He Hears

And HE hears me when I call

Almighty God, Father, bends down low to hear the cry of my heart.

No matter how big or smal we think our problems are, what concerns us matters to God.

He catches each tear that falls, he hears each whisper, and every sigh.

His presence is comforting, overwhelming, majestic, loving, reassuring, forgiving, gentle, strong, and all together lovely.

Have you met with God today? He is longing to meet with you.

Has He called you by name and told you that He loves you?

Has He heard the reply of your heart as well?

I love you too Lord!

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that,

if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask,

we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

1John 5:14-15

Are your hands busy?

Proverbs 31:13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

I just love the fall months, when the weather cools and it's not to warm to have a project on your lap. I have a basket or bag near every sitting area in the house with different projects that I have begun. I don't worry too much about when they will be finished as I usually only pick them up while resting or when the family wants to watch a movie, although now a days a usually hold the granddaughter and take her to my room and sing her to sleep. It's a burden us Grandmothers just have to bare :)

When Baby is not here, I work on the crocheting, or the sewing, or the embroidery project, and then there is one more added project which is writing. It is so nice to have things to share with others by just using my time wisely and keeping my hands busy.

Each one of us is a work in progress. God "knit" us together in our mother's womb, and he placed us in the family He wanted us in, and called us, and wooed us to Himself as we grew to continue the work He began in us. We are His workmanship, created for good works that have been preordained by God. That doesn't make us robots that have to do as He say, but, in love, we do the good works that He lays before us, that the Holy Spirit guides us to. So the next time you are prompted to give that friend or Mother in Law a call, do it, the next time the Holy Spirit puts that strange thought of LOVE in your head, act upon it. Mail that letter, bake that cake, shake that hand, smile that smile, for it creates a tapestry of love that only God can create with such lasting beauty.

Blessings, Lady

Determination!

For I am determined not to know
any thing among you,
save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
1 Corinthians 2:2

Don’t skip the good stuff….
I would have loved to have watched Paul preach.
He would be the one that looks part Italian
when he talks because I just know his hands
would have been talking in sync
with his thoughts and words.Paul is determined,
and his determination is in Jesus.

I love the run on sentences,
and thought upon thought as he writes and speaks.
So much to say and so little time to say it!
The Bible shows us how excited Paul was
about sharing the good news of Jesus.
When the flood gates of passionate speech
regarding your Savior bursts open,
there will be no stopping you.
If God be with us, then no one can stand against us!

Sometimes we skip over parts of scripture so quickly
and miss so much.

Blessings, Lady

What is Love?

WHAT IS LOVE?
Do we really know what love is in this media driven age?
In today’s media love is portrayed more like a fairly tale of romance or lust.


But the Bible tells us…
…the fruit of the Spirit is love… joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Gal 5:22 -23

We cannot judge the heart of others. We have no way of knowing if the love of God abides in them unless there is fruit that grows in their lives. Our neighboring state of Washington has beautiful apple orchards, and I love to go pick them, but I cannot once remember ever hearing an apple tree ever straining to produce a most beautiful luscious piece of fruit. The tree’s roots grow deep and provide the tree with life giving sap. The tree relies on water, sunshine, nutrients from the soil, is pruned, stands in all kinds of weather, quietly brings forth fruit, just in time for someone else to come along and pluck that beautiful ornament off and enjoy.
The many faceted fruits of love can only be produced by the Holy Spirit alive and active within our own hearts. Pretty fruit hung from a pine tree will look good for awhile, but will eventually rot. We cannot produce beautiful fruit by ourselves. It takes the power of God in our lives. May we abide in Christ and Christ in us that we may be rooted and grounded in love, so that our lives will produce much fruit for the honor and glory of God.

Why love? …because Jesus first loved us.
Because if we don’t…
… if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. Galatians 5:15

Blessings, Lady

I Corinthians Outline

I took a Bible College Class on I Corinthians in at Calvary Chapel Bible College Northwest and came away with a helpful outline of the whole book. Read the book and try writing your own, or sign up for a semester of Bible College.

