May 8, 2012 When I was a kid, there was a little candy store right across from the school I attended. For a nickel you could pick out a good handful of candies. There were quite a few penny candies to choose from. The only problem I had was choosing which ones to buy. If I got the banana candies, then I might wish I had gotten the bubble gum. It became very important to choose the right one. Learning to make a candy decision and sticking with it was a valuable life lesson. Enjoy what you’ve got. Tomorrow you could choose another type of candy. We have spiritual delights we can partake of as well. Praise, worship, Scripture, prayer, faith, and more. Unlike the nickel’s worth of candies, we can partake of as much as our hearts desire. It’s laid out for us with no restrictions. No sign that says “Take One” or any mention of having enough money before you choose. While each one of the spiritual delights is priceless, we can lay hold of them without paying. Unlike everything else in this world, from penny candies to motorcycles, which have a cost, sometimes huge for the purchaser, the gifts of God come free to the seeker. About all it takes to truly enjoy the gifts of God is whole heartedness. Oh beloved, have you been seeking the Lord? Are you desiring more from Him? Have you seen His storehouse of blessings through the window but not gone in to partake? What’s holding you back? The Lord’s storehouse is full and every delight is for you! Not only that, but He never runs out, so that no matter how much you enjoy, there’s always plenty. Perhaps you’ve seen it in others, but are holding back for fear of what friends might think if you abandon everything else and just go for God’s blessings and gifts? Today is the only day we’ve been promised. Just like the candy decision, we have to make a decision for these 24 hours. But oh beloved, and you are so incredibly beloved, once you have tasted of His heavenly gifts and basked in the light of His love, there’s no going back. He will always provide for you, always delight in you and always be with you. His gifts never run out and His blessings never go away. Try Him today. Abandon yourself in Him and watch as you enter His storeroom of love! Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Psalm 147:11 No, the LORD’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love. Psalm 103:1 Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Isaiah 55:1 “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Jeremiah 24:7 I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.

Godly. We hear it spoken of often. He's a Godly man. She's a Godly woman. I have those people in my life who I consider just that. Godly. Often, though, I begin to think of Godly as something to work on, dig in about, crunch the numbers on. I find that Godly is hardly attainable as I try to reach. Picture this if you will. You are caught in a flood. The helicopter comes and the rescuers are there to pluck you from your certain death. What would happen if the helicopter hovered over the spot and the rescuers called out, get up here if you can. We're waiting. Here's a rope. You are going to try to get yourself out of the water, tie the rope around your tummy and then procede to climb it. The water is lapping, the wind from the helicopter's blades is whipping you around and your without the strength to climb that 100 feet into the air. Now picture the truth. The helicopter arrives and the rescuer comes down to where you are and sets you securely in the ropes, hugs you tightly and goes all the way with you to the waiting security of the helicopter. One instance you saved yourself. Other instance you were saved by others. We are Godly because we have been set into a place of privileged that is totaly undeserved by our own merit, ability and strength. Without a Rescuer who has done all the work for us, we are doomed. We can't bob just above water forever. Our own works cannot save us, for eventually our human weakness will betray us. But the Lord, Our Rescuer, is at hand! His mighty arm will reach down at just the right time to save you to the uttermost. And, if you are saved, His grace will keep you from drowning and set you upon the Rock. Oh beloved, run to Him - His arms are strong, His strength is complete and His love is everlasting. Whatever you've been going through, He will see you through it. Whatever you've been drowning in, He is able to take you out of it and dry you off and give you the grace to be the Godly person you are called to be. Let Him lift you this morning. Let Him be the Lord to you. Let Him show you that it is He who pronounces you godly and He who will see you safely home. 2 Peter 2:9 A if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials.... Romans 3:22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. 1 Corinthians 6:11 Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. Jude 1:24 Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

Root or Shoot!

