WHEN IS CHRISTMAS OVER?

Today I heard on the radio the discussion about taking down the Christmas tree and Christmas lights.  How long do you leave yours up?  It dawned on me that is what happens to Jesus and His birth as well.  When the tree and the lights come down, so does He!  It seems to be back to normal.  Christmas is over.  It's another day.  We just celebrated the birth of the Christ Child and today we are putting it behind and  planning New Year!

I have a beautiful and precious great grandbaby, Piper,  that was born 9 months ago.  On the day she was born, we celebrated.  Family was all together, gifts were given and everyone was focused on this little baby born to us!  You know what?  The next day we were still celebrating; she was still receiving gifts; everyone was still excited about seeing her and holding her and loving her.  Almost every day since her birth acts of love are being extended; she has been receiving gifts and pictures are being made and shared on Facebook; and she is visited often.  Even her Pops that lives 3 hours away did not leave the hospital and go back home and not celebrate her birth any more.  No, he has daily talked about her and shared pictures of her and stays in touch.

I don't think we are as excited about the birth of Jesus, the Son of God.  The baby born to redeem the world from sin that separates us from our Creator God.  The greatest birth ever in the history of the world seems to get boxed up with the ornaments and Christmas decorations and left until next year!  I hope this makes you feel as sad as it does me.  Actually, I am a little short of being angry.

Because I am excited about this Baby that changed the world, I plan to continue to celebrate Him with as much excitement and enthusiasm as I do this precious special little girl He has given to our family.  I plan to keep giving Him the gifts He loves - spending time with Him daily; reading His Book; loving others; feed the hungry; give drink to the thirsty; care for the orphans and widows; visit the imprisoned and sick; be a witness wherever I go telling what I know about Him; gather often with other Believers to worship and praise Him!

I am praying that The Lord will impress others to continue the celebration of JESUS CHRIST EMMANUEL!  Some say GOD is Dead.  PLEASE don't say He's your Saviour and live like He is dead!  HE IS ALIVE and He ought to be obvious in the lives of those who claim His Name and Salvation...Let's celebrate and cause the world to want to join us! You might start getting excited by singing along with these children:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf90f0Lz0_o

"I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD"

In my Daily Delight today I saw some marvelous things I hadn’t noticed before and I am encouraged and excited.

Before going to the cross Jesus tried to prepare His disciples, but they didn’t believe Him.  He told them they would scatter and leave Him alone, but He wouldn’t be alone because The Father is with Him.  He said:  “These things I have told you so that you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Jesus said He was not alone, The Father is with Him!  He also told His disciples that He would send them the Holy Spirit; and later He said The Father would send them the Holy Spirit.  This would be the same Holy Spirit of God The Father that Jesus had, that we too now have…if we are Born Again Believers.  That makes me want to shout!  Jesus said:  “I will never leave you nor forsake you…” (Hebrews 13:5)

He also said that in the world we would have tribulation.  I see that as battles; battles in every area of our lives.  We battle for our bodies to produce health.  We battle for our minds to have good thoughts; to focus rightly; to be wise .  We battle for our heart and emotions to be stable, virtuous and moral.  We battle for our spiritual life to produce holiness; to demonstrate the Spirit and power of God within us.

We battle and struggle for peace.  Jesus said to cheer up because He had overcome the world!  Remember He said:  “I will never leave you nor forsake you so that you can say, The Lord is my Helper and I will not fear what man may do to me.”  He has overcome the world.  We don’t need to fight our battles alone…The Overcomer is with us…believe it!

Lord, thank You for I don’t have to stand alone in life’s battles.  You are with me and I am part of Your Powerful Body – the Church - The Army of God!  Help us to keep Your orders and be battle ready daily –physical, uniform & weapon (body, soul & spirit).  Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world!

IT IS TIME!

It is time for the church of God to receive the power of The Holy Spirit of God and in the authority of Jesus Christ to go forth and proclaim The Word of God.  It is time to prepare our minds for action!  It is time to gather together in one body to pray to JESUS CHRIST, THE HEAD OF HIS BODY to be instructed on how to work together WITH HIM to know and do HIS will and plans…experientially, POWERFULLY!

We need healthy bodies to be available and able to GO whenever and wherever HE has us scheduled!  TODAY…EVERY DAY is recorded in HIS BOOK OF LIFE.  We don’t know those plans….ONLY HE knows!  We must gather together as one IN HIS SPIRIT to seek His plans for THIS day.

The body…and THE BODY need to be fueled for power!  We NEED healthy organic food for the body and we NEED a healthy empowering, renewing of our minds with The Word of God for HIS BODY.  Jesus said:  “My food is to do the will of My Father.”

The blood is the life source of the human body.  The Blood of Jesus Christ is the life source of the born again child of God.  The heart pumps the blood to flow throughout the body.  The Heart of God is The Word of God that pumps the Spirit of God to flow His Life into all Believers.

GOD HAS MADE HEALTHY ORGANIC FOODS AVAILABLE TO HIS BODY HERE IN NASHVILLE so that we can fuel our bodies for function IN HIS BODY.  We NEED EACH OTHER to accomplish ALL that JESUS CHRIST has said we are to do until He comes back for His Bride.  We are His Bride…all who believe in Him and have received His Spirit!  WE MUST COME TOGETHER AND FUNCTION AS A BODY UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE MIND OF CHRIST!!!

IT IS TIME…NOW!  TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION!  TODAY IS THE ONLY TIME WE HAVE!  WE CAN’T GO WITH GOD AND STAY WHERE WE ARE!

