I am very burdened and sad to say that my mother has only 3-6 months left to live in this life. This fact has placed a heavy burden on me. I know that it is God that saves but my heart still aches as I watch and wait and view what He is doing in my mother's life.
I must say that the miracles has not stopped. I have watched as day after day I visit my mother before radiation and pray with her. Where she would never allow me to pray with her before, now it is almost as she welcomes our daily prayer time together.Let me beg that your prayers continue.
Of course everytime that God is at work, Satan is not far behind. I am now suffering pursecution from my family as I come and pray with my mother. This is very disheartening to me. It is very hard to stand alone, praise God that HE stands with me. Please pray that I will stand strong and not lose heart in this race.
Sisters, I do so love and praise God for you every day. I know that without the prayers and support from Godly women like you I would not be able to withstand all that I am going through. I cannot thank you enough for your ministry.
Because Of Him,
Miracles, Miracles, Miracles!
As you read this I want you to see all of the miracles that unfold. Watch how Gods hands are on everything that happened. Watch as he performs miracle after miracle in the life of a lost woman.
After 9 months of not speaking because of a family squabble my mother called me on Wednesday, January 17th, my mother (age 61) called me to invite me to her wedding. On Saturday, January 20th my mother married a wonderful man. At the wedding my sister and I noticed that my mother was holding her hand in a funny way and was not using it like normal. We both suspected that she may have had a mini stroke. We didn't want to ruin her wedding so we decided to watch her and talk to her about going to see her doctor.
On Saturday, January 25th I received a call from my cousin saying that my mother had been out to visit her Mother on Friday in New Orleans (which hasn't happened in a few years) and that my mother was dragging her leg and kept dropping things. She said that her mother, my mothers sister, thought that she may have had a mini stroke and that she needed to be brought to the hospital. I called my mother and told her that I was going to bring her to the ER to be checked out. My mother said that she had an appointment with her Dr on Tuesday and that she would wait. I told my mother that she needed to get ready and that I would be right over to pick her up. I called my sister and told her to meet me at my mothers house.
We arrived at the Hospital and several questions were asked and many test were ran. The results, a sizeable brain tumor and brain surgery would need to be done to remove it. We were all shocked. My sister ran out of the room and I was left to comfort my mother. They admitted my mother into the hospital right away and said that the surgery would be preformed on Monday. They said that the tumor had come from somewhere else and that pieces of it had gone to the brain and grew there.
We didn't know if my mother would make it out of the surgery. All of this weighed on my heart because my mother is not saved. I did the only thing that I knew to do. I called everyone that I knew and asked that she be put on their 24 hour prayer chain.
When my mother was brought in for more test I went to the chapel and broke down before the Lord and asked him to please allow me to witness to my mother and that she would come to Him. I was so afraid that my mother would die and not go to heaven. God sent me an overwhelming peace.
I spent the next 2 days at my mothers side praying and talking to her about prayer and the power of God reminding her of all the people that were praying for her. I prayed that God would open the door and give me the words to say that would bring her to Him. I never got that chance. As they brought my mother into surgery I prayed that my mother would make it through surgery so that I could lead her to the Lord.
My mother did come out of her surgery and was doing fine. The Dr said that he had removed all of it that he could but there was still small traces of the tumor left. While my mother was in CCU recovery me and my whole family (who are lost) went in to see my mother. At the end of our visit I asked the family if we could pray for Mom together. We all held hands and I led us in prayer. While I was praying and thanking God for the success of the surgery and for a speedy recovery I heard my family praising God and thanking him out loud. (This is the first time EVER that my family had prayed together) My mother, who was semi conscious and whom I had never heard pray was lifting up prayers for the family, that we would grow closer together. I had never before heard my mother pray.
I stayed the night in the CCU waiting room praying for my mother and her recovery. The test results had come in and we found out that the tumor was malignant and that she had brain cancer and that indeed the cancer had come from a dime size lesion on her lung which was lung cancer. My Mom would still need to have radiation and some Chemo but she would be able to go home on Friday, just 4 days after having brain surgery.
I know what you are wondering, No my Mom did not get saved after all of this, but tonight while I was talking to her I told her about the family praying for her in CCU. I told her how they were all praising God for what He had done. I told her of how she was praying with us. She said that she didn't remember any of it but do you know what she did tell me? She said that she knew that God had His had on everything because of the way that it happened. She said that she could look back and see how He guided everything that happened and that she knew that God had saved her life.
Yes, I know that she is not yet saved, but I know that God was in everything and that He is still in everything. I know that God is going to give me that chance to bring her to Him and that He will let me know when the time is right and the right words to say.
Even though bad things happen sometimes, it is through those bad times that God is at work. We need to keep our eyes open for what God is doing in the lives of His people and in the lives of others and wait upon God for the right time to witness to someone. Yes, I could have rushed in and witnessed to my mother but at the time she would not have noticed God at work. At that time she probably would not have accepted Him. My mother may not be saved but I know that God is on His way.
Praise be to God that He knows everything, sees everything and that He loves me enough to give me peace and patience and discernment.
