WONDER OF WONDERS

IS YOUR CHIN WAAAAY DOWN ON THE GROUND???

2012-02-27T10:12:00.004-06:00

HABAKKUK 3:18-19a......YET I WILL REJOICE IN THE LORD, I WILL JOY IN THE GOD OF MY SALVATION. THE LORD GOD IS MY STRENGTH,

We have a choice to make today, do we want our chin way down on the ground.......or do we want to LOOK UP to God who IS OUR STRENGTH? I choose to LOOK UP, TO GOD WHO is MY STRENGTH.

Many things may have happened today that we could not classify in the "happiness maker" category.....But there is that choice... I have chosen to be like Paul in Acts 20:24, when he said.........''BUT NONE OF THESE THINGS MOVE ME, NEITHER COUNT I MY LIFE DEAR UNTO MYSELF, SO THAT I MIGHT FINISH MY COURSE WITH JOY, AND THE MINISTRY, WHICH I HAVE RECEIVED OF THE LORD JESUS , TO TESTIFY THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD.

The words of this song were a real blessing to me today and I post these words for you today. If you are a Christian they should make all the difference in your decision about happiness today.

"FOR BELOW THE STORM OF DOUBT UPON THE WORLD IS BEATING, SONS OF MEN IN BATTLE LONG THE ENEMY WITHSTAND; SAFE AM I WITHIN THE CASTLE OF GOD'S WORD RETREATING, NOTHING THEN CAN REACH ME, 'TIS BEULAH LAND.

LET THE STORMY BREEZES BLOW, THEIR CRY CANNOT ALARM ME; I AM SAFELY SHELTERED HERE, PROTECTED BY GOD'S HAND: HERE THE SUN IS ALWAYS SHINNING, HERE THERE'S NAUGHT CAN HARM ME, I AM SAFE FOREVER IN BEULAH LAND.

VIEWING HERE THE WORKS OF GOD, I SINK IN CONTEMPLATION, HEARING NOW HIS
BLESSED VOICE, I SEE THE WAY HE PLANNED; DWELLING IN THE SPIRIT, HERE I LEARN OF FULL SALVATION. GLADLY WILL I TARRY IN BEULAH LAND.

I'M LIVING ON THE MOUNTAIN, UNDERNEATH A CLOUDLESS SKY, I'M DRINKING AT THE FOUNTAIN THAT NEVER SHALL RUN DRY; O YES!!I'M FEASTING ON THE MANNA FROM A BOUNTIFUL SUPPLY, FOR I AM DWELLING IN BEULAH LAND.

Have a great day if not by circumstance THEN by choice. connie

ONE DAY I DUG A LITTLE HOLE

2012-02-25T11:18:00.003-06:00

''MY HOLE"

HEALED AND WHOLE

One day I dug a little hole
And put my hurt inside
I thought that I could just forget
I'd put it there to hide.

But that little hurt began to grow
I covered it every day
I couldn't leave it and go on
It seemed the price I had to pay.

My joy was gone, my heart was sad
Pain was all I knew.
My wounded soul enveloped me
Loving seemed too hard to do.

One day, while standing by my hole
I cried to God above
And said, "If You are really there --
They say, You're a God of Love!"

And just like that -- He was right there
And just put His arms around me
He wiped my tears, His hurting child
There was no safer place to be.

I told Him all about my hurt
I opened up my heart
He listened to each and every word
To every sordid part.

I dug down deep and got my hurt
I brushed the dirt away
And placed it in the Master's hand
And healing came that day.

He took the blackness of my soul
And set my spirit FREE!
Something beautiful began to grow
Where the hurt used to be.

And when I look at what has grown
Out of my tears and pain
I remember every day to give my hurts to Him
And never bury them again.

by Carol Parrott

As I look around today, my heart is so sad at what I see. People are hiding every where. They use a pill for this and a pill for that, thinking that they can wipe out all the bad that they feel in life. They seem to think if they can't feel it, then it isn't happening. They don't understand that much of what we perceive in this life as bad is really just given to us to help us to grow and become more and more like our Saviour. Some does come from our having to have our own willful way in things but some, God allows to help us get to a place in life where we can just accept His will for our lives as "good" and not bad.

If the bad we are feeling is from a guilty conscious, because of sin or sins in our lives, we do not need a pill or a drink to cover it up. We do need the remedy , God's remedy. It is found in IJohn l:9...IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS, AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS........Oh, you say, but I have no sin, that is not my problem........Verse 8......IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NO SIN, WE DECEIVE OURSELVES, AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN US.

I do believe, most of the unhappiness, lost of peace, physical problems and illnesses of all kinds, mental problems of all kinds, etc. come from allowing sin into our lives. Not only to come into our lives but to take up residence there and make itself at home.

I have never known our society to have so many who are drinking alcohol, taking drugs, legal or illegal. Many who are involved in sexual sins of some sort or another, gambling in one way or another, hoping to get something for nothing. It breaks my heart. I know except for the grace of God it could and would be me. In many cases the human in me, understands and yet the Spiritual in me screams loudly, NO! NO! This is not MY WAY. I do not promise you a life that is easy but I will give you strength and it will be sufficient for you. We are not to look at our circumstances of the day or even months, if we are lacking in food, things we might like to drink or even up to date clothes we might prefer to wear, God tells us not to even take thought of these things. He tells us....BUT SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS; AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU. TAKE THEREFORE NO THOUGHT FOR THE MORROW:FOR THE MORROW SHALL TAKE THOUGHT FOR THE THINGS OF ITSELF. SUFFICIENT UNTO THE DAY IS THE EVIL THEREOF.

I know that there is much physical pain in this life and some have more than others. I had back pain for over ten years and at times most unbearable even praying for God to take my life. I know, really I do. But we can not let pain take our lives, we must fight with our very last breath to keep who we are and do what we can leaning on the Lord and trusting Him in yes, this too. He has a reason for anything that He allows in our lives. It is up to me, how I handle it and with what attitude that I am determined to endure.

I know that are many emotional pains that are just too hard to bear, but they can be borne with God holding our hearts in His and keeping our eyes on Him and off our hurts. By forgiving any and all who have wronged us. All things whether physical, mental or emotionally have to be borne or else we lose who we are. I pray to God that I never of my own accord allow that to happen.

You know as well as I do, all these other things are NEVER, NEVER, I say, the answer. They may cover up or hide for a time but then they come back with a vengeance making things ever harder AND HARDER. Then if we reach for a temporary fix instead of the ONE who can fix all things, it becomes a merry go round. IT DEMANDS MORE AND MORE FROM US until we can't even remember who or what we are. God doesn't take from us...HE GAVE.....HIS ONLY SON TO DIE FOR ALL THOSE SINS......HE WANTS US TO HAVE AN ABUNDANT LIFE!! He wants our lives to be full of peace and joy. When as Christians, we find these things missing, if we are honest, we have sin somewhere, somehow, hiding in our hearts. I believe this is true in all cases. Not to say that we may not have legitimate pain and hurt but if we are to bear it the right way that will benefit us and make us better and stronger then we have to go to the ONE who can make all things right for us. These are things we can not handle alone. We can not go to Him with, Lord, you know how I hurt and I WANT You to take care of this problem by morning. God knows what we need and when we need it, we have to trust and do it His way. We can not go demanding but trusting in His Will.

You know I am sure that there might be some who will think, who does she think she is....She can't know, she hasn't been where I am nor does she feel what I feel. Well, you are right, nor can you know those things about me......BUT we can both know what God says in His Word and we can make a decision to trust what He says. For I do know this, I HAVE FOUND HIS WORD TO BE TRUE and it has never failed me in my almost 69 years. When I had to have it my way, I suffered loss and pain but when I submitted myself to His will, I found I could bear the pain. When the storms of life came, if I kept my eyes on Him and had His Word in my heart, He was always with me in the storms and when they passed, amazed and thankful, I stood all the stronger.connie

TIL DEATH DO US PART.......MEANS EXACTLY THAT

2012-02-23T11:32:00.003-06:00

Jim and I will be married 50 years come March 18,2012. I can't wait!! I have looked forward to that day for so long and after reading the following article now I am looking farther down the road, who knows how long God may allow us to life our lives together.

I wanted to Post this for all my Grandchildren ( AND ANYONE ELSE WHO MAY BE INTERESTED) who are and who are not married. It is a blessing to read and I know all the things said to be true from my own married life. Marriage is the most important thing that will happen in your life coming of course after your Personal Salvation of and through, the Lord Jesus Christ. For it is on this that all the rest is based.

In marriage after you have made that commitment before God and Man then you have to be committed that divorce is out of the question.( I know in some marriages it is impossible to stay with a spouse for reasons that you can not control, physical abuse, his will or her will, to not stay in the relationship,etc.

You are two different people bringing into the marriage two different way of doing things. His, or hers, may not be all bad and yours may not be all good. You have to give,give, and like the article says, always bend and not break.This can only be met by both being Christ like in actions and thoughts.

It is most important for the wife to know deep in her heart that the husband is the "head" under Christ. It is your God given duty to follow what he determines to be the right thing to do in any given circumstance. It is your duty to "submit" in love and pray diligently for him to make the right decisions. If you disagree, with him, be happy and have a content heart knowing that your are doing God's will and that you do not have to give an account for any wrong decisions that he makes. In our fifty years, I can not say that I have always took my own advice but I can say that for the most part, the ones that I made for myself have been the ones, that have brought into our lives the most pain. Men do have an understanding that women do not come equipped with, given by God.

I know that this is not "Worldly Wisdom" that I speak about, but it is Godly wisdom. If we are Christians and our guide book is the Holy Bible then this is the only kind of wisdom we should trust. God made a help meet for Adam, not a boss, someone to rule over him. If God would have wanted a woman to be in that position He would have made her first and put her there. God DOES NOT MAKE MISTAKES!!

Girls don't be in too big a hurry to find that one God has for you. Who says you have to be married by the time you are 18, 19, 20, 25, 30--------. We do our children and all the young ladies or the young men we know, when we make them feel inferior if they are not married by a certain time. Today the world teaches, "just live together for a while and see if it works out." I knew a man and woman who lived together for 15 years, had children and then one day he walked away. It is not the living together that makes a marriage work. It is not the trying it out to see if the shoe fits. (Not anything, other than doing it God's way. NEVER< NEVER, go into a marriage with the idea, if this does not work, we can divorce.) By time, he are she walks out, there will likely be, God allowing, children involved, what a great heartache that last for their lifetime. NO!! When you make a decision to marry, 1. Make sure he or she is a Christian, . Make sure you have the same level of Christian growth in your life, make sure you want the same things from your lives, Make sure you feel the save about divorce, make sure you would want him to be the father of your children, or the mother of your children, Make sure you both understand that all problems can be worked out IF AND ONLY IF, you follow the Plan God has in His Word for your lives. If you decide to make a choice based on any other things, then it may work, it might work but .......let me tell you marriage is hard enough when both are trying the majority of the time, It is highly unlikely if one is trying and the other wants no part of it. There will always be strife and confusion and every evil work, not of the Lord.

Marriage is made up of giving 100% on both your parts. That way, when one is not where they should be with the Lord, the one who is right with God can be forgiving. Being able to forgive is one of the main ingredients that is high on the list of a successful marriage, I would say that a marriage cannot last if one can not forgive. Neither of the two of you are perfect and each needs to be forgiving and forgiven many times during a marriage.

You need to always keep your life together right with God OR , the Bible says your prayers are hindered. None of us want our prayers hindered in any way, I don't think. In marriage and in life, we all need our prayers answered. If we live in sin, God will not hear any prayer we have until that sin is repented of and made right.

Well, I am thinking since # 50 is coming up soon for Jim and I, we should just try for 75 or 100. Just kidding but I pray that all the rest of our days will at all times be pleasing and acceptable to God. Whether He gives us many or few more days together , may they bring Him Honor and Glory. I do thank the Lord for Jim and for all the days we have had together as "man and wife." They have not all been easy, we have had our things that had to be worked out, there has been sadness, loss and disappointments but all the rest have brought joy and happiness that can come from nothing else given by the Lord. As long as we kept our lives in line with God's plan and purposes, we had truly a "heaven on earth." Humanly speaking not knowing what great things heaven holds, I can only compare it with the things that I know.

Grandchildren, pick that life's partner with prayer and great care. Marriage was meant to last a life time. connie

Meet Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher of North Carolina. They have been married 85 years (86 in May) and hold the Guinness World Record for the longest marriage of a living couple and get this…. Zelmyra is 101 years old and Herbert is 104.

The happily married couple teamed up with twitter this Valentine’s Day to answer some relationship questions. Check out their take on finding love, getting through hard times and more. Good read.

1. What made you realize that you could spend the rest of your lives together? Were you scared at all?

H & Z: With each day that passed, our relationship was more solid and secure.Divorce was NEVER an option – or even a thought.

2. How did you know your spouse was the right one for you?

We grew up together & were best friends before we married. A friend is for life – our marriage has lasted a lifetime

3. Is there anything you would do differently after more than 80 years of marriage?

We wouldn’t change a thing. There’s no secret to our marriage, we just did what was needed for each other & our family.

4. What is your advice to someone who is trying to keep the faith that Mr. Right is really out there?

Zelmyra: Mine was just around the corner! He is never too far away, so keep the faith – when you meet him, you’ll know.

5. What was the best piece of marriage advice you ever received?

Respect, support & communicate with each other.Be faithful, honest & true.Love each other with ALL of your heart

6. What are the most important attributes of a good spouse?

Zelmyra: A hard worker & good provider.The 1920s were hard,but Herbert wanted & provided the best for us.I married a good man!

7. What is your best Valentine’s Day memory?

Zelmyra: I cook dinner EVERY day.Herbert left work early & surprised me – he cooked dinner for me! He is a VERY good cook!

Herbert: I said that I was going to cook dinner for her & she could relax – the look on her face & clean plate made my day!

8. You got married very young – how did u both manage to grow as individuals yet not grow apart as a couple?

“Everyone who plants a seed & harvests the crop celebrates together” We are individuals, but accomplish more together.

9. What is your fondest memory of your 85-year marriage?

Our legacy: 5 children, 10 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild.

10. Does communicating get easier with time? How do you keep your patience?

The children are grown, so we talk more now. We can enjoy our time on the porch or our rocking chairs – together.

11. How did you cope when you had to be physically separated for long periods of time?

Herbert: We were apart for 2 months when Z was hospitalized with our 5th child. It was the most difficult time of my life. Zelmyra’s mother helped me with the house and the other children, otherwise I would have lost my mind.

12. At the end of bad relationship day, what is the most important thing to remind yourselves?

Remember marriage is not a contest – never keep a score. God has put the two of you together on the same team to win

13. Is fighting important?

NEVER physically! Agree that it’s okay to disagree, & fight for what really matters. Learn to bend – not break!

14. What’s the one thing you have in common that transcends everything else?

We are both Christians & believe in God.Marriage is a commitment to the Lord.We pray with & for each other every day.
COPIED

WELCOME HOME!!!

2012-02-20T08:23:00.002-06:00

Have we ever heard sweeter words? Those are precious words when we have been gone from home for a period of time. Sometimes it doesn't matter that it has only been a short while.

When Jim and I were first married and we would return home for a few days, the words themselves may not have been said but with all the smiling face, the hugs and kisses, it was so evident that we were "welcome home." I loved going home, all the good times. All the talk and then talk again about all the things that had gone on in our lives while being absence from each other. We could see even in short absences all the changes in those we loved. The house had been changed in one way or another. But, my oh my, the food was the same. The way only that my Mother could cook it. It was so good to be home. To be held in the arms of my Dad and Mom to know without a doubt that I was loved!

Today, I look so forward to our children coming home for a visit. A couple of our children live in our same town but it does not matter. When they come home, it is homecoming for their Dad and I. We have three children who live in cities farther away from us but we always wait for the day that we get to see them again. If for some reason they can not come for periods of time, we wait to hear those wonderful words, "We are coming home." There is no greater pleasure for this, Dad and Mom than to have their children gathered around our table in our home, all together again. Then added to that even all our Grandchildren and their children, what a blessed day.

To have grown children visit in" our home," which once was "their home" is a joy that there are not enough words to describe for this Mother. In our hearts, they are always those children that we gave birth to, saw them take their first steps, heard them speak their first words, go to school their first day, grow day by day . Til finally that day that they took their places as adults in this world with families of their own. We continue to watch from afar, all the steps that they take in this life, praying always that God will lead and protect them as they go.

When I think of these most special days, I begin to wonder how it will be when we get home to our Heavenly Father. I know that it will not compare with the earthly feeling that I have but I know it is going to be a day like no other! Oh, how much He must love us, when I think how much I love my children, it amazes me. When I think of all the talks we will have when we get to our home in heaven, my mind can't even comprehend all that lays ahead for us. All the wonder, the glory all that we have waited most of our lives to do. To go Home to meet our Heavenly Father Face to Face. And all the great joy and happiness I will feel at the time, He says to me, Welcome Home, My Child, I have been expecting you!!

On this earth there are human relationships that get messed up by many things but up there all will be forever right and there will be no heartache or broken hearts. There will be no missing of things that we hold so dear. Their will be no waiting for a time or a person that may never come. It will be Heaven there for sure. I am looking more forward to that time every day. connie

P.S. I am praying that I see you there!!

A MAN AT THE BACK DOOR~ ~ ~

2012-02-10T14:32:00.002-06:00

"An old man showed up at the back door of the house we were renting. Opening the door a few cautious inches, we saw his eyes were glassy and his furrowed face glistened with silver stubble. He clutched a wicker basket holding a few unappealing vegetables. he bid us good morning and offered his produce for sale. We were uneasy enough to make a quick purchase to alleviate both our pity and our fear.

To our chagrin, he returned the next week, introducing himself as Mr. Roth, the man who lived in the shack down the road. As our fears subsided, we got close enough to realize that it wasn't alcohol, but cataracts, that marbleized his eyes. On subsequent visits, he would shuffle in, wearing two mismatched right shoes, and pull out a harmonica. With glazed eyes set on a future glory, he'd puff out old gospel tunes between conversations about vegetables and religion.

