Denominations = Divisions

This is how to break the curse of the religious spirit and the denominational divisions in the Body of Christ! Read God's WORD! He has the answers!

1 Corinthians 1:10 NET
I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to AGREE TOGETHER, to END your DIVISIONS, and to BE UNITED by the SAME MIND and PURPOSE.

A denomination is defined as
"A large group of religious congregations united under a COMMON FAITH AND NAME and organized under a single administrative and legal hierarchy."

It's purpose is to unite a group of people who share the same faith, under the same name. There shouldn't be Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals, etc.   We all have the same faith in Jesus Christ. So why, I ask, are there so many denominations in Christianity? Isn't Christianity
a faith? One faith?

The reason there are so many denominations is because of "religiosity," because of divisions. One group wants to worship with music, others without, and others don't worship at all. One group wants to put pews, others want chairs. And if they cannot agree, they split and go their separate ways.

Stop being so fickle!! We are told constantly by the Word of God to be unified: mind, body, and spirit!! Encouraging, comforting, and loving one another, living in peace and harmony, being humble.

Romans 15:5-6 NET
Now may the God of endurance and comfort give you UNITY with one another in accordance WITH CHRIST JESUS, so that TOGETHER you may with ONE voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:1-4 NET
Therefore, if there is any ENCOURAGEMENT in CHRIST, any COMFORT PROVIDED BY LOVE, any FELLOWSHIP IN THE SPIRIT, any AFFECTION or MERCY, complete my joy and be of the SAME MIND, by having the SAME LOVE, being UNITED IN SPIRIT, and having ONE PURPOSE. Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in HUMILITY, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.

There are many other scriptures instructing us to be united under our Lord Jesus Christ! Stop arguing over whether or not to have pews or chairs. Make it simple and have neither! Sit on the floor. In many places, such as China, believers HAVE to sit on the floor, meeting in secret, because they do not have the freedom we have to assemble in the name of Jesus!

We must humble ourselves in order to be unified as ONE! We are to be the BODY (1) of CHRIST who is the HEAD! Make Christ your leader, flow in the Spirit and worship God! Simple! But sadly many, being human, don't like simple. We try to complicate things.

Christianity shouldn't be complicated! Love and worship God, share your testimony of what Jesus has done for you and what he is doing in you, and love your neighbor, which is everyone! It really isn't hard!

Contradictions

Matthew 4:4 NET
But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

For those who think the Old Testament text is irrelevant today, why is it that Jesus quoted it so many times in the New Testament? I read something recently that disregarded the writings of the Old Testament saying that we should ignore what the Old Testament says. While still professing Jesus as Savior, these same people claim that the Bible contradicts itself. When someone says the Bible is a contradiction, then you can't believe what they say, they are false prophets.

The Old Testament sets the stage for Jesus' entrance as our coming savior. To suggest that the Old Testament is a contradiction means these people believe Jesus is a contradiction.

Those who are quick to ignore or throw out the words of the Old Testament, need to reread this next passage a couple of times, perhaps the truth will finally sink in:

Matthew 5:17-19 NET
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter will pass from the law until everything takes place. So anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do so[false prophets] will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever obeys them and teaches others to do so will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Slave vs Servant

Ephesians 6:5-6 NET

Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart as to Christ, not like those who do their work only when someone is watching – as people-pleasers – but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart.

What is the difference in being called a slave and being called a servant? The difference is that we are slaves to Christ and we are to be servants to others. We are not slaves to people nor should we be slaves to this world, but to Christ!

When a slave serves his master's friends, he is not their slave but their servant. Our master is Jesus and we are to serve our fellow Christians as well as the lost!

1 Corinthians 7:22-23 NET

For the one who was called in the Lord as a slave is the Lord’s freedman. In the same way, the one who was called as a free person is Christ’s slave. You were bought with a price. Do not become slaves of men.

Romans 6:14-23 NET

For sin will have no mastery over you, because you are not under law but under grace.
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Absolutely not! Do you not know that if you present yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves to sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching you were entrusted to, and having been freed from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness. (I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.) For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with regard to righteousness.
So what benefit did you then reap from those things that you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death. But now, freed from sin and enslaved to God, you have your benefit leading to sanctification, and the end is eternal life. For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Luke 16:13 NET

No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money (possessions; worldly things).”

We all know that having things, money, possessions, etc., is not evil nor is it wrong, but when we are slaves to this world and the things in it, then we begin to love things more than God and He is a jealous (zealous) God! We are to serve Him, not the things of this world. We can possess things and not allow things to possess us!

Exodus 20:5 NET

You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children to the third and fourth generations of those who reject me

Jealous is defined in the NET as being "the same word often translated "zeal" or "zealous." The word describes a passionate intensity to protect or defend something that is jeopardized." I love the next part. "God's zeal or jealousy is to protect his people or his institutions or his honor. Yahweh's honor is bound up with the life of his people.

So we are to honor God by being enslaved to Christ, serving God and others.

Half Truths!

Romans 3:23
     for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

We are all familiar with this scripture.  We should be, simply because many, Christian and non-christian, like to spit this scripture in the face of those who are pointing out a sin in another; not to condemn or judge, but to inform with love and kindness.  This scripture has been jammed down the throats of so many in a, "you sin and fall short of God's glory, so don't talk to me about my sin," kind of attitude.  This scripture is a true statement, but it is becoming a half truth.

Now, a half truth is defined as a deceptive statement that includes some element of truth.  You may think, is she saying this scripture is deceptive?  I will explain why that is not what I am saying.  Romans 3:23 is not deceptive, however the use of it, the way many people phrase it and use it, is the deception.

