BRENDA.ROCKHAVENCHURCH.ORG

One Nation Under God for Young and Old!

2010-07-05T18:25:00Z

I am an American, who by the grace of God lives in the land of the free. I am proud of that fact, so I have been wearing a T-shirt this week-end that says, “One Nation Under God”, and then it has Ps. 33:12, which says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance.”

I was walking through Wal-Mart today wearing my T-shirt, and a gentleman that was probably in his late 60’s or early 70’s stops me, and he thanks me for wearing the shirt. Then he looks me in the eyes with such a deep sincere look and says, “I like what it says very much.” I‘m guessing that he was probably a veteran of the Korean or Viet Nam war, and obviously a Christian. He looked at me with such conviction, & had such sincerity in his voice that I actually began to cry right there in the frozen food aisle of Wal-Mart.

Next, I was in line to pay out, and the lady paying out in front of me was telling the cashier to have a wonderful day, and a safe fourth. Then she adds with extra emphasis, “You have a blessed day – God bless!” The lady was probably in her late 70’s or early 80’s. I again was moved.

As I thought about what I had just experienced, I was moved by their openness, and respect for their God , and country. I began to wonder why seemingly most younger people seem to have no respect for either, and young people today certainly don’t seem to have any enthusiasm for God. Where did we go wrong? Is this why so many want to take ‘One nation under God’ out of our pledge?

Even our name as a citizen of America is trying to tell us something. Look at the word AMERICAN. I see several other words in the word American. I see the words, “me, I, am, & can.” I see the I AM that I AM which is the Christ in/of me. That is the real ME, the reality of me. I see the I CAN, which reminds me that I CAN do all things through Christ which strengthens me. So the real ME is the I AM that I AM, and I CAN do all things through this Christ (this I AM) that is in ME, giving me strength. This strength comes from the joy of the Lord, and the joy comes from being in His presence.

Wow! The word AMERICAN is filled with God’s Word.

I am proud to be a Christian American, and I love to be in His presence to find out just who I am.

I hope & pray that our young people will someday realize the importance of living in a country that has such great freedoms, and I hope & pray that they will have a love for their God, realize who they really are in Christ, and be thankful for a country that allows them to have such wonderful freedoms.

Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “We cannot read the history of our rise, and development as a nation, without reckoning with the place the Bible has occupied in shaping the advances of the Republic.” Let us let freedom ring, and let God’s Word ring out from our hearts! Let’s be proud of our God, and let’s continue to have a God fearing nation! One nation under God.

MISTAKES

2010-06-05T03:18:00Z

I was just thinking, when Hollywood is making a movie, and the scene does not go right, then they do another “take”. They may have to do several takes, even hundreds before they get it right, and even then, it might have to be edited.

What made me think of that was when I looked at the word “mistake”. I looked at it again, and I saw “mis-take”.

I then thought about how great it is, that every time we make a “mis-take”, God lets us have another “take”.

I am so glad that our God is a loving, forgiving God, who lets us start over again, and again, until we get it right; and thank God, He jumps in, and edits a lot of things in my life.

Anyway, that is what I was thinking.

STEPPING OUT ON FAITH! (Easter)

2010-04-01T03:08:00Z

I can remember years ago when we started this church, and sometimes the only way we got an offering was if we gave. I mean times were slim. One night I was invited out to eat with a group of ladies from the church. We were all going to get separate tickets, and that was fine I certainly don’t mind that, but I was not sure if I had enough money to go, but, by faith I decided to go, even though the money I was using was supposed to get us through the rest of the week.

Well, I had checked out the prices pretty well, and I thought I can do this. So, I ordered, and enjoyed my meal. Then when the check came I had totally forgotten about a tip. I was so embarrassed, but I was still keeping my cool. I said a little prayer, and looked deep down in my purse. About that time the waiter came, and picked up my check, but he left my money. I said, “Sir, you forgot something.” He answered back, “the lady at the end of the table got your check.” I was shouting ‘Praise God” on the inside of me. I walked down to the end of the table, hugged her neck, thanked her, and said, “Here, let me get the tip!”

Yes, I had stepped out by faith, and God had given me enough money for my dinner, and then when she paid, my prayer was answered with tip money!

