Simple Satan Says

Satan twists the truth to justify self; he kills, steals and destroys.
 One moment, one day, one lie at a time, until wrong feels so right it's enjoyed.
 So question yourself in all that you do; in all that you hear and you see.
One day it will be you he comes after. Be prepared to tell Satan to leave!

Lust and Heaven's Tear

I recently became aware that a Christian friend of mine has taken to hanging out at a strip club and has befriended one of the strippers. I told him that Jesus would not hang out at places like this and he responded by telling me that Jesus hung out with a lot of bad people.

 Lust is a powerful drug and can be an insult to the Holy Spirit within us. It sneaks in and slowly begins to control the way we think. It's addicting and it's only goal is to  satisfy self. Sadly, it affects the lives of many and has destroyed more than a few lives.

When I think about how sad this makes me feel towards my friend I can't help and think about how God feels about us. We are all so weak. We can't keep God's commandments. We can't do anything in our own strength. How sad it must make God to have created us, whom he loves, and we do everything on earth that disappoints him.

Fortunately for us, instead of drowning us with his tears or sending fire down on us from above,  God sent his only son to die on the cross for us and to forgive us. Those who call themselves Christians, should walk in gratitude for what God has given us and we do this by becoming living examples. We do this by following Jesus, we do this because we Honor God.

Are you living your life serving Jesus or are you living your life serving self? This is a question I must ask myself each day. I ask God to give me my answers.

Afterlife

Someone recently posted this on my Facebook wall. At first I felt very offended, then sad for the ones who believe this.

This is hard for me to understand. If there were only a chance, a slim chance, that God exists, and that there is an afterlife, wouldn't it make sense to strive for the best life possible? Isn't this a truly perfect opportunity? Isn't hell on earth enough for them?

Kathy Lee Gifford recently referred to how we will all become dust one day. This is so true. No healthy living plan is going to keep our bodies living on this earth forever.  We are all going to die.

Some people believe at death we will all turn into nothingness. But, just wonder if this is not true. Is it really worth taking a chance on? 

Why is it that some folks put all their eggs in the earth basket, which is profoundly limited? Why wouldn't they strive for the life that lives on forever, and offers them the best of everything?

These and other questions I can never answer. But I believe God has. In His book, he calls them Fools.

Communication

If you don't know me very well then you may not understand the way I communicate.

If you don't know God very well then you may not understand how He communicates at all.

I hope you'll get to know Him! Peace and Blessings

Encounters

Each time that I have an encounter with the wind, I'm reminded that it exists.

Each time that I have an encounter with God, I'm grateful that He exists.

Let it be said of us...

Recently, God has put on my heart a concern for what is going on with our relationship with Israel. I truly believe that God wants us to be in support of that small country and for us to help keep it together.

Nowhere in history has a civilization survived and thrived like the land of Israel. In reality it should not even be alive. But God's own hand has protected that land and I believe he wants us to help protect it too.

I do not believe in coincidences. I believe that coincidences can often lead us to a truth. In saying that, God has put upon my heart that Jerusalem contains in it's center, the letters USA for a reason. I believe it is our responsibility to help keep that small country together. I pray that we will do the right thing and I hope you'll pray with me too.

The Prayer of Jabez

I have recently taken to repeating a prayer and have found it to bring blessings in my life. I would like to encourage you to say this prayer, every day for a month, and see what happens for you.

Before I write down the prayer, I'd like to suggest that you repeat the prayer, then repeat it again, replacing the word in red with a word specific for you.

Also, Dr. Bruce Wilkinson wrote a book on this prayer, which I really enjoyed and recommend. It is entitled, "The Prayer of Jabez"

And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying,

"Oh, that you would bless me indeed,

and enlarge my territory,

that your hand would be with me,

that you'd keep me from evil,

that I may not cause pain."

So God granted him what he requested.

1 Chronicles 4:19 NKJV

It's that simple. I replace the word in red with things like peace, friendship, love and opportunities.

Peace and Blessings to you all and let me know how this prayer works for you!

For Crying Out Loud!

I woke up early one morning and all I felt was pain.
I looked outside for sunshine, but all I saw was rain.
I grabbed by navy checkbook and sat to pay some bills.
There wasn't any money and my life just felt like hell.

I screamed for God to help me, but I heard not a sound.
"You don't care about me! You're nowhere to be found!
Then lightning struck a tree;I watched it catch on fire.
I felt God was angry; my thoughts had gone haywire.

I stayed real still and waited, to see what he would do.
Then He spoke unto my heart and said,"Yes, I do, love you!"
He said that we can chose, to use our better words.
Nowhere can be now here, and prayers are always heard.

Strawberry Moon

Photo by Samarazone

I hid behind the Pines
and sat amongst the trees,
trying to find some time;
a bit of quiet for me.
Then came the strawberry moon,
which revealed my hiding place.
Reminding me I'm never alone
because I have God's grace.

Can your Heaven Wait?

Photos By: Ben Teunissen

My son recently took these pictures while flying above the clouds. This view especially touched me because it lends to the promise of the beauty that awaits us in Heaven.

Heaven is the gift that God made available to us all. He gave us his only son, Jesus Christ, and when he died upon the cross, he took with him each and every one of our sins. His death was an extreme payment for all we have done wrong and all we will do wrong in the future.

None of us can be perfect, no matter what we do or how hard we try. God knew this. So he provided us with a way out.

Will you take the Jesus way? Will you accept Christ's death on the cross as payment for your sins? The choice is yours; you have to make it.

I hope to see you all one day in Heaven.

The Gossip

She handed me a package and told me it was good.

It really didn't feel the way, I assumed it would.

I paused before I opened; wondering what's inside,

Then I heard a whisper and felt it was a lie.

I stopped to look up at her, a smile upon her face.

I knew she'd brought a morsel of someone's pain; disgrace.

I paused for just a moment then handed back her gift.

Peace is what I'm looking for instead of causing rifts.

Then she turned away from me and headed to another.

She calls these folks her friends, her sisters, and her brothers.

So be careful of the gifts that come, as gossip, lies and hate,

And beware of these people, for they contaminate.

Christmas with Alzheimer's

Last night I went to my dad's Christmas party at the Assisted Living home. He has Alzheimer's Disease. He couldn't remember the words to his favorite songs, tried to cut his steak with a spoon and believes that I'm an old maid. Towards the end of the evening looked at me, smiled, and then said," Honey, I just want you to be happy." I almost broke down and cried.