The Spiritual Realm

I am always saying everything in the visible world came from the invisible world. Everything has spiritual roots.

This week as my son preached, he made the statement..."Where is the devil?," then he said, "he's everywhere you are." I thought what a powerful statement but so true. He is always there in the background trying to distract us, trying to get us to look away from our Creator, trying to get us to trust in our own strength, trying to divert us, to doubt God. Even when we sit down to read our bibles or to pray, what happens? What about when we are in church? Have you ever been distracted, found yourself listening to something going on in your mind.

Anyway, As I listened to him tell a story about driving down the road and he was adjusting his brights, the guy in front of him thought he was bright lighting him, so he decided to have road rage and try to mess with my son. Anyway, the guy pulled up beside them and kept trying to start something, then he would get in front of them and brake, then he wanted them to exit, they acted as if they were going to, then went on as he got off the road.

Eddie was telling how he felt in a way he was running, that he really wanted to stop and get into it with this guy, but he knew this was just not an incident of road rage, it was Satan himself trying to divert him. So he said, "what could have happened if I had stopped?" Could I have hurt this guy because I was so angry?, could he have hurt me?, what about my friends? So many things could have played out if he would've given in to the flesh, but thankfully God was there also and he chose to listen to God, instead of his flesh and Satan.

So many times in life, we forget we are not fighting flesh and blood, but the bible says we fight against principalities, powers and spiritual wickedness in high places. There is a devil and he hates us and his whole goal is to divert, discourage, cause doubt. I am reminded of when King David was going to go up against Goliath, he said, the same God who was with me with the lion and the bear is the same God who will be with me with this Philistine. David knew who was there, although he might not be able to physically see God, He knew He was with him.

So let's remember the same God who was with Daniel in the Lion's den, with Shadrach, Meshach and Abendego in the Fire and with David and the Philistine is the same God who is with us today. He said he would never leave us or forsake us.

The Believer's Armor

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. (Ephesians 6:13-15)

This past weekend my son gave the message at the Boys Correctional Facility. The boys were really down when they came in to the Chapel area. Apparently one of them had lied about something and didn't want to admit it, so they were all being punished.

My son started to play a game with them called Battle, where each side had to find a scripture. Whoever found it first and read got points. They began to get involved and after the game was over, he talked to them about what it was like being a Mavericks ManiACC and being a Christian. He also gave them some of his testimony about growing up. He explained that sometimes we look at people and think they have it all together, but everyone struggles. He explained no one is sucessful without working at it. He went on to talk about how we all want instant gratification and we have a tendency to think if we only had this or that, it would be the thing that satisfies, but no matter what we have, we will never find that satisfaction in things!

As he went through the Armor of God, he mentioned of course all the pieces of armor but talked about how the Breastplate protects our heart and the Helmet of Salvation protects our mind. Then he followed it up with how we need to be looking for answers, for acceptance in God, in His Word because it is the only thing that satisfies.

He also talked about how we sometimes give God a checklist and we say to Him, "God I go to church, I tithe, I serve others, I don't do this, I don't do that and so now God where are you? Why haven't you answered my prayers? Why am I still going through this?

I was so blessed, I could go on and on with all of the points and the things he pointed out in the Armor, but this post would be too long. To make a long story short, I want to say, the boys were all standing and clapping when it was over. They wanted pictures with him and the young man who came with him to play the guitar. I was truly proud of the boys at the Correctional Facility. They were raising their hands and thanking them for taking the time to come and asked them to come back.

I always remember this saying I heard years ago...people may not remember everything you said, but they will remember how you made them feel. I know each boy there felt loved and accepted when we all left. Two came up after the service and asked if we would pray with them to accept Christ. It was an awesome time in the Lord.

Our Eyes, His Eyes

"I will set no wicked thing before my eyes" Psalm 101:3.

