Category Archives: Minister

Okay, This Is NOT On “My Bucket List!”

Standard

Skydiving…

Wearing thongs…

Running for political office…

Living in the past, or on past glories…

Backpacking around the country…

BASE jumping…

Being a groupie of a famous person…

Walking a tightrope, like our friend, Bello the Clown…

Being stuck in an air-conditioning vent…

Falling into a mine shaft…

Working again for my least favorite principal…

Being made to eat anything slimy…

Oh, I’m sure I could go on and on…

But, I love that many of you do want to do these things!

And I’ll pray for your “Bucket List” to be fulfilled…

But, I refuse to live without JOY everyday…

So, I do have a Prayer List…

And here’s what’s on it:

I do want to…

Write a book…

And have it published…

See my son successful in life, especially in God’s eyes…

See him married to a Godly girl, and have a family that serves the Lord…

To live healthy, so I can see my grandchildren…

And teach them to love God…

Live a peaceful life with the Lord…

But, know how to battle spiritual warfare when necessary!

Impact for Christ, all kids, young adults, and adults…

Minister and speak where God leads…

Encourage our drama team to outreach far and wide with God’s direction…

Travel to Italy to see relatives still living there…

Go to Israel to see where Jesus walked…

Serve the Lord on Earth, ’til I get to Heaven to hear…

“…well done, good and faithful servant…”

Mathew 25:23

Leave a legacy of love and encouragement…

To all those…

I’ve been blessed to come into contact with in my life on Earth…

In Jesus Name I pray…

Amen!

Lord, Thanks For Giving!

Standard

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Psalm 69:30  “I will Praise the Name of God with Song, And shall Magnify Him with Thanksgiving.”

Gracious Heavenly Father…

Thanks for Giving Me…

All Your Promises…

Your Precious Word to Guide Me through this Life…

Your Beloved Son to Give Me New Life…

And Your Holy Spirit to Teach me all Truth!

For my Parents who Brought Me Up to Love You…

For my Husband who Works to keep us Safe…

For my Son who never ceases to be the Delight of my Life…

For Our Precious Siberian who Gives us Unconditional Love and Affection every Day!

For my Siblings, Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins who Know How to Pray…

For Good Friends wherever we have Lived and Worked…

For Caring Believers wherever we have Worshiped…

For Helpful Acquaintances along the Path of Life…

For our Jobs over the years that have been Blessings from You…

For the Safety and Protection of our Home, Cars, and Finances…

For our Health in Body, Mind, and Spirit…

For Your Gift of allowing us to Retire to the Town and Neighborhood of our Dreams…

For Teaching us to Delight in You…

To Love Others…

And to see Everyone as You see Them…

To Minister with Grace and Encouragement for Your Kingdom!

I Pray Your Blessing on this Blog, to be a Powerful Ministry for You…

And that I Always Know how Very Blessed I Am…

In Knowing Who You Are!

Lord, Thanks for Giving…

I Welcome You Into My Life Always, Lord!

Can You Stand?

Standard

Sunday’s message at  the church we visited while on vacation was…

“The Word Stands, So Stand On The Word!!”

The Pastor said…

“Get in the word, and let the Word get into you!

Faith=See what God promises…

See new possibilities!!

You get what you see…

And what you believe!

Don’t doubt!

Believe WHEN you pray and then get it!

Not just pray and get!

You must believe first!

All God’s promises are ‘YES’ to us!

He is the Lord who heals us!

FAITH sees only what God promises…

Not the problems!

The Word is living!

The Word is the Sword of the Spirit needed to win the battle!!”

I don’t know about you…

But I have friends and family who need miracles of healing right now as I write this…

Thank you Pastor Leonard…I was so blessed by this powerful message!

So I’m sending it along to everyone!

How And When Did You Meet Jesus???

Standard

This is your post today!!

Your Comments will tell the story and witness to others…go for it!!

Was it anything like this???

Listen to “When Mercy Found Me”

by Rhett Walker Band

Here are the lyrics:

“Something had to give, something had to give…

‘Cause living my life so wild and free, finally caught up…

Oh, it left me broken, left me hopeless…

But that’s where I met Jesus…

In one moment everything changed…
Who I was got washed away…
When mercy found me…
My Savior’s arms were open wide…
And I felt love for the very first time…
When mercy found me…
All those days, all those doubts…
They don’t seem to matter now…
His Grace is all I need…
And the chains that I was in before…
They don’t hold me anymore…
His love has rescued me…
His love has set me free…
In one moment everything changed…
Who I was got washed away…
When mercy found me…
My Savior’s arms were open wide…
And I felt love for the very first time…
When mercy found me…
My mind found peace…
My soul found hope…
My heart found a home…
In one moment everything changed…
Who I was got washed away…
When mercy found me…
My Savior’s arms were open wide…
And I felt love for the very first time…
When mercy found me…”
Yes, it felt exactly like this!!  Amen!

