"RESPONSE TO GOD'S CALL"

Good Evening to All!

Before I publish this post, I want to apologize for the picture not showing up on Facebook. As was the problem last night as well, for some reason the post keeps saying it's "saving" yet it doesn't save, nor will it allow me to post pictures. If all holds true like last night, After I publish, THEN I can go back in and add the pictures. I don't have a clue what is going on, but hopefully I will get it remedied before long. Thank you for your patience.

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. (31) And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. (32) He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

(34) Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? (35) And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

(36) and behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. (37) For with God, nothing shall be impossible. (38) and Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

No, this is not Christmas in May, (although I have been in some discussions with some very wise people who say that according to how the season is described in the Bible that Jesus was actually born in the Spring. (That's another post).

Anyway, personally I think that Jesus' birth should be taught about or discussed year round. That being said, I have a completely different direction I am intending to go.

I want to discuss Mary's reaction to this news. First of all, from what I have read, Mary was approximately 14 years old, so even talking about pregnancy would have been a shock, let alone it coming from an angel of God and who the father was going to be. That would have been hard for an adult woman to handle.

Another thing was the angel. I would have been so terrified that I wouldn't have been able to concentrate on his message. Angels are definitely not "wimpy" beings.

Even with all of this going on, Mary still had the presence of mind to ask the obvious question, "how can this happen, which the angel answered her. He even gave her a way to confirm what he was saying was true, by letting her know that her cousin Elisabeth was pregnant as well, but she had enough faith to take him at his word and not need the confirmation.

Now I ask you, what would your reaction be? Would you handle it as calmly and maturely as Mary? Men, how would you handle the news if it were your fiancee'? Of course it did take an angel having a talk with Joseph to help him to see clearly, but even still, I can't imagine in today's time if that were to happen how we would react.

Unfortunately, I don't think it would be as positive an experience as Mary had. We have had watered-down versions of Christianity for too long. We have had too many people filling us with the wrong ideas such as baptism isn't necessary for salvation, once saved always saved whether you repent or not, as long as you are a good person you'll go to heaven, that God doesn't really talk to us, and on and on. PEOPLE, we need to WAKE UP before it's too late. We need to STUDY God's Word, and KNOW EXACTLY what He expects from us. His Word says, He ONCE winked at ignorance, but no more. In other words ignorance is not an excuse any more. Being ignorant of the truth will not save you.

God's Word tells us that without FAITH we CANNOT please God. I can be completely honest and tell you that there are times when my faith does not measure up. Oh, I say I believe that God will do this or that, but when it comes down to it, I have a contingency plan, just in case. That my friends is not faith. Faith is when we believe God WILL do whatever NEEDS to be done, whether it is what we have in mind or not.

Mary had that faith. She did not question why or when. The only question she asked was "how" and to me that was a legitimate question. If it would have been me, I would have been all over that angel with all kinds of questions, which would show a lack of faith on my part. We have to know that whatever God does is for good.

To me, Mary is the epitome of a woman full of faith. Most women choose their baby's name, but Mary didn't get that choice. God chose it for her, according to the baby's position, which is Savior (which is what Jesus means) In another verse it said He was called Emmanuel which means "God with us". Mary knew her purpose and remained secure in spite of the threat that Joseph might end their engagement. She agreed to be God's servant without knowing everything about her future or her son's future. We don't need to know the details about our future when we trust our lives to God.

I can't help but wonder how many of us today could stand up to the "test" that Mary and Joseph did and handle it with such dignity.

The answers to last night's Bible Challenge "Town and Country" Part 1 are as follows:

1. b) Jacob wrestled with God (Genesis 32:24-30)
2. c) Midian (Exodus 3:1)
3. a) Ramah (1 Samuel 8:4-5)
4. d) Gath (1 Samuel 17:4)
5. b) Ramah (1 Samuel 25:1, 28:3)
6. c) shadowing with wings (Isaiah 18:1)
7. d) Babylon (Daniel 6:16-23)
8. b) Bethlehem (Luke 2:4)
9. b) Nazareth (Luke 4:16-30)
10. b) to Emmaus (Luke 24:13)

I hope you did well and either learned something new or recalled something you knew long ago, but forgot.

Good Night to All and May God Bless,

"JESUS--OUR COMPASSIONATE HIGH PRIEST"

Good Evening to All!

How much more compassionate could He be, then to give His Life for thee?

