Who Am I?

Psalm 100:3 It is He that hath made us and not we ourselves.

I have noticed the best way to hold a conversation with someone is to talk about that person. Have you ever noticed someone can be in your presence and you can be talking to them, they get distracted, forget you are there and go into a different mode. Well, all you have to do is turn the conversation to talk about them, instead of to them and you will have their undivided attention. We are all very interested in ourselves. Talk about me and I will listen.

I think it is more about us searching to find out who we are. What people think of us? When someone stops and says something like, "Did you do something to your hair?" We immediately stop and say, "No why?" or "Yes, do you like it?" We look to others to define who we are. When we need to look to the manufacturer. He made us, He knows who we are. The bible is the owner's manual, we can look to the Word to find out who God created us to be. We have a purpose, there is a plan, a future and a hope for our lives.

When I die, on my tombstone, there will be a date when I entered the world and then there will be a date when I made my exit from this life into eternity. The tiny hypen that separates the two represents the contribution I made while living this life. Did I honor my father? Did my life make a difference? Did I fulfill my purpose or was I too busy thinking about self and neglect what I was created for? Who am I?

King David was a man after God's own heart, he was called a Friend of God. Jacob was a con man, a trickster, momma's boy, but when he wrestled with God, it was then that God revealed to him his true identity. God changed his name to Israel and told him he was a prince. Shedrach, Meshach and Abendego were heathen names that Nebuchadnezzar gave to the three Hebrew boys who were thrown into the fiery furnace, but their real names were Hananiah, "Jehovah is gracious," Mishael, "who is like God," and Azariah, "Jehovah has helped." When they were tested and tried, the names God called them prevailed, they came out of the furnace and I bet they didn't even smell like smoke.

God has shown me a few times a little glimpse of who I am. When my daughter was healed and I wouldn't take no for an answer, I held God to His word, I believed Him with everything in me. I knew I was one of his children, I knew He would answer my prayers. When my father died and they committed his body to the ground and I laid in bed at night anguishing and crying, God is the one who gave me comfort in the midst of the storm. He was there letting me know I still had a Father, that I was His child. When my youngest Daughter had brain surgery and everyone around me was crying, I held fast to Him knowing I belonged to Him and he was going to work it out. When my son was in the hospital in Colorado and was on oxygen, I knew who we belonged to. When I was born again, I was given a royal blood transfusion, I belong to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I am His child, I am an heir to the throne, I am a citizen of heaven. This much I do know, but still is there something else? Is there more to who God says I am?

Sin - An Equal Opportunity Destoyer

The bible defines sin for us, we need to read it, to know it, to memorize it. Psalm 119:11 says, I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

We have become so apathetic in America that we have come to accept sin, rather than confronting it and doing something about it. Our culture flaunts sin, we laugh about it, we tolerate it, we accept it.

Sin is lurking about in our homes, in our lives and we are allowing it. Sin doesn't pick its victims, it's an equal opportunity destroyer. Sin enters into our homes through the things we read, watch and participate in. God created us for good and not for evil. Satan is trespassing on God's property.

America is so worried about offending and being tolerant. Why aren't we worried about offending our Creator? What standard does he have for our lives? What kind of life do we want our children to lead? If we want our children to grow up to respect us and to respect our rules and the rules of society, how much more does God want us to honor Him and play by his playbook. Who else has a standard to live by? If we have no standard, we will fall.

We have been called out of darkness into His marvelous light. Hallelujah, thank you Jesus! I want my life to honor God. I do love Him, I do want to serve Him, I want to please Him, I want my life to reflect Him. Pray for me that I will hold to His standard and be a light to those who are still walking in darkness and an encouragement to those who have been called to walk the walk and to live it out!

I Didn't Make the Rules!

What happens to a society when the rules of life are ignored or mocked? I’m afraid that is what we are seeing in America today. We’re a rich and powerful country. Times have never been better in terms of money and careers. But the America I see is in a spiritual decline.

