tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57045614192894188412024-02-18T22:38:56.043-08:00Living a Joyful Life!The Lord provides JOY in the midst of all my storms and will do the same for you.Joyful Spirit, Deborah (William and Mary's Great-Grandchild)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02185459775012486051noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704561419289418841.post-22988776824620716492014-02-04T18:48:00.000-08:002014-02-04T18:49:24.454-08:00Watch Out - A Meltdown Is Coming<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Years ago I had a pressure
cooker, I but never felt comfortable using it because you have to be careful
opening it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t want to have it
explode.</span>
<br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This past Sunday, my pastor shared
that if we didn’t shed tears, the tears would build up inside of us like a
pressure cooker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span> That statement hit me
hard because I knew I was on emotional overload.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mom had been hospitalized for a little over
three weeks, my brother was recuperating from knee surgery, my sister and I had
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>bronchitis while our mom was
hospitalized and couldn’t visit her, my childhood friend was in and out of the
hospital and nursing homes fighting a serious illness (with bronchitis I couldn’t
visit her either), another long-time friend was grieving the death of her
brother, I served on a jury that was emotionally exhausting, and my first
cousin was in intensive care following a major surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was other stuff happening, but need I
say more?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I felt as if at any moment I
was going to explode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Friday evening
before the pastor’s sermon, I thought I was going to have my moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I waited for my husband to come home from
exercising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he arrived, I shared
the latest thing that was sending me over the edge, but five minutes later, I
could tell he wasn’t picking up on my emotional state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stuffed my feelings back inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saturday morning, I tried to tell him how I
felt, but I didn’t let on that I was about to crack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spent the day doing housework and then
retreated to the “man lounge” for him, family room for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">On Sunday, as my Hubby was
leaving for church he asks me if I was going to church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked him why did he ask me that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His response “with all you have going on, I
thought you might be staying home.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hmmm, so he was picking up on my emotional state, BUT, he hadn’t discerned
how fragile I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told him I was
coming and would see him there.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I sat through the Sunday
service fighting back tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stood at
the altar for the closing prayer holding my husband’s hand fighting back tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After service, I quickly went to my car, called
my mom, and asked her if she needs anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She said no, she was fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said
ok, I’ll see you tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I left the
church parking lot, tears flowed down my face; the feeling that I was going to
explode engulfed me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While driving home,
the Spirit began speaking to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You’re
blessed to have your mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You should go
to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can cry on her shoulder.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned my car around and headed toward my
mom’s apartment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made a pit stop to
get her a sandwich because although she said she had something to eat, I wasn’t
sure if she was being completely truthful with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had only been home from the hospital for
a little over a week, and I knew she didn’t want to be a burden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also know she likes Arby’s fish sandwiches!</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">When I got to my mom’s, she
didn’t quite seem herself so I thought, “Nope, you can’t unload on her.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got up from her couch and sat across from her
at her kitchen counter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a minute
or so, she looked at me and said “What’s wrong?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started to say “nothing” and she pressed me
to open up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I began sobbing
uncontrollably.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told her all the stuff
I had bottled up inside me, how concerned I was for my childhood friend and my
cousin, how sad I was for what some folks are going through, my distress about
the jury situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cried, opened up
some more, and cried some more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mama
hugged me, told me she knew something was wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t explain how good it felt to unload,
how glad I was that God has spared my mother’s life and that her <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mother’s intuition</i> was still
intact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t want to burden my mama,
but as a mother, I want my children to come and cry on my shoulder at any time if
that will help lighten their load.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
learned this past Sunday that I was shortchanging my mama’s need to feel
needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mama is a walking miracle who
questions why the Lord is keeping her here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I told her the Lord is keeping her here because He knew I needed her (for
such a time as this).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both my sisters
had also spoken to Mama over the weekend about some things going on in their
lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the Lord determines that
Mama has fulfilled His purpose for her life, then He’ll call her home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until then, I won’t shortchange her again.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I’m glad I had my meltdown; it
provided a life lesson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of the
situations that burdened me have changed, but I’m better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God gave us tears as a way to release the
tension, stress, and emotional baggage that we carry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus wept.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Joy came in the morning!</span></div>
Joyful Spirit, Deborah (William and Mary's Great-Grandchild)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02185459775012486051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704561419289418841.post-34191836211253641332013-05-11T08:13:00.000-07:002013-05-11T08:13:02.263-07:00His Plans - No Coincidences With God<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">The other day as I was leaving the grocery store, I saw a woman pushing a grocery cart that had two baby carriers in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I rushed over and asked if I could see her twins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve had a fascination with twins since I was eight years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We moved and our new neighbors had nine children including identical twin girls. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My aunt and uncle has a set of twin girls with their nine children, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(As a side note, these cousins are my double relatives because their mom is my father’s sister and their dad is my mom’s first cousin!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">As a young girl, I decided that I would have THREE sets of twins, one set of boys, one set of girls, and a boy/girl set.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, over the years, I learned that God has a sense of humor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure many times He, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit have a good chuckle from our plans, especially when they don’t align with His plans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jeremiah 29:11</b> “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><strong>For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to proper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future</strong></span></i>.”)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Fortunately my desire for twins did not come true when I became pregnant for the first time, a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">s </span>I was not married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two months shy of my 19th birthday (September 10), <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gave birth to my son, Damian, on July 10, one week past his July 3 due date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My grandmother wasn’t thrilled about me having a baby out of wedlock and had given me some grief about it, but because there are no coincidences with God, Damian was born on her 63rd birthday, which also happened to be the birthday of my aunt (the mother of my twin cousins).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Seven years later, I got married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because we already had three sons between us, WE planned to have once child together and then I’d have a tubal ligation (no consultation with God about our plan!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two years after we were married, we were ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got pregnant quickly and was given a May, 1983 due date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly, in November, 1982, I miscarried at three months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My doctor didn’t instruct me to wait before getting pregnant again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In January, 1983, I was ecstatic to learn I was pregnant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a scare where I thought I was going to miscarry again, but God had a plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gained so much weight that my doctor thought I could possibly be having twins!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was excited and was hoping I was pregnant with twin girls (no way did I want twin boys!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I eagerly went to the scheduled ultrasound only to get the disappointing news that I was not having twins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t want to know my baby’s gender until the birth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Our baby was due September 25.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After enduring an extremely hot summer with p</span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN;">tyalism (<strong><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">production of excess</span> <span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">saliva during pregnancy)</span></strong></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';"><strong> </strong></span><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">and being two weeks overdue, I thought surely, only a boy would put his mother through all this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband, who knew how desperately I wanted a girl, teased me saying I was having boy – I did not get his sense of humor!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">My doctor scheduled an induction for October 10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Sunday, October 9, I went into labor. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I couldn’t progress past six centimeters, the doctor performed a cesarean, and our BABY GIRL, Deanna, was born on Monday, October 10!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having had a child out of wedlock, a miscarriage, and an overdue pregnancy, this was the happiest day of my life, even though I didn’t have the twin girls I had hoped for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Deanna now shared being born on the 10th with her brother and me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She later had her first child, my granddaughter, in May (remember, I had miscarried in May prior to getting pregnant with Deanna).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Deanna had her second daughter in October at age 29, the same age I was when I had Deanna.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> N</span>o coincidences with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">I had had a tubal ligation during my cesarean birth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t seek God’s opinion on the matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just did what WE thought was best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About three years later, I had my second miscarriage. Not totally unheard of as the cumulative 10-year probability of pregnancy following tubal ligation was 18.5 per 1000 procedures*. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn't seek God’s direction when I had the tubal ligation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I</span>nstead of seeking God’s direction after this second miscarriage, I decided to have ANOTHER tubal ligation by a different doctor using a different method.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About 7 years later, I had severe abdominal pains while driving home on the expressway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A trip to the hospital via ambulance landed me in intensive care following emergency surgery due to a ruptured fallopian tube.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, after two tubal ligations, I had had a miscarriage AND an ectopic pregnancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">For someone who wanted six children (three sets of twins), my plans definitely did not come into fruition…somewhat from my own interventions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll never know if any of these pregnancies would have yielded the twins I had desired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I do know t<span class="text"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">here are no coincidences with Him because He works everything out according to HIS plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ephesians 1:11</b> <span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will</strong></span></i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Romans 8:28</b> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><strong>And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">called</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">according</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">to</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">his</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">purpose</span></strong></span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>2 Timothy 1:9</b> </span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><strong><span style="color: #990000;">Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began</span></strong></i></span>.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">I’ve learned during my Christian walk that God has had plans for me since the day He brought me into this world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank You, Father, for Your plans for my life – they will always work out for MY good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen!</span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">*</span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The efficacy of tubal ligation has been most extensively studied in the US Collaborative Review of Sterilization (CREST) study. This study followed 10,685 sterilized women for up to 14 years following their tubal ligation. The findings demonstrated that tubal ligation is highly effective, though effectiveness varies by the ligation method employed and by the patient’s age, race, and ethnicity. The cumulative 10-year probability of pregnancy following tubal ligation was 18.5 per 1000 procedures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Source: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2492586/">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2492586/</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>)</span></div>