(15) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:15-16

I don't know why, but when I read this verse, it brought to mind in nearly every Presidential Election, the fact of whether the candidate had or had not ever been in Military Service, as well as his roots where and how he grew up, be it from a "blue collar" working family, or "well off". It seems like if a candidate has been in the military, then they understand how important the military is and that Veterans need to keep their benefits and such. They understand the need to keep the defense fund operable in case of emergencies and such. If they haven't been in the military, they wing it, but really don't have a clue as to the military's importance, and the importance of taking care of the present military people and their families as well as the service people of the past.

This is something we don't have to wonder about when it comes to Jesus. We KNOW how He grew up, we KNOW where He came from. We ALSO KNOW that He was tempted in every way imaginable by the devil. Anything you can think of that we are tempted with, the devil tempted Jesus with something as bad or worse. Yes, He had the Spirit of God in Him so He was able to be strong, but then, if we have been "born again of water and of Spirit", then we have it as well.

If you want to get right down to it, I wouldn't doubt if He (meaning His flesh) was tempted to fight back when people spat on Him, mocked Him, and ridiculed Him. We know that His flesh was fighting His Spirit when it came to Gethsemane, because He asked God to let this cup pass Him by. Of course we know that was the flesh crying out to His divine Spirit. He KNEW what He had to do. He KNEW that was His whole purpose for coming to earth, to sacrifice His blood for us to be saved.

He sympathizes with us because He understands that we are weak. After all, He created us. It is in our weakness that we are strong, because we rely on Him. I am so thankful that God sacrificed His fleshly body, the body of His only Begotten Son for me, so that I can now be strong. As long as I have His Spirit within me, I know I can rely on Him for strength, and He will guide me and get me through my situations, troubles whatever life throws at me.

It also reassures me that I can go to His throne of grace boldly and with confidence, knowing that He will hear me and answer my prayers. For He says I ye abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask what ye will and it will be done unto you.

That promise alone gets me through so many days, and so many troubles. His grace teaches me how to get through these things and His mercy envelopes me with His loving understanding.

The answers to last night's Bible Challenge "Soldiers and Warfare" Part 2 are as follows:

1. c) shout (Joshua 6:20)
2. a) Saul's son Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:24-30)
3. c) Goliath would fight the best Israelite soldier; the winner's army would subjugate the other with no further fighting (1 Samuel 17:9)
4. a) Doeg (1 Samuel 22:18)
5. d) hanged himself (2 Samuel 17:23)
6. c) Benaiah (2 Samuel 23:20)
7. b) Lahmi (1 Chronicles 20:5)
8. c) with an angel (2 Kings 19:35)
9. b) 12,000 (2 Chronicles 9:25)
10. c) Israel (2 Chronicles 16:1)

I hope you did well, as well as maybe learning something you didn't know before or even recalled something you learned long ago but forgot.

Good Night to All and May God Bless

"THE ROMANTIC LOVER"

Good Afternoon to All!

(1) Behold, you are fair my love! Behold, you are fair! You have dove's eyes behind your veil.
(2) Your hair is like a flock of goats, going down from Mount Gilead. Your teeth are like a a flock of shorn sheep, Which have come up from the washing, Every one of which bears twins,
And none is barren among them. (3) Your lips are like a strand of scarlet, And your mouth is lovely. Your temples behind your veil Are like a piece of pomegranate.
(4) Your neck is like the tower of David, Built for an armory, On which hang a thousand bucklers, All shields of mighty men. (7) You are all fair, my love, And there is no spot in you.
(Song of Solomon 4:1-4, 7 NKJV)

WOW! Ladies, doesn't that passage just make you melt and blush with confidence? Doesn't it make you feel admired? Well, if we were back in Biblical times it would.

Men want to be romantic and please a woman with words of love, but men's ideas of "beautiful" and women's are quite different. "Hair like a flock of goats" to us as women says "scraggly and uncombed, but to a man who raises goats, would be perceived as "rich and pricey". Lips like a scarlet thread" to me would imply a thin red tight mouth, but men see costly red thread woven into soft fabric and identify the color and richness with lovely lips.

Cheeks like a pomegranate might sound like bright and blotchy to a woman, but to a man depicts the sweetness of a blushing bride. To a man, jewels on the neck resemble symbols of victory and shields of protection.