Our culture glorifies fornication and violence. Television glorifies sex outside of marriage, not to mention other perversions that parade across the TV screens. Just turn on a talk show, you see children disrespecting their parents, gangsta rappers encouraging gunplay and promiscuous sex. Almost every television series now is promoting homosexuality.

Every year I notice a frightening decline of moral and spiritual values. Americans are materialistic, they are chasing the dollar, they are giving into their passions, they are becoming more and more self centered. What about chasing after the things of God? God called King David a man after His own heart. I wonder what God calls me.

God has stated His position. It is not my position, it is God’s position. He told us to go into all the world and preach the gospel and yes people are going to be offended no matter how much love we put into it. Even those in our own families won’t want to hear the truth, but how can we love them if we are silent on the issues that God was very clear about. Was He silent?

I once heard someone say to me, God has a sense of humor. This person was trying to justify his sin. I in love stated, I think God takes sin very seriously. His son gave His life and died the most horrible death imaginable and I believe God inspired sixty six books to be written about the subject, so I would have to say God is very clear on the subject of sin. Fortunately this person told me they had never thought of it that way.

Satan is an imitator, God is a creator. Satan has a counterfeit for all the originals God has provided. He is a liar, a thief and a murderer. He is reeking havoc in America. We must call him out. It is time to stand up, it's time to act. We can make a difference, one heart at a time.

So tell me, have you ever been persecuted for taking God’s position on sin? I have and I don’t like the feeling either, but He changed my life and it took someone telling me the truth in love for me to be able to experience the freedom He has given me in this new life in Christ. So I hope I can encourage you to occupy until He comes and whatever you do, don’t be silent, He wasn’t! He paid the ultimate price for it!

Hearing God's Voice

Between the roar of rush hour traffic, the buzz of airplanes overhead and the constant ringing of the telephone, it's amazing that we can hear our own thoughts—much less the voice of God when He calls out to us.

Tonight at church we started a New Series called "White Noise." It really ministered to me since I do have all these things going on in my life and I am always trying to step up the pace a notch, to accomplish a little more, to be able to lay my head down on the pillow at night and as I collect my thoughts for the day, I can list the things I accomplished, the things I learned and know I gave it my all.

Then I begin to thank Him for being there, for all the blessings, all the mercy and grace He has shown me, for my family, my friends, our leaders and for the things I take for granted. I try to make the time right before I go to sleep be a time of recognizing what I have been given and what I should be thankful for.

Now undoubtably as I began to think upon the Lord that is when the white noise starts. All these voices entering my mind at once. I have to continually say, Lord, forgive me, I was just talking to you and trying to spend time with you when my mind just drifted off to a million other things. I will get back on track and it will happen again, over and over. I end up apologizing to God and asking Him to forgive me several times in my prayers.

I was wondering, do you have White Noise when you pray, or when you are at Church. It seems to me that is the time I really notice it. So today the sermon was right on for me. I was glad I wasn't the only one who drifts off and is thinking about what I need to pick up at the Grocery store or did the dogs get fed or I need to get the oil changed in the car. None of those things are eternal, and I am trying to communicate and have a conversation with my Creator, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He deserves my undivided attention, but it seems I have a hard time blocking all these other things out, so I can hear the only voice that matters...the Voice of the living God.

So do you have problems when you go before the Throne of God? Do you have white noise? I was so glad to find out I am not the only one who struggles with clearing my mind and spending time with Him uninterrupted. And if you do, how do you cope with it? Is there a secret to blocking it out?

Meet My Kids and I

This is a picture of me in my uniform. I posted this picture about a month ago. I was about to go to work, but I didn't set the date on the camera. Anyway...the following are pictures of my kids, so you can tell me if any of them look like me. lol I will try to share a little about each of them.

Some of the blog world made comment that I look short, but I am actually 5 ft 8 in tall, but my dresser is pretty tall. I will have to post some other pictures of me later, but this one was taken in either late August or early September 2005.