Joyful Spirit, Deborah (William and Mary's Great-Grandchild)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02185459775012486051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704561419289418841.post-69603444773287103532013-04-22T07:35:00.001-07:002013-04-22T07:39:01.105-07:00He's Still God<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Last week, on Monday two bombs filled with nails exploded at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing three people and wounding nearly 200; several had to have limbs amputated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Tuesday, letters addressed to President Obama and to a U.S. senator were found to contain traces of poisonous ricin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Wednesday, there was a massive explosion that leveled a Texas fertilizer plant, leaving at least 14 people dead and 200 injured. On Thursday, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Illinois’ governor declared 38 of the state's counties disaster areas</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">from rain (</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN;">up to 5 inches in just more than a day -- on the Windy City area). </span><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Thursday night, a</span><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> Massachusetts Institute of Technology policeman was killed and another police officer was severely wounded, allegedly by the suspected Boston Marathon terrorists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A</span><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> massive search on Friday for the two suspected terrorists, who happened to be brothers,</span><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> ensued </span><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">with a lockdown of suburbs around Boston that had never before been experienced. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"All in all it's been a tough week," President Obama said during a press conference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As if these national events weren’t enough to make one wonder what was going on in our country, five young people were shot to death ( four of them execution style in one location with multiple shots to their heads) in my hometown.</span><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">During the entire terrifying week, the Holy Spirit residing in me said that God is still God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psalm 46 verses 1-2 and 10, tells us <span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <span class="text">Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea…</span> He says, “Be <b>still</b>, and know that I am <b>God</b>; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth</i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">I searched youtube for a song to minister to my heart and found Toni L. Wortherly’s </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN;">song of hope that she wrote in part, in memory of her late grandmother, and in part, because she was in shock at some of the violence she had seen in the news. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said “Some people, in times like these, wonder if God is still in control, but I know for a fact that He is in control and He still cares.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are the lyrics to her song <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He’s Still God.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">In my despair, He holds my hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">He’s still God even when I face the darkest hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He can still hear my cries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He still holds all the power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">He’s still there even when it seems too much to bear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although I know life can be hard, I also know that He’s still God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Seems I can’t turn on the news without a story of violence and slaughter. It seems like life is not even valued anymore, people are killing their own sons and daughters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">They are so self consumed and they don’t think of the victims they leave behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just senseless acts with tortuous costs and it truly blows my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Though it seems the enemy is too much to handle, though the devil may think he has won, I know in the end that my God wins, all these battles belong to the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">He’s still God even when we face the darkest hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He can still hear our cries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He still holds all the power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">He’s still there even when it seems too much to bear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although I know life can be hard, I also know that He’s still God.</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">For those who are letting satan use them, God is aware.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psalm 11:4 <span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The </i></span><span class="small-caps"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></i></span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> is in his holy temple;</i></span> the </span></div>
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span class="small-caps"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></i></span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Jeremiah 17:9-10 <span class="text">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I the </i></span><span class="small-caps"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></i></span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> search the heart</i></span> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, </i></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">according to what their deeds deserve</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Yes, </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">He is God, there no one like Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isaiah 6:3 <span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Holy, holy, holy is the </i></span><span class="small-caps"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></i></span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Almighty;</i></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the whole earth is full of his glory.”</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>He’s still God<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.</i></span></div>
Joyful Spirit, Deborah (William and Mary's Great-Grandchild)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02185459775012486051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704561419289418841.post-56344322784506284712013-03-16T07:32:00.000-07:002013-03-16T07:32:08.606-07:00He’s Just A Prayer Away<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Last night I watched the movie “Letters to God” which was </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN;">inspired by a true story of </span><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">an eight-year old </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN;">boy with cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the movie Tyler Doherty's walk of faith takes the form of praying via letters he composes and mails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tyler’s letters find their way into the hands of Brady McDaniels, his temporary postman who’s dealing with his own personal issues. Brady is initially confused and conflicted over what to do with the letters, but eventually develops a friendship with the Doherty family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This was not a feel-good movie – it was an encouraging, uplifting story about the impact of praying to a loving God and the galvanizing effect it had on Tyler’s family, friends and community because of Tyler’s belief and strong faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To Tyler, God is a friend, a teacher, and the ultimate pen pal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The movie showed that while God doesn’t always answer the way we want, He does what is best. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This movie blessed my heart because I’ve been touched by cancer through deaths of loved ones and the long-term survival of others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m well aware of how a cancer diagnosis brings fear and can devastate families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My sister’s husband died from cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My other sister’s brother-in-law and sister-in-law died from the effects of cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My dad, my brother-in-law, my friend’s teenage grandson, and a childhood friend have completed or are in the midst of completing cancer-related treatments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My paternal aunt, my sister’s sister-in-law, and my childhood Sunday School teacher are all long-term breast cancer survivors. I’ve attended the funerals of friends from church and my neighborhood who lost their cancer battles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my former job as a regional Human Resources Director, I and my staff assisted employees with cancer obtain their long-term disability benefits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several eventually succumbed from the effects of their illness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span>In numerous prayer journals over the years (my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">letters to God</i>), I’ve written the names of those I mentioned above.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like in the movie, God didn’t always respond the way I hoped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some lives He prolonged and others in His Sovereignty, He chose to end here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t always understand what He is doing (<em><strong><span style="color: #674ea7;">For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">thoughts</span> than your </span></strong></em><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><em><strong><span style="color: #674ea7;">thoughts</span></strong></em> <span style="color: black;">Isaiah 55:9</span></span><strong>).</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I know that </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He hears us whether we translate just our thoughts, speak out loud, write out our prayers, or allow the Holy Spirit to speak on our behalf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I say, thank You, Father, for giving us the privilege of bringing our burdens to you and for the eternal home that Jesus has prepared for those who confess Him as Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">Come to me, all you who are weary and <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">burden</span>ed, and I will give you rest</span></i></b>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matthew 11:28<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #b2a1c7; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themetint: 153;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #5f497a; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">groan</span>s</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #b2a1c7; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themetint: 153;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Romans 8:26<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #b2a1c7; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themetint: 153;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;">SPOILER ALERT</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Patrick Doherty, Tyler's real father, wrote "Letters to God" after his son lost his battle with cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doherty admits "Letters to God" was, at first, just a "cool title" for a movie. It wasn't until after the death of his son and a year-and-a-half after the screenplay was finished that he found Tyler's real letters to God</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For more information about the movie, access these links: <a href="http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2010/March/Letters-to-God-A-Movie-of-Hope/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2010/March/Letters-to-God-A-Movie-of-Hope/</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.letterstogodthemovie.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.letterstogodthemovie.com/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Joyful Spirit, Deborah (William and Mary's Great-Grandchild)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02185459775012486051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704561419289418841.post-11323218020166858232013-03-08T06:34:00.002-08:002013-03-08T06:34:33.233-08:00Why Am I Here?<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Years ago I read Rick Warren’s book “Purpose Driven Life”, subtitled “What On Earth Am I Here For?” My pastor is conducting a bible study using this book, so I am re-reading it. In Chapter 3, Pastor Warren says “Living to create an earthly legacy is a short-sighted goal. A wiser use of time is to build an eternal legacy.” He reminds us that we “weren’t put on earth to be remembered.” We “were put on earth to prepare for eternity.” When I question why am I here, I have to acknowledge as Pastor Warren says, that one day I “will stand before God, and He will do an audit” of my life before I enter eternity. He says “God will ask two crucial questions: First, “<span style="color: orange;"><strong>What did you do with my Son, Jesus Christ</strong></span>?” and “<span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: black;">Second</span><span style="color: black;">,</span><strong> What did you do with what I gave you…all the gifts, talents, opportunities, energy, relationships, and resources</strong></span>?”<br /><br />Yesterday, while reading my bible, I turned to 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 and read how Paul could answer these two questions. Paul said:</span>