You know that is what Jesus was stepping out by faith when he trusted God to deliver him up out of the grave on Easter Morning! He was demonstrating to us just how to really step out on faith. He was stepping out on faith trusting God his Father with his very life.

I think Easter is all about the great demonstration of living our lives by faith. Even though sometimes we sweat it a little like I was that night, but just think aboutJesus, he sweat as if it were great drops of blood.

WWJD – He would step out by faith, and trust His Heavenly Father. That is what we have got to learn to do. – I am still continuing to learn – key words are “still/continuing”. It is an everyday walk, a lifestyle.

I guess you could say that Jesus is giving us tips every day if we are willing to listen.

Well, anyway, that’s what I was just thinking!

MOVING MOUNTAINS ONE STONE AT A TIME!

2010-02-23T18:56:00Z

Mark 11:23 says, “…whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he says.”

While Pastor Joe Bob was teaching on this passage the last two Sundays a thought came to me about something I had read one time. It read something like this, “when we move mountains it is usually by one stone at a time.”

The more I thought about this the more I saw the truth in it. Usually in the natural it takes time, and man power to move a mountain. Even if you use dynamite it may all come down at once, but you still have to move the rubble away a few stones at a time.

You might say in the supernatural that God uses His “dunamis” power to move a mountain. Dunamis is the Greek word from which we get our word “dynamite”. Well, in the spirit realm the mountain is blown away, but we still have to move the rubble one stone at a time. Starting with the stone in front of the grave/deadness (heart), of our lives. We have to remove this stone, and let Christ Jesus come forth in our lives. Once you have rolled away the stone from the tomb in the mountain, and Christ comes forth in the spirit realm then we will began to see symbolic mountains of hindrances, and obstacles in our lives being moved a stone at a time, and new life coming forth.

Speak God’s word to your mountains! Stop speaking our words of doubt, and start saying what God says – “All things are possible to those who believe”.

Some people might say, ‘But it is too painful to lift, and move heavy stones.’ Well my answer for that is let the angel of the Lord come, and roll it away. I know that may be hard to believe, or to let go, and let this happen, because I know that I wrestle with the letting go thing. I always think that I need to be in control. I am learning more everyday to let God be in charge of rolling away the stones.

When God does roll away the stones, then we might want to build a monument which our pastor calls “stones of remembrance”( Read Joshua 4:8,9,20-24). This will remind you of all the times God has moved mountains for you.

So don’t give up on moving your mountains. Just remember that they are going away one stone at a time. Yes, it is faster if you use that dunamis power/God’s power, but it does still seem to take some time, but the load will be easier. So keep speaking God’s word to your mountain/s, and let God’s word move it for you!

Sometimes you may not want to move a mountain; you may want to overtake a mountain, to possess it, well again speak to it the Word of God, and like Caleb you will have your mountain, even if it takes one stone at a time!

Finally - My Verse for the New Year!

2010-01-31T05:54:00Z

Usually I have chosen a verse that I feel like God has layed on my heart for the new year by now, but I did not have a peace about it until about a week and a half ago. Finally, it came to me – 1 Samuel 1:17, “Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace; and the God of Israel grant you your petition that you have asked of him.”

This comes from the story of Hannah when she was praying for a child. Peninnah, her adversary had been making fun of her, provoking her, to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb.

Do you feel like the adversary is provoking you? Do you feel like that you are wanting to give birth to something, but you feel like you are barren?

Well of course your adversary, the devil is roaming about seeking whom he may devour. Well I do not give him permission. He may NOT devour me. “I shall go in peace; and my God shall grant me my petition that I have asked of him.”

But, you might be saying, “wait a minute, Brenda. I have been asking, but I don’t seem to be receiving. I know. I feel the same way sometimes. I asked God about that, and this is what He showed me.

In James 4:2,3 it says, “You have not because you ask not.(ok, but I ask & still don’t get what I ask for) You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts.” I think that this goes back to Matt. 6:33, in that we are to “seek God” first, then all these “things” will be added. I think that I miss it in that I am not “asking for God first”. I ask for the things first to consume them upon my lust, my greed, my need, my pleasure. There is nothing wrong with asking for things, but not to the exclusion of God, not putting the things before God.

The Bible also says to ask, and it shall be given, and whatever you ask of God it shall be given. Again this does not always seem to be true for me. I realize His timing is not my timing, but I think there is more to it.