Hope you all enjoy meeting my family, I will have to post a picture of Chuck later, so you can meet him too. I will be sure to do that along with some pictures of the boys, Kyle and Joseph.


Happy Birthday Samantha!!! Please visit Samantha and her pomeranian Theo. Her birthday is today and Msthang gave her a shout for her birthday, so if you would wish her a Happy Birthday I am sure she would love you for it.
http://www.lavalocust.blogspot.com , Samantha is a Microsoft Certified Professional and she has an Associate degree. Presently she is working for a City in Planning and Zoning, and going to school to be a Civil Engineer, she is also Praise & Worship Leader at the Juvenile Correctional Facility. She's going to Italy in January to visit Msthang!

Now if you will go to my son Eddie's site at http://postednote.com, here he is with his girlfriend, so tell him and Cat hello! I am not sure what they are looking at in this picture, but it must be interesting!
Eddo works with computers. He actually is with a Mobile Solutions team, he supports Blackberry and Treos.

He has a BA in Business Admininstration and is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. He has been to China on a Mission trip, is going to New York next month on a mission trip and has mentored eight boys since they were in ninth grade and they are all in college now.



Then my daughter Precious is at http://americanpridekaraoke.com, she is having her first baby in December, it's a little boy, so give her a shout at precious@americanpridekaroke.com,
I am sure she would be surprised and excited to hear from all of you!


Here is Precious and her husband Richard. Richard works in Information Technology, I am not sure what his title is. He and Precious are scuba diving certified and own American Pride Karoke. Richard is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and I am sure he has other certs but I have no idea what they are.

Precious is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, along with many other certifications I couldn't list all of them here, she has worked in the computer field traveling to Singapore, Mexico and many places in the US, but was laid off, so she recently went to school to get her Real Estate license. They are anxiously waiting the arrival of their new baby boy, Aiden.

So tell me, do you think any of them look like me? Most people for some reason think I am their stepmother and think Chuck is their father, but that is not the case. He is quite a bit older than me and I've been told I don't look old enough for them to be my kids. If that is the case, I sure hope it lasts.

Love Thy Neighbor

This week I have been thinking alot about what is really important in life? What matters? I have a tendency to watch people. I drive down the road and wonder where the people are going and how many are lost or hurting? Am I just going about my business or do I notice when my co-worker needs to talk, when my neighbor feels like there is no way out, when my family needs more of my time, or when my friend just needs me to listen? Do I even notice?

I wonder about the guy across the street from me who decided to put a shotgun to his chest and blow himself away. What was he thinking? Did he even consider the effect it would have on his wife and kid when they came home and found him in the front room of their home? What drove him to that point, why did he think it was the only way out? Why didn't we notice something was wrong? Why didn't we sense he felt hopeless? Am I too caught up in what I am doing to notice my neighbor is hurting?

Then I wonder about the man who was laying in the street last week who was found curled up in a fetal position. He was hit in the face by a young 21 year old male. When he hit the ground, he hit his head on the cement. He was careflighted to a local hospital, but died later in intensive care. Now his life is over and so is the young man who hit him, who is charged with murder. What were they doing? What was the thing that made him so angry, worth going to prison for the rest of his life?

What about the thirty year old man whose body was found in the lake? Did he end it himself or did someone do something to him? I wonder who he left behind? I wonder who missed him? I wonder if he planned it? Who did he leave behind?

What about the twenty two year old female who was working where my sister works. She said she wasn't feeling well. She thought there was a problem with her insulin, so she called her mom on the phone. She'd only been working for a week, her mother told her to suck it up and stay at work. She finally convinced her mom to come and get her. That night she laid down, then got up really sick, her mother took her to the hospital, she had a blood infection, she died the next morning.