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<br /><strong><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. (NIV)</span></em></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In contrast, I have never been in prison, flogged, beaten, pelted with stones, nor shipwrecked. I haven’t been “constantly on the move,” in danger from rivers, bandits, Jews and Gentiles in the city, country, and sea, gone without sleep and food on my Christian journey. No, this won’t be my testimony when I stand before the Lord. <br /><br />My testimony is that through my relationships as a wife, daughter, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, friend, neighbor, church and community volunteer I use every opportunity through His gift of teaching <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">(Romans 12:7, Ephs. 4:11)</span> </span>to witness about Jesus Christ to everyone I encounter -- whether in person, over the phone, through written communication (cards, e-mail, blogging, Facebook), when driving my car, in the grocery checkout line, etc. With His gift of helps (I Cor. 12:28), my husband and I use our financial resources to assist those in need and support His ministry. With the energy He’s given me, I visit those in hospitals and convalescent homes and attend funerals to provide comfort. My life has not been and is not perfect. Through my challenging tests, though different from Paul’s, I have learned beyond a shadow of a doubt who I am – a child of the Most High God; to whom I belong – to the Almighty God of the universe; and most importantly, why I am here – to fulfill my eternal legacy of serving Him until the day He calls me home. </span><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: orange;">Do you know why are you here? If your answer is yes, what are you doing with Jesus Christ? Are you using what God has given you for the purposes for which God made you</span><span style="color: orange;">?</span></span> </strong></span>Joyful Spirit, Deborah (William and Mary's Great-Grandchild)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02185459775012486051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704561419289418841.post-9830188808819388902013-01-24T09:25:00.000-08:002013-01-24T09:25:54.918-08:00Some May Find It Strange<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Since New Year’s Eve, I’m attended a funeral or calling hours for nine people with only one as my relative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s a funeral tomorrow for a classmate of mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The prospect of death has always been very real to me helping me embrace the fact that one day I’m going to make the same transition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hebrews 9:27 says “</span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment</i></span>.”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I don’t know when I first wrote my own obituary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know it was years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve had to update it over time, most recently to add the name of my youngest grandchild who was born in October.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My immediate family is aware of this strange quirk of mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or perhaps it’s not so strange considering my maternal grandmother wrote her obituary years before she passed, and my mom gave her obituary to me a few years ago!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial;">As each day passes, I am one day closer to breathing my last breath on earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, I’m not concerned about it because of a decision I made when I was a little girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t get to choose my skin color and gender, who my birth parents and siblings are, nor where I was born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God chose these things for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since He never makes a mistake, I fully accept and embrace who I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I did make some decisions that brought consequences to my life, some that were very good and some filled with grief and disappointment, the biggest and best decision I made was choosing to give my life to and follow Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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I might be frightened about the prospect of my death if I was clueless about what will happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus told me I don’t have to worry because He has gone ahead of me to prepare the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> John 14:1-3 <em>Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am , there ye may be also</em>. 2 Corinthians 5 teaches me I'm going to receive a new body. That sounds good to me because of the physical changes I'm experiencing as I age. Until the day of my transition, I have the Holy Spirit helping me through whatever comes my way. John 16:7 <em>But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you</em>. </span><span class="text">Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, my Advocate, to take up residence in my heart when I accepted Him in my childhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>I’m so grateful that Jesus knew that I would need the Holy Spirit to teach, encourage, protect, and intercede for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the Holy Spirit, I can handle this life until my transition comes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As one of my now deceased friend used to say “I can’t lose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While down here, Jesus is with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I die, I get to go be with Him.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nope, I’m not concerned about dying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a win-win proposition and not strange at all!<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</span>Joyful Spirit, Deborah (William and Mary's Great-Grandchild)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02185459775012486051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704561419289418841.post-84945490273242751612013-01-24T09:11:00.002-08:002013-01-24T09:11:37.579-08:00He Knows Me Best<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I was born, I entered the world as the daughter of my parents and granddaughter of my grandparents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a brother, making me a sister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My parents had siblings making me a niece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their siblings had children making me a cousin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the day I was born, I was surrounded with people who automatically loved me, some of whom I became close with over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I eventually became a mother, a wife, stepmother, an aunt, and an in-law with a heap of relatives through my marriage and the marriages of my siblings and children. I have the wonderful title of being a grandmother!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The family circle of people who know me has grown by leaps and bounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As much as I am known by all of these people to whatever degree, none know me like the One who created me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I was born, I entered the world as a female Negro, a black person, an African-American, not by choice but by design by the Most High God, the all-knowing Father, Creator God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a choice I made as an adolescent – to follow the One who created me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Living by the choice I made to the One who created me supersedes EVERYTHING in my life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Psalm 139:13, 15-16 tells me that God “<span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">created my inmost being</i>…“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">knit me together in my mother’s womb,</i>” God’s “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">eyes saw my unformed body</i>”, </span>I was made in secret<span class="text"> in my mother’s womb, and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all the days ordained for me were written in His book before one of them came to be</i>.</span>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a mom, I think I know my children fairly well. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But because they live in different cities from me, I’m clueless as to what’s going on in their lives unless we communicate via phone, e-mail or Facebook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How well does God know me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has searched me and knows me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows when I sit (who besides God knows that I’m sitting in my family room as I write this), when I rise (often my husband is not aware that I’ve left the bedroom), when I go out and come in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God knows my thoughts before I become aware of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Psalm 139:1-3).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He doesn’t have to call or e-mail me to find out what’s going on with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows more about me than I could ever put on Facebook!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God is familiar with ALL my ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Message Bible says God knows<span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> “everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t reach His knowledge – it is too high for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cannot get away from Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. even the darkness will not be dark to you; </i></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the</i></span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.</i> (Psalm 139:6-12)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, how wonderful it is to be known by my God!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows me best!</span></span></span>Joyful Spirit, Deborah (William and Mary's Great-Grandchild)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02185459775012486051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704561419289418841.post-14861209745108273652012-09-06T08:39:00.000-07:002012-09-06T08:39:03.644-07:00What He Requires<div style="margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Recently while at lunch with a dear friend, she commented all that is required of us (Christians) is the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20): <span class="woj"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000;">Therefore <u>go and make disciples</u> of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you</span></i>” (see also Mark 16:15).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I responded that He requires more than that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our chat prompted me to search His concerning His requirements for Christians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">He requires our repentance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">From that time on Jesus began to preach</span></i></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">, </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Repent</span></u><span style="color: #c00000;">, for the kingdom of heaven has come near</span></i>” (Matt. 4:17). He requires us to love God and our neighbor as evidenced by His response to the Pharisee’s question </span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup> </sup>Jesus replied: </i></span></span><span class="woj"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">“‘<u><span style="color: #c00000;">Love the Lord your God</span></u><span style="color: #c00000;"> with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’<sup> </sup>This is the first and greatest commandment. <sup> </sup>And the second is like it: ‘<u>Love your neighbor</u> as yourself</span>.’<sup> </sup><span style="color: #c00000;">All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments</span></span></i></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">” (Matthew 22:36-39; see also Mark 12:30-31 and John 13:34-35).</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">He requires that our light (actions) ought to shine in such a way that others will give God glory which reflects our love for God. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000;">Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.</span></i></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span class="woj">In the same way, <u>let your light shine</u> before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven</span></span></i><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> (Matt 5:15-16).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Loving God with all of our heart, soul and mind, requires us to seek His kingdom and righteousness and not to worry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup> </sup>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000;">Therefore I tell you, <u>do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear</u>. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes</span></i><span style="color: #c00000;">?</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000;">Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself</span></i> (Matt 6:25, 34).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000;">But <u>seek first his kingdom and his righteousness</u>, and all these things will be given to you as well</span></i> (Matt 6:33, Luke 12:22-31).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Loving God with all of our heart, soul and mind, requires us to: treat people the way we want to be treated, forgive others, and love and pray for our enemies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000;">So in everything, <u>do to others what you would have them do to you</u>, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets</span> </i>(Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:31). “</span></span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Then Peter came to Jesus and asked</span></i></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus answered, </i></span></span><span class="woj"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">“<span style="color: #c00000;">I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times</span></span></i></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">” (Matthew 18:21-22, see also Luke 17:3-4).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000;">You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I tell you, <u>love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you</u>, that you may be children of your Father in heaven</span></i>. … <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000;">If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that</span></i>?” (Matthew 5:43-44, 46; Luke 6:27-29)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000;">And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, <u>forgive</u> them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins</span></i>.”</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> (Mark 11:25) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span class="woj">From the number of drive-by shootings and mass murders of family members committed these days, it’s obvious people are not forgiving others nor loving and praying for their enemies.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">When we love God with all of our heart, soul and mind, we don’t stockpile possessions; we share what He’s given us and assist those in need. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“<u><span style="color: #c00000;">Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth</span></u><span style="color: #c00000;">, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But <u>store up for yourselves treasures in heaven</u>, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal</span></i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Then he said to them, </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">“<span style="color: #c00000;">Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions</span>” (Matt. 6:19-20, Luke 12:15).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Matthew 25, Jesus told a parable to His disciples about feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, taking in strangers, and visiting the sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000;">They also will answer</span></i><span style="color: #c00000;">, ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you</i>?’<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you</i>?<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you</i>?’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, <u>whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters</u> of mine, you did for me</i></span>’ (vs. 37-40).