The Sources Of Disappointment

In the broadest of contexts all disappointments, it seems to me, can be placed in a couple of different catagories: circumstances or people. It seems that all of our disappointments in life will involve our circumstances or people. It is important to think about these two areas so that we might be better equipped to face the disappointments of life.

You will remember from our last post that we concluded that disappointments are directly tied to expecations. We are disappointed because we have certain expectations. Disappointments are kept at a minimum if our expectation is focused on eternal things and not temporal. That being said we all have certain expectations concerning our circumstances.

Circumstances relating to our relationships
Circumstances relating to our families
Circumstances relating to our work
Circumstances relating to our health
Circumstances relating to our finances
Circumstances relating to our church

All of these circumstances are subject to change. If for the better we are happy. If for the worse we are disappointed. Of course “better” or “worse” is a judgment we pass as frail, finite beings. We do not always know what is “better” or “worse”.

Not only are they subject to change, they most certainly will be changed.

Our relationships at times will disappoint
Our families at time will disappoint
Our work at times will be disappointing
Our health at times will be disappointing
Our finances at times will be disappointing
Our church at times will be disappointing

The reason is because we have expectations related to all of these circumstances. When the expectations are not met disappointment is sure to be experienced. There is plenty of opportunity in life to be disappointed with our circumstances.

Job identified the reality we all face with great brevity in chapter 14 and verse 1, Man born of woman is of few days, and full of trouble.

Ecclesiastes is a book that vividly portrays the disappointment of life. In dealing with the issues of life from an "under the sun" perspective we are vividly reminded by Solomon of the disappointments that affect us all.

1:2 – All things temporal ultimately disappoint
2:1 – Pleasure disappoints
2:9-11 – Wealth disappoints

Ecclesiastes 3:1-9 – is probably one of the better known passages of of the book. This is not so much a list of things we should do in life as much as it summarizes the things of which life consist. It basically comes down to this; there will be a time of expectation, and a time of disappointment. Life is a cycle of expectations followed by disappointments when lived with an under the sun perspective. The more temporal our perspective the more intense our disappointment.

People also disappoint. This is because we have expectations concerning men. We may rightly expect certain things out of certain people. We may come to expect certain things out of certain people. There is no man living who will always live up to our expectations. No man perfectly fulfills his duty. No man lives absolutely consistent. It might do us well to be satisfied with he who mostly fulfills his duty. It might do us well to be satisfied with he who mostly lives consistently.

Because we have expectations concerning men, men are sure to disappoint.

Don't You Just Love Being Criticized?

Yeah, I thought so, You love it as much as I do. Who doesn't hate being criticized? Lately, it seems the Lord has thought it necessary for me to learn how to respond to criticism in the right way. Fun. I started working through the first issue only to turn around and have it coming from another direction. Okay Lord, I guess you are trying to teach me something here. It is especially hard when you feel it is unjustified or that the person didn't get all the facts before being critical.

So, how do you respond? My first reaction is to become self-defensive. It is so easy to come up with a million reasons to defend yourself. But, wait a minute...am I letting pride real its ugly head? Maybe God is trying to show me mine own critical attitude. You know, of course I never criticize and neither do you, do you?

Let's look at this criticism again...ok, maybe there is at least some truth in it. Still, it is so easy to go on the defensive. Isn't is easy to turn around and start being critical of the one criticizing you? Yup, I'm not the only one. So...do I listen to the criticism or do I let it make me bitter?

Next time you think of being critical, think of something kind or encouraging to say to the person instead. And...next time someone criticizes you, take what you can from it, forgive and move on. It's not worth getting bitter over.

Proverbs 15:23, "A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!"

2 Cor. 13:5-6

2 Corinthians 13:5-6 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

It is important that each professing Christian examine his own heart and life and make sure that he possesses true saving faith, dynamic faith. “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves” (2 Cor. 13:5a).

Satan is the great deceiver; one of his devices is imitation. If he can convince a person that counterfeit faith is true faith, he has that person in his power.

Here are some questions we can ask ourselves as we examine our hearts:

1. Was there a time when I honestly realized I was a sinner and admitted this to myself and to God?

2. Was there a time when my heart stirred me to flee from the wrath to come? Have I ever seriously been exercised over my sins?

3. Do I truly understand the Gospel, that Christ died for my sins and arose again? Do I understand and confess that I cannot save myself?

4. Did I sincerely repent of my sins and turn from them? Or do I secretly love sin and want to enjoy it?

5. Have I trusted Christ and Christ alone for my salvation? Do I enjoy a living relationship with Him through the Word and in the Spirit?