They are only giving part of the truth.  Yes we all have sinned[Grk. hamartanō to miss the mark, to err, be mistaken, miss/wander from the path of uprightness and honor, to do or go wrong, to wander form the law of God, violate God's law] and fall short[Grk. hystereō come short; fail; want; lack; devoid of; be inferior in excellence/worth] of the glory[Grk. doxa opinion, judgment, view, majesty: belonging to God, the kingly majesty which belongs to him as supreme ruler, majesty in the sense of the absolute perfection of the deity] of God[Grk. theos Godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit].

However, I and possibly many, rarely hear someone quote the scripture that follows (vs. 24):

      But they are justified[dikaioō declared righteous Grk "being justified"] freely by his[God's] grace[Grk. eleeo el-eh-eh'-o to be compassionate (by word or deed, especially, by divine grace):--have compassion (pity on), have (obtain, receive, show) mercy (on)] through the redemption[antilutron an-til'-oo-tron  a redemption-price:--ransom; apolutrosis ap-ol-oo'-tro-sis(the act) ransom in full, deliverance, redemption] that is in Christ Jesus.

I love the Greek definition of justified in this passage.  Its usage is that we are "being justified."  We are being made right!  We are being perfected by grace through Christ! It is a process! Yes, I slip up.  I will make mistakes! But God!  Don't you love the "but God"s in life?! But God is making me new everyday!  Working in me! Molding me to be who I am supposed to be in Christ!  He is perfecting me! Not that I am perfected, but I am being perfected!  To be perfected (not perfect) we must give our lives as a sacrifice to God!  When we give God all of us, then He can make us and mold into who He desires us to be, but we must be willing!

So why would I not want this for others?  Why would I keep my mouth shut about what God is doing in me and not want others to know they can experience this too?!

I am not ignorant of my slip ups and mistakes.  I simply choose not to dwell on them!  

One other thing.  When a mistake has been done in the past, don't keep bringing it up!  God has already, if asked, forgiven and forgotten it, and if I have been forgiven of  it and have turned away from it and am no longer making that mistake, then do not keep spitting it back in my face.  This goes especially for all believers.  If someone has done something in the past and you know they are no longer doing it, don't bring it up!  But if they are struggling with it presently, don't condemn them! Encourage them! Show them that Christ loves them and doesn't expect them to be perfect in order to come to know him!  

This might be a shocker to the religious crowd, but NEWS FLASH: God can't perfect you if you are already perfect in your eyes!  He doesn't expect people to walk into church with ZERO problems!  We all have problems! That is what the church is supposed to be for!  To reach out to the poor, the sick, the hurting, the addict, the prostitute, the homosexual, the single mom struggling to get by!  These people are already hurting!  Don't keep spitting in their face saying "clean yourself up, then you can come to church!"  This is sinful! This is why so many don't want to go to church, because they think they have to be sinless to be accepted by God!  No!  You accept God, then He works in you: cleansing you of all unrighteousness!  Change is required, but it doesn't happen over night or at the alter one Sunday morning.  It is a life changing process!

But don't be discouraged! 

Philippians 4:13 I am able to do(can do) all things(this includes living a sinless life) through the one(Christ Jesus) who strengthens me.

[Bold bracketed] info: http://www.blueletterbible.org, http://www.eliyah.com/lexicon.html



Introduction: Bible Study Blog

When I was younger, I don't think I fully grasped what it meant to be a believer and follower of Christ. I didn't read the Bible with the intention of getting insight into God's word. I would read it, but I didn't understand it and to understand something you have to study, correct? Well I didn't know how to study the Bible [I was never good at studying in school either =/, but I got by and finished school 3rd in my class. But as a Christian, I don't want to simply "get by" or just "get to heaven". That cannot be my one and only purpose in this life. Yes, I am excited at the thought of spending eternity with my Lord, but if we get so focused on only getting to heaven, we will miss the now, and there are so many people in the now who do not have a relationship with Jesus!]

In recent years I've come to realize how important it is to read God's word, and not simply read it, but understand it! You can read something and know what it says, but not fully understand what it means.  I want to be able to read God's word and be able to grasp at what God is telling me through it and get a glimpse of who He is. I don't want what I read to be just words on a page, because I know in my heart and Spirit that they are so much more than that!

The purpose of this Blog Bible Study is not only to get information and insight into God's word (Holy Spirit inspired) out to the public, but it is also to help me grow in my walk with the Lord. I pray in some way He can speak through me to you and it bring encouragement, insight, faith, peace, and understanding to you, as well as me.

Feedback and comments are welcome. However, since this is a Christian, family friendly blog, I would appreciate it if all commentators will use respectful and appropriate language (whether your comment is for or against my posts). Also, I would ask that there be no bullying, crude, or unkind remarks made to fellow commentators. Any comments violating this request will be removed. I want opinions of others, but I want it done in a godly manner. If you do not believe in God, I still ask this simple courtesy toward others and myself.

Titus 3:2 NET
They must not slander anyone, but be peaceable, gentle, showing complete courtesy to all people.

Thank you! :)

I'm No Better Than a Smoker

I am not a fan of smoking. Period. I don't care for the smell and the smoke makes me gag and have trouble breathing.  Not that I've ever tried it, I've just been around it from time to time and that was enough for me to know I never want to be a smoker. I have no desire to even try it.

This post is not meant to be a 'pick on the smoker' blog.  I am just stating where I stand on smoking. 

Now that I have, I will explain why I am no better than a smoker.

While I am not a fan of smoking, I am a HUGE fan of sweets.  Yes, the wonderful, yet accursed sweets!  They are so good to my taste buds, but so bad for my waistline, and my health.  I have always known that smoking can cause cancer.  Some can smoke for years and never have a single health problem and others can smoke for a year and get cancer within 6 months. 

However, both eating sweets and smoking have a common root.  Addiction.

