids of my own. I was happy with my life, my kids and the comforts. Then one day, my Mother came to visit me. She hadn’t seen me in years and she didn’t even meet her grandchildren.
When she stood by the door, my children laughed at her, and I yelled at her for coming over uninvited. I screamed at her, ‘How dare you come to my house and scare my children!’ GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!!!’ And to this, my mother quietly answered, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry. I may have gotten the wrong address,’ and she disappeared out of sight.
One day, a letter regarding a school reunion came to my house. So I lied to my wife that I was going on a business trip. After the reunion, I went to the old shack just out of curiosity.
My neighbors said that she died. I did not shed a single tear. They handed me a letter that she had wanted me to have.
‘My dearest son,
I think of you all the time. I’m sorry that I came to your house and scared your children.
I was so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion. But I may not be able to even get out of bed to see you. I’m sorry that I was a constant embarrassment to you when you were growing up.
You see……..when you were very little, you got into an accident, and lost your eye. As a mother, I couldn’t stand watching you having to grow up with one eye. So I gave you mine.
I was so proud of my son who was seeing a whole new world for me, in my place, with that eye.

With all my love to you,

Your mother.’

A Woman's Tears

A little boy asked his mother, "Why are you crying?" "Because I'm a woman," she told him.
"I don't understand," he said. His Mom just hugged him and said, "And you never will."

Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?"

"All women cry for no reason," was all his dad could say.

The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry.

Finally he put in a call to God. When God got on the phone, he asked, "God, why do women cry so easily?"

God said, "When I made the woman she had to be special.

I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world,

yet gentle enough to give comfort.

I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children.

I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining.

I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her very badly.

I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart.

I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him unfaltering.

And finally, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers exclusively to use whenever it is needed."

"You see my son," said God, "the beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart - the place where love resides."

By: Parwan Banu

Run To Jesus

I couldn't help but think of humanity running for its life before the flames of eternal judgment. Many people carry their little shelters of religion, good works, baptism, money, or morality, but these shields will not be enough to withstand the heat of God's holy wrath.The only ones who will live are those who run to scorched ground—ground where the fires of God's wrath have already burned. That ...ground is none other than Jesus Christ, who has taken upon Himself the wrath of God so that all those who stand "in Christ" will be saved.Have you made the decision to follow Christ, or are you still hiding beneath your own shelter of misguided whims and ideas? Don't wait another second to make that choice. It's a matter of life . . . and death!  LJ Tyree

Thanks to a mighty man of God who never is afraid to speak that which concerns the Father..  LJ Tyree

Always Forgiven

Good morning! How are we faithing? Apart from Christ, one is dead spiritually. Jesus was tempted but didn't give in. Jesus had opportunity but did not commit any sin. We who believe will stumble and sin some times but we are not wretched beasts who are incapable of a day without sin. That feat can be accomplished because the spirit that lives in us when we accept the grace of Jesus, makes it capable. I know I know, we've heard all our lives that we are wretched sinners and that is totally true before salvation but the Word tells us we are redeemed and no longer seen by God as those wretched sinners because he sees the advocate, Jesus his son. So if the Spirit abides in us and we follow after God and his Word, we can have days of sinlessness. When all sin is forgiven, we are dealing with a clean slate and with the Spirit guiding us, we can walk the narrow path of righteousness. This is not to make you haughty but to remind you of your redemption and to stop beating the crap out of yourself when you stumble. Repent as soon as you realize and move forward. Rejoice for those good days and thank God you are forgiven on the bad. This was very good and what I feel some of us needed to hear today! I copied and pasted this from our brother in Christ .....Russ Allen... Thank you Russ!!

Be Still And Know.....

John 4:25 "The woman said to Him, I know that Messiah is coming. He Who is called the Christ; and when He arrives, He will tell us everything we need to know and make it clear to us". Learning to hear from God and be led by the Spirit is an exciting adventure. God wants to speak to you and tell you what you need to know to enjoy your life, be blessed, be wise, and fulfill the good plans he has for each and every one of us. He always has something good and helpful to say, but sometimes people miss knowing these things because they fail to recognize that God is speaking to them. We need to learn how to hear and obey his voice. Earthly parents talk to their children all the time, so why wouldn't our heavenly Father speak to us? Human parents do not expect their children to know what to do if they don't tell them, and God feels the same way toward His children. He wants to tell us everything we need to know in life. We often want to go our own way so we can do what we want to do when we want to do it. But, when we live this way, we end up losing our way and wasting time. We need the Holy Spirit to guide us through each day of our time on Earth, and He is committed to doing so by speaking to us and telling us everything. We have a guide and a comforter in the Holy Spirit, who is with us 24-7. Just shut off our thoughts, wants, desires, & needs and listen for that still small voice....

Walls Of Destruction

People who have been hurt often build walls that they hide behind to protect themselves. It is for us to learn in life, that if we wall others out, we may very well be walling ourselves in, and we lose our freedom. We should tear down unhealthy walls and let God become our wall of protection. Isaiah 60:18 says...Violence shall no more be heard in your land, nor devastation or destruction within your borders, but you shall call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise. This brings us a wonderful promise, salvation through Jesus becomes our wall of protection. No longer living lives full of violence, devastation, and destruction. So no matter how many walls we think we are building to protect ourselves, if we do not maintain balanced emotions, all our walls are mere illusions and not walls that protect us at all.