I Eat Meat!

Standard

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.”  I Peter 2:2  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.”  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, confounding—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:  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!  Heart Ablaze, Relentless, Extraordinary, and more…

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rick Warren:  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!  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,  Stormie Omartian, Lee Strobel,  Philip Yancey, Bill Hybels.  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!

How They Have Ministered To Me…

Standard

Our Drama Team is my passion from God!!

Sometimes, I can’t even express…

How much of a blessing they are to me!

Here’s an English essay written by one of our newest Drama Team members, about practice at our church’s Warehouse…

He said,

“On Friday nights…

You won’t find me at home, but instead, at a Warehouse…

This isn’t any old, smelly Warehouse, but one filled with love, joy, and, of course, delicious snacks!

Every Friday night our Drama Team meets at this Warehouse…

This Drama Team is a church ministry, led by several dedicated leaders, including two teachers at my Christian school.

Along with drama, Improv is another thing we do that fills the Warehouse with laughter!

But, drama is not all fun and games.

It’s exercise and hard work…

But I’m enjoying it!

Drama Team practice provides me with Christian friends and fellowship.

It’s pleasing to God, because we minister to others, and praise Him at the same time.

Arrive early, so you can socialize!!

As soon as drama begins, a song is selected and played, which will start worship time.

Worship time is “God’s Time…”

It’s when we go to a spot of our choice, in the Warehouse, and individually praise God during the song.

Usually this is a tranquil time, depending on who gets to choose the song, and what type of song is selected!

After the song ends, we all get in a circle, and pray for prayer requests…

And we thank God for praise reports!

When we’re finished, we begin practicing for our human video drama.

In this type of drama, a person or group of people, performs silently to a song, and acts out the words with motions.

We need patience in order to learn the motions, because our leaders usually revise them, and revise them!

During practice it is important that we don’t disrupt our leaders.

In addition to these weekly practices, the last Friday of every month, also includes Improv…

Improv is spontaneous, unscripted acting…usually comedic.

I like this drama ministry for several reasons:

I find enjoyment by acting out the words of the song using motions, and I’m getting good exercise… 

I love meeting with other Christian friends…

Whether they’re home schooled, or from private and public schools.

           This drama ministry is pleasing to God…

And He led me to this drama team to minister to others.

We encourage believers and unbelievers, when we minister in our communities…

God’s pleased when I spend time with other Christians…

And when we praise Him during our community outreaches…

So, if you’re bored on Friday nights, come and meet us, and God, at The Warehouse!!

And while you’re there…

Meet our dedicated leaders…

Participate in drama and Improv…

Get lots of exercise…

Enjoyment…

And a chance to visit with other Christians!

Also, be prepared to minister and praise God.”

I love this, don’t you???

I’m blessed, right?

After looking back on all my years…

I know the Lord has given me the ability to see God-given potential in everyone!

I always find something I love about every person…

And I care enough to “water” (encourage) those beautiful “seeds” with love, to watch them grow for the Lord!

I treat all people (kids, teens, young adults…whoever) as if they’re sitting right next to me in a pew at church…

And I ask myself, “How would I treat them, there?”

Well, of course, I would treat them as Jesus would…

With love and compassion!

I believe visitors in church, may have come in with a crisis…

And need to be “loved on,” not judged!

I believe people in this world just don’t know yet who to turn to, with their crisis.

So we can’t respond to them with judgement…

We were in that same place once, also!

I can’t stressed that enough…

We were ALL there, too!!

We’re not better!!

We’ve been there…Done that!

And then, Jesus picked us up!

I know I’m the one God is sending, at the exact moment I meet them, to point the “Way” to Jesus!!

And many times…

Without even saying a word!!

So whether I’m teaching, writing, ministering, directing our Drama Team, working with little children, spending time with the elderly, praying for prayer requests, loving on family and friends…

It’s all about “Shining

So they can see Jesus!!

I’m confident in Him!!

That the “seeds” He plants will grow and blossom!!

