The New Year

 

     I was thinking about all the miracles our Lord gave to me in 2012.  When I look back on the year as a whole I see plainly how my life has changed for the better due to our Lord's stepping in to guide and clear the path for me.  I see changes that only faith can reveal.  

     I have come a long way in putting life in the hands of our Lord Jesus and not worrying for, as he said, when has worry ever added one day to a person's life.  I still worry, but more and more I am just turning it over to our Lord's guidance and love.  

     I am not perfect, not even close, but our Lord did not come to call the righteous.  Life is not a smooth, level road.  It has many ups and downs, twists and turns.  Our faith helps smooth and level some of the severe areas, but was never meant to completely take these imperfections away.  We learn more from the downs than the ups, and the ups would never be so good were it not for the downs.  Life is a learning adventure.  Learn from it, make use of the lessons to improve yourself. 

     Our Lord is within me, our Lord surrounds me, our Lord is, was, and forever shall be.  He was here before time and the earth began.  Who would you put your trust in...machines, technology, your personal intelligence, or would it be in our Lord and God who is, was, and forever shall be, and through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we shall gain eternal life through faith in him?

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John1:1

 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

     The word was truly our Lord Jesus.  He knows we are not perfect.  He knows the many sins we have committed that is why he came in the flesh and died such a horrible death on that cross.  Our Father, God, loves us unconditionally and wants you to know he is always with you.  Begin to talk with him and come to know and listen and pray and accept his love and let your self and your life begin to improve and influence others. You cannot make it through the tough times alone and you are not alone.  Just pray and have faith and...listen.  Is that not the simplest most beautiful thing you have ever heard?  God always makes things simple.  Man is the entity that makes life so very, very complicated.

Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!"

John 8:58

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I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.

Proverbs 8:23

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"Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."

John 8:24 

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Jesus said unto her, I that speak unto you am he.

John 4:26
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So Jesus told them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own authority. Instead, I speak only what the Father has taught me.
John 8:28
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He replied, "Don't let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah,' and saying, 'The time has come!' But don't believe them.
Luke 21:8
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All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means 'God is with us').
Isaiah 7:14
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"She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."
Matthew 1:21
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26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27to a virgin betrothed^b to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”^c 29But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

34And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”^d

35And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born^e will be called holy—the Son of God. 36And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant^f of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

 Luke 1

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"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16

AMEN

   

A baby is born over 2000 years ago

He came into this world materially poor

He and all others leave it materially poor

Yet, this baby was rich beyond all imagination

Rich spiritually

He was a gift and brought gifts from his and our Father

The greatest gifts mankind can ever possess

Gifts of unconditional love, forgiveness, eternal life

Only one thing he asked in return

Faith...in God, our father, Faith in him, son of God

He performed miracles and loved and loved and loved

He paid for our gifts with a horrible death

Death decreed by his Father that loved him perfectly

Death that led to mankind's rebirth

In death there is life

He was born and died in a mortal body

Then...he was ressurected...the promise, the prophecy fulfilled

Love made complete by the ultimate sacrifice

Remember

Mankind was looking toward the heavens 

Looking for chariots of fire

Looking for armies of angels

When among them appeared a simply dressed carpenter's son

He said, why do you stare at the heavens?

Mankind said, we are looking for God's Messiah

He said humbly, softly, I am here

And He was

And he is still changing the world over 2000 years later

Let us love and serve all

for who knows how He will appear the next time.