I Corinthians

Chapter 1
Baptisms (paul appollos cephas)
Contentions/Divisions Rather Unity of mind for cause of Christ
Cross of Christ is foolishness to those who do not believe
Greeks want knowledge/Jews want a sign/BUT we preach Christ
Jesus to Greeks is foolisness/ Jesus to Jews a stumbling block
He that glories…Glory in God!

Chapter 2
For I am determined to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
God reveals the deep things.
Spiritual man vs. the Natural man
Eye hath not seen and ear hath not heard
Things that God has prepared for us who love Him.

Chapter 3
Babes in Christ still on milk not meat of the word. (Carnal) Proof of carnality…divisions)
Labor together in humility, proof of maturity
On Foundation of Christ. w/ gold silver & precious stones—not wood hay or stubble

Chapter 4
Be faithful stewards of the "mysteries" of God (the Gospel)
Judge nothing before it’s time, until the Lord come. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make manifest the counsels of the heart, then shall all men have praise of God.
Be fools for Jesus (I’m a fool for Jesus) Follow apostles humble example…being reviled we bless, being persecuted we suffer it, being defamed we entreat (pray) we do not avenge ourselves (Such is life)
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power....the Power of God!

Chapter 5
Fornication not to be named among you. Man in sexual sin with His dad’s wife.
A little leaven leavens the whole lump

Chapter 6
Re: Legal Matters... Do not take a brother/Sister to court… Rather suffer the wrong
Grow up…SURE all things are lawful, BUT not all things are expedient
SURE all things are lawful, BUT I will not be brought under the power of any
RE: Sexual Matters Meats for the belly the belly for meats
We are the temple of God, been bought w/ a price… blood of Jesus

Chapter 7
Marriage, Remarriage, Divorce, Singles, Virgins, Widows, (Stay put)
Whatever your situation, time is short, serve the Lord with an undivided heart.


Chapter 8
Christian Liberty
Knowledge puffs up…but love builds up
Re: Meat offered to Idols, free but my Liberty is limited by love
Do not partake for conscience sake…theirs not yours.

Chapter 9
RE: Christian Liberty
Rhetorical questions.
Paul defends his rights and apostleship but chooses to limit his own Christian Liberties
To the weak I become weak, becoming all things to all that I might save some.
I do willingly… That the gospel may be preached with out charge
Woe is me if I preach not the gospel!
Run the race, fight the fight, no mater the feelings!

Chapter 10
Don’t be ignorant
OT written as an example for us
Flee Idolatry…
Take heed lest you fall
Temptations common to man BUT God is faithful
Whatever you do, do unto the glory of God
Not seeking mine own profit…It’s not about me…think of others.

Chapter 11
Be imitators of God
Follow Paul as he follows Christ
Hats, Haircuts…Head of woman is man, Head of man is Christ, Head of Christ is God
Do not dishonor your head
Communion…abusing the love feasts
as often as you do it, you show the Lord’ death till he comes

Chapter 12
Spiritual Gifts Best one is the one needed at the time!
One body, one Spirit, one Lord…many members
We need each other so walk in humility
One suffers we all suffer-one is honored we all rejoice
Yet there is a better way…

Chapter 13
Love is the better way…
I am nothing without love
It is the proof that the Holy Spirit lives in me
Faith will end, Hope will be fulfilled, Love endures forever.

No definition of love…it is an action not a feeling!

Chapter 14
More on Spiritual gifts
Tongues, Prophecy,
All gifts should be done decent and in order

Chapter 15
Gospel in a nutshell
Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures and was buried, he rose again on the third day according to the scriptures
Jesus seen of Cephas and the 12
By the grace of God I am what I am
If in this life ONLY we have Christ than we are most miserable…why? No future no hope of our resurrection w/o his first fruits
Be steadfast and immoveable abounding in the work of the Lord…because your labor IS NOT in vain!

