Saturday, October 31, 2009 - Celebrating a Hallowed Evening
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Whatever the ancient history of October 31st or its traditions in years past, may we, as God's people not shrink back from contact with the outside world tonight. I realize the danger of putting this out there. I know that there will be those who dissent and have chosen to abstain from any activity this weekend. There are those who have chosen to have a paralel celebration calling it anything but Halloween.
I do not belong to this crowd. I will take part in order to take back the dominion from the enemy. Staying in the "Holy Huddle" this night is not what God has called me to. I no longer fear death, as I once did and I celebrate that joy with all my heart today. Sin's curse has lost its grip on me, and I am no longer under the curse and under Gods wrath, but am a new creation full of life.
Let this be called a Hallowed ( blessed and Holy) Evening. Bring the blessings of God out and go be Jesus with the people tonight wherever you find yourself. Be gentle and sincere when you speak to those who may not know God. Do not let the enemies of the Kingdom be proven right when they say that we are harsh, ignorant, prideful, overbearing and judgmental. My earnest prayer today is that we will demonstrate the spirit of humility and joy to attract others to the Real Power. Let us always remember that it is God's kindness that leads us to repentance and be kind. We do not need to point fingers and bring back the witch hunt mentality. Collossians 4 exhorts us:
2Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Be WISE!!! Pray for open doors and step out in faith, proclaiming the mystery of Christ CLEARLY.
Follow Ephesians 6 and remember who our battle is really against- not the other people created in God's image and loved by Him, no it is against the Devil.
Let's get dressed up in spirit. Put on all the armor- The belt of truth- be honest with yourself, and others, tell the truth- it will keep your pants from falling down and making you look ridiculous! Let us remember to wear that breastplate of righteousness- I'd say it's double breasted- we have our own integrity to consider, but also the outer covering is the righteousness of Christ. humbly remember that He alone is our righteousness- do not attempt to go into this battle with just your own- it's a great liner, but it doesn;t keep you protected. DO NOT GO OUT BAREFOOT! Who knows what you may step in? And no armor for squishing the enemy underfoot should have weak shoes. Make sure they are properly fitted with the Gospel that brings PEACE. If they are not properly fitted, they will encumber you. Keep your shield of faith close to your heart, and use it to shield your eyes, if need be. Know that GOD is in control. no matter what flaming arrow gets thrown at you, this will put it out.The Earth is the Lord's and EVERYTHING IN IT. Your head should be covered with the helmet of Salvation. remember that you are SO SAVED. You would never have made it alone, and it is not up to you alone, but the LORD fights on your behalf because you are His, keep your mind fully fixed on that which will help you and your fellow soldiers remember why we are in this fight... for the souls of men,- THEIR SALVATION and not for our own ends, or to make the world a better place, but to show that there is a better place than here. Do not leave without your SWORD! Slaying dragons requires a weapon sharpened and ready. READ THE WORD before you go anywhere and let it dwell in you richly so that the love of God overflows. Slay the armies of darkness with the truth that God has shown you today in His word- Take careful aim- at the spiritual targets, not hurting those you have been sent to rescue and defend. Finally, Pray. Pray your heart out for everyone you see, but especially pray for the saints ( and that includes you).Pray that they will rise up and shine their lights in the darkness, even those with little light. Pray that they will have all the equipment to stay alive and effective in this battle. Pray that they will remember that they are blessed to be blessings!