 

     At church on Sunday last, we were given a report on the latest India mission trip by the people that made the journey.  We have a regular mission to India and support two children through our Sunday School Class.  We heard some great stories as well as some very disturbing stories.
     We heard a very inspiring and courageous story of a christian in Totopara.  The man coverted to Christianity in a overwhelmingly Hindu area in northern India.  He was cast out by the local officials.  Over a period of six years, he slowly worked his way back to the town little by little.  The entire time he was in danger , but, as our Father has a tendency to do, put his divine arms around him and protected him giving him great success in conversions.  Pray for him.
     From the other side of the spectrum, we heard a story of a young lady that had converted to Christianity and had been murdered by Hindus for that reason.  We know our Father brought her to his Son, our Lord Jesus, for a purpose and took her as a part of that purpose.  We Christians know fully that she is sitting beside our Lord as an honored martyr.  What greater sacrifice to give our Father than to give one's life in his name.  We pray for her family.  When our Father brings people to his son, Jesus, we, as humans, must be prepared for whatever sacrifice he puts upon us.  We in this country are safe and secure from those sacrifices unless we travel out of this country.  Our forefathers were persecuted for their beliefs.  Our Lord gave the world this land so that he may send his persecuted children here to be kept in safety.  Let us never take this for granted.  Our fellow Christians throughout the world are suffering great persecutions for their faith.  Let us pray, support, and go to them in any way we possibly can.  Let us go out as an army armed with the sword of love and faith.   The non-believers never expect the overwhelming power of God's love as a weapon.  His love conquers all things.
     The missionaries said the situation in India is similar to that in the deep south of the United States prior to the Reverend King's movement changing it.  India needs a Reverend King to walk the paths through the dark parts of that country.  Ghandi, such a great man, was against persecution of Christians and Muslims.  He was so close to being a Christian himself.  He walked the ways of a Christian.
     We need to remember our forefather's persecutions and the current world violent persecutions of our brother saints when we interact with Muslims in this country.  They are God's children, also.  He loves them, but has not yet called them to his son, Jesus.  Let us love them as the child of God that they are.  Love always...love without judging.  For love is the gift our Father gave us that when given away increases our own wealth of love.
     Let us honor our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, during this time of celebration of his birth by loving unconditionally as he told us.  Let us also pray for our fellow saints in places where they are persecuted for the crime of love and faith.  Let us pray to our Father to give them courage to face those great trials and to help them know how powerful our Father's love is.  Let our Father's love shine from all of we saints.  In our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, son of God, all loving, all powerful we will pray these things.  Amen

Indeed we have a lot to be thankful for in this great land our Lord has given to us.  

Let us pray to be good servants and share this great wealth with others less fortunate around the world.

ONE OF THE MOST LOVED TIMES OF THE YEAR FOR WE CHRISTIANS

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given: and the government shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Matthew 1:23

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

     Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do people say I am?" and "Who do you say I am?"  So, who do you think he is?  Read and study the bible.  Then you can answer that question personally.  If you have faith, you will begin to truly understand and feel deeply what people mean when they say...Jesus is God come to earth in human form. I cannot nor will not force this upon you.  This is a personal decision.  No person comes to Christ that our Father has not sent them.  If you come to Jesus, God has sent you and you should feel very special indeed.  If you have faith, you are accepted.  You are always loved by God, but, the act of accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior, gives you eternal life.  Do not be put off by not knowing scripture or understanding the technical jargon thrown out by some of our Christian brothers, for what reason I know not. Just accept him and have faith.  Begin to love all mankind not just your friends and family.  Being a Christian is about love and faith in a God that loves you unconditionally, no matter what you have done in the past.  Throw away the old self...put on your new self...you are forgiven and loved.  Put a smile on your face.  Put life in the hands of our Father through Jesus Christ.  Trust the Lord.  He will change your life and give it purpose.  Read the final verse up above, John 3:16.  Are you loved?  

     Such a wonderful time of year, the giving and caring.  As a Christian, it can be this time of year all year long.  Come and celebrate the true meaning of and the true reason for this time of year. 