Root or shoot. Last night we went to a grandson's ballgame. Before the game he told me he wanted me to hoop and holler when he hit the ball. So, being the good grandmother I am, I did just that! Once he hit the ball so well that I hollered, Woo Hoo! Way to go Blakely! As he left home plate to run towards 1st base he turned to look at me with such glee in his eyes! He loved being rooted for! I thin...k he grew in stature a couple of inches. He was proud of himself and he knew that we all were proud of him. It can go differently for kids. Sometimes parents major on the minors. They critique to the point that instead of building their kids up they put them down. You see the outcome in various ways. low shoulders, shrugs, head down, and even taunting of other kids, eager to point out their mistakes. Oh beloved, perhaps you've been shot down. Instead of someone rooting for you, you feel you're being shot at! You try to dodge the bullets of anger, animosity, unforgiveness and fault finding. Maybe you've been the brunt of it so long you find yourself doing the same thing to others. Shooting always finds victims, but rooting always brings victory! I promise, on the authority of God's Word that He never shoots, He always roots. Even when His children are having problems, He's there in the stands whooping and waving you on to victory! He's walking with you into the dugout when the world says You're Out! He's holding your hand and telling you to hang in there beloved! He loves you, He has a wonderful plan for your life and He's nicknamed you Winner! Romans 15:4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. Ephesians 4:29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Philippians 2:1-2 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Isaiah 41:10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Psalm 62:7 My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.

Are You Traveling Alone?

Last week-end we decided to take a leisurely ride with another couple. Neither of us have much free time to ride, but Saturday morning came and we met to eat breakfast together and decide what we were going to do. As we were eating a biker couple came in and the wife started up a conversation. They were from Louisiana and had been here 3 days but only been to Hot springs and back. They wondered if there were any good roads around the area. Danny knows the roads well so after some talk, the couple decided to ride with us. The route Danny took them on was beautiful and they saw sights they had no clue of. Oh beloved, are you out riding alone? Are you wondering where the beauty of the Lord is? Lone riders in unknown territory rarely know the best routes. Have you lost sight of the view from God's perspective? There is a better way. Don't go it alone. Run to the Ultimate Guide, the Word of God and ask the Lord. He will send you to the right "ride group", He'll give you good company to travel with and He'll guide you all the way to His destination.

Ephesians 2:20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.

Acts 1:14 They all met together and were constantly united in prayer..."

1 John 1:3 We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

Colossians 2:6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him

Stormy Weather

It's been storming and the floods covered some roads. The sky has been dark and clouds roll ominously. Some have watched the skies for the telltale signs of something worse. After only a couple of days, most of us are tired of it and wishing for sunshine and clear blues skies. Oh beloved, storms come in so many ways - sickness, sorrow, depression, rejection, fear, heartbreak, temptation and more. Just as the power goes off during many storms, we find ourselves powerless during hard times. But oh beloved, there is One Who is the Captain of our Way, the Keeper of our Lives and the Power in our powelessness. Call out His Name! Speak out His Word! He loves you and He's on your side and nothing else really matters and no storm will overtake us when we trust in Him! Psalm 31:21 Praise be to the LORD,for he showed me the wonders of his love when I was in a city under siege. Psalm 62:7 My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. Deuteronomy 4:7 Deuteronomy 4:7 For what great nation has a god as near to them as the LORD our God is near to us whenever we call on him? Psalm 91:15 Psalm 91:15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.

What Needs? All of Them!!!!

"My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory".

What are you needing this morning? It's not just your physical needs He provides. It's your spiritual and emotional needs as well. Maybe you don't have it in you to forgive, love or overlook others, but God has promised to do all that for you.

He also provides fellowship with Himself, so that even when we are alone, we are never lonely. He provides friendship, so that when others forsake us, we are comforted in Him. He provides forgiveness, so that when we know our hearts condemn us, we can receive from Him the forgiveness we need. And, this forgiveness is more awesome than for ourselves. We then can give out forgiveness to others!

Run to His well of supplies and draw from His reserves. Everything is found in Him!

Psalm 33:21
In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.

Proverbs 30:5
“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Nahum 1:7
The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,

2 Corinthians 1:19
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.”

All You and I Ever Need Beloved

"He knows it's scary to be us. He does not take lightly what you are going through. He feels it. He respects it. Esteems it." (Beth Moore)

And,because of His character and His Word He is with you in every thing you go through.

He is the unseen Hand walking you down the corrider of fear, illness, regret.

He is the umbrella shading you from the relentless heat of the hard days.

He is the Cloud covering your way in the desert of loneliness.


The Husband Who never leaves or forsakes.

The Gardener Who never leaves you to pick your own weeds.

The Shepherd Who always makes sure you lead to green pastures.

He is All you ever needed and ever will need.

God is My Restorer

We just got back from a 10 day 3500 mile motorcycle trip!
Yes, I rode the WHOLE way. Well, there was that couple of miles
in the wrecker with my friend, Sherry, but that's another story!

It was a learning experience! I don't always want to learn everywhere I go, but I must need lots of teaching, because God just keeps going with me. And, wherever I go I need teaching.