On one visit, he exclaimed, "The Lord is so good! I came out of my shack this morning and found a bag full of shoes and clothing on my porch."
"That's wonderful, Mr. Roth," we said. "We're happy for you."
"You know what's even more wonderful?" he asked. "Just yesterday I met some people that could use them."

Philippians 2:3-4

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. LOOK NOT EVERY MAN ON HIS OWN THINGS, BUT EVERY MAN ALSO ON THE THINGS OF OTHERS.

This time next year, I will almost be seventy years old. I have seen a lot of people in my time. I have come to the conclusion we do not need the government or anyone or any body to tell us when someone is in need. We do not have to go by set up guide lines that make one poor or in need. We don't need to look for a family in need to give them a basket of food or a sack of clothing just to bring glory to ourselves or to an organization,to which we belong.

True poverty needs no announcements or advertising of the fact. It is clear for all to see. Most people who are in true poverty find it very hard to take from others. You know how I know because there have been times in my life that I would have been known to have been in the "POOR" category.

Poverty shows itself in many ways. You will find no fat on a truly poor person. They will not have a Television, cell phone, most of the electrical "helps" that most of us are blessed to have today. They sure want have a computer and if they are blessed, maybe one car. Their daily foods would probably be just about the same same day after day. There would be no trips to the fast food places or a "coke" or two or more a day. They might even have to share their bath water with their siblings. They want have their own bedrooms most likely, not clothes and shoes falling out of their closets. They might even have to go to bed a little on the hungry side some nights. There will be no carpet, A/C 's to keep cool on a hot night. In the winter time no heater or electric blanket want be found for them. They don't get to go to the movies, skating, bowling, etc. or any of the many other things people do and call it entertainment. Go on a plane ride or on vacation, out of the question. This is just some of the things a truly poor person may not enjoy.

I look all around me today and granted I don't go out much anymore BUT....it has been years since I saw what to my eyes looked like a person in need. I said "NEED" not WANT."

We do need to look on the "things of others" and I do believe when we see a person in need we should give them any of what we have that might be a help to them or what we may be able to get for them to take care of a need they might have. I do not believe that it is our responsibility to try to make sure that every one we see, has all that another might have.

The Lord told us that the 'Poor' would always be with us. What we all need is the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour and He is free to ALL men. Free to those who have worldly goods and to those just as much who have nothing of this worlds goods. Some of us have much, (worldly goods) and some of us have little,(worldly goods). But if we are saved, we can and are commanded to share what we do have. We have the gospel of Jesus Christ. It can change a man's life inside and out. He still may be a poor man with out many of this worlds goods, but he is a rich man in Christ if he has been saved. The rich (in worldly goods) here , when they leave this world if they are not saved, will take none of their riches with them. Their eternity will be in a place that burns forever and ever. But a saved poor man (in worlds goods) If he is saved,may not have much here.But, in his home in heaven which will be for eternity, he will find he is joint heirs with Christ Himself. He is a child of the King. All that belongs to Christ, is our also. Salvation is not something you can earn or work for, it is freely given.....just has to be received and accepted.

So, look around and if we see a truly needy person and we do nothing to help, WOE, ARE WE. Be concerned for his physical self, and if we can be of any help, HELP, but most importantly give him for his Spiritual need,THE GOSPEL. FOR THE SPIRITUAL LAST FOR ETERNITY AND THE PHYSICAL ONLY FOR THE BRIEF TIME WE ARE LIVING AND BREATHING ON THIS EARTH. connie

DID THE COW KICK YOUR BUCKET OVER TODAY??

2012-02-09T11:08:00.003-06:00

"He who wants milk should not sit on a stool in the middle of the pasture expecting the cow to back up to him." Nor should one just sit on a stool and expect the milk to automatically appear in the pail.lol

As a young girl I can remember going to the pasture and getting ready to milk the cow. I really never minded unless the cow happened to be in a very bad mood. Usually that did not happen but very few times when it was my turn to do the milking.

But it does take effort, you have to call the cow, feed the cow, sit on the stool, place the bucket in the proper place beneath the cow and do the proper thing needed to get the milk from the cow to the pail. It is what is called, "milking the cow."

It could be fun some days when I would quirt some of the milk to feed the random cat who might have followed me to the barn. Or just squirt the milk, just to see how far I could squirt it. Hey now, I was just a girl.lol

Most days the milking went very fast and very easily. The days that I got the pail almost to the finish line and the cranky cow would kick the bucket over and all the milk would spill on the ground. Who can read the mind of a cow? I never knew why she chose to take such action, but I sure did dread going back to the house with an empty pail. Thank the Lord, we always had two chances, in the morning and in the evening. There were a lot of us children and we needed the milk for the milk but also for the butter and the butter milk.

We can not accomplish anything in this life...if...we just wait for life to come to us. Sometimes we are going to do everything just right but sometimes there are the days when it seems that nothing goes right. We don't just give up and decide not to live anymore. NO!! We pick ourselves up and go and try again today.

There are sometimes cranky people in our lives that have had a bad day for one reason or another. There are humid, hot or stormy days that just donot make for a good day. Do we let those things stop us?? NO!! We go on and do the best we can with God's help. When we are praying for His guidance and Help with our day, even if to us the day does not go right.....we can have the peace of knowing we did our best. So, some days, we come home with our bucket empty, we will try harder tomorrow and accept those things that we can not change and change those things that we can change....words said somewhat like that by another.

If we want to accomplish anything in this life, we must try, give it our best and then leave it to God to work out all the details. Now Go milk that cow and have a good day!lol connie

PROVERBS 10:4

HE BECOMETH POOR THAT DEALETH WITH A SLACK HAND: BUT THE HAND OF THE DILIGENT MAKETH RICH.

ENTHUSIASM

2012-02-07T21:19:00.004-06:00

ENTHUSIASM means to be inspired.

The sense of this word among the Greeks affords the noblest definition of it; enthusiasm signifies "God in us."
--Mad. de Stael.

Enthusiasm is one of the most important keys to success. It revs up our energies. Work becomes easier, more stimulating, satisfying. But, to most people, enthusiasm is like the ocean's tide. It comes and goes. It 's important to keep enthusiasm on an even keel.
Barbara Clem

Remember what Jesus said, when a woman came with an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. Some there were filled with indignation and wanted to know WHY was this waste of the ointment made. Their concern was for the money it could have been sold for and given to the poor. But Jesus said, "Let her alone; why trouble ye her? She hath wrought a good work on me."

He did not even try to stop the woman but encouraged her. We need enthusiasm if we are to succeed at anything.

It gets very hard when you try and try and see very little change. It is then that we have to keep on and not lose our enthusiasm. As the quote says, "It's important to keep enthusiasm on an even keel."

This week let us work with enthusiasm and see what a difference it can make in our results. May God bless you as you try. connie

SOMETHINGS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN....EXCEPT GOD

2012-02-02T10:43:00.007-06:00

"Me (in a tizzy) : God, can I ask you something?

...
GOD: Sure.
... ...
Me: Promise you won't get mad?

GOD: I promise.

Me (frustrated): Why did you let so much stuff happen to me today?

GOD: What do you mean?

Me: Well I woke up late,

GOD: Yes

Me: My car took forever to start,

GOD: Okay....

Me (growling): At lunch, they made my sandwich wrong and I had to wait

GOD: Hmmmm..

Me: On the way home, my phone went dead, just as I picked up a call

GOD: All right

Me (loudly): And to top it all off, when I got home, I just wanted to soak my feet in my foot massager and relax, but it wouldn't work. Nothing went right today! Why did you do that?

GOD: Well let me see..... the death angel was at your bed this morning and I had to send one of the other angels to battle him for your life. I let you sleep through that.

Me (humbled): Oh...

GOD: I didn't let your car start because there was a drunk driver on your route that might have hit you if you were on the road

Me (ashamed): ............

GOD: The first person who made your sandwich today was sick and I didn't want you to catch what they have, I knew you couldn't afford to miss work

Me (embarrassed): Oh.....

GOD: Your phone went dead because the person that was calling was going to give a false witness about what you said on that call, I didn't even let you talk to them so you would be covered

Me (softly): I see God

GOD: Oh and that foot massager, it had a short that was going to throw out all of the power in your house tonight. I didn't think you wanted to be in the dark.

Me: I'm sorry God.

GOD: Don't be sorry, just learn to trust me.........in all things, the good and the bad

Me: I WILL trust you God

GOD: And don't doubt that my plan for your day is always better than your plan

Me: I won't God. And let me just tell you God, thank you for everything today.

GOD: You're welcome child. It was just another day being your God and I love looking after my children." copied from Barbara on Facebook just as printed.

Psalm 118:24...... This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

2 Chronicles 12:9........And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Matthew 11:29.....Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

John 14:27........Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Now with those promises, there is NO REASON why we can not have a good day!!! love you, connie

MY ANCHOR HOLDS......

2012-02-01T14:20:00.003-06:00

"The anchor holds though the ship is battered. The anchor holds though the sails are torn. I have fallen on my knees as I faced the raging seas.But the anchor holds, in spite of the storms.

I have journeyed through the long dark night, out on the open seas,by faith alone, sight unknown and yet His eyes were watching me.

I've had visions, I've had dreams. I've even held them in my hands. But I never knew, Those dreams could slip right through, like they were only grains of sand.

I have been young and I am older now and there has been beauty these eyes have seen. But it was in the night when I faced the storms of my life, oh, that's where God proved His love to me.

THE ANCHOR HOLDS, THOUGH THE SHIP IS BATTERED. THE ANCHOR HOLDS THOUGH THE SAILS ARE TORN. I HAVE FALLEN ON MY KNEES AS I FACED THE RAGING SEAS, BUT THE ANCHOR HOLDS IN SPITE OF THE STORMS."ray boltz

The last few months of my life, I have at times felt like I was out on the raging sea. The storms got very rough at times. I really did not know where the Lord was taking me. I followed on knowing that He was not taking me anywhere that was not in His plan for me to be. I knew that God was my refuge and shelter in the time of storms. It was my job as a Child of the Lord to keep my eyes off of the storms raging around me and to keep my focus on Him. I had to keep my eyes on Him even though at times, my flesh longed to stop awhile and gaze upon the storms,the waves tossing high, the winds blowing just to see what danger I might be in all around me. But though every fleshly instinct in me was crying out. I put my trust in the Lord and His Guide Book, the Holy Bible. This Book contains all I needed to know. I have been given all the facts that I needed to know in times of trouble, sorrow, and pain. He had it written down long ago , because for me personally, He knew that in all of our lives there would be times like these and He wanted us to be steadfast and sure. To know without a doubt that our Anchor holds. To know that any storms in this life that we go through, will strengthen us, to make us stronger in our faith and to know that He is faithful who has promised. I am thankful.

I lost an Uncle who held a very special place in my life after the death of my Dad. I lost a Sister in law, that at times I did not understand, I learned through the life she had with my Brother that love can get you through whatever in life, God calls upon you to bear. I saw my Brother have patience when I would have just said, "what's the use." I saw love continue because it was a choice that was made each day and sometimes hour by hour. I lost a precious sister that I have traveled this life with since the day of my birth. She was always there, to listen to encourage, to love me. She just would always say even in her most painful moments, "Connie, God is in control, and He heard my prayer even before I prayed it, He was answering. God is not going to let anything happen that is not His will."

Yes, what looked to like at the time, storms in my life, my or my, how God has used those times in my life. I will never be the same. My faith and trust in Him has grown by leaps and bounds. It has made things in my life that may still not have answer, to know that my eyes are no longer on those things for I know that they are in God's control and He will work them out in His time whether it be in my lifetime or not. I just trust God.It has been in these times that God has proved His love for me, over and over again.connie

I AM HEADED FOR THE KING'S TERRITORY~ ~ ~

2012-01-27T13:07:00.004-06:00

LONG RANGE VISION

As a boy I loved to wander over to a nearby park and watch the older men play checkers. One day one of them invited me to play. At first it looked easy. I captured one, then another of his checkers. But then, suddenly, he took one checker and hopped and skipped right across the board to the border and yelled, "King me!!" With that king, he proceeded to wipe me off the board.

That day I learned about long-range vision. No one minds losing a few checkers if he's headed for king territory. by: howard hendricks

"THERE ARE NO HOPELESS SITUATIONS IN LIFE......ONLY MEN WHO HAVE GROWN HOPELESS ABOUT THEM."

At times it may seem impossible to see the long range situation and why things are playing out in our lives as they are......but then, it is time for "FAITH" to step in and to know in your heart that it is the grace of God that is taking place and even though we can not see the end, we can KNOW that God is working all things out for our good as we trust in Him.

If in the mist of trials we give up, how can we possibly know that victory was just around the corner. We must never give up in life or on life. If we lose a few battles or so it seems, it is just that we are headed for the King's Territory. What a great day that will be.

Compared to eternity our time here is just as a moment. We can hold on to anything that long. Keep our eyes on the King and we will get there bye and bye. Don't quit!!! connie

HAVE YOU EVER KNOWN A GUY NAMED BILL???

2012-01-24T10:30:00.002-06:00

A GUY NAMED BILL

"His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college. He is brilliant. Kinda esoteric and very, very bright. he became a Christian while attending college. Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative church. They want to develop a ministry to the students, but are not sure how to go about it.

One day Bill decides to go there. He wals in with no shoes, jeans, his T-Shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started and so Bill starts down the aisle looking for a seat. The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now people are looking a bit uncomfortable, but no says anything.

Bill gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit and when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet. (Although perfectly acceptable behavior at a college fellowship, trust me, this had never happened in this church before!) By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick.

About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Bill. Now the deacon is in his eighties, has silver-grey hair, a three-piece suit, and a pocket watch. A Godly---very elegant, very dignified, very courtly. He walks with a can and as he starts walking toward this boy, everyone is saying to themselves, "You can't blame him for what he's going to do. How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor?"

It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy. The church is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane. All eyes are focused on him; you can't even hear anyone breathing. The people are thinking. The minister can't even preach the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do.

And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill and worships with him so he won't be alone. Everyone chokes up with the emotion. When the minister gains control he says, "What I'm about to preach, you will never remember, What you have just seen, you will never forget."

As a child, we were really very poor. We didn't have any of the finery that in churches today find it is necessary to have to be welcomed into. I am so thankful that when we girls started going to the little mission down the road from us, we were welcome and we felt like we were the most special people there. Those people loved us and they showed us even as little children that we were welcome. What a great blessing!! It made such an impact on my life. For it was when I saw those people that, I first began to know the love of God and eventually made me want to know God Himself, better. It was there that I was saved some 59 years ago, this month.

In the sixth grade we moved to a town called Spring,Texas. This is where I grew up. We were taught in our first church that when we moved to another town, the first thing we were to do was find a good church of like faith and practice. So, that is just what we did, My sister being just one year older than myself. We were very blessed in the fact that Dad moved us almost right across the street to the only Baptist church in Town. But we were most blessed by what that Church taught us and for all the things of the Bible it stood for. On that first Sunday, My sister and I moved our letter to that church. We never questioned, we just acted on what we had been taught. The first thing we noticed about that church is that it had the same love that we had found it our very first church. As we listened to the Sunday School teacher a lady by the name of Mrs. Salyers, we heard the same kind of things we had been taught in our old church. The Pastor even preached things that we had heard since before our salvation. Believe me, at times it may seem like it to us but, little children do hear what they are being taught.Bro. Dietrich, was reading from the same Bible that I had been saved out of. We were home once more. So, it was our duty to join this church just as we had been taught by our previous Pastor. We did not want to be outside the will of God. We didn't know those words way back then but we did know what was the right thing. So, we joined.

When we got home from Church that day, my Mother almost fainted, I think. She didn't know if we had done the right thing. My Mother was a Christian but I am not sure that she had been taught as well as we had in our first church that God had put us into. But we continued to go to Church every times the doors were opened. We had many people who loved us there, poor though we were, we returned their love in every way that we could. We learned many things in that Church that has been the foundation on which we have grown up into our Christian Faith.

I am just saying today, those who come into our Churches today, don't discount them if they are poor and shabby looking. Don't discount them if they are not dressed as nice as we may be, they would probably be if they had the means that we have. Don't discount them if they are loud or sullen looking, or if you have "heard" things about "those" people. Don't discount them if they have a smell about them. They may live in a home without water, dirt floors, not much in the way of food to eat. It just maybe that way. BUT GOD SENT THEM TO HIS HOUSE, TO US !!! He send them to us to make them welcome and to feel loved. SO, THAT WHEN THEY HEAR THE TRUTH BEING TAUGHT BY THE PASTOR, THEY WILL HEAR AND KNOW IT FOR TRUTH!!!

I have seen people act afraid to touch, speak to, to look at people who come to us like this. This ought not to be, brothers and sisters. These are people with a heart searching for what they do not have, orthey would not be in our mist if it were not so.They are often times, people who are afraid, lonely, with many problems of there own, searching for a reason to go on in this life, seeking for what they know is missing. You may be the ONLY person who can reach them. Don't let them down. God is trusting you to be His Ambassador giving out the love than you claim to have. You say, "I am afraid to speak to a stranger and especially one who looks like someone not to trust." Well, you never know what that person may become........You may never know the plans God has for just that person and IF YOU FAIL TO SHOW FORTH THE LOVE OF GOD.......my oh my, what a great failure we are!! When new people come into the doors of our Churches, don't sit on your backside waiting for the preacher or someone else to welcome them, it may be that God sent them their because you are there to minister to them and their need.....

I want to end this by thanking all those who have had a part in my life, for the love they showed me as a small child clear through my life until this day. For where oh where would I be, had it been otherwise. I want especially to thank my first Sunday School Teacher, Mrs. Jones for introducing me to Jesus Christ for the first time. Bro. Murphy who preached the gospel of Christ and led me to the Lord at Roslyn Heights Baptist Mission in Houston, Texas. I want to thank all those at Spring Baptist Church who had a part of establishing me in the Faith, Bro. Dietrich and his wife, the Smiths, the Booths, the Richeys, the Locks the Neals, Mobleys, and I am sure I have forgotten the names of some very important ones. I have not forgotten their love and caring for me and my sisters as we grew to be young ladies. Thank you for not turning your backs on me because I was not of any worldly means, or had anything of value to offer other than myself and that was being a sinner saved by God's grace.