God is always watching, He sees us when we are hurting. He also sees us when we pass others by. I think about the Good Samaritan. In the story there were those who passed by, then there was the one who stopped and did what He could. I hope God opens my eyes to those I can reach in my neighborhood, at my workplace, in my family, so I am not the one who just walks by, but I stop and do what I can. Mother Teresa was just a little pencil in God's hand and she was used mightily, she was Jesus to all those she ministered to. How humbling it is for me to think about her service for Christ.

One person can make a difference. I want to be an inspiration, not for my recognition or glory but for His! I want to be a light, a tiny match setting a forest fire! This week, I am going to look for anyone I see who is hurting, I am going to purposely see who I can help everyday. I mean like people I usually just pass by, I am going to let Jesus love them through me. I am going to love my neighbor!

Drug Addiction

The path to drug addiction begins with the act of taking drugs. Over time, a person's ability to choose not to take drugs can become compromised. Drug seeking becomes compulsive, in large part as a result of the effects of prolonged drug use on brain functioning and, thus, on behavior.

Alcohol
Cocaine
Ectasy
Hallucinogens
Herion
Marijiuana
Methamphetamine

I am tired of Drugs! I am so sick of them I could scream! I am fighting them with all I have. There everywhere! My job at the PD, I see the effects. We would not even have a property crimes unit if it weren't for Drugs. Then at the boys home, the one thing I have such a hard time fighting is Drug Addiction.

It is only through the power of God can this bondage be broken. Drugs have such a stronghold, when they take over a person's life. A person who uses cannot see the tree for the forest. It starts out as experimenting, then continues to escalate until it is Slavery and it doesn't even stop there, it goes from possession, to selling and distributing, to destroying other lives with it. Oh God, do we ever need your delivering hand in this time!!!

Over and over again, I see these boys give up everything and for what? I am so angry! Right now I am dealing with a boy whom I love so very much and he is using again. He is going to fall, the writing is on the wall and yes I know it will be the best thing for him, but it sure is hard to stand by and watch it happen. All I can do is pray and allow God to work it out. I know He will.

Update On Joseph!

This post is about Joseph, the young man who is living with us from the boys home. A few weeks back I posted about him and many of you prayed for Him. God hears, He answers and He amazes me.

Joseph is really striving to grow in Christ. I told you previously, he was a drug addict by the time he was twelve years old and he had no hope of being drug free. Well, today he is drug free. He is volunteering at the Juvenile Correctional facility where he was incarcerated for two years. Every Monday night he goes to talk to the boys incarcerated there to share with them how they too can have a new life, and God is using him incredibly.

This week he wanted to share his testimony and some of what God was teaching him. He shared these verses....1 Peter 2:1-3 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted the Lord is good.

He began by saying how he had been half stepping, he said he knew what God wanted him to do, but he had to be honest about it, that he had been lazy, but God wanted him to crave pure spiritual milk. He said if I weren't half steppin, I would have been in the word every day this week instead of two or three times. He then broke this scripture down to the boys of what God wanted them to do...1) Get rid of all Malice, 2)deceit, 3)Hypocrisy, 4)Envy and 5)slander of any kind, 5)like newborn babies...CRAVE pure spiritual milk, so you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted the Lord is good. He explained how God was telling us what He wanted us to do, that He wanted us to spend time in the Word because HE IS THE WORD and the word has every answer we need, that we are always looking everywhere else for the answer when the answer is in front of us in God's word. He broke it down by showing how God wants us to get rid of these things, so we can GROW UP in our salvation. I was sitting there thinking, wow and he is just a baby Christian and God is opening the eyes of His understanding in a very dramatic way.

After he spoke, he asked if anyone wanted to give it up and give their life to Christ. There were three boys who came forward that had never asked Christ to come into their hearts, then another boy asked if he could pray again with the three and when he got up to come forward, six more got up with him. So here is Joseph in a circle with all these boys aged 13 to 18 praying and asking God to change their lives and to forgive them for their sins and allow them to be a light to their families. I was so moved!, I still am.