This passage on beauty reflects a man's imagery. What a man enjoys blends with his values. A man who likes fishing might think about his wife in terms of calm water, jumping fish, and a fine lure! god made women's and men's minds to think differently, but the bottom line is that the man finds the woman a beautiful and flawless creation of God. Rejoice when your man tries to state what he finds attractive.

I will definitely have to change my mantra to my hubby. I'm always saying "it's not what you say, it's how you say it. (His mentor is Don Rickles)! LOL! Anyway, I will appreciate what he says from now on, because he doesn't compliment with metaphors.

I understand what this writer is attempting to say, but at the same time, I will never complain about my hubby's way of complimenting me ever again! The only thing I usually get compliments on is my cooking, so I will gracefully accept and cherish them. Just because he says "Good Supper Hon!"

The answers to Last Night's Bible Challenge "Teachings Part 2" are as follows:

1. c) servants in the house of the Lord (Psalm 134)
2. c) heart (Proverbs 28:26)
3. d) those who are merciful ( Matthew 5:7)
4. b) wolves in sheeps' clothing (Matthew 7:15)
5. c) earthquakes (Matthew 24:7)
6. If ye abide in me and my words abide in you . . . " (John 15:7)
7. a) faith (Romans 1:17)
8. d) Mount Sinai (Galatians 4:24)
9. poisonous (James 3:8)
10. a) loveth (1 John 4:8)

Here's hoping you have a wonderful night and May God Bless!

"THE WAY TO A MAN'S HEART IS THROUGH HIS STOMACH?"

Good Evening to All!

(3) The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife, Abigail....(14) Now one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, "Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master; and he reviled them....(18) Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five sheep already dressed, five seahs of roasted grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and loaded them on donkeys. ... (23) Now when Abigail saw David, she dismounted quickly from the donkey, fell on her face before David, and bowed down to the ground. .... (32) Then David said to Abigail: "blessed is the LORD God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me!
(1 Samuel 25:3, 14, 18, 23, 32 NKJV)

This passage came about because David had protected Nabal's property, but when David asked him for food provisions for his army, the man refused. Now, from the sounds of it, Nabal was not a poor man. He could afford to do this, but was "stingy". This was all happening during a feast that Nabal was holding for his workers celebrating the sheep shearing, so David really expected Nabal to be particularly generous on this occasion. Unfortunately, Nabal was living up to his name which meant "fool". He really showed himself to be a foolish man.

Luckily Abigail was able to discern how to appease David, and jumped into action by giving him all of the food named above. She understood that the way to a man's heart is through appetizing food. (Which still holds true today in many cases).

When she met David, he had already been anointed as the next king of Israel, and she asked that all blame be on her and that David not take vengeance himself for Nabal's foolishness.

Abigail spoke to David, a man deeply devoted to God, and acknowledged that David fought for God. She really know how to relate to men. She connected to David's need and faith. David responded and blessed God, noted that God has sent her, and let God deal with her husband. Nabal soon died, and David then married Abigail.

Now we know where that quote originated from. I personally have seen results from this very thing many times. However, I wonder if it wasn't that PLUS the idea that she went against her husband's wishes to do the right thing that softened David's heart.

Incidentally, the way to my man's heart is with a HUGE piece of Prime Rib with Au jus sauce, large Baked Potato with sour cream, and a salad, and ice cream for desert. LOL!

Good Night To All and May God bless!

"WHO AND WHAT DEFINES YOU?"

Good Afternoon to All!

I am starting this earlier than usual because I have Revival to go to this evening and don't know what time it will end.

Hi Everyone, I'm back. I got home from the Revival, ate, and started trying to figure out how to work my new CPAP machine. Boy! I tell you, if I had a couple of antennae, I could pass for something from outer space! I tried to upload a picture,
as I thought it would give you a laugh, but alas, no luck. For some reason my pictures do not want to upload tonight.

This is going to be a very short post, so I have a question for you to contemplate. WHO or what do you let define who you are? Are you caught up in spending a lot of your time climbing the corporate ladder looking for recognition? Do people know who you are because of the position you hold?

This idea came from our visiting Pastor tonight. He was talking about the scriptures Exodus 3:11-13, Where Moses asks God who he should tell the people of Israel sent him to lead them, and God said "tell them I AM sent you. (meaning, I AM your provider, I AM your healer, I AM anything you need me to be. This is how He defined Himself. Moses, defined Himself as one who wasn't sure he could handle the job of leadership. He defined himself as a stutterer and murderer. God Saw More in Him, just as He sees more in us that we do.