Be very careful who walks into your church doors.for they are more than you see with your eyes. It takes eyes of the heart to see what might or could be. God can make the vilest clean. Romans 2:11....For there is no respect of persons with God. connie

HER TIME HAD COME......

2012-01-20T09:33:00.002-06:00

I have been thinking of that specific day, hour, that moment in time,when all life ceases. The heart does not beat one more beat. The breath does come, there is no inhaling and exhaling, not even once more. LIFE has ceased!

During our lifetime, we have had the chance to make many decisions. We were granted at our births this right by God. We have made many mistakes. We have had many joys and much happiness or we have led miserable lives. We have lived selfishly or been one who gives back to others all that we can. We have either been lazy or industrious. We have been friendly or sour. All decisions we made are our own. No one else can be blamed! No one opened our mouths, made our feet or hands to work. We either filled our brains with good things or bad. Our mouths have said only the things that our heart was already feeling. We either trusted God or kept Him and His Way far from us, From our thoughts and our doings. WE HAD THE CHOICE!

That moment when our life ceased, we no longer have a choice. We made the choice of where we spend eternity while we were living. Now it CAN NOT BE CHANGED! We have either accepted God's Grace freely or rejected His Son, who gave His life, shed His Blood, on the cross of Calvary to pay our sin debt. Received or Rejected! If we chose to receive What Jesus did for us on the cross by Faith in Him then we are now home that He has been preparing for us since His return to Heaven. But if we have rejected Him and the payment He paid for our sin, then we Must pay the debt owed. God prepared a place for the wicked angles but HELL has enlarged herself to take those who rejected. This debt, after death is not one that can be paid off in a few days, months, years. IT is a debt that requires eternity to pay.

Choices have life or death consequences! Some choices have a consequence of little or no meaning but others have far reaching consequences , reaching in to Hell fire itself.

God gave us His rule book.....The Holy Bible, 1611 King James. It has all the answers so that we can pass the test on Who , why, when, how, where.It tells us how we become a Child of God, IT tells us WHO paid the price for our sin debt, It tells us Why, He paid that debt for us, It tells us Where that debt was paid. It tells us of all the blessings we receive as a Son or daughter of the Lord. It also tells of all the things the lost.....those who reject the salvation that God offers freely of their doom in that place called HELL. No, Dad nor Mom, Pastor, friend, spouse, or Kin, no one, only you can make this choice. IT is a choice that can not be ignored, forgotten or put off til another day. You have made a choice made by not making a choice. We are none of us, old or young promised how many years, months, days,hours, seconds, moments, that we have to live and breathe. We just have to be ready!! This is a decision that we have to make for ourselves.

My sister Estelle, took her last breath a few days ago. Thank God!!She had made that decision to accept Christ as her personal Saviour , 59 years ago. Today, she is rejoicing in Heaven and understands for the very first time......ALL that Jesus did when He died for her on that Cross and ALL that she has today because of Him! There is no more pain or suffering for her! There is no more sorrow or loss. There is no more sin. No more heartaches. All is peace, comfort, joy, Light, goodness, GOD! What a great day for her!!

I will miss her and I will always be thankful that she was my sister for this time we had together here on this earth. I am most glad that we were spiritual Sisters for that will last for all eternity. One day, we will be reunited with the Lord to be evermore.

See, our time here is for a purpose, we are to bring pleasure to our LORD. To be saved, to live a life that points others to Him. We are to live by the Ways, thoughts, actions that we learn about Him in His WORD. We are here not for ourselves, but to prepare ourselves for that great day to come. Are you ready? If God were to stop your heart, cease your breath today.....Are you READY TO MEET GOD. We all will one day, READY OR NOT. This could be the last chance you have, it is very serious. Don't put off that decision that means where you will spend eternity. Our days here are few......connie

"HE ANSWERED HER NOT A WORD"

2012-01-11T21:03:00.002-06:00

Trust Amid the Silence

"It may be a child of God is reading these words who has had some great crushing sorrow, some bitter

disappointment, some heart-breaking blow from a totally unexpected quarter. You are longing for your

Master's voice bidding you "Be of good cheer," but only silence and a sense of mystery and misery

meet you --"He answered her not a word."

God's tender heart must often ache listening to all the sad, complaining cries which arise from our weak,

impatient hearts, because we do not see that for our own sakes He answers not at all or otherwise than

seems best to our tear-blinded, short-sighted eyes.

The silences of Jesus are as eloquent as His speech and may be a sign, not of His disapproval, but of

His approval and of a deep purpose of blessing for you.

"Why art thou cast down, O...soul?" Thou shalt yet praise Him, yes, even for His silence. Listen to an old

and beautiful story of how one Christian dreamed that she saw three others at prayer. As they knelt the

Master drew near to them.

As He approached the first of the three, He bent over her in tenderness and grace, with smiles full of

radiant love and spoke to her in accents of purest, sweetest music.

Leaving her, He came to the next, but only placed His hand upon her bowed bead, and gave her one

look of loving approval.

The third woman He passed almost abruptly without stopping for a word or glance. The woman in her

dream said to herself, "How greatly He must love the first one, to the second He gave His approval,

but none of the special demonstrations of love He gave the first; and the third must have grieved Him

deeply, for He gave her no word at all and not even a passing look.

"I wonder what she has done, and why He made so much difference between them?" As she tried to

account for the action of her Lord, He Himself stood by her and said: "O woman! how wrongly hast thou

interpreted Me. The first kneeling woman needs all the weight of My tenderness and care to keep her

feet in My narrow way. She needs My love, thought and help every moment of the day. Without it she

would fail and fall.

"The second has stronger faith and deeper love, and I can trust her to trust Me however things may

go and whatever people do.

"The third, whom I seemed not to notice, and even to neglect, has faith and love of the finest quality,

and her I am training by quick and drastic processes for the highest and holiest service.

"She knows Me so intimately, and trusts Me so utterly, that she is independent of words or looks or

any outward intimation of My approval. She is not dismayed nor discouraged by any circumstances

through which I arrange that she shall pass; she trusts Me when sense and reason and every finer

instinct of the natural heart would rebel;--because she knows that I am working in her for eternity,

and that what I do, though she knows not the explanation now, she will understand hereafter.

"I am silent in My love because I love beyond the power of words to express, or of human hearts to

understand, and also for your sakes that you may learn to love and trust Me in Spirit-taught,

spontaneous response to My love, without the spur of anything outward to call it forth."

He "will do marvels" if you will learn the mystery of His silence, and praise Him, for every time He

withdraws His gifts that you may better know and love the Giver."

MATTHEW 15:23,25-28........BUT HE ANSWERED HER NOT A WORD. And His disciples came and besought Him, saying, Send her away;for she crieth after us. But He answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped Him saying, LORD, HELP ME. But He answered and said,It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said,Truth, Lord; yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master' table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O WOMAN, GREAT IS THY FAITH; BE IT UNTO THEE EVEN AS THOU WILT. AND HER DAUGHTER WAS MADE WHOLE FROM THAT VERY HOUR.

What kind of faith do we have today? is it the kind that is weak and it has to be constantly bolstered up by the Lord or others? Does the least little thing cause us to doubt what God has said? When the storms are raging high, the winds blowing hard, is our faith found in the Storm Maker or in the doubts that the winds and waves can bring to a heart when eyes are not kept on the Lord, Maker of All.

Are we the kind whom the Lord can trust to know that we will have faith and our trust will be in Him, no matter what he sends or brings into our lives?

Are we the third kind, who even when the sun isn't shining,and it seems the Lord is quiet, Even when our heart may be breaking, love God even more because we know Him. We know Him and because our trust is in Him, we have no worry or fear. We know He is working all things out for our Good. This kind of person can encourage themselves in the Lord.

I wish I could always say, I can be found in that third group but sometimes, I am weak and I lose the blessings God would have for me. As the years grow longer, I find myself seeking the refuge of the trust and faith found in the third group.

There are not many who understand the third group. We can be seen as unfeeling, not caring. This is not the case at all, we care greatly but our faith and trust is totally in the Lord and we realize that He made us, so He has the right to do what He will with us and our lives. We also understand that we can not see the whole picture and He can. He knows the beginning from the end and I don't. I have found the times when I am having the faith that God wants me to have and trust Him in all His Ways, it is then that I have that inward joy unspeakable.The peace that passes all understanding. So, it is my desire for the Lord to find me more and more in the third group.

My love to you if you are in the first group, I too, have been there but believe me, strive, strive to reach the level of faith where there is no worry or fear. I have found the more that I study and know God's Words, then it becomes easier to trust that One in all things Who Gave Himself for me, so that I could live eternally with Him one day. May God bless and keep us all as we grow yet closer to Him. connie

MAY YOU ALWAYS "LOVE"

2012-01-05T10:29:00.004-06:00

Love is so strange. People see it in so many different ways. But it is simple to me. Love is a choice. I may not always be worthy of your love but it does not mean that you should not give it. It is when we feel so low at times that we really need love shown to us. You know the kind that is long suffering and is kind. The kind that doesn't envy nor lifts itself up nor does it put itself before others. Love does not behave unseemly and does not want her own way. Love is not easily provoked and it thinks no evil of others. It is not happy when others sin or fail but it loves and rejoices in truth. Love, real love will never fail.

We hear the word "love" all the time. Most of the time, that loves bears little or no image to the "love" that is real. Sometimes we let hurt feeling, anger,pride, oh, so many things stand in the way of real "love." We can say we love, but if we always find an excuse not to show "love", the do we really "love?" "Love" is an action and not a state of being. It requires our doing not just our thinking .

Do we keep bearing with those who to us might seem weak in areas of their lives. Are is it just easier at these times to just say, we "love." Do we get angry at them for not living up to our standard of who we think they ought to be? In their weakened angry moments to we hold them accountable for things that are said that we do not like? Are we not suppose to bear one another burdens. When I am being all that I need to be am I not to bear your burdens and when you are being all you should be , should you not be bearing my burdens?We should all be trying at all times to be what we should be so that we can be in spiritual shape to do the things required of us.

"LOVE" is kind. If we are not being king in our words and actions then we are not loving as God commanded.

Do we envy those we profess to love. Are we resentful of the advantage that they might have in some area, and we wish we had it instead of them?

Are we guilty of bragging about all that we are or what we are worth or show-off in what we can do and what we have accomplished. Do we vaunt ourselves?

Do we speak or act in a scornful, conceited or exaggerated manner? Or to appear that we are puffed up.

"love" does not behave itself, in a way not according with established standards of good form or taste, inappropriate behaviour. It does not behave itself unseemly.

"LOVE" does not seek her own. Is our first thought of SELF when enter- acting with anyone. If so then we are not loving. "LOVE", does not seek her own.

Do we loose our temper easily or often? "LOVE" is not easily provoked.

"LOVE" does not think evil. Are we guilty of always thinking the worst of others or maybe another person. Their every action gives us reason to doubt. If we do, then we are not loving as we should.

If we truly "LOVE" another person we are never happy when we see them make mistakes, or fail or maybe just not measure up to what we think they are capable of doing or being. If so, we are not loving that person or persons.

"LOVE" rejoices in TRUTH. At times it is hard to hear truth but "LOVE" rejoices in truth.

Real "LOVE", can bear all things, Oh, YES, it can!! It can believe all things, it can hope in all things, IT CAN ENDURE ALL THINGS. I know this is true because God's WORD tell me it is.

"LOVE NEVER FAILS. If we are failing today in our relationships, it is for one reason, we are not 'LOVING' as we should be.

In 1Corinthians 13......it tells us what love is and it does not say that there are some times when these things do not apply. It does not say that sometimes we do not have to use these things as our standard for knowing what love is or how it shows itself in actions.

May you and I always "love" and be "LOVED." connie

"May You Always Feel Loved"

May you find serenity and tranquility in a world you may not
always understand.
May the pain you have known and the conflict you have
experienced give you the strength to walk through life facing each new situation with courage and optimism.
Always know that there are those whose love and understanding will always be there, even when you feel most alone.
May you discover enough goodness in others to believe in a world of peace.
May a kind word, a reassuring touch, a warm smile be yours every day of your life, and may you give these gifts as well as receive them.
Remember the sunshine when the storm seems unending.
Teach love to those who know hate, and let that love embrace you as you go into the world.
May the teaching of those you admire become part of you, so that you may call upon them.
Remember, those whose lives you have touched and who have
touched yours are
always a part of you, even if the encounters were less than you
would have wished.
It is the content of the encounter that is more important than its' form.
May you not become too concerned with material matters, but
instead place immeasurable value on the goodness in your heart.
Find time in each day to see the beauty and love in the world
around you.
Realize that each person has limitless abilities, but each of us is
different in our own way.
What you may feel you lack in one regard may be more than
compensated for in another.
What you feel you lack in the present may become one of your
strengths in the future.
May you see your future as one filled with promise and possibility.
Learn to view everything as a worthwhile experience.
May you find enough inner strength to determine your own worth by yourself,
and not be dependent on another's judgments of your
accomplishments.
May you always feel loved.

author unknown by me.

THE CLOTHES THAT I WEAR??

2011-12-30T17:14:00.003-06:00

ISAIAH 64:6

BUT WE ARE ALL AS AN UNCLEAN THING, AND ALL OUR RIGHTEOUSNESSES ARE AS FILTHY RAGS; AND WE ALL DO FADE AS A LEAF; AND OUR INIQUITIES, LIKE THE WIND, HAVE TAKEN US AWAY.

RAGMAN

I saw a strange sight. I stumbled upon a story most strange, like nothing my life, my street sense, my sly tongue had ever prepared me for.

Hush, child. Hush, now, and I will tell it to you.

Even before the dawn one Friday morning I noticed a young man, handsome and strong, walking the alleys of our City. He was pulling an old cart filled with clothes both bright and new, and he was calling in a clear, tenor voice: “Rags!” Ah, the air was foul and the first light filthy to be crossed by such sweet music.

“Rags! New rags for old! I take your tired rags! Rags!”

“Now, this is a wonder,” I thought to myself, for the man stood six-feet-four, and his arms were like tree limbs, hard and muscular, and his eyes flashed intelligence. Could he find no better job than this, to be a ragman in the inner city?

I followed him. My curiosity drove me. And I wasn’t disappointed.

Soon the Ragman saw a woman sitting on her back porch. She was sobbing into a handkerchief, sighing, and shedding a thousand tears. Her knees and elbows made a sad X. Her shoulders shook. Her heart was breaking.

The Ragman stopped his cart. Quietly, he walked to the woman, stepping round tin cans, dead toys, and Pampers.

“Give me your rag,” he said so gently, “and I’ll give you another.”

He slipped the handkerchief from her eyes. She looked up, and he laid across her palm a linen cloth so clean and new that it shined. She blinked from the gift to the giver.

Then, as he began to pull his cart again, the Ragman did a strange thing: he put her stained handkerchief to his own face; and then HE began to weep, to sob as grievously as she had done, his shoulders shaking. Yet she was left without a tear.

“This IS a wonder,” I breathed to myself, and I followed the sobbing Ragman like a child who cannot turn away from mystery.

“Rags! Rags! New rags for old!”

In a little while, when the sky showed grey behind the rooftops and I could see the shredded curtains hanging out black windows, the Ragman came upon a girl whose head was wrapped in a bandage, whose eyes were empty. Blood soaked her bandage. A single line of blood ran down her cheek.

Now the tall Ragman looked upon this child with pity, and he drew a lovely yellow bonnet from his cart.

“Give me your rag,” he said, tracing his own line on her cheek, “and I’ll give you mine.”

The child could only gaze at him while he loosened the bandage, removed it, and tied it to his own head. The bonnet he set on hers. And I gasped at what I saw: for with the bandage went the wound! Against his brow it ran a darker, more substantial blood – his own!

“Rags! Rags! I take old rags!” cried the sobbing, bleeding, strong, intelligent Ragman.

The sun hurt both the sky, now, and my eyes; the Ragman seemed more and more to hurry.

“Are you going to work?” he asked a man who leaned against a telephone pole. The man shook his head.

The Ragman pressed him: “Do you have a job?”

“Are you crazy?” sneered the other. He pulled away from the pole, revealing the right sleeve of his jacket – flat, the cuff stuffed into the pocket. He had no arm.

“So,” said the Ragman. “Give me your jacket, and I’ll give you mine.”

Such quiet authority in his voice!

The one-armed man took off his jacket. So did the Ragman – and I trembled at what I saw: for the Ragman’s arm stayed in its sleeve, and when the other put it on he had two good arms, thick as tree limbs; but the Ragman had only one.

“Go to work,” he said.

After that he found a drunk, lying unconscious beneath an army blanket, and old man, hunched, wizened, and sick. He took that blanket and wrapped it round himself, but for the drunk he left new clothes.

And now I had to run to keep up with the Ragman. Though he was weeping uncontrollably, and bleeding freely at the forehead, pulling his cart with one arm, stumbling for drunkenness, falling again and again, exhausted, old, old, and sick, yet he went with terrible speed. On spider’s legs he skittered through the alleys of the City, this mile and the next, until he came to its limits, and then he rushed beyond.

I wept to see the change in this man. I hurt to see his sorrow. And yet I needed to see where he was going in such haste, perhaps to know what drove him so.

The little old Ragman – he came to a landfill. He came to the garbage pits. And then I wanted to help him in what he did, but I hung back, hiding. He climbed a hill. With tormented labor he cleared a little space on that hill. Then he sighed. He lay down. He pillowed his head on a handkerchief and a jacket. He covered his bones with an army blanket. And he died.

Oh, how I cried to witness that death! I slumped in a junked car and wailed and mourned as one who has no hope – because I had come to love the Ragman. Every other face had faded in the wonder of this man, and I cherished him; but he died. I sobbed myself to sleep.