Lord, draw us together, unite us in Your Holy Spirit with Your Word and show us what we need to see and believe to be the prepared laborers; ready and eager to join with You where You are already working…HERE where we are!  Lord, I hear you knocking and I am opening the door, please come in and let us dine together.  I pray that this will both intimate and corporate with Your whole Body here in Nashville – because that is where we are!  Amen.

JESUS SAID:

Come unto Me.

Come and see…

Come, follow Me.

Come and Dine - with Jesus…”if anyone will open the door, I WILL come in and dine with you.”

Come, arise.  

Come, let us be going.

YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN!

“Do you not know…you are not your own…therefore, honor God with your body.”

(I Corinthians 6:19-20)

This was my Word from The Lord this morning during our time together.  The whole Scripture I posted earlier and I posted on the first day, Monday.  Today the above parts of the verse hit home to me.  I actually shared this same verse on Wednesday night at church with emphasis on the part that “you are not your own.”  We don’t have the right to decide on what we want to eat; or what we want to do; or where we want to go; or who we want to interact with!  IF we are born again of The Spirit and He is dwelling within us, we ARE changed – the old me is passed away and a new me now lives in my flesh.  Galations 2:20 says:  “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”

Some of us know this intellectually and believe it in theory.  The reason I say that is because we don’t know it experientially and believe it because it is a reality in our life, and there is evidence of a changed person who resembles Jesus in character.

The hardest thing to do in this life is to surrender my will; my right to myself.  As I have read, studied and taught God’s Word for the past 30 years, I have committed my total life to God as much as I know how.  I have done this at least three times, each time believing it was done.  I have sincerely desired, begged and pleaded with The Lord to make it complete; to make me truly a new creation.  I believed His Word said it was His desire, and if it was His desire and my desire how come it didn’t seem to be a Reality to me?  My conclusion as of today is this:  FAITH has many dimensions of forsaking all!  Try to follow me for a moment as I have tried to sort this out…My faith as a 14 year old when I first learned that death was not final; the end to life, that there is a Heaven and a Hell and we will live after death in one of those places.  I learned that my relationship with God was the determining course and it was paved by Jesus and His shed blood that paid for the sin of the world that separated us from God.  With as much faith as I had at that moment, I gave my life to God believing all that I had learned. 

That faith as a 14 year old developed over the next 20 years as God introduced people into my life who taught me the disciplines of being a Child of God.  I believed my faith was strong enough that I could overcome any encounter with the evil world.  I was wrong!  I wasn’t prepared and my faith was not enough because evil spirits didn’t come with an obvious attack; they came slowly, subtly, infiltrating under the guise of good and loving, taking on the form of Godliness.  I believed it was God bringing into my life more than I ever imagined could be possible.  Then GOD,  to whom I belonged caused my disguised world to come crashing down and revealed the truth!  I couldn’t believe I had fallen for the lies and deception.  I hated myself for failing God and I hated the demonic world for having penetrated my faith.  I fell on my face to the floor and wept uncontrollably seeking God to forgive me and cleanse me and make me my best me for Him that it is possible for me! 

My faith took on a new and different dimension.  The Jesus I had learned about from reading The Bible and going to church and Bible Study groups; that I believed died for the sin of the world and gave eternal life to those who believed; I saw very differently.  I now knew that He didn’t just die for the sin of the world, but that He died for MY sins!  Now I believed in Him because He had become my Lord and we had a personal loving relationship.  Real Love that I never thought existed but in fantasies.  My new relationship with God opened up a whole new world of getting to know Him.  He began to teach me deeper meaning to the basic introduction to being a Christian.  He now started teaching me what it was like to be His Disciple and “present my body as a living sacrifice…not to be conformed to the world, but to be transformed by the renewing of my mind that I may prove what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.”  (Romans 12:1-2) To reinforce my training, He gave me a group of young people to teach what I was learning about how to be a Disciple of Christ and to have a total life commitment.

My faith was now different than at salvation and after falling from grace.  A whole new realization of God and my relationship to Him developed as I discovered my spiritual gift of teaching and He privileged me to teach youth, adults, and leaders in many places.  For 20 years I taught His Word a chapter a week in my Sunday School class and challenged myself and those in my class to make His Word a living part of our lives. 

Two years also The Lord impressed upon me that we needed to focus our attention on the Reality of His death, resurrection and ascension; and His instructions about what His disciples were to do after He left and until He returned.  We started with studying the book of Matthew where He gave what we call The Great Commission and telling us “He had all power and He would be with His disciples always, and to go and teach all nations the things He has commanded.” (paraphrased Matthew 28:18-20); and then beginning in Acts, He told His disciples to “go into Jerusalem and wait until the Promise of The Father would be given.  He said they would receive power after the Holy Spirit came upon them and would be witnesses unto Him from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.”  (Acts 1:4-8)  The rest of Acts tells what happened when The Holy Spirit came upon those disciples and how The Church was formed of all Believers in Jesus Christ.  Then we studied the Letter to the Ephesians that thoroughly tells us as Believers how to live and the marvelous blessings we have.  We finished our study in 1 & 2 Peter where he tells us “we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people that should show forth the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.”  I Peter 2:9)

As a result of this study, I personally wanted to experience the indwelling Holy Spirit and the power to fulfill all that Jesus gave us to do until He comes back for us.  I knew the facts, and I believed them, but I wasn’t living them the powerful way that the early disciples did.  My church is not functioning like the early church.  I challenged myself and my class that we seek The Lord about experiencing what the early church did that day in Jerusalem on Pentecost when they received the power of God in the form of The Holy Spirit.  Their lives were changed totally and completely in that moment and they never went back to who they were before. 