After 9 months of not speaking because of a family squabble my mother called me on Wednesday, January 17th, my mother (age 61) called me to invite me to her wedding. On Saturday, January 20th my mother married a wonderful man. At the wedding my sister and I noticed that my mother was holding her hand in a funny way and was not using it like normal. We both suspected that she may have had a mini stroke. We didn't want to ruin her wedding so we decided to watch her and talk to her about going to see her doctor.
On Saturday, January 25th I received a call from my cousin saying that my mother had been out to visit her Mother on Friday in New Orleans (which hasn't happened in a few years) and that my mother was dragging her leg and kept dropping things. She said that her mother, my mothers sister, thought that she may have had a mini stroke and that she needed to be brought to the hospital. I called my mother and told her that I was going to bring her to the ER to be checked out. My mother said that she had an appointment with her Dr on Tuesday and that she would wait. I told my mother that she needed to get ready and that I would be right over to pick her up. I called my sister and told her to meet me at my mothers house.
We arrived at the Hospital and several questions were asked and many test were ran. The results, a sizeable brain tumor and brain surgery would need to be done to remove it. We were all shocked. My sister ran out of the room and I was left to comfort my mother. They admitted my mother into the hospital right away and said that the surgery would be preformed on Monday. They said that the tumor had come from somewhere else and that pieces of it had gone to the brain and grew there.
We didn't know if my mother would make it out of the surgery. All of this weighed on my heart because my mother is not saved. I did the only thing that I knew to do. I called everyone that I knew and asked that she be put on their 24 hour prayer chain.
When my mother was brought in for more test I went to the chapel and broke down before the Lord and asked him to please allow me to witness to my mother and that she would come to Him. I was so afraid that my mother would die and not go to heaven. God sent me an overwhelming peace.
I spent the next 2 days at my mothers side praying and talking to her about prayer and the power of God reminding her of all the people that were praying for her. I prayed that God would open the door and give me the words to say that would bring her to Him. I never got that chance. As they brought my mother into surgery I prayed that my mother would make it through surgery so that I could lead her to the Lord.
My mother did come out of her surgery and was doing fine. The Dr said that he had removed all of it that he could but there was still small traces of the tumor left. While my mother was in CCU recovery me and my whole family (who are lost) went in to see my mother. At the end of our visit I asked the family if we could pray for Mom together. We all held hands and I led us in prayer. While I was praying and thanking God for the success of the surgery and for a speedy recovery I heard my family praising God and thanking him out loud. (This is the first time EVER that my family had prayed together) My mother, who was semi conscious and whom I had never heard pray was lifting up prayers for the family, that we would grow closer together. I had never before heard my mother pray.
I stayed the night in the CCU waiting room praying for my mother and her recovery. The test results had come in and we found out that the tumor was malignant and that she had brain cancer and that indeed the cancer had come from a dime size lesion on her lung which was lung cancer. My Mom would still need to have radiation and some Chemo but she would be able to go home on Friday, just 4 days after having brain surgery.
I know what you are wondering, No my Mom did not get saved after all of this, but tonight while I was talking to her I told her about the family praying for her in CCU. I told her how they were all praising God for what He had done. I told her of how she was praying with us. She said that she didn't remember any of it but do you know what she did tell me? She said that she knew that God had His had on everything because of the way that it happened. She said that she could look back and see how He guided everything that happened and that she knew that God had saved her life.
Yes, I know that she is not yet saved, but I know that God was in everything and that He is still in everything. I know that God is going to give me that chance to bring her to Him and that He will let me know when the time is right and the right words to say.
Even though bad things happen sometimes, it is through those bad times that God is at work. We need to keep our eyes open for what God is doing in the lives of His people and in the lives of others and wait upon God for the right time to witness to someone. Yes, I could have rushed in and witnessed to my mother but at the time she would not have noticed God at work. At that time she probably would not have accepted Him. My mother may not be saved but I know that God is on His way.
Praise be to God that He knows everything, sees everything and that He loves me enough to give me peace and patience and discernment.
Everyday Miracles
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted, Job 5:9.
"To be alive, to be able to see, to walk.... it's all a miracle." Arthur Rubinstein (1887-1982)
Everything in life is a miracle. Every sunrise, sunset, smile, laugh, relationship, heartbeat, breath, each person, every human ability, every answered prayer --- they are all miracles and gifts from God. Life itself is a miracle. Quit looking for the big, earth-shattering miracles. Focus on all of the small miracles around you each day; when the small miracles are added together the result is the greatest miracle of all --- your life. Slow down and experience life by appreciating all of the many blessings in your life and remember to give God the glory and praise that He deserves.
Rebecca
"To be alive, to be able to see, to walk.... it's all a miracle." Arthur Rubinstein (1887-1982)
Everything in life is a miracle. Every sunrise, sunset, smile, laugh, relationship, heartbeat, breath, each person, every human ability, every answered prayer --- they are all miracles and gifts from God. Life itself is a miracle. Quit looking for the big, earth-shattering miracles. Focus on all of the small miracles around you each day; when the small miracles are added together the result is the greatest miracle of all --- your life. Slow down and experience life by appreciating all of the many blessings in your life and remember to give God the glory and praise that He deserves.
