I was on Twitter earlier today and saw a photo that someone had posted to remind me of a particular scripture. Paul had asked God to remove a "thorn in his side," three times and God responded to his request. "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." (2 Corinthians 12:9).
We all go through struggles in life. Sometimes even more so after we are saved. Jesus explained the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13. He said that the seeds that fell on the path were those whose belief was snatched away by the devil. The seeds that fell on the rocky path that grew up and were withered by the sun explains those who accept Jesus with joy, but fall away very quickly because they don't have roots dcep enough to get them through the troubles and persecution that comes with their belief. The seeds that fell among the thorns refers to those who believe, but the troubles and worries of this life along with greed and materialism chokes out their beliefs. And the seeds that fell upon the good soil, refers to those who got saved and began their journey, reading the bible and growing stronger in Christ by the minute. These are those who never give in or give out, and keep trusting in Christ, growing in His strength daily, no matter what befalls them.
I was the seed that fell along the rocky path. I lived with abuse, both verbal and physical and due to my parents fighting constantly and never saying, "I love you," my brother and I were very insecure. I was 10 when a neighbor who babysat me after school led me to Jesus Christ. I still remember saying the sinners prayer and feeling like a huge boulder had been lifted off of my 10 year old shoulders. I did fall away, but it was due to confusion. I remember feeling very dejected. I didn't have many friends, and I felt very alone. I was also very emotional, trusting only my feelings and that can be deadly to your faith!
A friend from Jr. High asked me to come to church with her. I stopped after awhile, but then a friend from High School asked me to come back to the same church! I was baptized and went to summer camp at Hume Lake my Sophomore year. I played piano and was caught by the band booked for that week, playing "Desperado" by The Eagles and was asked to play it during our service that evening! What a great time! Later in life, another church went to that same camp, only during the winter. It was a ladies retreat. Boy, did that ever bring back memories! Barbara Johnson, the "Stick a Geranium in your Hat and Be Happy," lady, was our speaker for the retreat and she was so funny, I couldn't stop laughing!
There have been many times when I fell away from God. But there have also been mountain peaks. "Peaks and Valley's" as they are called. Just this week, I prayed that the Holy Spirit would keep me honest and remind me of my sins when I commit them so I can stay right with the Lord. Whether it's complaining about being on hold for too long with my RA Doc's office, or my cat getting under my feet, I'm still human, and I will always fail. I can never be perfect, because none of us here on this earth can escape the sin of the Garden of Eden. To think you can, is a death sentence. Not believing that there is a God, and that Jesus died for our sins, leads to permanent separation from God after you die. If you don't believe, you spend eternity in a horrible place where there is "weeping and gnashing of teeth!" (Luke 13:28). I know where I'm going. Jesus is my rock. I love Him with all my heart, soul, and mind, and will never cease to praise Him. My health may be failing, and I have not yet received healing, but I will never stop praising God. I will never stop trusting Him. I will never stop loving Him. He is my everything. I may be pretty alone in what I go through on a day to day basis, but then, I'm never really alone, because Jesus is always with me!
There have been times when God has reached out and helped me with some of the worst things imaginable. My oldest daughter was diagnosed at 18 months with Wilms Tumor. She was stage three and then she relapsed, making her stage four. She is now 26, and it's just amazing that she is here at all! She graduated from college this year and is now working at a great job and earning a salary higher than I've ever earned! My oldest son went through three tours of duty with the Army. He made it home all three times without injury. Every day that he was in theatre, I prayed for him. God answered faithfully every time! My youngest son is doing very well for himself. He's still working for the same company he started with when he was just 16! They keep giving him more and more responsibility. My youngest daughter works very hard, and keeps moving up the ladder at her 2nd job as well. I am so very proud of all of my kids because they are the best thing I have ever done. They all work, pay their taxes and they are all Christians. They may not walk as closely with God, but they are young. I didn't walk as closely with God at that time in life either, but I have trusted God with them all their lives. I pray for them a lot, but you have to let go and trust God with them at a certain point, and He has not disappointed me. I feel very blessed. God has answered my prayers in the most amazing way and I don't see Him stopping any time soon. Just the other day, I didn't think I was strong enough to make it through the lobby of my doctor's office for a blood test, but I toughed it out and I made it! "For His strength is made perfect in weakness." I lived that scripture just last week! It's really true!!!!!!!
So if I have to suffer a bit on my way down the home stretch, that's okay. I know God is working in my children's lives because I've asked Him to! That is how much I have come to depend on Christ. "To live is Christ, to die is gain!" (Philippians 4:21). I've also come to learn that nothing is impossible with God! (Luke 1:37). I have to face the Giants in my life and lean on Him for strength. I know that God is not done with me yet. He may have a few more miracles up His sleeve for me, but I have to trust, not look back and just keep truckin!