I’ve been seeking the Reality of this Power, and today the Holy Spirit reminded me that “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought with a price.  Therefore honor God with your body.”  Do you not know?  You are not your own!  Honor God with your body! 

Hello!  You don’t have the right to do your own thing!  Jesus bought you!  The Holy Spirit and Power of God lives in you!  So, why isn’t He obvious?  Stretch your faith and your will and let Him have residence in your WHOLE body and life.  He won’t make you.  You must give Him your life as an offering, putting to death your rights.  He then WILL change you never to be the same again.  You WILL be a witness unto Him wherever you go; as you go about wherever you are, you WILL tell others what you have learned about Him.  You WILL deny self, take up your cross and follow Him under the power of His Spirit that lives in you!!!  You WILL ask Him what He wants in His body to eat and drink; you WILL ask Him what He wants His body to wear to give Him honor; you WILL ask Him where He wants to go each day, and what He wants to do through you; you WILL honor Him in all situations and give Him your very best for His glory!! Amen…

So, with as much faith as I have right now, in this place, with as much of God as I know, I give Him the life He purchased with His blood to make me Holy as He is Holy!

Lord of my life, search me and see if there is anything in me that is unclean and unholy; and cleanse me and make your temple as magnificent as you desire.  I ask that your mind be my mind; that your heart be my heart; that every manifestation of who you are be a Reality in my life; that we would be One, and You only seen.  I don’t know what I ask, but whatever it takes for my will to break that’s what I’m willing to do.  I want to be about doing what You said your followers should be doing in the power of Your Holy Spirit so that I can be found blameless at your coming. Amen.

BUILDING UP FAITH

“Building up yourselves on your most holy faith…”

Jude 20

     Our pastor has challenged us, the church body, to fast and pray one day a week.  He gave many reasons for fasting and praying and any of them will be profitable.  The main reason should always be to seek God’s will.

PRAYER & FASTING

Double Concentration on JESUS!

   

      This morning during my quiet time with The Lord, the above scripture was my devotional and as I meditated on it and prayed, I knew this was what He wanted me to use for this new Fast.  I already fast one day a week, but I will do it with a special emphasis for the needs of our church as well as building on my holy faith and personal relationship with my Holy God.  So, I thought I would write down my impressions of what I got from my study and praying this morning.

     Many years ago I was given an acrostic for FAITH and it has always fit so well in understanding and practicing it.  I was brought back to seeing this as the building process expressed in Jude 20.  I would recommend reading all of Jude for the background because Jude, the brother of James, and both are half brothers of Jesus, presents a pretty good scenario of where the church is today.  We have allowed many ungodly teachers and leaders to infiltrate with subtle approval of immoral, covetous, proud and divisive ideas.  He encourages the church to remember the foundation of their holy faith and to build on the truth given at salvation.  Holy Faith – Faith in a Holy God!

Forsaking

All
I
Trust
Him

    

     Let’s see if these stones of truth won’t help us to build up our faith in God.  Faith is what we believe.  What we believe is evidenced by what is most important in my life.  Our faith is awakened when God reveals Himself to us by His Love and His Word telling the good news that we have been freed from the penalty of sin because He has paid our debt for us.  From there our faith has to be disciplined and perfected.  It is a lifetime of learning to forsake and trust in the One who created us; redeemed us and purposed us uniquely to live like His Son.  His Spirit comes to live within us empowering us to share the Good News we know to those who haven’t heard it yet!

Forsaking – (Philippians 3, 2 Corinthians 10:4-6)  Get rid of that which is not of God; and burn your bridges behind you so that there is nothing but total commitment to God!  You cannot serve two masters.  You cannot go in two directions at the same time.

All – Everything and everyone that would take your focus and devotion off God!  Every thought, affection, appetite, and possession that does not give God glory and please Him!  This is probably the second hardest thing we ever have to do in building our faith.

I – All of Me! My complete will; body, soul(heart) and spirit(mind)!  This is probably the hardest thing we ever have to do – give up the right of myself to God to do as He chooses and has planned.

Trust – The confidence that I can release my life into the care and destiny of my existence to another!  Letting go of all the above and believing that it will be worth it all  and that GOD is going to be holding me in His Heart and Hands with a better plan and life!

HIM – GOD the Father, Son and Holy Spirit;  making Him Lord and sole possessor of my life; believing that He is EVERYTHING He says He is and that He can make me just like Him!

Abraham is a great example of a lifetime of building up our most holy faith.  Here’s an outline of his life of faith.  ABRAHAM:  Genesis 12~25

1.  The awaking of Faith (he was 75 at calling) (5 years)  
      Chapters 12-13

2.  The disciplining of Faith  (25 years)

     Chapters 14~21

3.  The perfecting of Faith (70 years)

     Chapters 21:22 ~ 25  (from Isaac to death)

     He was 175 years old at death!

"Unquestioned faith brings unquestioned obedience.”

GOD'S CHOSEN FAST

“Is this not the fast which I chose…”

Isaiah 58:6a

     Many years ago the Lord introduced me to fasting by bringing a book to me entitled God’s Chosen Fast.  It had been given to my mother-in-law by someone who thought it was about another means for dieting.  She wasn’t interested in it and gave it to me because she thought I might be interested.  I put it on the shelf with other “diet” books and it remained there for some 7 years.  It traveled from Miami, Florida to Tennessee and then to Nashville, Georgia.  I put it back on the shelf, as previously, among my dieting books.  One day in 1984 a strange thing happened as I was working in the kitchen and passing the bookshelf area.  This book falls off the shelf!  I thought it really weird that it could fall from between other books snuggly fit together; but I picked it up and put it back in place.  Later I passed the bookshelf on my way outside and the book was once again fallen on the floor.  Thinking that I imagined I put it up and that it could NOT have fallen out again, I returned it once more.  The next day as I came in the house from outside, I stopped in my tracks…the book was lying on the floor!  Now, it had my attention and as I picked it I looked at the title I decided that I needed to read this book. 

