Category Archives: Born Again

Oct6

Something In The Water???

Posted on October 6, 2014 by sagescenery

Our symbol of faith in Jesus…

And obedience to Christ our Lord!!!

He said, “I’ve been where you’ve been before.
Down every hallway’s a slamming door.”
No way out, no one to come and save me
Wasting a life that the Good Lord gave me

Then somebody said what I’m saying to you
Opened my eyes and told me the truth.”
They said, “Just a little faith, it’ll all get better.”
So I followed that preacher man down to the river and now I’m changed
And now I’m stronger

There must’ve been something in the water
Oh, there must’ve been something in the water

Well, I heard what he said and I went on my way
Didn’t think about it for a couple of days
Then it hit me like a lightning late one night
I was all out of hope and all out of fight

Couldn’t fight back the tears so I fell on my knees
Saying, “God, if you’re there come and rescue me.”
Felt love pouring down from above
Got washed in the water, washed in the blood and now I’m changed

And now I’m stronger

There must be something in the water
Oh, there must be something in the water

And now I’m singing along to amazing grace
Can’t nobody wipe this smile off my face
Got joy in my heart, angels on my side
Thank God almighty, I saw the light
Gonna look ahead, no turning back
Live everyday, give it all that I have
Trust in someone bigger than me
Ever since the day that I believed I am changed
And now I’m stronger

There must be something in the water
Oh, there must be something in the water
Oh, there must be something in the water
Oh, there must be something in the water
Oh, yeah

I am changed
Stronger

I’m free.

Matthew 3:11

“I baptize you with water for repentance,

but He who is coming after me is mightier than I,

whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

Acts 22:16

“And now why do you wait?

Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins,

calling on His Name.”

Matthew 28:19

“Go therefore

and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”

Amen!!

I’m changed…

I’m stronger…

I’m free!

Thank you, Jesus!!

Jul10

You’re Brand New Now…Ya Gotta Let Go Of Your Past!!

Posted on July 10, 2014 by sagescenery

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Isaiah 43:18-19

“Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up;

do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the dessert

and streams in the wasteland.”

Brand new!!

Is that person in the mirror looking back at you?

It’s true!

But, you can’t see it…

‘Cause you’re stuck on what you’ve been through…

You got that white knuckle, red faced…

Kung fu grip on all your chains..

But, that’s not who are…

I’m here to let you know…

You gotta let it go…

You were made for something more…

So, come on…

And let it go!!

Tell me why…

You’d think that you deserve a life of just getting by…

You are alive!!!

Stop taking flowers to the grave of the old you that died…

If God can take your sin and free ya…

Forget, just like amnesia…

Why are you holding on?

I’m here to let you know…

You gotta let it go…

You were made for something more…

So, come on…

And let it go!!

Let it go!

2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore,

if anyone is in Christ,

the new creation has come:

The old has gone,

the new is here!”

“Brand New looks so good on you!!”

Amen!

May5

Is 65 The New 45??? Gee, I Hope So!!

Posted on May 5, 2014 by sagescenery

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Happy Birthday To Me!!

I recently celebrated a BIG Birthday!

(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!!

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!!!

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!

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/

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!

Sep19

Need A Revelation? Sing A New Song!

Posted on September 19, 2013 by sagescenery

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Worthy is the, Lamb who was slain
Holy, Holy, is He
Sing a new song, to Him who sits on
Heaven’s mercy seat

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You

Clothed in rainbows, of living color
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and glory and power be
to You the only wise King

Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your Name
Jesus Your Name is power
Breath, and living water
Such a marvelous mystery

2 Corinthians 5:21

“God made Him

who had no sin

to be sin for us,

so that in Him

we might become

the righteousness of God.”

Revelation 4:8

“Each of the four living creatures

had six wings

and was covered with eyes all around,

even under his wings.

Day and night they never stop saying:

‘Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty,

who was,

and is,

and is to come.'”

Revelation 22:1-21

Eden Restored

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life,

as clear as crystal,

flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb

down the middle of the great street of the city.