Galatians 5:17-24 NLT
17 The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict. 18 But when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer subject to the law. 19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, 20 idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 22 But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

If I am lacking in self-control, then I am subject to being addicted to the sweets that I love to eat.  And when it takes a nicotine patch or other treatments to try to quit smoking, then it is an addiction.  But they are both a danger to our bodies.  I know in my mind that eating sweets is unhealthy and I have been able to control my appetite for them, however, much like a smoker who does not sever ties with cigarettes completely, I am prone to falling back into eating even more sweets than before I tried limiting or cutting them out completely.  It's a struggle that I am not proud of, but I am woman enough to admit I have an eating problem; a candy-loving, cake-drooling, junk-food-loving addict.

But like many people with addictions, who know they have a problem, I want to do something about it.  Our church family just recently finished a 40 day fast.  I would like to continue that fast, but with the intent to rid myself of the impurities in certain foods that I indulge in far too often.  Now my reason for stating this publicly is not to have a 'holier than thou' type attitude. I am merely wanting people that I know and love to help me stick to my word.  There is nothing wrong with having an accountability partner or partners.  During this time of fasting I do hope to regain a closer walk with God and learn what it is to discipline my taste buds.  I remember hearing on K-LOVE the other day about this very subject.  God gave me taste buds so that leads me to believe He wants me to enjoy food, but He does not want my taste buds controlling my appetite.  I can enjoy food and yes even enjoy a few sweets from time to time, but when I cannot control the amount of food I am taking in, then I am allowing my taste buds to have full reign and control of my eating habits.  This is where the addiction takes over.

I am still completely against smoking, not that I am judging anyone who does smoke.  How can I judge them when I am struggling with something that is damaging to my own body?  When I was younger I didn't have a grasp on this concept, that people who smoke love God too!  Smoking is a strong-hold, just like eating too much, which is considered gluttony, and Christians have struggles too.  But it is between them and God.  Perhaps they have not felt convicted about smoking, and who are we to judge when we have so many things God is convicting our hearts about on a daily basis.  I have confessed one of my many struggles and intend to do something about it.

This scripture is very short, but very powerful, and I think is a good close to this post.

1 Corinthians 6:20 NET
For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body. (emphasis added)

Walking Miracles

My church family and I are reading and studying a book called The Essential Guide to Healing: Equipping All Christians to Pray for the Sick by Bill Johnson and Randy Clark.  Last weeks chapter (ch. 8) was about the prophecy of the testimony, based on the scripture in Revelation 19:10, which says

   "For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." He goes further into this throughout the chapter.

"Testimonies are to be preserved, rehearsed, kept honest and discussed in conversation. The stories of God's intervention set a legal precedent for the miraculous" (pg. 161).

"Testimonies seemed to encourage people by giving them hope that great things could happen to them, too" (pg. 162).

"As I studied the word testimony in the Old Testament, I found that it came from a word meaning 'do again'" (pg. 162).

"I realized that God had hidden the miracle realm for us, not from us, in the mystery of the testimony" (pg. 163).

"Prophecy comes in two main forms, one to foretell the future, and the other to release a word that changes the present. I believe the testimony of Jesus releases a prophetic anointing that has an effect on present realities.  Things become possible in the present that were not available until the testimony was given. It is as though the testimony reveals what God wants to 'do again'" (pg.163).

He goes further into a scripture that deliberately tells us to keep the testimonies.

"You should diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and His testimonies and His statutes which He has commanded you" (Deuteronomy 6:17).

We are familiar with "keeping the commandments" which means to obey His commandments, but we seldom discuss "keeping the testimonies" which he goes in more detail about, but if I continue in this way I will be rewriting the entire book and never get to my purpose of this blog. I do recommend this book to anyone who desires the gifts of the Spirit and knowledge on how to live a miracle lifestyle.

I will quote Brother Bill a few more times just to give a further idea of what he is referring to about the "testimony".

"Commandments show us how to live. Statutes show us how to think. Testimonies show us what to expect. A testimony reveals God's acts, which in turn reveal His ways. Each story contains wonderful revelation of God's nature and His heart for people...(pg. 166), "The testimony keeps us connected in thought to the God who knows no impossibilities" (pg. 167).

This is my purpose for this blog; to share testimonies.  God is always at work doing miraculous signs and wonders.  His power is not limited to biblical times.  His power is alive and ever flowing in our present day!  Since we have been reading this book on healing, I decided to read more books that have miracles on every page.  Yes the Bible is one of them, but I also started reading a book called Mega Shift by James Rutz.  Many may be familiar with this book and if you are not I strongly recommend it.  Rutz has documented miracles that have occurred just within the last 20 to 30 years. The dead are being raised, blind can see, cancer patients healed, the list goes on and on.  This is all made possible through the power and authority from God given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ.

There are many testimonies that need to be told to encourage, edify, and strengthen.  That is my purpose.  I have three testimonies that have come to mind that I want to share.  To not share the goodness of God would be to rob Him of His glory, which He so rightfully deserves!  We are to keep the testimony alive!  You can't go wrong if you share what God in His goodness and love has done for you.

First, I would like to start with the oldest testimony out of the three.  It happens to be the testimony of my brother, Scott.  Scott and I were both too young to remember this occurrence, but we have heard it all of our lives from our parents and from other witnesses.  This testimony is about a death.  The death of my brother.  It happened at a church service.  A lady in the church was worshiping and raising her hands.  My brother Scott was standing on a chair in front of her next my mom.  When the lady raised her hands, Scott thought she was reaching out to hold him and flipped forward and hit the back of his neck.  My mother picked him up.  He was stiff and screaming.  Soon he stopped screaming. The color was leaving his face. He wasn't moving.  Mom knew life was leaving his body.  My mom told me she remembered looking at his eyes. They were still and glazed over.  She recalled a dream she had had before this happened.  Scott's eyes were just as glazed over in her dream as they were at the service.  Mom remembers praying that God would protect him.  She told my dad about the dream and when this happened she rushed up to the front of the service.  This shows the faith of my mother and the congregation at that time.  Immediately they all began to pray over Scott and in just a short time the color returned to his cheeks and his body was filled with the breath of life again.  That was a little over 20 years ago.  My brother is now nearly 25 years old and has been such a blessing to his family.  He is a walking miracle!