You can be, too!

Bless someone to be blessed!

Go ahead…love on someone TODAY!

Make their Day!

Reasons To Try Church Again!!

Standard

So…last week…my dear friend, hairdresser, fellow believer, and I were talking about Jesus…

As we do, non-stop, during each of my hair appointments!

And it occurred to me that as far as church goes…

My life seems to have worked out in twenty-year spans of time…

For the first twenty years, I grew up in church…

Loved God…But rode the fence…

During the second twenty years, I went to no church…

I slipped away…Burned-out on religion…My life became all about ME…

And, in life, we always live with the consequences of our own decisions…

Even after God has forgiven  us…And we’ve forgiven ourselves…

In the last twenty years, I came back to church…

It seemed cruel to raise my son in this world without faith…And it brought a deep desire to be closer to God each day…

Relationship, Relationship, Relationship!!

How about your life?”

My dear hairdresser said: My life has been very different.  I have not known the Lord my whole life.  I grew up in Catholic School, and  in a ‘non-practicing’ home.  I knew who God was, but I did not ‘know’ Him, I had no relationship with Him.  At 40 yrs old, and spiritually sunk, my younger sister lovingly said, ‘Maybe you oughta go to church.’  I didn’t know it then, but God was already working on my heart, and a few short weeks later, on Easter Sunday, I received Christ as my Lord and Savior!  WooHoo!  Since then (5 yrs), I have been on quite a journey growing in the Lord!  GOD ROCKS!!”

So, we decided to list our reasons to try church again!

My reasons to try a Bible-believing, Spirit-filled Church:

1.  It’s a place where the same language is spoken…God’s Love!

Acceptance and encouragement…Not rejection or judgement…

2.  It’s a place where fellowship with believers is an anchor…

Like a family during good times…And a support system during a crisis…

3.  It’s a place where we can hear from God…

It’s a sanctuary…And His still, small voice can get through to us…

4.  It’s a place where we can be discipled…

A new Christian needs guidance…And church is where we learn about classes, courses, conferences, and camps…

About dynamic spiritual leaders, and about being where spiritual experiences are welcomed, and most powerful…

About anointed worship music, drama, books, etc. to lead a victorious life…

5.  It’s a place to see miracles…

Where changed lives can, and do happen…Where physical, spiritual, and emotional healing occurs…

“But how can people call on Him if they have not believed in Him?  How can they believe in Him if they have not heard His message? How can they hear if no one tells them the Good News?”  Romans 10:14  (God’s Word Translation)

Her reasons to try a Bible-believing, Spirit-filled Church:

1.)  You can be introduced to Jesus there and grow closer in a RELATIONSHIP with Him.

2.)  Worship!!  Worship!!  Worship!!  Sing Praises to the King!  (Can you tell I’m a Worshiper?!)  We are all made to Worship the Lord!

3.)  To hear and grow in the Word of the Lord ~ The KNOWLEDGE of the Truth will set you FREE!!  FREE!!  FREE!

4.)  Fellowship with other Believer’s, and building relationships with others, where you can encourage, and you can be encouraged

5.)  Recharging your “spiritual” batteries….day to day life can get hard, so for me, it is a day to be RECHARGED!  “Stoking the Fire”

6.)  Your Gifts can be developed, and you can grow in your Destiny

7.)  Miracles!  I agree with you, I have definitely seen miracles, since I have been in Church……Go God!!  This is a definite Faith Builder!

Not all churches are “filled with hypocrites!”  Find a church with sincere believers of Christ, and become one of them!

Right,  I think if you asked everyone who loves “meeting” Jesus on Sunday Mornings (and/or nights) in their church there would be many more reasons 🙂

We need to grow up!  Let’s not be babies!  We can’t base our life on other people…

It’s about being followers of Jesus…

Do what God asks YOU to do…

I feel more free now than ever before….

The Spiritual realm is so liberating!

All my decisions are made with God…

That means I receive God’s favor…

I’ve found that:

No church=no foundation or plan…

No purpose in my life…

Because I wasn’t focused on God…

I was doing fine:  Married, teaching, had a house, cars, vacations, etc.

But, something was missing…

I lived a random life, like the little silver ball in a pinball game, constantly bouncing off things, and never really going anywhere…

There’s a special place inside of each of us that ONLY Jesus can fill…

I knew it, but fought it for a long time…

Maybe you know it, too!!