We need to quit worrying about what others think, or perceive, and listen to God. He sees more potential in us than any human can.

I think we spend too much time nowadays worrying about what others think. I understand that the more letters after your name, more than likely the higher the paycheck. The thing is, that is sending our children the wrong message. If you work constantly just so you can afford to buy you children everything they want, you are really damaging them because they will put too much emphasis on "things, money, prestige, all the things that really don't matter. In the end, none of that will matter. God won't care whether we have Walmart clothes or Tommy Hilfiger. Mainly because they won't be going to heaven with us anyway.

I don't want people, things, my job, or anything else to define me. I want God, Himself to define me, to tell me "who and what I am". He is the only one that matters when it comes down to it. Do you remember what He will say to welcome us?

Well, I guess I'd better get to bed, I'm sure it will take me a while to get use to this silly machine and 7:30am comes early when you haven't had much sleep.

The answers to the Bible Challenge "Soldiers and Warfare" Part 3 from last night are as follows:

1. c) twenty (Numbers 1:3)
2. b) was engaged to be married (Deuteronomy 20:7)
3. c) 300 (Judges 7:1-8)
4. d) Because He knew that unless the victory was miraculous, the Israelites would credit themselves. (Judges 7:2)
5. b) Rimmon (Judges 20:45, 21:13)
6. b) Valley of Salt (2 Samuel 8:13, 2 Kings 14:7)
7. a) his son Jonathan (1 Samuel 13:22)
8. b) throw his flesh to wild animals (1 Samuel3l 17:44)
9. a) spring (2 Samuel 11:1)
10. b) 3

I hope you did well on this quiz, and even more, I hope you learn even more while searching the scriptures. There is NO SUCH THING as knowing enough about our God.

Good Night to All and May God Bless.

"HOW PURE ARE YOUR MOTIVES?" & Challenge Answers

Good Evening to All!

The answers to last night's Bible Challenge "Parents and Children" are as follows:

1. b) Lamech (Genesis 5:28-29)
2. c) Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:15-18)
3. d) the Bible does not specify
4. d) Hiel (1 Kings 16:34)
5. c) killed them for food (2 Kings 6:24-30)
6. d) 10 (Job 1)
7. c) Jephtha's (Judges 11:29-40)
8. c) Uri (Exodus 31:2)
9. a) Loruhama (Hosea 1:6)
10. b) Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5)

I hope you did well on the challenge and maybe even learned something new.

I am taking tonight's post idea from my little book of "Blessings".

Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. (3) But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, (4) that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
(Matthew 6:2-4 NKJV)

Several examples come to mind. While I truly believe they may have good intentions, I also believe they want to capitalize on those good intentions as well, which in turn counteracts their "good deeds" at least the motive, which is what God is concerned with.

I am constantly seeing celebrities on television going overseas "to do charity work", to "adopt to give underprivileged children a better life, and that is excellent I must give them "kudos" for that. My problem with that is how they feel they must use these deeds as "photo ops" , or making a television show out of it.

If their motives were pure, there would be no shows, no press times about these deeds. I understand that sometimes it can't be helped because of the paparazzi trying to do their jobs, but there are also times when the celebrities themselves want to "get recognition for these acts of kindness.

This being said it isn't just celebrities that want to "cash in" on the notoriety of good deeds. Even normal everyday people like you and me, do the same only at a less dramatic level. When I use to work for a living, I remember sometimes I would get upset if someone got credit for something good that I did. I may not say anything at the time, but I would make it a point to bring conversation around to my boss about whatever the deed was and make a reference letting them know that I was the one who accomplished the task and not so and so. Yes, I was petty back then. I wasn't nasty or arrogant about it, I was just hurt because someone else was given credit for my hard work and the person didn't speak up and say it wasn't me it was PJ. I have since gotten a lot better about that attitude, but I still catch myself
starting to fall back in that state of mind every once in a while and have to give myself a wake-up call.

I will admit, doing this blog has helped me a lot. Being in God's Word as much as I am doing the research, and looking up scriptures. really keeps me on my toes and keeps me on the straight and narrow.

I would be lying if I didn't like to hear someone compliment me for something I had done, whether it was a good deed for someone, a good post, or a good job at doing something else. Everyone likes to be appreciated. I don't think there is anything wrong with appreciation.