Next, I would like to tell my own testimony.  When I was a child I had a problem with warts.  They covered both of my hands.  My brother Scott prayed over me (he was only a year older than I, but you see that childlike faith).  About three days later, the warts were completely gone!  

When I was in high school I had another problem with those accursed warts.  This is gross but it has to be told.  On my right wrist was a huge wart.  It was about the size of my finger nail.  Mom took me to the doctor to see what they could do for me, but no matter what the doctor did, the wart remained.  I would apply medicine daily to it, only to no avail.  The wart got worse.  It was often oozing pus and was very painful, not to mention embarrassing.

The wart remained for several months.  One evening mom and I went to a ladies meeting for church.  It was a group of ladies of all color and denomination coming together to worship.  I really enjoyed that time.  Before the meeting ended a lady from my church wanted to pray with me.  Of course I mentioned my wart and she asked me, "Letitia, do you believe that God can heal you of this wart?" I replied yes, and I meant it.  So my mother and Sister Jan prayed over me that very moment.  Three days later (note the similarities between my first healing years before) the wart was gone! God is so good!

Last, but certainly not least, I want to give the testimony of my husband, Mitch.  Several months ago, Mitch started getting sick very frequently.  He would have headaches and would often throw up.  He started thinking perhaps he had celiac disease, which was hereditary and his sister was diagnosed with it years ago.  Since we couldn't afford the tests, he decided to just try going on the diet.  If he did not get sick while on the diet, then he had celiac.  So he did.  Of course, on the diet he was perfectly fine.  When he tried eating something with wheat in it, he would get really sick and throw up.

At the beginning of this year, our church decided to do a fast and began this book on healing.  Mitch and I both determined in our hearts that by the end of the fast Mitch would be healed completely of celiac.  So we did the 21 day fast, and prayed and thanked God for Mitch's healing.

Our fast that we chose to do, we shared one meal a day together, which was supper.  We happened to be at a restaurant the Friday night before the 21 days was up.  I had a poboy and fries.  I noticed Mitch took a couple of fries off my plate and ate them.  I knew what he was doing.  He was stepping out in faith, just as he stepped out in faith when we shared communion at church the previous Sunday.  The little wafers that we use would have normally made Mitch as sick as a dog, but because of his faith it did not.  That same faith allowed him to eat the fries that were cooked in grease that would normally make him throw up 30 minutes later.

Faith is the key and central theme of these three testimonies.  Without true faith in the powerful name of Jesus and mighty hand of God, miracles can not be performed.  But healing is the heart of God.  Healing is God's will for all of our lives!  I heard on K-LOVE not long ago, something that made me smile.  Kari Jobe stated, "God loves to heal us."  God LOVES to HEAL us!  Isn't that amazing?  The testimonies that we share with others is so powerful!  Testifying about the wonderful works of God is a strong and mighty tool.  There is power in the tongue.  As the scriptures say the tongue can produce death or life (Proverbs 18:21).

Our testimonies of God's awesome power, the healing hand of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit filling us and empowering us with that same power and authority given to us by God through His Son, bring life!  The testimony is life to those who hear it!

To offend, or not to offend?

That is a good question! I have been thinking about this lately and have decided to write about it using an amazing collection of books called the Bible.

First to deal with the latter question "not to offend?" Yes formed by itself it doesn't make for a grammatically correct question, but go with me on this one.

Basically this question means "is it okay to offend people?" That is how I'm posing it anyway. So is it okay? Well to answer in simplest terms, no. It is not okay to offend people. Let me explain, because I may sound as if I am contradicting myself later. If you are merely trying to go out of your way to offend someone or hurt someone's feelings, then it is very wrong, in fact it is down right dirty.  Your motives are obviously in the wrong place. When you are trying to hurt someone's feelings, then it can be considered hatred, correct?

Proverbs 10:12 NLT
Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.

"But love" I love that phrase! God is love, wouldn't you agree?  And God is truth, isn't that true? Well then isn't it safe to say that if we speak truth with love, then we are not in the wrong even if we offend someone, correct?  Truth be told, yes! We will not be in the wrong if someone gets offended, because our intent was merely to tell the truth.  Unfortunately, there will always be someone who gets offended by the truth.

I hope I am making sense.

It all boils down to our motives. If our motives are impure, then we are setting ourselves up for a world of hurt. If our motives are good and intentions pure, then we are more likely going to be heard.  You may ask, "what if our heart is in the right place, but we offend someone anyway?"  I have answered this because there is always going to be someone in the world who is going to be offended by whatever you say no matter how pure your motives are, especially if it's the truth. There is nothing you can do about that. Does that mean stop expressing your opinion or telling the truth? Of course not! If we all were afraid of telling the truth then the Good News about Jesus Christ would have been snuffed out long ago!

Acts 28:30,31
For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense.  He welcomed all who visited him, boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.

Acts 19:8
Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God. [emphasis added]

"Boldly arguing persuasively" Arguing can be viewed in two different ways.
       1. Many of us view it as fighting over or about something.
Here is an actual definition of "arguing" and this is the type Paul was using in Acts.
       2. Give reasons or cite evidence in support of an idea, action, or theory, typically with the aim of persuading others to share one's view.

So if Paul was afraid of offending people, then he would not have done what Jesus wanted him to do and the amazing books he wrote would be non existent.  He had to boldly speak the truth. The truth being, Jesus.

Now to the first half of the question: "To offend?" Should we offend? Well I believe I already answered that. Yes! In speaking the truth, offense is bound to follow, in fact it is inevitable! But the truth needs to be told.