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">When we love God with all of our heart, soul and mind, we can deal with others in love, not by judging or condemning them, to remedy what may seem like impossible situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Do not judge</span></u><span style="color: #c00000;">, and you will not be judged. <u>Do not condemn</u>, and you will not be condemned. <u>Forgive</u>, and you will be forgiven</span></i> (Luke 6:37-38).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“<span style="color: #c00000;">If your brother or sister<sup> </sup>sins, <u>go and point out their fault</u>, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’<sup> </sup><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector</span></i> (Matthew 18:15-17). Years ago, a Christian spoke to me in private and shared her concern about something she thought I had said about her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By her coming to me, just as the Word says, we talked it out and hare remained good friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Sounds like too much<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands.</i></span></span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span class="text"><span id="en-NIV-30628">In fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands. And His commands are not burdensome</span></span></span></i><span class="text"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">,</span> (</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">1 John 5:3).<span class="woj"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We won’t have cause to worry as we: <o:p></o:p></span></span><div style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">repent of our sin while seeking His kingdom and righteousness<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">treat people the way we want to be treated<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">forgive <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">love and pray for our enemies<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">confront others in love without judging and condemning<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">meet the needs of others by sharing God’s blessings while not stockpiling possessions<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Jesus replied</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000;">Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them</span></i> (John 14:23). <span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Then Jesus said, </i></span><span class="woj"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“<span style="color: #c00000;">Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear</span></i>” (Mark 4:9).</span></span>Joyful Spirit, Deborah (William and Mary's Great-Grandchild)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02185459775012486051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704561419289418841.post-25763397880508606922012-08-09T05:26:00.001-07:002012-08-09T05:26:30.972-07:00Full of Thanksgiving<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This morning as I bowed before the Lord, I began thanking Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thanked Him for waking me and my husband up with the ability to fully function. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thanked Him for: allowing me to spend yesterday out of town at a cottage with a pool with several of my former co-workers, my phone call last night with one of our children and the joy I heard in his voice for what the Lord is doing in his life, the news this week from a childhood friend that her cancer may now be in remission (a true testament of the Lord’s healing power), and my dad and brother’s move together to an apartment over the weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With all the tragic news around the world, the number of grieving families I know, the serious illness of a close member of my family, as well as other issues, I am ‘full of thanksgiving.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Normally during my devotional time with the Lord, I spend much time in intercessory prayer for those who are grieving, sick or injured, incarcerated, living in impoverished countries, homeless, jobless, having trouble in their marriage, for my family, friends, church, neighbors, youth and whatever or whoever else the Lord lays on my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this morning, I was simply ‘full of thanksgiving.’<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">No matter what we are going through, we can find something for which to thank Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When my grandson’s leg was broken a few months ago, I was able to thank God that the break was above the growth spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had the break been a couple inches lower, my grandson’s growth would have been affected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I was able to praise Him for what didn’t happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This morning as I bowed before Him, I entered His gates with thanksgiving and His court with praise because He is good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you full of thanksgiving today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you entered His courts with praise?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, consider simply giving thanks to Him and praise His name!</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Psalm 100:3-5<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Know that the </span></i></span><span class="small-caps"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Lord</span></i></span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> is God. </span>It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Enter His gates with thanksgiving </span>and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">For the </span></i></span><span class="small-caps"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Lord</span></i></span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> is good and His love endures forever; </span>His faithfulness continues through all generations.</i></span></span></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></i>Joyful Spirit, Deborah (William and Mary's Great-Grandchild)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02185459775012486051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704561419289418841.post-34245898065517555822012-07-02T07:27:00.000-07:002012-07-02T07:30:02.733-07:00This Mother's Prayer<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=I4903079440614103&pid=1.7&w=224&h=153&c=7&rs=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=I4903079440614103&pid=1.7&w=224&h=153&c=7&rs=1" style="height: 153px;" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">While reading my Women’s Devotional Bible this morning, I read a devotion by Gloria Gather that got me to thinking about <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>my son whose birthday is next week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In her devotion titled “I Wish You” Ms. Gaither referenced the third chapter of Ephesians after reflecting on her daughter’s college graduation party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had listened to her friends wishing her daughter success which caused her and her husband to discuss what they wished for their daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They decided they wouldn’t wish wealth or notability for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ms. Gaither said they would wish some sunshine, some rain, growth, vision and the ability to feel what those who are hurt or left out or lonely feel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This drew them to the Book of Ephesians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">My mind strayed back to my daughter’s wedding in October, 2008 when I quoted Paul’s prayers in Ephesians 1 and 3 in the commemorative bookmark given to her guests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We asked Deanna’s guests to place the bookmark in their bibles and reference it in praying for Deanna and her husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>So as I think about the upcoming birthday for my married son who’s a soldier and father of three, I offer Paul’s same prayer for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the Gaithers, I’m not asking God to give Damian, my firstborn, wealth and notability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In this open letter to my son, Damian, I want you to know that for all of your birthdays:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8UERnzijXlX-cTzHHjWh0_qieYaNJj4lcMgfm3hhGjGTTH5C4TiTclAzMCZZsSAWnxXTj9tOcqpnHgd9uiP8AkKiOj8zDdo4g_jo-7LWGS7iAA5z9TnhU8dvAiUezQJcyhiqxTSStc7C/s1600/Kuwait+Homecoming+April+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8UERnzijXlX-cTzHHjWh0_qieYaNJj4lcMgfm3hhGjGTTH5C4TiTclAzMCZZsSAWnxXTj9tOcqpnHgd9uiP8AkKiOj8zDdo4g_jo-7LWGS7iAA5z9TnhU8dvAiUezQJcyhiqxTSStc7C/s200/Kuwait+Homecoming+April+2012.jpg" vca="true" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Browallia New";">I<span class="text"> keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.</span></span> <span id="en-NIV-29225">I<span class="text"> pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, <sup> </sup>and His incomparably great power for us who believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, </span><span id="en-NIV-29269">so that Christ may dwell in your heart through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,</span></span> <span class="text"><span id="en-NIV-29270">may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,</span></span> <span class="text"><span id="en-NIV-29271">and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Happy Birthday, Son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love, Mom</span></div>
Joyful Spirit, Deborah (William and Mary's Great-Grandchild)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02185459775012486051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704561419289418841.post-89799546943469341742012-06-22T06:12:00.000-07:002012-06-22T06:12:03.534-07:00Generous Givers<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">A couple weeks ago, I volunteered at a week-long, Christian-driven day camp for youth run by a married couple who are close friends of mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw how they poured themselves into their ministry by ensuring that, in each of the well-thought out activities, all of the youth participated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the youth have attended the camp for years; for others it was their first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friends had the youth change their seats throughout the week so that they could get to know each other. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result, new friendships were formed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The youth learned about the importance of faith, enhanced their communication skills, and by week’s end, several had memorized and were able to recite the camp’s affirmation statement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">During my morning devotion a few days after the conclusion of the camp, I read 2 Corinthians 9:6-8; 10-13 and thought about this couple:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"> <em>Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously </em></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><em>will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to </em></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><em>give, not relunctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to </em></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><em>bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound </em></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><em>in every good work.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><em> Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase </em></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><em>your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched </em></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><em>in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your </em></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><em>generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only </em></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><em>supplying the needs of the Lord's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of </em></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><em>thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will </em></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><em>praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ </em></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><em>and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Last night, I was with a friend who brought together a group of people to discuss concerns they had about their apartment building which had recently changed ownership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She provided plenty of food and beverage and structured the gathering in such a way that all felt comfortable expressing their issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On numerous occasions I’ve seen this friend give of her time, talent and treasure to replenish and build up the Lord’s people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">I am blessed to be surrounded by many friends like these, people who sow generously, whose service not only supplies the needs of the Lord’s people but overflows in many expressions of thanks to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of <u>their</u> service, others praise God!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are role models for me and my husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we have volunteered and financially supported our church and a number of charities over the years, we have become <u>more</u> generous in our giving, not in an effort to outdo anyone, but because we know “thanksgiving to God” is the result and others will “praise God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can testify about His abundant blessings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Are you a cheerful, generous giver?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If not, consider moving in this (His) direction; remember, He will supply what is needed for you to bless His people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your response is yes, keep doing what you’re doing for God loves “cheerful givers!”</span></div>Joyful Spirit, Deborah (William and Mary's Great-Grandchild)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02185459775012486051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704561419289418841.post-87918986447835316132012-06-02T20:29:00.001-07:002012-06-02T20:29:30.055-07:00Sleepless in (insert your city)<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Last night was another sleepless night for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know how well you are sleeping these days, but I don’t sleep through most nights no matter what time I go to bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I’ve always been an early riser, I know there was a time when I slept regularly through the night…not that I can remember when!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I’m not the only one with this problem because others (some much younger than me) have posted on Facebook that they can’t get back to sleep.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">There are several reasons why I have difficulty sleeping through the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first one is because I’m a light sleeper…it takes a while for me to drown out internal and external noises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second reason is the permanent neuropathy (numbness) in my right foot bothers me more at night than any other time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The third reason for my sleep difficulty is that every night after I fall asleep, my Bladder and Kidneys decide to torture me between midnight and 3:00 am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been unsuccessful in ignoring them! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">When I return to bed, my Lower Back and Right Hip begin their nightly dalliance with Ms. Osteo and Mr. Arthur (osteoarthritis)!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem is after they get together, they never want to separate until I get up and move around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I know the four of them have an addiction to each other, I occasionally take Aleve right before going to bed as a ploy to keep them separated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last night, they figured out my game plan, slipped past Aleve, and began jamming the night away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">After a couple hours of intermittent sleep, Bladder and Kidneys got jealous of the foursome and decided to torture me again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ignoring them was useless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I yielded to them again! </span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">With sleep evading me, I began thinking about the seven relatives and friends I had visited during the week who are battling illnesses and bereavement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s now 6:00 am on a Saturday morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I slip out of bed for the third time, grab my prayer journal and head downstairs where I spent the next hour in intercessory prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I think my inability to sleep through the night may be a ‘thorn’ the Lord has given to me... to keep me mindful of how blessed I am and prompt me to pray for those who are in the midst of a storm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you’re unable to sleep, consider those you know who are in a storm and intercede on their behalf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve learned there’s more than one way to feel rested!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if you see me nodding or I come across as irritable, consider that I may have just had another sleepless night!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ephesians 6:18 </span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people</i>.</span></span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">(NIV)</span></span></div>