What is wrong is doing something purely for the reason of gaining notoriety, public praise, or making a spectacle out of doing something that God wants us to be doing anyway.

The next time you do something good for someone ask yourself why you are doing it.
Colossians 3:17 says "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him". I know this has helped me to remember for whom I am doing this act of kindness. I will receive a higher reward in heaven than I could ever dream of receiving on this earth for anything I do as long as I keep my mind on the prize and remember my main goal, which is to get to heaven.

Good Night to All and May God Bless!

"COMFORTING SCRIPTURES"

Good Evening to All!

My heart and my mind have been consumed with sorrow, the feeling of loneliness in a "sea of people". Even though I know there are many people just like me who mourn the loss of our wonderful friend, I can't seem to gain strength. I know there are friends of Neita's that have known her ALL of her life, friends who she taught in Sunday school, friends who she "mentored", who probably feel as lost if not more lost that I, so to those friends I say, "my heart goes out to you". I loved her dearly and I know it will take a good while before the sting of loss eases.

From My Bible Promise Book I read these scriptures hoping to ease my pain somewhat. They did reassure me, but the pain is still there. Maybe there is someone out there in blogland who has just lost a loved one or friend, and maybe these will reassure you as well.

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. Psalm 73:26

But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for He shall receive me.
Psalm 49:15

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

O death, where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory? 1 Corinthians 15:55

The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death. Proverbs 14:32

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Romans 5:9

Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. John 8:51

For this God is our God forever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death. Psalm 48:14

He will swallow up death in victory: and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; ... Isaiah 25:8

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. Psalm 37:37

The answers to last night's Bible Challenge are as follows:

1. b) Aaron (Exodus 7:19-20)
2. d) lice (Exodus 8:16-17)
3. d) made it stand still for a whole day (Joshua 10:12-14)
4. Elijah (1 Kings 17:17-24) and Elisha (2 Kings 4:8-35)
5. c) Elijah's cloak (2 Kings 2:13-14)
6. a) faith (Matthew 21:21-22)
7. b) Peter healing a crippled man (Acts 3:1-8)
8. True (Acts 6:8)
9. c) Aeneas (Acts 8:32-34)
10. b) Dorcas (Acts 9:36-42)

I hope you did well on the Challenge. Remember, the best way to get to know God's Word is to "hide it in your heart".

Good Night To All and May God Bless!

"THE SPREADING OF GOOD TIDINGS"

Good Evening to All!

CHRIST IS BORN

(8) Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. (9) And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were greatly afraid. (10) Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold,l I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. (11) For there is born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (12) And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manager." (13) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: (14) "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

THE SHEPHERDS VISIT JESUS

(15) So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." (16) and they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. (17) Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. (18) And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. (19) But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. (20) Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

I NEVER get tired of hearing or reading these passages from the Bible. I remember hearing them read when I was a very small child in Sunday school, loving this story then and I still love hearing it. Before I was in "awe" because of the baby, and the animals and that sort of thing, I'm sure, because I was too young to completely understand, but the older I grew and the more I understood the more "in awe" I became with the different aspects, such as the "star of Bethlehem", the fact that angels came to earth and talked to humans just like me, and the hardships that Mary, Joseph and Jesus had to endure for His birth and even after His birth to keep Him safe from Herod. This is just from the "human aspect".

Don't you know that they had to be leery of who to talk to and who to trust for fear that
Herod had spies out looking for Jesus? After all, he had deceived the Wise Men from the East making it sound like he wanted to worship Him, when in reality that was not the case. I can't help but wonder if Herod had those three convinced, he could have had more people looking for Jesus and His family as well.

When I think of the BIGGER PICTURE of Him being God and coming to earth to sacrifice Himself by shedding His human flesh and blood for my sins, that even places me More in awe, because in my human mind, I cannot understand someone loving me that much. I mean if it was "back then and we knew each other like Jesus knew His disciples, or Lazarus then I could get my mind around it, but to die for someone a thousand or two years before I'm born just leaves me awestruck.

I am so thankful that He cared enough for us to come to earth and walk among our descendants, and I'm even more thankful that He is still with us today in Spirit and in Truth.

I'm not very good at expressing myself. I always think of things I should have said, or a better way I could have expressed myself after I have already published, but the Whole Idea of God and what He has done for me just baffles my mind.

Of course I know that God protected them all the while. It makes me realize that not only did God protect Jesus, Mary and Joseph, back then but He protects me as well today.