The Word also says to ask anything in my name/nature (that’s a whole different blog) that the Father be glorified. It also says to abide in Him and it shall be done to me, and ask, and I shall receive, that my joy may be full. First John says, we receive because we keep His commandments. I believe that is the commandment that says, “we should love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and secondly we shall love ourselves, and then we are to love our neighbor like we love ourselves. If I obey this commandment then I will automatically be keeping the ten commandments in the Old Testament.

Then, we are to pray according to His will. Well, according to I Thes. 5:18 the will of God is to give thanks in everything. Mt. 21:22 says I am to ask in prayer, believing, than I shall receive.

Then, I John 5:15 says to “know” that He hears us. I believe that knowing is “faith”.

Oh, yes, don’t expect anything if you are double minded, thinking one minute that God will, and then, the next minute you wonder if He will.

So, to wrap it up, I am going to go with peace in my heart knowing, by faith, that God has heard what I asked in prayer (& It is not a greedy prayer, but one that will bless me & others) so I am going to receive, because I am seeking Him first, and when I seek Him I shall find Him, and my joy will be full. When I find Him I will automatically walk in love, because He is love. I am abiding in Him, & He in me because I am one with Him. When I pray I will give thanks to Him, because it is already done before I even finish asking, and I will stay focused on my answer. I will see it done in my mind’s eye, and I will speak it so! MY PETITION IS GRANTED!

Anyway, this is the way I see it, so this is what I am going to do. I decree, and command it so!

AND THE GIFT GOES ON!

2009-12-09T19:42:00Z

Are you ready for Christmas? Are you ready for your gifts? Are you ready for “the GIFT” from which all other gifts come? Jesus the Christ is CHRISTmas. He is the gift, and the giver.

Jesus ,the gift, is the gift that keeps on giving! And this gift is FREE! Acts 8:20 says it cannot be purchased with money.

In an old Evie song, she sang how He came ‘special delivery, wrapped up in love, bound by a promise, sealed by a dove’.

Jesus is our “present”, our NOW. The right time is always now, because it is always right now, from this point that my future is made in Christ. He is our NOW!

He comes with free shipping and handling. He is our care package – he doesn’t come under a literal tree, but he came in a manger made out of a tree and then he showed us the greatest gift of all on a tree/cross.

He is the gift that I get to wake up to everyday. I get to unwrap Him. I get to let him open up/unfold within me. He is under me – under my skin-within me. The Bible relates to ‘men as trees’. Christ is under this tree/me!

The Christ Child is born anew in me every day. Born in my inner manger, and every beastly/carnal/flesh thought has to bow, every lowly shepherd thought of fear, worry, doubt, lack, disease, and every exalted earthly king thought of conceit, high & mighty attitude, and every haughty thought has to bow to the Christ within me. (The kings can also represent the spirit realm, as they came from the east, and in the Bible the east is the symbolic realm of spirit) Every knee (every thought) shall bow at the feet of Jesus!

Christ Jesus is the best fruit that I could ever get in my stocking – He is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance!

When I see the star at the top of the tree, I remember that Jesus is the star/the bright & shining, morning star – the Day Star, and I am going to reach for the stars, or “the Star” in my life every day. He is the “star” on this tree – me! He is at the top of my consciousness!

When I see the Christmas lights, I am reminded that God is the Father of light, and that Jesus is the light of the world. Every good & perfect gift comes from the Father of light. That is the reason for all the lights at Christmas.

When I see the Red & Green colors of Christmas I think of the blood that Jesus shed on the cross for me, and the green represents the everlasting life that he has given to me, and you.

In the Legend of the Candy Cane it tells us that the staff shape reminds us that Jesus is the good shepherd, and it is hard candy like rock candy. That reminds us of what it says in I Cor. 10: 3&4, “all did eat the same spiritual meat; and did drink the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual ROCK that followed them, and that ROCK was CHRIST.” Jesus is the Rock!

Thank you Father for your gift (Jn.3:16) which includes so many other gifts, and benefits.

“Thanks be to God for His precious, indescribable, inexpressible, free Gift! – II Cor. 9:15 amp

JOY to the WORLD OUR GIFT HAS COME! Let earth RECEIVE her KING!

