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Wednesday, October 26, 2011

A Song in My Mind!

Do you ever get a song in your mind that touches your heart? I do. My husband, son, mother-in-law, mother and daddy went to a neighborhood gospel sing last Friday.  We heard The Dosses from Denton, NC, Tracy Rhodes, and Nadine Rhodes sing and it was a spirit-filled night!
There were several songs that touched my heart that night and I can not get them out of my mind.  "Stroll Over Heaven with You" by the Dosses, "Beulah Land" sang by Nadine and "My Cup has Overflowed!" sang by Tracy Rhodes.  Praise the Lord for recall of words from His Holy Bible and for songs that touch your soul!
May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. Numbers 6:24-25

Friday, September 30, 2011

To Agree or Disagree?

There are times when the members of our family disagree...sometimes calmly other times not so much.  Before we get angry and say something that cannot be taken back...we need to stop and ask, "Does what we disagree on have any eternal value?' "Is it really going to matter a day, month, or year from now...10 years from now...for eternity?"
Words from our mouths can slip out so quickly...never to be able to take them back.
Our actions and words may be the only Jesus that a person sees in a day. Guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus in all that we do and in all that we say will make us aware of every moment of sharing His love and forgiveness.
The only answer with this is found in His Word and trusting God to help us.  So that we will be able to call upon the Holy Spirit and scripture when the times of disagreement occur...Pausing before speaking and ask Him to guide our words and actions.  If you've been wronged...forgive that person, if you have not been shown love..love that person. Jesus came so that ALL might be saved...We are called to show His love and forgiveness to all.  No matter how hard it can be.
The outcome will always be glorifying to Him!
Heavenly Father, thank you for your presence in our lives and for sending Your only Son, Jesus that we have Him to model our actions and show love, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and kindess that you can give us guidance through your Holy Spirit during times of disagreement and uncertainty.  Please give me discernment when under stress, during trials and tribulation that Your will be done in all that is said and done. Amen.

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

Friday, August 12, 2011

Sweet Summer Time!

Ok, I don't know where the time goes with the days being longer, it looks like I would get more done.  I have finally cleaned out my closet! It took me almost a whole day! When I started pulling things out of my closet I wondered why I had let it get so bad!  Now I can actually stand in walk around in my closet!
I read a devotion this past week that gave me Phillippians 4:13, "I can do all this through Him who gives me strength." Now, I can begin in the other areas of my house that need attention and I am armed with His word as my strength and He will help me conquer my clutter areas!

Monday, June 13, 2011

Don't Give Up!

If you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, then you know what it's like to know and love someone who doesn't have that personal relationship with Him.  It can be discouraging when you see those you love are not trusting in Him and they are depending on things of the world to make them happy.  Do not ever give up...keep showing that person love and forgiveness no matter how many times you may be disappointed or hurt.  Jesus loves them even though they reject Him...He did not give up on me and you...He will not give up on them, so stand firm.  Don't give satan the upper hand by slacking off or by giving up.
In Matthew 19:26, Jesus looked at them and said, " With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible!"  With God as your source of strength, others will see Jesus.

Dear Lord, I ask that you give me the gift of silence or Your wise words when You prompt me to speak.  Give my heart Your tenderness to see beyond evil to the needs of those who are oppressed and through these times bless me with presence of mind to act in a way that gives others a glimpse of You.
In Jesus name, Amen

"Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."  Romans 12:17-18

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

'My' Son

On a normal Sunday after the worship service my son, Luke, age 10 would be pulling at my arm saying, "Let's go eat Mama, I'm hungry!" but this particular Sunday as I was talking I realized, "Luke, where is he!?!?" He was not pulling on my arm, wasn't at the swing set or with his sister, Lauren, age 16 who had already left the church. I finally found him in the church standing over to the side of the pews...I asked him was he ready and he held up his finger as to say "one minute." About that time our pastor had finished talking to the only other person in the church. So Luke went up to him and I stepped back into the vestible and started praying and praising God for whatever was going on. When he finished talking he came out smiling and he said, "Ok, Mama I'm hungry!"  When we got in the van, he said "Mama, I want Jesus to be with me always, that's what I had to talk to Pastor Robert about. Oh, and I am going to be baptized very soon!" 
That week, I called the pastor and asked him if we needed to do anything or if he needed to talk to him. Pastor Robert said Luke has said it all.  He stayed around waiting to talk to me. He did not want to leave without making sure.
One of the daily devotions I received that week talked about when Jesus' parents and then, young Jesus had been to the Passover festival and were traveling back when His parents missed Him, they then traveled back to Jerusalem looking for Him and found Him in the temple. Jesus said, "But why do you need to search? You should know that I would be in my Father's house."  A friend of mine had also thought of this story of Jesus when I told her of Luke missing and I found him in the church...she said  Luke was going about his Father's business!"  Thank you Jesus for touching Luke's heart and feeling him with your Holy Spirit forever!
Luke was baptized this past Sunday!

