Category Archives: Believer In Christ

Is 65 The New 45??? Gee, I Hope So!!

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Happy Birthday To Me!!

I recently celebrated a BIG Birthday!

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                                            (Me with Sandy and Elle!)

And I now get to show my golden Medicare “ticket” everywhere..

But, now that I’m “mature,”  I forget to do it!!

Hubby’s already on it, so I know it’s fine…

I’ll get used to it!

We already had good insurance…

Thanks to the NJ Public Schools…

My plan after college was to get married,

Teach for two years,

Have 4 kids…

Done!

But, since my son took 14 years to arrive! 

I just kept on teaching…

And, as my sister-in-law advised,

“Stay in teaching long enough to get all the benefits you deserve!!”

So, I stayed!

After 26 years, I retired…

One kid, a pension, and my health insurance…

God is good!

Because of so many years…

Of being blessed with God’s wisdom…

My years of experience…

And my mistakes…

(Thank you for “redos,” Lord!)

I’m such a wealth of information! 

Ha!

So, what do you want to know about???

Growing up in a constantly fast-talking Italian family…

With lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins???

So much fun going to church together…

Everyone talking at the same time…

Very loudly!!

With lots and lots of food!!!

Growing up Pentecostal???

Lots of “You can’t do that!”

But, lots of faith, love, and strong trust in God, too!!

I learned to teach my son about all the things we can do in Christ!

And the joy we experience!

Growing up with an older brother???

“Stitches” in my side as he walked too fast on our way to school…

Joe always said my younger brother, John, and I had “piercing voices!”

Growing up with a younger brother???

Who, as I mentioned in another post…

https://godssceneryandpromises.wordpress.com/2013/09/07/oh-by-the-way-…have-any-gauze/

Slashed my lip with a snow shovel…

While  we were shoveling snow in NJ…

When I was in 6th grade!

But, we never wanted to be apart!

Praying for a sister???

My Mom was 38…

I had to have a sister…

Having two brothers was just too much…

I was eleven when Tina was born!

She went everywhere with me!

So special to me to this day!!

Amen!

God answers prayers!

Wanting to be a teacher since the first grade???

My cousin, Phyllis, who was three years older…

Lived next door…

And was always the teacher…

 I was the best student there ever was!

Dating????

Long term dating…

Too early, too intense…

I would not recommend it today!!

College and  Master’s  Education???

Let me just say…

The tassel is definitely worth the hassle…

Do your homework…

Get an education!!!

Then, ask God to give you a job you’re passionate about!

First Marriage???

Moved to Texas to live with my older brother and his wife…

Married two and a half years…

Divorced…

Came home to NJ!

Divorce???

Low, low point…

Feels like someone took a photo of the two of you…

Tore  it in two…

And ripped your heart out…

You’re deeply changed…

I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone!

Second Marriage

To my high school sweetheart…

Thirty-seven years…

Through the best of the best…

And the worst of the worst…

 The key is to go through it…

TOGETHER…

That’s what marriage is all about…

Even when “LOVE” is strong…

  But, “LIKE” is not!!

Amen!

Oh,Yes…

I am difficult to live with…

More than just sometimes!!

Good quote on Facebook:
“In every marriage more than a week old,
there are grounds for divorce…
the trick is to find, and continue to find,
the grounds for marriage!!” 
Thank you, Jesus!
Amen!!
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Ten years of Infertility???

Why me?

All my cousins and friends had kids…

But, God turned my attitude to…

“Why not me?”

And I received a miracle gift from God!

It was totally worth the huge cost and effort…

Of in-vitro…

To have our son!!!

Thank God for insurance!

Coming back to God???

Spent twenty years doing “my own thing!”

But could not fathom…

Raising my son without faith…

He loved Jesus…

Going to church…

Lively worship music…

And Veggie Tales…

And he led me back to Jesus!

Raising a great kid???

What a ministry…

To pour Jesus into your child!!!

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Life???

Yes, they’ll be trials…

But, always accept the Lord’s…

Joy!

Death???

So sad to lose loved ones…

But, we can celebrate their life…

Because of our Hope of Heaven…

And say, “See you soon!”

Parents???