I have been doing a study on His eyes and our eyes in the Bible. I was just curious how many scriptures were in the Bible mentioning our eyes looking upon good and evil and His eyes seeing all we do. So here are a few, I haven't finished the Old Testament yet or gotten into the New Testament.

Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD,1 Kings 15:5

1 Kgs. 15: 11
11 And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, aas• did David his father.

Job 10: 4 Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth?

Job 11: 4 For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

Job 15: 12 Why doth thine heart carry thee away? and what do thy eyes wink at,

Job 34: 21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

Ps. 11: 4 The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.

Ps. 19: 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Ps. 25: 15 Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
Ps. 26: 3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.

Ps. 34: 15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

Prov. 3: 7 Be not awise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Prov. 4: 25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

Prov. 5: 21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.

Prov. 6: 4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.

Prov. 12: 15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Prov. 23: 26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways

Prov. 27: 20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

Isa. 1: 16 Wash• you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil

Isa. 5: 21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

Jer. 16: 17 For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity• hid from mine eyes.

Prov. 15: 3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

Prov. 16: 2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own•eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

Prison Ministry

What have I learned in nine years of Youth Prison Ministry. Maria asked me to share some info or insight, so here is a little info. I could write a book of testimonies and things I have learned. I am not the same person I was when I started this ministry.

1. It's God's Work. He is the one who is in the life changing business. We are only the rake or shovel you might say, just raking the ground, moving the dirt, planting seed. Sometimes we get to see the harvest, sometimes we just plant the seed. God told us to go and tell, He will do the rest.

2. Don't be weary in well doing for you will reap if you faint not. This ministry is very exhausting, you will grow as much as the juveniles you minister to. God will show you things about yourself.

3. Focus on Jesus. He created these kids, He loves them. He came to those who are sick and need a Physician, not to those who are well. When you are ministering to them, you must remember, He said I was in prison and you came to visit me.

4. If you only reach one child, it is worth all the effort. How much is a soul worth?

5. The number one thing you must have is Love. These kids don't really know what love is and it is difficult to help them understand unconditional love of the Father.

6. Acceptance. First thing these kids need to know is you accept them for who they are. Most of them joined gangs for acceptance. They werw searching and still are. The gangs gave them purpose, they defined them, they were their family.

7. Truth. Tell them the truth about sin. This might sound strange, but you have to give it to them raw. They have led terrible lives and you have to show them their sin, and then tell them of the Father's mercy and grace. It brings them to repentance.

8. Most of these kids are glad they were caught and they were miserable. Many of them prayed God would intervene. Most of them do not go back home, they go into foster homes, independent living, trade schools, etc.

9. These kids rarely make it without support and accountability, because they never had it. They have done as they wished their whole life.

10. You Do Make A Differance. The fact that you show up week after week speaks volumes to these kids. Although they may not always come to your services, they are waiting for you to notice they were not there. They are watching you, they want you to notice.

11. They are hurting, they are lonely, they are angry and they feel the obstacles are so great they will never be able to break free of the past. They see the dysfunction in their families, they want them to change and support them.

12. Serving in a state facility brings with it many difficulties. You have to remember you are a guest, you follow the same rules as the boys and you will have staff who do not want you there and will prevent you if they can from speaking to the boys. It's important to gain their acceptance too.

13. When I first started going to the facility, I would have boys ask over and over if we were coming back. They have seen many church people come and go, they don't believe you will continue to come.

14. One other thing which I don't focus on, I just have become a very Good Llstener and I confront when I need to, is most of these kids are manipulators and con artists. So listen to them, ask them questions and remember what they told you from time to time.

That is all I am going to share for now.

Purpose Driven Life

I have been gone a few days but now I am back. I think I will share what is going on at my house right now.

I have two boys living with me which most of you have read my posts and know this. Anyway, one of the boys, Kyle turned his life over to Christ about a year and a half ago. He had gotten into some trouble and it finally caught up with him. So when he was put in jail, no one came to see him and it gave him time to think.