I wonder if they had the same "background noises" when they were hearing God speak to them. Did they hear God say, "Flee to Egypt and I will tell you when it's safe to come back", and have to discuss it among themselves, or did they automatically get up, pack and head out? I'm sure today, a lot of us (me included) would sit there and try to decide if it is God we are hearing in our spirit, or it is just us trying to make up our minds what we should do?

I can't help but wonder how many opportunities I've missed to help someone, to do God's will, or even blessings missed offered by God because I was "busy" trying to decide if it is God wanting me to do this or that or my own ideas.

I am surely glad that Mary and Joseph listened to God, and I hope that I will become more in tuned to God's "still, small voice, so that I don't have to wonder. I think what it comes down to is increasing my faith.

The Answers to last night's Bible Challenge " Go Where I Send Thee" are as follows:

1. c) 400 (Genesis 15:13, Exodus 12:40, Acts 7:6)
2. forty (Numbers 32:13)
3. b) Moab ( Numbers22-24)
4. b) Nineveh (Jonah 2:1-2)
5. a) Jonah's (Jonah 1:12)
7. c) prayed (Jonah 2)
8. d) because it was in Judea that a mob had tried to stone Jesus (John 11:8)
9. b) Gentiles (Acts 26:16-18)
10. d) he appealed to Caesar, as was his right as a roman citizen (Acts 25:10-12)

Good Night to All, May God Bless!

"THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING"

Good Evening to All!

I must say, I'm finding it a bit ironic that in just a couple of weeks before we celebrate Christ's birth (even though it is not His literal birthday), that every devotional I have read has been about the crucifixion.

This brings to mind about my previous post on the Ultimate Giver. This just brings out the absolute truth that we CANNOT outgive God. He came down to earth for us, served us by feeding the multitudes and healing the sick, lame and blind, brought deceased people back to life, and most important of all taught multitudes of people about God's love.

As if that wouldn't have been enough, He sacrificed His human flesh and blood so that we could get started on the road to salvation and spend eternity with Him. He is such an awesome God! I know, I just felt some eyebrows go up when I mentioned getting on the "road to salvation". The reason I put it like that is because being saved is a journey. Jesus did the hard part and sacrificed Himself for us. Now the rest is up to us. We must develop a relationship with our Father. We do this by reading His Word, talking to Him and living the way He says we should according to his Word.

There is more to it that abiding by the Ten Commandments. God did not ask us to do anything. He told us or commanded us to do it.

He even came right out and said "if you love me you will keep my commandments". He also said to be able to enter the kingdom of God we must be born of Water and of Spirit. Which means we must be baptized and we must also receive the Holy Spirit within us. Those were not requests they were commands.

He took on all of our sins that we may become blameless in the eyes of God. It took me a long time to realize it, but when God looks at me, He doesn't see the "sinner", He sees what I am becoming. All because He has seen the future. With this in mind, we still have the ability to change the future, because of God giving us free will.

God wants us to love Him and have a relationship with Him because it is our choice. This is where we are different from angels. God "created" angels but he "formed us. He breathed His breath into us. His Word says nothing about how the angels got their breath. He did not give them free will. Their express purpose is to carry out God's wishes no questions asked. Our purpose on the other hand is a little more complex. God gave us free will because He wanted someone to love Him just because they want, not because "that's what they were created to do".

The answers to last night's Bible Challenge "God's Enemies" are as follows:

1. Nod (Genesis 4:16)
2. c) He destroyed their god Dagon and smote the Philistines with emerods, or tumors.
(1 Samuel 5)
3. d) dogs ate it (2 Kings 9:30-37)
4. Haman (Esther 7:10)
5. c) the families of Daniel's accusers (Daniel 6:24)
6. a) fox (Luke 13:32)
7. b) babbler (Acts 17:18)
8. d) Bernice (Acts 25:23)
9. c) he was struck down by an angel o the Lord and was devoured by worms ( Acts 12:21-23)
10. d) they will be banished and punished forever (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9)

I hate to cut this short, but I'm so sleepy I can't hold my eyes open, so I think it's time to call it quits and head for bed.

Good night to All and May God Bless!

"THE ULTIMATE GIVER OF LOVE"

Good Evening to All!