On the way home, he leaned up on the seat and he said, I get so mad at myself because I know what God wants me to do and I still sometimes want the old things of life. We ministered to him, then when we got home, he comes in with his bible and wants me to sit at the table so he can show me how he is learning to break down the scriptures through a bible study he is doing called Bible Study Methods and Interpretations. He was so enthusiastic and excited he could barely contain himself!

All I can say is Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! The greatest miracle of all is a changed life. He has taken a boy out of the projects, put him in a correctional facility for two years, broken him and is now leading and guiding him, so he can use him for His glory. I am so happy to get to just watch, as God carefully constructs His masterpiece!

Halloween - What Do You Think?

Halloween is coming up soon. I personally don't celebrate the holiday but I was wondering where you stand. Most people I know feel it is a totally harmless holiday, but I personally base my decision on 1 Thess. 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. Now to me, that means many things, I mean such as hating our brother, or lying, participating in something we know is wrong.

I might be an extremist, I mean I don't run around telling people I dont think they should celebrate Halloween but I do have people ask me whether I celebrate or not. I usually explain most of our holidays in America originated from pagan roots, but this one just seems to have much to do with the dead, witches, skeletons, ghosts, ghouls, bats and demons. I also realize there are some cartoon costumes, etc, but the majority seems to center around the other. So, I made the decision not to participate. Of course I also do not watch anything on TV or at the movies that appears evil or scary. The bible says the eyes are the window to our soul and King David said, I will put no evil thing before my eyes. Psalm 101:3

Halloween origin

The term "Halloween" derives from Hallowe'en, an old contraction, still retained in Scotland and some parts of Canada, of "All Hallow's Eve," so called as it is the day before the Catholic All Saints holy day, which used to be called "All Hallows," derived from All Hallowed Souls. In Ireland, the name was Hallow Eve and this name is still used by some older people. Halloween was formerly also sometimes called All Saints' Eve. The holiday was a day of religious festivities in various northern European pagan traditions, until it was appropriated by Christian missionaries (along with Christmas and Easter, two other traditional northern European pagan holidays) and given a Christian reinterpretation. In Mexico, All Saint's Day, following Halloween, is the Day of the Dead.

Halloween is also called Pooky Night in some parts of Ireland, presumably named after the púca, a mischievous spirit.

In the United Kingdom in particular, the pagan Celts celebrated the Day of the Dead on Halloween. The spirits supposedly rose from the dead and, in order to attract them, food was left on the doors. To scare off the evil spirits, the Celts wore masks. When the Romans invaded Britain, they embellished the tradition with their own, which is the celebration of the harvest and honoring the dead. These traditions were then passed on to the United States.
Halloween is sometimes associated with the occult. Many European cultural traditions hold that Halloween is one of the "liminal" times of the year when the spirit world can make contact with the natural world and when magic is most potent (see, for example, Catalan mythology about witches).

Anyway, what do you think? I really want to know your stand on Halloween.

Trusting God

I was watching Christian television the other day and the preacher stated, the hardest thing you may ever do in the Christian life is not allow yourself to fix something that you know can fix just because you have the ability to fix it.

I honestly believe he was speaking right to me. I am so tempted sometimes when I see someone struggling to want to just fix the problem for them. I see them in pain, I see them hurting, I know what it will take to fix it and of course they know I can fix it and they want me to fix it. But I have to back up and get out of God's way and trust Him to work it out.

It is so difficult for me sometimes when I have to make myself sit by and watch while God works out His plan. I am talking about when someone has been shown the way and through bad choices they continue old behaviors and the only way they will receive deliverance is to work through the situation.

Oh My Goodness, it is all I can do not to want to fix it, but where there is no struggle there is no strength. God knows what we need. God takes us through the valley sometimes to get us to give up and give it to Him, because doing it our way does not work. It is thru my mistakes and experiences that God has brought me to the place I am. No one bailed me out or delivered me, and I am the better person for it, God knew what I needed.