We do our best…

So remember…

Your parents did their best, too!!

Forgive…

Don’t hold onto grudges…

Love!

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Friends and family???

While you can’t pick your family…

You can love, encourage, and minister to the family that God gave you!

Friends…

Chose wisely and love deeply!

Siberian Huskies???

Only God could make such a beautiful face…

My Crazy, Precious Little Girl…

Is lots of work…

And brings, oh, so much joy!!

See her Birthday post!

https://godssceneryandpromises.wordpress.com/2014/01/03/guess-whos-turning-seven/

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Seeing through God’s eyes???

Is beautiful…

And difficult…

Be prepared to listen…

Be prepared to obey!

Religion???

Faith is better than no faith…

Our relationship with Jesus  is everything!

Being retired???

Not HAVING to work is soooo good…

Retirement with a pension is the best!

Ministering to others???

Accountability…

Teaching others keeps you on your toes!

Keep on going for God!!

Eternal Life???

1 Timothy 4:8

“For physical training is of some value,

but godliness has value for all things,

holding promise for both the present life

and the life to come.”

Amen!

 

Grace Was Made For People Like Me!!

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John 1:14

“The Word

became flesh and made His dwelling among us.

We have seen His Glory,

the Glory of the One and Only Son,

who came from the Father,

full of Grace and Truth.”

And you!!

Be honest with God…

He’ll never let you go…

Jesus, we need You…

Lord, help us to believe…

Show us Your arms are open…

Your blood redeems…

Show me You can love…

Even me…

Show me Grace was made for…

People like me…

Amen!

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1 Corinthians 1:3

“Grace and Peace to you from

God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

All Eyes On You!!

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2 Corinthians 4:18

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen,

but on what is unseen,

since what is seen is temporary,

but what is unseen is eternal.”

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Everything else fades away

When You step on the scene

In my heart, take center stage

And I’ll follow Your lead

So let me step aside

And put Your Name in lights

Headline this life

All eyes on You

In everything I do

Everywhere I move

Let Your Love shine through

So all the world can see

You’ve taken over me

Let me be a reflection of Your Truth

And turn all eyes on You

You burn brighter than a million stars

And nothing can compare

So let me shadow who You are

Every second and everywhere

Yeah!

Can’t take my eyes off You

I was blind, but now I see

You gave it all, to set me free

So everyday ’til my time is gone

I’ll live my life, turning eyes on You

No matter where I am

No matter who I’m with

With everything I do, let it point to You

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Amen!! 

What a great prayer!

When Life’s A Wrecking Ball…I Press On!!!

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Philippians 3:12-14

Not that I have already obtained all this,

or have already arrived at my goal,

but I press on

to take hold of that for which

Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Brothers and sisters,

I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.

But one thing I do:

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.”

Lord, I am a mess

I am a wrecking ball

I must confess that I still don’t get it all

Lord, I believe that all Your Words are true

Doesn’t matter where I’m going if I’m going with You

I press on

I press on

I press on

When I still don’t get it

Life goes on

Life goes on

But…

Your love will prove

All I need

All I need

I will find in You

I press on

Even when I’m a mess

When I’m a wrecking ball

Doesn’t matter where I’m going if I’m going with You

I press on

Hosea 6:3

“Let us acknowledge the Lord;   

let us press on to acknowledge Him.”

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Keep Going With Jesus!!!

Amen!

Be A Lighthouse! Go, Light Someone’s Way!

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We’re working on a human video to “Lighthouse” by Anthem Lights…

With our A.L.I.V.E. Drama Team…

Powerful song!

I’ll walk you through my choreography!!

We’re thinking of adding lights for each lighthouse

(cell phone, flashlight, etc.),

a big light behind Jesus,

a fog machine for the ship scene,

and perhaps a black light!)

“Many of the songs on the record

speak about being the light of Christ in this world,

to how essential His light is in this dark world.

“Lighthouse”

is a metaphor for we are in this world.

Ours is a brave task:

“Climb to the highest point,

scream in your loudest voice,

there’s a lifeline waiting for you…

Strike up the brightest fire,

fan the flames and let it burn,

let it burn…

the world is waiting.”

