I Am!
by John Clare
I am! yet what I am none cares or knows, My friends forsake me like a memory lost; I am the self-consumer of my woes, They rise and vanish in oblivious host, Like shades in love and death's oblivion lost; And yet I am! and live with shadows tost Into the nothingness of scorn and noise, Into the living sea of waking dreams, Where there is neither sense of life nor joys, But the vast shipwreck of my life's esteems; And e'en the dearest—that I loved the best— Are strange—nay, rather stranger than the rest. I long for scenes where man has never trod; A place where woman never smil'd or wept; There to abide with my creator, God, And sleep as I in childhood sweetly slept: Untroubling and untroubled where I lie; The grass below—above the vaulted sky.

Love God and love others...2 greatest commandments.

So my latest 'insight' is that there are two commandments which people need to start following. The first is love God and the second is love others. So if we trace all the problems in this world and all the sins going on what is lacking? Yep you're right love. Imagine if people today just focused on these two commandments. How would the world look today if people focused and followed those. Well the answer is a lot different.

So instead of all these people and churches arguing over tiny little differences teach that! There are silly little denomination arguements and those are all tools of the devil. We all argue with each other over tattoos, and piercings right and wrong. But hey when we are arguing over that we are wasting time which could be directed on Helping people.

Yes discipline is important don't think i am saying differently. But when we spend all our time arguing with each other and forcing views down brand new or struggling Christians throats how much are we really accomplishing?

I encouage and challenge you to take a step back. How affective have your efforts been lately at helping people. Or have you lately been more damaging to relationships. Everyone goes about things in a different way but here's my question for you. In everything you do are you loving God first and then loving people?

If you just answered no I encourage you to step back and make some changes.

Relax God's got a plan

There are those days when you want to ask why you have to deal with stuff?
But then you look around at the people that God has placed in your life.
Then you realize all though times may be tough God has given you everyone and everything you need to get through it.

God is so good to us, and often times we do not realize it. He brings the perfect people into our lives, right when we are completely ready for them. It's even better when you know the people He's brought into your life are there to stay.

Also certain people can make you smile even on your worst day. So as hard as it may be relax and know that God has a plan and is in control. :)

Easter...all that it truly means...still the same today!!

On this amazing Easter Sunday this song speaks about the amazing GRACE that we have received from God! Jesus Christ has risen from the dead and He is alive today watching over each and everyone of us! All that He suffered through all those years ago He could have just said no, He had the power to end it all but He went through all of it to save EACH AND EVERY PERSON!! He hung on that cross to save us, from all the wrong we have done and all the wrong we will do. There is not another person in all of history or ever will be who was perfect and faultless like Jesus Christ. Yet the world He came to save put Him to death...and He beat Death!!!

Jesus lives today and He waits for us for the day that we will join Him in Eternity and see the mansions he has prepared for us.  See the Streets of Gold and the Crystal Sea...all those believers who have gone on before us. But above all we will see Jesus Christ and the nail scared hands and feet and the pierced side. We will see our Lord and Savior.

All that was done all those years ago may seem to us that it has nothing to do with us. But it has EVERYTHING to do with us. Jesus knew that YOU (yes you) would need His grace and mercy! So God sent His Son to Earth to save YOU.

Rejoice on the Easter Sunday in knowing that you are saved by Grace through the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ. Know that you are a new creation in Him. And know that The Story and Message are still the same and that CHRIST JESUS is alive today!!!!

"The World's Not Safe Anymore"....can we make it "The World's Safe Again"?

Is this how you feel? "The world's not safe anymore!"

Well I can't tell you a lie, and say that you never have to worry about that because "of course the World Is Safe." "The World's Not Safe Anymore" and that is the honest truth. What are the dangers/problems in our world today? Well here's a list of what I have seen from my the world around me...
*fear&worry about the future
*heartbreak&now a fear of trusting again
*respect not being taught to children
*lying to get what you want or around something
*broken families
*abuse and crimes increasing
*fights and violence
*drugs being the way to deal with things for all ages
*alcohol...mistakes made while drunk trying to forget past mistakes
*financial scares and insecurity
*dangers in the streets...guns&knifes being carried sometimes
*hunger in the world which is unbareable
*disease taking over many areas
*Natural disastors that seem to increase in severity
*decaying moral values
*know knowledge of the Gospel

Now that is just a list that I came up with some from people around me other items what we know and have seen in this world. It isn't a secret to anyone that there is more violence, street danger, and abuse happening. How many people are afraid of the future and worry constantly about it...or how many people have had their hearts broken and are afraid to trust again. Families are hurting with financial strains, divorce, combined families, and in many families respect and "old" morals are not taught directly. We know that drugs and alcohol abuse is a huge issue growing daily...many people know someone who drinks or does drugs or has in the past. The world in general is hurting...look at the hunger, diseases, and disasters....it is crying out in pain. Lastly Christian morals and the Gospel message is constantly under attack, it  is the "old" ways many see it as irrelevant to their lives today.

So I will not sit here and tell you a lie the hard, cold, honest truth is...."The World's Not Safe Anymore" But how many of those things that were in the list or talked about above can we do something about? Can we work to stop the violence and abuse? What about the drug and alcohol abuse...can we fight that? What about broken or combined families possibly struggling or just with old scares healing...can we be there for them? What about hunger, disease, disasters...can we help support those causes to add them? What about someone who is afraid and worried for the future...can we encourage and support them? What about someone heart broken...can we help them rebuild their ability to trust? Now...what about the Christian morals and the Gospel story....can we help to teach this generation and all people about them and the best story ever told?