Thankfully, His learning cUrVe is huge for me! Isn't that great? He loves me. Therefore, He works with me where I'm at.

This is just one of the many things He taught me. Some things I cannot share because they are just between me and Him. But here's something I hope someone might be able to glean from:

God is my Restorer.

On our trip we saw many old cars and trucks.
Lots of them were rusting in fields, rendered useless
by the elements.

But as we visited the Route 66 Museum, we saw
old trucks of the same type -only they had been
restored. Their paint shone in the lights and the chrome
was polished to perfection.

Same vehicles, but because someone had cared enough
to do something about their poor condition,
they had been restored.

Most of us just throw away old cars. Trade them in.
Put them out to pasture.
It's a lot of trouble to put that much care into
a classic. It's hard work from the get go.

Out to pasture.
But then someone comes along
and sees what could be and he begins
the process not caring how long it will take.

Jesus cares about us like that.
He takes our useless lives, rusty from sin
and walking in the flesh.

He buffs us.
He polishes us.
He recreates us.

Why does He do this?
Why does He take the time to
restore us, when He could just
move on with someone new?

Hosea 6:2
In just a short time He will restore us, so that we may live in His presence.

Thank you Lord, for fixing us up for YOUR glory and YOUR honor
and just so that we can live in YOUR Presence!

And He also says in His Word:

Joel 2:25
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

Psalm 23:3
He restores my soul...

Isaiah 57:18
I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.

FACEBOOK

Okay, okay, somebody said, "You HAVE to get on facebook!" Well, it seems I had already tried to sign up with my email sometime back and signed in as Danny Beene, so now actually DANNY is on facebook! hehe

And, funnier than that, one of his buddies from northeast Arkansas is on there too! He found Danny! Okay, grandpas on facebook - that's a good one.

Guess it's for everybody.

Just like the Gospel. One size fits all. One Savior does all for us. It doesn't matter if you like social networking or talking on the phone. Jesus is the Person who never hangs up, never uses up His minutes or yours and never has a computer crash! That sounds silly, but the fact is, in this world of ours, with tumbling 401 K's and stock market plummets, housing prices going down, etc. - we are most fortunate to have Jesus, who is not only on top of all the world's problems, He is for us!

God loves you and me. And, He's FOR US! Get it? Whatever problems you are facing today, or whatever "thing" you are doing that you'd rather not do, God loves you and He's for you!

He's on your side and do you realize how big that is? Psalm 118:6 READ IT! BELIEVE IT!

Today, may you realize, more than ever before that GOD LOVES YOU and HE'S FOR YOU!
Get it down in your spirit, so you can live it out and after you begin to live it out you'll give it to others! You can't help but give out what comes to you.

Have a good day - and what? That's right! God Loves You and He's for You!!!!!!

Amazing Grace - Il Divo

Okay, this video was sent to me recently. But for some reason, all the imbedding has been disabled, so all I can say is, go to youtube and watch. But get out the hankies.

Il Divo is singing Amazing Grace in the ruins of the Coliseum at Rome! Imagine if you dare all those beloved saints who lost their lives there, simply because they were Christians.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtrnB4FZ-yc

So Great a Cloud of Witnesses!

This morning as I was having my quiet time, God reminded me of some wonderful things He is doing in the lives of His beloved believers.

He gave us the wonderful Book of Remembrance, the Bible, which is full of witnesses to all of us. There's King David - his life reminds us His call is without repentance, namely who God puts a call on God puts a call on. He is also a reminder of the importance of repentance and of moving on with God. If you are one who is struggling with an issue or a problem right now, give it to Him, forsake it if it's in your power to do so and GO ON WITH GOD! He's standing in front of you, just ahead, waving you towards Him! I'm reminded of how much we hiked with our kids when they were little. A trip to Albert Pike with bologna sandwiches and cheap drinks was so fun! But, with little kids, they would stop and pick up a stone, or move a stick or see a butterly and try to run and catch it. We were often stopping, turning around and waving "Come on, this way, move it!" God is doing that with us! He's waving us on - quit looking at the sin or the problem you've put behind you - it's in the deepest ocean anyway. You can't really see it anymore, so move on with Him.

He has also given us home churches. Full of people who have walked with God for years. They know He is faithful and if you spend time with them, before long they are sharing just how faithful God has been. Talk to your oldest deacon and his wife. They will probably have a well of knowledge of God's work in the lives of His people.