I did not know – how could I know? – that I slept through Friday night and Saturday and its night, too.

But then, on Sunday morning, I was wakened by a violence.

Light – pure, hard, demanding light – slammed against my sour face, and I blinked, and I looked, and I saw the last and the first wonder of all. There was the Ragman, folding the blanket most carefully, a scar on his forehead, but alive! And, besides that, healthy! There was no sign of sorrow nor of age, and all the rags that he had gathered shined for cleanliness.

Well, then I lowered my head and trembling for all that I had seen, I myself walked up to the Ragman. I told him my name with shame, for I was a sorry figure next to him. Then I took off all my clothes in that place, and I said to him with dear yearning in my voice: “Dress me.”

He dressed me. My Lord, he put new rags on me, and I am a wonder beside him. The Ragman, the Ragman, the Christ!

by Walter Wangerin, Jr.

I do wish I had the words to tell you how I felt the day that Jesus took my filthy rags and covered me with Himself. He did the greatest miracle of all when He saved my soul. I was an unclean thing and clothed in filthy rags. My sin was great. There was nothing good that I could claim as my own. Yet, He took my sin and imparted His Righteousness to me.

ISAIAH 64:8

BUT NOW, O LORD, THOU ART OUR FATHER, WE ARE THE CLAY, AND THOU OUR POTTER; AND WE ALL ARE THE WORK OF THY HAND.

Why is it that for moments in time, we almost choose to put back on those filthy dirty rags?? Why or how can this be possible when we know deep in our heart that they that are in the flesh cannot please God?

ROMANS 8:10

AND IF CHRIST BE IN YOU THE BODY IS DEAD BECAUSE OF sin; BUT THE SPIRIT IS LIFE BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

I asked my self, now if THE BODY IS DEAD BECAUSE OF SIN, what can a dead man feel. Is there anything that can hurt him anymore? No, not even that, what ever our particular hurt is!!

It is then especially when we feel hurt that we must remember that as one in Christ, our body is dead because of sin BUT and this is the biggest BUT of them all.......THE SPIRIT IS LIFE BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. This is not any righteousness that we have, for we already know that ALL OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS AS FILTHY RAGS. IT IS HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT GIVES US LIFE.

When we find SIN in our life, we MUST repent. None are excused!!! FIRST JOHN 1:9........IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS,HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS.......AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. See, He not only forgives us but He cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Sometimes we find we have to ask for God's forgiveness when our flesh wants to have our own way. But it can not be our way for the way of peace and joy comes from our sins being forgiven and cleansed. When we refuse to REPENT then we have made ourselves our own GOD. This ought not nor can it be right, whether it be me or you, it is sin.

Sometimes to get to this point we have to place all our thoughts on just exactly what Jesus did for us and in us. The great price He paid for our redemption. The more we think on these things that hurt seems like nothing, and in eternity it will not matter at all. As a child of God, our main goal in life should be to be pleasing to Him.

Oh, Dear Lord, please forgive me when I forget these things, And THANK YOU, for that one, who helps us TO SEE CLEARLY, when we have need. connie

THIS TIME OF THE YEAR

2011-12-15T12:06:00.002-06:00

This time of year is very special in so many ways. We have the memory of past Christmases. Those who were in our lives then that meant so much to us. The good times, the times that helped to form our lives.The simpler times that have caused us to appreciate those times today. The "little", that we had seemed like so much and remembering the day that we realized that it really was the "much" we had.

We especially remember the times when our children were small and growing up and how much they looked forward to Christmas. It seemed in those day to them that it would never get here.lol Their excitement filled the air. Their Dad and I wanted to give them their heart's desires. Coming from people who have never had much in the way of worldly goods, of course were never able to do . We always did our very best because nothing in this world makes a parent happier than to make their children happy. We loved our children very much and always tried to do what our hearts knew was best for them. Mistakes, I am sure that we made but not on purpose anytime. Our church times together, our times with good friends, our Christmas meal and being thankful for all that God had given to us was always such a large part of our lives. No, we never got all the "big" things that our hearts longed for but we know today that we had the "biggest" things of all. Love for each other and sharing with each other the good times that now, we know that all these things are not always able to be a part of our Christmas times today.

Our Christmases today are so different and yet wonderful in their own way. A time of remembering, yes! A time of giving, yes! A time of sharing, Yes! But for us, most of all, a time of being thankful for all the good times that we have had together as a family and we value them so much more today knowing that more than likely those times are past forever. We are just so thankful that we had the privilege of being a part of such wonderful times. We don't look back with regret, nor do we look forward with fear but we are thankful for each good thing that God gives to us day by day.

Yes, this is a good time of the year, being thankful for all that we have had and shared and thankful for the Saviour who made it possible for each good and perfect thing in our lives. It gives us such peace in knowing that our days are in His Hands and we have had so much more than what we deserved in this life and so much more good than we ever expected and we are thankful !!!!connie

HE SEES US EVEN WHEN WE CAN'T SEE HIM

2011-12-05T09:22:00.003-06:00

Blindly Go

The passengers on the bus watched sympathetically as the

attractive young woman with the white cane made her way carefully up the

steps. She paid the driver and, using her hands to feel the location of the

seats, walked down the aisle and found the seat he'd told her was empty.

Then she's settled in, placed her briefcase on her lap and rested her cane

against her leg.

It had been a year since Susan, thirty-four, became blind. Due

to a medical misdiagnosis she had been rendered sightless, and she was

suddenly thrown into a world of darkness, anger, frustration and self-pity.

Once a fiercely independent woman, Susan now felt condemned by this terrible

twist of fate to become a powerless, helpless burden on everyone around her.

"How could this have happened to me?" she would plead, her heart knotted with

anger. But no matter how much she cried or ranted or prayed, she knew the

painful truth, her sight was never going to return. A cloud of depression

hung over Susan's once optimistic spirit. Just getting through each day was

an exercise in frustration and exhaustion. And all she had to cling to was

her husband Mark.

Mark was an Air Force officer and he loved Susan with all of his

heart. When she first lost her sight, he watched her sink into despair and

was determined to help his wife gain the strength and confidence she needed

to become independent again. Mark's military background had trained him well

to deal with sensitive situations, and yet he knew this was the most

difficult battle he would ever face.

Finally, Susan felt ready to return to her job, but how would she

get there? She used to take the bus, but was now too frightened to get around

the city by herself. Mark volunteered to drive her to work each day, even

though they worked at opposite ends of the city. At first, this comforted

Susan and fulfilled Mark's need to protect his sightless wife who was so

insecure about performing the slightest task. Soon, however Mark realized

that this arrangement wasn't working -- it was hectic, and costly. Susan is

going to have to start taking the bus again, he admitted to himself. But just

the thought of mentioning it to her made him cringe. She was still so

fragile, so angry. How would she react?

Just as Mark predicted, Susan was horrified at the idea of taking

the bus again. "I'm blind!" she responded bitterly. "How am I supposed to

know where I'm going? I feel like you're abandoning me." Mark's heart broke

to hear these words, but he knew what had to be done. He promised Susan that

each morning and evening he would ride the bus with her, for as long as it

took, until she got the hang of it.

And that is exactly what happened. For two solid weeks, Mark,

military uniform and all, accompanied Susan to and from work each day. He

taught her how to rely on her other senses, specifically her hearing, to

determine where she was and how to adapt to her new environment. He helped

her befriend the bus drivers who could watch out for her, and save her a

seat. He made her laugh, even on those not-so-good days when she would trip

exiting the bus, or drop her briefcase.

Each morning they made the journey together, and Mark would take

a cab back to his office. Although this routine was even more costly and

exhausting than the previous one, Mark knew it was only a matter of time

before Susan would be able to ride the bus on her own. He believed in her, in

the Susan he used to know before she'd lost her sight, who wasn't afraid of

any challenge and who would never, ever quit.

Finally, Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip on her

own. Monday morning arrived, and before she left, she threw her arms around

Mark, her temporary bus riding companion, her husband, and her best friend.

Her eyes filled with tears of gratitude for his loyalty, his patience, his

love. She said good-bye, and for the first time, they went their separate

ways. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday ... Each day on her own went

perfectly, and Susan had never felt better. She was doing it! She was going

to work all by herself!

On Friday morning, Susan took the bus to work as usual. As she

was paying for her fare to exit the bus, the driver said,

"Boy, I sure envy you."

Susan wasn't sure if the driver was speaking to her or not. After all, who on

earth would ever envy a blind woman who had struggled just to find the

courage to live for the past year? Curious, she asked the driver,

"Why do you say that you envy me?"

The driver responded, "It must feel so good to be taken care of

and protected like you are." Susan had no idea what the driver was talking

about, and asked again, "What do you mean?" The driver answered, "You know,

every morning for the past week, a fine looking gentleman in a military

uniform has been standing across the corner watching you when you get off the

bus. He makes sure you cross the street safely and he watches you until you

enter your office building. Then he blows you a kiss, gives you a little

salute and walks away. You are one lucky lady."

Tears of happiness poured down Susan's cheeks. For although she

couldn't physically see him, she had always felt Mark's presence. She was

blessed, so blessed, for he had given her a gift more powerful than sight, a

gift she didn't need to see to believe -- the gift of love that can bring

light where there had been darkness.

God watches over us in just the same way. We may not know He is

present. We may not be able to see His face, but He is there nonetheless! Be

blessed in this thought: "God Loves You - even when you are not looking."

Blindly Go)......copied

Aren't there times in our life when we feel God must not see us. He must not know what we are feeling or how much we need Him. It is not so.....He always knows and He is answering our prayers even while we are praying. Isaiah 65:24.....AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT BEFORE THEY CALL, I WILL ANSWER; AND WHILE THEY ARE YET SPEAKING, I WILL HEAR....yes, God see us always and He hears our every prayer even when we don't have the words to express what we feel.

Proverbs 3:5-8......TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL THINE HEART; AND LEAN NOT UNTO THINE OWN UNDERSTANDING....IN ALL THY WAY ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS....BE NOT WISE IN THY OWN EYES:FEAR THE LORD, AND DEPART FROM EVIL.....IT SHALL BE HEALTH TO THY NAVEL, AND MARROW TO THY BONES.

We can rest assured that He is always with us for He has told us.....Hebrews 13:5....LET YOUR CONVERSATION BE WITHOUT COVETOUSNESS; AND BE CONTENT WITH SUCH THINGS AS YE HAVE: FOR HE HATH SAID, I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE,NOR FORSAKE THEE.......
GOD IS THERE EVEN WHEN YOU MAY NOT FEEL HIM OR SEE WHERE HE IS ACTING SO, "BLINDLY GO!!" connie

WHERE ARE YOU STANDING TODAY??WHERE IS THIS WAY TAKING YOU???

2011-12-01T10:36:00.005-06:00

Are you happy with where you are in life? Have you known happier times in your life? Does life at times not even seem worth living? Is your attitude..."whatever." Have you convinced yourself that "Nobody"really knows happiness and it is all an "act" in their lives?

Well, I am here to tell you that the devil has you deceived and as long as "He" "keeps" you with this attitude and living this lie, things will not be better for you but only get worse until you quit breathing. Have you known a happier time in life? What were you doing and being during this time? Was God a large part of it. Yes, it may have had problems of its own but there was always a peace in your heart and you knew that you were where God wanted you to be doing what He wanted you to do. But little by little, have you let go of the things of the Lord, have little or nothing to do with His people? Have you developed the attitude of this world, "it is all about Me!! Myself, and mine!! I don't care about others and once you would have given all that you had just to be a help to others.

It has been said, "Sin has many tools, but a lie is the handle which fits them all." Why do we lie to ourselves when we know good and well what we are doing is against what we know God would have us to do, to be, Why do we just ignore warnings that God sends to us in the way of others? Why do we lie to ourselves and just keep expecting God to let us go on in our sinful ways? He will not, you know.... And when His judgement comes it will be swift and our time for repenting will then be over. Has the lies you tell to yourself become a kind of truth to you, so that now you believe your own lies. You still know what God has said, He has written it in your heart. Is it that you just love your sin and would have none of God. What a sad, sad place to be. Have you convinced yourself that your life is the best, it can be.....it is a lie!!! A life without God in it....is empty indeed. It is the worst kind of hypocrisy. Take a good look at your life......Are you in a place you do not wish to be. Only you can change where you are. God is waiting, but He will not do your repenting for you. You must do it. Don't stay in the deep hole you find your life in. Start by changing your way of thinking about God, life, others.

First you need to get the matter of your salvation clear. Have you ever repented of the sin in your life. Then with Faith accept the free gift offered to you by God through the death, burial and resurrection of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. You have realized that you are a sinner and in need of Someone to save you. God required a perfect, sinless sacrifice to pay your sin debt. When you accept the payment paid by His Dear Son, then God has made the judgment and declared you justified.(just as if you had never sinned.) God then no longer sees you as a sinner but one who is covered by the perfect blood of His Son. Jesus paid your sin debt and you have been pardoned by God almighty. Some say, "that just seems too, easy." It is easy, it is by grace (unmerited favor) through faith in Jesus only that we can be saved.

If Jesus Christ is your Lord and Saviour then there is another possibility. You could be living in sin, pure and simple. If you are not living as God tells plainly how we are to live in His Word, King James Bible,1611, to the English Speaking People. His Word tells us that we are all sinners. If you are lost then you need to go back and re-read the above paragraph, Or we are saved and because of sin in our life, we have lost our fellowship with the Lord God. When we are saved, we have a positional relationship with Him that is forever and eternal.We will never be lost again. But we can lose our fellowship with Him because we sin and do not live as He wants us to. We are not obeying Him in our daily life. To regain our fellowship with Him, we must confess our sin and turn from it and begin living the way, we are commanded to live in His Word.

God wants to be first in our lives and He will be !! He will not take second, third or any other place, it must be first place. So , if you are saved and miserable, pretending to be happy and that is having a peace that can't be explained within, even when all the world goes wrong then we probably have un-confessed sin in our lives. We know, really we do, no one else may be aware of what we are feeling in our inner most being but we know....So, sin has to be acknowledged and repented of to God . Then and only then can we have joy and peace with God again. I wish you to be happy, full of peace and joy.

You may ask, do you always have that peace and joy. I do but only when I do not have un-confessed sin in my life. When I do, then to correct it, I have had to do just what I have told you.

May God give you the strength to look fully at your life and make a decision, Am I saved? If I am saved, how have I got to this place in my life? Can I change where I am at? YES, you can, it may not be easy and the devil will tell you, 'YOU CAN'T, You don't really want to, sin is fun, you know it is. God tells us, it is only fun for a time. Then we have to count the cost. It does cost, sin bring death, heartache with out God to lean on and to hold you up and strengthen you. It brings pain and sorrow to those who love you. COUNT THE COST of what you are doing to yourself first of all but also look at what it is costing those who love you. If you can not see or feel or know then the devil has you in his clutches and you need to seek help from a Pastor, a Godly friend, someone who loves you. No, none of us are perfect but we do know the answers. I am almost 70 years old and God has never failed me nor forsaken me. I love you. connie

GOT ANY RIVERS THEY SAY ARE UNCROSSABLE?

2011-11-26T19:08:00.005-06:00

BUT THE MOUNTAIN SHALL BE THINE; FOR IT IS A WOOD, AND THOU SHALT CUT IT DOWN: AND THE OUTGOINGS OF IT SHALL BE THINE:FOR THOU SHALT DRIVE OUT THE CANAANITES, THOUGH THEY HAVE IRON CHARIOTS, AND THOUGH THEY BE STRONG.JOSHUA 17:18

"Difficulty is sent to reveal to us what God can do in answer to the faith that prays and works. Are you

straitened in the valleys? Get away to the hills, live there; get honey out of the rock, and wealth out

of the terraced slopes now hidden by forest. "copied

Have you got any rivers that they say are uncrossable in your life. I know that I have. But with faith, I believe God.

Delight thyself also in the LORD ; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart .Psalm 37:4

I delight to do thy will , O my God : yea, thy law is within my heart .Psalm 40:8

I believe God with all of my heart. If those things that I desire are not the Lord's will for my life then I have every confidence that God will change my desires. So I have no worry or fear, His will, will be done in my life.

There are those who say, "it will never be", I have heard that before and "IT" was. God made it so.

I have learned that all the things that may go wrong in this life and there can be many, if we just put them in God's Hands the we can just sit back and watch God work. It is really an amazing place that I find myself in today, and I am amazed that God has allowed me to be here. There is only peace in every situation that gets me out of my comfort zone, things that could be causing me great heartache, trouble and worry. God has so filled my life with faith and trust that there is no room for doubt, heartache, worry or fear.

"Got any rivers you think are impossible?
Got any mountains you can not tunnel thorough?
God specializes in things thought impossible
And he can do what no other God can do.

Let go and let God have his wonderful way
Let go and let God have his way.
Your burdens He'll carry
Your night, turn to day
Let go and let God have His way."

AND JESUS LOOKING UPON THEM SAITH, WITH MEN IT IS IMPOSSIBLE, BUT NOT WITH GOD: FOR WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. Mark 10:28........connie

I MET HIM BY JAMES C. MCENTIRE JR.

2011-11-05T16:12:00.001-05:00

THIS IS THE TESTIMONY OF OUR OLDEST SON,JAMES. IT IS A BLESSING TO THIS MOTHER'S HEART. I THANK HIM FOR SHARING IT WITH US AND I NOW SHARE IT WITH YOU. MAY IT BE A BLESSING TO YOU AS WELL. connie

I Met Him

by James C McEntire Jr on Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 2:47pm

It was forty-one years ago today that I met a man who I am certain passed my way on several occasions for he was know well by so many that my life revolved around at that early age. For whatever reason I had never really paid him much attention, till that night. Oh, I had seen him in passing and we had probably greeted one another but I moved on never stopping to consider him. That night I did.

It probably had something to do with the fact that when I saw him that night he was bleeding and suffering on a tree. It was a horrible sight. I had known for some time that this event was part of his history I simply did not rightly regard it. That night I did. I think in part it was because I realized that he bled and died because of me. When I saw his suffering in that context my sin appeared more horrible than it ever had. Even at the "innocent" age of seven if my sin required that sacrifice then of necessity my sin must have been a horrible affront to God. I felt bad because of what my sin had occasioned.