How many things above did you answer yes to? Now this isn't a survey or one of those now please support this charity things....this was simply to get you thinking. I pray nightly for God to use me to change this hurting and lost world. But I am one person and can not do everything on my own...who else in this huge world knows that there is more that they can be doing to affect the above things. "The World's Not Safe Anymore"...but there is a place that I pray you will all be in one day that is...Heaven with our heavenly Father God and Savior Jesus who loves each person and hates seeing this hurting and dangerous world.

Who else wants to make a change and try and make "The World Safe Again"? I do...do you?

Pieces by Red

My friend told me about this song. We were talking about all the bands at Winter Jam and he said RED was his favorite. Then told me about this song so I looked it up and really liked it alot. So I thought that maybe one of you would like this song to and hopefully be encouraged by this knowing that God is waiting for you. I'm really glad my friend told me about this song and now I'm able to share it with all of you. God bless and let me kow what you thought of this song by leaving a comment. :)

Prayer...

 Prayer is an important part of a Christians daily walk with God... When there are troubling times we turn to prayer. But it is all essential for us to pray in those good times in between. God blesses us constantly and we should thank him through prayer.
There is no bad time to pray. It is a direct conection to God and we are encouraged to use it to reach him. Prayer helps strengthen and guide us. It is a powerful spiritual weapon against the evil in the world. P.U.S.H.~ Pray Until Something Happens
Always keep praying!!!


Even Kitty Cats Pray! :)



 

Also on the subject of prayer, my Pastor has been teaching a series on Sunday Nights dealing with prayer. We have been looking at diferent and important prayers all throughout the Old and New Testament. Through this study we have learned that our prayers can actually affect the outcome of events, so it is never useless to pray. When Moses prayed to God after receiving the Ten Commandments he quoted scripture and in a way changed God's mind from destroying the people. If we continuously pray for certain people or situations we will in time see an outcome, and God hears our prayers and we may influence how things work out. Not only can our prayers positively affect someone else praying also helps us to grow closer to God. So prayer is a win win situation for us and those around us...prayer can only strengthen our walk with God daily.

People....where is this country going without God??

I don't get people sometimes. They don't acknowledge God and they hinder others from learnign about God. I mean when one person does one thing wrong why does it equal everyone being punished? Why do parents take away a place (like church)  that will only better thier children? Is there no fear of God in this world anymore? The Parents will answer for the way they raised their children and the examples they led by. The Bible tells us to lead by example. Do these type of parents not understand the meaning behind that?

When a young girl talks to you and doesn't quite understand what is going on in her family...and you can't help. The parents need to stand up and find God and lead their children in that direction. What is this country going to end up as if parents do not teach their children about God? If the parents have rejected God do not hinder the children from learning about God and serving Him. Where will this country be without God and Christian morals enstilled in the children?

The people who are hindering the children from learning about God and all that Jesus did for us do not understand the long lasting result. At one point those children who do not know Biblical principles will be the adults. They will be in charge of different things and they will then be setting the example for younger generations.

There is a battle raging for the hearts and minds of the children and teens in This country of America!! If the parents and house holds will not stand up and do what they have been entrusted to do by God....then we as Churches, Christian Schools, and Followers of Christ must stand up and take action. If we all stand by and wait for something to happen we are aiding the enemy and letting the future of our Counry turn to people who do not know God or His Word.

As long as I am breathing and alive I will always minister to people in these situations. I will ensure that my churches doors always remain open to all kinds of people. That I am willing to help, accepting, and loving! This country and this generation needs God!! It is time for us to stand up and affect the children and teens...and by reaching them with the word of God affecting the houses they come from. It is now time for a revival...who is with me??

Our God is Greater~ Chris Tomlin

This song is one of my all time favorite songs! I love to sing it and just focus on what it is saying. We sing it at church and it is so great to see my Sunday School Kids closing their eyes and lifting thier hands up to God and praising him! God has done so many amazing things for each of us and this song has become like our theme song at my church...it really stands for what God has done for us and that we are able to face this world with God. I am so greatful for this song and having learned it at school and having been able to bring it to my church! Thank you So much and I hope that you enjoy this song as much as I and others have and just really listen to the lyrics and worship God right now!

God looks down from heaven....and thinks....

Do you ever wander what God is thinking as He looks down from heaven? I wander if sometimes He just shakes His head and thinks if they only saw how that would affect them.


Like those moments when we look around and don't think anyone will know or see. Do we stop and think well of course God will see us. God is above all things and He knows everything, nothing is hidden from God. So I wander do we ever give God a headache??

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving~ one word which is mainly only used during this season/time of the year. One word but there is more than one way of looking at it.

Thanksgiving is a time when we gather together with those we love and we thank God for all that He has done for us throughout the year and throughout all our lives. But there is more than just saying a simple thank you. When you see someone who is not included or lonely...welcome them and help them. For Christ has told us whenever we help the least of these we help and honour Him, but when we ignore them we ignore Him and dishonour Him.

So I am very thankful for all that I have in my life and there are so many blessing that the list could go on and on- from small to huge things. I know though that I will show my thanks to all who are around me, not just by saying thank you to God for them, but by actually demonstrating to them my love and thankfulness for them.

Here in the land of the Free and 'One Nation Under God' where we say 'In God We Trust', I give thanks for a country in which this holiday is recognized. Because if it were not for God we would not have this country and this opportunity, nor would we have the people in our lives to show our love, thanks, and gratitude to.

So tomorrow as you gather around the Turkey thank God, but go a step further and actually take action to show your thanks to those in your life!