He has given us friends. This is probably, at least for me, one of the most important relationships we can have. Proverbs 12:26 says "The righteous should choose his friends carefully for the way of the wicked leads them astray" In I Corinthians there's a verse that says "bad company corrupts good morals". (I quoted this one to my kids a lot when they were teenagers!) This doesn't mean we can never be around people who aren't Christians, obviously, but our closest, most influential relationships should be with people who know and love the Lord, or there will be consequences. We should choose to be around the highest quality people we can, the ones whose hearts are aimed toward God.

Danny and I have something extra special in our lives, through the ministry of Christian Motorcyclists Association. John Ogden and Becky are wonderful leaders who love God and love others. The board of directors are full of integrity and love. The folks who work "behind the scenes" are there by God's divine grace and direction. Then there are the regional evangelists, the state coordinators and so on. Wow, talk about a great cloud of witnesses! Everywhere we go in ministry for Him through CMA, we are blessed because others have gone before us and prepared the way. "one plants another waters but the Lord gives the increase".

So, you beloved ones, as you seek God, as you go through trials or temptations or snares, remember, you have a cloud of witnesses as well. Talk with God, seek His Word, fellowship with the strongest believers you can find. And, come on, let's get on down the road with Jesus!

Family Fun

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

It All Depends on Mount Perspective

Last year was a real wild ride for us! Just part of that was the Riding a Greased Snake episode and post. Lots of things were going on and lots of people in our family were having issues. Danny and I had a great year -- it was just the stuff going on all around us that was so interesting.

I've always read the 23rd Psalm and I love it! Especially when you look at it by each segment.
The other morning I was reading, "He preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies".

As I always tell people, I am a visual thinker. I see pictures when I think. This is what the Lord showed me and I wish I was also a painter so I could show you what i saw, but anyway...

I was sitting at a huge round dining table and it was full of all kinds of lovely food - fruits in compote bowls, vegetables in silver trays. I mean it was like one of those Rembrandt paintings.

The whole table was illuminated from above with a warm bright light.

Just out of reach in the dark shadows encircling me were creatures: my enemies. Lions and tigers and bears and creatures like Gollum in Lord of the Rings. They were scurrying and growling and making gutteral noises.

But I was not afraid one bit. I wasn't worried about those creatures in the dark.

Because I was in the Light. We need never be afraid of our enemies, because we are sitting at His banquet table and His Light shines on us. Those "creatures" that want to bother us and frighten us and get our minds off the Feast can't get out of the dark.

So it is with last year. It all depends on how one looks at it.

God spoke to my heart and told me to look at the events of last year:

We had a blow out.
He protected us and we never had a scratch on us.

Danny nearly crashed the sport bike.
He protected him by keeping from going down the mountain.

Aunt Alice was with us 6 months.
He found a place of refuge for her and all her needs are met.

A couple of people in our family didn't speak to us for months and months.
He restored those relationships.


Remember dear ones, we can either focus on the enemies or we can focus on the ways God was with us. Not all things turn out "perfect" and yet they do. Because His word says, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee".

Be sure you keep a look at what God is doing and don't worry about the shadows. He's keeping us in the light on Mt. Perspective!

Know Enough to Be Dangerous

Those of you who look at my blog occasionally may find that you can't figure out what i'm doing. Well, neither can I! :)

I accidentally deleted my last post while I was trying to change how the blog looks.

Oh, well, that's where I know just enough to be DANGEROUS! haha

But when it comes to knowing Jesus, you really need to know that you know that you know.

Jesus - My Benefits Manager

This morning, my prayer partner sent me this:

Psalm 103:1-2
"Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise theLord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits" Thank you Lord for all the benefits of being a child of a King. Have a blessed day.

Got me to thinking. Just what are all His benefits? Well, before you think I'm going to list them all, no way! They are as numerous as the stars we can count and the ones we can't count!

But, since I'm reading a devotional book every morning entitled "Praying the Names of Jesus"
I thought, hey, here's one more Name!

Jesus - Benefits Manager

This message is sent from the
Human Resources Department of God's Throneroom of Grace:

Your benefits are more than the stars in the sky, but just so you have a slight glimpse of it all:

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! Psalm 18:30

God’s way is perfect.
All the Lord’s promises prove true.
He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. Psalm 34:5

Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
no shadow of shame will darken their faces. 1 Timothy 4:8

Physical training is good,
but training for godliness is much better,
promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” "
Forget not ALL His benefits"! Wow, wow and wow!

If you are member of this Company, your benefits are listed in His Word.
If you've never joined this Company, then you are fortunate anyway!
Joining is easy - see this page for more information:
http://cmausa.org/ride_plan/

How Many Kings?