Rebecca
Life Was Restored
My Husband and I are volunteer missionaries for Winter Texans along the Rio Grande River Valley. While on a historical trip across the river, and sitting in a city park awaiting the tour bus, I stopped breathing and had no pulse for nearly thirty minutes. The Lord provide me with three registered nurses and a Mexican doctor in the immediate area. When life was restored, I was taken to a heart hospital in McAllen where I received treatment which included a single replacement bypass for my heart. We are located at home now and believe the Lord will give us the needed health for a return trip this winter.
Thank for the beautiful birthday card.
Virginia Hoipkemeier - Cabot Arkansas
Thank for the beautiful birthday card.
Virginia Hoipkemeier - Cabot Arkansas
Trust and Obey
Nothing comes to mind faster of the example of how we should all trust and obey our Heavenly Father as a summer day that was pain and agony for my little brother.
My brother and I are four years apart, but we have always been very close to one another and very protective of each other .... and on this particular day I learned a very good lesson that I took to heart...
When we were growing up we lived on a big piece of property where we had plenty room to roam and happen upon an adventure. My brother’s favorite spot for a while was my dad’s little fishing boat. Simple little boat and motor with anchor and seats for every member of the family and even storage compartments for the fish we caught under each seat. My brother loved to climb up in that boat and make use of every inch of it when he escaped into his fishing journey each day. After a while my dad adopted a pet peeve that he reluctantly had made mention to him.
" Son... I don’t mind if you play in my boat, but when you get out of that boat you put that anchor back in that boat. Don’t leave that boat til you put that anchor back in the boat!!"
So everyday he went on his fishing trip and when he would make his way back from his daily journey he would pull the anchor back up in the boat and everything was fine.
Well, one day my little brother hopped into the boat to set sail again, and I was playing on the back porch. In a little while I could hear my brother screaming and crying horrificly. I looked up to see that he was waving and wailing his hands all around. I hollered out to him, " what’s wrong!" as I started to run out to him to see what was happening. The closer I got to him the more apparent the huge cloud of wasps were surrounding him and attacking him.
I stopped dead in my tracks and started screaming and crying, " Run! Run! Run! Get out of the boat!! Run ! Run! Please run!! All the while being stung and attacked by the fog of wasps he was pulling in that anchor. He didn’t leave that boat until the anchor as pulled in.
Isn’t that amazingly honorable! I am sad to say that I probably would have said heck with this. I’ll get a spanking, and that is our natural sinful nature, to think of ourselves and dismiss instruction. What an honor for a child to listen and obey his father no matter how bad it hurt him and how bad of pain it may cause him for the days to follow.
This is what we should strive for with our Heavenly Father. What an honor to lay down at his feet. Even though we may not understand the importance or the instruction, we should trust and obey! God used this experience to speak to my heart and it has never left my thoughts.
Even though we do not understand it always works out to His honor and glory! Little did my lil’ brother know he was obeying God’s instructions( Col.3:20 Children, obey your parents in everthing, for this pleases the Lord.)( Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother - which is the first commandment with a promise- that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on earth.)
He will be rewarded for his trust and obedience. (Matthew 16:27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.) We should strive to trust and obey not only our earthlt mother and father, but our Heavenly Father as well. Not to gain rewards for ourselves but to have rewards to lay down at his feet when we go empty handed to meet our Father.
Copyright 2006 Brandi
My brother and I are four years apart, but we have always been very close to one another and very protective of each other .... and on this particular day I learned a very good lesson that I took to heart...
When we were growing up we lived on a big piece of property where we had plenty room to roam and happen upon an adventure. My brother’s favorite spot for a while was my dad’s little fishing boat. Simple little boat and motor with anchor and seats for every member of the family and even storage compartments for the fish we caught under each seat. My brother loved to climb up in that boat and make use of every inch of it when he escaped into his fishing journey each day. After a while my dad adopted a pet peeve that he reluctantly had made mention to him.
" Son... I don’t mind if you play in my boat, but when you get out of that boat you put that anchor back in that boat. Don’t leave that boat til you put that anchor back in the boat!!"
So everyday he went on his fishing trip and when he would make his way back from his daily journey he would pull the anchor back up in the boat and everything was fine.
Well, one day my little brother hopped into the boat to set sail again, and I was playing on the back porch. In a little while I could hear my brother screaming and crying horrificly. I looked up to see that he was waving and wailing his hands all around. I hollered out to him, " what’s wrong!" as I started to run out to him to see what was happening. The closer I got to him the more apparent the huge cloud of wasps were surrounding him and attacking him.
I stopped dead in my tracks and started screaming and crying, " Run! Run! Run! Get out of the boat!! Run ! Run! Please run!! All the while being stung and attacked by the fog of wasps he was pulling in that anchor. He didn’t leave that boat until the anchor as pulled in.
Isn’t that amazingly honorable! I am sad to say that I probably would have said heck with this. I’ll get a spanking, and that is our natural sinful nature, to think of ourselves and dismiss instruction. What an honor for a child to listen and obey his father no matter how bad it hurt him and how bad of pain it may cause him for the days to follow.
This is what we should strive for with our Heavenly Father. What an honor to lay down at his feet. Even though we may not understand the importance or the instruction, we should trust and obey! God used this experience to speak to my heart and it has never left my thoughts.