God, I receive the gift of Christ Jesus your son. I am receiving, I’m receiving, now. I’m receiving my unlimited good from you, my unlimited God, in unlimited ways, now!!!

It is the gift that truly keeps on giving!!! Just receive it!!!

And the gift goes on, & on, & on, & on, & on………………………..!!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

LET’S REPROGRAM OUR MINDS!

2009-09-01T17:34:00Z

OK, so I guess that we have figured out that it is “as a man thinks in his heart/subconscious mind so is he”

Joseph Murphy, in one of his books, says, “Your thoughts, mental imagery, beliefs, attitudes, and feelings are investments which you deposit in your subconscious mind. Your subconscious gives compound interest, i.e., it magnifies whatever you deposit. Impress your subconscious with love, faith, confidence, right action, guidance, abundance, security, and good humor, and whenever you need love, confidence, or an answer to a problem, your subconscious will supply you. This is the way to dig treasures out of the gold mine within you.

Do you remember the little song that we used to sing when we were children that said, “Oh be careful little ears what you hear…be careful little eyes what you see…be careful little mouth what you say…for the Father up above is looking down in love oh be careful little ears what you hear…eyes what you see…mouth what you say.” I believe this is very true. Our subconscious does not know if we are serious or teasing, so we must be very careful what we say, hear, speak, and think, because all of that goes into our subconscious mind. The subconscious believes everything to be true, and then we wonder why things are the way they are in our lives.

I also believe that God has already deposited something into us, it is a great treasure of knowledge, and wisdom, and if we will search for it as if for hidden treasure like Proverbs 2:4 says then we will find those great treasures that lead us to an abundant life.

I wish I would have understood this when I was much younger. I do believe that I would have enjoyed life a whole lot more. Right now it seems like I have to spend a lot of time reprogramming my subconscious mind. Praise God I now know to do this, but I have to admit it does not seem to be easy. It is like I had been brain washed. It is time to transform my mind by renewing it.

MIND OVER MATTER-part 2

2009-08-11T15:28:00Z

I am still thinking along the same lines as before. This “thinking/mind” thing.

Ok, the Bible says in Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinks in his “heart”, so is he.” Notice that it does not say, “For as he thinks in his “mind” so is he”, no in his “heart”. The heart, to me, is the inner most part of me, that deep region, the sub-conscious. What we really believe is in our sub-conscious realm. That is why we manifest what we do. We can think in our conscious mind all day about being healthy, or wealthy, etc., and we can speak all our affirmations, and verses; but if we really don’t believe it in our “deepest regions”, in our sub-conscious mind/heart, “It ain’t gonna happen”.

This “inner region/heart” is our “knowing place”. What we really know to be true.

I heard someone say the other day that they could not retire yet, and just believe God to be their source and their supply – their paycheck. They said, ‘I don’t have that kind of faith.” Yes, they do. We all do. It is just that her faith is in her job. Her source and her supply is her job. She believes strongly in her job to supply a paycheck every week. She has faith in her company to be there for her. I am by no means putting her down, because I have to examine my own faith, my own heart. I look around at my outer circumstances, and I have to admit that everything that I have is a result of my faith, my true consciousness, my heart, my “real” belief.

I want to have the same kind of faith that she has in her job, except I want to have that faith in God, and His Word.

I am thinking that I need to reprogram my sub-conscious mind/heart. I need for my heart to believe that I really can do all things through Christ which strengthens me, and that I can be doing greater things than Jesus did.

How do I do this? I think that it is through prayer, and meditation; meditation being the key. I have to focus on Christ within as my “all in all”. I have to stop listening to the world, and doing things its’ way. I think it would probably help me to fast from the news, from people that only want to talk about their woes, and how bad the economy is, from my own words & thoughts, etc. Now this is not an easy thing to change, especially at my age. This will take discipline, a lot of focused discipline.

I also think that the world knows about programming our sub-conscious mind, thus the media has us all in a hypnotic state, believing everything that we are told.

Well, maybe I have opened a whole new can of worms. But, I just know that I am missing it somewhere. God is good to me, but I know that God wants me to have so much more! Anyway, I was just thinking.

MIND OVER MATTER?!?

