Today I was blessed to read something a friend wrote that talked about hearing warnings from God.
I thought I was hearing fear filled thoughts only to find that God was sending me warnings.
Thank the Lord for His mercy. Thank the Lord for sending understanding this way. He hears and answers our prayers.
God opens the eyes of our understanding when we seek Him with all of our hearts.
I just wanted to take time to post a message of thanks to all my friends & family.
You have all been so supportive. I appreciate all the kind words and prayers that you’ve sent up to the Lord on my behalf.
I praise and thank God for His kindness in forming each one of you.
Just want to quickly let everyone know I have a glitch in the email system right now. I’m not able to send and receive email very well at this time.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE & ALL! May our Lord bless you richly now & in the days ahead. May His grace be upon you as He guides and directs your paths during the New Year.
This problem has now been repaired as of 2/3/2010
Have you ever had one of those days when you felt you could tell your steps are ordered by God?
I met another Christian woman during a walk yesterday. She knows Jesus and she has a kindred spirit (or so I’ve been told it is called) in the sense that she believes a lot like a do and she’s been through some of the trials I’ve been through.
My new friend’s name is Tammy. Tammy and I met yesterday on a walk and today I was thinking of her when she was on her way to my home to see me. We talked about the Lord for hours while her granddaughter ended up falling asleep in her arms.
We talked about how we know God can heal people this side of heaven and sometimes for His own good reason He decides to take some people home for their perfect healing. Tammy told me about the loved ones she has that are gone from this world and I told her about some of the ones I could once talk with this side of heaven but now they are gone from us.
We prayed together and talked about a lot of other things.
One thing we kept remembering was how God orders our steps. WOW! God let Tammy and me meet while we were stepping out into this old world walking for fresh air and sunshine. God let HIS light shine on us while we walked on paths that caused us to meet. We left timidity behind us and we started talking. It was a blessing for us.
Hopefully in the days ahead we will find why God let us meet this way. For now we are grateful that HE allowed us to meet each other.
Pray asking God to guide you on paths so you can meet people that know Him the way you do. Pray asking Him to guide you to a special friend that can pray with you. You might be surprised by the way he allows you to meet a friend that could end up being closer than a brother.
I’m thinking of that old hymn “What a Friend we Have in Jesus” again today.
Jesus is our best friend and He loves us so much He allows us the opportunity of meeting new friends if we’d care to open our hearts to explore new relationships.
There was another song I learned as a child. It spoke of how we can make new friends and yet we can keep the old for one is silver and the other is gold. Friends are blessings from God.
Today I was sent an email that is being passed online from one friend to other friends. It is a cute little reminder of how God can use a dog to show His type of love. It’s true that a friendly pet can help us see things about God. If the link for the video will show on this site I’ll try to place it on here so you can view it.
http://www.irememberlove.com/video/god-and-dog-by-wj-francisco
Isn’t this internet thing wonderful! We can leave messages for friends online so they can be blessed with things we get to view or read. If they aren’t home when we try to contact them the links or forwards we send can be viewed when they have time to get online.
I praise and thank God for all my friends. The new friends and the old friends are very precious to me. It is my hope and prayer everyone reading this has at least one very good friend they can confide in and pray with. If you feel lonely and as if you don’t have a good friend talk to Jesus first because He will be your very best friend and then ask Him to give you an earthly friend that can be trusted. Don’t be surprised if you receive more than you asked for because God can do things far better for us than we ever could imagine.
Click Below:
http://www.box.net/shared/static/0e9scrcsh2.mp3
That’s sweet. It’s OK if you want to pass along the words and link to the song. BJB
Link to: Many Kinds of Tears
Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
I saw a little plaque that one friend had given to another. Have you read any of those plaques where it says something like, “A friend knows all about you and loves you anyway?”
It takes time to develop a good lasting friendship with another person.
When some children start learning about friendships it seems that there are times when parents will sort of laugh because young ones are apt to be best friends with a neighbor or school chum for a week or so and the very next week they can act like enemies. It takes time for people to learn how to accept people just they way they are.
It is no wonder young boys and girls can be friends one day and enemies the next day. We’re not all brought up in the same households and we don’t all process things exactly the same way.
Loving someone even if they hurt you isn’t easy. Because we’re human we will have times when someone we care about does something we didn’t understand or they will do something that hurts us even if they did not intend to cause any pain.
A person that studies the Bible has probably read the story of the friendship between Jonathan and David.
I Samuel 18:3, “Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.”
Jonathan and David made a covenant and they didn’t break it. Jonathan loved David and showed faithfulness to His beloved friend even when his own earthly father, the King, wanted Jonathan to turn on David. Old Saul was not obedient to God and even though Saul was once called by God to rule the Israelites Saul knew David was to take over his throne. Saul even tried to persuade Jonathan to go against David for selfish reasons but Jonathan would have nothing to do with the evil ways of his earthly father.