     To my amazement this was not about dieting at all but about seeking God to know Him and His will.  It was based on Isaiah 58.  I read and became engrossed in the truths I read.  My heart was moved to enter this experience of God’s Presence and to follow the example of Daniel’s  21-Day Fast.

     For 21 days I ate no food and drank only water; I spent exclusive time studying Scripture and praying; I recorded everything in a journal and prayer notebook.  Conclusion:  I experienced a supernatural journey into a dimension of spirituality I never dreamed possible.  This kind of thing only happened in someone’s imagination in a movie or book!  I might add that it is something you can only express with limited words; it is something that must be experienced.

     Perhaps one day I will share more.  I share this to give credibility to my knowledge of fasting.  After that first Fast unto The Lord, I began an annual two-week fast starting on Sunday two weeks before Easter, and ending on Easter Sunday.  A number of those Easter Sundays, I broke fast with partaking of The Lord’s Supper.  It took on a totally difference significance for me.

     There is some preparation that must take place before beginning a Fast of any kind.  There must be a thorough understanding of what it involves.  It is a venture into the spiritual domain that includes more than The Holy Spirit of God and His angels.  It also makes one open for intrusion by other spirits that have the purpose of deceiving, disguising, distracting and destroying everything about God.  You must be made aware of this to know how to recognize and discern the difference.  It is more fearful to go into the unknown with God than it is to fear His opponents!  Reading Ephesians chapter 6 is a good place to begin preparation.

     Preparation must begin with examining our relationship with God.  IF we are not born again of The Spirit into The Kingdom of God becoming a Child of God, we will not be able to discern the spirits and know the truth.  ONLY GOD IS TRUTH and can reveal it to us!  To all who believe and receive Jesus He gives the right to become children of God.   See John chapters 1 & 3. 

     FASTING is not just abstaining from food, it is withdrawing and removing all obstacles, hindrances and distractions; removing all food temptations; and making a time and place for quiet and seclusion.  This needs to be done mentally and physically, if possible.  Resist the temptation to cater to the natural and the “what ifs.”  (Psalm 46:10; James 4:7)

    Final preparation is to draw near to God ~ mentally, emotionally, physically, socially and spiritually.  Set your focus; “Prepare your minds…”  (James 4:8; I Peter 1:13; Romans 12:1-2) 

     IF you have to work or keep certain appointments, keep your heart and mind focused on The Presence of The Lord with you…being in the world, but not of the world.  (John 15:19; John 17:16)

     DRINK WATER, LOTS OF WATER!  If you feel hunger, drink some water.  If you get a headache, drink some water.  If your back aches, drink some water.  You will be amazed at how it does sustain you in more ways than you thought!

Keep a Fasting and Prayer Journal writing down the things you say to God…and the things He says to you.  Remember He will always speak by His Holy Spirit, through the Bible, in prayer, circumstances, and the church.   The Bible is called The Word of God because it is The Word of God!

Pray and ask The Lord if He wants you to encounter Him in this way of fasting and then ask Him how He wants you to do it.

GOOD…BETTER…BEST!

September 11, 2013 around midnight!
Good...Better...Best
Never let it rest, until the Good is Better, and the Better is the Best!

I've spent a lot of my life doing good…being good.  Good is not enough! 

In 1979 I prayed with a sold out conviction that I wanted to be the best me for God that I could be.  I thought it was an admirable desire and that God would be so pleased that He would just zap me into a wonderful person who demonstrated His goodness.  To my amazement, He did quite the opposite.  He began removing everything in my life that wasn't my best for Him.  I lost just about everything!  It was very painful, but I have never changed my mind. 

It is now 34 years later…there have been many opportunities for me to give God my best.  I thought I had most of the time.  However, several years ago a marvelous movie came out that has been a visual aid in convicting, instructing and demonstrating what it really means to give God your best. In Facing the Giants it was demonstrated that giving your best is when you can give no more!  I realized I had never given God my best…until I could give no more! 

What I have experienced, and was content with, is God having given me His best for me to glorify Him.  He has made me a monument of His amazing Grace.  He has overwhelmed me with His unconditional Love.  He has manifested His Spirit and demonstrated His Presence in my life beyond expression.  He has done more than what I asked…but I am not my best for Him…I am better, but I fall short from having given my all!

Tonight I became convicted about my best in a fresh exasperating way as I recalled who I am as a born again Child of God.  This is what God says I am:

(I Cor. 6:19-20)You are not your own.  You were bought with a price.  You are the temple of God.  You are the dwelling place of The Spirit of God.  (Acts 1:8) I am empowered with His Spirit.  (Rom. 8:37-39) I am more than a conqueror.  (I John 4:4)  Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world.  (Hebrews 12:1-2) He is with me always and I have no fear; He is my Helper and (Philippians 4:13) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

The temple building no longer exists because The Spirit of God now dwells in the lives of all who belong to God.  What kind of temple have I built for Him to dwell in?  Have I given Him my best…my very best?  God required the best for the making of the Tabernacle and the Temple.  He supplied everything that was needed.  The place where God dwells is to be holy, set apart for Him…only for Him.  Nothing unclean or with unconfessed sin can enter.

