Category: Uncategorized

The Issue of Bullying

There has been a lot in the news lately about bullying.  Is it worse?  Or do we just have less faith and more bullying?  Having been sick for many years, I was bullied, and often, in school.  So on this issue, I share with you my friends from my own personal experience.  Being bullied, it’s not fun!  But you know, back in my day, the bullied had Hope through faith, and the bullying knew that there would be consequences if it went to far.  But back then, God was still allowed in school.

Perhaps if God we allowed back in school, we would see less of this, for with God there is always Hope and Justice.

One word I would share with the parents of those bullied is Pray.  Pray for your child and pray for the bully.  For as my Pastor says, Prayer changes things!

And turn off those electronics.  Every child needs a break!

 

 

 

Fear Not for I am with you! -Isaiah 41:40

 

 

 

It’s amazing when you really think about it.  God is with us!  Always.  Every day.  Every second.  When I truly think about that, I do not worry.  It’s only human to forget, but is truly Helpful to remember 🙂

 

 

 

God’s Promises: Forgiveness

Bibleinfo.com:
“God has promised forgiveness. It’s in the Bible, 1 John 1:9, NKJV. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
God promises our sins will be far removed from us. It’s in the Bible, Psalm 103:12, NKJV. “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
We are promised that our sins will be buried. It’s in the Bible, Micah 7:19, NKJV. “He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”
God’s Promises Include the Holy Spirit promise of the Holy Spirit He has promised the fruit of the Spirit. It’s in the Bible, Galatians 5:22-23, NKJV. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering”

Be Still And Know That I Am God :)


From Worthy Devotions:

“My Friends, listen carefully,

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth”

Psalms 46:10
“Before refrigerators, people used ice-houses to preserve their food. Ice-houses had thick walls, no windows, and a tightly fitted door. In winter, when streams and lakes were frozen, large blocks of ice were cut from the frozen waters, hauled to the ice-houses, and covered with sawdust. Often these ice-blocks would last well into the summer.

One man lost a valuable watch while working in an ice-house. He searched diligently for it, carefully raking through the sawdust, but didn’t find it. His fellow workers also looked, but their efforts, too, proved futile. A small boy who heard about the fruitless search slipped into the ice-house during the noon hour and soon emerged with the watch.

Amazed, the men asked him how he found it.

“I closed the door,” the boy replied, “lay down in the sawdust, and kept very still. Soon I heard the watch ticking.” (story taken from “Directions” by James Hamilton)

So often life can become so hectic that it becomes hard to find time to sit still and just listen to what the Lord is saying. But Jesus often secluded himself, so that He could commune intimately with His Father. In these days and in this hour it’s so imperative that we spend time in our own prayer closets, so we can clearly hear what our Father is saying to us, through His still small voice. If we do, we may find some wonderful and valuable things that others have missed.

My Friends, the question isn’t whether God will speak, but whether we will take the time to be quiet and still enough to hear His voice. Let’s be sure to take that time to hear what He’s saying to us!”- From Worthy Devotions

As many of you know, I signed up to receive the Worthy Devotions a number of years ago. There are no words that can adequetely convey how much they have meant in my life. I hope they will bring you inspiration and comfort as well. To sign up to receive Worthy Devotions, simply visit their website: Worthy Devotions

Have You Ever Felt Frustrated With God?

I think if we are honest, most of us will admit that there has been at least one time, or perhaps more, lol. But that’s ok.

Whether we already know Jesus or whether we are thinking about getting to know Jesus, if we want a real friendship that means being honest about how we feel and who we are. Because in real friendships, we share all of our feelings, not just the “good” ones.

So don’t wait to accept Jesus’ great gift until you are “ready”. And don’t wait until it’s the “right time”. just come as you are, and I promise you that Jesus will meet you there 🙂

 

Jesus Does Not Judge A Person By One Season-And Neither Should We :)

From Worthy Devotions:

1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

“We came across this powerful story and wanted to share it with you.Dead Snowy Tree

There was a man who had four sons. He wanted them to learn to not judge things too quickly, so he sent them each on a quest to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away. He sent his first son in the winter, his second in the spring, his third in summer and his youngest in the fall. When they had all gone and come back , he called them together to describe what they had seen.

Green parkThe first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said no – it was covered with green buds and full of promise. The third son disagreed, he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen. The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.

After hearing all his son’s responses, the wise father replied, “Sons, you are all right — because you have each seen only one season in the tree’s life. But you cannot judge a tree, or a person, or anything else by only one season. Most things can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons have come to pass”.

When I read this devotion, I can’t help but think how true it is-and how comforting.  I know that I myself have a tendency to worry about those I love.  Our husbands, our children, our family and friends.  With so many people that we love, there’s always some that are doing great-and there always a few that are struggling.

And when it comes to our children especially, there are simply no words that can really explain just how muchiStock_000002462782XSmall we love them.  And as they grow up, there are times we can’t help but worry about them.  Are they on the right track?  Do they have the right friends?  Are they truly learning to love the Lord?  Have they found the kind of faith that will light their way both here and through eternity?  The kind of faith that can never be taken away or torn down?  And as they grow, there will be days when we look at them amazed that someone so wonderful could be our child!    And there will be times that their love and thoughtfulness will bring tears to our eyes.  But there will also be days when we worry and wonder if they will find their way. And there will be days when we are frustrated and angry with them.

heavenAnd it’s on those days, the hard days, that we need to hold onto this reading, because just as it says above, no man is judged by just one season.  And we need to remember that when we are worried about someone we love, whether it’s our child, our husband or someone we love, Jesus loves them even more than we do.  And just as we will never give up on them and just as we will always love them-so will He.  So if there is someone in your life right now that you are worried about, remember, “With God All Things Are Possible”, and this life is a journey with many seasons.  But for those who follow our Lord, regardless of the seasons, our journey will end in one place-in Heaven.