Jonathan was faithful to David and David was faithful to Jonathan’s family even after Jonathan died.
Do you have a friend that is faithful? If you find a good friend you are blessed. It is my prayer God will bless Christians with faithful friends that will love them even when they know all about them. We need one another and we need to learn to show God’s type of love to each other even if we’ve been treated wrong at times in our lives.
Proverbs 18:24, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”
When I think of the friends that God has allowed me to have I think of that passage.
Have you ever eaten a piece of your favorite fruit or vegetable FRESH OFF THE VINE?
We were visting a neighbor and her children the other day. For a few minutes Jennifer and I were in the house and the children were outdoors. Her youngest daughter came in the house saying that they had pulled some tomatoes off the vines. Stephanie’s beautiful eyes seemed to gleam a bit as she stated that the tomotoes were, “fresh off the vine.”
I fondly remember the way Stephany talked about the freshness of those tomatoes. What a difference it makes to have the best tasting ones ready and at your disposal.
We spent time talking and sipping water while the children had time to get on the jungle gym and time for some kick ball. We sat on the porch in the shade. There was a gentle breeze that found it’s way to us every now and again. What a lovely time we had.
We enjoyed each other’s company so much that we hardly noticed that it was past lunch time. The children weren’t complaining for food either. The children had sipped on some frozen ice sticks and they had enjoyed some sort of fruit drink when they took time for breaks.
What a wonderful time we had.
When we realized lunch time had passed us by we knew it was time to get moving. Jennifer wouldn’t let us leave without first allowing us to get some more tomatoes off the vine. Stephany helped us spot the brightest ones. Stephany would say, “There’s one as bright as an apple.” I’d look for the one she was talking about and get it if I could reach it.
Jennifer went the extra mile by getting us two containers to put our tomatoes in even though we let her know we were happy with one container.
We still haven’t eaten all those tomatoes. Each time I eat one I think of the sweet family that took the time to open their lives up to us that day. I also remember the nice conversations we had.
I think of how nice it was to see Vanessa, Stephany, and Jeremiah swinging on the gym set and then joyfully playing that game of kick ball together. There was harmony and peace all around us as we enjoyed an hour or so together.
Today I was watering our garden when I remembered how kind and hospitable our neighbors had been to us. I also remembered the other neighbors around here like the ones that mowed my grass when I had been ill or the ones that shared their favorite plants with me.
Now when I think of vegetables fresh off the vine I don’t only think of how good it tastes to eat the product I think of how good it is to spend quality time with a friend or a neighbor.
“Hebrews 13:1-2, “Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
A friend of mine took notes at his church yesterday. His Pastor was talking about being alerted to the ways of the enemy and ways to defeat the enemy of God. How timely!
Here is a copy paste of his notes:
Here are some of those notes I took yesterday I hope they come in handy.
1.satan speaks what is false and hides what is true.
2.rationalization
3.Prayer builds a wall of defense against the enemy.
4. father of liars..
5 He hates the truth being preached.
6.Works through your thoughts.
7.satan is a murderer.
8. Prayer brings satan’s defeat.
9.Anger can be the devil’s tool. God won’t hear your prayers when your in a fit of rage and anger. The unrighteous type
10.Watered down terminology called it as scripture sees it tool of satan in the secular world.
11. What use to be called right is now called wrong. Scewed view of thinking.
*** Below you will see the thoughts I got today that came to my mind when I reviewed his notes:
1.satan speaks what is false and hides what is true. ~The enemy wants to keep people in darkness. Darkness keeps people from seeing clearly and it causes them to stumble. This is why the devil is into hiding things. If you meet someone that wants to hide the truth know they are probably following the devil. I do believe there are some things that are to be exempt from being brought out into the open. Sins that have been forgiven and the sins of someone that has truly repented by turning away from such sins does not need brought out into the light unless it’s a crime against society.
2.rationalization ~ There are two forms I know about concerning rationalizing things. There is a good way of rationalizing things by thinking in a rationalistic way and then there is the way one rationalizes in a self-satisfying but incorrect way. I believe when any form of deception is involved with the rationalizing it is a wrong way to rationalize things.
I think most people that call themselves Christians believe that our justification comes from God alone. Jesus shed blood on the tree of Calvary is what washes away my sins. I cannot save myself or excuse any sins away. I can use rationalistic ways to honestly describe things I have encountered.