You want to talk about someone who offended people every time he opened his mouth?  I do, because his name is Jesus and He is worth talking about.  He was the ultimate offender.  He offended the Pharisees and Sadducees left and right.  Did He go out every day thinking, "hmm...How can I offend the people of religious law today?"  Of course not.  The people of religious law set themselves up for offense.  When they asked a question and Jesus answered truthfully, they didn't like what He said and turned away in offense. 

Of course, there was that one time when Jesus truly put them in their place.

Matthew 23 NLT

Jesus Criticizes the Religious Leaders
 ¹ Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ² “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses.^{[a] 3} So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach.[Hypocrites] ⁴ They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. [basically they're heartless]
 ⁵ “Everything they do is for show. [They are fake] On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels.^{[b] 6} And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. ⁷ They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’^[c] [They have a holier than thou complex]
 ⁸ “Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters.^{[d] 9} And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father. ¹⁰ And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah. ¹¹ The greatest among you must be a servant. ¹² But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
 ¹³ “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.^[e] [ooo ouch! I don't know about you, but that sounded like an offense] 
 ¹⁵ “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell^[f] you yourselves are!
[sounds like a burn to me] 
 ¹⁶ “Blind guides! What sorrow awaits you! For you say that it means nothing to swear ‘by God’s Temple,’ but that it is binding to swear ‘by the gold in the Temple.’ ¹⁷ Blind fools! Which is more important—the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred? ¹⁸ And you say that to swear ‘by the altar’ is not binding, but to swear ‘by the gifts on the altar’ is binding. ¹⁹ How blind! For which is more important—the gift on the altar or the altar that makes the gift sacred? ²⁰ When you swear ‘by the altar,’ you are swearing by it and by everything on it. ²¹ And when you swear ‘by the Temple,’ you are swearing by it and by God, who lives in it. ²² And when you swear ‘by heaven,’ you are swearing by the throne of God and by God, who sits on the throne. [I wonder if they even flinched at this truth]
 ²³ “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens,^[g] but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. ²⁴ Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel!^[h]
 25 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! ²⁶ You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish,^[i] and then the outside will become clean, too. [The insults keep coming, don't they?]
 ²⁷ “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. ²⁸ Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness. [Sad that most of the church today is just like this]
 ²⁹ “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you build tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed, and you decorate the monuments of the godly people your ancestors destroyed. ³⁰ Then you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would never have joined them in killing the prophets.’ [This verse coming up (33) is my favorite]
 ³¹ “But in saying that, you testify against yourselves that you are indeed the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. ³² Go ahead and finish what your ancestors started. ³³ Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell? [If you really want to offend someone, then go quote this scripture to someone]
 ³⁴ “Therefore, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers of religious law. But you will kill some by crucifixion, and you will flog others with whips in your synagogues, chasing them from city to city. ³⁵ As a result, you will be held responsible for the murder of all godly people of all time—from the murder of righteous Abel to the murder of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you killed in the Temple between the sanctuary and the altar. ³⁶ I tell you the truth, this judgment will fall on this very generation.

I had a little commentary going on in those scriptures. Not that I'm doubting your ability to see that, but it was just fun for me. 

Back on topic.  Judging by what you have read, do you think Jesus was offending the Pharisees?  You may be thinking "well, duh! It was plain as day!"  Jesus called the people of religious law "hypocrites" 6 times in this one chapter, not to mention verse 3, which is the definition of a hypocrite.  So it's safe to say He called them "hypocrites" 7 times!  He called them "fools" and "blind guides" a number of times. He accused them of being impure (27).  He called them 'fake' and 'high and mighty'(5-7).  He called them "snakes"(33).  He told them what they will do in the future (34), they will become murderers (34-35). Just as their ancestors murdered the prophets of God (29-30), they will do the same to Jesus' followers.

Whew! That is a lot to take in! Can you imagine how the Pharisees reacted? Of course, they were offended, angry, furious, some possibly squirming in discomfort. And why is that? Because they knew Jesus spoke the truth, but they didn't want to see it, so what do they do? Plot the death of Jesus: a righteous man, a sinless man, a man preaching only the truth.  This is what happens when we speak the truth.  We get ridiculed, persecuted, mocked, accused of being a liar, slandered, and yes, even killed.

It is happening all over the world.  People who are trying to share the love of Christ are being killed.  Children are being betrayed by their own parents, because they found Jesus, but the parents didn't want to hear the truth.

Luke 12:49-53 NLT
⁴⁹ “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! ⁵⁰ I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. ⁵¹ Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! ⁵² From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against.
 ⁵³ ‘Father will be divided against son
      and son against father;
   mother against daughter
      and daughter against mother;
   and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law
      and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’^[a]”

Jesus fulfilled this scripture in the Old Testament.  Houses are divided because some have come to know and have a relationship with the Savior of the world and others doubt and choose to not believe.

Why is all of this division occurring?  It occurs not just because Jesus said it would, but because of offense.  The truth is offensive to so many of us.  If someone confronts a subject that perhaps you are struggling with, it is hard to listen, because you take offense. 

We should not be offended so easily.  We should not be afraid to offend others simply because we are telling the truth.  I want to tell the truth.  The truth of Jesus.  He is truth.  My Father in heaven is truth.  So why should I not tell the truth? Should I be afraid someone won't like it or they will take offense and start ridiculing me for speaking the truth? No!

So don't be surprised if there is a blog that I post that is on subjects that might be uncomfortable, because the truth is uncomfortable.  But it needs to be spoken.  I apologize in advance for any offense my future blogs may induce.  It will of course be my opinion, but I will have scriptures to support those opinions, because they are not simply my opinions, they are my beliefs.

So, "to offend, or not to offend? That is the question"

I choose to offend. Not in the sense of intentionally offending someone, but with the intention of revealing the truth.

Made to Worship! PART TWO

Made to Worship PART ONE was my heart on worship.  PART TWO is still my heart, but I intend on using the Bible to show God's heart on worship and a few other select people.