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God: and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. (8) He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (9) In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him. (10) In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (11) Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (12) No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. (13) By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

There are many ways to express love, the exchange of Christmas gifts, or Valentine Cards and candy being just a couple. While these express love in a fun and meaningful way, I must say that the true gift of love is better any packages tied up with pretty bows and ribbons or cards with cute sayings or pretty poems in them.

I heard several accounts of the beginning of "gift giving" particularly of Christmas gifts a quick explanation of those are: some people don't believe in celebrating Christmas because Jesus was not born on December 25. Others go as far as to say it's "paganism", but I have also heard that the giving of gifts was started because the wise men brought gifts to the Christ child. Now, out of all the things I have mentioned, I would come closer to agreeing with the last one. . . BUT, truly, the ORIGINAL One who started the giving of gifts out of love was God Himself. First He gave of Himself, because He left His wonderful kingdom of Glory to come to earth and walk among us sinners. He got hungry like we do, He got tired like we do, He went through the trials and tribulations like we do. He as a human had to endure more than we as humans did back then or do today. So He showed His love for us to do this. THEN on top of that He sacrificed His human body and His blood for our sins, just so we would be able to live in eternity with Him, (if we choose to follow Him). That was and is the ULTIMATE gift any one of us could ever receive. He said it Himself . (12) This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. (13) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.The thing is, it doesn't stop there. He keeps on giving. His mercy is a gift to us. We do not deserve His mercy. Look at how we treat Him. we pay more attention to our pets than we do to Him. We might spend a couple of hours a couple of times a week in His House. Unless we have a true relationship with Him and actually realize how important He is to us, we don't spend Near enough time with Him.

God wants the giving of love to continue. As we share God's love, we are completing, or perfecting, god's will that we love others. We put God's love into action, and He responds by abiding, or living in us. Love creates an unending circle.

Anyone who is human has been hurt at one time or another. Whether it be by a loved one, a friend, even an employer. Humans will let you down at one time or another. They cannot help it. God, on the other hand will never let you down. Now, I will be honest, at times you may think he does or has, because "you didn't get what you asked for, or your prayers weren't answered". Let me say, the answer to the first comment is God knows what is best for you and if you are asking for something that will cause you harm or trouble down the road, then not getting it would be a good thing. The second thing is God answers ALL prayers. They again may not be the answer you want or are expecting. The answer might be NO, or wait a while, or you might get it, just not the way you think you should, but He will answer. We must remember God sees from the END TO THE BEGINNING. He has been to the future, so He knows what is going to happen and can keep you from making mistakes and having excess problems IF you will listen to Him. Listen to that little voice inside that says " you shouldn't go in debt right now", you shouldn't do this or that. If you will listen to that little voice your life will go a lot smoother (which would also be a gift from Him).

Sorry I got off on a rabbit trail. All these thoughts started flooding my brain

I know that loving someone who has wronged you is hard. Believe me I could be the "poster girl" for that. the thing is we must choose to let the bitterness go, before we can show true love to anyone. Bitterness is like a cancer. The longer you have it inside of you the more it grows.

If we will turn that bitterness energy into energy for loving God, and allow Him to work on our hearts His love will renew our love for others and help us to show love to others by putting the best interest of the other person not only as God's desire, but as our's as well.

When we develop a loving lasting relationship with God, His desires become our desires. We will want for ourselves what He wants for us, and His will will be our will.

A quick thought. I have had a lot of people comment to me about having to "give up so much" if they become a Christian, meaning partying, drinking, wearing "sexy clothes", and other things. The thing of it is, when you develop a soul search absolute love for God, your ideas of "entertainment, immodest clothing, drinking, and immorality aren't important to you anymore. They are replace instead by clean living, (no drinking or drugs), no immorality, modest dress, and many other things because God works on your heart and you WANT to change. No one twists your arm. You do it because when you study His Word and read these things that make God unhappy, you don't want to do them.

Well, so much for my "quick thought"! LOL! Now y'all understand why I don't get on Twitter much! LOL!

The answers for last night's Bible Challenge "Food and Drink" Part 2 are as follows:

1. b) Noah (Genesis 9:4)
2. b) Noah (Genesis 9:20-27)
3. d) fins and scales (Deuteronomy 14:9-10)
4. a) raven ( Deuteronomy 14:14)
5. False (Deuteronomy 14:19)
6. It was hallowed temple bread. (shew bread) (1 Samuel 21:1-6, Mark 2:25-26)
7. b) Solomon's (1 Kings 4:22-23)
8. c) salt (2 Kings 2:19-22)
9. d) honey (Ezekiel 2:8-2:2, Revelation 10:9-10)
10. False (there are no references to tomatoes in the Bible)

I hope you enjoyed this challenge and did well.