3.Prayer builds a wall of defense against the enemy. ~ Since we know that God’s Holy Spirit in us is greater than He who is in the world using the power of praying to Our God will surely be helpful. Ephesians 6:10-18 also comes to my mind when I think of defeating the enemy of Christians. We need to be strong in the Lord. We need to put on the full armor of God to take a stand against the devil’s schemes. We know our battle is against the devil and evil powers of darkness. We need to walk in truth, we need to have our sins confessed and forgiven, our feet need prepared to go forth sharing the gospel, we need faith to be in God not in ourselves or anyone or anything else, faith will also help us put out the flames the evil one sends our way, our minds need filled with the Truth which is equal to the Word of God, God’s Word is some ammunition we need when the enemy attacks our minds, and we need to pray in the spirit at all times, and we need to be alert praying for all the saints. I know I need prayer from fellow Christians, don’t you?
4. father of liars.. ~ Recall that the enemy is the father of lies. Anyone that speaks lies is following the devil.
5 he hates the truth being preached. ~ The enemy of God does hate the truth. Recall how he wants people (even God’s people if they fall for it) to hide things so they can be in darkness. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. The enemy hates the truth and he does not want anyone to walk in love sharing God’s truthful words because as we also know the truth sets people free. The enemy does not want you or anyone else set free. The enemy will try anything to keep people from hearing the truth. He will cause chaos and confusion and it’s possible he may even tempt people with their favorite pasttimes just to get their eyes off of the things of God. The enemy wants to steal God’s glory in every way. I believe it’s his ploy to keep people out of church and fellowship with true saints of God so people cannot hear the truth. The enemy may also get someone involved in one of those churches that is so busy doing things and building things that they may forget to share the truth, show God’s love, and build up the members in the body of Christ. Have you ever been to one of those churches that spends 20 minutes to a half an hour talking about their programs or taking up offerings? It is possible that a new visitor at a church will not even hear the gospel story if church visits are more about talking about programs than talking about JESUS. If the enemy can delude people into thinking the ritualistic things they do at church are what is keeping them right with God he has kept them from hearing more of the truth that will set them free. If he can keep people that know the truth from following God’s Holy Spirit when they stand before people that walk in the church it’s possible an unsaved soul won’t be able to tell that the presence of God is in that place.
6.Works through your thoughts. ~ This is why we need the helmet of salvation, the Word of God being listened to, prayer, and faith in God. The enemy knows that the mind controls our actions. Actions speak louder than words. If the enemy can get control of your mind even for short sessions he is keeping you from hearing God and from obeying the Lord. Think about how the brain is used by the physical body to tell the eyes to blink, the heart to beat, and the legs to walk. The mind is used to control what we will do with the body God gave us. Beware of the wiles of the devil. Know that he may try to attack your mind. Knowing he will try to attack your mind and thoughts helps you realize once again the importance of putting on the full armor of God.
7.satan is a murderer. ~ he comes to steal, kill, and destroy – he wants to kill all that is good – destruction and devil go together well –
8. Prayer brings satan’s defeat. ~ Thinking of Ephesians 6 again
9.Anger can be the devil’s tool. God won’t hear your prayers when your in a fit of rage and anger. The unrighteous type ~ There is anger that is okay it’s part of our human emotions. We are to be angry but we are instructed not to sin when we get angry and the sun should not go down on our anger. Praying and asking God how to deal with anger His way is the best thing I can encourage a Christian person to do.
10.Watered.down terminology called it as Scripture sees it tool of satan in the secular world. ~ It seems to me that a lot of people don’t mind hearing things like God is love but they don’t always want to also see that God is the Lord of Heaven’s armies and He is a just God that will cause the sheep to be separated from the goats. White washing the truth is something many don’t mind being a part of. Yes, I agree this is another scheme of satan to water down the truth causing more confusion and more deception.
11. What used to be called right is now called wrong. Scewed view of thinking. ~ It is my understanding that this is already happening and it is expected to continue. Christians have been seeing for decades how twisted the truth is in the minds of many people. satan wants to distort the truth and distort minds. It is really sad if a body of believers allows their fellowship to be infiltrated with this scewed view of thinking. We do need to be wise like a serpent and yet as gentle as a dove.
The notes that were sent my way touched me profoundly because of the many times I’ve been reminded of the wiles of the enemy during the past few months. I’m glad my friend’s Pastor reminded his congregation of some of the ways the enemy will attack and he probably said a lot more than I gleaned from these notes and from hearing my friend talk about the blessing it was to hear this preached about.
This afternoon I was also thinking about the book of Revelation where it is said that the accuser of the brethren is overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. If you want to see that the accuser of the brethren is defeated then put on the armor of God and be prepared to be spiritually covered with the blood of Jesus and share your true testimony. The truth sets people free. Be prepared to truthfully be set free and tell others how Jesus shed blood on Calvary’s tree made it all possible.