On each side of the river stood the tree of life,

bearing twelve crops of fruit,

yielding its fruit every month.

And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

No longer will there be any curse.

The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city,

and his servants will serve Him.

They will see His face,

and His name will be on their foreheads.

There will be no more night.

They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun,

for the Lord God will give them light.

And they will reign for ever and ever.”

John and the Angel

“The angel said to me,

‘These words are trustworthy and true.

The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets,

sent His angel to show His servants

the things that must soon take place.’

‘Look, I am coming soon!

Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.’

I, John,

am the one who heard and saw these things.

And when I had heard and seen them,

I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel

who had been showing them to me.

But he said to me,

‘Don’t do that!

I am a fellow servant with you

and with your fellow prophets

and with all who keep the words of this scroll.

Worship God!’

Then he told me,

‘Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll,

because the time is near.

Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong;

let the vile person continue to be vile;

let the one who does right continue to do right;

and let the holy person continue to be holy.’

Epilogue: Invitation and Warning

‘Look, I am coming soon!

My reward is with Me,

and I will give to each person

according to what they have done.

I am the Alpha and the Omega,

the First and the Last,

the Beginning and the End.

Blessed are those who wash their robes,

that they may have the right to the tree of life

and may go through the gates into the city.

Outside are the dogs,

those who practice magic arts,

the sexually immoral,

the murderers,

the idolaters

and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

I, Jesus,

have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches.

I Am the Root

and the Offspring of David,

and the bright Morning Star.”

The Spirit and the bride say,

‘Come!’

And let the one who hears say,

‘Come!’

Let the one who is thirsty come;

and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll:

If anyone adds anything to them,

God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.

And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy,

God will take away from that person

any share in the tree of life

and in the Holy City,

which are described in this scroll.

He who testifies to these things says,

‘Yes, I Am coming soon.

Amen.

Come, Lord Jesus.

The grace of the Lord Jesus

be with God’s people.

Amen.'”

Aug23

My Soul Cries Out, Lord…Consume Me From The Inside Out!!

Posted on August 23, 2013 by sagescenery

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Hebrews 12:28-29

“Therefore,

since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken,

let us be thankful,

and so worship God acceptably

with reverence and awe,

for our

“God is a consuming fire.”

I’ve failed…

Mercy remains…

I stumble again…

Caught in Your grace…

Everlasting…

Your Light shines!!!

All else fades…

Never ending…

Your Glory…

Beyond all fame!!!

My heart…

My soul…

In Your control!!!

Consume me from the inside out, Lord!

Justice and praise…

Become my embrace…

To love You from the inside out!!!

Your will…

Above all else…

Purpose remains…

Lose myself…

In bringing You praise!!!

Cry of my heart…

Is to bring You praise!!!

From the inside out…

Lord, my soul cries out!!!

Exodus 24:17

“To the Israelites

the glory of the Lord

looked like a consuming fire

on top of the mountain.”

Deuteronomy 4:24

“For the Lord your God

is a consuming fire,

a jealous God.”

Psalm 97:3

“Fire goes before Him

and consumes His foes on every side.”

Matthew 3: 11

“I baptize you with water for repentance.

But after me comes One

who is more powerful than I,

whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

His winnowing fork is in His hand,

and He will clear His threshing floor,

gathering His wheat into the barn

and burning up the chaff

with unquenchable fire.”

Luke 12:49

“I have come to bring fire on the earth,

and how I wish it were already kindled!”

Isaiah 48:10

“See,

I have refined you,

though not as silver;

I have tested you

in the furnace of affliction.”

Lord…

Your fire is a refining fire…

Purify me…

Consume me!

From the inside out!!

Aug21

“Some Fell On Rocky Places…”

Posted on August 21, 2013 by sagescenery

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(All the photos on this post were taken by my sister, Tina!)

Matthew 13:5-6

“Some (seed) fell on rocky places,

where it did not have much soil.

It sprang up quickly,

because the soil was shallow.

But when the sun came up,

the plants were scorched,

and they withered because they had no root.”

Matthew 13:13-17

“Though seeing, they do not see;

though hearing,

they do not hear or understand.