It’s up to us to be the lighthouse,

to tell hurting people that they’re not alone

and there is more for them”

–ALAN-Anthem Lights–

Scene 1:  Have 4-6 kids form the front of a ship by kneeling at an angle, so there’s a point, and linking arms, have them rock and shake when the waters get rough, and have the ship  “sail” (move) closer to rocks

Have 1 kid be the captain of the ship, loading his gear on board, and then standing inside ship, steering, reacting to danger, and seeing the lighthouse as a place of refuge & rescue

Have several kids kneeling with head & legs tucked in to form rocks in the water

Have kids on their backs with arms & legs moving, like pedaling a bicycle, to be rough waves in the water

Have 1 kid stand with hands touching over their head as a Lighthouse, add light, if desired, have them turn as the light would on a lighthouse

Have 1-2 kids kneeling with their palms together on their foreheads as the fins of sharks in the water

Like ships bound for shipwreck

Most people just simply drift along

And miss their destination without knowing anything is wrong

No direction and without a care

Feels so good and then you’re lost out there

Don’t you remember how it felt ’til someone showed you the way

Chorus:  Have Jesus come out to tell everyone to be a Lighthouse

It’s up to you, it’s up to me

To be the lighthouse

They should know they’re not alone

So shine so they can see the lighthouse

And find their way back home

Scene 2:  Have everyone leave their position…and reposition as a church setting

Have 1 kid be the preacher, waving a Bible

Have 2-3 kids kneel as church pews

Have 2-3 kids sit on the backs of kneeling kids to face the preacher, who is preaching passionately

The seated “congregation” while “numb” at first, gets the message, and praises the Lord in agreement

Have 1 kid off to the side be the Lighthouse that the preacher is talking about

Tragically we’ve forgotten

The reason we’re even here at all

Worst still, we remember it’s just that we feel so comfortable

Do we notice, do we even care

All the people that are lost out there

Don’t you remember how it felt ’til someone showed you the way

Chorus:  Have Jesus come out to tell everyone to be a Lighthouse

It’s up to you, it’s up to me

To be the lighthouse

They should know they’re not alone

So shine so they can see the lighthouse

And find their way back home

Scene 3:  Have your 2 strongest kids kneel next to each other, so your lightest kid can climb up on them, as if climbing up rocks, then act as if they’re screaming in their loudest voice

Transition to make a line of kids, pull as in a tug-of-war to make a Lifeline, preacher will pull them in

Have kids come together in a U-shape. and wave arms over their head as the flames of a fire

Have kids separate, and all become a separate Lighthouse,with hands touching over their head to look like a Lighthouse, add light, if desired, have them turn as the light would on a lighthouse

Have Jesus, come from the back, to touch and light each Lighthouse with His Presence, when He touches them they raise their hands higher, so we can see they are burning brighter with His Light to reach others

So climb to the highest point

Scream in your loudest voice

There’s a lifeline waiting for you

Strike up the brightest fire

Fan the flames and let it burn

Just let it burn, the world is waiting

Chorus:  Have Jesus come out to tell everyone in the audience to also be a Lighthouse

It’s up to you, it’s up to me

They should know they’re not alone

So shine so they can see the lighthouse

And find their way

It’s up to you, it’s up to me

To be the lighthouse

They should know they’re not alone

Scene 4 (Ending):  Have 2-3 kids wandering as lost, see the Lighthouses, and because of a Lighthouse, they are directed home to Jesus…then they kneel & praise Him

So shine so they can see the lighthouse

And find their way back home

Try the drama with your kids/teens!!! 

I know you can do it!!

Any questions???

Let me know!

When we minister with this, I’ll blog some photos!!

John 8:12

“When Jesus spoke again to the people,

He said,

I Am the Light of the world.

Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness,

but will have the Light of Life.”

Psalm 43:3

Send out your light and your truth;
    
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
    
and to your dwelling!”

Psalm 27:1

“The Lord is my light and my salvation—   

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life—   

of whom shall I be afraid?”

Matthew 5:14-16

 “You are the light of the world.

A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.

Instead they put it on its stand,

and it gives light to everyone in the house.

In the same way,

let your light shine before others,

that they may see your good deeds

and glorify your Father in Heaven.”

Amen!