I read this article by Alex Bryant, who serves as college and young adults pastor at First Assembly of God in Fort Myers, Fla., titled: “Pirate or Marine?”  In the Pentecostal Evangel dated October 1, 2012…here’s an excerpt…

Are you a Christian pirate or a Christian marine?

“When Christ sets us free, we should make it our life goal to see as many other people as we can (as a matter of fact, everyone we know) attain the same freedom!

What if you were out hiking with a few friends and all of you fell into a hole in the ground. You’re all screaming and calling out for help, then along comes a stranger and pulls just you out of the hole. Once you were freed from the hole and back on the path, would you run off celebrating, leaving your friends trapped back in the hole? Of course not! You would be happy that you were freed, but you would stick around and help your friends out, not resting until each of them was back on the path, free from the pit of despair.

The same is true with God. You have to understand that God wants you involved with His goal of reconciling others to Him!

“So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!'” (2 Corinthians 5:20, NLT).

All followers of Christ who have been set free are called to represent Him.  We are free to act like Him and carry His message of reconciliation to the lost. Christ is making His appeal to others through us…Christian marines who know, His mandate is to ‘Leave No Man Behind!”

Are you living by that standard? Or are you too preoccupied with enjoying your freedom to think of others? Are you a Christian pirate who realizes others are still in bondage, but you’re too busy with your own life, and you’re living by the decree, ‘He Who Falls Behind Gets Left Behind?’ God help us!”

I’m urgently praying no one falls behind…I’m praying you’ll try again…

Jesus waits with open arms…

It’s all about you and Him, not anyone else…

 Ask, “What’s your plan for me, Lord?”

Then sit back and wait…

Watching His plan unfold…

Instead of constantly striving for  ourselves…

By ourselves…

Decisions made with God are better than those made without Him…

The Creator of the Universe is making my decisions…

His best decisions are for me and my family!

How cool is that?

And how easy for me!

You don’t NEED a church to find God…

You can find God anywhere…

All the time…

He knows who you are…

And exactly where you are at all times…

But…

His Church is the Bride of Christ…

There’s a wedding to prepare for…

Get ready…

The wedding is the beginning of forever with Christ…

Go back to church to get your wedding garments on…

And the oil of the Holy Spirit in your lamps…

The Bridegroom is coming back for a blemish-free, prepared Church…

Will you be ready when He comes?

Is there a reason not to be a part of His Church???

I’d be interested to know what’s keeping you away…

“Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure, for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’  And he said to me, ‘These are the true words of God.’”  Revelation 19:7-9  NIV

I’m going to be at this wedding!!

I’m praying you’re there, too!

Fly The Friendly Skies Of “The Holy Spirit Airlines!”

Standard

               Our Destination:  Heaven…

Who are we going to live with?  God…

Who’s on this flight?  Those who are saved and ready to go to Heaven…

Who has a ticket?  Everyone…

Who paid the price?  Jesus…

How did He pay the price?  He died for us…

This is a devotional about the Holy Spirit for our Drama Team that the Lord gave me, waking me up at 3 am to write it all down, as is His usual way of doing things!!  Ha!

Picture this He said:  “People are on a huge commercial airliner flying to Heaven…

I’m the Pilot…

I’m the Only Way to get there…

I’m going to get everyone there safely, but there’s work to be done on the way to Heaven…

In the Coach section are all those who are saved, those who have given their hearts to Me…

The First Class section, positioned right behind Me, are all those filled with My Holy Spirit…”

“Is there a difference, Lord in the two sections?”  I asked…

“Yes, there’s a big difference,” He replied…

“Lord, I’ve never flown First Class, I can’t afford the price!  But, if someone paid the price for me, I wouldn’t refuse it!  Why would I???

I wouldn’t chose to stay in the Coach section, where it’s more crowded, it’s loud, has only peanuts to eat, has tiny bathrooms, and no way to rest peacefully,”  I mentioned…

“I’d love to get an upgrade to First Class!  Where there’s more leg room, better food, more pampering, nice cozy blankets and pillows, peace and quiet, a joyful ride, a place to put your feet up and really relax!!