6. Has there been a change in my life? Do I maintain good works, or are my works occasional and weak? Do I seek to grow in the things of the Lord? Can others tell that I have been with Jesus?

7. Do I have a desire to share Christ with others? Or am I ashamed of Him?

8. Do I enjoy the fellowship of God’s people? Is worship a delight to me?

9. Am I ready for the Lord’s return? Or will I be ashamed when He comes for me?

To be sure, not every Christian has the same personal experience; and there are degrees of sanctification. But for the most part, the preceding spiritual inventory can assist a person in determining his true standing before God.

Psalms 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Oklahoma Police Captain Faces Disciplinary Action for Refusing to Attend Islamic Event

I saw a very disturbing article today about a man who has been disciplined for refusing to attend a service at a place of worship, here in America. In fact, this actually happened in my home state of Oklahoma!

"The Tulsa Police Department is investigating a captain who refused an order to assign officers to attend an upcoming Islamic event because he said it would violate his religious beliefs."

The officer went on to say "'It is my opinion and that of my legal counsel that forcing me to enter a Mosque when it is not directly related to a police call for service is a violation of my Civil Rights,' Fields wrote in an internal police department memo obtained by Fox News. 'I have no problem with officers attending on a voluntary basis; however, I take exception to requiring officers to attend this event,' Fields wrote in an e-mail to his superior officer obtained by Fox News. 'I believe this directive to be an unlawful order, as it is in direct conflict with my personal religious convictions.'"

Now, I don't know about you, but I know I have been in Baptist churches that hold "Appreciation Days" for police men and fire fighters. We would never expect nor desire that a person be brought against his will to a service where we are going to recognize them, but also surely teach our views on God and the gospel.

What were the Islamic teachers planning to teach? They clearly stated in their invitation "presentations" on "beliefs, human rights, and women." They would also be able to watch a Muslim prayer service and take a tour of the mosque. Sounds like a church service (mosque service) to me! Should an American be subjected to this religious indoctrination merely because he has chosen as his profession to serve and protect the citizens of the United States?

Fox News goes on to report, "Ibrahim Hooper, the spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, called the incident an example of 'anti-Muslim bigotry.' ...It’s a symptom of the unfortunately rising level of anti-Muslim sentiment we have in our society,' Hooper said. 'It sends a message of marginalization that somehow Muslims aren’t part of American society... When somebody feels empowered to say ‘I’m not going to take part in a community outreach event at a mosque because I basically don’t like Muslims,’ it’s all part of that rise in Islamophobia in our society,' he said."

So if we refuse to learn about their religion, we are being bigots? Yet can you imagine the uproar if we insisted that lost police officers attend Sunday School... "not to worship, no, we just want them to learn about what we believe..."

Well, learning what we believe is the first step to conversion! Islamics might try to paint it as the politically correct thing to do to erase our "ignorance", but it is nothing more than the first step in indoctrination. There is no way in a free land it should ever be forced on anyone. Baptists would like more people to learn of God and be taught in a Baptist church the truth he know we hold... but most dear we hold soul liberty and religious freedom! You may come to Christ if you like, but we will not force you to listen to a presentation about Him against your will.

Another example of the peaceful religion of Islam. Forced indoctrination upon risk of loss of work and wages, at the hands of own own public servants. Despicable. The same thing is happening in our public schools as students are taught globalism by learning what Islam, Buddhism, and other religions teach. Anything except Christianity.

You can email tpdchief@cityoftulsa.org Tulsa with your comments.

Article at http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/02/23/oklahoma-police-captain-refuses-attend-islamic-event/?test=latestnews

Follow up link on $1.00 lawsuit: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=16&articleid=20110224_14_A1_ULNSbp591004

The Root Of Disappointment

Proverbs 15:22 - Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
Disappoint is a word that is not used that often in the Scripture.

Psalms 17:13 - Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
Job 5:12 - He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.

The word "disappointed" in our text is translated from a Hebrew word that is used 50 times. It is translated thusly: break 25, make void 5, defeat 2, disannul 2, disappoint 2, frustrate 2, come to nought 2, break asunder 1, cause to cease 1, clean 1, dissolved 1, divide 1, misc 5.

Most all of these translations of the Hebrew word are concepts we would associate with disappointment. We experience disappointment when things break, are made void, we experience defeat, something is disannulled, expectations are frustrated, plans come to nought, something is caused to cease, or is dissolved or divided. Disappointment is a very real part of life. We experience it early and often in this life. We experience it slightly and strongly in this life. We experience it unexpectedly, which is one of the reasons it is disappointment. What we expect to happen cannot disappoint us nearly as much as what we don’t expect.

