No and Its Intended Meaning

The "entitlement" generation in which we live presently needs teaching in how to accept the answer, "No". 

We raised a generation of  children who ask permission while demanding the answer be one of blind  affirmatives.  It is like their Christmas Wish List informing caretakers of their intentions.

Piercing the Holy Hush

When the Lord visits a service with Tongues and Interpretation, men of God, seek His face.  You do not need to talk during the Holy Hush. 

Comparison

Every morning one of my neighbors and I leave for work close to the same time.

This morning time got away from me and I wasn't able to accomplish all I usually do.

When I came down the stairs to leave I see my neighbor. I think to myself, "Maybe I am not as late as I think."

But then I am reminded of the scripture that admonishes us to not compare ourselves to each other but to walk our own walk.

After the Altar

After a powerful service where souls are kissed by the Almighty and there has been a visitation by the Most High, there is a tendency to believe that we must encapsulate the experience and attribute it to time, place and group of people.  There is the want to “build a tabernacle” on our high place.  We leave encouraged and patting each other on the back knowing that our week is going to be one of power and God-led steps ordered by the Lord.

Good for us and our children.

Or

He is positioning us for the purging He is preparing.

If perchance we are part of a powerful move of God it is only by His great mercies we are not consumed and we must set our face and keep our eyes on the ultimate prize and any dip in intensity is not an indication of anything other than the many sustaining attributes of our Jesus.

We must prepare our congregation for the inevitable and the best time to teach this reality is during the moment when their hearts are the most open.  Let’s live for the victorious times but remember to seal and protect the vulnerable by calling on the Name which is above all names until they can mature to be able to carry and fit into the whole armors of God and have the wisdom to know when to attack or retreat into Him.  The vulnerable can include the newest regenerated saints or it can be those who are standing where sin is waiting at the gate.

Get their attention when they are turning to pick up their Bibles and purses; teach them, prepare them, time is short and the Lord is returning for those who are looking for Him.

Scatter us as You will to spread Your Kingdom, Lord.

Can You Believe It

I am back!

Wanted to explore this subject.

Came home from off the road and thought the grandbabies would like a little something from the hotel so I gave them the bars of soap. They didn't know what they were. My grandkids do not know what bar soap is!!!

Saturday my eldest granddaughter was riding back from Dallas with me and she became frustrated because the radio station she normally listens to here in Austin wasn't coming in. She asked why wasn't it playing. I explained that the signal isn't strong enough. She hadn't experienced that yet. I wonder if the younger ones will never experience a weak signal because of the digital age.

I am feeling very middle aged. Wait a minute - if this is the middle then I will live to 104? Oh, no, I am passed middle age!!!

Another Dumb Funeral Statement

Two days after you called to tell me your husband died, someone hit my truck. We're both having hard times.

Maturity

I recently came across this clipping I saved from a newspaper a long time ago. I am constantly trying to understand behavior in myself and others and thus the interest.

Maturity is the ability to control anger and settle differences without violence.

Maturity is patience, the willingness to pass up immediate pleasure for long-term gain.

Maturity is perseverance, the ability to sweat out a project or a situation in spite of heavy opposition and setbacks.

Maturity is the capacity to face unpleasantness and frustration, discomfort and defeat, without complaint or collapse.

Maturity is being big enough to say, "I was wrong." And, when right, the mature person need not say, "I told you so."

Maturity is the ability to make a decision and stand by it.

Maturity means dependability, keeping one's word and coming through in a crisis. The immature are masters of the alibi. They are the confused and the conflicted. Their lives are a maze of broken promises, former friends, unfinished business and good intentions that never materialize.

Maturity is the art of living in peace with what we cannot change, the courage to change what should be changed and the wisdom to know the difference.

25 Random Things about Me

1. The Lord loves me enough to clue me in to His purpose and plan for Kingdom Living.

2. Sometimes I listen, sometimes I don't.

3. I have daughters no sons.

4. I have nine grandchildren and fixin' to have ten.

5. I have wanderlust.

6. I have under 1200 days until my retirement date.

7. I have lived in graduate housing without attending any university.

8. I do chores in my dreams.

9. My parents taught folk dancing.

10. I jumped off a wagon carrying hay, stumbled and fell on my chin culminating in several stitches inside and outside my mouth.

11. I love history.

12. I love birds.

13. I prefer the woods over a beach.

14. My dad wrote his congressman regularly and I have the carbon copies to prove that.

15. I was ordained to preach the Word of God in 1998.

16. The first typing test I took to qualify for a job, I typed 12 words with 4 mistakes in a minute. Should have taken it in high school instead of all that science I took.

17. I used to make a living by sewing.

18. I have worked for the state of Texas since 1986.

19. Jesus has moved mountains on my behalf. On one occasion I presented 6 prayer requests. He answered 5 within the week and the 6th has not been accomplished - yet!

20. I love to see things grow, flower and bear fruit.

21. I love to see people regenerated by the Holy Ghost, growing in the Lord and bearing fruit.

22. I know sign language and have been an interpreter since 1983.

23. The most expensive garment I have made was my daughter, Emily's wedding dress.

24. I only like to preach if I have a Holy Ghost-given message.

25. Before Jesus, I was a mess.

Differences

King James Version

Proverbs 10:19
In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

The Living Bible

Proverbs 10:19
Don't talk so much. You keep putting your foot in your mouth. Be sensible and turn off the flow!

Who ARE these people who come up with these translations????

Seared Conscience

The most damage a person can do to himself is to negatively affect his conscience.

As children of God we should pray for a more sensitive conscience rather than try to numb it.