I now was truly afraid of going to hell. I now realized for the first time that I can remember that not only was I going to hell but fully deserved to go to hell. Yes, it was a frightening thought. But if my sin required such suffering from one who was by his own testimony the sinless Son of God, then truly I deserved everything terrible I had coming to me. I feared for my life and my eternity. Hell was more real than it had ever been, because I had seen this man dying on a cross for my sin.

Yet, the marvel of it all is that very night when I met him at that frightful cross-roads called Calvary within a moment I met him again but this time he was standing outside an empty tomb. He was alive. He who had died was now alive. There must be hope! The tragedy of his death was followed by the triumph of his resurrection. Here was a man who had died because of sin and now was alive. What must this mean for sin?

Before I left my knees I knew the answer. Forgiveness and eternal life. If I would trust his death, burial, and resurrection I would be given a pardon, I would be forgiven. I did and he did! I claimed the promise, he kept the promise. I'm glad I met him that evening!

In the last forty-one years of life he has been constantly by my side, if I chose to walk with him. If I chose not to I have always found him right where I left him. I have never been able to leave him for very long. I think this bears testimony to the fact that I really do belong to him. I must be with him. I cannot stand it when we are not walking together. Never once when walking apart have I found him to be wrong and me to be right. It has always, without fail, been the other way around.

What a friend he has been! I have had forty-one years to learn of him and get to know him. He has never disappointed me though I have often disappointed him. It is some comfort to me that I cannot disappoint him without disappointing myself.

When I have been lonely his presence was real.
When I have been forsaken he has been true.
When I have been fearful he was my refuge.
When I have been sad he was there to cheer.
When I have been laid low he was there to pick me up.
When I have been confused he was there to straighten me out.
When I have been disobedient he was there to rebuke.
When I have been frustrated he was there to calm my heart.
When I have been tried he has been their to strengthen.
When I have been pressed beyond measure he has been there to offer relief.
When I have been brokenhearted he has been there to pick up the pieces.
When I have had joy he has been their to see that they were multiplied.
When I have been ready to give up he has been there encouraging to press on.

Simply put he has been there! More than any other person. More than wife, mother or father, brother or sister, son or daughter, friend or acquaintance he has been there.

So I thank God that forty-one years ago I met Jesus! I met him for myself! I really know him. We walk together and talk together. He is always there challenging, encouraging, rebuking and comforting and I love him for it. I love him more than I ever have but not near as much as he deserves!

If you do not know Jesus, if your life has not been turned from unrighteousness to righteousness through the repentance of sin and trusting in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ may I suggest that you open your bible and meet him at Calvary and face the horrible consequences of your sin and that you deserve hell a thousand times over. If you will meet him there and follow his path to see him standing by an empty tomb you too can know him as I have. If you will claim the promise through repentance and faith he will be sure to keep the promise to you as he has to me.

DON'T GET OVER HEATED

2011-11-02T09:59:00.003-05:00

''IT IS A GOOD THING TO REMEMBER THAT THE TEA KETTLE, ALTHOUGH UP TO ITS NECK IN HOT WATER, CONTINUES TO SING." 1Thessalonians 5:16,18.....rejoice evermore.In everything give thanks:for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Fret Not Over Evil-doers

"Fret not thyself" (Ps. 37:1).

Do not get into a perilous heat about things. If ever heat were justified, it was surely justified in the circumstances outlined

in the Psalm. Evil-doers were moving about clothed in purple and fine linen, and faring sumptuously every day. "Workers of

iniquity" were climbing into the supreme places of power, and were tyrannizing their less fortunate brethren. Sinful men and

women were stalking through the land in the pride of life and basking in the light and comfort of great prosperity, and good

men were becoming heated and fretful.

"Fret not thyself." Do not get unduly heated! Keep cool! Even in a good cause, fretfulness is not a wise help-meet. Fretting

only heats the bearings; it does not generate the steam. It is no help to a train for the axles to get hot; their heat is only a

hindrance. When the axles get heated, it is because of unnecessary friction; dry surfaces are grinding together, which ought

to be kept in smooth co-operation by a delicate cushion of oil.

And is it not a suggestive fact that this word "fret" is closely akin to the word "friction," and is an indication of absence of the anointing oil of the grace of God?

In fretfulness, a little bit of grit gets into the bearings--some slight disappointment, some ingratitude, some discourtesy--and

the smooth working of the life is checked. Friction begets heat; and with the heat, most dangerous conditions are created.

Do not let thy bearings get hot. Let the oil of the Lord keep thee cool, lest by reason of an unholy heat thou be reckoned

among the evil-doers. --The Silver Lining

***

Dear restless heart, be still; don't fret and worry so;

God has a thousand ways His love and help to show;

Just trust, and trust, and trust, until His will you know.

Dear restless heart, be still, for peace is God's own smile,

His love can every wrong and sorrow reconcile;

Just love, and love, and love, and calmly wait awhile.

Dear restless heart, be brave; don't moan and sorrow so,

He hath a meaning kind in chilly winds that blow;

Just hope, and hope, and hope, until you braver grow.

Dear restless heart, repose upon His breast this hour,

His grace is strength and life, His love is bloom and flower;

Just rest, and rest, and rest, within His tender power.

Dear restless heart, be still! Don't struggle to be free;

God's life is in your life, from Him you may not flee;

Just pray, and pray, and pray, till you have faith to see.

--Edith Willis Linn

We need to learn to be patient. There are not many things that will truly matter in a hundred years from now. There is an old saying. "patience is the ability to keep your motor idling when you feel like stripping your gears.God tells us that "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty." Not having patience leads us into a possibility of becoming angry.THIS IS NOT GOOD! When we let the Holy Spirit control us, then we are able to keep our heads and do what needs to be done or not done with patience. connie

I AM SO THANKFUL

2011-11-01T14:43:00.003-05:00

There are many things in my life that I take for granted and for that it makes me so sad. You think that the things that you have and hold dear will always be there. It may not always be so and probably want be.

My oldest sister has been ill for a time now, she is waiting for a heart valve replacement. During her wait she has had various other health problems. At this moment she is in CCU in the hospital. I would ask you to pray for her as you pray. She is a very strong lady who loves the Lord. She has a family that she loves very much. So even though she is in CCU, I do not fear for her because I know that the Lord is right there with her, giving her peace and comfort. I know that He will not allow anything to happen to her that is not for her best good.

I saw her just this past Saturday, she had just got out of the hospital and was still very weak from her month's stay in the hospital. She was happy that day, she was with as many of her family as could be there. She was also helping out with the preparations for our Sister Pam to have a happy birthday celebration. She had to sit or else her heart would beat so fast that she could barely breathe but she was happy.

I have so much in my life that I am thankful for. My husband, our five children, 4 boys (men now) and a daughter(all grown up,now). All our 20 Grandchildren and 8 Great Grand Children, the last #8 still in her Mother's womb, AND especially for the children,and Grandchildren and that we have gained through marriage into our family. We are so blessed.

The Lord God blessed me with these things and so much more after I accepted His free Salvation some 57 years ago. I know that I would not have anything except it comes from His Hand. The peace, joy and love that I have in my heart for life and for others in my life would not have been the same without having His love.

I wish I could write down all the blessings that I have had in my life and those that I still enjoy day by day, moment by moment but neither of us have the time to write or read it all. But let me just say this. "Thank you, Lord, for loving me."connie

USE THESE THINGS EVERY DAY, IT WILL MAKE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!

2011-10-31T13:47:00.002-05:00

A Survival Kit for Every Day

Items Needed:
Toothpick
Rubber Band
Band-Aid
Pencil
Eraser
Chewing Gum
Mint
Candy Kiss
Tea Bag

1) Toothpick -- to remind you to pick out the good qualities in
others -- Matt. 7:1-5

2) Rubber Band -- to remind you to be flexible, things might not
always go the way you want, but it will work out -- Romans 8:28

3) Band Aid -- to remind you to heal hurt feelings, yours or someone
else's -- Col. 3:12-14

4) Pencil -- to remind you to list your blessings everyday -- Eph.
1:3

5) Eraser --To remind you that everyone makes mistakes, and it's ok
-- Gen. 50:15-21

6) Chewing gum -- to remind you to stick with it and you can
accomplish anything with Jesus -- Phil 4:13

7) Mint -- to remind you that you are worth a mint to your heavenly
father -- John 3:16-17

8) Candy Kiss -- to remind you that everyone needs a kiss or a hug
everyday -- 1 John 4:7

9) Tea Bag -- to remind you to relax daily and go over that list of
God's blessings -- 1 Thess. 5:18
copied from another

JUST REMEMBER:

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow . For what is your life ? It is even a vapour , that appeareth for a little time , and then vanisheth away .James 4:1

Psa 118:24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Treasure each day, take the bad and turn it into good as much as is possible, you want regret that. love you all. connie

SOME THINGS THAT COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE AND THE LIVES OF THE MEN IN YOUR LIFE.

2011-10-30T21:18:00.003-05:00

The Sin of Bathsheba

My Grandson published this on his blog and I wanted to print the entire piece here in its entirety . I don't know who wrote this but it is correct as far as the Bible is concerned. These are and have been my convictions since I was a young girl. I tried many times to follow what other might teach but I could never conform what I found in God's WORD to what they were saying. So, now for some years, I feel totally confident in what I believe. I know today there are not many who believe this way but I would ask you to just take one more look at the things you are wearing and the consequences that they may be causing others as well as your self.

I do not publish these things to hurt you or especially not to make you feel angry at me. I do ask you to take one more look and see, asking God to show you what is the right thing. I have come from all angles of these questions, I wanted to feel accepted, I wanted for others to think me attractive, I didn't want to look different from the majority of other girls or ladies, these things were written for another time, etc. You name it, I have give it some thought. I had no peace in my heart til I fully (as much as I know ) to the will of God about this in my life.

I want you to know, I have many whom I love dearly with all my heart that do dress in these ways but that does not make it right nor pleasing to the Lord. I do not look down on anyone for not dressing in the way God tells us to, for it took me years to understand what I do today, not is it up to me to judge what is in their hearts nor why they dress as they do. It is just my desire to share with you some very important things that I have learned and hope if you are searching for answers in this area, this might be a help and encouragement to you. Remember, always, I love you all very much. connie

Oct 30

Posted by Finishing My Course

And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house:and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself;and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.II Samuel 11:2We hear a great deal about the sin of David, but seldom does anyone mention the sin of Bath-sheba. And it is true enough that David’s sin was very great, and Bath-sheba’s very small. David’s sin was deliberate and presumptuous; Bath-sheba’s only a sin of carelessness. David committed deliberate adultery and murder; Bath-sheba only carelessly and undesignedly exposed herself before David’s eyes. We have no doubt that David’s sin was great, and Bath-sheba’s small.

Yet it remains a fact that Bath-sheba’s little sin was the cause of David’s great sin. Her little sin of ignorance, her little thoughtless and careless exposure of herself, was the spark that kindled a great devouring flame. “Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” (James 3:5) On the one side, it was only a little carelessness —only a little thoughtless, unintentional exposure of herself before the eyes of David. But on the other side, adultery and guilt of conscience; murder and the loss of a husband, besides the death in battle of other innocent men; great occasion for the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme; the shame of an illegitimate pregnancy, and the death of the child; the uprising and death of Absolom; and the defiling of David’s wives in the sight of all Israel; and the sword never departing from David’s house. (IISam. 12:11-18) Again I say, “Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” None of this great evil would ever have taken place if Bath-sheba had only been careful not to display her body in the sight of a man. Observe: she neither designed nor foresaw any of this evil, yet she was the occasion of it all. She did not display herself purposefully or wantonly: she only did it ignorantly and thoughtlessly. Yet the results of her little sin of ignorance were just the same as if it had been purposeful wantonness.

Now the reason for my writing all of the above is this: there are many Christian women today who are guilty of the same carelessness as Bath-sheba was. Godly women, who would recoil with horror from the very thought of wantonly displaying their bodies, do nevertheless carelessly and thoughtlessly display themselves habitually by the manner in which they dress. I do not write to accuse them of intentional wantonness. I believe they are as innocent of that as Bath-sheba was. But neither can I altogether excuse them from blame in the matter. The whole world is well aware that certain kinds of feminine dress are provocative and tempting to the eyes and heart of a man —and are Christian women alone altogether naive and ignorant? This
can hardly be; and yet I do not write to blame them, but to instruct them —provoke them to love and good works, to make them thoughtful where they have been thoughtless before, to make them careful for the spiritual welfare of the weakest of their brethren, where they were careless about it before, to make them wise where before they were simple.

The first thing which must be understood is that nakedness before the eyes of others is wrong. It is wrong in a man, and it is wrong in a woman. When Adam and Eve sinned, God made “coats of skins, and clothed them.” (Gen.3:21) The sole reason for His clothing them was to cover their nakedness, as the Genesis account makes plain. Observe, he clothed them with coats. They were already wearing aprons, which probably covered as much as, or more than, much of the clothing which is worn today, yet in spite of their aprons they were still naked in their own eyes, and in God’s. And God did not clothe them with shorts, or swimming suits, or “tank tops”, or “halter tops”, or anything of the sort —nor with jackets either, but with coats. He did not clothe Eve with a coat, and Adam with a pair of shorts. He clothed them both with coats —whence we may assuredly gather that nakedness is just as wrong in a man as it is in a woman.

But if it is equally wrong for a man to expose his nakedness as it is for a woman, it is not equally dangerous, for men are much more susceptible to be tempted through the “eye-gate” in this particular, than are women. But when a woman exposes herself only a little, she becomes a fiery dart to tempt the heart of every man who sees her. Like it or not, this is the plain fact. And because this is a fact, you are not at liberty to dress any way you please.

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body…as well as in your spirit.”
I Cor. 6:19-20

But if you dress in such a way as to expose your body, or parts of it, to the lustful gaze of every man who chooses to look at you, you certainly do not glorify God in your body. And if
you fear God and love your neighbor, you dare not dress so. You dare not thus use your body as an instrument of unrighteousness to allure the eyes, and tempt the hearts of men.Many men are wicked, and will lust after you in spite of anything you can do to prevent it. They have “eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin”. (I Peter 2:14) Should you therefore help them to sin? Should you put further temptation in their way? Will God excuse you if you do?

Other men, godly men, are not wicked, but only weak. David was not wicked. He was a man after God’s own heart. But in the presence of an unclothed woman, he was weak —and it would be a rare man who was not. Though the brethren in Christ are not wicked, yet they may be weak. And the devil does all he can do to weaken them further. They are forced to live in a world where they are continually bombarded with sights which are designed by the enemy of their souls to weaken their morals and destroy their purity of heart. And must Christian women help the devil to do his work? Must they make themselves a temptation to their brethren even in the congregation of God? O that you could understand the fierce and bitter conflict in the souls of your brethren, when you provoke them by the careless display of your body. Oh, that you could hear their pleadings with God for help and deliverance from the power of those temptations. Oh that you could see their tears of shame and repentance when the temptation has overcome them, and they have sinned with eyes and heart and mind. Never again would you plead for your right to dress as you please.

The fact is, you have no such right. You have no right to destroy, by your careless dress, the brother for whom Christ died. You are bought with a price, and are not your own. You are duty-bound to glorify God in your body —to clothe that body, not as you will, but as God wills. And a little of real love for the souls of your brethren would remove for ever from your heart the desire to dress as you please. For, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities, (that is, the weakness), of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.” (Rom.15:1-3) Christ was willing to deny Himself all of the glories of heaven, and bear the reproaches of ungodly men in order to save your souls, and will you plead for your right to please yourself in your dress? Can you not deny yourself a little of comfort to save another man’s soul? Can younot bear a little reproach for being “old-fashioned” or “out of style”, in order to help another in his battle against sin?

You may think that I am making too much of too little. You may suppose the case is not so serious as I have represented it to be. But consider: you are a woman, and cannot experience the passions of a man. You have your own passions, but they are not the same as a man’s. They are, (generally speaking), not so strong as a man’s. Neither are they so easily inflamed as a man’s. Nor are they excited in the same manner as a man’s. If you are ever to understand the masculine side of this question you must simply take a man’s word for it. You cannot experience it yourself. And the plain fact is, a man’s passions are easily provoked by the sight of a careless woman, as was plainly the case with David and Bath-sheba, when he beheld her washing herself. Most men, ’tis true, will be better able to resist your allurement than David did Bath-sheba’s. They will not go so far as David did. But how do you know that they can resist the thought and desire of it? How do you know that they do not sin with their eyes andheart and imagination? There is great pleasure to a man in merely looking, even though he goes no farther. You know very well that the Bible says, “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart”, (Mat.5:28), and will you say that this is not a serious matter? It is serious, for it is sin, and sin is serious. Sin blights and deforms and ruins and destroys and damns. And if you would know just how serious a matter this is, you need only read the very next verse, which says, “And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” Here is a most solemn statement in the Bible concerning the seriousness of sin, and it is spoken with reference to the very sin which you may so lightly and thoughtlessly occasion by your careless dress. This is not a light matter, and you dare not treat it lightly.

At this point you may say, “Amen, all true; but I do not need to hear it, for I dress modestly.” Are you quite sure of it? If you follow the fashions and practices of this age, you assuredly do not dress modestly, for modesty is ignored by many of them, and purposefully thrown to the winds by many other. And it may be that you, being a woman, and not able to see yourself through a man’s eye, are unable to perceive that which may really be tempting and provocative in your own dress. God would have you to be “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves”. (Mat.10:16) But if you unthinkingly dress as the rest of the world does, you are assuredly neither wise nor harmless. Not wise, for however ignorant and innocent you may be, you are following a system of fashion which is deigned by wicked men to break down and destroy the morals of men. Not harmless, for however little you may intend in it, you thus make yourself a fiery dart in the hands of the wicked one to tempt every man who sees you. You willpardon my plain speaking, then, if I give you some specific instructions in order to make you wise. That being done, I have confidence that the godliness of your own heart will make you harmless.