Speak Blessings and do not curse the darkness. Overcome evil with GOOD. Let your light shine before men that THEY MAY SEE and give glory to GOD. |
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Monday, September 28, 2009 - Glitter
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I happen to be at the food pantry out at Gospel Outreach this morning… it is always interesting. I try to be a light here too, even though I am in this place taking and not serving the poor. I’m not a pantry volunteer. I’m one of those reaching for the hands of Jesus through the hands of those who are helping distribute food this morning. I feel some guilt about that, though maybe I should not. I can be a blessing to others anywhere I go. Please don’t feel sorry for me. I am taken care of by the Master’s hand. I’ve been here three times. Some times there is more month left than there is money, or some calamity befalls us. It doesn’t matter how I got here. I am being taken care of. The people are sometimes rough, and loud, obnoxious and rude. I arrived earlier than I did the last time I was here- my husband and children waiting in the truck, while I wait in line. There is really not much room in there. So I, being the smaller adult, am the right choice. I feel secure knowing that my husband is parked out there and others can and have seen his hulking 6 foot 9 inch frame.
Waiting in the cold some items get passed down the line to those who will not yet fit inside the tiny room lined with chairs. It’s wall to wall people in there and no matter where you stand you are in the way, or at least it feels like you are. Outside I pass up opportunities to get more food, trusting that God will meet my needs as he always has in OH SO MANY WAYS! There are people shoving, complaining and grabbing food. Some are taking more than their fair share, or so it seems, but I don’t really know. There were apples- fresh and crisp, some with the leaves still clinging to them. It makes me remember how much I love this time of year. I take a tiny apple and hide it in my pocket, praising God who brings forth fruit from the trees in season for us to enjoy. I have 9 more apples in my laundry basket, but that one little pretty blushing apple? It’s my happy thought. I see more people shoving and grabbing. I smell the tangy sweet aroma of my apple, and smile. I hear people getting loud... and I sniff my apple, and just enjoy feeling alive on this day that the Lord has made. I want to share His light and this Joy. I begin to pray and the tiny room I have finally squeezed into becomes a sanctuary of praise. I ask God for all his children to shine their lights in this place and make it a place of blessing instead of cursing. A tranquil place where His work will be done in the hearts of those around me. I smile, stand back and watch Him at work. People start saying please and thank you and excuse me. One lady gives her bag to a lady who had her bags stolen during the rough time earlier. People start talking about their stories and it ’s NOT the kind of talk where one person tries to top another’s sorrows… it ’s just sharing. One woman is teaching a few words in Spanish to the people around her while an older woman amuses a little girl she just met. Several people are telling jokes and laughing good-naturedly together. People help each other take the goods to their cars, or help them down the treacherous concrete steps. One particularly outspoken young man had entertained some friends of his with put downs outside. But his whole attitude changed in an instant. He and his companion begin singing gospel songs. Beautiful , soulful, rich voices, they have. Others are humming and clapping or stomping along. I do too. I don’t recognize many of the songs, and I really wish I could join in with full voice. Oh but it is a great time, dissolving into conversations about church. Here we all are- like a pinch of glitter thrown down on the concrete, reflecting the King’s glory. It’s just like magic- but it’s for REAL. We are different colors and levels of education, from different places, with different ages and abilities, all shining the light… and it goes viral. It spreads to every face, and can be heard in the pleasant “Have a nice day” as I walk out the door.
I LOVE GLITTER!!! Don't you? |
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Friday, September 25, 2009 - Because
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As you may know, I have joined a Celebrate Recovery step study as my small group for this year.
One of the questions in our third workbook started out like this:
" I can accept God's forgiveness because of...."
Well, my group of ladies requested that I print out my answer so they could each have a copy. I figured it might be nice to share my answer here, because pondering our blessings and position in Christ is something i feel that we need to do more often. So here is what I wrote......
--------I can accept God’s forgiveness because of …
HIS forgiveness.
It’s from HIM-
The One Who Gives Every Perfect Gift-
and each of His gifts is perfect.
God is not human and does not make mistakes or play favorites-
although I know He would tell me that I am His favorite and mean it….…
just like He would tell YOU that you are His favorite and mean it just the same.
He loved us more than His Son and gave us a promise that Jesus never had-
the promise that He would never leave us or forsake us.
There is no partial or defective or one-time forgiveness.