I am stricken with shame as I examine the dwelling place I have given The Spirit of God to dwell in.  It is not the best I can give!  He has supplied me with everything I need to be healthy and physically in shape and I have not given the blessings back to Him by presenting unto Him a purified holy place to live.  He has given me health coaches to teach and instruct me His way.  He has made healthy organic foods available at affordable prices.  He has provided me an excellent treadmill so that I can exercise any time.  He has provided my physical body with continual healing from disease, accidents and food addictions.  He warned that if we destroy His body He will destroy us!
(1 Corinthians 3:17)

I do not begin in fear, but in delight, to give my very best to present to my Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus a body that He will be pleased to dwell in and be glorified.

As I get my body healthy, cleansed and in shape for His Glory, I commit to extending that practice into helping The Body of Christ that I am a part of to get healthy for His Glory also, just as He has said.

Now, I must prepare my mind for action… (I Peter 1:13) ~Betty

WALKING BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT!

“Walking by faith…not by sight!”  2 Corinthians 5:7

If I ever did, I never will again take my eyesight for granted!  I am typing this in Microsoft Word in a very large font so that I can see it even blurry!  I cannot read what is written on fb and I thank my super adult grand children (Whitney, Jay & Amy) for taking care of me since Sunday with my second eye surgery.

Both eye surgeries have gone very well according to the surgeon.  I have a very different “view” ~ a very blurry one!  I will not be able to get some reading glasses until tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon.  However, I feel so useless and handicapped and totally out of contact.  I know that my kids have tried to keep a word on fb and I thank them.

I am most thankful that I can type without seeing the keyboard, but it’s tough not knowing if I’m spelling correctly.  Enough said!  I want to praise the Lord for His “always with me” Presence.  He loves me beyond my expression or even understanding…but I praise Him for proving He is all that He says He is in His Word, The Bible.

The second eye has been very different than the first.  This one has had some discomfort with hurting; and it has bled.  This has played with my fuzzy mind and I have wondered if I truly was going to be better after all this surgery.  Well, I do see very well without glasses for distance.  But now, I will have to wear glasses to read.  This is totally opposite of my eye condition before.  I will adjust.  The pressure in my right eye is not recovered yet and I have to go back to the eye doctor tomorrow to have it checked.

An interesting thing happened while the assistant was checking my eyes and preparing me for the doctor  to check.  I was telling her about my question of the eye being so sore and the bleeding and not being able to see; and all of a sudden I just fell apart and started crying.  She was so sweet to comfort me and assure me that I was fine and my eyes were great!  Then my heart exploded with the truth being suppressed that I didn’t know was brewing there.  We learned early this morning that our Uganda love, Florence was denied a visa to come to America to be with our family – actually my son, Tim and his family.  She had received a visa and then had it taken back when she applied for a passport and then told she had to have another appointment with the Ugandan Embassy, which was today and they denied it because of something to do with her father’s death.  Florence has been in the orphanage most of her life.  She just turned 15 in May.  There are, of course, lots of factors we don’t know about and some we can’t share, but we are all disappointed at this point.  We do know that God is greater than the Ugandan government and He will do what is best…in HIS own way; at HIS timing…and EVERYONE will know He is God and His plans are reality.  We will pray for Him to help our unbelief and help us to trust Him and praise Him for what He is going to do.

The amazing part of this little story is that they took my blood pressure after I calmed down and it was the lowest it has been in over a week!  It was 124/74!  It has peaked at as much as 154/108!  I guess I just needed to have a good cleansing cry.  In addition, there was the wonderful atmosphere of a young lady named Linda that felt my heart and hugged me and supplied me with lots of Kleenex and told me that Dr. Eanes would pray for me.  Are you realizing I am in an office?  Would this be a normal reaction for my situation?  I don’t think so because I have experience the professional way and I can say this was much more comforting and satisfying, and obviously effective physically, too.  God provided me with His Body to come to my aid. Dr. Eanes also gave me some very encouraging words about Florence and trusting God is in control and has a plan.  He is a missionary eye surgeon who just returned from a trip to Africa, I think.

Also, yesterday my grandson(in law) Jay took me for my surgery and while they were getting me ready, he went to the main surgery building to try and see a friend of his who was having surgery also.  I asked the nurse if he couldn’t get back before I go in for surgery if someone could pray for me.  I know that my prayers are sufficient, but it’s nice for someone else to add to them.  She said:  “Well we don’t have a chaplain on duty but any of us would!”  Did you hear that?  I have been surrounded by God’s Love and Presence every minute, there is no reason to fear!  I thank Him for keeping me reminded in such loving ways.

By the way, He is with you, too if you belong to Him.  Just look around and see if He isn’t there loving you!

Because I am tired from trying to read and straining my eyes, I am going to lie down and rest and have a delightful time talking with my Lord and praising Him in all our situations.  Why?  Because He alone is worthy to be praised; He alone is the Answer; He alone is Life, now and forevermore! ~Betty *smiling :) 

PRAYER IS PERFECT & COMPLETE ONENESS WITH GOD

Prayer is asking in His (Jesus) Name

John 16:26 ~ “At that day you shall ask in My name.”

“At that day”

     –   The day the Spirit of God comes to dwell within us and makes us One with   

          God.

-      The day we become so intimate with God that Jesus’ life of prayer is our life of prayer 

“in My name”

-      This is an expression of intimacy; it is not a password!

-      Because we are identified with Jesus in His death and resurrection

-      Because we are born again in His Spirit

Prayer between a Child of God and The Father

Luke 2:49 ~ Jesus said:  “Did you not know that I must be in My Father’s House?”