The World is Shrinking

         The election for president of the United States has just ended.  Some people are happy, some sad, some indifferent, some cynical.  The country is divided between Republicans on the one side and Democrats on the other.  Such a sad thing to see and experience.  The tearing apart of this fine country that has stood for over 200 years as a beacon in the night to lost souls living in tyranny and living in class ridden societies.  A safe house for so many.  A land of opportunity for millions.   The land of milk and honey for countless of the world's religions.  It's citizens made up of various races, nationalities, religions, and interests as newcomers or with ancestors newly immigrated many years ago.  Even the native American peoples here immigrated at some point.  A country with such an eclectic composition of peoples living in relative peace and harmony would have been inconceivable little more than 200 years ago.  It's immigrant citizens being the core of armies that have gone throughout the world and, for the greatest part, spread good works and freedom to oppressed people of the world.  We went not to conquer so much as to make them free and lift them up.  We have made mistakes artificially holding up tyrants, but what other country's armies in history ever went forward with such benevolence as a whole.  God truly kept this country hidden from view for hundreds of centuries to most of the worlds population.  He kept it hidden for his purpose and his alone.  It is truly a land blessed by our Father.
     If the world thinks God will let his country fall apart and self destruct, they are sadly mistaken.  We are being taught a lesson showing what all the self-materialistic greed we exhibited for so many years can do to a land sacred in its mission to our Father's grand design.  He is reminding us of our original and true mission to be a beacon in the night to his suffering children throughout his world.  We must remember all this earth is his to do with as he pleases not as we please.  During his holy time upon this earth, our Lord Jesus told us the most important of all the commandments is to love God, your Father, with all your heart and soul, and to love your neighbor as yourself.  He never commanded us to hate or build worldly wealth or to not be servants to one another. This land is not ours to guard its wealth greedily as we are doing. to deny access to God's suffering children. As he served us and gave us great wealth and love, let us serve and love him and, therefore, our Father of all.  Let us go forward with renewed love for all mankind and with a heart and soul for service to all mankind and to share this vast wealth he has laid before us.  That is the actin that will clear our vision and restore our direction in this country.  The world may complain about us, at times rightfully so, but they expect and demand that we be that beacon of hope for their hope rests on us and ours on God.  Let us go forward today a nation as one under God.  Let us today relight the beacon.  Let our churches go out into the world with this covenant from our Father to lift up his long suffering children to him.  Let us be a shining example of our Lord Jesus and his word.  Let us not be Republicans or Democrats.  Let us be servants of the one true God as our Lord commanded us.  Then we shall be healed.  In the name of our Lord Jesus, Amen.

CALL TO PRAYER

Oh, my loving Father and God of all,

Please, Father, bring to you in prayer this day all those who seek and need you and your divine and unending love.

Bring them in prayer through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, your son.

Let them know the sacrifice He made for all mankind to forgive them of their sins.

Let them know the commanding, overpowering love You have for them through your son.

Let them know the absolute and unconditional love you offer.

Let them know and undergo the totality of your forgiveness of their sins.

Father, they are calling for you, while they meander without direction in blindness and ignorance.

Point them, Father, to your son, Lord Jesus, so that they may begin to know the truth and have faith.

Light their way, Father, and lead them upon the path of righteousness for Your sake.

Place Your loving, comforting arms around them for they need rest from the tempestuous seas of life that surround them.

Oh, Father, who uses the earth as his footstool, help them to know that nothing is impossible for You and those who have faith in You through Your son, Jesus Christ.  

Hear us and bless us O' mighty Father, our God, through our prayers,

as we are commanded, in Jesus' name we pray these things.