How can I do that Lord, when I can’t pay for it?”  I asked…

“It’s easy, I already paid the price, just trust your Pilot!” He said…

“Who are those on the ground, Lord?”  I asked…

“Those are the people who don’t know Me yet!”  He said sadly…

‘You mean sinners, Lord?”  I asked…

“I like to think of them as those who haven’t heard yet, how much I love them,”  He answered…

“They’re carrying so much baggage, Lord,”  I commented…

“Yes, I told them I would carry ALL of it for them, but they don’t believe Me yet.  That’s some of the work we need to do on our way to Heaven…

Go and tell them:  Leave your baggage at home…

No cargo space is needed on this plane that goes to Heaven…

No carry-on luggage space needed either…

Only the essentials are needed on board…that you know Me, My Father, and His  Holy Spirit…”

It’s a “No Brainer!”

I Believe In The Holy Spirit!

If someone wanted to bless me with a gift of a First Class airline ticket…what would I do…DUH!

Take it and fly!!!!

In Coach…I’d be comfortable, but would I be soaring???  I’d only be thinking about my own comfort, or lack of it!

In First Class you can roam around the cabin, socialize, fellowship, witness, sleep restfully…

You can even go back and talk to those in Coach…

You can encourage them…

That they, too, can get a ticket to First Class by being filled with the Holy Spirit…

Or, before you even get on the plane, you can inspire, and encourage, those still on the ground to lay down their baggage…

And board the plane to Heaven…

They may want what you have, but they thought they couldn’t pay the price either…

But, if they know Jesus, they can…

And, why just fly Coach, when Jesus paid the price for you to fly First Class…

Where you’ve been given the authority and power of your Pilot…

The privilege to sit up front closer to Him…

The safest place to be is right behind our Lord!

Where He can fight your battles for you…

Where you have boldness to witness to others…

In the right seat (position) to pamper (love on) others!

Get off the plane at the next stop…find out how to serve God…

He’s filled you to overflowing with His Joy…

Go spread some around wherever you go, to those on the ground…

And bring them back on board with you…

The First Class section should be the biggest section on board the plane to Heaven…

Coach should just be a holding station, ’til they too, are filled with God’s Holy Spirit…

No one should be left on the ground…

Everyone should come to know Jesus…

And get on board!

The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift…

Don’t Return the Gift!

It’s a gift you “re-gift” by telling everyone else about it!

The Holy Spirit…moving in our churches for corporate worship, or in our individual lives for power…

The Book of Acts…tongues as of fire…a rushing mighty wind…

I believe in it all…because that’s what it feels like…that’s what it looks like!

I know from experience it’s for me today, and for you too!

Pray to God the Father for the infilling of His Holy Spirit…worship the Giver, and He will give you the Gift.

And because it’s a gift…just take it!  Jesus rose and went to Heaven, so He could send His Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth…He’s our Comforter…

Eccles. 4:1  “…I saw the tears of the oppressed–and they have no comforter…”

Why not want ALL that our gracious Heavenly Father has prepared for us?

His Son is our glorious Savior, we can be filled with His righteousness…

And His Holy Spirit is our Comforter and our Counselor…

Power to witness, to lead a pure life, and to be filled with His Joy…

Ask for it!  Receive it!  Live it!

It’s like being born all over again!

It’s a redo!

Starting from scratch!

Reborn!   To live with Joy now!

A changed life…a changed attitude…

In the blink of an eye…generational curses broken, weakness turned to strength, sickness turned to health, anointed to witness, with wisdom and understanding…

It’s crazy!

Yes, “Crazy Love!”  (****Read Frances Chan’s book, “Crazy Love”)

Be a follower of Jesus!  “Not A Fan!”  (****Read Kyle Idelman’s book, “Not A Fan”)

It’s having the ultimate Friend!    (****Listen to, “I Am A Friend Of God” by Israel Houghton)

With God’s Holy Spirit in you…you have it all…everything that Jesus has, you have…  (****Read John Bevere’s book, “Relentless”)

Upgrade…

It’s like your insides got a car wash!!  And your outside looks shinier!!

The beauty of this upgrade??

Free access to the Pilot (JESUS!) who’s taking you to Heaven!

Favor with God…pampering, healing…

How to receive this?  Accept it!  It’s a gift!

Tell the Lord, you’re movin’ on up!!

Relax, take your shoes off, put on your slippers, read, study, watch TV, stick in your ear buds and listen to your favorite music…everything has been prepared for you…so you don’t have to DO anything!

Someone else is carrying your load for you!

A pillow is placed under your head…cool beverages are offered…delectable treats are brought to you…

Then, have restful sleep, no annoyances, loud sounds, silly chatter…slip on Jesus’ robe of righteousness…be covered with the cozy blanket of His love.