Chapter 16
(Potpourri) A collection…on the first day of the week for the church in Jerusalem
Ministry door open, but comes with adversaries.
Take it easy on Timothy.
Apollos not coming although I greatly desired it.
House of Stephanas…is addicted to the ministry, and refreshed Pauls spirit.
Watch, Stand Fast in the faith, be strong, and courageous, and do all things with love.












Blessings, Lady

Prayer

Rejoice evermore Pray without Ceasing and in everything give thanks for this is the will of God concerning you I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Notary vs. the Atheist

Have you ever had to find a Notary to testify to the truth of a matter? Ha! First of all they are difficult to find when you need one. Second of all…..The very act of using one puts a hole in the fabric of an atheists world, for that would require them to admit that there is such a thing a “truth”. Relativity would end when someone tried to take away the “truth” and finality of their last will and testament. God has stamped His word, the Bible with His own blood, the blood of His Son Jesus…God who became flesh so that we could “see” what God is like.

I am set with a seal, the Holy Spirit, as the earnest, or as a promise or downpayment of the things to come in Christ Jesus! He loves me with a love like no other. A love as strong as death, with a perfect jealously of my attentions and adoration. He wants me to have Him and Him alone on the throne of my heart. A love that burns hot and fervent and forever. Many waters cannot put out a love such as this, and no one could buy a love such as this.


Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned. Song of Solomon 8:6-7

I am on my Beloved's heart and He is one mine!

Blessings, Lady

Is life falling apart around you?

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not;

and in the night season, and am not silent.

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

Our fathers trusted in thee:

they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.

They cried unto thee, and were delivered:

they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

But I am a worm, and no man;

a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

All they that see me laugh me to scorn:

they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him:

let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

Psalm 22:1-8

God in human flesh cries out on the cross, despised and mocked. He is in great pain and anguish of heart, suffering for sins He did not commit. Yet because of Jesus great love for us He took those sins on willing. In the midst of it all Jesus heart praises His Father, the very One who required a perfect blood atonement for my sin. In love Jesus suffers everything for the hope that mankind would accept His offer of love. As we struggle in this life, despair and heartache and disappointment for the sake of our identification with Jesus, remember we have not suffered unto blood. Jesus without sin of His own, chose to suffer for our sake.

“If our hopes seem to be experiencing disappointment right now,

it simply means that they are being purified.”

~Oswald Chambers

Blessings, Lady

Living in the power of the Cross

A good example of legalism
is in the life of the Pharisees.
They wanted man to keep
their rules above the word of God,
and encouraged men to follow
their teachings rather than Jesus’.

A firm grasp of the whole counsel of God
keeps us from following the ways of men
and being drawn away with any form
of wind of doctrine contrary to the Scriptures.

A life lived hungry for holiness
will be filled with convictions
that cannot be placed on others
for this is the work of the Holy Spirit.

As Christians we are to live as an example.

Each one of us are unique, God made us that way.
So the space between my convictions and yours
may be a breeding ground for contentions.

If we remember that the cross of Christ
is in the center of that space,
then… the closer we come to Christ…
the more we conform to His image…
the closer we come into the Unity of the Spirit,
through the finished work of the cross
by the real Jesus, of the Bible…the Living word.

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord,
beseech you
that ye walk worthy of the vocation
wherewith ye are called,
With all lowliness and meekness
with longsuffering,
forbearing one another in love;
Endeavouring to keep the
unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:1-3

Blessings, Lady

Grace upon Grace

Grace upon grace, water upon water. Those words have meant so much to me over the years, and yet every time I read them, they grip my heart even more!

If you haven’t read the Book…IF…by Amy Carmichael, get it and read it! But don’t be fooled by the small pamphlet size book that packs a punch to the heart and soul of a believer every time you open the pages. It is not meant to be read all in one sitting. It is much better to read a small amount and ponder the thoughts of this young woman who came from a well to do family who gave up everything to become a missionary. However in the last years of her life she was bed ridden in much pain, and yet wrote to encourage, and exhort others in Jesus.