Amen and Amen

 

1 Thessalonians 5

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Day of the Lord

5 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. ² For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴ But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. ⁵ For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. ⁶ So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Final Instructions and Benediction

¹² We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, ¹³ and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. ¹⁵ See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. ¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not despise prophecies, ²¹ but test everything; hold fast what is good. ²² Abstain from every form of evil.
²³ Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
²⁵ Brothers, pray for us.
²⁶ Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
²⁷ I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
²⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

When life seems hopeless

  

     When the world seems hopelessly torn apart by hate, wars, self –centered behavior by all around us, that is the time mankind needs our Lord most of all.  For our Lord represents the opposite of those things.  We do not cry out for help when seas are calm.  It is when the storm is upon us that we cry out.  If you have our Lord in your life when the storm hits, you take the waves in a calmer more confident manner.  You lay your fears at the foot of the Lord for him to dispense with. 
     You are never alone when you have Jesus in your life.  You may forget his spiritual presence when you glide across silk smooth seas, but he is there even then.    It is a little misleading when we say, …when you have the Lord in your life...for he is always there.  You need merely to have faith and pray to him.  Make it complicated as so many have endeavored to do, but that is not necessary.  He doesn’t make you jump through hoops and crawl on your hands and knees to him.  A person gets on their knees owing to our Lord’s pure love and complete goodness.  It is an involuntary reaction to his overpowering presence of love and goodness.  If you can love, how much more can God love.  If you can be good, how much more can God be good.  So much so that he gave us His only son, Jesus Christ, to die on that cross to forgive us our sins.  Surely, we can but give him a little of our abundant love and goodness in return.  This is the first day of the rest of eternity as Christians.
    
Remember, when one conquers the world with love, there are no losers, only winners.

Pray to our Father in the name of His son, Lord Jesus, have faith, and it shall be done.

     When I look back over my long life, I see God stepping in time after time.  At the time, I was blind for the most part, now, I see.
      You see birds, you see the sky and clouds, you see the trees around you, but do you see God?  You hear the breeze blowing through the trees rustling the leaves, you hear people talking, you hear cars and airplanes, but do you hear God.  Have you ever taken the time to sit quietly and really talk and listen to God?  Why would he talk to someone that scoffs at his name or never gives him time and just listens.  He listens to us always.  Why can't you give him just a little time each day...just you and He. He so badly wants to talk with you.  He loves you.  I know and so do millions of others.  It will not be long before He becomes a driving force in your life.  What a change He makes.  He has me loving neighbors that before I would have cursed.  He has me doing things I only dreamed of before putting my faith in him.  Come to Him.  Put your cares in his pocket, and let his arms surround you with His love and caring.  If you are reading this, He probably already has done this.  For nobody comes to the Son that the Father has not sent.  In other words, God has brought you to Christ Jesus, his son.  Welcome fellow saint.  Make yourself comfortable.  You are among brothers and sisters in the Lord.  Your life will never be the same, nor will any of those around you.  You are special...you are chosen...you are a Christian.  Begin to build your faith.  Put on your new self.  And...listen and talk with God.

     The world appears in turmoil,Wars, nuclear threats, religious fighting. Put your faith in God through His son, Jesus Christ, and you will know that it is not turmoil.  This is what God planned in the beginning.  He is in control.  Love and help others, and let our Father take care of the tough work.  Make your life as much of a reflection of Jesus as possible to bring others to Him.  Fear nothing, but, if you must fear something, fear our Father for does he not create and control all things, all times, all places. Be a good servant, love your neighbor, and, remember, we Christians are not perfect.  Have compassion for others who are not perfect also.  Let us be calm in the face of adversity.  Let us be confident and loving to show others where the one and only true God puts his hand. 

     I have gone through an intense journey in writing this book.  I started out saying I am going to write a book about faith and get it published and blah, blah, blah.  It started out fast and great, but then the Lord shut me down for awhile.  He said, you must learn more lessons.  The first being, if you write for our Father, you must know humility.  This book and any glory or money it may generate goes to our Father, not me.  There is no me in Christianity.  It is about our Father, not about me.  Now, He opens the door to my writing once again.  He is always teaching.  Just like when He was upon this earth in human form. 