“in My Father’s House”

-       A Child of God must be living in The Father’s House

-      Relate to the natural child

NATURAL CHILD                                CHILD OF GOD

House/Home                                         Temple/Church ~ houses God’s Spirit

A house is not a home without                They are only buildings without God’s

   a family!                                                Presence!

   Parents-Siblings-Grandparents          Temple was God’s Presence in the OT

   Aunts-Uncles-Cousins                        The Church in NT-The Body of Christ

Role of Family ~ to teach and help             Today it is a building & a body with

   child to grow up; to know one                   the Presence of Spirit of God

   another.                                            Parents of Child of God:

                                                                 God’s Word & The Holy Spirit

                                                           Family of God: All Children of God
                                                           Role of Family-to know God intimately
                                                                -to learn how to be Children of God
                                                                -to know and do His purpose

Prayer is to honor God

Luke 1:35 ~ “That holy one which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God.”

“the holy one”

    – The Son of God born of flesh

“born of you”

    -To be born again is bearing in our body the Son of God!

    - He is in us, for us to make Him known by praise and honor; glorifying Him

        by demonstrating His Presence ~ “being about my Father’s business.”  

    - He is with me!  But, am I with Him?

His Purpose in us:  To finish His work.  He came to redeem the world from sin! 

We are to tell the world He has done it…and tell it until He comes back!

Prayer ~ Knowing God Hears

John 11:41 ~ “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.”

“Father”

    It is an expression of relationship – not a password!  God must be our Father by being born into His Family by His Spirit to those who believe and receive Him!

“thank You”

    Honoring and praising God for being Father.  (John 1:12)

“You have heard me”

    God always hears the prayers of His Son  (Jeremiah 33:3)

    If the Son of God is formed in us:

       -The Father will always hear our prayers, too.

       - Our prayers will be prayers Jesus would pray.

Are we praying in His Spirit (in His Name) to our Father?

A good child asking for good things that will glorify our Father and Lord.

Make it real in me, Lord ~

Your Holy innocence and simplicity and Oneness

with the Father being manifested in me. 

Help me to be a real Child of God, just like You

who delights in being in constant contact with The Father. 

Have Your way in me and complete me in Your Spirit.

Cleanse me from the defilement of distance from You.

May You be obvious for Your glory!

WHAT IS MY OFFERING?

Matthew 5:23-24 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you.  Leave your gift there in front of the altar.  First, go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”

When I come before the altar of God in prayer what do I bring as an offering?  Do I bring Him my best? Or, do I only bring Him my mess?  As I look at my offerings, I see that I am in debt to my Lord.  I bring Him little praise and adoration, and lots of complaints and whines!  Those times that were real and sacrificial were the most acceptable!

As a child, I gave my joy of life in song, dance and drama solely unto Him as my audience.

He was pleased.

As a teen, I gave Him my innocence and purity devotedly.

He was pleased.

As an adult, I put away childish things and began to see the world I was in and the fantasies it held.  My time at the altar became a duty of church attendance once a week!  Others were in my life that didn’t know or relate to the God I knew and loved…and they brought compromise.

I broke His heart.

As a prodigal child, I remembered the days when He was my God…and I came back offering myself as a servant; repenting of my idolatry and desiring to be my best for Him again.

He was pleased again.

For many years I gave Him my service and worked hard striving to gain His favor…striving to attain my best for Him.  I became…self-righteous.

He was patient.

In the year 1989, my test of faith began.  It was the hardest test of my life.  I had to do it on my own…I felt deserted and rejected and so alone that I doubted and questioned the reason for this.  I knew it was a test like Peter’s, but I knew what Peter didn’t – I knew why Jesus appeared like one he didn’t know – he didn’t know Him as Savior.  I did!  And, I knew He promised to be with me always – I could do anything with Him!  But, I found myself horrifyingly alone - for the first time in my life…He wasn’t there!  I felt like I imagined Jesus on the cross when He said:  “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?”

The difference?  He was God and He had to be separated because of the SIN that He was paying the price for…for the whole world.  He was suppose to do that and die and be raised from the dead and would be with The Father again.  I knew that intellectually and believed it – but I was in the here and now AFTER that…and why did I feel forsaken when He had promised not to leave me?

I found myself being consumed by darkness and falling as in slow motion down a shaft in the center of the earth.  When I reached the bottom I was crying out those same words that seemed so appropriate:  “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?”

As I slumbered there, motionless with exhaustion from crying, I tried reasoning and searching my mind for something – anything, that could explain.  I began to cry out in great desperation at the thought of being so alone – more than alone – completely deserted and betrayed by the One I had given my ALL to.  Why would He do this?  Why would He allow this?  What kind of test was this?  It was unfair!

Lying on the bottom of doom, I sorted the facts as I could see them and came to the conclusion that it must have ALL been an illusion.  God must have been just a huge fictitious figment of my imagination!  But, if there is NO GOD – what is there?  I know there is a devil for he has been too real.  So, what do I believe?

Conclusion – I’d rather believe there is a God and risk being wrong, than to believe there is no God and risk being wrong!  It’s a matter of gaining ALL or losing ALL.  With that grain of faith (I remembered He said that’s all it takes) I began to come to my senses.  In utter shame, I stretched out face down and begged God to become real to me again and show me His love that I longed for more than anything.

I began to rise from my darkness and awoke driving my car and feeling a sense of some unknown mystery on the horizon.  At this thought, a pre-historic grasshopper appeared on my windshield…and the rest has been told…

So much to be learned from the test I passed – The Test of Faith.  Was I ever alone?  Did He desert me?  Jesus said to Peter – and to me:  “I have prayed that you won’t lose faith.  When you turn again – help your brothers.”