Joyful Spirit, Deborah (William and Mary's Great-Grandchild)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02185459775012486051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704561419289418841.post-26510222020272653542012-05-31T08:23:00.001-07:002012-05-31T08:55:32.714-07:00Whose Opinion MattersI love my children and value their opinions. They are college-educated, married adults with children of their own. Although I value their opinion, I do not let their opinions sway me against God's Word. This has been heavy on my mind after I received an e-mail on May 9, 2012 from President Barack Obama with the subject heading "Marriage." In this e-mail, President Obama said "I believe that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry." He said he "was reluctant to use the term marriage because of the very powerful traditions it evokes." He went on to say "when I look at Sasha and Malia, who have friends whose parents are same-sex couples, I know it wouldn't dawn on them that their friends' parents should be treated differently. So I decided it was time to affirm my personal belief that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry."<br />
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I've been quite disturbed by the President's position but not for the reasons you might think. Although I do disagree with his position, I was most disturbed because nowhere in President Obama's May 9 e-mail did he state he had come to his conclusion based on his study of God's Word. Several news articles noted "Obama had previously implied the Bible supports homosexual unions." But it's this quote from the President about his position that I have difficulty accepting “If people find that controversial, then I would just refer them to the Sermon on the Mount, which I think is, in my mind, for my faith, more central than an obscure passage in Romans.” I hope that President Obama misspoke when he referred to a biblical passage as obscure. I'm guessing he's referring to Romans 1:18-32 (in particular vs 26-27 <span class="text Rom-1-26" id="en-NIV1984-27942"><sup class="versenum"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></sup><strong><em>Because of this, God gave them over <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-27942N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)"></sup>to shameful lusts. <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-27942O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)"></sup>Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. </em></strong></span><span class="text Rom-1-27" id="en-NIV1984-27943"><strong><em>In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion</em></strong>.) </span><br />
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During my Bible study, I read the following devotion about 2 Tim. 3:16-17 by Kathryn Hilton: "Sometimes its hard to distinguish our cultural beliefs from Biblical truth. As we grow in the Lord, we must examine our beliefs to make sure they are based on what the Bible says rather than merely on what we were taught...If we do not test our beliefs against the Bible, we may perpetuate human opinions rather than God-ordained doctrine, cultural mores rather than Biblical morality. We need to examine our own beliefs and be responsible for what we teach others, including our children and people in our church. Are we teaching them our opinions and our perspective, or are we teaching them God's?" <br />
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2 Tim 3:16-17 says: <span class="text 2Tim-3-16" id="en-KJV-29870"><strong><em>All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: </em></strong></span><span class="text 2Tim-3-17" id="en-KJV-29871"><strong><em>That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works</em></strong>." For this reason, I wouldn't call any passage in Romans "obscure" and wish that President Obama had not said so, too.</span>Joyful Spirit, Deborah (William and Mary's Great-Grandchild)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02185459775012486051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704561419289418841.post-54862816296211274412012-04-29T07:24:00.000-07:002012-04-29T07:24:38.349-07:00Without Ceasing<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This morning I was reading Chapter 1 of Romans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can read a scripture several times and all of a sudden something with stand out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I read Romans 1:9, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that <u>without ceasing</u> I make mention of you <u>always</u> in my prayer</i>” (underscore mine) it spoke to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Yesterday, I was honored at a luncheon along with 22 other women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The theme for the luncheon was “Extraordinary Women Doing Extra Ordinary Things.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My sister asked me how did I get selected; what were the criteria?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told her I didn’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After reading the brief bio this organization wrote about me, it became clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was noted that ”that my ministry is visiting the sick, shut in, and bereaved families in their time of need”, “if you need a special prayer,” I’m the one to call, and that I “will sit and hold your hand when you need that extra lift to get you through.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I had no idea in 2006, when I quit my well-paid job with perks and excellent benefits, what the Lord had planned for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had long ago adopted Jeremiah 29:11 as one of my favorite scriptures: </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His plan for me - a ministry of prayer and visitation - became clearer over time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">For years I have written my prayers in journals which help me remember those who need prayer without ceasing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I focus on the sick and bereaved the most.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray for bereaved families for two years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lift to God my family (my husband, children, parents, siblings, grandchildren, extended family), my church family, friends, neighbors, those serving in the military and elected officials </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">(1 Tim 1:1-2)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">, young people who I know are going through a tough time, my three World Vision children and my four Godsons, and those who I know who are incarcerated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God never fails to place someone on my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I have shared with my prayer partners that often my heart is burdened because of what others are enduring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are instructed in Galatians 6:2 </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get overwhelmed sometimes by what others are going through, but I also receive encouragement as I see God answering my prayers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">If you pray that that our God would count me <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power</i> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">(2 Thes.1:11)</span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> there is no doubt that I will continue to visit the sick, comfort the bereaved, and serve as a prayer intercessor without ceasing as the Lord leads me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To God be the Glory, Honor and Praise!</span>Joyful Spirit, Deborah (William and Mary's Great-Grandchild)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02185459775012486051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704561419289418841.post-9087671223617421312011-12-31T11:47:00.000-08:002011-12-31T11:47:52.127-08:00Deny Self<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I haven’t blogged all month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yesterday, I caught a portion of Chuck Swindoll’s sermon about “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Three Musts for the New Year</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of those “musts” is denying one’s self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This got me to thinking – in what ways do I deny myself for Him? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew I had to blog about this because as I approach a new year, I want to be a true disciple. God’s Word is clear about denying self:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS6oTeDIQY0_DSUVVf-Hid4CsrBOBmeyI193OHvgAOAIdmxdUpprOtIyBUJ" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" class="rg_i" data-src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS6oTeDIQY0_DSUVVf-Hid4CsrBOBmeyI193OHvgAOAIdmxdUpprOtIyBUJ" height="120" name="NiuMEPVvQ4EN1M:" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS6oTeDIQY0_DSUVVf-Hid4CsrBOBmeyI193OHvgAOAIdmxdUpprOtIyBUJ" width="81" /></span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Matt. 16:24 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>must</u></b> (1) <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">deny</span> themselves and (2) <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">take</span> up their <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">cross</span> and (3) follow me</i>.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mark 8:34 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>must</u></b> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">deny</span> themselves and <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">take</span> up their <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">cross</span> and follow me</i>.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Luke 9:23 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>must</u></b> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">deny</span> themselves and <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">take</span> up their <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">cross</span> daily and follow me</i>.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr. Swindoll said “a passionate desire to obey and please God is the beginning of true discipleship and starts with saying no to self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Say no to what YOU want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Swindoll reminded me that obeying Him means tasting death – death to something, to someone, that it means more than occasional unselfishness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means dying to something or someone everyday or He would not have said ‘daily.’</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><span style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; 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" 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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are movies and programs I won’t watch, places I won’t go, stuff I won’t do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BUT, I still think thoughts I shouldn’t think, say things I shouldn’t say, offend when I don’t mean to, laugh at stuff that’s not funny. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to deny myself thoughts and actions DAILY that are contrary to His Will and Word to be in complete obedience to Him as His true disciple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to look at your life, your thoughts and actions – what is it you need to deny to be His true disciple?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope I’ve provoked your thinking about this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please hold me accountable in 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Happy New Year!</span></span>Joyful Spirit, Deborah (William and Mary's Great-Grandchild)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02185459775012486051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704561419289418841.post-55086306687347374272011-11-06T17:43:00.000-08:002011-11-14T05:52:32.740-08:00Spare the Rod?<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02Of_C00pUIt7BpAAUd0CnPYMRU-D9NuwWnD1V_ns3ixDYB0r96Ct8JeMYzeBZYSSA8IgiObwI4-szPfRqYuB7fxAjhF6X1JV8ZVUXwIdJlHBlAf9niedVV7RIxH-PQhQ3wVQjWyAgetF/s1600/Tiye+May+2002+%25232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02Of_C00pUIt7BpAAUd0CnPYMRU-D9NuwWnD1V_ns3ixDYB0r96Ct8JeMYzeBZYSSA8IgiObwI4-szPfRqYuB7fxAjhF6X1JV8ZVUXwIdJlHBlAf9niedVV7RIxH-PQhQ3wVQjWyAgetF/s200/Tiye+May+2002+%25232.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> My daughter-in-law called me a couple days ago and shared some discussions she had with my 10-year-old granddaughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My granddaughter is extremely bright and questions (or should I say challenges) everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before I tell you what drove her mom to call me, let me give you an idea of how bright my granddaughter is.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In March, 2009, when she was eight years old, she and my great niece who was ten at the time used my computer to create approximately 50 slides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They named their presentation “Visiting Ohio.” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>They recorded their voices (they showed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">me</i> how to do this), added clipart, located my daughter’s wedding pictures on my PC and uploaded some of the pictures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was amazed at how computer proficient they were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Below are verbatim excerpts from their handiwork, titles,typos and all (remember, they are 8 and 10 years old).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only wish I was able to include their recordings as well (they could probably show me how to do this)!