After awhile he called his dad whom he didn't live with or have a relationship with, to see if he would let him stay with him. He let him and when he got out, his sister sent him the Purpose Driven Life Book. Kyle was basically isolated from his old friends and the old life and all he had was his room, a bible and this book, so he began to read and in the middle of the Purpose Driven Life Book, it has a prayer where you can pray and ask Christ into your heart.

He didn't know any Christians except my husband Chuck, so he went to work, found my Chuck and told him he had accepted Christ and would he help him to find a church, etc. So long story short, Chuck has mentored him for a year and a half and Kyle lives with us, he studies his bible everyday and is now serving in the Correctional FAcility where we are Chaplains. He is leading twenty boys through the Purpose Driven Life Book now.

We are so excited that Kyle is now sharing and serving others, teaching them the things he has learned and he is loving it. He is so excited and is always ready to sit down and share what he has learned in the Bible today, so if you would could you pray for Kyle's ministry, that God will change the lives of the young men he is serving. Thanks and God Bless.

I Was In Prison

Matthew 25:35-46
"…for I was hungry and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; naked and you covered me; sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to me. Then the just will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?' And answering, the king will say to them, 'Amen I say to you, as long as you did it for one of these, the least of my brethren, you did it for me."

This morning I will go to the Juvenile Correctional Facility and I will look into the eyes of young men who have no hope, some who wonder if they will get a visitor, some who will have accomplished getting a GED or High School Diploma, some who have just learned to read, some who will hear Jesus knocking on the door of their heart and they will open the door and let Him in.

I remember a Pastor by the name of Dr. Chuck Lawless making this statement to me about eight years ago, he said,...."The reason I go to the prisons is because three fourths of the New Testament was written from prison and then I look in the Gospel and Jesus said, I was in prison and you came to visit me. He said, "how can I preach the gospel and not know what it is like inside of a prison."

Dr. Lawless also said when he was first invited to go to the prison he didn't want to go, but finally gave in. He said after his first visit, he could not get the faces of the men and women out of his mind, the ones who would die there, the women who were grammas walking with a walker who would die there.

I hope today in some small way God will use me to speak His Truth and someone will change the direction they are going in. I know nothing except Christ and Him crucified and that is enough. I was once lost, I was hurting, I was angry and a preacher came to my door and shared the gospel with me and I heard Christ knocking and I let Him in.

He changed my direction, He changed my thinking, He changed my life. I have made many mistakes, but I have learned the truth is in the Word. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. So if the Word was God, then the Word is God and that is where I go for answers, that is where I find what I am looking for. I am so thankful today that I know Him!

Some Trust in Chariots

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”--Ps. 20:7

I have been gone for a few days, my mother has been very ill. She has been in the hospital all week. She was able to go home today and I spoke with her on the phone a few times and prayed for her. I am trusting in the Lord My God to give her more time. I know that is selfish, but I am just not ready for her to go on the Glory yet. She has been struggling with a blood clotting disorder and seizures. The seizures leave her confused and unable to articulate what she wants to say. She usually can't remember my name for a few days, but God has brought her back to us again. His mercies are new every morning!

If you would, send up a prayer for my mother! I appreciate it so much!

God Will Make A Way

Tomorrow when we go to the Juvenile Correctional Facility to minister to the boys there, I will be showing the testimonies of Don Moen's album, "God Will Make A Way." Early one morning about 3am, I turned on the television to a Christian Channel and Don was on, as I laid there in bed and listened to the testimonies on this album, all I could do was cry. His music brings me to a point of worship, where I just want to fall on my knees before God. I thought I would share with the inspiration behind his song, "God Will Make A Way." Hope you enjoy it.

Late one evening, Don Moen received a phone call with devastating news: his wife’s sister had lost her oldest son in an automobile accident. Craig and Susan Phelps and their four sons were traveling through Texas on their way to Colorado when their van was struck broadside by an eighteen-wheeler truck. All four boys were thrown from the van.