I am sure you have heard this story but I always remind myself of it when I find I am about to give in and get in God's way.....

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could,and it could go no further. So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly. What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. We could never fly!

What about you, have you ever been tempted to fix something you shouldn't?

I've Been Busy!!

What was supposed to be a time of rest and relaxation turned out to be a very busy weekend led right on into the week.

I went to the Ranch on Sunday morning to have Sunday Am Services for the boys, which I enjoyed immensely. Then upon leaving there I arrived at the American Airlines Center around 11:30, stood in line for an hour, then was able to get a very good seat to watch the Mavericks and see my son, along with my daughter and her friend.

After the game was over, I went to the Mavericks store and bought a baseball cap to put on because I decided to spend the rest of the day at the Texas State Fair and since my hair is long, I didn't want to fight it blowing in my face.

On Monday, I left home early to go see my mother in Duncan, Okla. to check on how she was doing. My mother wanted me to go next door to pray for my brother because he had been taken to Emergency the night before with a back injury. He was getting along pretty well. We talked and shared what was going on in my life and his, when I decided I had better go back to see my mother before I left town.

On this particular day my mom was feeling like she needed to give us a tongue lashing, I guess just to make sure we remembered who the boss was. I normally don't say anything, but I decided to share with her how we all need to love one another and none of us are perfect, yada, yada, yada. I guess I was tired because normally I don't say anything, I just tell her okay.

Anyway, I left Oklahoma and upon arriving back in Texas I get a call from the girlfriend of one of the boys who lived with us previously. She didn't know what was wrong with him, he was depressed and wouldn't talk to anyone, not his mother, brother, sister or anyone, so I told her to tell him to call me. He did call later, we discussed some things that were going on, I encouraged him and made plans to meet him this coming Monday.

Tuesday I am back at work and my supervisor asks if I will work six days next week, so I of course told him I would do whatever was needed. Wednesday I got a call that my brother is again in the hospital with a blood infection. They are still running tests, I am not sure what is wrong right now. I intended to go up there, but they thought he would be getting out of the hospital the next day, but he is still there.

Anyway Wednesday I went to bed early after working all night and stayed there until time to go to work. I was exhausted, but now I am back rested and ready to go again.

Life is never boring and is full of unexpected happenings. It's funny, I plan my days but they never usually turn out the way I expect them to. I'm not complaining, today as I was praying, I was just thanking God for all the many blessings he has given me.

So I am back now and you will be hearing from me for the next few days, I will be visiting all your blogs and catching up. Hugs for all of you, hope all is well.

THE GOSPEL

Have any of you seen this movie yet. I went to see it tonight after church. At first I thought it was too much, but by the time the movie got to the end, I had fought the tears back about three or four times. It really is a story of redemption.

I wondered if the same author who wrote Dairy of A Mad Black Woman authored this movie as well, some of the same actors were in it.

I am happy to see movies like this showing up where usually only secular movies are shown. The theater was pretty packed, hopefully it was a mixture of the saved and lost. Anyway, if you go see it, tell me what you think!!

God Knows His Name!

Last night I was getting off at the PD when a young man who used to live with me showed up. This boy is nineteen and used to be in a gang, he couldn't go home to his hometown without fear of being killed if he didn't want to be a part of the gang.

He has been here for almost a year now and is working, paying bills, struggling because he just lost his car, but he is doing okay. He isn't attending church and God is probably the last person he thinks about, but nonetheless, I continue to pray the seeds planted in his heart will grow and one day a harvest will break forth.

I was happy to see him. He had worked a double shift and had gotten off work, and just dropped by to talk. He has a sadness in his eyes, I know he isn't happy. Who can be without the Lord??? There is no peace in a life without God. I know cause I have been there and I wouldn't turn back for anything. Nothing is worth giving up what God has been so gracious to give me.

Everything begins and ends with God. He gave me life and one day I will stand before Him. I am glad I am His child. I want things to be right between He and I. I pray this young man will one day have the peace I have. Pray for him, will you? God knows his name.