There is no me in Christianity

There is no my in our Lord's eye

And Jesus said to His disciples, "Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 19:23

Christianity is about serving and loving others...not ourselves.  How great would this world be if we all served and loved one another.  Would we have any needs if we were being served and loved as we served and loved others around us?  And how can one say a bad word about this and the one that gave us this command...our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Good morning.  Such a beautiful day to worship and honor our Father.  To bow down to the loving creator of all things, all times, all places is a privilege.  To take time out of this life He has given us to adore and meditate upon our Father of all is an honor.  After God created all, He rested on the seventh day.  If our God took a day of rest, who are we compared to him.  Take a day to be a servant and worship our holy Father and not material things.  Please, join me in worshiping our most loving and mighty Lord Jesus Christ and, through him, our most holy and divine Father.  Jesus did not come to call the righteous.  He came to call those who needed him. and who needs Him more than you and I...we weary, beat down sinners in need of  His forgiveness and love.  Take our Lord's hand and walk with him this holy day and on into eternity.  Come my brothers and sisters.  He is waiting for you and I.

Indeed, the time is coming, and it is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. The Father is looking for people like that to worship him.

 John 4:23

      Let's talk about becoming a Christian.  The Lord does not come into your life through hocus pocus and mirrors.  If you want peace, satisfaction, love, warmth, security, contentment in your life, then find a quiet place away from everyone and with as few distractions as possible, sit down, relax, and, sincerely, ask God into your life.  Tell Him you want to know Jesus as your Lord and savior.  Give yourself to him.  let the holy spirit flow into you.  Sincerely and lovingly ask forgiveness for past sins.  You will be forgiven. Have faith in our Lord Jesus, always.  With this forgiveness, begin to put on your new self.  Begin to practice putting life into God's hands for he is in control, not you fellow saint.  You have accepted our Lord as your savior.  Put complete trust in him, pray to him daily, read his word daily, become one with Him.  Immediately, you will see things changing in your life.  Become a servant as our Lord was in his time upon this earth in human form.  Learn to forgive and love your enemies.  Doing this empowers you and changes you.  Love first, last, and always.  You are not perfect.  Only our Lord was perfect.  But you will begin to change...to think about your actions toward others. Feel confident that you are loved.  Reach out to other Christians.  There is great power in this. Yes, it is that simple.  Have faith and it will happen. 

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. 

Matthew 18:20

     As you progress daily as a Christian, you shall walk more and more in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus.  Make praying and Bible reading a daily event as it builds and maintains the holy spirit within you.  Soon, love for your fellow man will overtake the old hate and jealousies.  Make material wealth a distant second to spiritual wealth.  Whenever anyone asks, give.  In giving we receive.  Give without expecting anything in  return.  Give out of love.  Forgive all who ask.  Put on your new self.  For you are a Christian, for you are different, for you are our Lord's servant...everything is for Him...not for you.  Suffer in silence.  Give anonymously.  Give, forgive, love.

     And what bad word can be said about these things, except by those who know only self and little real love.  Now, you are loved, forgiven, and assured a life everlasting in the Kingdom of God.  Therefore, have faith and accept this greatest of gifts.  

Father, hear this prayer that only you can answer.  Give these new saints to Your son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Send them Your holy spirit to live in them.  Let them know Your forgiveness and divine love.  Give them the strength, wisdom, and courage to put on their new selves and to serve You.  Let them know Your most loving and holy presence.  Help them know You and love You and trust You.  Guide them through this earthly life, so, they may serve You always.  Put Your mighty hand over them to protect them and their families from harm.  Please, Father, accept them into Your family where they will always know love, warmth, courage, and wisdom through You in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ's name we pray these things.  Amen

    

because this ministry you render is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, it is also overflowing with more and more prayers of thanksgiving to God.

2 Corinthians 9:12

     

     Serving brings the great reward of joy in our hearts and spirit not to mention the satisfaction of having helped others.  In being a good servant, we forget about our problems, we feel wonderful, we love and are loved in return many times over.  Serving is infectious.  It makes it about them and not about me.  

O LORD, you are God! You have promised these good things to your servant.