Craig and Susan located their sons by their cries – one boy was lying in the ditch, another in an area wet from melted snow. Nearby was his brother who landed by a telephone pole. All were seriously injured, but when Craig, a medical doctor, reached Jeremy, he found him lying by a fence post with his neck broken. There was nothing Craig could do to revive him.

When Don received the news of this tragedy a few hours later, he recalls, “My whole world came to a standstill, but I had to get on a plane the next morning and fly to a recording session that had been scheduled for several weeks. Although I knew Craig and Susan were hurting, I couldn’t be with them until the day before the funeral.

“During the flight the morning after the accident, God gave me a song for them: ‘God will make a way where there seems to be no way. He works in ways we cannot see. He will make a way for me.’ The song was based upon Isaiah 43:19 NASB – ‘Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.’”

This song would bring comfort to Craig and Susan when all hope seemed lost. It touched the hurt in their hearts with hope and encouragement. Don received a letter from Susan in which she quoted Isaiah 43:4 NASB: “Since you are precious in My sight, since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life.”

Susan wrote, “ We’ve seen the truth of the scripture.” When Jeremy’s friends learned that he had accepted Jesus into his life before he died, many of them began to ask their own parents how they could be assured of going to heaven when they died. The accident also prompted Craig and Susan into a deeper walk with the Lord as well as into new avenues of ministry. Craig began teaching Sunday school at their church and Susan became active in Women’s Aglow, sharing with various groups her story and the Lord’s provision in her time of sorrow.

She has since said, “The day of the accident, when I got out of the van, even before I knew our son was dead, I knew I had a choice. I could be bitter and angry or I could totally accept God and whatever He had for us. I had to make the decision fast. I’ve seen fruit come as a result of that choice. If I had to, I’d do it again. It’s worth knowing others will go to heaven because of what happened to Jeremy. God really did make a way for us!”

Forgiveness

Have you ever had this happen to you? Recently I had an opportunity to practice forgiveness. First a co-worker decided to speak with a supervisor of mine and accuse me of something I did not do. So after speaking with my supervisor, I advised her I was going to confront the person to find out why they said what they said, because it wasn't true, not even a shred of truth was in it.

Well, upon confrontation this person denied saying anything. So I went back to my supervisor and shared with her they had denied saying anything at all. So she decided to have a meeting to confront the issue and find out the truth.

So we arrive at the meeting and this person changed their story once they got in front of the supervisor. She even stated to the supervisor she was not logging a complaint but just making a passing comment.

I proceeded to say this is not what you said when I asked you about it. She again said it was, so I told the supervisor to pull the tapes because the area where I confronted this person, they tape our conversations. I stated I was not going to argue, I am not the one who started this, so pull the tape of our conversation and then you will know the truth. Well needless to say, this person didn't say anything else and that was the last of the story, because the tapes held the truth.

I sometimes think people have too much time on their hands. It seems they want to gossip about someone or just rattle their tongue for no reason. I am not a person who likes to sit around and gossip. I have even been known when gossip starts to say something like, "Is that true? Is it Kind and Is it Necessary?" It usually stops the conversation. I do it in a kidding way, but the message is the same.

I am not sure why this person said what they said, but I do know I am not responsible for what people do to me, I am only responsible to how I respond to it. So I have been praying for this person and also that I will have a right attitude and not meditate on it. I have learned that in everything that happens, I learn something, it grows me, so I ask God what He is teaching me in this circumstance? Is it about forgiveness? Is it that we don't fight against flesh and blood and this person is not my real enemy, but Satan is? I am not sure what the lesson is, but I pray I have learned from this what God wants me to learn.

Legacy

I was thinking about how Jesus said His words shall not pass away. Isn't that interesting? I was thinking although I could die and everything I own could be gone, but I will still linger in the memory of those who loved me, and perhaps those who knew me. Our words, our lives, our legacy will live on forever.