He doesn’t give out any lemons, so there is no need
for me to try and make lemonade with what He gives.
It’s complete, no matter what I do.
It is already paid for in advance, and not grudgingly, but for the JOY set before Him.
I was His joy when I could care less about what He wanted and I am still His joy now and forever. His greatest wish was to keep me close for eternity, and He would give WHATEVER just to get me there. Every requirement is already met, and there Is no fine print.
It cannot be taxed away or given to the runner-up- because THERE IS NONE…
I can accept it because He believes in me. He knew every path I would walk and every tear and every sin and every ugly thought and I can accept His forgiveness because there is no plan B.
He made plan A looking right at the absolute most wicked, horrifying truth
and He must have seen something beyond ecstasy
that made Him decide from the creation of the world that He would do it this way.
And I want to be there to find out what it was that made HIM go THAT FAR .
I don’t want to be the one freaking out because I never thought I’d make it.
I just want to jump in and enjoy it with Him right away.
Nancy D Thornton
I am a believer and my areas of recovery are: Physical, emotional and sexual abuse in childhood, verbal, emotional and spiritual abuse in adulthood, anxiety, depression, anger and control issues, codependency and living with family members who have bi-polar disorder. |
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Saturday, September 19, 2009 - Don't be Like Zax
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I have a cat who has his own mind made up about what he wants. He only wants what he wants and not what the Man of the house wants. The Man loves the cat, whose name is Zax. If the Man didn’t love Zax, he wouldn’t be here in this fine place where the family of the Man takes care of him and loves him. The man hoped that Zax would love him back. He gives the scraps from his own plate to Zax, and always treats him with kindness. The Man waits for Zax to love him back. Zax, sometimes walks toward the Man, and seems like he might show the Man some affection, and the Man’s heart is overjoyed. Then Zax passes the Man by…favoring the Man’s wife, or his son. Zax turns and shows his behind to the Man... and licks the face of someone else. The man is crying on the inside and is somewhat angered by this insolence. Zax won’t talk to the Man anymore. He used to greet the Man with a “Rowww” often, and at times, Zax even cuddled up to the Man. The man waits for this kind of affection to return… Day after day, the Man holds out hope that his beloved cat will return his love. And day after day, Zax, gives his affection to those who have never earned it…. To those who didn’t choose him, as the Man has chosen him. The Man hurts watching Zax choose everyone and everything else except he who loves him and gave him a home in his family. Perhaps Zax is angry with the man, because one of the man’s sons treats him cruelly… and Zax has decided it is the Man’s fault- after all, the Man is the Father of this son, and he could make everything in the house perfect and then Zax could return his love. Or maybe Zax doesn’t hate the man…but he thinks others are more fun. Sometimes the Man thinks that Zax shows affection to the woman or to the son in his presence just to spite him. This makes the Man angry, but yet, he still loves Zax, and treats him with kindness. Even when Zax does something he should not do, like try to steal food from the Man’s plate, the man does not abuse Zax, but only stops him and punishes him within reason. Zax never sees the love of the Man, and what he gives and what he overcomes in order to keep on loving him. Zax cannot seeor feel the love of the Man. Or maybe he does, but just wants his own way.
I will tell you the meaning of my little parable… Zax, is the arrogant and selfish child, and the Man, is God. Some of God’s children keep running to everyone and everything else when the Father tries to love on them… and like the Man, God keeps hoping the child will choose Him instead. Oh maybe they don’t really mean to, they think there is time to get to God when they are done doing the things they want to do. After all they have fire insurance... right? Maybe they are just busy. Maybe they are hurt too much by the other children of God ….. But they are missing the greatest Love of all…….Stop it. Today, turn to the one who loves you. Don’t be like Zax. |
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Saturday, September 12, 2009 - Youare Sunrise
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I couldn't say it better than Nicole Nordeman
If I had the chance
To go back again
Take a different road, bear a lighter load
Tell an easy story
I would walk away
With my yesterdays
And I would not trade what is broken for beauty only
Every valley
Every bitter chill
Made me ready to climb back up the hill
And find that . . .