2009-08-08T22:28:00Z

Ok, so I have been thinking about the subject of “mind over matter”. Some people really have a hard time with that, but I was just thinking about how if I want my hand to move, I have a desire to move it, so my mind tells it to move, and it moves. So how was it that my mind reached matter? Was it my desire? I wanted to move it. I desired to move it?

The Bible tells me that “God gives me the desire of my heart”, and that “as a man/woman thinks in his/her heart, so is he/she”.

If the Word teaches that I have the “mind of Christ”, then it seems like for sure that “mind should have power over matter”. So is this how we are to move the mountains in our lives, by using the “Christ Mind” that is in us?

Seems like, to me that we have a lot of unused, latent power within us. If we are supposed to be doing greater things then Jesus did then I am really missing it somewhere.

I really think that I am missing out on a lot that God has for me. What do you think?

MY BEST FRIEND'S BIRTHDAY!!!

2009-07-13T16:47:00Z

Today is July 13, 2009. Today is my best friend's birthday! She moved away October 13, 2002. That was one of the saddest days of my life. I always go see her on her birthday! We talk about old times, and I tell her about what has been happening with me, my family, and my church. She has always been a good listener, and I usually do most of the talking. She is probably the best friend a person could have.

I miss having her around, because she was always there for me in the good times, and the sad. She could always find the good in everything, and everybody. She could rally people to do things when no one else could get them to do anything. She has always been the most positive person I have ever met.

She was, and is one of the smartest ladies I know, yet she never has or will flaunt it. She has always made anyone, and everyone feel comfortable around her no matter what your social status.

She has always been one of the most giving people I have ever known. She has always been more than generous, and would never let it be known that she gave. She knew that if she gave that she would not be depleted, but that there was "always more where that came from", as she always said!

I have been blessed beyond measure to have such a friend as Juanita Ham. I celebrate my dearest friend today, for you see when she moved away in October 2002, she moved to her heavenly home.

Yes, I know that when I go to her grave every year on July 13th I know that she is not there, for she is risen, and seated in heavenly places with our heavenly Father. Juanita knew her heavenly Father well. That is the best thing about her, the fact that she would sit, and talk with me for hours about God,and about revelation. She knew Jesus the Christ as her Savior, her Shepherd, and her Lord. I trust today that if you are reading this that you know Jesus Christ as your savior.

I wish you could have all known my special friend, Juanita. Sad to say you will never be able to know her now; but you can know my best friend Jesus. She knew Him well, and I want you to know Him, too. Let this be your new birthday, let the Christ be born in you today!

Happy Birthday America!

2009-07-05T22:35:00Z

I was just thinking about a quote I read by Thomas Jefferson. The quote was as follows - "A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government." I'm thinking that Thomas Jefferson might not think that we have such a good government right about now.

My birthday present for America is to pray for her, love her, stand beside her, bless her, and pray that God would open the eyes of our hearts. I pray that we would once again be "one nation under God". I pray for peace on earth, and good will to ALL men.

The best way for America to find this peace is for each individual to find the peace that passes all understanding for themselves. This peace lies within each one of us. It is in the place where Christ Jesus abides. It is Christ in us the hope of glory!

Happy Birthday America! I hope you all had a blessed 4th!

Gadhafi and the Cross

2009-06-18T20:36:00Z

This last week in Rome on a historic trip, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi wore an archive photo provocatively pinned to his chest, showing the arrest of an anti-Italy guerrilla fighter. The image was of Omar Mukhtar's 1931 arrest at the hands of colonial Italian troops.

Gadhafi said that the photo symbolized the tragedy of Italy's 1911-1941 occupation in the same way Christians wear a cross to mark the tragedy of Christ's death. He said, "It is a tragedy symboloized by the cross, and this is a tragedy symbolized by the photo."

What struck me about this story was what he said about Christians. I don't know about you, but I don't wear it to grieve the death of Jesus on the cross, but to celebrate that He is no longer on that cross, but is risen from the grave. I wear a cross to symbolize VICTORY! To me it symbolizes that Christ is no longer on the cross, or in the grave. Jesus conquered them both. Jesus demenstrated to us all that the cross, nor the grave have power over us. The cross represents life, not death; victory, and not defeat. It symbolizes the fact that I am more than a conqueror, because of what Christ Jesus did for me, and even for Gadhafi.