Even though we do not understand it always works out to His honor and glory! Little did my lil’ brother know he was obeying God’s instructions( Col.3:20 Children, obey your parents in everthing, for this pleases the Lord.)( Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother - which is the first commandment with a promise- that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on earth.)
He will be rewarded for his trust and obedience. (Matthew 16:27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.) We should strive to trust and obey not only our earthlt mother and father, but our Heavenly Father as well. Not to gain rewards for ourselves but to have rewards to lay down at his feet when we go empty handed to meet our Father.
Copyright 2006 Brandi
Hunger
I bow in amazement of my Lord. To think that the Creator and owner of the universe knows me by name (John 10:3, 14-15)! Not only does He know my, but He fashioned and knew me before He formed me (Jeremiah 1:5), He knows my thoughts and my words before I speak them (Isa.65:24), He has even laid out my path (Psalm 139:16). I praise Him that, in this vapor of a life, He would pay such great attentiveness to this jar of clay that’s here today and gone tomorrow.
God knows our needs and is eager to meet them. His way and timing is truly perfect. I love the way the Savior meets us where we are - sometimes to speak a word to us, other times He takes us by the hand as if to say, "Come, my child, I want you to know me."
Each day, as I spend time with God in prayer and His Word, He opens the eyes of my heart more and more. He also grows my faith in Him. The Word of God states in Romans 10:12 that, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God." Don’t you just want to hear Him? Don’t you just want to know His voice?
I believe for us to truly recognize the Lord’s voice, we need to spend time getting to know Him. Often, He speaks through studying His Holy, God-breathed Word, other times He may remind us of a scripture that He revealed weeks, even months, earlier, and then there are times when He speaks in a still small voice. (OH, be still my heart!) The Lord may even use other Christians, at times, to encourage or reveal His will. In any case, for any of this to happen we must dwell in His Holy Word.
The Word of God is for you. God took special time to have His Word written down so you and I could know Him. Sometimes I think the Lord must have gotten tired of repeating Himself over and over again. Can’t you just picture Him saying, "Child, I have already told you! ---you don’t get it--- look, I’m going to put this in black and white so you can know my will and my way." Praise Him that He did, because I am a feeble mind at times!
We serve the God of God’s and the Lord of Lord’s. He is the God of the world. He is the only God. Yet though He is the Universal God, He also desires to be personal with us. He wants us to personally know Him. This thought just humbles my soul!
I am so hungry to truly know Him. Yes, I realize through trusting Him for salvation that I do know Him. Even though this is the most important step to take in our lives, understand it is the first step of faith in our walk with the Lord. He has so much He wants to show us. So many ways He wants to bless us. You are His child!
There are seasons in our lives when the Lord is vividly speaking. In the last two months, while spending my morning hours with the Lord, He took my hand and personally escorted me for a walk with Him in His Holy Word. This was so different from any other time I have spent with Him. He revealed insight into scripture that I had probably read 50 times over. I felt His personal touch! This occurred 7 times over a two month period. One morning, before I realized it, I had walked with the Lord almost all day. My pen was almost smoking from trying to jot down His words. Praise Him!
I love His personal touch. I love His timing. Oftentimes, I want Him to show me the end before we even begin. I’m having to learn to trust the Lord and know that His ways are indeed higher ( Isa. 55:9). God has a way of revealing His will and purpose in ways that just amaze me!
You see, I began a workbook study last week called Believing God. I had read the book about a year ago, but had never read the workbook. Even though they both cover the same topic, the workbook is personal and focuses on specific scriptures. While studying and searching my heart through this workbook study, I began to recognize several focal scriptures. I did not just recognize them, I had great insight into them!
Then the Lord opened my eyes, I grabbed my notebook to search over those notes I had taken during the past few months as I walked with the Lord. I found that God had allowed me to really understand these scriptures during that time. He had actually guided me through many more scriptures as well, all with the same focus - FAITH! God is so good.
I am in great "Awe" of such a wonderful, loving Savior. I am hungry for all that He is. He continues to humble my heart as I take the time to stop and see His hand working in every area of my life. I rejoice in trusting that He is in complete control, and that all things work to the good of those who love the Lord (Romans 8:28).
Through salvation, you are His. Do you really know your Savior? Would you recognize His voice? Do you hunger for His ways? Spend some time with Him today. He’s available 24/7, and He is eager to meet with you. Let Him love you through His Word. For He says, "Draw near to me and I will draw near to you," (James 4:8).
Copyright 2006 Jennifer
God knows our needs and is eager to meet them. His way and timing is truly perfect. I love the way the Savior meets us where we are - sometimes to speak a word to us, other times He takes us by the hand as if to say, "Come, my child, I want you to know me."
Each day, as I spend time with God in prayer and His Word, He opens the eyes of my heart more and more. He also grows my faith in Him. The Word of God states in Romans 10:12 that, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God." Don’t you just want to hear Him? Don’t you just want to know His voice?
I believe for us to truly recognize the Lord’s voice, we need to spend time getting to know Him. Often, He speaks through studying His Holy, God-breathed Word, other times He may remind us of a scripture that He revealed weeks, even months, earlier, and then there are times when He speaks in a still small voice. (OH, be still my heart!) The Lord may even use other Christians, at times, to encourage or reveal His will. In any case, for any of this to happen we must dwell in His Holy Word.