1 Chronicles 17:26

 

But Peter said to him, "May your money perish with you because you thought you could obtain God's free gift with money!

Acts 8:20

     The greatest gift ever and all one must do to receive it is have faith in our Lord.  Never let the material side of life rob you of this gift nor it's joy.

So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham's. For Abraham is the father of all who believe.

Romans 4:16

     Everyday I receive miracles and the joy living with faith.  Yet, I am the lowest and most undeserving of God's children.  What will he surely do for you who is so much better than I.  For the lowest servant shall be the highest with our Lord for He loves us so much that he gave his life for us. He serves us and He is God of all...so, who are we not to serve. How beautiful life would be if we all served and loved one another each day.  Today is a new start.  Let us begin...

CHRIST IS THE LORD

Father, your children in lands far and near suffer great persecution and fear.  Let us, in this holy land you have given us, be your instrument of change, of hope, of relief for those that suffer these persecutions in your name.  Let the rulers of this earthly world know your power, your glory, your love that conquers all, and, in their knowing this, burn away their hate and turn it into love as only you can do.  For what man can stand against your divine will, what man can stand against your holiness and overpowering love.  Your loyal, loving children suffer greatly Father.  Bless your servants that go forth to these countries in your name for your sake and that of your children.  Guide them, give them the courage wisdom and strength to overcome in your most holy name.  Show your power and love through them. 

In our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’s name, we pray these things.

In Malaysia, China, India, Syria, Egypt, Iran, etc.  Our Lord is with you.  Stand Strong in His name and for his name.  Our prayers are with you...you brave and loving servants of God.  You inspire we Christians in America.

     I grew up in a storytelling family.  My mother was born into a large farm/ranch family of people that enjoyed life to the fullest.  The family was 15 children strong.  My grandmother died before I was born, but I love her from the stories I have been told.  My grandfather and his family were of the Quaker Christian faith that immigrated here from Ohio to participate in the opening of Oklahoma Territory in the land run of 1889.  He, my great grandfather, and other family and community members built a country church several miles from Tribbey, Oklahoma, where he preached the word to anyone of any faith.  At some point, they added a cemetery where my great grandparents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, etc are buried.  The church still stands over 100 years later and it and the church are maintained by family far out in the rural  countryside, near no town.
     I grew up attending huge family reunions once a year and, several times a year, cousin meetings they called them.  The usual scenario was my grandfathers sister, Aunt Francis, a newspaper reporter, would get up and start dancing in her long dress and granny shoes.  She could jump and click her heels together at 60+.  She always had a smile and a great story to tell.  We always began and ended with a prayer.  Some people think Christians are a serious, almost depressed lot.  It just isn't so.  I miss them all.
     My mother was a storyteller in her own right.  She was the youngest of the 15 kids and a twin.  When the sisters and she got together...let the storytelling and laughter begin.  One of my favorite stories is told like this, it was a dark, cold winters evening.  My  grandfather hitched the horses to the wagon, and loaded all the family up to go to church services.  He drove with my Uncle Charley sitting beside him.  The rest of the kids along with my grandmother were in back. They were plodding along the dark country road bundled in blankets when one of the kids yelled," an arm!"  Grandpa stopped the wagon and, sure enough, in the ditch beside the road lay someone's arm.  Grandpa and uncle Charley climbed down from the wagon,  carefully examined the arm, and tenderly wrapped the arm in a blanket.  The cold weather, evidently, had preserved the arm.  When they arrived home after church, they brought the arm into the house and unwrapped it gently as everyone gathered round.  There was a sudden gasp as one of the kids said," it's Olie's arm!"  Olie was one of the oldest children.  She had left several weeks before that and had not returned as happened occasionally with large farm families in the early  1900's in pioneer times.  After carefully examining the arm, Grandma said, "It really is Olie's arm."  There was a loud outcry of agonizing grief.  The next day, a hole was dug and the arm buried with a solemn ceremony and prayers.  Thoughts of Olies painful demise at the hands of who knows who or what ran through everyone's heads.
     A week maybe two passed.  Everyone was eating supper one evening when who should walk in the door...Olie...with a new husband.  My Grandma shreiked with half joy, half overwhelming relief at the site of her.  Everyone else followed the same pattern after the shock wore off.  Olie thought, "Wow, this is a great reception.  I thought everyone would be mad at me."
     When I was old enough to do a little critical thinking, I asked my Mother, "Whose arm was it?"  Her answer was, " We never found out."   That's it?  If that were today, there would be an Amber Alert and the FBI, CIA, Army, and everyone else would have been called in.   Life was definitely different back then.  A lot simpler.  Maybe a lot better. Similar to our Lord's message...simple, yet powerful.
     I miss them all, but they live again when I retell their stories.  I promised my Mother that I would give the world her family's stories as she breathed one of her last breaths in her earthly body.  She smiled and passed away peacefully to rejoin her family.   