I don't want to give away her ponderings in the book so I’ll give an example. If I want so badly to do something for Jesus, that it takes someone away from suffering that Jesus has allowed for the sake of making someone more into the image of Christ, then I know nothing of Calvary love. That’s just not the way American’s think….suffering? A good thing? Couldn’t be!

In the book Amy compares grace upon grace of the Bible, to water upon water…picture sitting next to a cool river on a hot day with the refreshing water rushing past. There is water in the river, and five minutes later there will still be water in that river, but it won’t be the same water. God is so amazing in the ways He works. The body of Christ is lavished with grace, God pours it upon His people. Even if we could hold God’s grace back as long and as hard as we can from someone else, soon the damn we build will burst with the endless supply that God pours into and it will pour out of us into the next part of the body, and to the next until we have grace flowing endlessly like a river refreshing all those who care to sit along the bank.

Grace upon grace, water upon water, water instead of water, Grace instead of grace.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. II Corinthians 12:9-10

Blessings, Lady

Early Morning Light

In the early morning light when the stars begin to fade

When you call for me,

To bow in silence as the birds begin their serenade

And the night begins to flee,

To listen for the still small voice that fills my heart with song.

As you draw me near

Under Your shadow, close to Your heart is where I belong.

I will not fear.

My trust is in You… My God my Savior and Lord.

My life is in Your hands.

On Your mercy I fall, in Your grace I stand, Your Spirit poured

Like the sands of time,

In the hour glass, time slips away as we are close and yet

You send me out.

After You’ve heard my cries and wiped my tears to share. What?

You Jesus! … Without a doubt.

Blessings, Lady

Comfort

Comfort, ahh, sweet comfort! We want peace and comfort. We want people to like us, to see things our way. We want our needs met. We want the American dream, baseball and apple pie. We want the world on a silver platter. We want what we want when we want it and we want it now!
No one ever claims the promise that we will suffer persecution, that if we live for Jesus that the world will hate us as they hated Him. If we are God’s children we will suffer with Him that we may also be glorified with Him.
Those that labor for the Kingdom with their own hands will be reviled and yet we should bless, we will be persecuted and yet we should suffer it. We may be spoken of harshly, and yet we pray and forgive. As God’s beloved we are regarded as the filth of the world, the off scouring (like the ring around the bathtub)
Like Paul I don’t write these things to shame you, but to warn you.
Christian, why do you seek to gratify self?
Why do we seek a church that will meet your “needs” instead of working together to bring the gospel to a dying world?

• SELF wants a program that will meet MY need.
• SELF wants what is more important for ME and MY family.
• SELF wants comfort.
• SELF wants to feel accepted.
• SELF wants, Servants serve.

I am so thankful my Jesus didn’t put His own needs above mine. I am so thankful He chose to die for me. No one made Him die on the cross, He chose it willingly so that I and any other who chooses Him could live with Him forever. We just need to surrender SELF.
We are to be a living sacrifice. Deny SELF, daily, pick up your cross and follow Jesus.

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
Luke 9:23-24

Blessings, Lady

Deep cries out to Deep

Do not rejoice, O Israel, with joy like other peoples, For you have played the harlot against your God. You have made love for hire on every threshing floor Hosea 9: 1.
There is much to mourn over in this life.
Just as Hosea is called to show us the picture of harlotry on the part of the Jews,
mankind is called to repentance and yet spiritual harlotry runs rampant in the church.
Many have left their first love.
As John tells us,
Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. 3 John 1:11
Be followers or imitators of Jesus.
Yes we are held captives as sojourners in this land.
As we sow in tears with the prayers, as deep cries out to deep,
as the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and makes groanings which cannot be uttered, then God bends down low to hear our prayers, and catches each tear that falls in a bottle.
Those tears, those prayers are precious to our Father, as precious as the ointment that Mary used as she broke the alabaster box to anoint Jesus. Our prayers reach heaven as a sweet smelling sacrifice just as the ointment filled the room with its beautiful odor.