A previous post about a Lighthouse:  

Beach Blessing-The Lighthouse

https://godssceneryandpromises.wordpress.com/2012/07/11/the_lighthouse/

The Brandisa Tour Came To Town!!

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It was a rockin’ worship service!!

We all sang along with Brandon Heath…

“Jesus In Disguise”

Plus:

“I’m Not Who I Was”

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“Give Me Your Eyes”

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“The Light In Me”

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“Your Love”

 And with Mandisa:

“Overcomer”

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Plus:

“Good Morning”

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“My Deliverer”

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“Stronger”

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“Press On”

Psalm 100:1-2

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

 Serve the Lord with gladness:

come before his presence with singing.”

Psalm 98:4

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,   

burst into jubilant song with music;”

Psalm 95;1-2

“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;   

let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before Him with thanksgiving   

and extol Him with music and song.”

Such a joyful evening!!

Amen!

God’s Not Dead!!

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He’s Surely Alive!

He’s Living On The Inside!

I Know It!

I Believe It!

Can’t wait to see this movie!

Amen!!

Easter Version of “Hallelujah”

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Kelley Mooney’s approved spiritual lyrical adaptation of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.”

Be Blessed on this Resurrection Day!!

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A crown of thorns placed on His head
He knew that He would soon be dead
He said did You forget Me Father, did You?
They nailed Him to a wooden cross
Soon all the world would feel the loss
Of Christ the King before His Hallelujah

Hallelujah

He hung His head and prepared to die
Then lifted His face up to the sky
Said I am coming home now Father to You
A reed which held His final sip
Was gently lifted to His lips
He drank His last and gave His soul to glory

Hallelujah

The soldier who had used his sword
To pierce the body of our Lord
Said truly this is Jesus Christ our Savior
He looked with fear upon his sword
Then turned to face his Christ and Lord
Fell to his knees crying Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Took from His head the thorny crown
And wrapped Him in a linen gown
And laid Him down to rest inside the tomb
The holes in His hands, His feet and side
Now in our hearts we know He died
To save us from ourselves, Oh, Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Three days went by, again they came
To move the stone, to bless the slain
With oil and spice anointing, Hallelujah
But as they went to move the stone
They saw that they were not alone
But Jesus Christ has risen, Hallelujah

Hallelujah!

Amen!

I Know My Redeemer Lives…I Spoke With Him This Morning!!

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Psalm 19:14

“May these words of my mouth

and this meditation of my heart   

be pleasing in Your sight,   

Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

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Jesus,

You are my Redeemer

You have paid the price

You have delivered us from bondage

You have set things right!

Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning?

And who told the ocean you can only come this far?

And who showed the moon where to hide till evening?

Whose words alone can catch a falling star?

Well, I know my Redeemer lives

I know my Redeemer lives

All of creation testifies

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This life within me cries

I know my Redeemer lives

The very same God

That spins things in orbit

Runs to the weary, the worn and the weak

And the same gentle hands that hold me when I’m broken

They conquered death to bring me victory

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Now I know, my Redeemer lives

He lives

To take away my shame

And He lives

Forever I’ll proclaim

That the payment for my sins

Was the precious life He gave

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And now He’s alive and

There’s an empty grave!

I know, that I know, that I know, that I know, that I know

He lives

My Redeemer lives

Because He lives I can face tomorrow

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He lives

I know, I know

He lives 

I spoke with Him this morning!

He lives

The tomb is empty

He Lives!

I’m going to tell everybody!!

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Job 38

Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said…

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?  

…Who shut up the sea behind doors…when I said,

‘This far you may come and no farther”…

    …Have you ever given orders to the morning,

or shown the dawn its place,

…Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea  

or walked in the recesses of the deep?

…Have the gates of death been shown to you?

Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?

Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?   

Tell me, if you know all this.

  …Can you raise your voice to the clouds

    and cover yourself with a flood of water?

Do you send the lightning bolts on their way?   

Do they report to you,

‘Here we are’?

Who provides food for the raven   

when its young cry out to God   

and wander about for lack of food?”

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Job 19:25

“I know that my Redeemer lives,   

and that in the end He will stand on the earth.”

Amen!

Tell everyone!!