     By the Lord's help, I have resolved the job situation at this time, albeit temporarily.  The Lord guided me and gives me much help daily.  I am beginning to put more and more trust in the Lord's hand.  Letting him guide while I follow.  I am not a good follower.  I am one that must be in charge of everything, but I am not in charge...never was and never will be.  He is always guiding and moving me in the direction He desires me to go.  Most of the time I do not realize what He is doing till after the fact.  Always it is good for He is always good.  He who created all things, all places, and all times.  Who can successfully stand against me if I am doing the Lord's work. 
     I am up early this cool, still summer Sunday morning.  I am longing to start back to work on the book.  I have been resolving issues and redesigning it in my head while dealing with job issues and traveling.  I pray the Lord guides my pen. He has the holy spirit boiling within me.  He is guiding while I learn to follow.  I feel Him smile at my fears and concerns for nothing can stand against Him and His will.  He increases my faith.
     We flew to visit my oldest son and his family.  We had the privilege of seeing our newest grandbaby Christened...another one for our Lord.  All my grandchildren are attached to the Lord.  When Caroll and I were trying to decide whether to bring children into this hate-filled world, after much soul searching, I wrote a short poem that decided the issue.

Without children, there can be no hope for the future

For without children, there can be no future

      And what better way to change the world than through our offspring?

And your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 

Genesis 28:14 

     Time to prepare for Church.   

For you are my rock and my fortress; therefore for your name's sake lead me, and guide me.

Psalm 31:3

     The holy spirit has been moving heavily within me for some time.  I am restless to serve our Lord in some new capacity.  He is telling me my time at this job is coming to an end.  I have tried to serve him by counseling my customers in distress to seek out his guidance.  My bosses are dumbstruck by it, yet, forbid it not.  For who can forbid the Lord's word from someone He has given it to lift up His children. I have served Him in a job where one least expects it.  Our Lord moves and appears to his children in the most unusual places and times.  Did He not come upon this earth as a poor carpenter's son dressed in the most average of clothing?  While the priests were looking up, he walked up behind them...and they knew him not.  

     I pray and know he will guide me in my next adventure to serve him.  We can always serve.  No matter where we may wind up.  When do we ever have more power, glory, and goodness than when we are serving others in his name?  I suppose I may have more time for the book and his service.  I am old, but our Lord has need for me some other place of His choosing.  He has taken me on many adventures in life.  And, always, He has taken care of us. Look what Abraham did in his golden years.  I feel as though He has been preparing me my whole life for the coming years.  He puts a smile on my face and in my soul.  My faith is strong, my soul is filled to overflowing with His love, the holy spirit abounds within me, and He lights the way.  In the darkest of times, we must be His light to others. He will lift us up so that we may lift up others in his name.  When all is lost, we are found.  When it is dark, He is our light.  When we are down, He lifts us up. How can one turn their face from God when He is in all places, at all times, in all things?  When all is lost, if we have Him, we have everything and have not lost but gained.  