Follow the star to a place unexpected

Would you believe, after all we've projected,

A child in a manger?

Lowly and small, the weakest of all

Unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mother's shawl -

Just a child -

Is this who we've waited for?

'cause...

How many kings step down from their thrones?

How many lords have abandoned their homes?

How many greats have become the least for me?

And how many gods have poured out their hearts

To romance a world that is torn all apart

How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Bringing our gifts for the newborn Savior

All that we have, whether costly or meek

Because we believe.

Gold for his honor, and frankincense for his pleasure

And myrrh for the cross he will suffer.

Do you believe?

Is this who we've waited for?

All for me...

All for you...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulY2KPmpMwk

Riding a Greased Snake

Ever ride a greased snake?

That’s how my Danny described our Sunday morning adventure. That morning started out with our sweet little grandson, Blake, waking up with us at 5am. All smiles and cuddles, he was raring to go. We gulped a bit of coffee, got dressed, said a quick prayer for safety and made our way, with car and motorcycle to our daughter’s house to deliver a still sleepy boy.

Getting on the bike and leaving our car at her house, we met our riding partners at the next town and proceeded to head for Texarkana on Interstate 30. Danny was due to bring a CMA service to a bike rally in DeKalb Tx and we needed to boogie.

As Danny suddenly slowed the bike a little, I looked up to see where the deer was. That’s the usual caution sign – those deer along the Interstate are worth watching and Arkansas has an abundant crop of the critters.

I could not find a deer anywhere in my sights, but just then I felt the rear of the bike drop. And, then we were swaying down the highway left and right. It was almost like slow motion, but we were still traveling at a high rate of speed.

Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! I kept repeating His name over and over. I heard Danny say in his mike, “Stop!” I thought about all I’ve been trained to do and not do over the last 35 years. I wasn’t moving, I wasn’t wiggling, nothing. He immediately came back with “Don’t stop saying Jesus!” Of course I kept it up.

I was holding onto my husband and calling out to my Savior with all my might.

Our friends behind us were wondering why Danny was slowing down and then he saw the problem, “Dear Lord, they’ve had a blow out!” They began to call out to the Lord as well. “Jesus, help them. Keep the bike up, Jesus keep the bike up” over and over.

It felt almost like skating, the way the bike swayed down the highway. And then it didn’t. The bike began to shudder and wobble more fiercely and I felt that we probably were going to lose control and wreck. I kept calling out to Jesus, and looked for grass. I thought, Stop Drop and Roll! Haha Jump off the bike into the grass. I knew I didn’t want to go down on the pavement.

Danny said at about this moment, he heard a Voice, “Pull in the clutch”. He did and the bike straightened out and he was able to bring it to a stop. Not only that, but we had the only extra wide shoulder on the Interstate right there, so we were totally out of traffic.

I jumped off the bike and was just flabbergasted! I shouted to our friends, “Did you see that? That was a miracle!” We hugged one another, the four of us, and thanked God for His mercies.

Two Scriptures came to mind while we were praying and riding our greased snake, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and are safe”. I thought, Lord, it looks to the average eye that we are headed for a terrible mishap, but we are encased in your strong tower riding down this highway on a squirrelly motorcycle! Nothing can get to us because of your providential care.

The other Scripture that came to mind was, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain!” I had such a peace riding that goldwing I knew I was safe. If we lived it would be because the Lord had reason for us to remain here a while yet. If Satan was trying to kill us, he was doomed in his plan anyway. Because whether we live or die it is to the Lord.

Does this mean the circumstances will always turn out the way it did for us? Surely others have called out to the Lord and things went differently. But beloved, when you are in squirrelly circumstances or you feel you’re riding a greased snake, whether it’s a motorcycle event or just life in general, remember two things. You belong to Him. Your life, your death, your very existence is in His Hands. And, as you call out to the Lord, His name is a strong tower and you are safe in His NAME!

Live for Jesus and always call out to Him. He’ll either straighten the circumstances out or He’ll take you home with Him. And, as God’s Word says, “If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”

For us, we lived through the circumstances to see another day in God’s marvelous grace plan. Danny called one of his chapter presidents, Kenneth Campbell, to fill in for him at the Rally. God not only saved our lives, but allowed one of his other willing servants to get a blessing as well.

And, we spent the day giving God the glory. And, isn’t that what it’s all about?

God is Bigger Than You and Me

You think you know that don't you? You think we who call ourselves Christian at least would know that? Right?