Our only hope when we lose our conscience is the redemptive work of a perfect Savior. Tears of conviction should never be taken lightly.

When we experience the pang of conviction, we need to take advantage of our shame and fall at an altar to present ourselves once again as flawed vessels totally dependant on a Savior.

We are not a body of believers who think that once we are saved we will always be saved. Each one of us runs the risk of falling. These are perilous times and the enemy of our soul is seeking folks to devour.

Be mindful of eternity when relaying prayer requests for lukewarm or backslid saints of God. The prince of the air is hoping for an inroad. Beware.

Why do we celebrate when we assemble? Because we are lifting up our King and rejoicing that His grace and mercy are flowing. Why do we want to share this good news? Because we have our burdens lifted and we have a hope and understanding of Who Jesus was, is and is soon to come.

Exposure

I have a thirty-year indentation on one of my fingers of my left hand. I am uncomfortable with it exposed.

Last night we dug ourselves up in a Communion Service. I left the service exposed. As I considered myself, the Lord showed me other hollowed-out indentations which are thirty years old.

Now that I see them, I will cast them at the feet of my Redeemer and trust His strengthening power to shore up my jagged edges.

And you have not kept charge of My holy things, but you have chosen foreign keepers to please yourselves and have set them in charge of My sanctuary.

Therefore thus says the Lord God: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh shall enter into My sanctuary [where no one but the priests might enter], of any foreigners who are among the children of Israel.

But the Levites who went far away from Me when Israel went
astray, who went astray from Me after their idols, they shall bear [the punishment for] their iniquity and guilt.

Ezekiel 44:8-10
(Amplified)

I suppose I beat this dead horse too much for some people but yesterday I was reminded once again about how far Jesus Name, Holy Ghost-filled, pulpit-filling preachers have drifted to please themselves.

I guess you have to truly believe the Old Testament was a foreshadowing of things to come and heed the warnings like the one above given to the circumcised children of God. The Levites were the ones who would bear the punishment according to the Word of God. That means preachers in modern day terms.

My reminder yesterday was a pop-up warning I received yesterday when I saved an older version Excel spreadsheet with a newer version. The warning simply said "minor loss of fidelity".

So what kind of minor loss of fidelity is the church of the living God experiencing with the salvation message?

The reason I am so unwaveringly passionate about the message of there only being one God is because of one of the first miracles in my life. I sought the baptism of the Holy Ghost for nine solid months in the Assembly of God church. Every service I was at the altar trying to figure out what I was doing wrong, yielding completely, repentant and frustrated.

Then one night two friends of mine prayed that my eyes would be opened to who Jesus is. It was only hours later when I was reading Zechariah that I received the revelation of Who was sitting on the throne. I then submitted to being baptized in Jesus name and got the Holy Ghost right after.

I just can't get away from this necessity. So when I hear trinitarians hold leadership positions in our churches, I pray for the pastor because I know according to scripture, he or she will bear the punishment.

Known

Praise from a friend, or censure from a foe, are lost on listeners that our merits know.

Homer

Proud Grandma

Above is a picture of my talented grand daughter, Isabel. She played one of the lead roles in the Christmas program at her church. I was so impressed and awarded her the highest academy award possible after I enjoyed her performance.

She had to say her lines in a Southern accent; she did a great job and stayed in character the whole play. She was believable as the gentle, country "cousin" who genuinely tried to understand why the "passing through city folk" did things differently.

She sang beautifully and danced very well. This grandma is very proud.

People I Love

Check out this beautiful family. This is Tabitha and her husband, Will. They have three daughters, Isabel (9), Jillian (5) and Maya (3). Their family has been made complete with the little dude, Maverick in Tabitha's arms.

Incidentally, they are that happy!

People I Love

The lady in the middle is my mother in law. She is holding onto Emily and beside them is Emily's husband, Marshall. Emily is 5'3", so you see how small my mother in law is. I have always felt like a giant in her home. This last trip I took to Ohio, I was not the only giant. Marshall joined me.

A "Scarlet" Lifestyle

What amount of avoidance is healthy?

I know to cast my care upon Jesus but when the first thing that enters your mind is, "fiddle dee dee" while Atlanta is burning in the background, you have got to open your eyes and start addressing issues.

I guess I am uncomfortable with aggressive dream chasers. I have not personally formed a dream future because the present has not always been easy. Therefore when questioned what I want for myself I mutter, "I dunno'."

Avoidance - I choose avoidance. I have a pretty busy life with my reaction gear set, the clutch engaged and no forward movement.

Eventually I will open my eyes but for now, I will do the sidestep and say "fiddle dee dee."

Thanksgiving

Proclamation Establishing Thanksgiving Day

October 3, 1863

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years, with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.

A. Lincoln

Study of Pain

When you experience a large, all-consuming heart pain, and then if you add a smaller irritating pain such as a chapped nostril from blowing your nose too much - it can send you over the edge.

The Time of Fedoras

I was born too late in the century. I love looking at pictures from the early 1900's. People came to town dressed to do business. Men were in suits and both women and men wore hats.

I remember my mother wearing a pressed cotton dress to go grocery shopping on Saturdays.

Yesterday when I arrived at work I rode in the elevator with two women who looked like they were on their way to the park. They wore blue jeans - flip flops on one and tennis shoes on the other. We have a dress code and they were totally in violation of it.

I would not wear blue jeans to work. I would not wear blue jeans to church unless it was a work day.

Like making sure your car is clean, I would like to see people who do not appear slovenly, especially in the house of God. Make sure your personal temple exudes respect for yourself and the presence of God.

Bring back the time of fedoras.