First, let's start with the heart of David.  That is a great start, because David was a pursuer! 

Acts 13: 22 NLT
...David, a man about whom God said, 'I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart' [reference to 1 Samuel 13:14]

He was not perfect.  He made mistakes, but what God loved most about David was the fact that he was teachable.  I am paraphrasing from Brother Al's teaching on David we did a while back.  God loved when David made a mistake and felt conviction or was convicted, he immediately turned back to God and did not make that same mistake again.  I believe God also loved David, because of his heart of worship.

Psalm 95:6,7a NLT
Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the LORD our maker, for he is our God.

Psalm 84:4 NLT
What joy for those who can live in your house[presence], always singing your praises.

The Psalms show that heart of worship.  How better to please God than to sing His praises?

Psalm 148 NLT
 ¹ Praise the LORD!
   Praise the LORD from the heavens!
      Praise him from the skies!
 ² Praise him, all his angels!
      Praise him, all the armies of heaven!
 ³ Praise him, sun and moon!
      Praise him, all you twinkling stars!
 ⁴ Praise him, skies above!
      Praise him, vapors high above the clouds!
 ⁵ Let every created thing give praise to the LORD,
      for he issued his command, and they came into being.
 ⁶ He set them in place forever and ever.
      His decree will never be revoked.
 ⁷ Praise the LORD from the earth,
      you creatures of the ocean depths,
 ⁸ fire and hail, snow and clouds,^[a]
      wind and weather that obey him,
 ⁹ mountains and all hills,
      fruit trees and all cedars,
 ¹⁰ wild animals and all livestock,
      small scurrying animals and birds,
 ¹¹ kings of the earth and all people,
      rulers and judges of the earth,
 ¹² young men and young women,
      old men and children.
 ¹³ Let them all praise the name of the LORD.
      For his name is very great;
      his glory towers over the earth and heaven!
 ¹⁴ He has made his people strong,
      honoring his faithful ones—
      the people of Israel who are close to him.
   Praise the LORD!

This scripture is so beautiful! But if you haven't seen this video with pastor Louie Giglio, then please check it out.  You can tell Louie is passionate in what he says.  I was blown away at the concert several months ago when I heard him speak about this.  It is just wonderful.  Psalm 148 really comes to life! It's about 14 minutes long, but well worth the watch!

Watch....Now!

I love that!  I know it kind of cuts off at the end, but I'm sure you get where Louie is going with that.  God has an entire universe worshiping Him.  It says it right in the scriptures,
 ¹ Praise the LORD!
   Praise the LORD from the heavens!
      Praise him from the skies!
 ² Praise him, all his angels!
      Praise him, all the armies of heaven!
 ³ Praise him, sun and moon!
      Praise him, all you twinkling stars!

I don't know about you but I think the heavens, sun, moon, and stars pretty much covers the universe!  When we read that scripture we may not fully see that happening.  I know I didn't. Sometimes we view the scriptures as symbolism, but Louie brought that scripture to life for me.  I hope it did for you as well.  David wrote that scripture thousands of years ago, but it reflected the heart of worship, the heart of God.  The universe is alive today and from what Louie and scientists prove, they make drum beats and string instruments. I could hear what sounded like violins in the second group of pulsars he showed. It's amazing! "God has His own string section!"

Many people commented on this video saying, "Louie isn't proving the existence of God by demonstrating that the stars make music."  But it is proof!  What are the odds of these magnificent stars light years away making sounds of musical instruments?  Not that I need proof, because I believe in God and what His Son Jesus did for my life with all my heart, but Louie really ministered to my heart when he talked about this scripture and showed me stars that sang.  I would never have known this scientific fact and probably would never have seen Psalm 148 in the way I see it now; alive!

I love what Louie said at the concert and I quote him word for word, "I don't know about you, but I do not want a whale to out worship me!"  I don't want to let a whale out worship me either!  I love to worship! I know I say that a lot, but it is true, because that is why I was made! 

"God chose to overthrow Satan's dark kingdom through those He made in His image,

who worshiped God by choice" Bill Johnson

John 4:23 ESV
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.

I choose to worship a living God! He is worthy of my praise!  He doesn't need my worship, because He has an entire universe that worships Him, but He desires my worship!  He desires your worship!  He gave us that choice--free will-- to choose to worship Him or the world.  He doesn't want a worship that is fake, forced, or half-hearted!  He wants a worship that is true, willing, and whole-hearted!

Who will you worship? God or the world?

Made to Worship! PART ONE

We were all made to worship!  We were all made to worship God! Do we all choose to worship God? No. But we all know how to worship.

I love what Bill Johnson wrote in a book he co-authored with Randy Clark called, The Essential Guide to Healing: Equipping all Christians to Pray for the Sick.  In Chapter 5 he stated:

       

Since Satan wanted to be worshiped like God, God chose to overthrow Satan's dark kingdom through those He made in His image,

who worshiped God by choice.

God chose to defeat the devil and his cohorts through worshipers.

Worship is the primary call of mankind. (pg. 112)

The fact that we were made to worship, doesn't surprise me in the least.  I love to worship! I'm on the worship and praise team at church and just recently I became more open in my worship to God on stage.  Many times in the past I wouldn't close my eyes, raise my hands, or just get utterly lost in worship, because I wanted to make sure I didn't sing the wrong words or miss what the worship leader was telling us to do, such as go back to the chorus, repeat verse 1, or stop.  I was so worried about messing up, that I completely forgot to just worship God! And if I was not worshiping God, then all I was doing was singing words, not praises!

While in Cuba I experienced a worship that is missing in many churches in America: Complete and utter abandonment to the Father in worship! Not to mention the joy they had while worshiping!  In Cuba, there were no projectors with words on the screen, no hymnals. It was simply God's children coming together and worshiping their Father, with music, singing, and dancing.  The congregation was the worship team! Yes, they had worship leaders singing and playing the piano or drums, but they weren't the only ones worshiping. 