Monday, May 16, 2011

Refuge Within me

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10

There are many times I have sought to find refuge in different ways.  There are so many ways satan tries to work his way into my life....and the sad part is I let him.  Learning to stop, before I speak to answer or reply when I've been hurt, disappointed, or aggravated...I seek His words and ask for Him to guide me for the response.  I am constantly learning as I am seeking Him...I don't always stop first and ask Him...but I am so thankful for the Holy Spirit who comes to me and helps me when I do call out to Him and thankful for His forgivness.
Dear God, I understand that my true chance of finding refuge comes when I ask You to pour your purity within me and create in my heart Your desires and let it be whereYour love will make its home. Thank you for sending Jesus...to save me from this world of sin.

To you, who is Jesus?
If you are reading this and do not know Jesus as your personal Savior, I urge you to read Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, John 3:3, John 14:6, Romans 10:9-11, 2 Corintians 5:15, and Revelation 3:20. 
Ask yourself these questions:
1. Are you a sinner?
2. Do you want forgiveness for your sin?
3. Do you believe Jesus died on the cross for you and rose again?
4. Are you ready to invite Jesus into your life and into your heart?
If you answer yes to these questions then have a heart to heart talk with God, Heavenly Father, I have sinned against You. I want forgiveness of all my sins. I believe Jesus died on the cross for me and rose again. I give You my life to do with as You wish. I want Jesus Christ to come into my life and into my heart. I ask this in Jesus' precious name. Amen.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

In Memory of Grannie Flossie
April 2, 1911~ June 2, 2002

Grannie used to read her Bible every night.  My twin sister and I would spend the night with her as often as we could...before going to sleep we would sit on the floor in front of her in her rocking chair and listen to His words.  Precious memories. 
She was a blessed mother and grandmother.


The Dash Between the Dates

...I began to read the names and dates chiseled there on every stone.
The dates which showed whether it was Mom or Dad, or daughter or baby son.
The dates were different but the amount the same, there were two on every one.

It was then I noticed something,
It was but a simple line;
It was the dash between the dates
Placed there it stood for time.
All at once it dawned on me
How important that little line.
The dates placed there belonged to God
But that line is yours and mine.

It's God who gives this precious life
And God who takes away;
But that line He gives to us
To do with what we may.

We know God's written the first date down
Of each and every one,
And we know those hands will write again,
For the last date has to come.
We know He'll write the last date down,
And soon, we know, for some,
But upon the line between my dates
I hope He'll write "Well done!"

Friday, April 1, 2011

Worry-wort?

In Matthew 6:25-27, Jesus said, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink;  or about your body, what you will wear, is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  Look at the birds if the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Why do we worry when we have the promises of God that He will take care of us?  Worrying can cause damage to your health and well-being, disrupt your ability to focus or be productive, negatively impact the way you treat others, and it basically reduces your ability to trust in God. Each one of us have things that we are concerned about, yet we don't need to let it consume our thoughts to become worry. Try this...when you begin to worry...stop and begin praying...then trust God! 
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.1 Peter 5:7 NIV

Praying for His peace and blessings to you,
Annette

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

My dash between the dates

Hey ya'll!  I started journeling a few weeks ago and decided to share some of my thoughts and times with you through a blog.  The title comes from one of my favorite songs by "Austin's Bridge" called "The Dash Between the Dates."  Once I figure out how to add the link on here I will.
The "dash" is the time between your birth until the moment you take your last breath...that dash is now...while we are here on earth!  While going through this time, God has the answers to any and every thing in His Holy Bible.  He will never leave you alone and will never turn His back on you while you are moving through your dash!   Praying that if you don't know Him personally...you will very soon.