My mom was pretty abusive to us while we were growing up and I worried that if she died, she would not go to heaven. She got ill in May 2009 and went through three rounds of chemo. The third round caused severe infection. I prayed for her almost every day during her last seven months on earth and three days before her death, I got a phone call. I spoke to her and after hanging up, God didn't just give me the day she would go home, He wrapped me up in what I can only describe as a blanket of "peace that surpasses all understanding," and I heard "It's okay. She's mine." That feeling of peace was gone as quickly as it had come. I knew it was Jesus! I knew she had trusted Christ as her savior as a young girl and that a Chaplain was visiting her bedside as she was dying. I know she must've gotten right with God because that peaceful moment that was indescribable came at just the right moment! God's timing? Well, if you know anything about it, you know His timing is ALWAYS PERFECT!
There are things happening in the world right at this very moment, that line up perfectly with last days prophecy! Jesus could come to get us at any moment! Please, don't miss your chance? Ask forgiveness and start reading the Word or re-dedicate yourself to Him if you've fallen away? If you go back to church, make sure to lean on God to show you if the preacher is a false teacher. Jesus warned we would see many false teachers in the end days. Paul said that there would be a great delusion that would come upon the earth and I can already see the "lawless one" at work! (2 Thessalonians 9-11). If you see people in denial? Well there's the answer! It's one of the reasons people seem completely deluded out there. The bible warns that a delusion would come upon the earth and believe me, it's already happening! More people are putting up walls than they are creating doors. They seem selfish, boorish, arrogant, rude, all the things the bible says love is not! (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). No patience, no mercy. Just raw emotion, which can lead you astray! It's the devil's #1 weapon against us! Please, don't be deceived be RELIEVED! Trust in Christ and Christ alone!
God bless you all as we near December 25th, the day that God came to us in human form, walking the earth as a man, who knew no sin, but became sin for us, so that we could become the "righteousness of God in Christ!" (2 Corinthians 12:5).I pray that you will be saved or re-dedicate yourselves to Jesus and start living only for Him! We are about to be raptured off of this planet and be in the clouds with Jesus! Honestly? I can't wait to go home! I even pray daily with hope that it will be the day that I get to shed this worn out mortal tent, receive my incorruptible body and can go home to be with the Lord Jesus! "Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord!" (Philippians 2:8-11). I'm looking forward to bowing before Him and casting the crown of life I am given, at His feet! (James 1:12). I am learning to endure to the end, so that I will receive that reward! It's all I've ever wanted! This earth IS NOT my home! Heaven is!
His grace IS sufficient for me! His Amazing Grace is so sweet! There must have been something in the water on that day in my Sophomore year. The day I was baptized into the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus has never let me go and if you trust Him? He will never let go of you either!
We all go through struggles in life. Sometimes even more so after we are saved. Jesus explained the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13. He said that the seeds that fell on the path were those whose belief was snatched away by the devil. The seeds that fell on the rocky path that grew up and were withered by the sun explains those who accept Jesus with joy, but fall away very quickly because they don't have roots dcep enough to get them through the troubles and persecution that comes with their belief. The seeds that fell among the thorns refers to those who believe, but the troubles and worries of this life along with greed and materialism chokes out their beliefs. And the seeds that fell upon the good soil, refers to those who got saved and began their journey, reading the bible and growing stronger in Christ by the minute. These are those who never give in or give out, and keep trusting in Christ, growing in His strength daily, no matter what befalls them.
I was the seed that fell along the rocky path. I lived with abuse, both verbal and physical and due to my parents fighting constantly and never saying, "I love you," my brother and I were very insecure. I was 10 when a neighbor who babysat me after school led me to Jesus Christ. I still remember saying the sinners prayer and feeling like a huge boulder had been lifted off of my 10 year old shoulders. I did fall away, but it was due to confusion. I remember feeling very dejected. I didn't have many friends, and I felt very alone. I was also very emotional, trusting only my feelings and that can be deadly to your faith!
A friend from Jr. High asked me to come to church with her. I stopped after awhile, but then a friend from High School asked me to come back to the same church! I was baptized and went to summer camp at Hume Lake my Sophomore year. I played piano and was caught by the band booked for that week, playing "Desperado" by The Eagles and was asked to play it during our service that evening! What a great time! Later in life, another church went to that same camp, only during the winter. It was a ladies retreat. Boy, did that ever bring back memories! Barbara Johnson, the "Stick a Geranium in your Hat and Be Happy," lady, was our speaker for the retreat and she was so funny, I couldn't stop laughing!
There have been many times when I fell away from God. But there have also been mountain peaks. "Peaks and Valley's" as they are called. Just this week, I prayed that the Holy Spirit would keep me honest and remind me of my sins when I commit them so I can stay right with the Lord. Whether it's complaining about being on hold for too long with my RA Doc's office, or my cat getting under my feet, I'm still human, and I will always fail. I can never be perfect, because none of us here on this earth can escape the sin of the Garden of Eden. To think you can, is a death sentence. Not believing that there is a God, and that Jesus died for our sins, leads to permanent separation from God after you die. If you don't believe, you spend eternity in a horrible place where there is "weeping and gnashing of teeth!" (Luke 13:28). I know where I'm going. Jesus is my rock. I love Him with all my heart, soul, and mind, and will never cease to praise Him. My health may be failing, and I have not yet received healing, but I will never stop praising God. I will never stop trusting Him. I will never stop loving Him. He is my everything. I may be pretty alone in what I go through on a day to day basis, but then, I'm never really alone, because Jesus is always with me!
