Tag Archives: ministering

The Bible…Read It For Yourself!

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Have you watched the mini-series on TV???

“In a “Feeling the Vibe” interview with Mark Burnett,

the producer of The Bible mini-series, he said,

‘…nobody, by the way, has suggested that The Bible (mini-series) wouldn’t work.

This is a nation built on the Bible… 

It says on the money,

‘In God We Trust.’

It may seem like in the media it’s very secular,

but this is a nation that is built on the Bible…” 

Read the entire interview at:

http://blog.feelingthevibe.com/exclusive-interview-with-the-bible-producer-mark-burnett/

Or go to a Focus On The Family interview at:

http://community.focusonthefamily.com/b/jim-daly/archive/2013/02/27/exclusive-video-clip-the-bible.aspx?refcd=136901

“Produced by Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Voice)

and his wife Roma Downey (Touched by an Angel),

the ten-hour presentation is a dramatic and ambitious project.

It’s also a labor of love for the Burnetts,

who began this endeavor with a noble and classically evangelistic goal:

to encourage people to read the Bible.

Let’s face it-

it takes some moxie to lift up the Bible in the middle of Hollywood.

In fact, when they first proposed the project

they were told to try and tell the story without mentioning Jesus.

They refused, rightly countering, of course,

that not only is it impossible to omit Jesus,

but that the life, death and resurrection of Jesus

is the climax of the entire book!

 …It’s always inspiring to be around people

who have a fervent desire to tell other people about Jesus.

And this couple is clearly passionate

about sharing the message of Jesus with the world

as well as having the opportunity to put on film

the greatest story ever told,

come what may from those who may object to it.

‘It’s our story,’ said Roma Downey,

‘We can identify and relate with the characters,

because their situations might be 2,000 years ago,

but the things that they’re feeling and experiencing,

the dynamics that are going on within their families,

it’s the same issues that we have today.

Human nature hasn’t changed that much.

The mistakes that the characters are making back then,

we’re still making those mistakes today.

Because it’s impossible to tell the entire story of the Bible

in just ten hours,

you might notice that some creative license has been taken from time to time.

For example, we know the Magi didn’t visit Jesus until He was approximately two-years-old,

but in the miniseries you’ll see them honoring the infant Jesus upon His birth.

In short, though, you should know the series never deviates from prevailing themes.

I believe the Bible is the inspired,

inerrant Word of God.

I believe we should treat the Scriptures with the utmost degree of care and respect.

I also know that some people object to any artistic rendering of Jesus

because of the limited nature of art

and the fact that Jesus has no limits.

But I also believe that we’re living in a dark day

when millions of people,

including our neighbors and even many of our family and friends,

refuse to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.

Many of these same people refuse to go to church.

They refuse to open a Bible.

But many of these people watch television.

That The Bible may serve as a spark to rekindle or kindle their faith

should be a source of great excitement for all of us.

I hope people don’t lose sight of the big picture,

that this series is designed to turn people to Jesus

and to encourage them to dig deeper into their Bibles.'”

or at the Examiner:

http://www.examiner.com/article/mark-burnett-roma-downey-on-focus-on-the-family-we-are-christians

“‘We are people of faith.

We are Christians,’

Burnett says.

‘And even though many people out there listening assume that nobody in Hollywood is a Christian

that would be a very wrong assumption.

Maybe the Christians in Hollywood are not as noisy as we probably should be,

but there are lots of Christians in Hollywood.

We’re hoping that through the series people will pick up their Bibles.

There’s a potential here for people maybe, that haven’t been expose to the Bible.”

We completely believe that Jesus is the Son of God….

Jesus is God.

And, we completely believe that

and that’s the story of the Bible.’

Finally, Burnett and Downey express that

while they can only do so much,

they are nevertheless blessed with an enormous opportunity

to share the story of God’s love for humanity

and to encourage others to seek God and read the Bible.

‘We cannot teach the Bible.

We’re not pastors.

We’re not theologians.

What we can do is tell the beautiful grand narrative love story

from Genesis to Revelation

and encourage people to go into churches

to have their knots untied

and seek more information about the Bible.'”

Amen!

It’s Finished! Once And For All!

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Celebrate Easter and the Resurrection!

Once and for all
The Father’s love
He is the light in the darkness
Who took on flesh
And took our place
The weight of the world on His shoulders
The weight of the world on His shoulders

We believe our God is Jesus
We believe that He is Lord
We believe that He has saved us
From sin and death
Once and for all

Once and for all
Our debt is paid
There on the cross it is finished
The Lamb of God for us was slain
Up from the grave He is risen
Up from the grave He is risen

Jesus, Jesus
God from God
Light from Light
You are our salvation
Jesus, Jesus
God from God
Light from Light
Your kingdom is forever

It’s Finished!