You are sunrise
You are blue skies
How would I know the morning
If I knew not midnight?
You’re my horizon
You’re the light of a new dawn
So thank You, thank You
That after the long night, You are sunrise
There’s a moment when
Faith caves in
There’s a time when every soul is certain God is gone
But every shadow is evidence of sun
And every tomorrow holds out hope for us
For every one of us
You are sunrise
You are blue skies
How would I know the morning
If I knew not midnight?
You’re my horizon
You’re the light of a new dawn
So thank You, thank You
That after the long night, You are sunrise
You alone will shine
You alone can resurrect this heart of mine
You are sunrise
You are blue skies
How would I know the morning
If I knew not midnight?
You’re my horizon
You’re the light of a new dawn
So thank You, thank You
That after the long night, You are sunrise
You are sunrise
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Tuesday, August 25, 2009 - Battle Weary Lament
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Be my shelter
Cause out here it hurts
Oh wrap your arms around me Father.
It’s lonely
Not how I expected it to be.
And when will it be gone?
And when will it be
All better?
I just need to be carried today.
Hold my heart away from this pain
And be my Rock and Fortress God
Jehova Jireh is Your Name
El Shaddai
And Emanuel
You are ALL
and I have no strength.
I am tangled in this life
Choking and trying not to die
Treading water
And I am so weary and so disoriented
I see the tide coming in
And the storm is just getting started
AGAIN.
And I want it to be over
Or not to start at all.
AGAIN
It’s coming AGAIN
Just when I thought I was safe.
Do you see this?
I can’t go on
I will be the one to fall apart in Your arms
today I will not keep it together
or hold others up.
You better just carry me
Through.
Though I wish it were anywhere else
instead of
THROUGH.
me....
8-26-09
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Wednesday, August 12, 2009 - The Word Goes Out to Accomplish
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I was reading the beautiful words of Isaiah 55 this morning and I found great beauty and comfort there.
Today I will let God's word speak for itself.
The Beautiful Words of Isaiah 55
(New Living Translation)
Isaiah 55
Invitation to the Lord’s Salvation
1 “Is anyone thirsty?
Come and drink—
even if you have no money!
Come, take your choice of wine or milk—
it’s all free!
2 Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength?
Why pay for food that does you no good?
Listen to me, and you will eat what is good.
You will enjoy the finest food.
3 “Come to me with your ears wide open.
Listen, and you will find life.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you.
I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.
4 See how I used him to display my power among the peoples.
I made him a leader among the nations.
5 You also will command nations you do not know,
and peoples unknown to you will come running to obey,
because I, the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious.”
6 Seek the Lord while you can find him.
Call on him now while he is near.
7 Let the wicked change their ways
and banish the very thought of doing wrong.
Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.
Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.
8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
10 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens
and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow,
producing seed for the farmer
and bread for the hungry.
11 It is the same with my word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
12 You will live in joy and peace.
The mountains and hills will burst into song,
and the trees of the field will clap their hands!
13 Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow.
Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up.
These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name;
they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.”
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Monday, August 10, 2009 - Just a little poetic...
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Heart Head
I try and I sin
I can never get ahead.
So I wait upon your strength
To see what You’ll do instead.
I call You, I need You
I want to have your help
In both my heart and my head
Hear me Precious lord
As I lie here in my bed
Bring to life this day
Your every word that I’ve read.
~~~~Nancy Thornton |
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About Me
Well, I'm a Mom, a Medical Assistant, a knitter, kite flyer, nature lover...Around here we have special needs, ( Asperger's, ADHD, Bi-polar) a few animal pals, some tattoos and a homeschool. It's our 6th year. This is my 16th year of marriage to a Mr. Visionary who happens to be a walking miracle.
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