The Word of God is for you. God took special time to have His Word written down so you and I could know Him. Sometimes I think the Lord must have gotten tired of repeating Himself over and over again. Can’t you just picture Him saying, "Child, I have already told you! ---you don’t get it--- look, I’m going to put this in black and white so you can know my will and my way." Praise Him that He did, because I am a feeble mind at times!
We serve the God of God’s and the Lord of Lord’s. He is the God of the world. He is the only God. Yet though He is the Universal God, He also desires to be personal with us. He wants us to personally know Him. This thought just humbles my soul!
I am so hungry to truly know Him. Yes, I realize through trusting Him for salvation that I do know Him. Even though this is the most important step to take in our lives, understand it is the first step of faith in our walk with the Lord. He has so much He wants to show us. So many ways He wants to bless us. You are His child!
There are seasons in our lives when the Lord is vividly speaking. In the last two months, while spending my morning hours with the Lord, He took my hand and personally escorted me for a walk with Him in His Holy Word. This was so different from any other time I have spent with Him. He revealed insight into scripture that I had probably read 50 times over. I felt His personal touch! This occurred 7 times over a two month period. One morning, before I realized it, I had walked with the Lord almost all day. My pen was almost smoking from trying to jot down His words. Praise Him!
I love His personal touch. I love His timing. Oftentimes, I want Him to show me the end before we even begin. I’m having to learn to trust the Lord and know that His ways are indeed higher ( Isa. 55:9). God has a way of revealing His will and purpose in ways that just amaze me!
You see, I began a workbook study last week called Believing God. I had read the book about a year ago, but had never read the workbook. Even though they both cover the same topic, the workbook is personal and focuses on specific scriptures. While studying and searching my heart through this workbook study, I began to recognize several focal scriptures. I did not just recognize them, I had great insight into them!
Then the Lord opened my eyes, I grabbed my notebook to search over those notes I had taken during the past few months as I walked with the Lord. I found that God had allowed me to really understand these scriptures during that time. He had actually guided me through many more scriptures as well, all with the same focus - FAITH! God is so good.
I am in great "Awe" of such a wonderful, loving Savior. I am hungry for all that He is. He continues to humble my heart as I take the time to stop and see His hand working in every area of my life. I rejoice in trusting that He is in complete control, and that all things work to the good of those who love the Lord (Romans 8:28).
Through salvation, you are His. Do you really know your Savior? Would you recognize His voice? Do you hunger for His ways? Spend some time with Him today. He’s available 24/7, and He is eager to meet with you. Let Him love you through His Word. For He says, "Draw near to me and I will draw near to you," (James 4:8).
Copyright 2006 Jennifer
Thank You for This Ministry
Hi Girlfriends,
I still cannot thank God and you enough for starting and maintaining this site. On so many days and nights I come here to see what prayers I might lift up to our God for others, I read the testimonies, I read the mentors pages, I just can't seem to get enough. I want you to know that through this ministry God has so helped me to gain a closer more intimate relationship with. He has used every word, every prayer in my life somehow. Again, I want to thank you for your ministry, for your faithfulness to God.
I also want you to know that I will continue to pray for each of you as you seek God's wisdom.
Because Of HIM,
Diane
I still cannot thank God and you enough for starting and maintaining this site. On so many days and nights I come here to see what prayers I might lift up to our God for others, I read the testimonies, I read the mentors pages, I just can't seem to get enough. I want you to know that through this ministry God has so helped me to gain a closer more intimate relationship with. He has used every word, every prayer in my life somehow. Again, I want to thank you for your ministry, for your faithfulness to God.
I also want you to know that I will continue to pray for each of you as you seek God's wisdom.
Because Of HIM,
Diane
Love's Echo
Your love is like a blanket
Of the gentleness of chimes
That echo when the wind doth blow
And reminds me of our time.
It whispers a sweet song to me
Comforting me to know
That as the wind will always be
Your love's forever shown.
© Brandi 2005
Of the gentleness of chimes
That echo when the wind doth blow
And reminds me of our time.
It whispers a sweet song to me
Comforting me to know
That as the wind will always be
Your love's forever shown.
© Brandi 2005
Dear God
Dear God,
You paid for my wrong doings
I'm not worthy of such a gift
I'm sorry when I let You down
It's Your name I want to lift.
Thank You for Your mercy
Thank You for Your grace
Thank You for Your forgiving heart
Thank You for Your embrace.
You are The First.
You are The Redeemer.
Thank You for washing away my worst.
To You
from a believer.
Love,
Brandi
© Brandi 2005
You paid for my wrong doings
I'm not worthy of such a gift
I'm sorry when I let You down
It's Your name I want to lift.
Thank You for Your mercy
Thank You for Your grace
Thank You for Your forgiving heart
Thank You for Your embrace.
You are The First.
You are The Redeemer.
Thank You for washing away my worst.
To You
from a believer.
Love,
Brandi
© Brandi 2005
Visions and Blooms
Surviving all the trials mentioned and perhaps some not mentioned,through this particular time of my life, I am greatly ashamed for ever feeling sorry for myself.We all should be ashamed for feeling sorry for ourselves because our lives are not going the way we want them to. We are blessed to be alive and to be healthy. If we possess those two gifts then we should take them
and run with them.