The walls we build around us to keep sadness out also keep out the joy.
Jim Rohn

χάρις

Grace=elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action: attractiveness, charm, gracefulness, comeliness, ease, lissomeness, fluidity: a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment: favor or goodwill: manifestation of favor, especially by a superior: mercy; clemency; pardon: The word charis, often translated 'grace' is quite heavily used in the New Testament. χάρις grace is that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech good will, loving-kindness, favor of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues
what is due to grace
the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace
the token or proof of grace, benefit
a gift of grace
benefit, bounty
thanks, (for benefits, services, favors), recompense, reward

One Of My Many Testimonies!!

Wow..yes God did heal my back and just a greater testimony to you to brag on how good our God really is.....On June 13th I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy Gabriel, via c-section. Two days after I was released I was re-admitted due to a illias which is where your bowels go to sleep. My stomach looked as if I was 10 months pregnant. When the Dr came in to remove my staples my incision busted open. I was in the hospital 7 days and put on what they call a wound vac which helps the wound to heal from the inside out. After being sent home and having nursing care three days a week I got an infection. I was put into the hospital and they had to cut the infection out. This happened three more times a total of 5 surgeries including the c-section. My last surgery was in August after being in the hospital for 17 days straight. On August 9, 2011 my mother called her church to come and pray for me. At this time I had almost given up on life...just wanting to die even though I had just had a baby and had two more beautiful children at home. I didn't think I would ever be healed and according to the doctors a 38 inch wound across my abdomen would take 6-8 months to heal. The devil was vexing my soul and I was giving in to him. My mother's pastors wife and best friend prayed with me and for me, mighty women of God, who herself had experienced a life changing testimony when she and her husband were hit by a train. The peace of God reigned in that hospital room as she began to pray. Life flowed throughout my body and my soul. My spirit was rejuvenated and the depression that the devil had put on me immediately left in the mighty Name Of Jesus.... Two days later I was released from the hospital, still with a 38 inch open wound that would require daily care and a weekly Dr's visit to the wound center. My mother insisted that pictures be taken of the wound in case there were any complications. Today, I sit here writing this to you and I just want you to know what Jesus did for me. Not even 2 months to the day that I gave birth, I am completely healed!! The wound has closed from the inside out and just yesterday I was released from in home health. I no longer require the bulky bandage that covered it nor do I have any pain! I visit the doctor in two weeks and I know then that I will be released from him as well! When I look back at the pictures of what I looked like almost 2 months ago, something rises in me a deep deep burning to shout out to my God, my savior, my Father, Jehovah, God Almighty!!!  Glory to God in the Highest!! What they said would take 6-8 months has taken less than 2 for God and I know it could have taken him less time...he could have healed me in an instant just like he healed my back instantly but those 2 months I came to know him more and love him more and more. He was working on me!! He was truly healing me from the INSIDE OUT!! Glory to God!! Jesus is my Savior and I love him and with each day that passes I love him more!!
 

God Sees Inside, Do You??

Be honest in your judgement and do not decide at a glance (superficially and by appearances) but judge fairly and righteously. John 7:24 Before we judge people we must take the time to get to know who they really are. Careful not making snap judgements on anyone person. Otherwise we can approve of someone because they appear to be something, when in fact they are not; or we can disapprove of someone because of some outward appearance or action, when that individual is actually a wonderful person inside. We all ave our little quirks our odd little actions, behaviors, and ways that are not easily understood by others. God Himself does not judge by appearances and we need to follow His example. David would have never been chosen to be king if people had judged superficially. Even his own family disregarded him. But God saw David's heart, the heart of a shepherd. God saw a worshiper, someone who had a heart for Him, someone who was pliable and mold-able in His hand. These are qualities God values, but they aren't always obvious at a glance. I encourage you to seek God and let the Holy Spirit speak to you about people. He knows their hearts, and He will tell you whether to beware or pursue a relationship with them. Trust Him, not your own judgment, to lead you as you get to know people and develop relationships. Have the same attitude towards others that you would like them to have towards you!!

God's Love

No man has at any time (yet) seen God. But if we love one another, God abides (lives and remains) in us and HIS love is brought to completion (to its full maturity, run its full course, is perfected) in us! 1 John 4:12 We cannot give away what we don't have. Trying to love others is useless if we have never received God's love for ourselves. We should love ourselves in a balanced way, not a selfish, self-centered way. Love ourselves, not be in love with ourselves. To love yourself, you simply need to believe in the love God has for you, know that it is everlasting, unchangeable, and unconditional. Let his love affirm you and make you feel secure, but don't begin to think of yourself more highly than you should (Romans 12:3) Loving ourselves does not mean we love all of our behavior, it means that we love and accept the unique person God has created us to be. Loving ourselves in a balanced way is what prepares us to let love flow through us to others. Without receiving God's love for ourselves in a healthy, appropriate way we may have feelings of affection or respect for others, a humanistic type of love, but we certainly cannot love people unconditionally unless God himself inspires and provokes that love. The Holy Spirit purifies our hearts so we can allow the sincere love of God to flow through us (1 Peter 1:22) to others. This is the part of being filled with the Spirit. God wants us to express His love to others. When we think of others and how we can bless them, we keep ourselves filled with the Holy Spirit, Who is the Spirit of Love. You have something wonderful to give the world today---the love of God that is in you!!

Prayer For Others

When we pray, we both speak to God and listen to Him speak to us. We are to intercede for one another. Crying out to God on someone else's behalf, taking their needs to him in prayer, and at times hearing something from Him about their situation. Intercession is one of the most important kinds of prayer because many people do not pray for themselves of do not know how. Why? Because they have no relationship with God. There are also times when circumstances are so difficult, stress is so high, the hurt is too great, or things are so confusing that people do not know how to pray for their own situations. And, there are times when people have prayed and prayed and prayed for themselves and they simply have no strength left to pray. Who are you praying for today? Who does God want you to intercede for?