Distracted!

Lately, I have been unusally tired. I haven't been getting enough sleep. I always push my self to the limit. I am very busy and I could share with you alot of things I do, but I have decided to go on strike. I have made up my mind that I am going to take care of me. I am going to get plenty of rest and I am going to go out this weekend to see the Mavericks play ball and to see my son. I will also see my daughters and get to enjoy time with them. I am going to rest and have fun, then I will take up next week, where I left off.

One thing I notice when I get really tired, I become distracted. Sometimes I just become ineffective. I am really trying to pursue the Lord in all things. I was reading the other day something about how people are always looking for someone to mentor them, but God wants us to pursue Him. We can get caught up in reading books, listening to sermons or serving to the point we don't have time for God.

A friend of mine is always buying a new book from the Christian book store. I always hold her accountable and ask her how much she is spending time in God's word and allowing God to speak to her personally.

I know in my life, I want God to speak directly to me. I know He uses other people, but I remember when I first began my christian life, I heard a sermon about quiet times, getting alone with God, seeking Him, pursuing Him. The speaker said sometimes we depend too much on others to do our studying for us. We began to feed on stagnant water instead of going to God and asking for a fresh outpouring from Him. That has stuck with me all through the years.

I know when I spend time with Him, I am effective, I have the power to go on and do what He has called me to do. I want a deeper relationship with him. A closeness. I want to know Him more, I want to love Him more.

My prayers will be with you all. This week, I feel impressed to add each of your names to my Prayer Journal and the needs you have expressed so I will be consistent in taking them before the throne of God. Be sure to list any requests you might not have mentioned so I can write them down and agree with you in prayer. He hears and He answers. Hugs to you all!

The Bible and Hell

I am going to try to not make this post too long so here's a few of the Scriptures I have found concerning hell.....I believe the bible describes it as a very real place. So perhaps many of you will have insight as to these scriptures.

Matthew 12:40 talks about Jesus descending into hell..."For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly: so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the HEART OF THE EARTH. It sounds to me like hell is in the center of the earth.

The man in (Lk.)16:24 cries: ". . .I am tormented in this FLAME."In Matthew 13:42, Jesus says: "And shall cast them into a FURNACE OF FIRE: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."In (Mt.25:41), Jesus says: "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting FIRE,. . ."(Rev.20:15) says, " And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the LAKE OF FIRE."

Jesus says of the man in Luke 16: 23 "And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in TORMENTS. "24 ". . . for I am TORMENTED in this FLAME."28 ". . .PLACE OF TORMENT

I believe the Bible describes it as weeping (Matt 8:12), wailing (Matt 13:42), gnashing of teeth (Matt 13:50), darkness (Matt 25:30), flames (Luke 16:24), burning (Isa 33:14), torments (Luke 16:23), everlasting punishment! Jesus says in Matthew 25:41, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."In Matthew 13:42, Jesus says: "And shall cast them into a FURNACE OF FIRE :there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."

Rev. 14:11: "The smoke of their TORMENT ascendeth up for EVER AND EVER: and they have NO REST DAY NOR NIGHT."

In Numbers 16, is this an earthquake or is it people falling into hell alive!???? "And THE EARTH OPENED HER MOUTH, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive INTO THE PIT, and the EARTH CLOSED UPON THEM:"( Num.)16:32-33 In Mark 9:46, Jesus says about hell: "Where THEIR WORM dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."Rev 14:10) says, " . . . and he shall be tormented with fire and BRIMSTONE . . ." And Job 18 describes the " . . . PLACE of him that knoweth not God" (vs 21), in verse 15 as, " . . . BRIMSTONE shall be scattered upon his habitation."

I could share even more scriptures but this post would be too long, but one thing I want to bring to your attention that I am curious about is where Jesus talks about where their worm never dies. I have heard that interpreted different ways. One being perhaps that Jesus was talking about our bodies??? Since as a Christian we will have a new and glorified body like our Father God, will those whose Father is the devil take on a body like his, which is described as a dragon or serpent?