The world is yet to be explored by us. We should do everything possible to use those gifts until one day we find ourselves no longer able. We should one day be able to look back on how we used our own personal gifts to touch the lives of others who are truly less fortunate than us. If we are focused on helping others than we will forget our own problems. What an outlet to have to forget our own burdens for a while; helping others in the same way that we crave to be helped, being the shoulder to lean on that you need so desperately to cry on, saving the life of someone who has not had the chance to live yet and showing them how to find their way back to reality... all the while finding your own destiny along the way.
God has a plan and purpose for us all, but He does not want us to sit idly by and wait for something to happen. He gave us the smarts to have faith that he would walk us through the decisions that we must make, to understand that it is for a purpose, and to take action for others. In turn, He will clear the path for us if it is where we are meant to be, and He will shut the doors and make it utterly impossible to conquer if it is not the path that is not meant for us.
Take your gifts, caress them with thanks, and allow the visions they give you to bloom.
© Brandi 2005
and run with them.
The world is yet to be explored by us. We should do everything possible to use those gifts until one day we find ourselves no longer able. We should one day be able to look back on how we used our own personal gifts to touch the lives of others who are truly less fortunate than us. If we are focused on helping others than we will forget our own problems. What an outlet to have to forget our own burdens for a while; helping others in the same way that we crave to be helped, being the shoulder to lean on that you need so desperately to cry on, saving the life of someone who has not had the chance to live yet and showing them how to find their way back to reality... all the while finding your own destiny along the way.
God has a plan and purpose for us all, but He does not want us to sit idly by and wait for something to happen. He gave us the smarts to have faith that he would walk us through the decisions that we must make, to understand that it is for a purpose, and to take action for others. In turn, He will clear the path for us if it is where we are meant to be, and He will shut the doors and make it utterly impossible to conquer if it is not the path that is not meant for us.
Take your gifts, caress them with thanks, and allow the visions they give you to bloom.
© Brandi 2005
Let Your Light Shine
We as Christians are put into certain places of business, service, or just daily walk for purposes brought forth by God. God has placed us to be a light unto those that know no light. If we then, in a lowly state should not be that light, but instead hide our light under a bushel, how then shall others see glorify our God?
"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-17).
On August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, millions were left without electricity. During this time you could go outside and not see a thing, not even your hand in front of your face. I remember going outside one night during the outage and a car was coming along the highway with its lights on; the light was so bright, it illuminated everything around it. I remember thinking to myself that, that one car made all of that light in the midst of such a dark night. It was refreshing to see that light.
My family was lucky, our electricity had only stayed off for about 2 ½ weeks. I remember when the electricity came back on. I was just arriving home from work and it was dark out. I pulled into the drive way and there was light coming out of my home. I was so excited to see that light. My husband didn't keep the light off and remain in darkness, he was happy to have that light. After 2 ½ weeks our electricity came back on and it was such a relief after living in so much darkness.So many people feel alone and in the dark. We need to remember that in these dark days people need to see our light shining that they may see our good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven.
Posted by Diane
"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-17).
On August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, millions were left without electricity. During this time you could go outside and not see a thing, not even your hand in front of your face. I remember going outside one night during the outage and a car was coming along the highway with its lights on; the light was so bright, it illuminated everything around it. I remember thinking to myself that, that one car made all of that light in the midst of such a dark night. It was refreshing to see that light.
My family was lucky, our electricity had only stayed off for about 2 ½ weeks. I remember when the electricity came back on. I was just arriving home from work and it was dark out. I pulled into the drive way and there was light coming out of my home. I was so excited to see that light. My husband didn't keep the light off and remain in darkness, he was happy to have that light. After 2 ½ weeks our electricity came back on and it was such a relief after living in so much darkness.So many people feel alone and in the dark. We need to remember that in these dark days people need to see our light shining that they may see our good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven.
Posted by Diane
Setting the Captives Free - Part 2
...Continued from Part 1
The next Sunday a small group of women from our church joined me as we entered the jail. The ten women who filed into the exercise area smiled when they saw us waiting for them. Several came over to hug us. We sang hymns and again the women sang, "Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord." Three men from the jail who were being baptized at the church were led by a guard past the exercise yard. Bro. B. J. gave the message from Luke 4:4-5, "Starting All Over Again." He shared that he was once jailed for grand theft auto and that he had sold and used drugs. He told the women that obedience to God brings rich rewards and leadership is given to those who try again.
While a song of invitation played on a small battery-powered boom box, one of the young women began to cry and walked toward me. I talked and prayed with her, and she accepted Christ that day. Lynn told me she has two small children. Two other women were also saved. As we rejoiced together, the three men who had gone to the church for baptism returned. We applauded and cheered as they passed by the exercise yard. As strains from "I Can Only Imagine" floated through the steel fencing, we praised God with the new Christians. Later, we held hands for circle prayer and testimonies. Again, I apologized to the women for never coming to the services. We invited them to our church SWAT support group (Servants With a Testimony) for those addicted to alcohol and/or drugs. We told them about the SWAT Sunday School Class and the "Get Real" Discipleship Class that blends SWAT team members with the church body. We told them we would bring our used Sunday School and Discipleship literature to the jail for them to read. One woman who had been a prisoner there for sixteen months said it was the best service she had attended.