I know I can't compare my words to the Creator, but still it made me think of how I am living my life and how I will be remembered. Christ is remembered for the Truth He spoke. They hated Him because He spoke the truth, He lived the truth, He was the Truth.

I want people to remember me and how much I loved the Lord. I want to be a reflection of Him. I want to be the person He meant for me to be, to live the life He intended. I want to die and let Him live through me, to want His will, His way in my life, to be a woman after God's own heart.

I was reading something the other day and this guy wrote this prayer and asked God to forgive Him for not loving Him and serving Him as He should. Sometimes I think I am doing all I can, but then as I read that, I too said, Forgive me Lord.

I hope I do make a difference in this world. I want every moment of every day to count. What kind of legacy are you leaving?

How To Make Me Laugh!

If you were to know me in person you would find I am very easily humored. I love to laugh, I find humor in some of the craziest things.

I went to this training and the lady was telling some real life stories of things that had happened to her and I was laughing so hard I couldn't breathe. Oh my she was hilarious. Thankfully my friend was also humored and was laughing too, because no one else in the room was laughing. This lady was an excellent public speaker and she had a way of telling stories without even cracking a smile and it made you laugh all the more.

My sister has a way of telling things that are happening in her life and she makes me laugh. She was telling me some of the mean things my mom says to her and I couldn't help it, I started laughing. It all sounded so ridiculous. At first she was upset, but when I started laughing, she started laughing and couldn't even talk, which made me laugh all the more.

Then I have these kids of mine that when I am with them, they make me laugh. When they were little, they would do something and I had to get their attention, so I would make them all come sit on the couch so I could talk to them. There were three of them and they were one year apart, so you can imagine these little guys, four, five and six, with their big brown eyes and dark brown hair all sitting there waiting on me to reprimand them. I remember thinking once I got them all in there, they looked so cute and adorable, I would start to tell them what they were in trouble for and they looked so innocent, I had to turn around for a minute to keep from smiling or laughing. It was like I would feel this enormous love for them and I just couldn't let them have it like I wanted to. They all turned out to be the greatest kids, God truly blessed me. They all have my sense of humor too, if we are together all we do is laugh.

I could go on and on about laughing, but tell me what makes you laugh?

The Moment of Death

Acts 7:55,56
But he, filled with the holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

At the moment of death do we have our own personal encounter with Jesus? This week our Pastor told a testimony of a man he had known for years. This man had been ill and died, but was brought back to life. When he came back, the first words out of his mouth were, "I saw Him." His wife was standing by his bed, she replied, "What? You saw who?" He said, "I saw Him, I saw Christ." She asked him what he looked like and he replied, "all I can say is he was beautiful, I have never seen anything like Him."

I know the scripture says, "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." But then I also know there are scriptures that talk about those who sleep, so what do you think? Are we asleep until His second coming? Or do you believe like I do, when we die, we rapture and are in His presence at the moment of death?

Change

Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it s threatening because things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better.

I have something that has been pressing on me and I know what the Lord wants me to do, however I have two choices and I have been wanting to do the other. Have you ever felt that way? Do you know what I have done. Nothing!, I have talked to Him about it, but I haven't moved. I know what I have to do and I am going to do it and now I am not so reluctant because I have known from the start it will be for the best. It is not even something big, it's more about trusting Him.

I also am thinking of changing ministries. We have been at the boys home for a year and now that we have a houseful of boys, we are thinking of starting an evening ministry to the inner city ministry of our own small town. The boys can be involved with us too. So with God's leading we will see where this new adventure takes us. I will let you in on what happens in the near future.

I will be gone for about three days, I am going to see my mom, she is doing better, but still has a long ways to go. God has been gracious though, so I am thankful for her sake.

Anyways, pray I make the right decisions, change is Good I hear!

Ok I Gotta Share This!

I thought this was cute. Definately true in my house, the boys either have the remote or the X Box controls in their hand!

I Love This Picture!