There have been times when God has reached out and helped me with some of the worst things imaginable. My oldest daughter was diagnosed at 18 months with Wilms Tumor. She was stage three and then she relapsed, making her stage four. She is now 26, and it's just amazing that she is here at all! She graduated from college this year and is now working at a great job and earning a salary higher than I've ever earned! My oldest son went through three tours of duty with the Army. He made it home all three times without injury. Every day that he was in theatre, I prayed for him. God answered faithfully every time! My youngest son is doing very well for himself. He's still working for the same company he started with when he was just 16! They keep giving him more and more responsibility. My youngest daughter works very hard, and keeps moving up the ladder at her 2nd job as well. I am so very proud of all of my kids because they are the best thing I have ever done. They all work, pay their taxes and they are all Christians. They may not walk as closely with God, but they are young. I didn't walk as closely with God at that time in life either, but I have trusted God with them all their lives. I pray for them a lot, but you have to let go and trust God with them at a certain point, and He has not disappointed me. I feel very blessed. God has answered my prayers in the most amazing way and I don't see Him stopping any time soon. Just the other day, I didn't think I was strong enough to make it through the lobby of my doctor's office for a blood test, but I toughed it out and I made it! "For His strength is made perfect in weakness." I lived that scripture just last week! It's really true!!!!!!!
So if I have to suffer a bit on my way down the home stretch, that's okay. I know God is working in my children's lives because I've asked Him to! That is how much I have come to depend on Christ. "To live is Christ, to die is gain!" (Philippians 4:21). I've also come to learn that nothing is impossible with God! (Luke 1:37). I have to face the Giants in my life and lean on Him for strength. I know that God is not done with me yet. He may have a few more miracles up His sleeve for me, but I have to trust, not look back and just keep truckin!
My mom was pretty abusive to us while we were growing up and I worried that if she died, she would not go to heaven. She got ill in May 2009 and went through three rounds of chemo. The third round caused severe infection. I prayed for her almost every day during her last seven months on earth and three days before her death, I got a phone call. I spoke to her and after hanging up, God didn't just give me the day she would go home, He wrapped me up in what I can only describe as a blanket of "peace that surpasses all understanding," and I heard "It's okay. She's mine." That feeling of peace was gone as quickly as it had come. I knew it was Jesus! I knew she had trusted Christ as her savior as a young girl and that a Chaplain was visiting her bedside as she was dying. I know she must've gotten right with God because that peaceful moment that was indescribable came at just the right moment! God's timing? Well, if you know anything about it, you know His timing is ALWAYS PERFECT!
There are things happening in the world right at this very moment, that line up perfectly with last days prophecy! Jesus could come to get us at any moment! Please, don't miss your chance? Ask forgiveness and start reading the Word or re-dedicate yourself to Him if you've fallen away? If you go back to church, make sure to lean on God to show you if the preacher is a false teacher. Jesus warned we would see many false teachers in the end days. Paul said that there would be a great delusion that would come upon the earth and I can already see the "lawless one" at work! (2 Thessalonians 9-11). If you see people in denial? Well there's the answer! It's one of the reasons people seem completely deluded out there. The bible warns that a delusion would come upon the earth and believe me, it's already happening! More people are putting up walls than they are creating doors. They seem selfish, boorish, arrogant, rude, all the things the bible says love is not! (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). No patience, no mercy. Just raw emotion, which can lead you astray! It's the devil's #1 weapon against us! Please, don't be deceived be RELIEVED! Trust in Christ and Christ alone!
God bless you all as we near December 25th, the day that God came to us in human form, walking the earth as a man, who knew no sin, but became sin for us, so that we could become the "righteousness of God in Christ!" (2 Corinthians 12:5).I pray that you will be saved or re-dedicate yourselves to Jesus and start living only for Him! We are about to be raptured off of this planet and be in the clouds with Jesus! Honestly? I can't wait to go home! I even pray daily with hope that it will be the day that I get to shed this worn out mortal tent, receive my incorruptible body and can go home to be with the Lord Jesus! "Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord!" (Philippians 2:8-11). I'm looking forward to bowing before Him and casting the crown of life I am given, at His feet! (James 1:12). I am learning to endure to the end, so that I will receive that reward! It's all I've ever wanted! This earth IS NOT my home! Heaven is!
His grace IS sufficient for me! His Amazing Grace is so sweet! There must have been something in the water on that day in my Sophomore year. The day I was baptized into the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus has never let me go and if you trust Him? He will never let go of you either!
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