At times we can overlook the incredible honor and glory we can lay at the feet of Jesus when take part in suffering for Him, rather than trying to get out of a difficult situation.
I can lay all that concerns me at the feet of Jesus, when I am on my face before Him in prayer. I can also trust that He is able to take care of everything that concerns me, and cling to the promise He gives me… that one day I shall reap in joy all that I have sown in tears.

Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy!!!
Psalm 126:5.

Blessings, Lady

Prayer

Rejoice evermore Pray without Ceasing and in everything give thanks for this is the will of God concerning you I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice Pray and give thanks… for EVERYTHING!
How are we supposed to do that?
Things are hard, situations difficult, "Self" is loudly crying out for attention, people are railing, the enemy sends fiery darts.
Shift the attention from self to Jesus, to His will concerning our lives

Realize I am saved! For me to live is Christ and for me to die is gain.
BUT There is a dying world out there that needs Jesus

I Corinthians 1:17-18… For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God!

No clever speeches or lovely discourse for with these things the cross loses it’s power.
As Charles Spurgeon shared…the text in and of itself is a great feast!

God does not want any to perish without knowing him as their Savior and to this end we pray!
So to this end we march as good soldiers ready to carry our cross and follow Jesus denying self and standing strong in the power of His might.

Putting on the armor of God to stand against the tricks of the devil,
because we do not fight against people but against the enemy and the power of darkness.
Read Ephesians 6:10-17

Belt = truth to fight against lies of the enemy
Body armor=Righteousness in Christ My God sees me as righteous my heart can trust him
Shoes=Ready to spread the Gospel of Peace to a dying world
Shield =Faith Protection from the enemies fiery arrows …To see the battle as well as the war from God’s perspective
Helmet= Salvation...confidence and trust in the saving work of the cross to give us Holy Spirit Boldness
Sword=The Word of God…Knowing God’s Word and living it gives us promises to stand on and grows our faith and trust in our God
Read Eph 6:18
Pray without ceasing, that our response to all things might be His will concerning us
That our very life would become a prayer.
David’s prayer in Psalm 67: 1-2
Spurgeons comment…Despite the gloomy notion of some, we cling to the belief that the Kingdom of Christ will embrace the whole habitable globe and that all flesh shall see the salvation of God, for this glorious consummation we agonize in prayer!


Blessings, Lady

Last Days

I was listening to the radio today and the Pastor was speaking on things that have been running through my head a bit more lately about how life would be like in these last days. He was talking about how men would be lovers of themselves, that children would be disobedient to their parents, people would be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.
He was quoting from II Timothy where Paul was saying…

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
II Timothy 3:1-7

He then went on to speak of the world stage being set for the battle in Ezekial 38 and 39.
We know according to scripture that nothing more has to be fulfilled before the church the Bride is taken out of this world, it is just a matter of time… God’s timing.
He was in the middle of speaking about the rapture when the Emergency Broadcast System started screeching! My first thought was…Oh No I missed the Rapture (It’s all those movies on the rapture and missing it)!!!
No calm down, I am my Beloved’s and He is mine.
So as I waited for the EBS to say “This is a Test, This is only a Test”
I was saddened to hear that it was an Amber Alert for a kidnapping of a little boy in a town not to far from here.
How utterly disheartening it is to live in a time where people are utterly corrupt.
We are living in a time where the days are just as they were in Noah’s day.

We also hear people try to blame the ugly things on God. Where was God when 911 hit? Where was God when my life fell apart? Many a person have told me that in the Bible it says God hates!
It does say…
I loved Jacob and I hated Esau.
But if we look into the context of what was being relayed through the prophet Malachi, God is saying in the first chapter…
Israel I have loved you so very much!
Deeper than you could ever imagine.
But Israel replies, Yeah right, how have you loved us?
God replies I have loved you through Jacob!
Even though God foreknew that Israel would reject Jesus, God blessed the nation Israel through the line of Jacob.

Blessings, Lady