As said before, the obvious design of God in making clothing for Adam and Eve was to cover their nakedness, and any clothing which fails to do so cannot be right. Bare backs, bare midriffs, bare legs and thighs, are wrong —wrong in the sight of that God Who clothed Adam and Eve with coats to cover their bare bodies. Shorts, halter tops, swimming suits, and anything and everything else which intentionally leaves you partially exposed, have no place in the dress of a woman professing godliness. Whatever the rest of the world may do, you are bound to do right. And what ever the rest of the church may do, you are bound to do right. And the things that I have just mentioned are so obvious and so flagrant a violation of the purposes of God in clothing you, that there ought not to be a moment’s question as to what is right. But, (alas), the standards of the church are sunk so low in our day that there are actually Christians and preachers who will defend such things. They will actually defend what they call “mixed bathing” —that is, men and women freely mixing together in a state of almost nudity. Have they no shame? Have they no sense? I do not believe they will defend such things when they stand before the judgment seat of Christ. If they have no shame now, they will have some then. Meanwhile we need say no more about forms of dress which so obviously thwart the purposes of God. Let us turn our thoughts to some things which, while less flagrant, nevertheless violate the evident purpose of clothing.

Short Dresses

You need no one to tell you that these are wrong. The whole world knows that they are provocative to a man’s eyes. But women who profess godliness, women who ought to know better, will simply follow the current fashions of the world, whether long or short, without any reference to what is right. Others will quibble about how short is too short. Rather than making very sure their dresses are plenty long, they will make them as short as they dare, while still persuading themselves that they are long enough. You may stand at attention in front of your mirror, and persuade yourself that your too-short dress reveals nothing, but only let you sit down, only let you bend over, only let you get in or out of a car, and what a spectacle of indecency you present. And whether you design it or not, and whether you like it or not, exposed legs and thighs are a provocation to lust in the eyes of men.

For the same reason you ought to have nothing to do with those skirts which are slit half way up the sides Who cannot see that the design of such a fashion is to expose your thighs to view? Or is it to enable you to walk? So much the worse if it is. If your skirt is so tight that you cannot walk without cutting the sides, by all means throw it away, and get something with a little more material. We shall have more to say about tight clothing further along. Do you ask how long your dresses ought to be? See that your legs are covered below the knee, front and back, while you are bending over or sitting down, and you will be safe enough. But be careful here: it is not enough that your legs should be covered only from the vantage point of your own eyeballs. When you bend over or sit down, the front of your dress will naturally hang lower, so as to cover more of your legs, but the back will be drawn up so as to cover the less. Very often I have seen women sit down and carefully arrange the front of their skirt so as to cover the topside of their thighs from their own view, while leaving the sides and undersides of their thighs exposed to the view of anyone sitting across from them. And this will be unavoidable if your dresses are so short that they only cover you down to the knees while you are standing erect. If you would be safe, your dresses should cover you well below the knee in all postures.

Low Necklines

Again, the whole world knows very well that these are a great temptation to the eyes of a man. And if you are a godly woman, no doubt you would never dream of purposely wearing a neckline too low. But you may be doing it nevertheless, through thoughtlessness or ignorance. It is not only low necklines which offend, but also large or loose ones. You may stand erect in
front of your mirror wearing a large or loose neckline, and think it perfectly modest. But only bend over a little, so that the material of your blouse falls away from your body, and immediately the most provocative and tempting part of your anatomy is exposed to the view of any man who happens to be standing in front of you. The same is true, of course, when you dress with the top two or three buttons of your blouse unbuttoned. This looks provocative, even if nothing were actually exposed by it. It looks seductive. It looks to a man as though you must design to expose yourself and tantalize his passions. What else can he think? For what other purpose could you leave two or three buttons of your blouse unbuttoned? Do you say it is for comfort? Because you cannot bear a tight choking collar? I believe you could learn to bear it, as the men of the world do in order to display their stylish neckties. But waive that. It may be legitimate to leave your blouse open at the neck for comfort’s sake, and it may even be modest, (depending upon the garment), provided you unbutton one button only. There can be no possible reason or excuse for leaving two or three buttons open. It will add nothing to your comfort. It is simply following a wicked fashion of a wicked world. Your collar will no more choke you with one button open than it will with three. One button open will always bea great plenty for comfort’s sake, and with some blouses it will be too much. If you can leave your top button open, yet not expose yourself when you bend over and the material of your blouse falls away from you, very well. This may depend upon the nature of the blouse, as well as upon your own build. But if there is any danger of exposing yourself, you had better button all your buttons. You might set the top button down an inch or so, and make another button hole for it, and thus provide for both comfort and modesty. You can scarcely be too careful here, because it only takes little matter to provoke a great fire, and when a man sees a woman with the top two or three buttons of her blouse open, he will probably conclude that it is her intention to tempt and tantalize men. Is this the impression you wish to give? If not, button your buttons, snap your snaps, and zip your zippers. And if you happen to bend over a little in front of a man, and he sees you exposed because of your large, loose, low, or open necklines, unless he is a very rare man, he will be tantalized by the sight, whatever you may think or intend. Therefore you cannot do as the rest of the world does. Let your neckline be high enough and small enough to be in fact a neck line, and not a chest or shoulder line, and you will be safe. Note well: this means that if the neck hole of your garment is large enough to slipover your head, it is probably too large. Your necklines should be of the sort that you can close up with buttons or snaps after you put the garment on.

Sleeveless Blouses

Sleeveless blouses always reveal too much. Little as you may be able to understand it, the area beneath your arms, and the parts of your chest or your back which immediately adjoin them, are very attractive to a man; and a sleeveless blouse cannot help but display these parts. You must also bear in mind that others will see you from all angles and in all positions, and thearmholes of a sleeveless blouse will often allow a man to see inside the blouse, especially when your arms are uplifted or outstretched, thus displaying part of your chest. The same is true of a short sleeved blouse which has very large or loose sleeves. This may be perfectly modest as long as you keep your elbows at your sides, but as soon as you raise your arms you create an opening though which a man may see inside your blouse, and this is a great snare to his heart. Remember you are a woman, and cannot see yourself as a man sees you. And if only the weakest of your brethren might be tempted by your sleeveless or loose-sleeved blouses, ought you not to deny yourself a little comfort or fashion, and conceal your body a little better for his good?

Sheer Clothing

It ought to be unnecessary to say anything about clothing which is so light or so sheer that a man may see through it. The obvious and undeniable design of such clothing is to thwart the purposes of clothing, and expose your body rather than covering it. This you cannot help but realize. Everyone else knows it also, and when a man sees such attire, what can he think but that it is your intention to display your body to his sight? And yet so low are the standards in the church today that it is not uncommon to see Christian women wearing see-through clothing. If you have been guilty of this, your first business is to repent —to reject at once everything which is obviously and purposefully sheer. You ought to be careful also not to wear any material which is so light or so thin that it may be seen through when you are in direct light, such as in front of a window. Finally, reject any material of a very coarse or loose weave; wear clothing not netting.

Tight Clothing

Dress which explicitly reveals your form is as bad as that which reveals your nakedness. The whole world knows that such dress is provocative —notoriously and proverbially so —and when a man sees a woman dressed in tight clothing that reveals and displays every curve of her form, you will cause him trouble of soul that would only be exceeded by sheer nakedness. The world calls tight clothing “revealing”, which is exactly what it is —and as such it is an obvious violation of the purpose of God in clothing you. Every woman who professes godliness, therefore, ought religiously to refuse every form of dress which reveals and displays her figure.

Specifically she should avoid sweaters, sweat shirts, tee shirts, and anything made of knit, stretchy, or soft clinging material, unless perhaps the fit is very loose. Woven material, with some stiffness and body to it, will conceal your form much better. This matter is of the utmost importance, especially for a woman who is large in the bust. A woman’s indiscretion in this area is one of the surest ways to provoke a man’s unlawful interest, and that is true whether she is actually exposed, or only exposed by virtue of wearing thin or clinging material to cover her top. This is a fact which the world knows very well. Twenty-five years ago the world was singing a popular song about the pleasure of seeing a woman in a sweater and a tight skirt. Now the natures of man and woman have not changed in twenty-five years.

When a man looks at you he should see your clothing, and not the shape and form of everything which is inside it. Sweaters, tee shirts, and knit blouses in their vary nature cling to your body and reveal and display the shape and form of it. And you must take a man’s word for it that the shape and form of a woman’s body, even though it is somewhat covered with clothing, will draw his eyes, and kindle unlawful thoughts, just about as quickly and surely as the sight of her actual skin. I do not say that it is impossible for a woman to wear a sweater or knit top which is not too revealing. What I do say is that the sweaters and knit tops which American women usually wear are almost always too tight. They might do better if they would wear their sweater several sizes larger than they usually do. A woman who is very small in the bust may fairly easily wear sweaters which are loose enough to conceal her form, but the larger her bust, the more difficult this will become. A woman who is large in the bust hadbest avoid knit clothing altogether. She will have a hard enough time of it to conceal her form without wearing sweaters. I cannot emphasize this too much or insist upon it too strongly. A woman —especially a woman who is large in the bust —must take a man’s word for it, that the sight her bust may take away a man’s heart in a moment. If she would please God and walk in benevolence toward men in this fight against sin, she must dress in such a way as to hide and conceal her womanly form in this particular. She must therefore wear loose-fitting blouses of woven, (not knit or stretchy), material. If she wishes to wear a sweater for warmth, she can easily wear a loose cotton blouse over, (not under), it, and be warmer yet. True, this will not be stylish, but no matter about that. I am writing for godly women, who would rather please God than the world.

Understand also that you will accomplish little by exchanging tight sweaters for tight blouses. A blouse of woven material in its very nature will conceal your form better than a sweater, but it may still be provocative enough if it is too tight. You ladies who are overweight often offend in this, by wearing the same clothes you would if you were twenty or thirty pounds lighter. And it is nothing but foolish pride which keeps you from wearing a larger size. Your blouse should never be stretched tight across your bosom, but should have slack enough in the fit that when a man looks at you he sees the blouse, not the form of what is inside of it. For this reason you should also learn to avoid provocative positions and postures. By this I mean any position which makes your bust prominent, or stretches your clothing tightly over it —such as standing with your hands on your hips and your elbows thrown back, or yawning and stretching with your back arched. You should likewise refuse dresses with what is called an “empress waistline” which girds the garment around your body immediately below the bust, instead of at the waist. The unavoidable effect of this is to prominently display your bust. Again I tell you that any man knows very well what it is to be tempted by such sights —and it may take only a moments involuntary sight to turn a man’s heart or imagination into unlawful channels.

Slacks

Here we have come to a bone of contention which divides churches, families, and friends. The background is this: historically in our culture, the men have worn pants, and the women dresses. This is an undisputed fact, which is embodied in the proverbial expression that a wife who runs the house “wears the pants in the family”. The woman’s “liberation” movement, which is more than a century old, has sought to put the pants on all the women, figuratively speaking. It has sought to “liberate” the woman from her God appointed place of subjection to the man, and to give her “equal rights” to do whatever the man may do. The spirit of this movement has also put upon the woman’s body the man’s clothing —namely, slacks. And the church has followed the world in so doing. Many of the older and stricter men of God, less influenced by the world themselves, take a strong stand against women wearing pants. The younger set, most of whom have grown up wearing slacks themselves, and who probably know nothing of the historical background of the question, can see no point in the stand which their elders take, and so regard it as narrow-minded and petty. “The slacks which I wear”, they say, “were made for women and are not men’s clothing”.

On the other side it may be urged that God made neither slacks for Adam, nor a dress for Eve, but coats for both of them. Yet Deuteronomy 22:5 certainly assumes that the same clothing is not to be worn by both men and women, and it is also certain that historically in our country the slacks have been the men’s clothing. It may be urged that the culture has changed, so that slacks are now acceptable clothing for women also. Yet when we consider the sinister forces which have wrought to change the culture, we may plead that the change is no way recognized by God, but is an abomination to Him. “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto, (or resembles), a man… for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.” I say no more than this, for it is outside the purpose of this article to settle this controversy. I do not ask here, is it wrong in the eyes of God for a woman to wear slacks? I ask, what effect are her slacks likely to have on the eyes of men?

And first, in their very nature slacks are apt to reveal and display the form of a woman. Women contend for modest slacks, but who wears them? In the very nature of the case, it is difficult to make a pair of modest slacks, (especially for a woman who has a full figure), and as a matter of fact, it is an extremely rare thing to see a woman in slacks which are not too tight. Why is this? Why may men wear slacks which fit loosely, while the slacks of women must cling to every inch of their legs and loins? Verily because it is the god of this world who inspires these styles, and he knows his business only too well. He knows only too well that it is a snare to a man’s heart to have displayed before his eyes the form of a woman’s legs and loins. These a woman ought to keep carefully concealed at all times, and there is nothing that will do it so well as a dress. A loose-fitting skirt or dress, provided it is not too short, is also the best possible clothing with which to conceal the form of the woman’s lower anatomy.

But some women suppose that because their slacks are not skin tight, they are therefore modest. Well, now, suppose that your slacks are loose enough that they leave a little space between the material and your body. Still they basically display the form of your legs and loins. That is the nature of the garment, and can hardly be avoided. And further, as soon as you bend over, those “modest” slacks of yours will be stretched just as tight over your form as the skin tight slacks which other women wear. So unless you are so thin that you have no form with which to attract a man, or so fat that your form will only disgust him, (and you are no competent judge of this), you had best leave slacks alone. Though you may not be able to understand it, (for the sight of a man will probably not effect you in the same way), it is the sight of the form which will provoke temptation in a man. What a man’s touch is to a woman, the sight of a woman is to a man. This is plain enough in the Bible account of David and Bath-sheba, and every honest man will tell you the same thing. You must believe it on the word of a man, though you may not be able to understand it. The sight of the form of your legs and loins will tempt the heart of man, and it is the nature of slacks to display the form of those parts.

Some, who believe it is wrong for a woman to wear slacks, but who wish to accommodate their ladies for engagement in the more masculine type of activities, recommend the wearing of culottes, which are sort of a cross between a skirt and slacks. Our only question concerning them is, Are they modest or immodest? They may be either, depending upon several things. If they are fashioned so as to look like a loose-fitting skirt, and are long enough, they may be as modest as a skirt. Unfortunately, many of them more nearly resemble slacks, or even shorts, than a skirt. If yours are long enough and loose enough to keep you well covered and concealed in all postures, they may be acceptable as a modest skirt.

Objections

Enough for specific instructions. We must next answer some objections.

First: “What right has this fellow to prescribe all of these legalistic rules for women?” I answer, If we lived without sin in the garden of Eden, you could dress just as you please, or not dress at all, and hurt no one by it. But in this world you cannot; and if you do you will only be contributing to swell the tide of sin. I write for godly women, who want to do what is right, but who are not likely to know how to do right without some instruction from a man. I seek only to give you some instruction, which only a man can give, concerning the effects which your dress will have on the men who see you. And I suppose that truly godly women will be happy to receive such instruction. It is usually the worldly, who are not willing to do right at any cost, who raise the cry of legalism.

But “This is a small matter, and not worthy of so much ado. We ought to be occupied with the weightier matters of the law, the matter of the heart, and not make such a fuss over little outward things.” This may be an outward thing, but it is not a little one. Can you read Mat. 5:28-29, and yet contend that this is a little matter? But suppose it is a little matter; can you therefore lightly pass over it, or ignore it? Not so, for “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” (Lk.16:10) The Lord does not rebuke the Jews for attending to the small matters, but only because they did so to the neglect of the weightier matters. “These (the weightier matters) ought ye to have done, not to leave the other (the small matters) undone.” (Lk.11:42)

But, “any man who views women so must be perverted” Yes: be it known unto you that men are perverted. All men. We are sinners. Our pristine purity is lost, and our hearts are natural and strongly inclined to sin, and especially to the sin of lust. Sin easily besets us. (Heb.12:1) But understand, though all men are perverted from their original purity, and though the passions of all men, (except those perverted in a worse way), are alike in this matter, I would not want to leave you with the impression that the practices of all men are alike, or with the feelings of uneasiness in the presence of men. If you but dress right, and act right, and associate with the right kind of men, in the right kind of situations, there will be little occasion for you to be uneasy or uncomfortable. But there will be great plenty of occasion for you to be careful, even in the presence of the best men. Why? Because though the godly “have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts”, (Gal.5:24), and have renounced the unlawfulindulgence of those desires —yet the desires themselves remain. It is in the godly that “the flesh lusteth against the Spirit”. (vs.17) Men may strive hard to mortify those passions, but it is a matter of plain historical fact, attested also by virtually universal experience, that the most sincere and diligent endeavors to mortify those passions are usually not very successful. The most of men, even the best of men, are likely to be overcome by those passions. (Job. 1:8, Job.31:1) It was a man of God who was overcome by the allurement of Bath-sheba. And since those passions are usually not to be subdued by mortification God’s way of order is thus; “To avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband”. (ICor.7:2) And history and experience unite to prove that many of the godliest of men —including men who are godly and married —have a very hard struggle against the unlawful indulgence of those passions, in look or in thought. If we go through life with our eyes open it must be evident that this desirable end in marriage is widely frustrated, both in the godly and the ungodly. Some couples have been led to marry without the need specified in this passage, (vs.9). Others have found the providence of this design in marriage granted them, but only for a time. Now whether you wish to pity such persons, or blame them, or both, the fact will remain that there are many marriages which fall short in this way. And it is another fact that a man who finds himself in such a position, however he may have gotten there, will have a very bitter struggle to try to subdue those passions.

The battle is a hard one, and a man who is very strong spiritually, but who lacks this fulfillment, may in fact fare worse in the struggle than a much weaker man who has found the fulfillment which every man desires. David, we know, was a man of God, and through out the Old Testament histories he is held up as a standard of godliness by which all of his successors are judged. But the fact that he took many wives is a pretty sure indication that he had never found that complete satisfaction in ONE, which every man desires, and which is the strength of every man who possesses it. For this cause David was weak.