     In this short life upon this earth, we learn many lessons, but, until we learn the lesson that love is the most important of all, then all the other lessons are meaningless.

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

1 John 4:7   

     I have been away for awhile.  Work life has overpowered me.  But...I always have our Lord to share the burdens we put upon ourselves.  I am at my best when writing or serving our Lord in whatever way he needs.  We all need to remember that he wants to share the burden of life with us.  Nobody is more powerful than He who created all things, times, and places. There is nothing that can overpower Him.
     If you need strength, if life is overpowering you, if you are downcast, if you feel powerless, put your faith in our Lord.  He promised us that he would always be there to help us.  You just need faith.  Giving and helping others when you think you have nothing to give will draw the power of the Lord through you to others.  It will lift them up when all seems lost.  It will show the power and glory of our Lord through you, and, by that action, blessed by God will you be.  Rise up and show the love and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ to all around you.  Be a blessing for our Lord.  In our Lord, everyone is someone important.  He loves us all and wants to help carry our burdens.  You need help with this life.  Just pray for and accept the Holy Spirit to grow inside you and have faith.  You have millions of others to support you in this faith.  Ask for guidance and listen.  Talk with God, our Father.  He longs to talk with you, but listen.  Give him time everyday...just you and He...talking.  God never disappoints.  It is we who disappoint him by not talking and listening to him.  Feel the great joy and love He gives.
     It is a long arduous road writing this book, but it is the most exciting thing I have ever attempted.  It is not easy, it is not simple, it is for our Lord Jesus.  People say I have faith, but what signs of it do I show.  I read and talk with people that quietly go about a life filled with trials, but their faith shines, sustains, and lifts them up to the point that they serve others in their time of great need.  The key is that helping others heals us and fills us with the power and glory of our Lord.  It helps us see how trivial our troubles are compared to those around us. We have our Lord and faith. We must quit feeling sorry for ourselves and serve our Lord.  When helping others, He lightens our burden greatly.
     Pray with me,

Father, help us to be a good servants to You, so that Your will be done.  Give us the strength, wisdom, and courage to be different for You.  Help us stand against the strong wind that blows mankind along the wrong course.  Give us strength to forgive and love our enemies.  Give us wisdom and calm us when all around us appears to be chaos.  Give us the courage to be for You and do Your will when surrounded by people of no faith.  Make our lives Your life.  Make us into Your humble servants, so that we may know Your power, love, and glory.  Lift us up Father for we are weak.  Lift us up Father for we are nothing without you, but, with You, we are everything and everything is You.  
In Your son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ's name we pray this as He said.
Amen

When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him.  “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.  I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”

 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.”  Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 17:14-20

     Father, please, increase our faith so that we may be better servants unto you.  We are so inadequate, but you know how inside we long to have the faith that our Lord Jesus spoke of.  The faith to carry out your will.  We know that our brothers and sisters who scoff in public weep in private to have the faith you bless us with. Yet, our faith must become stronger, shine brighter, be a beacon in the night of people's lives to guide them home to you, Father.  As I write this Father, please, let this be an inspiration from you to those walking blindly through life to look toward you and have the courage to bow to you and ask you to fill them with Your holy spirit and love.  We pray this in our most loved, divine, and holy savior Jesus Christ's name to you our most loving Father.  Amen

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     Death approached.  All turned to one another, knelt, and began to pray.  No sooner had they prayed than an angel of the Lord Almighty appeared and swept away the agonizing fear of death saying in a soft reassuring voice, fear not, for ,through your faith, the Lord your God is with you, and what sword is mightier than His love.  The darkness turned to light, the sun shone brightly over them, until they realized it was not the sun but the radiance from the glory of the Lord that shone all about.  And they sank to their knees and gave praise and thanks to their Lord, and He was pleased for his children.