He was there!

In the year 2005 was the beginning of a new life – The Maker’s (life) Diet, a life commitment and a mission:  The Lord spoke to me; “Get your body healthy…and then My Body healthy!”

He spoke new words.

July 4, 2009 was my Birthday Celebration of Praise to my God.  I was 65 years old naturally, 50 years old spiritually and it had been 30 years since making a life commitment to give God my best for Him.  It was my very best unto Him and Him alone!

He was very pleased!

Today, April 27, 2013 my offering and delight is only to be diligent in pleasing Him by giving my very best and being a witness unto Him until He returns for His Bride to take us Home!

Maranatha!

FOR THE TIME IS COME THAT JUDGMENT MUST BEGIN AT THE HOUSE OF GOD

(1 Peter 4:17)

House of God:  Temple - Dwelling place of God and those who minister there

The Church - People of God/Believers in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord

body - Physical temple of Holy Spirit; of every Believer in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord

The time is come...NOW!

Jesus is our Example:

John 4:34 ~ My food is to do the Father’s will and finish His work!

John 5:19 ~ The Son only does what The Father says…and is doing.

John 6:26-71 ~ Labor only for that which counts for Eternity that comes by Jesus Christ.

John 8:12-47 ~ Walking in darkness and judging and walking in Jesus.

John 15 ~ The Vine and His Branches and bearing fruit.

To be His disciple:  “Deny self; take up your cross daily and follow Me.” Luke 9:23

Take up your cross daily – What was the cross to Jesus?  Answer: His created purpose

Our cross is the plan God has laid out for each of us.

Hebrews 12:1-2  Run with endurance the race that is set before you, 

                                          unto Jesus...

Believers,

I Peter 3:15 - Give an account of the hope within you (know why you believe what you believe)

Matt.12:25-37 ~ Every kingdom, city, house divided cannot stand

Romans 14:12 ~ Everyone shall give an account to God!

Hebrews 4:12-16 ~ The power of the Word of God…seeing rightly & bold access to God!

Judgment is at the door!  Repentance is our salvation!   NOW is the time!  Surely The Father is holding off from sending Jesus giving us another opportunity to do the work He has empowered and commissioned us to do. 

Open our eyes, Lord: to see our sins that have shut You out; to see our need for repentance and turn back to You, individually and corporately;  to see we need each other to be Your Body and come together with purpose to seek You, our Head; help our unbelief and transform us as we feast on Your Word and release Your Spirit to do Your will and finish Your work so that we will be ready for Jesus’ soon return. ~Betty

Come unto Me…I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.

As the Father has sent Me, so have I sent You.

I will never leave you, nor forsake you, so that you can say I am your Helper…

Do not fear what man may do unto you.

You have My power and My love…give it freely in my Name for The Father’s glory!

~Jesus

5/12/10 (Updated 6/6/13)

AFTER RESURRECTION SUNDAY ~ WHAT?

On Monday, the day after the Resurrection, I wondered what were the disciples doing?  What do we do the Monday after Easter? Tuesday through Saturday, what were the disciples doing?  What have we been doing? 

I think that Scripture tells us the disciples were afraid and unsure of what to do and were hiding out in an upper room waiting for the unknown to happen.  I think they were also sharing what they had just experienced about seeing Jesus alive and wondering what He would do next and when they would see Him again.  (Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25)

I am wondering with concern why we are so satisfied with the way that we acknowledge and celebrate the most important event in the history of creation.  The day after Easter seems to be back to business as usual!  Why aren’t we still excited and celebrating the risen Lord?  We didn’t leave Him in the upper room in a story in The Bible, He is still with us and His instructions are still sure.

We’re not told what Jesus was doing following the appearance in the upper room, but evidently He must have been with The Father as He told Mary Magdalene in the garden because we don’t see Him again until one week later.  Or, maybe He was doing personal visiting to some, like Peter and John.  John said in chapter 20:30-31 that Jesus did many other things than what is recorded.

Sunday ~ One week after Resurrection Sunday!  (Second appearing John 20:26) 

Let’s look at what happened 7 days after the Son of God rose from the grave where he was buried because he had been crucified for the sin of the world…

He appears a second time to the Upper room where the disciples are still gathered, and this time Thomas is there.  Jesus tells him and us about those who see and believe and those who don’t see and yet believe.

What did we do the following Sunday after Easter?  Were we still meeting to share the thrill of having seen the risen Lord Jesus, remembering the things He had taught us and waiting with anticipation for Him to come and tell us more? 

Our Sunday School material started a new emphasis in the Old Testament about holiness and the nation Israel’s relationship with God.  But, I used it to put our attention back on the Resurrection and our holiness in Jesus and His Presence by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The third appearing of Jesus after His resurrection was at the Sea of Galilee to Peter, James, John, Thomas, Nathaniel, 2 others (I think Andrew & Philip since they were brothers of Peter and Nathaniel) (John 21:14).  We aren’t told how long it was after the second appearing.  Jesus had told the disciples that He would meet them in Galilee, so Peter, et al must have decided to do some fishing while they were waiting.  I don’t think they knew what to do with themselves, but they had a surprise.  Jesus appears on the shore and instructs them to throw their net on the other side of the boat and they caught a huge load.  Then He had breakfast prepared for them and they ate.  Jesus then reinstates Peter about his love and gives him the responsibility of leading His flock - “Feed My sheep.”