Think again. Sunday at church we had something different. We've been going to Sycamore Church, pretty much out of the way - over on the other side of Gurdon. But we're good friends with the pastor and his wife and for once people aren't so startled that we might be somewhere else most of the time. I know that God understands, but I don't think many people in the church where our "membership" is will ever quite get it.

We are not out playing on motorcycles every week-end. We are not in a "club". We are not carousing and losing our salvation. Anyway, that's another story and I'm wandering.

Back to the church service Sunday. A lady in the church wanted to share a 40 minute video with the congregation. Yawn. You know, a video. What could be good about a video?

Well, anybody out there hear of Louie Giglio?

Maybe not, but you have to find, buy, borrow or rent this video: "How Great is Our God". I want to tell you about this, but alas, words don't bring the same emotions that the dvd does.

Here's what one watcher has said, "The viewer realizes that his/her problems pale in insignificance in the light of God's character as revealed in His creation. Giglio provides details about stars and their various sizes. It is sobering to realize how much bigger some stars are than our own sun. He includes discussion of the DNA molecule and its fascinating functions. There is also a protein called laminin. It literally holds our cells together--and so, by implication, it holds our very selves together. Amazingly, it is shaped like a cross."

SHAPED LIKE A CROSS!!! No kidding! We had our grandkids with us at church this Sunday and they were blown away.

Do you understand the implications of this? Down to the very molecules of our being, we are meant to belong to Him, we are held together by Him, we are in Him from Him and for His glory, not ours.

You want to have a cool party? You want to share your faith with friends or neighbors? Invite them over to watch this, and feed them snacks - food for their flesh and manna for their souls!

GET THE DVD!!! The best buy is at AMAZON.COM

If you want to watch parts of it online, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_82lZ2PpYQE&feature=related

WARNING - This is life changing.

BLESSING - This is life changing.

"Count All Things Loss..."

At the end of the day, when we put our heads on our pillows,
what will really matter? Over the course of your life, what
has been the most important? Money? Fame? Jobs? Accolades?
Beauty? Stuff?

And, if at the end of this day, it's all gone, what will
really be left to you...

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=3a44ada9659d13ab2f1a


"I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." I Corinthians 9:23 - 25

Everything to God in Prayer...

It's an old hymn sung by faithful believers many years ago. I love the new praise and worship because it opens our hearts to the Word of God but the old hymns were written by people who lived in the trenches of life and knew that they knew that they knew God is real and ever present...

Originally a poem, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" was never intended by the hymn writer, Joseph Scriven, for publication. Upon learning of his mother's serious illness and unable to be with her in faraway Dublin, he wrote a letter of comfort enclosing the words of this text. Some time later when he himself was ill, a friend who came to see him chanced to see the poem scribbled on scratch people near his bed. The friend read it with interest and asked if he had written the words. With typical modesty, Scriven replied, "The Lord and I did it between us."


The Words go like this -
What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.

Old Time Religion Stuff, but however sophisticated we Christians get, one thing remains true - we can never find a Friend so faithful and it is truly a privilege to take every need, every desire, every shortcoming, every friend and loved one to Him in prayer. Most of all, prayer is that intimate time we have of worship with the One True God.

I like what Ergan Caner said: The praise song that goes, "There's no God like Jehovah" should really say, "There's no God but Jehovah!"

Imagine, revel in and rejoice - we believers who are born again have the PRIVILEGE to take it to the Lord God Jehovah in prayer!

Here are some interesting quotes on prayer from some famous and not so famous believers:

Some people pray just to pray and some people pray to know God. --Andrew Murray

I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had absolutely no other place to go. -- Abraham Lincoln

Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?-- Corrie Ten Boom

Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan --John Bunyan

We must alter our lives in order to alter our hearts, for it is impossible to live one way and pray another. --William Law

There is a general kind of praying which fails for lack of precision. It is as if a regiment of soldiers should all fire off their guns anywhere. Possibly somebody would be killed, but the majority of the enemy would be missed. --Charles Haddon Spurgeon

We lean to our own understanding, or we bank on service and do away with prayer, and consequently by succeeding in the external we fail in the eternal, because in the eternal we succeed only by prevailing prayer. --Oswald Chambers

Prayer does not fit us for the greater work, prayer is the greater work. --Oswald Chambers

And for those who struggle with their prayer time:

"...True prayer is measured by weight, not by length. A single groan before God may have more fullness of prayer in it than a fine oration of great length." C. H. Spurgeon