Decide to take the First Class airplane ride to Heaven…Coach is good, and will get you to your destination, but First Class gets you there in style…

And, when you pray for the (First Class) Holy Spirit..know that it IS God’s perfect will for you!

For you to go up to the next level in serving God…

Bringing no baggage with you…

To change the world…

We need a larger First Class…

A smaller Coach section…

And less people left on the ground…

Get on!  Jesus is flying this plane!

And Oh, what amenities His Holy Spirit has provided for you!!

A Sermon Not Spoken In “Church-ese!”

Standard

You know, in the language only “church” people can understand…

words like propitiation, sanctification, redemption, Rapture, Armageddon, etc.

God’s Story

The Father

God created everything…

Man sinned…

God sent a Great Flood…

His Chosen people wandered…

His Prophets were ignored…

The Son

God sent His Son…

Because He loves us…

Jesus was born..

He healed the sick…

He died on the Cross…

To save us from Man’s sin…

He rose from the dead…

He ascended to Heaven…

He’s coming back…

Be ready for eternity…

The Holy Spirit

God sent His Comforter to live IN us…

To fill us with JOY…

To let others know about Him…

It’s so simple…Let’s not complicate it!

Preach it, Sister!

Standard

On Thursday, I received my first piece of mail addressed to “Rev.”

I feel blessed beyond belief!

I’ve been working on courses for my Licensed Minister’s Certificate for approximately 11 years!!

On Saturday, September 29th, 2012, I’m going to be commissioned!

I’ve been working on it while I was…..

Teaching full-time in NJ…

Raising my son…

Caring for my parents…

Directing Vacation Bible School in the summers…

Coordinating  Girls Club on Wednesdays…

Taking courses for my Master’s Degree…

Selling and packing up my Mom’s house, and our house in NJ…

Moving all of us to FL…

Teaching Kids Church in our new church in FL…

And Wednesday night Kids Club…

Speaking at women’s meetings…

Taking care of my Mom and her health problems before she passed away…

Taking courses to renew my FL Teaching Certificate…

Substituting, and going back to work part-time…

Etc., etc., etc…

And I’m finally finished!!!  Amen!  And Praise God!!

My family is full of minister’s…My uncle was my pastor when I was growing up…many of my cousins are pastor’s of churches or ministers of music.  Our e-mail and phone prayer networking is amazing…when we pray, things happen in Heaven!!

I started taking one course at my church in NJ with a group of people, and one class led to another, and then another…courses such as “Life of Christ,” Introduction to Theology,” Marriage and Family,” “Sermon Preparation,” “Soul Winning,” “How to Study the Bible,” “Biblical Theology of Prayer,” and “Missions.”

I loved it!

Then, when we got to FL, no one else was taking courses at my church, so I did a few by myself.  But, when Hurricane Charlie hit us…and things in our house turned to destruction, I lost track of my books, which got shoved back in the deep corners of my closet!  I had just finished “New Testament Survey,”  and had gotten several chapters done in “Old Testament Survey.”

It was a bad place to get distracted, because that’s a difficult course…so many names to remember, and lots of “begats.”  Ha!

So, after we recovered completely from the aftermath of renovation after the hurricane, several years had gone by, and I finally retrieved my “Old Testament Survey” textbooks from their hiding place.

Dear Jesus, what am I supposed to do now?  Should I finish this, or just forget it!

Clearly, He said, “Finish it!  And keep going!!”

I don’t really know what God has planned…

In directing our Drama Team, and preparing devotionals each week…I work with kids, youth, and young adults, and their parents all the time, in Kids Church I teach Bible lessons and object lessons.  In evaluating home schoolers with my FL Teaching Certificate, I work with two Christian home schooling groups.  So perhaps the Lord will just have me continue with these…

Whatever, He decides…I trust Him to finish within me what He started!  Amen!

I’ve already been asked by a friend and her husband to renew their wedding vows…how special is that???

My thought on preaching?

“You preach you burn…You teach you learn.”  So I’m blessed to be able to teach, so I can learn…and to remember I’m preaching to myself first, so I won’t burn!!  Ha!

Those of you that have started something for the Lord, and feel like giving up…don’t!!

Be patient!  Trust God’s timing!

I’m sure He wants to use you, too!!

P.S.   Commissioning Day photos taken by my husband!!

The Pastors’ prayers were very powerful…

And very humbling, also!

Please Lord…make me ready to serve You in this way!!

Amen!