It is sad, even a shame, that the world does not know what we as Christians really stand for. We are not rallying around a man who died more than 2000 years ago, but we stand to represent, and celebrate a risen Christ who lives in each one of us today!

I appreciate his concern for his cause, but I am sad that the world thinks we Christians walk around in sadness wearing our sad crosses. I wear mine because I know that my redeemer lives. Whether you believe, or not ,Christ is! Men, and women like Gadhafi, and myself will come, and go, but Christ lives yesterday, today, and forever!!!

Only Know Winning

2009-05-21T06:19:00Z

I was just thinking about last nights results of "Dancing with the Stars". I don't know about you, but I was surprised at first. I really thought that Gilles or Melissa were the better dancers, but then I got to thinking about something that Shawn had said a couple of weeks ago. In her some what non-descript way she said something to this effect, 'I am going to win that mirror ball trophy, because I only know how to win, or I only know winning'. Anyway, it was something like that. She said it with such calm confidence, with such a knowing. . . nothing cocky, but just with such assurance.

Ok, you might be saying, 'so what'. Well, I got to thinking about what my sister said to me about people with an olympic attitude. She said, 'the mental edge these competitors have, that the average Joe does not, is that they know that power of inner thoughts.'

When was the last time that I talked to a Christian with such an attitude? When was the last time that I had this kind of attitude? What is so sad is that Christians should have the most winningest attitude of all. Eph. 3:20 tells us, "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us." Prov. 23:7 says, "For as he/she thinks in his/her heart, so is he/she." Phil 4:8 tells us what to think.

According to the Word, we should have this power, right now, inside of us. We should be the ones to know like David against Goliath, or Shawn Johnson against Gilles, or Melissa, that we can win at whatever we set our minds to do, or what God has called us to do. I just think that we are missing it somewhere. What do you think? God's people of all people should KNOW that we are WINNERS!!!

Are we winners or not???

The Girdle that Sets You Free

2009-05-05T19:33:00Z

I was just thinking about a quote that I once read. It went something like this, “The truth that sets you free is the truth that you are free.” That quote was a “wow moment” quote for me. I don’t know about you, but I can really get myself in a bind (of fear) sometime by not knowing just how free in Christ that I really am.

Just think about it. The Bible says, in John 14:6, that “Jesus is the way, the Truth, and the life.” It also says in John 8:32 that “…you shall know the truth, and it is the truth that will set you free.” Ok, if Jesus the Christ lives in me, then I am one with Him, just like when you stir the egg into the batter, it is not coming out, it is one with the batter. Now because I am one with Him, then everything that He is, I AM. So that makes the truth a part of me. If He is the truth, then I am the truth, so I should only be speaking the truth, which is His word. The truth is that He is free, He is freedom! Praise God, I am free!

If we really know this to be true, then the words that we speak should be just as powerful as when Jesus spoke. Wow!

So what are we free to do? We are free to love just like our God loves. We are free to love God, ourselves, and others. We are free to speak His word. We are free to speak, and know that our words have power! So, be careful little mouth what you say!

But, just like John 8:32 says, “…you shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free”, you have to know the truth. Do we really know the truth/ the Christ? Do we really know what all that entails? All that the Father has is mine! I am the righteousness of God in Christ, I am accepted in the beloved, what He is IAM!

This also means that we are to be thinking His thoughts, not limiting, carnal mind thoughts. Think on whatsoever things are true, honest, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praise worthy. Think the “I can” thoughts. The “I can do all things through Christ” thoughts!

I Peter 1:13 says, “gird up the loins of your mind.” Ephesians 6:14 says, “having your loins girt up with truth.” Truth is the only girdle that sets us free instead of binding us up!

We are free to be what God created, and called us to do, and do it in love!

A New Way To Recycling Plastic

2009-04-21T16:29:00Z

I was just thinking about tomorrow, April 22. Tomorrow is Earth Day 2009. Now this special day has been around since the 1970’s, but just in the last few years did anyone seem to be familiar with Earth Day, and what it stood for.

Tomorrow is also my wedding anniversary, and it is a friend’s birthday. So you can see why it is a day for me to remember, and be thinking about. I will probably have to remind my husband about all three.

