Monthly Archives: October 2012

Song Lyrics For The Church…

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Listen to “Jesus, Friend Of Sinners” by Casting Crowns

It teaches the Church a powerful message…

Here are the lyrics…

“Jesus, Friend of sinners…

We have strayed so far away…
We cut down people in your name…

But the sword was never ours to swing…

Jesus, Friend of sinners the truth’s become so hard to see…
The world is on their way to You…

But they’re tripping over me…
Always looking around, but never looking up…

I’m so double minded…
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided…

Oh, Jesus, Friend of sinners…
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers…
Let our hearts be led by mercy…
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors…
Oh, Jesus, Friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks yours…

Jesus, Friend of sinners the one who’s writing in the sand…
Make the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands…
Help us to remember we are all the least of thieves…
Let the memory of Your mercy bring your people to their knees…

Nobody knows what we’re for, only what we’re against…

When we judge the wounded…
What if we put down our signs, crossed over the lines…

And love like You did…
Oh, Jesus, Friend of sinners …
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers…
Let our hearts be led by mercy…
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh, Jesus, Friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks yours…

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast…
For the leper and the lame; they’re the reason that You came…
Lord, I was that lost cause…

And I was the outcast…

But you died for sinners just like me…

A grateful leper at Your feet…

‘Cause You are good, You are good…

And Your love endures forever…
You are good, You are good…

And Your love endures forever…
Oh, Jesus, Friend of sinners…
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers…
Let our hearts be led by mercy…
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors…
Oh, Jesus, Friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks Yours…

And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast…

You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet…”

Amen and Amen!!

I have nothing to add…

Except to pray that we the Church listen…

Dear Family, Why I Write…

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In an Italian family it’s a way of talking without being constantly interrupted!Β  Ha!

These photos were taken at my Mom’s 90th Birthday Celebration!!

I miss her now that she’s celebrating all her days in Heaven with Jesus…

I love my BIG, crazy Italian Family…

Everyone should have one…

Adopt one if necessary!

Me, Mom, and my Sister…

My Son, my younger Brother, and his Wife…

My Husband and my Cousin’s Husband (who’s from Oklahoma, and he says we say, “SAAAAAUCE!”)

Everyone’s talking and taking photos of each other…at the same time!

Family photo, but my older Brother couldn’t make the trip to FL 😦

My Mom and her precious Grandson!

Family photo with my dear Cousin (My super prayer partner!)

Our family’s really close, we all grew up going to church together…

My Mom loved to talk!!!!

Ha!

Everyone does in our family!

We miss you, Mommy!

I Eat Meat!

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Nothing against vegetarians!!

I’m talking about spiritually…

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk,

So that by it you may grow up in your salvation.”Β  I Peter 2:2Β  NIV

Milk is for baby Christians…

Grow up…

Eat meat!

“For when…you ought to be teachers,

You have need that one teach you again…;

And…have need of milk, and not of strong meat.”Β  KJV

Crave strong meat, not just milk…

Pick up your Bible!

God’s Holy Word…

God’s instructions on how to live a victorious Christian life…

An abundant life!

Open it and devour it!

The Bible teaches us to Believe…

Feed your Belief!

We’re told to increase our Faith…

Feed your Faith, so it will grow!

Start with the book of John in the New Testament to learn about the Word made flesh…

Jesus!

Pray for understanding as you read…

Let the Holy Spirit talk to you…

I’m attending a DVD/Bible study right now by Robert Morris, based on his book The God I Never Knew.

He says, “To many people the Holy Spirit is mysterious, confoundingβ€”even controversial.”

As the senior pastor of Gateway Church in Dallas, Texas, Robert Morris reveals a common-sense approach to the Holy Spirit.

He explains, “The Holy Spirit doesn’t need to be feared and isn’t a weird element of the trinity…

The Holy Spirit is a person who thinks, feels and has desires, and is present to help each person live the Christian life.

Perhaps its time for you to meet the God you’ve had misconceptions about…

The one you’ve feared..

Or the one you never knew!”

I’ve never been more excited about a Bible study message before!!

I believe it should be shouted from the roof tops!!

I love learning more and more about the Holy Spirit…

And how He operates in our lives…

You can also read these Christian books:

John Bevere:Β  The Bait Of Satan.

This is my all-time favorite Christian book…it’s about how we should not take offense at everything that happens in our lives!

Because that’s what the enemy uses to try to defeat us…

It’s the bait he uses!

To hook us!

A must read for every Christian, for sure!!

His other books are great, too!Β  Heart Ablaze, Relentless, Extraordinary, and more…

Pastor Reza Soffa:Β  Blessings In The Light Of Our Redemption, and more…

Joseph Prince:Β  Destined To Reign, Unmerited Favor, and more..

T.D. Jakes: Reposition Yourself, Woman Thou Art Loosed, and more…

Reinhard Bonnke:Β  Evangelism By Fire, Taking Action, and more…

Joyce Meyer:Β  Battlefield Of The Mind, Never Give Up! and more…

Joel Osteen:Β  Your Best Life Now, Every Day A Friday, Become A Better You, and more…

Rick Warren:Β  The Purpose Driven Life, The Purpose Driven Church,

Max Lucado:

He is my all-time favorite Christian writer…I could read his books forever, since…

Because of his God-given gift of writing, I can picture in my mind everything he’s saying!Β  His writing is awesome!

