Thanks-"Living"

Thanksgiving Day is approaching this week and as I was thinking this morning I looked up the word "thanksgiving" in the dictionary. One of the definitions reads "A day set apart for giving thanks to God". It is on this day that you will hear many give thanks for their family and friends, their homes, their life and the many other blessings God so graciously gives to us. It is good that this day is set apart, because some would probably never stop to give thanks otherwise.

However, when I think of all that God has done for me, the life He so freely gives, the atoning sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for my salvation, setting aside one day to give thanks could never show true "thankfulness". No greater way could I express my gratitude to God than "living" a life of thanks. How do you live a life of thanks? You live your life for Jesus, set apart to Him in obedience to His Word, every second, every minute and every day of your life. I want to celebrate this day of Thanksgiving with family and friends I love so dear, but even more I want to live a life of "Thanks-living" for the one who gave His life for me.

A Safe Place

Yesterday we were experiencing severe weather in our area, high winds, heavy rain and a tornado touched down as well.  For safety purposes, I gathered the boys with me into the hallway and I held one under each arm, assuring them that God would protect us and keep us safe during the storm.  As I began to share stories with them, I noticed their fears started to calm and eventually their tears turned to laughter.  After the storm was over and everything was back to normal, my 5 year old son came into the kitchen and said "Mama, can we do that every time?"  I asked if he was talking about sitting together during the storm and he said "Yes".  I said "Yes if you want to".

I began to think about what he said and I started comparing the love and care I have for my children to the love our Father has for us.  Sometimes the storms of life are scary and overwhelming, we know we can't run from them, we must go through them; yet, He is always available to take us under His arms and assure us of our safety, calming our innermost fears.  It is actually during times like this that we are able to depend completely upon God, knowing He is our refuge and a very present help.  Just as I assured my little one that we could sit the storms out together, we too have the same assurance from the Father. 

In Isaiah 43:2 The Lord says "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.  When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned.  Nor shall the flame scorch you.  3 For I am the LORD your God 5 Fear not, for I am with you.

                        

Psalms 118:1

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

John 12:32 (NLT) 

 "And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself"

Beautiful Song

Are You A REAL FAN of JESUS CHRIST??

God Loves You!

Warning Signs

I sat and watched a mother at the jail service the other night as she cried and stated "I don't want my kids to walk in my footsteps!"  The Holy Spirit immediately told me to tell her "Don't say that! Determine to make new footsteps down the path you would want your children to walk as well!"  Just because you've made bad choices it doesn't mean it's the end.  There was a time in my life I wouldn't have wanted my children walking in my footsteps either.  But when Jesus saved me from that past lifestyle He gave me a new direction, a direction that leads to eternal life in Christ Jesus and now I follow His footsteps.

As I see the younger generation of today it tears my heart apart to see all of the things the devil has lured them into that will lead to their eternal damnation in hell.  Pastor Jentezen Franklin preached this message "Warning Signs" at a Winterfest a couple of years ago that I took the youth to be a part of.  During the services I witnessed countless young people on their knees crying their hearts out to God.  I realize it is a long message, but it is a powerful message that today's youth need to hear! 

Come Be the Fire Inside of Me

Last week I went to a revival (Evangelist Mike Warwick) in Mebane, NC at the Mebane Church of God and experienced an awesome outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  The praise and worship during Tuesday night's service was so anointed that the evangelist didn't get to preach.  One of the songs during the worship that night I had never heard before but it really ministered to me.

As I was thinking upon the words of this song I thought about a fire and when you throw something into the fire it is almost immediately consumed to where it becomes one with the fire. In other words, it loses itself in the flames. If you throw a newspaper into the fire and walk away for a few seconds, when you come back you will no longer see the newspaper, only the flame. I want the Holy Spirit to burn up everything within me that keeps me from becoming One with Him, so that when others look at me all they see is the Flame of the Holy Spirit burning within my heart.

You Won't Relent by Jesus Culture:
You won't relent
Until You have it all
My heart is Yours

I'll set You as a seal upon my heart
As a seal upon my arm
For there is love that is as strong as death
Jealousy demanding as the grave
And many waters cannot quench this love

Come be the fire inside of me
Come be the flame upon my heart
come be the fire inside of me
Until You and I are one

POWERFUL LOVE

( By Theresa Cerullo)
Do you know who the first woman evangelist was? Believe it or not, it was the Samaritan woman at the well in John, Chapter 4.  In those days, no woman in her right mind went to a well outside of town at high noon unless she had a very good reason. This lady apparently had a good reason. As Jesus disclosed, she had already had five husbands and wasn't married to the man with whom she was living. Her "lifestyle" left her rejected and shunned.  But, after she met Jesus, she became so excited that she went racing back to tell everybody in town about Him. Why? What cord did He strike deep within her that caused such an amazing reaction? The answer lies in her own words. She said, "'Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?' Then they went out of the city and came to Him" (John 4:29, NKJV).

What she was actually saying was, "There's a man over there who knows every filthy, terrible thing I ever did. But, although He knows everything about me, He still accepts me! Someone with love that powerful must be the Christ!"  Can you imagine meeting someone who knows all about you, yet accepts you no matter what you've ever been or done! What a powerful force unconditional acceptance is! Be reminded that Jesus accepts you in this same way tonight. You are free to accept true love!

Anger vs. Love

While a man was polishing his new car, his 4 yr old son picked up a stone and scratched lines on the side of the car. In anger, the man took the child's hand and hit it many times; not realizing he was using a wrench.

At the hospital, the child lost all his fingers due to multiple fractures.

When the child saw his father...with painful eyes he asked, 'Dad when will my fingers grow back?'

The man was so hurt and speechless; he went back to his car and kicked it a lot of times. Devastated by his own actions.......sitting in front of that car he looked at the scratches; the child had written 'LOVE YOU DAD'.

The next day that man committed suicide.

ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS:
Anger and Love have no limits; choose the latter to have a beautiful, lovely life..... Things are to be used and people are to be loved, but the problem in today's world is that, People are used and things are loved...

THOUGHTS FOR 2010
We are already four days into the New Year!! Happy NEW Year I am looking for great things to happen in 2010! In Isaiah 42:9 the LORD says "Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare". In Isaiah 42:10 it says "Sing to the LORD a new song". In Isaiah 43:18, 19 the LORD says "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold I will do a new thing! I believe that God is a God of creativity, a God of new things. I believe some traditions are to be continually celebrated because they are filled with power and promise, however that does not mean everything should stay the same. My heart is open to the new things that God wants to do in my life and in His church today! As the LORD said in the above passage, The "former" things have come to "pass" notice He did not say "stay", He said "pass"!!  Everything does not have to stay the same, just because that is the way it has always been done.  If you do the same thing the same way you will always get the same results.  I want the "NEW" things that God has promised in His WORD! I want to sing a NEW song to the Lord!  How about you?  Are you ready for the NEW things that God has declared!  I AM!