Many times in my own church we have been singing songs that have so much passion and zeal for the Lord, but the congregation was stagnant, standing still.  But in Cuba, the whole congregation, at every church we went to were passionately involved in worshiping God!  They sang, even louder than those with microphones, they clapped their hands, danced in the Spirit, raised their hands in praise to God and they did this with such joy! Young and old worshiped together with passion, feeling, excitement and joy, because they worshiped a living God!

This picture below is just one of the churches we went to.

Notice everyone standing, clapping, singing?  But I want you to look at the little girl in the blue shirt, playing the tambourine.  Do you see her face?

Here is a close-up.

Can you see it?  Can you see the joy on her face?  Those beautiful girls dancing just touched  my heart, but this one girl in particular gripped my heart. She was dancing, singing, and playing that tambourine as if her life depended on it.  But isn't that true?  Our lives do depend on God, or at least they should!

Worship is effective, but it is even more so when everyone is involved!  In Cuba, as you've seen in this one picture of just one church out of the 7 or 8 we visited, everyone was involved!  No matter how small the church building, they worshiped.  No matter how cramped together they were, they worshiped.  It didn't matter if one got elbowed in the side, they were too enthralled in worship to even notice.

Atmosphere plays a huge role in worship.  When you are surrounded by it you can't help but join in.  When everyone is singing and dancing and worshiping God, then you shouldn't worry about whether or not you'll look stupid, because everybody is doing the same thing!  I remember going to Christian concerts or places like Xtreme or New Breed, and I remember how easy it was to let go and just worship, because everyone was doing it.  And that is why it was harder to return home, because not everyone was doing it.

When we aren't obedient to the Spirit, it can snuff out what God is wanting to do.  He wants us to experience his presence.  And I am so thankful when He pours out His Spirit. This past Sunday, our church experienced His presence through obedience in worship.  That is not to give credit to any one person or the worship team, everyone played a role in what happened Sunday.  The congregation became sensitive to what God was doing and we were experiencing His awesome Spirit.  His Spirit was flowing through our church like a gentle wave, giving us a taste of things to come.  I'm excited! I can't wait to see what happens next, but it requires obedience on our part.

We were made to worship! We know how to worship, but we must decide who we are going to worship!

Why go to Church?

It amazes me how so many people, including newly, born again Christians, get it into their heads that church is not necessary. 

Well this is my thought on the matter.

Many new Christians have said, "why go to church? I can find out what the Bible means with my own intellect, just as well as a preacher can in his own human thinking. So why should I go to church?"
Believe it or not these people do have a point.  We do have a brain, given as a gift by God to reason, think, decide, articulate, use common sense through processes of thought and reason.

We have so much potential as human beings. And part of that potential, when we have chosen the path of Christ, is to lift each other up with encouragement, love, kindness, understanding, prayer and so much more! But how are all of these things to be accomplished? Through fellowship, coming together!

I decided to use actual definitions of the word fellowship:

fel·low·ship /ˈfelōˌSHip/Noun:
     1. Friendly association, esp. with people who share one's interests.
     2. A group of people meeting to pursue a shared interest or aim.
Synonyms: companionship - friendship -comradeship - association
     1.    a. The condition of sharing similar interests, ideals, or experiences, as by reason of profession, religion, or nationality.
            b. The companionship of individuals in a congenial atmosphere and on equal terms.
     2. A close association of friends or equals sharing similar interests.
     3. Friendship; comradeship.

Many of these are repeating the same definition, but that is because they are from two different sources [I googled it :) ] Anyway I think you get the picture.

Romans 1:12 NLT
When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.

Fellowship, from a Christian standpoint, is coming together in friendship, to encourage, pray for one another and share the same interest and our mutual interest is to worship and study the word of a living God. Wouldn't you agree that is the whole purpose of the church, at least it should be.

I know many churches, due to conflicts of beliefs or interpretations have divided into denominations and many do not participate in worshiping our Lord, but that was the whole reason we were created! (however that is another blog for another day)

To stay on topic, back to the definition of fellowship. In the first definition, number 2, I highlighted the word "pursue." Why? Because that is what we are doing in our meetings and daily lives. We are pursuing that relationship with God and desiring to know Him in a more intimate way! We are pursuing a life that Jesus Christ led!

Now to define the church. Yes, I think you know where I'm going with this.

Acts 12:5 NLT
But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.

I love this scripture, because when I read it I have to laugh. You must be thinking what's so funny about this verse? I'll tell you.

Many view the church as being a building. And in a way that is true. But if we simply thought of the church as being a building with doors, chairs, pews, stages, etc., then this scripture is funny. Because how does a "church" building "pray earnestly"?  Yes, I know that is a silly way to look at it, but it's true. Many people think that is all the church is, but that is wrong.  We are the church! The church building did not pray earnestly for Peter, the people prayed earnestly.

You may be thinking, she is proving the point of the people who think it isn't necessary to go to church, because if we are the church then why go to a church building. We have access to a Bible and she proved we can reason for ourselves what it means.  My answer to that is bear with me, I'm getting to my point and no I am not proving they are correct.

We still must consider what the Bible says about fellowship concerning the church.

Hebrews 10:25 NLT
And let us [the church] not neglect our meeting [fellowship] together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Yes I reasoned for myself and interpreted this scripture without immediate aid of a preacher, but I also proved that the scripture clearly states that coming together in fellowship to encourage one another should never be neglected. The latter part of the verse is important: especially now that the day of his return is drawing near!

The time is drawing near. I believe that now more than ever. Of course, I don't know the day or the hour, but we are to live our lives as Jesus lived his life, sinless and walking daily with the Father, and live everyday expecting His return.