Another thing I have heard is scientists have discovered eight foot worms called Riftia near the ocean vents where fire is leaking out in the bottom of the ocean. From my understanding the crust of the earth has different degrees of thickness. I mean where we are standing is about 15 miles thick but in places on the ocean floor it is only maybe a mile thick, in my own understanding I am thinking...okay, these worms live only near these fire seeping vents in the ocean, so is this where they are comiing from? Is hell infested with eight foot long worms?

Don't think I am nuts, this is not something I spend alot of time on, I have just researched it on my own and have heard several testimonies about what someone said they saw when they were pronounced dead and brought back. I am thinking like Maria at http://girlmiami.blogspot.com/, it's not a place I want to ever go!

So please give me your input, fts http://www.followthatstar.com/ ....you seem to have studied alot, can you tell me anything more or maybe make this clearer?

A Place Called Hell?

I meet many people who proclaim to know Christ but claim there is no such thing as hell and the devil. I beg to differ on this subject. The Bible continually warns of a place called hell. There are over 162 references in the New Testament alone which warns of hell. And over 70 of these references were uttered by the Lord Jesus Christ! Personally I think it is a subject that should be researched and of course I believe the bible is truth, so if the bible says it, I believe it and that settles it.

Three people die every second, 180 every minute,10,800 people an hour. An automobile accident. . . A heart attack. . , A stroke. . .One thing is CERTAIN — we will all DIE — today. . . tomorrow . . . a week. . . a month . . . a year. . . 5 years. . . 10 years. . . 20 years. . . 50 years — so where will they spend eternity? Heaven or Hell?

There are people I know personally who will die and go to into either eternal life or eternal damnation. I don't judge their heart or question their salvation but I do try to my light shine? If the Holy Spirit nudges me to witness I try my best to be obedient. I look for opportunities to share what Christ has done in my life and if He did it for me, He will do it for them!

So what do you believe? Is there a place called heaven and is there a place called hell?

Miracles Sometimes Come As Guitars!

My daughter and I are teaching the boys at the Juvenile Correctional Facility to play the guitar. They must keep their behavior in check, attend church, attend all classes and they will get to take their guitar home with them when they leave if they are successful in following the guidelines laid out for the class. Our goal is to teach them how to play Christian songs, so they can go home, play for their families and maybe even lead them to the Lord.

In the beginning my daughter went to a pawn shop and made a deal with them to buy some Johnson guitars with a gig bag for $99.00 each. So she would pay for half and I would pay for half. The miracle in all this is.... later there was a gentleman who called me from Tennesee saying he had heard about what we were doing and he wanted to contribute. So every year around November he calls me and wants to know how many guitars we need for the year. I give him the amount and he sends usually 10 or 12 Takamine guitars, which arrive right before Christmas.

So on Christmas morning we always go to the facility, we take the guitars and we also give every boy a gift, usually it consists of a bag with socks, hygiene items, candy, sweatshirts, a christian tshirt, paper, pens and envelopes. The boys are normally very depressed and are totally surprised that we come. We play Christmas carols and the songs we sing in church, tell the Christmas story and pray for them. Then it's picture time. We take their pictures by the tree so they can send it home, and then we are off to celebrate with our families. God provides our needs in many different ways, we are no one special, we just want to share with these boys that the Lord is their Creator and He loves them so very much.

The guitar is an instrument that actually is very relaxing to play. I also think it is very therapuetic. You can sit down to play for a few minutes and realize two hours has gone by. It is a positive alternative for the boys who are released, to perhaps continue to play and have a dream fulfulled. I am not sure what God is going to do with it, but I do know He has a plan, He has orchestrated it, so He will finish it. I praise Him for letting us have a small part in His incredible plan for all of our lives. Do any of you play the guitar or another instrument?