Read his other books, also…Facing your Giants, It’s Not About Me, He Choose The Nails, Cure For The Common Life, and more…

Also read anything by Billy Graham, Charles Stanley, Tony Dungy, John Eldredge, Tim LaHaye, Beth Moore,Β  Stormie Omartian, Lee Strobel,Β  Philip Yancey, Bill Hybels.Β  There are so many anointed Christian writers, pastors, and speakers!

Go ahead…read them!

And go where you can (to church, Bible studies, conferences, conventions, camps, etc.) to…

Learn…

To Dig Deep!!

To find that morsel of meat in the Word to nourish your spirit…

Something that tastes so good to your spiritual taste buds…

Take notes…

Read the Scriptures again at home…

Pray…

Pray for your pastor, your speaker, your Bible teacher…

That God will fill them with wisdom and understanding…

To teach you God’s Word with a fresh anointing each time you hear them speak…

A baby must be fed…

A mature Christian needs to find what sustains the spirit-man…

Listen to God when He speaks…

Listen to worship music that lifts up your soul…

And praises your God!

Put contemporary Christian tunes on your iPod…

Download them onto your computer…

Play them when you’re walking your dog…

Or driving in your car…

Keep a prayer constantly on your lips…

And a song in your heart…

Some of my favorite contemporary Christian artists are:

Casting Crowns, tobymac, Francesca Battistelli, Laura Story, Skillet, Newsboys, Mandisa, Jamie Grace, Britt Nicole, Steven Curtis Chapman, Anthem Lights, MercyMe, Eddie James, and so many, many more…

Are you hungry, yet?

Hungry for more of the Lord?

Hungry for meat?

Sit down to a bountiful feast with the Lord…

When you’re blessed with meat, be grateful to God…

Because He is the only One who satisfies us with a full meal!

John 3:16

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The words of this verse occur in Jerusalem,

With Jesus talking with Nicodemus, a member of the ruling council, or Sanhedrin.

He comes to talk with Jesus in the dark of night.

He calls Jesus, Rabbi,

Since Jesus’ miracles have convinced Nicodemus that Jesus is sent from God.

In reply, Jesus answered,

β€œVery truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God…

Unless they are born of water and the Spirit.

Flesh gives birth to flesh,

But the Spirit gives birth to spirit.”Β Β  John 3:5, 6

John 3:16

Builds upon Jesus’ lesson to Nicodemus:

That belief in Jesus is necessary for eternal life.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son,

That whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”Β  NIV

For God…

Creator of the Universe, Gracious Heavenly Father…

So loved…

With an everlasting LOVE!Β  Amen!

The world…

Everyone, You included!

Right here, right Now!

No matter what your situation…

How you look…

How you feel…

What you think about yourself…

Or what others say about you…

That He gave…

That which was needed to save us!

Freely without expecting anything in return!

His one and only Son…

Would you be able to do that…I wouldn’t!

I couldn’t!

That whoever…

Even the folks we think aren’t deserving of it!

Believes in Him…

Please, don’t add anything to this!

Not for yourself, and not for anyone else, either!

Nothing else is necessary…

Not even, “How much of the Bible do you know and have memorized?”

Only simple Faith…

And belief in Jesus!

Shall not perish…

Die and go to Hell!

But have eternal life…

With Jesus forever in Heaven!

No wonder people hold up signs, wear crazy rainbow wigs, and try to get on camera at Golf Tournaments, and such!!

It’s a great message!

It’s God’s message for You!

You Wanna Piece A Me?

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Well get in line!

Lots of people, places, and things are ahead of you!

Everyone wants a piece of me…

My life is like a gigantic puzzle!

And I don’t like my puzzle pieces to overlap!!

But, after all these years, I’ve figured it out…

Let God have the biggest piece!

I gotta fit Him in first…

Then, the other things in life become the small things…

And He’ll take care of those!!

Amen!

So, no matter what…

Lord, I promise…

Hey! Β  All of you, come on, say and promise this with me…

Even if I’m working…

Even if I get married..

Even if I have kids…

Even if I stay single…

Even if I need to go back to school…

Even if I have health issues..

Even if I have grandkids…

Whatever life brings…

I need to give God the biggest piece of my life!

Isn’t it obvious that I especially need Him in these times?

And He wants all of you…

All the time…

All, or nothing…

Face it!

God never just wants a piece of you!!

Dear God…

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I need nothing…

But You…

Help my prayers to be…

Genuine…

Compassionate…

Loving…

Help me really see every soul that hungers for You, and feed them Your Word daily…

Jesus, help me see every thirsty person, and give them Your Living Waters to quench their thirst forever…

Help me see through Your eyes…

Help me be Your hands and feet…

Help me weep over my city and this world, as You wept over Jerusalem…

Help me feel the suffering You felt at the Cross for Me…

So I can understand Your amazing capacity to love…

Help me be more like You…

Holy Spirit, help me desire what You desire…

Help me delight in You…

Help me obey, when You call…

Help me go where You tell me to go…

Help me to minister to those around me…

I don’t want to waste my prayer time…

On the ordinary…

The mediocre…

The mundane…

Or on selfish and superficial folly

I want My prayers to You be as important…

As You are to Me!