In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;    
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

For this people’s heart has become calloused;   
they hardly hear with their ears,   
and they have closed their eyes.

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,    
hear with their ears,    
understand with their hearts
and turn, 
and I would heal them.’

But blessed are your eyes because they see,

and your ears because they hear.

For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people

longed to see what you see

but did not see it,

and to hear what you hear

but did not hear it.”

Matthew 13:18-23

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:

When anyone hears the message about the Kingdom

and does not understand it,

the evil one comes and snatches away what

was sown in their heart.

This is the seed sown along the path.

The seed falling on rocky ground

refers to someone who hears the Word

and at once receives it with joy.

But since they have no root,

they last only a short time.

When trouble or persecution

comes because of the Word,

they quickly fall away.

The seed falling among the thorns

refers to someone who hears the Word,

but the worries of this life

and the deceitfulness of wealth

choke the Word,

making it unfruitful.

But the seed falling on good soil

refers to someone who hears the Word

and understands it.

This is the one who produces a crop,

yielding a hundred,

sixty

or thirty times what was sown.”

Don’t let your heart become calloused!

Open your eyes to

See...

Open your ears to…

Hear the Word…

Open your heart to…

Understand the Word…

Turn to the Lord…

He will Heal…

So you can be Fruitful

and…

Produce a Crop!!

Amen!

Aug19

Come Into His Presence! Glorious!!!!!!

Posted on August 19, 2013 by sagescenery

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Jude 1:24

“Now all Glory to God,

who is able to keep you from falling away

and will bring you with great joy

into His Glorious Presence

without a single fault.”

He’s Holy!

He deserves all…

Glory

Honor

Praise

Reverence

Respect His Splendor…

With Awe

Adoration

Worship

(We did this song as a human video drama several years ago at Fine Arts Competition)

Start Dancing!!!

Psalm 100:2

“Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before Him with joyful songs.”

Psalm 95:2

“Let us come before His presence

with thanksgiving,

and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms.”

When you come into His presence
Lifting up the Name of Jesus
And you hear the music playin’
And you see the people praisin’
Just forget about your worries
Let your troubles fall behind you
Don’t you wait another minute
Just get up and on your feet and

Get to dancing
Singing, jumping, leaping
Get to shouting
Make it loud, and make it Glorious
Start rejoicing, praising, lifting, raising
Get to shouting
Make it loud, and make His Praise
Glorious! Glorious!

I was created
To make Your Praise Glorious!
I was created
To make Your Praise Glorious!

Glorious
Yes I was!

Yes I was!!

Psalm 16:11

“You will show me the path that leads to life;

Your Presence fills me with joy

and brings me pleasure forever.”

Is His “Presence” in our lives?

He’s near to us…

Are we close Him?

Be filled with His Spirit!!

Think His thoughts…

Walk the walk…

Love…

Forgive…

Gain His perspective on our lives…

Know what’s really important…

And what’s insignificant…

In His Kingdom!

Ahhh…

Joy, Peace, Contentment!

Exodus 33:14

The Lord replied,

“My Presence will go with you,

and I will give you rest.”

Glorious!!

Aug5

My Savior!! Loves! Lives! My God!! He Was! He Is!

Posted on August 5, 2013 by sagescenery

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We’re not skilled to understand…

God’s will and His plan…

Only know at His right hand…

Stands the One who is your Savior!!

Take Him at His word and deed…

Christ died to save you, you can read…

In your heart there is a need…

For Him to be your Savior!!

He left His place on high…

To die for sinful man…

Seemed strange…

Before I knew my Savior

My Savior Loves!

My Savior Lives!

My Savior’s always there for me!

My God He Was!

My God He Is!

My God He’s always gonna be!

He who lives to be my King…

Once died to be my Savior!!

Zephaniah 3:17

“For the Lord your God is living among you.

He is a mighty Savior.

He will take delight in you with gladness.

With His love, He will calm all your fears.

He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Romans 8:29-30

“For God knew His people in advance,

and He chose them to become like His Son,

so that His Son would be the firstborn

among many brothers and sisters.