Once And For All…

For All Of Us!

Accept The Father’s Love…

Believe…

Jesus is God!

Illuminating Blogger’s Award!

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Thank you!

I’ve been nominated by http://seasonsgirl.wordpress.com/ for the Illuminating Blogger’s Award!  It’s my first nomination…and I’m so excited and honored!  Seasonsgirl’s blog has been an inspiration to me since I started my blog in July last year.  Her posts are kind, gentle, and lovely…she honors God in all that she does!  I feel warm and fuzzy…welcomed and loved…when I read her posts…you’ll love her blog, too!

So thank you Seasonsgirl for reading, liking, and commenting on my posts…and for the nomination for the Illuminating Blogger’s Award!  I know we’d be great friends…if we ever meet in person…you could teach me all about your awesome life on a ranch!

I love all your photos, your life, your pets, and your animals!!

light bulb concept

So now the rules for the Illuminating Blogger Award…

The Rules:

Visit and thank the blogger who nominated you (see above)

Say a few words of gratitude on your blog and follow the link (see above)

Share a few words about yourself and pass on the award to 5 other bloggers

About Me!

Christian, Wife, Mother, Minister, Teacher, Drama Team Director, owner of a Crazy Siberian and a California King Snake…Italian from NJ living in FL with lots to say…who loves to serve the Lord with JOY, write-write-write, and take beautiful photos of God’s awesome scenery!!

Anything I do is a ministry to Jesus, so I pray you’re blessed by my blog…whether it’s a Scripture, my favorite contemporary Christian music, a kid’s Bible object lesson, teaching a life lesson, my photographs, or something humorous to get the outrageous JOY out of life that God meant for us to have!

I love sharing it all!!

Five Worthy Nominations For The Illuminating Blogger’s Award:

1.  I love author Bella Grace’s blog, http://walkingonwaterwithgrace.org/  Founder of Walking On Water Ministries, Walking On Water, or WOW…a ministry built on faith, hope, trust, and more importantly LOVE.

She loves the Lord, she’s my sister in the Lord…I feel loved when I read her posts, and also when she comments on mine!

2.  I love OverwhelmedByJoy, http://overwhelmedbyjoy.wordpress.com/about/  She’s a wife, mother, friend, and more…also a patient, who makes a conscious decision to choose joy, even though permanently disabled.  She’s a caretaker for her mother.  She chooses joy because this is the best option.  Because the other option. . . is not an option.

She’s so inspirational, wise, and caring…I love her blog!

3.  I love Adam J. Holland’s blog, http://unorthodoxepicure.com/  because he’s so opinionated, and makes me laugh, laugh, laugh every day…by making me think about everyday things in a funny way!

He doesn’t consider himself to be any quirkier than the next guy, but his family, friends and fellow bloggers disagree. He’s a chef, so his recipes are awesome!  Check it out!

4.  I love this new blog I just found…or maybe Kimmy found me! http://kimmyg01.wordpress.com/ Her blog includes spiritual topics that interest me…women’s ministry, Christianity, Christian living, and inspirational poetry…I’m lovin’ it!

5.  I love http://becomingcliche.wordpress.com/about/ because she talks about teaching topics that interest me!  She has a snake…and…ya gotta love her writing!!

She said, “Since my “About Me’ portion is getting more hits than my actual blog, I may as well not waste an opportunity.  I am a snake-keeping, thrift-store loving mother of three. I work as an educator in a zoo and do a bit of free-lance writing. My pet peeves include wet clothing buried in the hamper and little popcorn kernels that get stuck in my teeth. Most days, I have the attention span of a gnat!”  Check out her blog…you’ll have fun!!

I love all my blogging friends!  Thanks so much for making this a joyful journey for me!!  God Bless!!

Hiding From God???

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You Can’t!

So Don’t Try!!

You can run, but you can’t hide!

He’s everywhere!

That’s bad for you if you’re trying to hide from Him,

But good, because you can be assured that He’s always there!

He’s already found you…

Now stop, turn around, look up, and there He is!

He loves you!

It’s like “Lost and Found” to Him!

His love embraces you…

Wraps around your hurts, your pain,  your despair,  your scars, your mistakes…

It wraps around everything!

“…because love covers over a multitude of sins.”  I Peter 4:8 NLT

Come out of hiding…

If He loves even me…

He can love even you, too!

What are you hiding behind???

Your job?  Your family?  Your health?  Your money?

Your wants and desires?  Your reputation?