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hairstyle</i>: WHEN YOU GET YOUR HAIR DONE IT TAKES FOREVER. YES YOU WANNA LOOK GOOD FOR YOUR MAN.BUT YOU SPENDING YOUR MAN’S CASH! SO THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AT THIS BYE! AND STOP SPENDING YOUR MAN’S MONEY!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hairstyle #2</i>: OKAY YOU REMEMBER LAST TIME! HAHAHAHAHA!OKAY STOP SPENDING YOUR MAN’S CASH IT HURTS IT HAS PAIN!THE MONEY IS LIKE HELP ME STOP SPENDING ME! SO LADIES STOP SPENDING YOUR MAN’S CASH</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>school</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">SCHOOL IS ABOUT LEARNING AND ABOUT EUDACATION. COLLEGE IS VERY INTERACTING. MY DADDY WENT TO COLLEGE<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I AM ALSO GOING TO COLLEGE ITS ME TIYE THE ONE WHO IS GOING TO COLLEGE! WHEN I WAS IN ELEMENTRY SCHOOL DAMIEN USE TO SAY I WAS TO SMALL. BUT I PROVED MY AGE! SO<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>YEAH I STOULD THAT BOY UP! IT FELT SO GOOD! AFTHER THEN I WAS FEELING A LITTLE<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BETTER!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">MIMI LIFE</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">: MY LIFE IS SO AMAZING YEAH I MIGHT NOT BE RICH BUT I AM SO AWSOME! MY FRIENDS THINK I AM SO FUNNY! MY FAVORITE COLOR IS GREEN AND BLUE! BUT I HAVE A GREAT FAMILY AND FRIENDS BUT THAT IS NOT THE ONLY REASON ABOUT MY LIFE I HAVE A WII BYE</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">TIYES LIFE</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">: MY LIFE IS EXACTLEY LIKE I WANT IT TO BE! MY FAVORITE COLOR IS PINK, BLUE AND YELLOW!TWO BROTHERS<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AND ZEROS SISTER! BUT I WANT MY FAVORITE TWO COUSINS TO BE MY<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>SISTERS!RAHJA DOSENT NEED TO KNOW THAT!MY FAVORITE FOOD IS PIZZA AND SALAD.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">While I hope you enjoyed reading this, I'm guessing you're wondering what does this have to do with sparing the rod?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As smart as my granddaughter is, she hasn’t at age 10 learned that while she can say just about anything she wants to her cousin, she cannot say whatever she wants to her mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since she's 'slow' to learn this, my daughter-in-law occasionally has to use the ‘rod’ which prompted my granddaughter to ask her mother, “where does it say in the bible that parents should spank their kids?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">For my daughter-in-law and other parents of young children, here’s what the Word says about disciplining your children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">He who <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">spare</span>s the <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">rod</span> hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> (Prov. 13:24)</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Folly is bound up in the heart of a <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">child</span>, but the rod of <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">discipline</span> will drive it far from him</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> (Prov. 22:15)</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Do not withhold <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">discipline</span> from a <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">child</span>; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> (Prov. 23:13)</span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">This past week Anderson Cooper (CNN) was covering Science on Spanking - How Hitting Children May Harm Them Later in Life with emphasis on the book “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">To Train Up A Child</i>.” From what I’ve heard about this book, I don’t recommend it.</span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I do recommend these articles (see links below): </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"><strong>A Parent's Rules for Spanking: The Correct Way to Spank Your Child</strong></span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"> b</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">y Jamie K Wilson and <strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Bible and Spanking Children: How–and How Not–to Spank Children, Bible-Based Guidelines for Christian Parents and Other</i>s</strong> by Doug Britton</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/230229/a_parents_rules_for_spanking_the_correct.html?cat=25"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/230229/a_parents_rules_for_spanking_the_correct.html?cat=25</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #548dd4; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;"><a href="http://www.dougbrittonbooks.com/onlinebiblestudies-parentinghelpandadvice/spankingchildren-bibleinfoforchristianparents.php"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.dougbrittonbooks.com/onlinebiblestudies-parentinghelpandadvice/spankingchildren-bibleinfoforchristianparents.php</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Let me add this caveat. I believe my dad spanked me and my siblings far too often. He believed in spanking all of us until someone ‘fessed up.’ I unequivocally do not support spanking teenagers (I got my last spanking around age 15 - there was absolutely no point to it). After I had my first child, my dad told me he learned from me that you don’t have to spank all the time. While my son may feel as if he got spanked too much, he wasn’t spanked nearly as often. His sister, who’s ten years younger, was spanked probably five times or less. They are both intelligent, well-adjusted adults who are college graduates, married with children, and living on their own. I’m extremely proud of and have a great relationship with both of them. The bottom line, it's your decision whether to spank or not, but I suggest you follow the Word of God. If you decide to spank, do it sparingly b</span>ecause there are a couple scriptures that applies to parents:</span> </span></div><ul><li><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><em>And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord </em>(<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Eph 6:4)</span></span></span></span></span></div></li>
<li><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><em>Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged</em> (<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Col. 3:21)</span></span></span></span></span></div></li>
</ul>Joyful Spirit, Deborah (William and Mary's Great-Grandchild)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02185459775012486051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704561419289418841.post-84698557180917488912011-10-27T13:29:00.000-07:002011-10-27T13:29:38.129-07:00Is God Laughing?<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This morning I arose around 6:20 am, made breakfast for the hubby, read the paper, showered, and got dressed to meet someone at 8:15.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She and I were going to ride together to a corporation to meet with their HR staff in preparation for training I’m providing in January.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After sitting in the parking lot for about<a href="http://officeimg.vo.msecnd.net/en-us/images/MB910216413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Text messaging on a blackberry" border="0" class="imgThumb" height="200" id="imgHvThumb" src="http://officeimg.vo.msecnd.net/en-us/images/MB910216413.jpg" style="height: 120px; max-width: 120px; visibility: visible; width: 120px;" width="200" /></a> 15 minutes, I began wondering if I had the time right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was I supposed to meet her at 9:15?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I called her, got voice mail and left a message.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I waited another 10 minutes or so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmmm, perhaps I forwarded her e-mail about the meeting to my husband…if so, maybe he kept it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I called him and got his voice mail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now what…if I returned home, I would miss her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Note to self: Having a blackberry, Iphone or Ipad might have come in handy to check my e-mail and confirm the time.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A few minutes later my contact called.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only did I have the time wrong, but I also had the WRONG date!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sheesh, my day was not getting off to a good start as after the meeting I planned to stop by a department store to pick up a sale item.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was too early for the store to be open, so I headed back home.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Around 1:00, I went to the department store and found the sale item, although there was no sale tags.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I grabbed the item and wondered around the store to see if I wanted anything else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I noticed that the sale notices were covered indicating that the sale hadn’t begun yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked at the flyer I had with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sale wasn’t scheduled to begin until 3:00 p.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just great!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got the time WRONG… again!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I headed home back home, I was kicking myself (mentally of course, because after all, I was driving!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then it occurred to me to check the flyer once more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only did I have the time wrong, I also had the WRONG date!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sale is tomorrow at 3:00.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, the good thing was I didn’t end up back at the store to find this out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thanked God for that and the thought occurred to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is God laughing at me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I thought why shouldn’t He laugh?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He probably began laughing when I got dressed because <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in His omniscience He knew the meeting wasn’t today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He saw me leaving my home to go to the store. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knew the sale wasn’t today and that I had the date and time WRONG!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The thought of God laughing made me laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could/should have checked my e-mail yesterday to confirm the time of the meeting, which would have helped me realize I had the date WRONG.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could/should have confirmed the sale date from the flyer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only person I could be upset with is myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thinking of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God laughing helped me put the situation into the right perspective; laughter was a better emotion than getting bent out of shape because of my own failings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://officeimg.vo.msecnd.net/en-us/images/MB900048590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="view details" border="0" class="imgThumb" id="imgHvThumb" src="http://officeimg.vo.msecnd.net/en-us/images/MB900048590.jpg" style="height: 120px; max-width: 120px; visibility: visible; width: 120px;" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Yes, I think God was laughing, not at me, but with me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe He has a sense of humor because He gave us a sense of humor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you know what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get joy from laughing with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll go to the sale tomorrow, but I’m glad I got a chance to laugh with God today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When was the last time you laughed with God?</span></div>Joyful Spirit, Deborah (William and Mary's Great-Grandchild)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02185459775012486051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704561419289418841.post-33507484529450246022011-10-20T14:43:00.000-07:002011-10-20T14:43:05.977-07:00Always Saying Good-Bye<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></shapetype></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><a href="http://www.clipartguide.com/_pages/0511-1010-2402-5006.html" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cartoon of a Sad Woman Waving Goodbye with a Hanky clipart" border="0" height="100" src="http://www.clipartguide.com/_thumbs/0511-1010-2402-5006.jpg" width="63" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">When my daughter was a freshman in college, my husband and I attended Parents Weekend shortly after the semester began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She stayed with us at the hotel during our visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before heading home, we dropped her off at her dorm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As she is the baby of our family, I thought I’d have the ‘empty nest’ syndrome when she left for college, but surprisingly I didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, when I hugged her good-bye after our college visit, I was overwhelmed with sadness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just a few weeks earlier, we had vacationed in Germany with our son and his family where they were stationed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew that, while my daughter would return home for summer break, it wouldn’t be long before she too would eventually leave our home town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I realized then that this was how it was going to be…always saying goodbye to our children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">That time arrived this past January when she moved with her daughter, my youngest grandchild, to Texas to be with her Air Force husband, too far away for me to get to by car. You can imagine my <span style="color: purple;"><strong>joy</strong></span> when they relocated in May to Virginia, a more doable drive!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I was going to go to Virginia for my daughter's birthday, but decided it would be better for her to come home with our granddaughter who can fly free until she's two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Monday I took them to the airport for their flight back to VA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The sadness I felt years ago when I was leaving my daughter at college struck me again especially because </span>her family won't be here for Thanksgiving and Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With my son in Kuwait, his family is going to his in-laws for Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I should mention a year after my marriage, my stepsons moved out of town with their mother. </span>Perhaps if I had at least one child and grandchild in town, I wouldn’t get so sad about these departures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Yesterday, I attended a funeral.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My cousin-in-law had to say good-bye to her last sibling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To compound her grief, just two years ago, she had to bid farewell to her second child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her surviving child, who lives out of state, was unable to attend the funeral.