Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Chicken & The Word!

He said, Hearken, all Judah, you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you King Jehoshaphat. The Lord says this to you: Be not afraid or dismayed at this great mutlitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.
II Chronicles 20:15

God will use things you pay attention to to speak to us because we don't always listen to Him at times. He often uses my little boy to speak to me. I wanted to share this precious moment with you.

This morning I was watching Joyce Meyers and Joshua was sitting right beside me. She was teaching on not complaining but offering praise to God. She used a sandwich to show how we should pray to God. How one slice of bread is our foundation and the inside or middle, she used chicken, was what we petitioned Him with, which included Lord my back hurts and other examples. Then she put the 2nd slice of bread on and says we should return to praise after our petition.

Joshua inquires, "Momma, What is she doing?" I said she is teaching the Word of God. I continued, you know how mommy went to church and spoke to people about the Bible, that is what she is doing. He waited a moment and exclaimed ...Chicken and ...the Word??? He understood teaching the Word but didn't get the chicken part. He was trying to figure out how chicken and the Word went together.

God bless our children! I can't wait until Joshua shows me through Christ my next life lesson. I learned some things may not make sense but to God they have a purpose. We only know in part.


Monday, August 18, 2008

A Friend Loves At All Times


A FRIEND LOVES AT ALL TIMES
PROVERBS 17:17


I recently had to talk with my almost 3 yr old about loving a friend. We had been learning this in our Bible study times at home because he had learned it in church so I felt I needed to follow through at home.

He loves his cousin Olivia or Cia, as he calls her. They are 10 months apart, she being older. They had been arguing and not sharing over certain toys one night so I felt impressed to implement the Word I was teaching. I laid down with him that night and told him the Bible says a friend loves at all times. To my amazement he began weeping hard and said Cia is my best friend. I said yes she is and you are suppose to share and not fight with her. He felt so saddened by his actions and I was honestly shocked he got the revelation of the verse, but he did. Since that time he has been such a good cousin/friend to Cia. He shares and doesn't argue with her.

I think of how Jesus said come like a child and also that there is no greater love than this that a man lays down his life for his friend. Jesus was our friend and continues to be a faithful friend. He did lay His life down for us. I also think of how it says in the Word...to the least you done unto these, you have done unto Me. How we treat others is how we treat Jesus. It is amazing with that thought how we would treat people better if we had that revelation. We wouldn't ask Jesus to come into our homes with messes and sin nor would we treat Him wrong and heartless, but He is here in our lives and we do treat Him how we treat others.

I am evaluating myself and how I love others. We are commanded to love one another but I see so much of loving myself more because I can't say I would lay down my life for another or at times I think of others more than myself. I want to be of service for others and love them whole-heartedly and to love at all times.

With all these thoughts I can only think...how can we love God if we can't even love our brothers.

So many people simply need a FRIEND. Someone to walk in this journey in life with, to laugh with, mourn with and grow with.


Thank you Joshua of all your 35 months of life. You have taught me something child-like I can take throughout the rest of mine.

Lord, let us all be friends as you have called us and to think of others rather than ourselves. To reach out to the hurting, lonely and desperate for love. So many people need friends Lord. Help me to be a friend who loves at all times.

In Jesus' name. Amen!

Monday, August 4, 2008

Facing Myself!

So to be honest, I failed in character and as a servant of the Most High. There was a situation which deeply hurt my mom; and as well, very much will affect my dad (which are divorced). I got too emotionally upset about things that happened and became protective of them, knowing someone's wrong intentions to misuse them. I have Someone better and more equipped to handle all of life's situations. I forgot that. To be honest I had a lot of things surface that I didn't even know existed. I feel I missed out on having a relationship with my father and my children knowing their grandfather but I come to realize not only had I lost that hope but I lost compassion that my father, even so an alcoholic most of my life, has lost more than I. I was selfish in feeling I lost something treasurable because he is in my life, just not very much. I have him nevertheless. So if anyone out there has ever gone through something like this know. God loves you and is your Heavenly Father forever and He wants a close relationship with us all.

I gave it to the Cross last night, literally! I thumb tacked it right on there at church and had me an encounter with God and I am trusting God. I did repent to the Lord for my actions this weekend but best of all He told me He loves me and is here for me. Who can compare to that?

To my dad who will never read this. You have a heart of gold, a real treasure. Unfortunately many don't ever get to see that. I have. I am sorry you are in bondage to this addiction that has robbed you of the love, blessings and relationships here on earth. I know you had a hard life with Vietnam and how it haunts you. I wish I could make it all better for you but only God can....and Dad I give you to GOD, our Father. I love you.

John 1:12 - But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe on His name.


THE PRAYING HANDS


The "Praying Hands" are much, much more than just a work of art, They are the "soul's creations" of a deeply thankful heart.

They are a Priceless Masterpiece that love alone could paint, And they reveal the selflessness of an unheralded saint

These hands so scarred and toilworn, tell the story of a man Who sacrificed his talent in accordance with God's Plan.

For in God's Plan are many things man cannot understand, But we must trust God's judgement and be guided by His Hand -

Sometime He asks us to give up our dreams of happiness, Sometimes we must forego our hopes of fortune and success -

Not all of us can triumph or rise to heights of fame, And many times What Should Be Ours, goes to another Name -

But he who makes a sacrifice, so another may succeed, Is indeed a true disciple of our blessed Saviour's creed -

For when we "give ourselves away" in sacrifice and love, We are "laying up rich treasures" in God's kingdom up above -

And hidden in gnarled, toilworn hands in the truest Art of Living, Achieved alone by those who've learned the "Victory of Giving"

For any sacrifice on earth, made in the dear Lord's name Assures the giver of a place in Heaven's Hall of Fame.

And who can say with certainty Where the Greatest Talent Lies, Or Who Will Be the Greatest In Our Heavenly Father's Eyes!

~Helen Steiner Rice