As I heard the electronic doors click open as I left the jail that day, I suddenly realized that I had not experienced any symptoms of the claustrophobia that usually plagues me in closed areas. Outside, the afternoon breeze caressed my face. I repented again.
A few weeks later, three of the women inmates were led into our church in chains for baptism. Later, as we knelt to pray with them at the altar, I felt a steady drip, drip, drip, like raindrops on my hand. Looking over, I realized they were healing tears falling from Lynn, the woman I had led to the Lord. Two weeks later, she made parole and went home to begin a new life in another county. She assured me she would attend a church near her home. I pray often for Lynn and her children. I thank God for His blessing of meeting her, and I thank God for T. J. , a woman God used to open the eyes of my heart.
The next Sunday a small group of women from our church joined me as we entered the jail. The ten women who filed into the exercise area smiled when they saw us waiting for them. Several came over to hug us. We sang hymns and again the women sang, "Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord." Three men from the jail who were being baptized at the church were led by a guard past the exercise yard. Bro. B. J. gave the message from Luke 4:4-5, "Starting All Over Again." He shared that he was once jailed for grand theft auto and that he had sold and used drugs. He told the women that obedience to God brings rich rewards and leadership is given to those who try again.
While a song of invitation played on a small battery-powered boom box, one of the young women began to cry and walked toward me. I talked and prayed with her, and she accepted Christ that day. Lynn told me she has two small children. Two other women were also saved. As we rejoiced together, the three men who had gone to the church for baptism returned. We applauded and cheered as they passed by the exercise yard. As strains from "I Can Only Imagine" floated through the steel fencing, we praised God with the new Christians. Later, we held hands for circle prayer and testimonies. Again, I apologized to the women for never coming to the services. We invited them to our church SWAT support group (Servants With a Testimony) for those addicted to alcohol and/or drugs. We told them about the SWAT Sunday School Class and the "Get Real" Discipleship Class that blends SWAT team members with the church body. We told them we would bring our used Sunday School and Discipleship literature to the jail for them to read. One woman who had been a prisoner there for sixteen months said it was the best service she had attended.
As I heard the electronic doors click open as I left the jail that day, I suddenly realized that I had not experienced any symptoms of the claustrophobia that usually plagues me in closed areas. Outside, the afternoon breeze caressed my face. I repented again.
A few weeks later, three of the women inmates were led into our church in chains for baptism. Later, as we knelt to pray with them at the altar, I felt a steady drip, drip, drip, like raindrops on my hand. Looking over, I realized they were healing tears falling from Lynn, the woman I had led to the Lord. Two weeks later, she made parole and went home to begin a new life in another county. She assured me she would attend a church near her home. I pray often for Lynn and her children. I thank God for His blessing of meeting her, and I thank God for T. J. , a woman God used to open the eyes of my heart.
Setting the Captives Free - Part 1
My heart has repented for the past two weeks. For a sin of omission that I was unaware I had committed. Several weeks ago, the first phone call came from T. J., a woman in Ohio who was an inmate for ten months in our local Jail. The call was not pleasant. Her tone was demanding, a reminder that she had lived outside society’s norms. She named names of women who were still at the jail and she wanted action. She gave me a detailed list of their needs including hygiene kits, sweat pants and T-shirts. When I called our local jailer, he assured me that two churches were already providing hygiene kits, so I gave the list of their other needs to our WMU leader. I planned to attend the next WMU meeting and encourage the group to purchase the needed items for the women in the jail.
But T. J. kept calling me weekly. "Have you started a ministry for the women in the jail yet?" she asked. After a few of these calls, I began to feel defensive. "I have done what I can do, so why does she keep calling me?" Several weeks later, I came home from a two-day trip with my husband to find another message on my answering machine from T. J. "I just called to see if you have done anything about the women yet. Please call me back," she said quietly.
That time, I stopped to ask God what He wanted me to do. In fact, I prayed for four days before I returned T. J.’s call. The Lord told me to ask her what she really wanted, and I did. As I talked with T. J., I kept asking until I found the answer to what women in jail really need. Love and acceptance.
The next Sunday after church, instead of enjoying a leisurely lunch with my husband and friends at our favorite restaurant, I dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a T-shirt and went to our church’s jail ministry service for the first time. For two years, our pastor and two lay preachers from a church nearby had taken turns going to the jail to preach on Sunday afternoons. They held one service for the women and one for the men. Inmates who accepted Christ were brought to the church once a month for baptism. I even attended one of the baptismal services and watched as the prisoners were brought in chains. The chains were removed just long enough for them to pass through the baptistery. Later, the inmates stood together at the front of the church while their families, our pastor, and a few church members embraced them.
Yet I did not understand the reality of their situation until I passed through four sets of locked doors to attend the women’s jail services. The jail was so crowded that we met outside in the exercise yard. Pam, a woman from our church who had attended the services before, sat beside me on the hard concrete surface inside a steel fence in nearly 100 degree heat. After we sang several hymns, seven of the twelve women inmates gathered together and sang "Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord."