And having chosen them,

He called them to come to Him.

And having called them,

He gave them right standing with Himself.

And having given them right standing,

He gave them His glory.”

Romans 8:38-39

“For I am convinced

that neither death nor life,

neither angels nor demons,

neither the present nor the future,

nor any powers,

neither height nor depth,

nor anything else in all creation,

will be able to separate us

from the love of God

that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Jesus is our Savior.

Nothing can separate us from His great work on the Cross…

From His love!

That truth…

That promise…

Is at the core of who we are as Christians!!

Savior…

Thank You for Your Abundant Love…

Displayed through Your Sacrificial Life…

So the God Who Was…

Is Now Our God Who Is!

Jeremiah 32:17

“Ah, Sovereign Lord,

You have made the Heavens and the earth

by your great power

and outstretched arm.

Nothing is too hard for You.”

Romans 4:21

“He was fully convinced that

God is able to do whatever He promises.”

Amen!!!

Aug5

Grace? Walk Right In!

Posted on August 5, 2013 by sagescenery

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Grace means:

To get something that you do not deserve;

Unmerited favor

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.“

Ephesians 2:8-9

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—

and this is not from yourselves,

it is the gift of God—

not by works,

so that no one can boast.”

You’re standing with your list of regrets that you can’t get past yourself
You wish so bad that you could make the mark
But your dreams are stuck on a shelf
And all you wanna do is turn back time
And redeem the days you lost
But shame keeps calling out your name
The chains refuse to fall

But it’s not over, it’s not over
This is the moment grace walks in
With arms wide open, arms wide open
To tell you this is not the end
When doubt is strong and your will is weak to even believe again
That’s when grace, that’s when grace walks in

You once believed that you could change the world
With a fire deep in your soul
Your faith was strong and the call was clear
You were sure you could make a new road
Like so many the flame grew dark
And your confidence hit the wall
There always seems to be a lot of big questions
But the answers seem so small

Just in the nick of time
Right there to save our lives
Grace is greater
Grace is greater

2 Corinthians 12:8-9

“Three times I (Paul)

pleaded with the Lord

to take it (the thorn in my flesh) away from me.

But He said to me,

‘My grace is sufficient for you,

for My power is made perfect in weakness.’

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly

about my weaknesses,

so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

Hebrews 4:16

^“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence,

so that we may receive mercy

and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

2 Peter 1:2

“Grace and peace be yours in abundance

through the knowledge of God

and of Jesus our Lord.”

John 1:16

“From the fullness of His grace

we have all received one blessing after another.”

Romans 3:23-24

“…for all have sinned

and fall short of the glory of God,

and all are justified freely

by His grace

through the redemption

that came by Christ Jesus.”

2 Corinthians 8:9

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

that though He was rich,

yet for your sake He became poor,

so that you through His poverty might become rich.”

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

“May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself

and God our Father,

who loved us

and by His grace

gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,

encourage your hearts and strengthen you

in every good deed and word.”

Grace is at the heart of the Gospel message!

To accept God’s grace…

Means to live in thankful response!

We don’t deserve God’s grace!

Yet, He has chosen to give it to us!

We should be moved to give our all to Him!

Amen!!

Aug4

It’s Simple! Just Call His Name!!

Posted on August 4, 2013 by sagescenery

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Jesus!! Jesus!! Jesus!!

Can’t Breathe???

Don’t feel loved???

You belong…

In His arms!!

Feel alone?

No one cares?

Just want to get away ?

CALL HIS NAME!!

JESUS!

Your hope has died?

He’ll give your heart all it could ever want!!

And so much more!

Call His Name!

Say it now!

Whisper it!

Or say it loud!

Never doubt!

The love He has for you is so alive!!!

Just Call His Name!!

Philippians 2:9

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.”

Colossians 3:17

“And whatever you do,

whether in word or deed,

do it all in the Name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Acts 2:21

“And everyone who calls

on the name of the Lord will be saved.^“

God grant our requests…

We come You…

In the Name of Your Son…

In the Name of Jesus!

Amen!!