In conclusion, is it necessary to go to church? Yes! In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with going to church. The people in the church are meant to be encouragers! We are not perfect, but we desire to be as much like Christ as possible! I love the church I go to! I'm excited about what God is doing in our worship, our pastor, and many in the congregation. Our hearts and spirits are being stirred by our desire and pursuit of God! I am always encouraged by my family! That is also what the church in America needs to be--a family.

In a society where families are being torn apart, there should be a place where people can go to. If we have been transformed into the likeness of Christ, then we should be that family where the hurt, broken hearted, downtrodden, disappointed, lonely people can turn to. If we do not come together to lift each other up with encouraging words we've received from God for a specific person or even addressing the whole congregation, then how are we going to be strengthened in faith. 

1 Corinthians 14:26 NLT
Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you. (emphasis added)

And can we strengthen each other if we do not fellowship with each other, whether it is in an official church building, a home group, or out in the open air. [I particularly love the last one! Praising God and studying His word surrounded by His creation! It's truly amazing!]

The point of this blog is simply to encourage those who think it's not important to go to a church and become part of a church family.  You can judge for yourself which church family is showing genuine love or just faking that they are glad to see you.  Look around   Find the church that God has for you, in fact seek Him and ask where it is He wants you.

I can't completely change how people view the church, but I can at least express my heart and what God has put on my heart to share. 

If you are not a Christian, and hate the church and have not experienced a true church family who have the love of Christ for you, then please search for it.  If you are not a Christian, and hate the church, but have been to one, then I am sorry, because your experience must have been a bad one.  All I can say is don't give up the search.  God is waiting with open arms.  If you are a Christian and hate the church, then you hate your brothers and sisters in Christ. Harsh, you say? No. Just the truth.

Hugged by God!

On March 18, 2011, I was working at the daycare, one of my two jobs.  It was Spring Break and classes were not in session.  Due to their lack of normal routine, the children became wild. 

I was called in early on that Friday the 18.  I didn't mind, in fact I needed the hours.  At first the morning went smoothly, but as the day progressed and more and more children showed up things got out of hand.  Many did not want to listen to what they were told, of course that is a daily occurrence with my 2 year olds, but these were 3 and 4 year olds; they knew better.  In fact I had never had that much trouble with that age group.  Those kids were normally well-behaved, but they were simply getting restless and I was losing my patience.

By lunch time I had lost it! I wanted to get them calmed down, fed and put in bed as quickly as possible. I was ready to "throw in the towel"! I know that everyone has been there. Don't deny it, you know you have.  You get to that boil point.  You begin to lose your patience, or you get so emotionally and mentally drained that you just want to throw up your arms and say "I GIVE UP!"

That is exactly how I felt and what I did.  As soon as my 11 children were in their beds laying still and the majority had fallen asleep, I grabbed a chair, put it down in the middle of the room facing my kids, and just put my head in my hands.  I felt so exasperated! I just sat there and stared at the floor. I wanted so much to go home, but I knew I would be at work until 5:30 that evening. 

As I sat there looking at the ground, God showed me a vision.  Yes, I know many who would read this probably have their doubts about God and visions and things involving the supernatural.  But this was so real. This vision was as clear as this computer screen is to me right now.

My vision was of one of my little girls getting up from her nap pad, walking over to me and stopping in front of me. In my vision I was looking down at her feet.  When I looked up (still the vision) the little girl put her arms around my neck.

What happened after that blew my mind. In fact it is hard to refrain from crying every time I think about that moment. It was as if God was showing me that I wasn't imagining things, I wasn't having deja vu, or losing my mind. He wanted to prove to me that what I saw was a vision that He gave to me; it was directly from Him.

Seconds after the vision (I was still looking down at the ground) I saw little feet.  I looked up, and it was the same girl in my vision standing before me.  She quickly put her arms around my neck.  I was stunned! All I could do was put my arms around her and cry.  God was revealing to me that He loved me!  He used this little girl, so innocent and pure, to deliver a message to me. The message was "I love you; here's a hug to prove it."

Needless to say my day was so much more bearable after that moment!  I've always known that God cares for me, loves me, and knows when I am having a tough time.  But it was so much more sweeter to actually be hugged by God.  He can use all of us man, woman, rich, poor, young and old.  Isn't it funny how obedient children are to God.  They may not want to obey me, but God can speak to their hearts and they quickly respond.  God was trying to reveal to me through this innocent child, "I hear you! I hear your cry! In your times of stress, I hear you!"  He hears us all.  When we are frustrated, upset, worn down, crying, wanting to just GIVE UP, He wants us all to know that He is listening.  I received the answer quickly and through the obedience of a small child.  It may happen to others in a different way, but I simply pray that it happens. I want everyone to experience the love of God in a close intimate way.  I'm so thankful for what I experienced!

I had the privelege of sharing this story with my Brothers and Sisters in Cuba.  There were many people in tears.  I shared with them that we all have those times when we just want to quit, but God wants us to continue living for Him knowing that He loves us and is with us in every aspect of life. I pray that it was a blessing to them and that whoever reads this will be blessed as well.

Inspired

Okay, so I finally got onto an actual computer, so that I can write on my new blog. I'm not very good at "blogging" because I am not very computer savy and I do not have access to Internet very often, but I will do my best!

First off, I'd like to thank Mikayla for inspiring me to try blogging again.  I too love to write, but I don't do it very often.  The most of my writing that I do is on Facebook....how sad is that?  But hopefully I can get this going and maybe put a few of my thoughts down on...the computer screen. [instead of on paper, which I used to do a lot]

The Covington girls are very inspiring! Miriah's photography website, MoGee Photography, has got my mind reeling about finally making a website for my artwork. I have been trying to get my own art business up and running, but I have only done a few projects here and there for people I know.  However, I really want to expand, but once again I am not very computer savy...

If only I had Internet other than at my mom's house, then perhaps I could get my darling husband to help get me started.  Talking about it just isn't working.

Well, that is all I have for now.