Forgiving God, forgiveness from others

I just got through reading Joseph Prince's Daily Devotional I receive in my e-mail. It is an awesome little teaching on how God love's us no matter how we fail. It's so true. But I want to add to it. We live in a NATURAL world while we walk in the spirit. Yes God forgives and loves us no matter what we do, but will your husband love you after yelling and screaming at him in front of the children? Does your husband love you if you never say you're sorry and repent? Does the yelling and screaming not affect your children? Will your children learn how to treat others like Jesus treated people if we misbehave? When your child that you've allowed to yell and scream at you (since they've observed you and your wife screaming at each other) goes to work and yells and screams at employees, it should be understood that your child WILL LOSE THEIR JOB! God loves us, but the natural world we live in doesn't! I believe God gave us instructions on how to behave for OUR benefit and so we can take as many people as we can to heaven with us! When we repent, we make a complete turn and go in the other direction. We must purpose to correct our wrong behavior. I've made mistakes in my life and when I did repent, I no longer make those mistakes. I believe if we look at sin like touching a hot burner, we might have touched it when we were two years old, but NO WAY would I touch it as a mature adult. In the Bible, perfect is often translated as mature. "Be ye perfect even as I am perfect". If we spend time in God's Word, He will help us become perfect. "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God" There are some things I am mature in, there are other things I'm growing in. God loves me no matter what, but I want to make a difference in the circle I'm in. I hope you do too! God is so good! Let's purpose to treat family and others better than the day before. Let's become mature in our walk so we can lead well because we are ALL leading in some way. Maturity in the Bible was not based on age, but on the way individuals handled everyday life with their family and others. Elders were chosen according to correct outward behavior not according to how much scripture they could quote! (Read I Timothy 3) Our behavior reflects how much we do study the Word of God and our behavior speaks so much louder than our words do! Jesus was the best leader of all and Jesus was love in the flesh! Paul was a great leader, too! He wrote I Corinthians 13 that speaks of what love is and about becoming mature! God Bless everybody!

A New Perspective

There's no better way to adjust your attitude than to focus on someone else's needs. Larry & I just returned from our annual Mexico Medical Mission trip. Larry and 3 other doctors saw about 400 patients in 5 days, 176 people got saved, and we know we helped a lot of people needing medical and dental attention. It humbles you, and makes you truly thankful for the many things that we take for granted. Running water that is potable, lights, and sewer systems just to name a few. We have a great life here in the U.S. and there's no where else I'd rather be. I thank God for today, where I live, friends that I have, healthy children, healthy grandchildren, my car that works perfectly, my heated and cooled home, this computer to communicate with, a job, and the list goes on and on and on............

Party Hard!

I just had the best time last night celebrating a friend's birthday!! That is really what life is all about, friends and family! I just can't thank God enough for friends. Every time we get together with friends, it confirms how good God is!! Thank you sooooo much God for all good things!!

Meditate on His Word

I'm not sure what I'll title this blog, but I'm just going to sit down and begin writing!
Church was really good last night! Praise & worship and then the message was really inspiring to me! I was inspired for the moment and today is a new day to continue on in the blessing of last night! I know that the best way to continue on is to either be fed again today (read my Bible), or to meditate once again on last nights message. (Good reason for all of us to take notes!) I definitely have an array of notes from all the years in my walk with Jesus, listening to teachings, my own teachings, and reading my Bible. We cannot be reminded enough of the things the Holy Spirit shares with us. He's ever speaking, we should be ever listening. God will never lead us astray, but He does use people. If someone speaks into your life, just be sure that whatever they say is also found in the Word of God. It is very true that with age comes wisdom! Especially if someone has a few years under their belt!

Ever growing

Well....I watched the whole teaching DVD by Ed Young called "The Real "F" Word - Forgiveness". I've heard a lot of teachings about forgiveness, and this one has to be at the top of my list. It ministered to me in a way I don't think I ever have been. The DVD contained 3 separate teachings from 3 separate Sundays at Fellowship Church. More on this later! Have to go!!

A Great Day

It's been a few days since I've blogged, and it's a great day to catch up! I listened to Pastor Ed Young on TV while Larry and I were fishing in Colorado. He was teaching from a series called "The Real "F" Word - Forgiveness". I think it was absolutely the best teaching on forgiveness that I've ever heard. (And I've heard a lot) I think this is one of the most challenging areas for me to walk out my Christianity. I've asked God to help, and I know that He does, but unfortunately, my will sometimes gets in the way, and so I enter into the realm of "MY FEELINGS". To be honest, some days I walk it out really well, and then there are other days when I don't do well! Pastor Young's teaching that day set me free in a greater measure than I ever have experienced. He gave an example of how he, as a leader, embarrassed 3 women leaving a service early. He said they disrupted the service, so he made a rude comment from the pulpit, and he felt there was nothing wrong with that. After the service, he met with the leaders in the church and began justifying his way of handling the disruption. He explained how his leaders, including his wife, said that though there was a disruption, he had no right to treat anyone the way he did. The following Sunday, he apologized to the whole congregation, and to his SURPRISE, those 3 women had come back!! He didn't know until later that week that those women were in attendance. Ed Young received a big pan of lasagna with a letter that said, "We accept your apology, and hope that you accept our apology for interrupting the service".
When the Bible talks about us being witnesses in the earth today, I believe this is exactly what the Bible means. People MUST see us walking the walk. Otherwise, there cannot be a testimony from a witness. We are witnesses. We aren't perfect, but we can be genuine and we can be real. I don't expect the five-fold ministry to be perfect, but I do expect them to be real! I am fortunate to have pastors that are real, and they are helping and encouraging me to become all God wants me to be. It IS a great day to be a Christian, even if I fail, I CAN get back up again! I thank God for His mercy and unfailing love. I should be so bold as to offer the same to others. By the way, I ordered the whole "Forgiveness" series from Pastor Ed Young, and I am SOOOOOOOOOO Excited to hear it all!!

Be conformed to Christ

I'm bloggin again! My next blog is to encourage all of us not to be conformed to this world. When God gave us this instruction, I believe it was both spiritual and natural. Of course we can see with our eyes when we conform to natural things. For example, I believe God wants us to take care of our natural bodies, but obsession with dieting, or overindulgence in eating, will only result in damaging our bodies. If you feel pressure that you don't quite measure up, or if you find yourself comparing yourself to someone else, remember....... our standard of measure is "what does God think"?
Don't measure yourself by what you see advertised on TV or in magazines......the skinny beautiful model, the $50,000 car, the $1,000,000 home. When I read my Bible, I never see Jesus or Paul preach about how we look on the outside, but how we look on the "inside". If Jesus and Paul never talked about driving the best chariot, wearing the best robe, or looking the best, I believe that is the example I should follow. I'm guessing the reason they didn't is because we do not compete in the body of Christ. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with nice things, I believe good things will come as we lead a WELL-BALANCED LIFE. His direction will cause blessing, good health, good success and a GOOD self-image. His scales should be our scales.

A Higher Call

Well....I'm bloggin! I have always wanted a place to express my thoughts, convictions, and most of all, my joy. I hope that my words bring everyone hope for the present, and hope for the future. I love to comment on the ordinary, extraordinary, and even the everyday experiences of life. I figured that all the thoughts I have are better written than said!! We shall see!!