To return to the original question: Whether men are “perverted” or not, is really beside the point. How far his desires are normal and right, or how far they are the result of his sinfulness, may be difficult to determine. But what difference does it make? You must deal with the facts as they are, not as you wish they were. The real facts are: many men are thus weak and easily provoked by the sight of the feminine form. Suppose that some men are so strong, or so fully fulfilled in their own marriages, that you could not tempt them if you would. What then? Even were that a possibility the fact would remain that many men are weak and easily provoked to sin. With a man insusceptible to temptation you need not concern yourself, but you are bound by duty, (as you ought to be moved by love), to “bear the weaknesses of the weak” yes, even of the weakest and not to put stumbling blocks in their way. (Rom.15:1, 14:13)

But: “If a man looks upon me to lust, that is his sin, not mine.” Nay, “Now walkest not thou charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, (or thy dress), for whom Christ died. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.” (Rom.14:15, 21) David was made weak, David was made to stumble, by Bath-sheba’s careless exposure of herself, and your display of your feminine beauty will have the same effect upon your brethren. After reading this article, you can hardly plead that you do not know this, and “…to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” (Jas.4:17) If you were completely ignorant of the effects which your dress might have upon a man, you might dress as you please without sin, but not otherwise. Every man is fully responsible for his own sin, but you will certainly be held in some sense responsible for another man’s sin, if you willfully provoke him to it. To Ezekiel God said, “When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou doest not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.” (Eze.33:8) The wicked is fully responsible for his own sin, and shall surely die for it. But the watchman is held accountable also, merely because he failed to do what he could have doneto turn the other man from his sin. How much more will you be held accountable if you put stumbling blocks in another man’s way, and actually provoke him to sin?

But: “If I were to follow all of these instructions, I would have to buy a whole new wardrobe, and that I cannot afford.” My friend, you cannot afford to sin. If you are a real Christian, you came to Christ resolving to forsake every sin, and do the whole will of God, at any cost. If you have a will to do right, you will find a way —or cry to God to provide one. You can afford tochange the way you dress. You cannot afford to sin, or to provoke others to sin.

But: “I am not attractive or shapely. No man is likely to be tempted by a sight of me. Therefore I may dress as I please.” In the first place, you are no proper judge of what is attractive to a man. It is of course true that a shapely and beautiful woman is more likely to be a temptation to a man than a plain woman, but it is also true that a woman who is not attractive to one manprobably will be to another, and even the homeliest will be attractive to somebody. But just suppose that you are actually so unattractive that no man would be thus tempted by you. What about your example to other women? What about your example to those who have dressed improperly through all their ungodly life, and who may be looking to you to teach them and lead them in the right way? Do you want them to look at you, and excuse their own improper dress on the basis of your example?

Finally, some women are so naive, so ignorant of the nature of men, that they suppose that because no men are actually making advances or propositions to them, they must not be a temptation to any man. Let them understand that a man derives great pleasure —sinful pleasure— from looking at women, from looking at any and every attractive woman. Why do you suppose that men spend millions of dollars every year for pornographic pictures? Let these pictures be left out of pornographic magazines, and see how many copies they would sell! What pleasure is it which men continually purchase at so great an expense? what pleasure can pictures afford them, except the pleasure of looking? It is looking at a woman’s body which provokes a man’s passions and regales his imagination, and there is great pleasure in that looking. Most men will freely indulge in that pleasure, with little or no restraint. They will feast their eyes upon the feminine form wherever they may find it, and this of course will include your form if you dress so as to expose and display it. Godly men will recognize that such pleasure is sinful except when it is confined to their own wife, and they will fight hard to resist the temptation and conquer the sin. But because of the extreme strength and intensity of the male passions, they find this to be a very hard fight. The spirit is willing, but in the faceof strong temptations, the flesh is weak. To will is present with them, but sometimes how to perform they find not. (Rom.7:18) In spite of all of their determination and praying and striving, they may find their eyes seemingly involuntarily drawn to the sight of a beautiful and shapely woman, and a moment’s involuntary sight away be enough to take the heart away. A man who has gained some mastery over this kind of temptation may easily resist the initial onslaught, but constant exposure to such allurement may weaken and break down even the strongest. Therefore we are told to “flee youthful lusts”, (IITim.2:22) —to flee from the very presence of such temptations. But wither shall we flee in this wicked world? Must we flee from the very congregation of God in order to keep our hearts pure? Shame! Shame! if we cannot find a safe asylum there!

To conclude: there is nothing at all wrong or evil about your physical beauty. It is the creation of God, and is, like all that God created, “very good”. It was designed by God for a specific purpose: the woman was made “for the man”. (ICor.11:9) The perfectly obvious design of your beauty is to ravish and satisfy the heart of a man —but a man —not every man. If God has joined you to that one man, then by all means, give that beauty to him, and he will be the less susceptible to the beauty and charms of other women. Thus used, the beauty of your body will glorify the God who gave it to you, and serve the man for whom it was given. But if you put it on display, and prostitute it to the gaze of the whole world, you only glorify yourself andserve the devil.
~Author Unknown

MORE THAN YOU WANTED TO KNOW.....LOL

2011-10-27T12:00:00.003-05:00

A. Age: 68
B. Bed size: KING
C. Chore that you hate: Peeling potatoes and onions
D. Dogs: Shadow, a white Maltese
E. Essential start to your day: a kiss from my husband
F. Favorite color: blue-green
G. Gold
H. Height: 5' 3 3/4"
I. Instruments you play: Like some would say, "the radio."
J. Job title: I don't really call it a job but rather a blessing....loving wife to Jim.
K. Kids: Four sons and a daughter, 20Grandchildren,7 Great Grandchildren and one due in February.
L. Live: Gulf Coast of Texas
M. Make of car: Ford
N. Nicknames: Jim calls me "sweetheart" if that counts.
O. Overnight hospital stays: With the birth of our children and a few other times.
P. Pet peeves: To be called a name because I believe in Separated Godly living
Q. Quote from a movie: "Though none go with me.
R. Right or left handed: Right
S. Siblings: 6 sisters and two brothers
T. TV Shows: FOX News
U. Underwear: Too personal
V. Vegetable you hate: don't care a lot for most green vegetables.
W. What makes you run late: I try my best to not be late.
X. X-Rays you’ve had: at 68 too many to count.lol
Y. Yummy food that you make: Fried Chicken, Pinto Beans and Chocolate cake
Z. Zoo animal: Birds

Your turn....and let me know if you post this...I'd love to get to know you better too! connie

WONDER OF WONDERS

2011-10-26T13:30:00.001-05:00

THE STORMS OF LIFE

"WE ARE OFTEN TOSSED AND DRIV'N ON THE RESTLESS SEA OF TIME. SOMBRE SKIES AND HOWLING TEMPESTS OFT SUCCEED A BIGHT SUNSHINE. IN THAT LAND OF PERFECT DAY, WHEN THE MISTS HAVE ROLLED AWAY, WE WILL UNDERSTAND IT BETTER BY AND BY.

TEMPTATIONS, HIDDEN SNARES OFTEN TAKE US UNAWARES,AND OUR HEARTS ARE MADE TO BLEED FOR MANY A THOUGHTLESS WORD OR DEED, AND WE WONDER WHY THE TEST WHEN WE TRY TO DO OUR BEST. BUT WE WILL UNDERSTAND IT BETTER BY AND BY."

"There was a little boy with a bad temper. His father gave him a bag
of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, to hammer a
nail in the back fence.

The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence.
Then it gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold
his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He
told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now
pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.

The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father
that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and
led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look
at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in
anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a
man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry,
the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one."

When a relationship is broken, whether it be by words spoken by the mouth or in some deed or action. The relationship is broken! If you want it to be whole again.....then there must be a work done. It will not take place over night because as the story above tells us the scars are and will always be there. But the work must be started. It takes only one to take that step. It takes a really big person to say some of the simplest words known to man....."I AM SORRY." This does not mean that you started the argument or why it turned out this way, but in an argument, when tempers are lost....words are said that should never have been spoken. Even when the things said might have been right or for the good of another, if spoken in anger.....they can never have a good end. Words can never be pulled back into the mouth, while the heart is made right. They just can't ever be spoken!

When you tell another that you are sorry, it may or may not help the other person but it will set your own heart free and you can go on in a right relationship with God. I know, I have been here before twice in my life. Hurts in a family are the hardest of all the hurts you can receive. It is because there has been a lifetime of love and trust involved. First rule, we are all human and we all sin. We do not know the heart of another or what they have been or are going through. We can not know what caused the up-heav-al in ones life that has brought a person to this point in the lives of any of the parties involved.

Now if we can maintain our tempers and point out things that another needs to hear, is this the time, the place and have we prayed about our response. Sadly to say, most of the time, we have not. The only answer remains we must forgive.....to be able to move forward....we must forgive !!!

The relationship can be restored and made better than ever.....I am a personal witness to this. God keeps His Word. He does not fail us, when we do as He has commanded us....".FORGIVE."

Just take a piece of paper, draw a line down the middle and write down all the good that you know of the person. All the good times you have shared. Then on the other side write down how you would like things to be. Oooh yes,and all the bad, let the Lord God take care of these things, when we get perfect then we can be in charge and until then we have to take each other with their own imperfections and all the while knowing that others also have to take us with all our perfections.

In my two relationships......in the one, we have a relationship, not as good as it could have been had we both been perfect but we have one and I thank God . In the other relationship.....because there was forgiveness and a willingness to work.....today our relationship is better than we ever though possible. I thank God.

The longer it takes to start the work, the longer and possibly never, will the results be achieved and brought to a desired good end. This goes for all relationships. There is a rule that must be followed and if not, then we live in a world where we are stuck or going down to a place in our lives that we do not want to go as a Christian first of all but not even as a human being. To be like Christ, who loved us even when we didn't care anything about Him, yet He loved us enough to die for us. Are we like Christ? He loves us even when we fail Him and He waits for us to return to where we left Him. Now in the human life, being that neither of us are perfect, it takes one to step forth, throwing off their pride, not caring who is right or wrong, but just wanting to make things right. Like I said if not for the other person for ourselves to have our heart set free. connie

ARE YOU BROKEN HEARTED, DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN, I HAVE THE ANSWER

2011-10-18T15:58:00.005-05:00

GALATIANS 5:19-21....says, "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, Fornication, uncleaness, Lasciviousness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions heresies,Envyings, murders, drunkeness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

The works of our flesh are just the things that we would let our natural self do without letting the Spirit have control of our lives. We have all possible been guilty of one or more of these things in our lives and if we have not we can be. (If you do not know what these words mean, look them up in just a regular dictionary, you will be surprised)

Witchcraft or sorcery is translated from a Greek word meaning Pharmakeia. The using of drugs.

Bible Verses About Drunkenness

Bible verses regarding drunkenness are plenty and condemn irresponsible drinking specifically.

PROVERBS 31:4-5....Says, "It is not for Kings, O Lemuel, it is not for Kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drin: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

In Proverbs 31:4-5, King Lemuel writes that his mother forwarned that drunkenness clouds the mind and can lead to injustice and poor judgment. "For if they drink, they may forget the law," .

Had King Xerxes (also Ahasureus in Hebrew) been given similar advice, he might not have made the rash, half-drunken decision he made in Esther 1:10-11. After Queen Vashti refused to parade before Xerxes' all-male party, in an effort by the king to show off his beautiful wife, he banished her from his kingdom and moved forward to choose a new wife. Later, in the second verse, we find Xerxes realized how much he missed Vashti but could not undo his drunken mistake of banishing her as the decree could not be rescinded.

Even the great Noah had a moment of poor judgment under the affects of alcohol, when, in Genesis 9:18-27, scripture described a moment in which Noah became drunk and fell asleep naked in a tent. His sons did their best to cover him without looking after his son, Ham, found his father naked in slumber. When Noah awoke and realized what happened, he cursed his son illustrating how drunkenness can effect the relationships with friends and family.

Finally, Proverbs 23:29-35 is among the best Bible verses regarding alcohol and drunkenness as we are told of the results of being drunk:"WHO HAS WOE? WHO HATH SORROW?WHO HATH CONTENTIONS? WHO HATH BABBLING? WHO HATH WOUNDS WITHOUT CAUSE? WHO HATH REDNESS OF EYES? They that tarry long at the wine/ they that go to seek mixed wine. LOOK THY NOT UPON THE WINE WHEN IT IS RED, WHEN IT GIVETH HIS COLOUR IN THE CUP, WHEN IT MOVETH ITSELF ARIGHT. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yes, thou shalt be as he that lieth down int he midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. THEY HAVE STRICKEN ME, SHALT THOUS SAY, AND I WAS NOT SICK; THEY HAVE BEATEN ME, AND I FELT IT NOT: WHEN SHALL I AWAKE: i WILL SEEK IT YET AGAIN.

The answer is simple, it is those who drink to much at home or at the taverns, trying out new drinks.Drink too much often and don't want to be without it.

By drinking, these Proverbs provide that people can come to idolize alcohol, cause hallucinations, loss of internal censorship which speaking, staggered mobility, and eventual alcoholism.

While drinking might seem fun at the start, in the end it bites like a poisonous snake; it stings like a viper . It is no longer "fun." It seems necessary.

If You Have a Drug or Alcohol Problem...

Regardless of where you have been or where you are now, God can turn around everything and give you a fresh, new beginning. Scripture tells us that in Christ, all things are made new (2 Corinthians 5:17)"Therefore IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST,HE IS A NEW CREATURE: OLD THINS ARE PASSED AWAY: BEHOLD, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW. Get in a good Bible based church, ABOVE all, Don't be afraid to ask for help. We all need help from time to time. We are all sinners and no one should hold their noses up at anyone. We all have our weaknesses and sins that want to make way into our lives. It is a constant battle but it can be won. Don't use excuses or guilt to keep your self in this place. You Can be happy and fulfilled again but it has to be God's way. There is no other help. Forget your pride, look at all the things it keeps you from. I know they say when people drink for long periods of time, they do not have good judgement and don't make good decisions for themselves. Go to one whom you trust and that you know loves you, ask for help!! Oh, don't tell me no one loves you, that is perverted judgment! Has it been so long that you have forgotten what real life is all about? It is not too late. As long as you are breathing, it is not too late. But don't wait one minuet longer, don't let anything, job, loved ones anything stand in your way of getting help.

IT IS NO SECRET, WHAT GOD CAN DO

The chimes of time ring out the news, another day is through
Someone slipped and fell, was that someone you
You may have longed for added strength, your courage to renew
Just do not be disheartened, for I bring hope to you

It is no secret, what God can do
What He's done for others, He can for you
With arms wide open, He'll pardon you
It is no secret what God can do

This is true, take my word, God is there, He wants to help you. It is up to you, we can not do it for you.connie

.........AND HE DIED.....

2011-10-05T12:37:00.006-05:00

And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years:AND HE DIED.

And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: AND HE DIED.

And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years:AND HE DIED.

And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: AND HE DIED.

And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: AND HE DIED.

And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: AND HE DIED.

And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: AND HE DIED.
All the preceding verses are found in Genesis Chapter 5

And all the days of Conis Arbrey Knox Sr. were sixty two years: AND HE DIED.

And all the days of Eunice Vaugh Miers Knox were seventy years. AND SHE DIED.

And all the days of Connie Evelyn Knox McEntire were-----------------.AND SHE DIED.

HEBREWS 9:27......AND AS IT IS APPOINTED UNTO MEN ONCE TO DIE, BUT AFTER THIS THE JUDGMENT.

On Thursday, September 29 2011, it was an ordinary day. The sun was shinning, the birds were singing, the dogs and rabbits were playing around as was there usual way. Then......SHE DIED.

The last time, I saw her she had come to the hospital with Buddy,my brother to see our sister who has been ill for a time. She had a smile on her face as she gave me a warm hug. We sat there by my sister's bedside visiting with my sister and trying to take care of any need she might have. It is a time that I will remember as long as I live.

Little did I know at the time that the next time I saw her, she would be laying in a casket . She would be cold and without that smile that I had come to expect on her face when I would see her. She would in fact not have any expression on her face at all. For she had taken her last breath some hours before and there was no life left in her body. She had died.

As we went yesterday to bury her body in the ground at the Veteran's Cemetery, my heart was struck with much alarm. There were rows and rows and rows and rows of crosses where others had been buried. These were other men and women who had DIED. Immediately, my thoughts turned to Genesis chapter 5. With broken heart my mind began to think of all MY loved ones , friends or aquaintances who have touched my life and that MIGHT NOT be saved and just to realize with such harshness that one day THEY TOO WILL DIE!! It has been a heavy burden on my heart since that first view of those many, many graves and to realize that these too, were people husbands, wives, Mothers, Fathers, Brothers, Sisters, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, nieces , Nephews,Friends, that someone loved here on this earth.

I pray with all my being, If I have ever known you in any way and you even think you might be,or could be lost and without Christ as your Saviour, Don't wait!!! e-mail me if you don't know how you can have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ the only ONE who had Pure Sinless Blood that was shed to save us all. It is a choice, for you to make, His blood was freely given on Calvary's cross to pay the sin debt that God required to pay your sin debt so that when our times here is ended , we are covered with His Blood and God will not see our sins but the Blood coverings of His Only Begotten Son.

For one day, and you can put your name in this space............ PEOPLE WILL BE READING OF YOU:

NAME.................LIVED.....................AND DIED.!! I love you. connie

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT??

2011-09-29T08:33:00.002-05:00

Mat 5:37

But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Have we really ever given much thought to this verse in the Bible? Yet, we as Bible Believers believe that ever word in the Bible has been inspired by God and written down by men. We believe every word to be true given by God. Then I ask again why don't we give the above verse more thought?

I know that women are known for their many words and their much talking. I take us again to the above verse. I think it is about time, we take the above verse much more seriously.Let think about it for a moment....how many lives have been destroyed by words? They might not have been words we wanted to be used in such a way but once they are out of our mouths, they can not be taken back. How many lies have been told by words? How many hearts have been broken by words that the one who said them did not really mean them?