Bro. Ray, a former drug dealer, preached a powerful message. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you," he said. "Eyes and hearts are searching for love, for answers. They are searching for God," he said. He played an invitation on a boom box. The women listened but made no moves. Before we left, I hugged each one of them and apologized that I had never attended the jail service. I promised them I would be back and told them we were working to begin a women’s ministry. They smiled.
To be continued...
But T. J. kept calling me weekly. "Have you started a ministry for the women in the jail yet?" she asked. After a few of these calls, I began to feel defensive. "I have done what I can do, so why does she keep calling me?" Several weeks later, I came home from a two-day trip with my husband to find another message on my answering machine from T. J. "I just called to see if you have done anything about the women yet. Please call me back," she said quietly.
That time, I stopped to ask God what He wanted me to do. In fact, I prayed for four days before I returned T. J.’s call. The Lord told me to ask her what she really wanted, and I did. As I talked with T. J., I kept asking until I found the answer to what women in jail really need. Love and acceptance.
The next Sunday after church, instead of enjoying a leisurely lunch with my husband and friends at our favorite restaurant, I dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a T-shirt and went to our church’s jail ministry service for the first time. For two years, our pastor and two lay preachers from a church nearby had taken turns going to the jail to preach on Sunday afternoons. They held one service for the women and one for the men. Inmates who accepted Christ were brought to the church once a month for baptism. I even attended one of the baptismal services and watched as the prisoners were brought in chains. The chains were removed just long enough for them to pass through the baptistery. Later, the inmates stood together at the front of the church while their families, our pastor, and a few church members embraced them.
Yet I did not understand the reality of their situation until I passed through four sets of locked doors to attend the women’s jail services. The jail was so crowded that we met outside in the exercise yard. Pam, a woman from our church who had attended the services before, sat beside me on the hard concrete surface inside a steel fence in nearly 100 degree heat. After we sang several hymns, seven of the twelve women inmates gathered together and sang "Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord."
Bro. Ray, a former drug dealer, preached a powerful message. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you," he said. "Eyes and hearts are searching for love, for answers. They are searching for God," he said. He played an invitation on a boom box. The women listened but made no moves. Before we left, I hugged each one of them and apologized that I had never attended the jail service. I promised them I would be back and told them we were working to begin a women’s ministry. They smiled.
To be continued...
Ministering As An Encourager
My name is Patricia Townsend and am a MSC missionary serving in Vancouver, Canada. The Lord brought me here from Wyoming to minister to wives of local Southern Baptist pastors and church planters wives as an encourager. He also brought me here to heal from my husband's death three years ago, something I never allowed myself the time to do while in Wyoming. God is so gracious as He not only allows me to build relationships with these wonderful women, he has also set up divine appointments of His own for me, encounters to point others to Christ. My prayer is that God will use me until I am all used up in His ministry, then take me home to Him. In the meantime, my life is His and the only place I desire to be is smack dab in the middle of His will for my life. Psalm 139 is a favorite passage for me. I am blessed to be His handmaiden. I will be leaving B.C. on Oct. 1 to return to Wyoming to serve through the SB state convention in Casper. May God bless you.
Depression Is a Preoccupation With Self
My name is Wanda. I am a mother of four children and have been married for 27 years. I have been a believer in Christ for 20 years. I wish I could say that when I came to know Christ all my problems disappeared, but I can say the Lord Jesus has brought me through each difficulty.
One of the most freeing truths for me to learn, and I continue to apply to my life, is in the area of emotions. As women, we have a tendency to live in this area of our emotions, and that can cause a lot of heart ache. You see, emotions are dumb and only respond to what we're thinking.In Romans 12:2, it says that we're transformed by the renewing of our minds. Often times I would become overwhelmed by my circumstances or depressed by my difficulties, but when Ilearned that depression is a preoccupation with self, that freed me from it's bondage. We can choose what we think. We can either dwell on the negative and ourselves, or we can renew our minds and have our focus on Jesus.
This is not a one time deal though. Moment by moment I have the option to choose whether to obey God's word and give thanks in all things or to spiral down from self-pity, to depression, to despair. I can honestly say that as I continue to learn to give thanks in all things(1Thes5:18) it makes for an adventure in life. We as believers can live above our circumstances. As a believer the sky is not the limit, but God is the limit. WoW!
One of the most freeing truths for me to learn, and I continue to apply to my life, is in the area of emotions. As women, we have a tendency to live in this area of our emotions, and that can cause a lot of heart ache. You see, emotions are dumb and only respond to what we're thinking.In Romans 12:2, it says that we're transformed by the renewing of our minds. Often times I would become overwhelmed by my circumstances or depressed by my difficulties, but when Ilearned that depression is a preoccupation with self, that freed me from it's bondage. We can choose what we think. We can either dwell on the negative and ourselves, or we can renew our minds and have our focus on Jesus.
This is not a one time deal though. Moment by moment I have the option to choose whether to obey God's word and give thanks in all things or to spiral down from self-pity, to depression, to despair. I can honestly say that as I continue to learn to give thanks in all things(1Thes5:18) it makes for an adventure in life. We as believers can live above our circumstances. As a believer the sky is not the limit, but God is the limit. WoW!
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