Scripture tells us that Jesus spent a total of 40 days among His disciples after His resurrection visiting and instructing them.  My intent is to do the same thing with the days from Easter until Pentecost which is 7 weeks.  I want to soak in the reality of Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection and ascension to prepare my mind to be a better witness unto Him, and like Paul to say:  “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.” (Philippians 3:10-16)

May I encourage you to also spend some time every day focusing on who we are because of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, and what we should be doing?  May the world see Jesus in us and hear His voice!

MY JOURNEY & JOURNAL THROUGH HOLY WEEK 2013

I started this on April 3rd and had lots of hindrances in getting it posted.  I'm not sure why The Lord wanted me to do this, but I'm happy to share for whoever!  
April 3, 2013 ~
Last week was Holy Week. We began on Palm Sunday and focused on the days leading to Resurrection Sunday that we call Easter.  It seemed to me that this year more people were focused and reflecting on the real week that changed the world.  I was moved to reflect and celebrate each day...with Jesus! This is how I tried to keep my focus on Him…

On Palm Sunday as I taught my Sunday School lesson, I shared about what has been called, Jesus' Triumphant Entry.  I recalled the crowds yelling: "blessed is the king who comes in the name of The Lord" and the Pharisees telling Him to rebuke them, and Jesus telling them the rocks would cry out if they kept quiet.  With a smile, I reminded us that Jesus rode on a donkey that was the sign of a king coming in peace; and added that when He comes back to establish His Kingdom on earth, He will ride on a white horse and come with judgment and destroy all those who oppose Him!  I celebrated and worshiped thanking Him that I would be with Him!

Our Pastor shared a great witnessing tool that our church has joined in sponsoring online.  It really helps people who are afraid they won’t know how to answer people’s questions.  Do you have questions about life and God?
Check out this very informative site: www.truelife.org

On Monday my Quiet Time helped me to keep focused on Jesus and my relationship to Him. I think that Jesus was visiting with His friends in Bethany until He went into Jerusalem to observe Passover.   John 3:29-30 John the Baptist said that he was privileged to be “The friend of the Bridegroom.  He must increase, but I must decrease.”  Am I being the friend that sticketh closer than a brother?  Who are we drawing attention to – Jesus or myself?  As I think on this week and what happened to Jesus, where would I like to put myself if I had been there?  I would desire to have been like Mary Magdalene…always loving; always near to Him.

On Tuesday I had to work and it was a very busy and long day in preparation for my boss to go on a mission trip to Guatemala the day after Easter.  I was continually focused on The Lord Jesus and talking to Him about praising Him as I worked.  It was not hard as I was preparing two bulletins and a monthly newsletter that covered church activities surrounding celebrating Jesus Christ.  I went home tired but jubilant feeling the Lord's Presence all day!

On Wednesday  my quiet time was about comparing  this week with one year ago and seeing if I have come up higher to heavenly places with Jesus.  My heart was confident that I was. This was another full work day and the last day to get all the work done which gave great opportunity to prove whether we were aspiring to do this work from God's view or the devil's.  Bro. Donnie was pulled in many directions and he and I experienced The Lord giving us extra energy and patience being pressed for time and we finished in joy.  

On Thursday I heard and saw many like me reflecting on the observance of the Passover Meal and remembering it as The Last Supper of Jesus.  I heard of some who observed with a Maundy Thursday Communion Service or a Living Last Supper.  I also worshiped with the pine trees that day.  Check out this blog for my Lesson from the Pine Trees and celebrate too!  

Jesus said:  
"And I, If I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me."

John 12:32

On Friday I sadly watched a movie, looked at pictures, read and shared Scripture & inspirational words about the cross, Jesus dying for our sins and being buried in a tomb.  I cried because of the reality of my personal sins and then cried tears of rejoicing for having been forgiven and freed from the bondage and penalty of those sins.  As I went about my day, I remembered the price that was paid for ME.  I imagined myself there with Jesus as He endured torture, abuse, and ridicule.  Then I thanked God that I already know the outcome:  He rose from the grave!  IT IS FINISHED!

  

Adding to my day, my granddaughter, Katherine Hope sent me a very good reminder of this day with a video and song “Thief” by Third Day.  She expressed with such excitement about  hearing the words of the song and, like the thief on the cross realizing Jesus died for everyone of us, and we too can look forward to Paradise! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wktv5mA7EB0 

On Saturday I decided to be quiet and spend time reflecting on what was going on in the grave for Jesus and what His disciples must have been doing and thinking.

Easter Sunday ~ Resurrection Day!    Luke 24 & John 20:19 tells us about Jesus’ appearing to some women; Mary Magdalene; 2 on the way to Emmaus; Peter anonymously; upper room while Emmaus guys were speaking.  Thomas & Peter were not present.  I shared the account of Mary Magdalene searching for Jesus’ body and cried with her and rejoiced with her at the sweet appearing of Jesus stopping on His way to The Father to show His Love and soothe her heart with delivering a message to His disciples and the promise to meet with them.  My excited heart continued throughout the wonderful service at Nashville FBC.  The choir has never been better.  It was a truly beautiful worship service topped off with The Lord’s Supper!  I’m still reflecting and thanking The Lord for guiding me through a memorable week with Him…I am so blessed and excited that The Holy Spirit of The Risen Lord lives in me!  

JESUS DIED FOR THE WHOLE WORLD!

THE WHOLE WORLD DOESN'T KNOW IT!

HE IS ALIVE...AND GIVES NEW LIFE! 

I HAVE NEW LIFE...HE LIVES IN ME!

HE WANTS TO LIVE IN YOU, TOO!

HALLELUJAH!