I do know that Great things have also been done with the use of words also. Take for instant, "I love you." Wonderful words for the ears to hear. We read in the Bible WORDS spoken by God, "Let there be light." WORDS like "It is Finished." So, I know there are words that have been a blessing and gave life . But today, I want us to think of the other kinds of words. More in particular those words used to disguise what a word really means.

I read this today in GRACE GEMS and I wanted to share this with you. Would you have thought that some of these words, maybe words we have been using our whole lives, would have such vile meanings.

The following was published by Grace Gems:

Editor's note: Minced oaths are used to avoid swearing, when expressing surprise or annoyance.

Minced oaths are usually, although not exclusively, religious in nature, and date from the days when it was irreverent and unacceptable to use the name of God, Jesus, or other sacred words in everyday speech. To mince your words, means to choose words so as not to offend anyone--except for God, who sees them as sacrilege (the sin of profaning sacred things).

Here are a few examples:
Bejabbers -- By Jesus
By George -- By God
By golly -- By God
By gosh -- By God
Chrissakes -- For Christ's sake
Christmas -- Christ
Criminy -- Christ
Cripes -- Christ
Dad gum -- God damn
Dagnabbit -- God damn it
Dagnammit -- God damn it
Dang -- Damn
Darn -- Damn
Darnation -- Damnation
Doggone -- God damn
Gee whizz -- Jesus
Good grief -- Good God
Goodness gracious -- Good God
Gosh -- God
Gosh darned -- God damned
Heck -- Hell
Jeepers Creepers -- Jesus Christ
Jeez -- Jesus
Jiminy Christmas -- Jesus Christ
My goodness -- My God
My gosh -- My God
Tarnation -- Damnation

I have heard myself saying some of these things. I can't even say that I have never heard this preached about either. I think I can remember once. I am not sure all these words were mentioned but I do know that I was a hearer and not a doer in refraining my mouth. I know the one that I use is "my goodness" or "goodness gracious." I really would never use God's name in such a way but in this thing have I become one who compromises in the words I use to communicate my feelings? Have you? Does it really matter if anyone else know what we are saying for sure but if GOD KNOWS, that is all that counts. HE IS NOT PLEASED. Til this very day, I did not believe that was what I was saying. I can remember thinking how does that person know that it means this or that? So, sadly I dismissed what I had heard that day from that preacher's mouth.

I see all different kinds of abbreviations on Facebook every day. I often wonder what this or that means but I know that I really don't want to know. People use all kinds of abbreviations to cover up words that they feel ashamed to say the actual words they represent or they know that they would not be allowed to use such vile ungodly words in all places where there are people that such words would be offensive to them. JUST REMEMBER YOU AND I MAY NOT KNOW WHAT THESE ABBREVIATIONS MEAN BUT GOD CAN READ

Abbreviations: So we should all beware of our speech.

@

@Yes, I believe that we should give more attention to the verse---"But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." and follow this Bible admonitio

Ecc 5:

Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

Remember the words we speak have their birth in our hearts. Is our heart right with God? Is it right enough that those words that come forth from the depth of our being are words that bring God Glory to His Name. Have a wonderful day and lets you and I today not let any words come from out mouths that cause another to look down on God and His Ways.connie

THE "PEARL" OF GREAT PRICE, GIVEN FOR YOU AND ME

2011-09-28T17:10:00.004-05:00

THE MATCHLESS PEARL

David Morse -- American missionary to India -- became great friends there with the pearl-diver, Rambhau. Many an evening he spent in Rambhau's cabin reading to him from the Bible, and explaining to him God's way of salvation.

Rambhau enjoyed listening to the Word of God, but whenever the missionary tried to get Rambhau to accept Christ as his Savior -- he would shake his head and reply, "Your Christian way to heaven is too easy for me! I cannot accept it. If ever I should find admittance to heaven in that manner -- I would feel like a pauper there...like a beggar who has been let in out of pity. I may be proud -- but I want to deserve, I want to earn my place in heaven -- and so I am going to work for it."

Nothing the missionary could say seemed to have any effect on Rambhau's decision, and so quite a few years slipped by. One evening, however, the missionary heard a knock on his door, and on going to open it he found Rambhau there.

"Come in, dear friend," said Morse.

"No," said the pearl-diver. "I want you to come with me to my house, Sahib, for a short time -- I have something to show you. Please do not say 'No'."

"Of course I'll come," replied the missionary. As they neared his house, Rambhau said: "In a week's time I start working for my place in heaven; I am leaving for Delhi -- and I am going there on my knees."

"Man, you are crazy! It's nine hundred miles to Delhi, and the skin will break on your knees, and you will have blood-poisoning or leprosy before you get to Bombay."

"No, I must get to Delhi," affirmed Rambhau, "and the immortals will reward me for it! The suffering will be sweet -- for it will purchase heaven for me!"

"Rambhau, my friend -- you can't. How can I bear you to do it -- when Jesus Christ has suffered and died to purchase heaven for you!"

But the old man could not be moved. "You are my dearest friend on earth, Sahib Morse. Through all these years you have stood by me in sickness, in want -- you have been sometimes my only friend. But even you cannot turn me from my desire to purchase eternal bliss...I must go to Delhi!"

Inside the hut Morse was seated in the very chair Rambhau had specially built for him -- where on so many occasions he had read to him the Bible.

Rambhau left the room to return soon with a small but heavy English strongbox. "I have had this box for years," said he, "and I keep only one thing in it. Now I will tell you about it, Sahib Morse. I once had a son..."

"A son! Why, Rambhau, you have never before said a word about him!"

"No, Sahib, I couldn't." Even as he spoke the diver's eyes were moistened.

"Now I must tell you, for soon I will leave, and who knows whether I shall ever return? My son was a diver too. He was the best pearl diver on the coasts of India. He had the swiftest dive, the keenest eye, the strongest arm, the longest breath of any man who ever sought for pearls.

What joy he brought to me! Most pearls, as you know, have some defect or blemish only the expert can discern, but my boy always dreamed of finding the 'perfect' pearl -- one beyond all that was ever found. One day he found it! But even when he saw it -- he had been under water too long... That pearl cost him his life, for he died soon after."

The old pearl diver bowed his head. For a moment his whole body shook, but there was no sound. "All these years," he continued, "I have kept this pearl -- but now I am going, not to return, and to you, my best friend -- I am giving my pearl."

The old man worked the combination on the strongbox and drew from it a carefully wrapped package. Gently opening the cotton, he picked up a mammoth pearl and placed it in the hand of the missionary.

It was one of the largest pearls ever found off the coast of India, and glowed with a luster and brilliance never seen in cultured pearls. It would have brought a fabulous sum in any market.

For a moment the missionary was speechless and gazed with awe. "Rambhau! What a pearl!"

"That pearl, Sahib, is perfect," replied the Indian quietly. The missionary looked up quickly with a new thought: Was not this the very opportunity and occasion he had prayed for -- to make Rambhau understand the value of Christ's sacrifice? So he said, designedly, "Rambhau, this is a wonderful pearl, an amazing pearl. Let me buy it. I would give you ten thousand dollars for it."

"Sahib! What do you mean?"

"Well, I will give you fifteen thousand dollars for it, or if it takes more -- I will work for it."

"Sahib," said Rambhau, stiffening his whole body, "this pearl is beyond price. No man in all the world has money enough to pay what this pearl is worth to me. On the market a million dollars could not buy it. I will not sell it to you. You may only have it as a gift."

"No, Rambhau, I cannot accept that. As much as I want the pearl, I cannot accept it that way. Perhaps I am proud, but that is too easy. I must pay for it, or work for it..."

The old pearl-diver was stunned. "You don't understand at all, Sahib. Don't you see. My only son gave his life to get this pearl, and I wouldn't sell it for any money. Its worth is in the life-blood of my son. I cannot sell this -- but I can give it to you. Just accept it in token of the love I bear you."

The missionary was choked, and for a moment could not speak. Then he gripped the hand of the old man. "Rambhau," he said in a low voice, "don't you see? My words are just what you have been saying to God all the time."

The diver looked long and searchingly at the missionary, and slowly, slowly he began to understand. "God is offering you salvation as a free gift," said the missionary. "It is so great and priceless that no man on earth can buy it. Millions of dollars are too little. No man on earth could earn it. His life would be millions of years too short. No man is good enough to deserve it. It cost God the life-blood of His only Son to make the entrance for you into heaven. In a million years, in a hundred pilgrimages, you could not earn that entrance. All you can do is to accept it as a token of God's love for you -- a sinner.

"Rambhau, of course I will accept the pearl in deep humility, praying God that I may be worthy of your love. Rambhau, won't you accept God's great gift of heaven, too, in deep humility, knowing it cost Him the death of His Son to offer it to you?"

Great tears were now rolling down the cheeks of the old man. The veil was beginning to lift. "Sahib, I see it now. I have believed in the doctrine of Jesus for the last two years, but I could not believe that His salvation was free. Now I understand. Some things are too priceless to be bought or earned. Sahib, I will accept His salvation!"

-- Author Unknown

Jesus was given for us, God's only Son. He was given freely so that we can have our sins forgiven. Have you accepted The "PEARL" of great price for payment of your sin debt? connie

SPECIAL GIFTS

2011-09-26T19:21:00.004-05:00

SIX SPECIAL GIFTS

1. to see
2. to hear
3. to touch
4. to taste

5. to laugh
6. and to love.

These are special gifts. They can not be bought or sold. They are ours to use and to enjoy. They brings so much into our lives. They are given to us only by God.

SEE.....to perceive by the eye

The eye is a wonderful gift that we take so much for granted. I cover my eyes sometimes just so that I will know what it feels like to not be able to "see" with my eyes.We see all of the beauty of this world, the sky and things in the heavens, the stars,moon the sun and the clouds. We can see the birds, the trees the flowers.All the beautiful colors of the rainbows are our to behold. The things that I would miss most if my eyes were not able to see are the faces of those that I love. Their faces, their smiles, their frowns, their pain their sorrow but most of all their love.I am thankful that I can "See."

HEAR....to perceive or apprehend by the ear

I have tried to stuff my ears so that I can not hear. But there is always just that little bit of sound that makes its way to my being so that I realize what a great blessing it is to have ears that hear. Some of my most wonderful memories are when Jim first said, "I love you." Words that I have never forgotten. I can remember the sweet sounds that each of my children first made as they began to use speech as a way of communicating with me. The "mama" and finally the "Mama, I love you." Such sweet sounds to this Mother's hearing ears.
I love the sound of sweet music, of a running stream,a bird singing,a child laughing,wind in the trees, my Grandchildren as they call, "Granny or Grandma." Sounds is a beautiful gift from God and for it, I am very thankful.

TOUCH....to bring a bodily part into contact with especially so as to perceive through tactile sense

To be able to touch one that we love is a feeling that can not be duplicated. Even today, the touch of my husband brings a smile to my heart. To touch one of my children after not seeing them for a while, a few hours is a while, brings joy to this Mother's heart. The hug from a friend, is a blessing from God. What it must be like to not be able to feel when one touches another in love must be a grief one would not want to experience.

TASTE....to ascertain the flavor of by taking a little into the mouth.

How many times have I had the great pleasure of tasting the chocolate cake and pinto beans that my Mother used to make me for my birthday supper. It was the greatest taste in the world. How I miss not being able to have just one more taste since she went on home to be with the Lord. Do you have a favorite taste? Even today, I taste other beans and chocolate cake to try and find that taste once more but to no avail. I guess if I were to lose one of my senses I would choose "taste." It would be a great loss for I have always love to cook and it takes a good "Taster" to be a really good cook. My opinion, of course.

LAUGH....to show mirth, joy,or scorn with a smile and chuckle or explosive sound

I love to laugh. I mean the ones beginning with a very small smile and ending in a belly laugh. I love to hear others laugh. It is one of the purest sounds in all the world, it sounds like music to these ears of mine. To have a house filled with family and hear the laughing coming from all corners of the rooms is a joy that nothing else can give a "Mom." I love the little smile that comes to my husband mouth when he is trying to surprise me with something. I love his laughs when he has beat me at some game we are playing. Yes, I am glad God gave us the ability to laugh even in the hard times. It would be a very sad world indeed if we did not have smiles and laugh to give away to any who might need one.

LOVE.....affection based on admiration or benevolence,to hold dear, to cherish,devotion, or tenderness for

Ahh, love, to be loved is what all the world needs. I truly believe that only the Lord can teach us how to love. To put another before our self does not come easy to the human. But Jesus showed us what true love was when He gave Himself a sacrifice for each of us, when He paid the penalty required by God for our sins on the cross of Calvary. To be human means it is all about me, to be Christlike is to think of others and how our words and actions might effect them. Love is putting another person needs above those of our own.

Love is not lust nor is it selfish. It is kind, thoughtful, doesn't envy others,doesn't have to make its' self first nor does it have to be noticed, does not have to have its' own way,does not get angry easily, does not think bad of others, isn't happy when others fail or do wrong, Love loves truth, is ready to bear whatever is required of him, he just keeps on keeping on, trying to do right,he takes what others do to him with love.

Love is given by God and we need more of it in this world. If we find it, we should hold on to it with all our being. Jesus loves us first and best and if we are to know real love, we must first know Him.connie

HAPPY FALL TO YOU

2011-09-23T08:00:00.002-05:00

glitter-graphics.com

"Come said the wind to
the leaves one day,
Come o're the meadows
and we will play.
Put on your dresses
scarlet and gold,
For summer is gone
and the days grow cold."
- A Children's Song of the 1880's

I love "Fall" time of the year. I love the beauty of the colored leaves flying here and there.It is the time when the air is beginning to be sharp and crisp aganist our cheeks. The blue of the sky is dark and seems so near. The days get shorter and makes us appreciate the light all the more. The heat of summer is no more. I love the thought of family times and the laughter and the fun. The smell of cinnamon in the hot apple cider simmering on the stove. The pumpkin used to make wonderful desserts that are sweet to the taste. Oh, yes, I love the "Fall" time of the year. Time of hurry is past and the time of contemplation is here.Thinking about the past year, the good and the bad, the happy and the sad.

I want to wish each of you a very happy "Fall." We want to make the most of each moment so that we don't have to look back with regret of the time we have lost.Make the most of each day for it will not last. connie

HIP, HIP, HOORAY!!!!

2011-09-22T02:38:00.001-05:00

WONDER OF WONDERS

I got a new blog started and yet with hopes that they can recover Connies-Thoughts for me. I did not want to sit around until December waiting on them because I didn't want to lose all that time and then in the end not get it back.

So, I will begin anew and pray that God blesses this one as He did the other. I want to thank all who came to read my blog for all the years that I had it. You have been a blessing to me many times. There were times that I was not even able to get out of our home and you kept me the very best of company.

If you care to follow me on my new blog it is: WONDER OF WONDERS.......http://heartforthesaviour.blogspot.com

Thanks again and hope to see you here.connie

P.S. If you stop by, please leave the address to your blog. For I have not only lost my blog but all of your addresses. Thanks.

"SUPPOSE YE"

2011-09-22T00:16:00.000-05:00

''SUPPOSE YE''

Sometimes as Christians we are busy supposing what could be causing a trial, a suffering, a tribulation in the life of another. Oh, yes, we can go about thinking this or that , when really it is none of our business. I do believe that each person going through something in their life may or may not know why God has either brought or allowed such things to come upon their lives.
LUKE 13:1-5…..THERE WERE PRESENT AT THAT SEASON SOME THAT TOLD HIM OF THE GALILAEANS, WHOSE BLOOD PILATE HAD MINGLED WITH THEIR SACRIGICES. AND JESUS ANSWERING SAID UNTO THEM, suppose ye THAT THESE GALILAEANS WERE sinners ABOVE ALL THE GALILAEANS , BECAUSE THEY SUFFERED SUCH THINGS.
SUFFERED….. TO SUBMIT TO OR BE FORCED TO ENDURE; TO ALLOW; TOLERATE
But Jesus told them,”I TELL YOU, NAY: BUT, EXCEPT YE REPENT, YE SHALL ALL LIKEWISE PERISH.”
Jesus told them this is not why they had suffered. He added that “except ye repent, ye SHALL ALL LIKEWISE PERISH.”
REPENT…To be sorry; TO TURN FROM SIN AND DEDICATE ONESELF TO THE AMENDMENT OF ONE’S LIFE. TO CHANGE ONE’S MIND.
Then Jesus uses the example of a tower falling on eighteen and killing them in verse 4.
Again Jesus asks them the question, “THINK YE THAT THEY WERE SINNERS ABOVE ALL MEN THAT DWELT IN JERUSALEM?
In verse 5, Jesus answers His own question…..”I TELL YOU NAY: BUT EXCEPT YE REPENT, YE SHALL ALL LIKEWISE PERISH.
Again, he tells us as well as those people that day, that their supposing was wrong. But unless there is repentance toward God, all men will perish.
In just five verses in Luke 13:1-5, Jesus tells us that “EXCEPT YE REPENT, YE SHALL LIKEWISE PERISH.”
So then, it is not up to us to be SUPPOSING about what happens in the life of another but to take care that if there is SIN in our own life, it is to be REPENTED OF. I take you back to the word REPENT:To be sorry; TO TURN FROM SIN AND DEDICATE ONESELF TO THE AMENDMENT OF ONE’S LIFE. TO CHANGE ONE’S MIND.
The important thing in this life is to keep our fellowship with God, if we are already a Christian, open and clean. Otherwise, He will not hear or answer our prayers and we can not be blessed.
The most important thing for one who does not have a relationship with God is to repent and be sorry for the sin in your life. To ask Jesus Christ to come into your life and take control. If you believe that Jesus Christ is God’s Son, who came to the earth in human form as a babe, lived and bled and died on the cross of Calvary for you. He shed His blood, paying your sin debt so that you can be free . He rose again on the third day and is now in heaven at the right Hand of the Father. What He offers us is SALVATION and it is a free gift. He has paid the full price. We can no nothing, it has all been done for us. We just need to accept what He did for us to be saved.connie