Anyway, back to Earth Day. I was thinking about what I could do to take care of this wonderful earth that God gave us. I will probably plant some flowers, and trees. Now I am not much into recycling, so I had to put some thought into that. Then it came to me. I will recycle some plastic, not bottles, but CREDIT CARDS!

I have been working at paying off my credit cards, and I thought this is it. I can cut them up, and use them for guitar picks, or shred them, and make tooth picks! You know this is not a bad idea. This maybe one of the best things that I can do for Mother Earth, and for me (my earthen vessel/earth body), to get me out of debt.

Well, think about if you try recycling your credit cards this year, it could be your best Earth Day ever. I know that it would be a good anniversary present for my husband. He would love it if I stopped using my “plastic”!

I may have to plant the flowers, and trees first, and then I will ease into the plastic recycling. We all have to start somewhere!

Truly, the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. God has given us this wonderful place to live, and He wants us to be good stewards.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

2009-03-18T22:21:00Z

I was just thinking about a lot of things today. Here are some of my random thoughts.

I Cor. 13:12 says, “we see through a glass darkly”, so we must not see what’s really there, which is God’s perfection.

Have you ever noticed that we sometimes relate more to our thoughts about someone and not actually to that someone?

Proverbs 3:6 says, “in all your ways acknowledge Him.” I think that means to be conscious at all times of God everywhere, and in everything. Also, to be conscious that everything comes from God. If God was in the “burning” bush, then He must be in the fire, or even be the fire. That’s why the three Hebrew children came through the fire without being burned. It’s just all God, isn’t it?

I’m thinking that what we have to overcome to get healthy, wealthy, wise & successful is to overcome everyone telling us to stay average like them, be fearful, and don’t dare to be different. Also, we probably should not focus on the things of this world, but to seek God first, and put our focus on Him and His kingdom. That’s hard to do when things seem to be in your face bad, but that is all the more reason to do it. It is not easy to dare to be different, but after all God did say that we were a peculiar people. (Easier said than done???)

Don’t come into God’s presence with a “poor me” attitude, because God sees us as complete. He is just waiting on me to realize that I am already complete in Him.

I heard my husband say, ‘Romans says the strength of sin is the law’. I believe he is right.

If we need or fear people, or both, that does not make for a true relationship. What do you think?

We complain because something happened or didn’t happen, so we then say we can’t be ourselves until certain things do happen or stop happening. I believe that makes us “victims”.

If the verse, “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want” is true, then why do I still have “want” in my life. Maybe I have not really made Him my shepherd, or sought Him first???

Seems to me that I have some strange, but good thoughts today, It must be because it is raining outside. Yea! Thank you God that it IS raining outside today!!!

NEW BEGINNINGS – LET’S REV HER UP & START AGAIN

2009-02-20T18:24:00Z

I was just thinking about beginnings, actually about “new” beginnings, about starting over again. In John 1:1 it says, ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’

Now if God is omnipresent, that means He was here yesterday, and He is here “now”, and He will be here with us forever, and be everywhere we are at all times.

OK, if God is the Word, and in the beginning was the Word, then that makes God equal to “beginning”. And God is a NOW GOD, so I can have “new beginnings” at any “now moment”.

WOW! So if I messed up before, I can start all over now! Of course I may have to reap what I have sowed in the past; but I can start all over, and do things differently this time.

Now, remember you cannot put new wine into old wine skins, or new patches upon old garments without them looking patched. In other words you cannot take with you into a new beginning any part of the old man ( your past, old ways of thinking, actions, fears, etc.) If you want things to be different in your life, you have to do something different.

I think God wants to take us all to a new level of faith and awareness. Let’s start thinking, believing, and seeing things the way God does, and know that God is not a God of fear.

I’m thinking that if we do this we are in for some great new beginnings NOW! Remember, if you want different results, you probably need to do things differently, and by differently, I mean God’s way, not just a new idea from some person. Just because it worked for them, it may not for you. Get your own word. God may tell you to do it the same way, but make sure it is what God wants for you.

In other words, get your own direction, and inspiration from the Christ “in you”!

Albert Einstein said, “The real problem is in the hearts and minds of men.” Proverbs tells us that as we think in our hearts so are we (you are & have what you think).

Make the changes NOW. Start all over NOW. If that doesn’t work, start over again!!! You are never to young, or to old, just do it!