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, I attended the funeral for a childhood friend’s father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her mother passed away a few years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As sad as I am when I say good-bye to my children, I haven’t yet faced the type of good-bye that my cousin-in-law or my friend had this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My parents, siblings, and children are living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know why God has spared me for so long, but I’m grateful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m grateful that He not only knows what I can bear, but He knows WHEN I can bear whatever He allows to cross my path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that through the faith He’s building in me and the love and help of family and friends, I will be able to bear every future good-bye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The same faith He's given me is available to you. </span>And that gives me <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #8064a2; mso-themecolor: accent4;">joy</span></b>!</span></div>Joyful Spirit, Deborah (William and Mary's Great-Grandchild)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02185459775012486051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704561419289418841.post-35226818981225083422011-10-15T19:59:00.000-07:002011-10-15T20:14:36.521-07:00So I Thought, Count It All Joy<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Early yesterday morning I made a trip to Walgreens to print pictures I had taken of new members to post on our church bulletin board today. Before heading to Walgreens, I uploaded the pictures onto my computer and then transferred them to a flash drive (<strong>or so I thought</strong>). My goal was to print the pictures, hit two grocery stores, head back home to bake cookies for my son stationed in Kuwait, and get them in the mail before the post office closed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I got to Walgreens, no one else was using the photo printer, Great, I thought, especially since one of the printers was "out of order." I can print my pictures and be outta here in 5 minutes! Soooooo, why were the pictures <u>not</u> on my flash drive? I had doublechecked to be sure they were loaded (<strong>or so I thought</strong>). As I left Walgreens, I was annoyed. I could feel myself getting upset about the time I had wasted. As I headed to the grocery store to purchase items necessary for the cookies I was planning to bake, I could feel a mini depression coming on. This snag in my plans was threatening to mess up my entire day (<strong>or so I thought</strong>). I began arguing with myself, telling myself to not let this little bump in the road get me down. But it wasn't working; before I knew it, all kinds of negative thoughts began swirling in my head.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.artvex.com/content/Clip_Art/Shapes_Signs_and_Symbols/Numbers/0013799.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="161" src="http://www.artvex.com/content/Clip_Art/Shapes_Signs_and_Symbols/Numbers/0013799.gif" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's a song I play in the car when I feel my spirit crashing. I use the CD repeat button to hear the song over and over until it permeates my mind and being. It calms me, soothes me, reminds me of His Word in James 1:2-3 <em>My brethren, count it all <span style="color: purple;"><strong>joy</strong></span> when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience</em>. Negative thoughts were certainly trying my patience. So I turned to my old standby. It worked. I went to both grocery stores, baked the cookies with my daughter (and granddaughter playing in the background), baked a pound cake for a bereaved family, took the cookies to the post office (I was their last customer), swung by Penneys to purchase some clothes for my granddaughter, and went to the Military Support Group meeting! Satan didn't win this battle! When I woke up this morning, my standby song was playing in my head. Perhaps hearing "<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Count It All Joy</strong></span>" by Tarralyn Ramsey might help you too.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you type in the words <em>Count It All Joy </em>on youtube.com, I guarantee you'll find songs that will lift your spirit, such as The Winans singing "<em>The evil one will come and will try to take away your gladness, even when it seems that He's won, We ought to claim the victory. Give praises in everything and in everything count it all joy, even when it seems to hard to. No, He'll never give you more than you can handle. </em>Meanwhile, you can meditate on the lyrics to Tarralyn Ramsey's song:</span><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Verse 1 </strong>When you're going through, and you don't know what to do,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the fire gets too high, don't draw nigh.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hold your head up high and be of good cheer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All you need to know, you're deliverance is here.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>CHORUS </strong>count it all joy, count it all joy,</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Verse 2 </strong>I know you sit and ask yourself so many times,<br />
why does it seem like I am losing my mind.<br />
As I sit and <span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">reminisce</span> on all that I've been through,<br />
I'm realizing its not about me but about You</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(<em>repeat chorus</em>)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember, count it ALL <span style="color: purple;"><strong>joy</strong></span>!</span>Joyful Spirit, Deborah (William and Mary's Great-Grandchild)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02185459775012486051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704561419289418841.post-67557516820185919572011-10-12T06:13:00.000-07:002011-10-12T06:13:21.343-07:00Can't Put My Finger On It<a href="http://www.hasslefreeclipart.com/clipart_bodyparts/images/finger.gif" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="finger.gif" border="0" height="149" name="dimImage" src="http://www.hasslefreeclipart.com/clipart_bodyparts/images/finger.gif" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't quite put my finger on... This is all I wrote as I began to blog on September 22. I had jotted notes to myself about blog topics but I only blogged once in September. The other day a good friend asked why haven't I blogged lately. I told her I couldn't focus: mom hadn't been well, I was on a couple church committees, had some stuff on my mind, all excuses. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In my women's bible study, we've been focusing on priorities, devotion and allegiance. I want this blog to be a priority in my life because my goal has been to provide spiritual encouragement for others (as well as myself). I'm determined to get back to what I committed to do. I can always find an excuse to avoid blogging. But I want to blog. I want to share how the Lord is blessing me and how He can and will bless my readers. Last week's bible lesson asked the question: <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What is your big struggle, causing you to look back and not move forward in your desire to follow Christ? I responded: </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>My struggle is not causing me to look back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My struggle is in the present, including ‘being here now.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Giving Jesus my all, putting 100% of my focus on being in His will, doing what He wants me to do, focusing my time on service and not wasting it whether it be on the computer, watching TV or anything that keeps me from being fully dedicated to Him. </strong></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want my agenda to be whatever His agenda is for me.</span> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This week I could use the excuse that my 17-month old granddaughter is visiting from Virginia. But I want to be devoted to Him, so I'm keeping my commitment. I hope that in sharing my struggle, you'll think about what is your big struggle - what's keeping keeping you from moving forward in your desire to follow Christ. If you can't put your finger on it, spend time meditating on His Word and talking with Him. Then commit to moving forward by focusing on </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Philippians 4:8 <em>Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things</em>. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Remember: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>2 Peter 1:3</strong></span><span style="color: #40007f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <em>His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory</em></span><em> and goodness</em><strong>. </strong></span><span style="color: black;">Doesn't this give you joy!</span></span></span></span></span></span>Joyful Spirit, Deborah (William and Mary's Great-Grandchild)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02185459775012486051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704561419289418841.post-50035500467021927042011-09-01T19:00:00.000-07:002011-09-01T19:02:23.612-07:00What About You?<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">One of my favorite sayings is that "I'm abundantly blessed beyond what I could ask or think," my way of paraphrasing Eph. 3:20<strong>*</strong>. I say this frequently first because it's true and secondly, saying it out loud reminds me to not take my blessings for granted. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKikcCbCGySmHWZzji2X0fO4oktD0x8MqGXkhafnWsVdw7sRflc89vFn7Wsmnx_FJ8_kL7WC7larp0L3KLFMtcVAMrJl-8K9MI_6bTF7WyyIDdBWYworaAIlh8vCeVi1kV8YgEVzxLLb5/s1600/DSC_0188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKikcCbCGySmHWZzji2X0fO4oktD0x8MqGXkhafnWsVdw7sRflc89vFn7Wsmnx_FJ8_kL7WC7larp0L3KLFMtcVAMrJl-8K9MI_6bTF7WyyIDdBWYworaAIlh8vCeVi1kV8YgEVzxLLb5/s200/DSC_0188.JPG" width="200" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad and Mom with me, August, 2010</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In July a friend of mine from my former church posted a notice on Facebook about the passing of her mother. Today on Facebook, another friend from the same church posted that her mom passed away yesterday, August 31. I'm at an age where most of my friends' parents have died. I'm blessed, that while both of my parents have some health issues, they are alive and living on their own. <strong>What about you</strong>; are your mom and dad living? Then you're blessed! If they have passed on, you're still blessed because God provided us with the unique ability to remember our deceased loved ones. </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My dear first cousin, has had surgery, chemo and radiation treatments in his battle with cancer and in July was in intensive care. In the midst of all he's going through, he continues to praise God. Another relative is experiencing the effects of Alzheimer's. He can't tell you what day of the week it is, but he's blessed to know his wife and live in his own home. A friend of mine, who is now a double amputee after four surgeries over the past year, hasn't ceased telling me how good God is. My mom is in constant pain, but when asked how she's feeling usually responds "I can't complain." In comparison all I have are some minor aches and pains that come from being over 50. I know that I'm blessed. <strong>What about you?</strong> Are you able to walk, talk, see, hear, dress and feed yourself; are most of your days pain-free? If so, thank Him, because like me you're abundantly blessed. </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">For the second time, my son has been deployed to Kuwait for a year-long stint that has taken him away from his wife and children. My nephew is in Afghanistan after previously serving in Iraq. He's away from his wife and children, too. My cousin is leaving leaving her two children here in the states as she leaves for Korea this week. She also served in Iraq. Another cousin is stationed in Germany after his recent deployment to Afghanistan. My son-in-law is in the Air Force and could be deployed. My young niece-in-law is in basic training in Oklahoma. <strong>What about you</strong>? Do you have any members of your family serving in the Armed Forces? Do you stay in touch with and pray for them? My husband and I have been abundantly blessed to have not lost any of our 30 or so active duty and veterans from a wartime conflict. Do you know how abundantly blessed our nation is to have those who willing to fight voluntarily to keep us safe from our enemies?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.weatherwizkids.com/hurricane_diagram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="absMiddle" alt="Hurricane Diagram" border="0" height="137" src="http://www.weatherwizkids.com/hurricane_diagram.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Over the weekend, Hurricane Irene barrelled up the East Coast affecting Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and North and South Carolina. Forty-five people died, millions of homes and business lost power, and some areas are struggling with severe flooding. My daughter lives in Virginia. Her home lost power for about 45 hours but didn't sustain any damage. My home wasn't touched by Irene in any way. <strong>What about you</strong>? Did Hurricane Irene cause you, someone in your family, your neighborhood, or your employer to lose power? I'm blessed to be connected to a source who never loses power and who the wind and sea obeys. Draw close to Him. In the midst of any storm you encounter, He will shield and carry you.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Although I know I'm blessed, I grumble and mumble about petty stuff from time to time. You know what? My Lord hears my grumbling just as loud as He hears me say "I'm abundantly blessed." It's a contradiction, right! I don't know why I let petty stuff annoy me and then make sure whoever is around me knows about it. I don't like this about myself. God knows this because He's omniscient. He knows everything there is to know about everybody and that includes me. He knows why I have this bad habit of grumbling. He knows why I tell myself I'm going to stop it but don't. <strong>What about you</strong>? Do you have some flaws in your character; are there some things that you don't like about yourself? Yet we're abundantly blessed anyhow because God is long-suffering, patient, forgiving, compassionate, and loving. </div></div><br />
I'm sorry Father for my grumbling and mumbling. I know You know that I do know I'm abundantly blessed beyond what I could ask or think. Inspite of my tendency to grumble and mumble, I'm going to keep on telling (reminding) myself and others how abundantly blessed I am. Why? Because it is true no matter how much grumbling and mumbling I may do!<br />