Good Night to All and May God Bless!

"AN ANCHOR IN A SEA OF PERIL"

Good Evening to All!

For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He swear by Himself, (14) Saying, surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. (15) And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. (16) For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. (17) Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: (18) That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: (19) Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil. (Hebrews 6:13-19)

The Contemporary English Version states it this way. He made a promise in his own name when he said to Abraham, "I, the Lord, will bless you with many descendants!" Then after Abraham had been very patient, he was given what God had promised. When anyone wants to settle an argument, they make a vow by using the name of someone or something greater then themselves. So when God wanted to proved for certain that his promise to his people could not be broken, he made a vow. God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed.

We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us. This hope is like a firm and steady anchor for our souls.

I absolutely love this analogy of an God being our anchor.

A ship's anchor holds the ship steady and keeps if from drifting in spite of heavy winds, crashing waves and rapid currents. It embeds or hooks itself into the floor of the ocean, sea or lake. While the anchor is of a heavy weight, the weight of heavy chain links are attached to the anchor to add even more weight to keep the ship in place.

God wants to be our anchor in life. When Adam and Eve sinned and ended God's original plan for us to live forever, He knew that there would be times of trouble or "crashing waves and gale winds" to toss us around in this life.

As long as we acknowledge Him as our anchor, as long as we trust Him to keep us on track and help us through our trouble times, we can stand firm. He does not promise us that we will have perfect lives with no troubles or pain, He just promises that He will help us to deal or cope with whatever life throws our way. He does not cause our trouble or our pain. He gave us free will therefore we make our decisions on our own, (unless we ask for His guidance, and even then it is our choice whether we take His advice or not).
At the time this passage was written, Jewish Christians faced strong persecution. the book of Hebrews encouraged them to realize that Jesus is the best choice and our hope in Christ is as secure as an anchor that hold firm to the seabed. When you face your trials and tribulations which you definitely will, be sure to trust God to be there with you. ASK HIM. Those two little words are VERY IMPORTANT. Too many times people make the wrong decision because they don't stop and ask God for help. They don't include Him in the decision making process, and then blame God for whatever consequence occur. What they don't realize is that God is not pushy. He will not interfere, or butt in without an invitation. He is a gentleman. So . . . if you want good decisions made in your life, include God in your decision making process. Let Him be your anchor and keep you on a steady path. Let Him hold you firmly in place ( with Him).

I also like another thought in my devotional tonight. It said: "Like the links of a chain that add weight to the anchor, we can add chains of hope as we recall what God has done for others and for us. This is where our testimonies come in. If we will tell others about the great things God has done in our life, it will add hope to their life's ups and downs. We never know when just knowing that someone else has been through trouble times, addictions, all kinds of things which God has delivered us from will help another person.Now the devotional didn't mention this, but I also look at the chains as being "faith, trust, and living for God. These things are what keep us connected to God. If we go through life on our "own terms not acknowledging God, how can we honestly believe that He will be there for us ?

Yes, He is VERY PATIENT, and will give us chance upon chance to repent and turn away from our sins, but if we totally ignore Him, He will eventually give up and count us as reprobate minds (beyond hope or salvation, according to the dictionary).

A lot of times, people aren't looking for physical help (money, or other tangible items or actions) but just someone to listen or having a common bond with someone, getting the feeling, if God delivered them, if He helped them out of their bad situation, He can help me too.

God is no respecter of persons. He won't discriminate. He just wants to be used as an anchor for His children.

The answers to last night's Bible Challenge "Death" are as follows:

1. eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2;16-17)
2. c) Abel's (Genesis 4:8)
3. b) giving birth (Genesis 35:16-18)
4. b) Nabal ( 1 Samuel 25)
5. d) Queen Jezebel (2 Kings 9:32-34)
6. c) one of the psalmists (Psalm 89:48)
7. Herod's (Matthew 2:13-15)
8. a) Jesus' Matthew 27:50-53)
9. False (Luke 24:46-48)
10. d) the Ephesian and Colossian believers (Ephesians 2:1, Colossians 2:13)

I hope you did well on this Challenge and enjoyed searching through God's Word.

Good Night to All and May God Bless