I assure you, He knows who you are and where you are!

Look up!

Or, if you knew Him in the past…

Look inside!

To that place in your heart that can only be filled with God’s Holy Spirit…

Where it can be refilled…

And ready to overflow again with His Joy…

Even in life’s difficult situations with your job, family etc.!

Adam and Eve tried to hide, too!

“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God…

As He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day…

And they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’

He answered,

‘I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked;

So I hid.’”

Genesis 8-10  NIV

In Bible study, while watching the DVD series called Frequency by Robert Morris…

Pastor Morris talked about God feeling sad when Adam said…

“I heard your voice and I was afraid.”

God created Adam and Eve to have a relationship with Him in Paradise…

He did things with them…

He walked with them in the garden…

He was always anxious to spend the day with them…

But, one morning, He finds them hiding…

They’re afraid of Him…

How it saddened God…

To lose that close intimate relationship…

Their sin had separated them from their God!

Jesus can restore the relationship…

Between you and God!

Don’t hide from God…

Even when going through a difficulty…

Come back…

Ask for forgiveness…

Do what it takes to be in a right place to hear His voice…

Don’t fear God’s voice…

Draw near to God!

You’re perfect together!

Psalm 139:1-18 NIV

“You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts,God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.”

Don’t hide from Him

You’re Beautiful!

You’re Loved!!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Rejoice With Me Today!

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One of my dear friends just e-mailed me her awesome testimony…

And I want to share it with all of you!

Here’s what she wrote:

“Happy Thanksgiving to one and all…
I want to share my thankful heart with all of you…
And wish you all a day filled with thanks for this holiday season…
The Lord answered our prayers about our roof…
And He asked me if I was going to “give Him the glory” for the great things He had done…
I hope this experience of God’s provision for our family speaks to you…
That He does receive all the “glory” for the miracle of providing the roof money to the exact penny…
Not only that, but He blessed us with grocery money…
That we so desperately needed, as we were completely tapped out…
He is so very good.
Let me share the other side of the story….
 While this was all going on with the roof…
My mom was admitted to the hospital with the possibility that her heart had stopped and been restarted…
We found out later it was not that, but a defect in the wiring for her internal defibrillator/pacemaker…
(The product of toxic chemo 10 years ago with lymphoma)…
She had surgery that replaced the internal machine…
And after hours and hours in the waiting room…
We came to see her in recovery…
Another miracle…
My mom is still with us!
Behind the scenes…
I have been going through tests since August for pain in a certain area…
I had multiple doctor visits, tests, ultrasounds, scans, and an MRI…
The tests did not find the source of the pain…
But, the doctor did find a problem on the other side…
That I didn’t even know about, or have pain in…
After weeks of waiting for yet another test to be approved…
Insurance denied me…
1 day before the biopsy…
Another miracle happened when the imaging place called…
And said they would take care of it…
And get it paid one way or another…
I should relax and just do the test!
The day of my biopsy…
Was not a fun day…
It was very painful…
Yet, even though my husband was not allowed to go in with me…
I felt and sensed God’s peace…
  His prayer warriors were praying and battling for me…
  The doctor told me, the results would be in by this Monday at the latest…
I just received a phone call….
Today….
Early….
Telling me that there is no cancer!
  Every sample was benign!
  Thanks be to God for His favor and answered prayer!
  Not 10 minutes before the phone call…
I was praying…
And asked God, if this time…
He was going to calm the storm…
Or calm His child….
I was very scared as both parents have gone through cancer…
Each being diagnosed the week of Thanksgiving…
And my grandfather passing away with cancer the week after Thanksgiving…
My joy is here and now…
So is my THANKFULNESS!
As He proves to me again and again…
He is God!
It doesn’t always mean He calms the storm…
In the storm we learn to hold fast to Him…
I am thankful today that He chose to calm the child and calm the storm!
Rejoice with me today!!
We serve a great and mighty God…
Who holds our every breath…
Yours and mine…
Whether He calms your storm, or He calms you…
RUN to Him!
 And please don’t forget to always give Him the…
GLORY, HONOR, and PRAISE…
Thank you, Lord, for all you have done..
The glory is all yours!
Forever!”
PSALM 103: 1-6
 Praise the Lord, my soul…
All my inmost being…
Praise His Holy Name!
Praise the Lord, my soul…
And forget not all his benefits…
Who forgives all your sins…
And heals all your diseases…
Who redeems your life from the pit…
And crowns you with love and compassion…
Who satisfies your desires with good things…
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
The Lord works righteousness…
And justice for all the oppressed!”

Can You Stand?

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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???

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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!

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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.”  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…

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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!!

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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!