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*Eph 3:<em>Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us</em>Joyful Spirit, Deborah (William and Mary's Great-Grandchild)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02185459775012486051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704561419289418841.post-61374005473975076382011-08-19T08:37:00.000-07:002011-08-19T08:37:40.203-07:00Peculiar People<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I was sharing with my daughter recently my struggle about whether to see a certain PG-13 movie. For years now my husband and I have avoided "R" rated movies and have been selective in seeing PG and PG-13 movies. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) website states a R-rated motion picture... <em>may include ... hard language, intense or persistent violence, sexually-oriented nudity, drug abuse or other elements</em>. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> In PG movies "<em>t</em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>here may be some profanity and some depiction<a href="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTIe23a-zlFBStN_eXMOJ5pOdeoJetLw2J7FagM0DGkvb4Gwdc" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="rg_hi" data-height="116" data-width="188" height="116" id="rg_hi" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTIe23a-zlFBStN_eXMOJ5pOdeoJetLw2J7FagM0DGkvb4Gwdc" style="height: 116px; width: 188px;" width="188" /></a>s of violence or brief nudity.</em>" </span><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A PG-13 motion picture may go beyond the PG rating in theme, violence, nudity, sensuality, language, adult activities or other elements, but does not reach the restricted R category. </span></em></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's not that I don't want to see the latest movies. I'm offended by cursing and using the Lord's name in vain which doesn't add anything to a story, sexual innuendos that lace even kid-friendly movies , and the violence that is mimicked in our communities. I grew up in an era where on TV married couples slept in twin beds. Now, it's almost impossible to find a TV program without everyone locking lips, passing saliva, and falling into bed (with no mention of protection, although abstinence is the only 100% full proof method). Am I the only one who wonders why a fairly new commercial about floor dusters has sexual overtones? And don't get me started on the language on TV - words that my generation grew up knowing we'd get our mouths washed out with soap if we dared utter them. I've stopped watching several shows that were my favorites due to the flagrant cursing and one-night stands. I think TV is following the lead of motion pictures. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We made an exception for the R-rated "<em>The Passion of the Christ" </em>because of the topic. While the "R" rating was for violent scenes, there is no accurate way to portray His story without including the acts of cruelty (spit on, beaten, and crucified) perpetrated against Him for you and for me. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Do I come across like a prude, perhaps holier-than-thou? I hope not. Am I <span style="color: purple;">peculiar</span> for my beliefs? I hope so, for the Word says:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a <span style="color: purple;"><b>peculiar</b> <b>people</b></span> unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.</em> (Deut. 14:2)</span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, <u>denying ungodliness</u> and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a <strong><span style="color: purple;">peculiar people</span></strong>, zealous of good works</em>. Titus 2:11-14 (underscore mine)</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a <strong><span style="color: purple;">peculiar people</span></strong>; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. </em>1 Peter 2:9-10</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) website says a</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em> "G-rated motion picture contains nothing in theme, language, nudity, sex, violence or other matters that, in the view of the Rating Board, would offend parents whose younger children view the motion picture." </em></span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://officeimg.vo.msecnd.net/en-us/images/MH900433211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: left; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="brotherhoods,concepts,cutouts,dare to be different,diversity,gestures,hearts,holding hands,iStockphoto,males,paper dolls,reflections,shadows,symbols,text,together,unity,teamwork" border="0" class="imgPreview" height="200" id="imgPreview" jquery16108928844616853571="52" src="http://officeimg.vo.msecnd.net/en-us/images/MH900433211.jpg" style="zoom: 1;" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It seems to me "G" rated movies align more with 'peculiar people' and Phil. 4:8. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.</em></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
I'm not judging others for what they see at the movies or watch on TV. I'm simply concerned about my walk and causing anyone to stumble. I've seen the following statement in e-mails recently: "<em>Don't ask the Lord to order your steps, if you're not willing to move your feet</em>." I'm willing to move my feet... in a peculiar direction by trying to stay true to His Word while <em>pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Phil 3:14)</em>. </span></div>Joyful Spirit, Deborah (William and Mary's Great-Grandchild)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02185459775012486051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704561419289418841.post-66840042081162431612011-08-06T17:45:00.000-07:002011-08-06T17:45:46.472-07:00He Calls Me FriendI'm reading the book <em>The Girls From Ames, A Story of Women & a Forty-Year Friendship. </em>This book is about 11 women from Ames, Iowa who have been good friends since childhood for over 40 years even though only one remains in Iowa. Their bond has continued through high school, college, careers, marriage, motherhood, and deaths. One of them said "<em>It is my friends from Ames who've exposed me to every facet of womanhood</em>."<br />
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I know something about female friendships. While I don't have 11 friends with whom I've kept an ongoing friendship since childhood, I do have a number of women in my life, some my age and some older, who've bonded with me. <span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: #ea9999;"><strong>Dianne</strong></span></span> and I met in junior high (middle school) and became best friends in our senior year of high school. She's also a good friend of my sister. My husband tells people that Dianne is my sister's best friend, not mines! BUT he's wrong!<br />
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In 1995, I met <strong><span style="background-color: #ea9999; color: white;">Mary</span></strong>, <strong><span style="background-color: #ea9999; color: white;">Marie</span></strong>, <span style="background-color: #ea9999; color: white;"><strong>Pam</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">,</span></span> and <strong><span style="background-color: #ea9999; color: white;">Toni</span></strong>, at church. Because she's been married longer than me <strong>Mary</strong> gives me free marriage counseling! <strong>Marie</strong>, who's close to my age, has been married just a couple years less than me. We're experiencing things together. I know if I can reach <strong>Pam</strong> by phone or e-mail, she will pray on the spot; I consider her to be my prayer partner. Although over the past few years <strong>Toni</strong> has experienced the deaths of several members of her family, she blows me away with her positive, upbeat spirit. Through her example, I know beyond a doubt that God sends <span style="color: purple;"><strong>joy</strong></span> in the midst of our storms.<br />
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I met <span style="background-color: #ea9999; color: white;"><strong>Anita</strong></span> in the 90's when I selected her over three other women to be my administrative assistant. We no longer work at the company but have remained friends over the years as our children matured, married and became parents. <strong>Anita</strong> and I have been meeting for breakfast once a week with some of our former co-workers. <br />
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<strong><span style="background-color: #ea9999; color: white;">Connie</span></strong> and I met in junior high, graduated from high school together, and worked for the same company in the same department. <span style="background-color: #ea9999; color: white;"><strong>Thelma</strong></span> graduated from high school with me and <strong>Connie</strong>. <strong>Thelma</strong> later joined the church I attended before I relocated to another city. With all these interconnections, I didn't become close to <strong>Connie</strong> and <strong>Thelma</strong> until 2007 when <strong>Thelma</strong> and I began volunteering with a local youth group that <strong>Connie</strong> had been involved with for years. Our mutual passion for helping young people bonded us. <br />
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The Lord continues to bring new friends into my life. A little over 2 years ago when I joined another church, I formed a close friendship with <strong><span style="background-color: #ea9999; color: white;">Carolyn</span></strong>. We had no idea when God connected our hearts that her husband of almost 50 years would pass away this year. His passing cemented our friendship. <br />
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I'm blessed as well with other important women in my life that includes my mother, mother-in-law, aunt who's like a second mother, sisters, daughter, and daughter-in-law. I have many other female relatives and friends too numerous to mention who in providing <span style="color: purple;"><strong>joy</strong> <span style="color: black;">have made a difference in my life</span></span>. I cherish women who have <em>exposed me to every facet of womanhood</em>. Yet, as wonderful as it is to have these women in my life, I cherish my Lord and Savior most for HE calls me friend! <br />
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<em>You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, <strong>I have called you friends</strong>, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name</em>. <span style="font-size: x-small;">John 15:14-16</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: purple; color: white;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Thank you, Lord for choosing me and calling me friend!!!!</span></span><br />
<u></u>Joyful Spirit, Deborah (William and Mary's Great-Grandchild)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02185459775012486051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704561419289418841.post-61785098811111387262011-07-31T12:08:00.000-07:002011-07-31T12:08:31.162-07:00Taboo Anyone?My sister and I are making a concerted effort to bring our large family together for other than sad occasions. We had our first gathering this past October at my sister's home with several of our female cousins. We had such a good time, we knew we needed to keep the fellowship going. It took longer than we expected until yesterday - 9 months later - to make it happen again, this time with an expanded invite to include more of our female cousins. My sister and her daughter and ten of our female cousins came to the fellowship at my home. <br />
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As a surprise, I asked my brother to bring our cousin Sammie who has been battling a serious illness for several months. They were the only males allowed! I'm just a month older than Sammie. I've stayed in touch with him throughout his illness. I knew he needed a festive occasion after after his recent scary hospitalization. Sammie and my brother ate, posed for pictures with us, visited for a little while, and made their escape. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNak9uNhjfG5fg87R17NVcBFMsi-rXgWtfqzlR5VYb2CvVN33aDTKE6L_ta6hiJyZ04gqwP9UKpSLYMRZxJ2rON_lgVqYuwLu8ancLqICJbCDBwhQHYA81zXQ_DxmiEBA7V8Ct5A6WKFW/s1600/Twins+Triplets+7+30+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNak9uNhjfG5fg87R17NVcBFMsi-rXgWtfqzlR5VYb2CvVN33aDTKE6L_ta6hiJyZ04gqwP9UKpSLYMRZxJ2rON_lgVqYuwLu8ancLqICJbCDBwhQHYA81zXQ_DxmiEBA7V8Ct5A6WKFW/s200/Twins+Triplets+7+30+2011.jpg" t$="true" width="200" /></a>Two of my cousins are twins. For this occasion they dressed alike - first time since they were teenagers! Another cousin had 4 of her grandchildren (triplet girls and their brother) visiting her for the day and brought them to the fellowship. The triplets had not met their older twin cousins which provided a perfect opportunity to get a picture of all of them together! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <img align="middle" alt="" border="0" class="th imgthumb6" height="93" id="imgthumb6" 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kkqyhUhwueV/VB6fnxTS62wAjcT9/8AZXYlDKMJg/j2nn4V26823SrDF7O1XBYZV95lvH3T8+cdvwEyrAGKzSZOTmRCiiiohP/Z" style="cursor: move; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="http://www.monzy.org/taboo/" unselectable="on" width="120" />After the men left, we settled down for a game Taboo. We played Taboo at our October fellowship and had so much fun that we were anxious to play again. Everyone who played before remembered who the best players were so it took forever to divide into two teams. We played a highly spirited game! Although my team has to live down the humiliation of losing, we know we'll have a chance to redeem ourselves at the next cousins' gathering.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="data:image/jpg;base64,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" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; 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padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="http://www.sunset.com/food-wine/entertaining/sundae-best-00400000017877/" width="90" /></a>Topping off our evening was my <em>Create Your Own Sundae</em> dessert with chocolate, vanilla, and chocolate mint ice cream, peanut butter brownies, whipped cream, chocolate chips and cherries. What more could you ask for on a Saturday night surrounded by family! I can't speak for anyone else, but I thoroughly en<span style="color: purple;"><strong>joy</strong></span>ed myself!</div>Joyful Spirit, Deborah (William and Mary's Great-Grandchild)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02185459775012486051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704561419289418841.post-89691664028293230742011-07-25T13:10:00.000-07:002011-07-25T13:10:13.197-07:00Nobody Greater<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I spent last week as a volunteer for an annual week-long performing arts youth workshop. I was one of 8 women on the Volunteer Committee charged with ensuring there were enough volunteers to monitor dorms and classrooms, escort youth on campus, serve meals, supervise activities, and assist whereever needed with our 300+ youth participants. <br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPbBt828y9dgB76sWo0TePwERvJ4zIKGZVMfbI89V2LkhCHcjh5feO9cGFA6qLLkWQr9ksSAVBE_KTm3BMHY0x2-S-fB4pbVDu3pFBawE32fBM2PKuvSVcp0WwWbXPBX_SCQphhhcjYoU/s1600/IMG_1018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPbBt828y9dgB76sWo0TePwERvJ4zIKGZVMfbI89V2LkhCHcjh5feO9cGFA6qLLkWQr9ksSAVBE_KTm3BMHY0x2-S-fB4pbVDu3pFBawE32fBM2PKuvSVcp0WwWbXPBX_SCQphhhcjYoU/s200/IMG_1018.JPG" t$="true" width="200" /></a>I thoroughly enjoyed working with some truly special ladies: Connie, Tiffany, Daphne, Linda, Karen, Barb, and Gwen. I'm blessed to have known 2 of them since junior high (or middle school in today's vernacular). Tiffany's exuberant personality helped the Committee in maintaining high energy throughout the week. The Committee bonded so well together that we purchased matching shoes to wear with our program t-shirts! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The Volunteer Committee worked efficiently and effectively in coordinating the collective effort of over 100 volunteers. We provided everyone who interacted with us with plenty of laughter and fellowship to counteract the stress generated by 300+ youth AND 90 degree weather. The camraderie the Committee shared, along with Krispy Kreme donuts, candy, fresh fruit, homemade cakes, and beverages, prompted staff and volunteers to take their breaks in our room. No doubt about it - our room (Block 105) - was THE place to be! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The staff, instructors, and the Volunteer Committee prayed daily for God's anointing over the Workshop. We especially prayed for Ms. Dolly, who had been with the workshop since it's inception and is fighting a battle against cancer. Yesterday was the culmination of everyone's endeavor as the participants performed a free concert for the community. God answered our prayers as Ms. Dolly was able to attend the program after having major surgery just a few days earlier. Also, our local mayor attended the performance and proclamed July 24, 2011 as "<em>Youth Excellence Performing Arts Workshop Day</em>!" </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Our youth proudly sang praise songs, danced, stepped, performed in the orchestra, showcased their personal art and newsletter, and signed to an appreciative audience. The closing song, <em>Nobody Greater, </em>was a magnificent end to a splendid day. Nobody greater than God could have kept this workshop going that started with 75 local youth over 20 years and has spread in recent years to as many as 500 from around the country! To God be the glory, honor and praise! There's nobody greater!</div></div></div>Joyful Spirit, Deborah (William and Mary's Great-Grandchild)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02185459775012486051noreply@blogger.com0