Disappointment is ultimately rooted in expectation. There can be no disappointment in the absence of expectation. Webster’s defines disappointment as defeat or failure of expectation or hope. Our lives are subject to so much disappointment because we have so much expectation. In fact we might say it is a law that, “Our level of disappointment will be in direct proportion to our level of expectation.”

When I started thinking about this I realized how much the average person expects:

He expects to be healthy
Children expect parents to trust them
Children expect brothers and sisters to respect them and their belongings
Children expect to get something for their birthday and Christmas
Children expect to start driving when they are 15
Young adults expect to get married
Young adults expect their spouses to respond in certain ways
Young adults expect to have children
Young adults expect to have what their parents have
Parents expect their children to obey
Parents expect their children not to lie and deceive
Parents expect their children to love each other
Parents expect to raise kids with no hang-ups
We expect to make good money
We expect to drive dependable and comfortable automobiles
We expect to live in nice roomy homes
We expect to eat well
We expect to have cooling in the summer and heating in the winter

And this is just a few off the top of my head. I think, WOW, with all of our expectations the one thing we do not expect is what we are sure to get, disappointment!

Could this be why we are discouraged from anticipating in relation to the temporal?

Proverbs 27:1 - Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

Expectation always has reference to what is to come. We should limit our expectation. We do not know what a day may bring forth. It often will not bring what we are expecting and thus disappointment.

Jam. 4:13-16 – Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

Thus if we have expectation we are likely to be disappointed.

Luke 12:16-21 – And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Think about all that this man was expecting! He was expecting life. He was expecting health to enjoy his life. He was expecting no evil to deprive him of his prosperity. He was expecting to "take it easy".

The reality is that with every expectation there is the potential for disappointment. I do not mean to say that we can or should live life without expectations of any kind. I simply mean to say that where we have expectation we have the potential for disappointment.

The real danger is to embrace an expectation rooted in the temporary. Our tendency, my tendency, is to have much more expectation in the temporal than in the eternal. The eternal never disappoints, the temporal is more than likely to do so at some level. By its very nature if it is temporary it is transient. It shifts and changes and thus likely to disappoint at some point.

Honoring The King James Bible (1)

2011 marks the 400th year of the King James Bible (AV)

In celebration of this, I thought I would write some short notes discussing the preservation of God’s Word using examples from um…God’s Word lol.

If time permits I should be able to write a new note every few weeks or so, we’ll have to see…

My first analysis today is found in the book of Jeremiah. (I recommend everyone read this phenomenal book, (one of my personal favourites)).

It concerns the conversations with Jeremiah and Baruch the son of Neriah found in chapter 36.

Allow me to set the scene.......

The prophet Jeremiah has been preaching to the people of Judah for many years now, warning them of the coming judgement from the Lord, It’s now the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah who was a very righteous godly king, but Jehoiakim followed not the ways of his father, but plunged Judah into more wickedness further kindling the wrath of God.

In chapter 36 we find Jeremiah bound in prison, but even there the LORD visits him and commands him to take a scroll and write down all the Words that he is about to speak, so it can be a book to be read in the ears of the people.

Jeremiah then calls Baruch the son Neriah to record all the words he speaks which he received from the LORD into a book to be read out in the ears of the people.

What is the lesson here? It’s simple!!

GOD’S WORD CAN BE PRESERVED down the line!!

The Bible says in 2Peter “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

In the case of Jeremiah, he received it directly from the LORD (1st inspiration), he then tells Baruch all the words he was told by the LORD(2nd inspiration) and that becomes the book which is read out by Baruch in the ears of the people (3rd inspiration)

In no way was God’s Word less inspired when Baruch read it out than when Jeremiah directly received it from the LORD.

In the same chapter, the book even gets destroyed by the king because he was offended at the Word of the LORD, but the LORD commands Jeremiah again to write down the SAME WORDS he spoke to him before in another scroll

“Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying, Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.”

CONCLUSION

The King James Bible was diligently translated out of the Greek and Hebrew languages into the lingua franca of the world, English!!  and even from one language to another, it’s still God’s Word.

He promised he would preserve it forever and we hold the Words of God in our hands today. It’s still just as powerful, it’s still just as hated, it’s still the truth and it’s still inspired as it was when God first spoke the words and they were penned down by 40 different authors spanning thousands of years.

Jesus put it this way “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.”

So yeah, this is my first article, I hope it brought my first point across, in that God’s Word was penned down by different people, yet it remained God’s Word.

So yeah um God bless :)

Salty Christians–Part 3

Mat 5:13)  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

In this verse, Jesus informs his disciples that we are the salt of the earth. So far, we have looked at the PRIORITY and PROMINENCE of the statement. Today, we will finish our study by looking at:

THE PERFORMANCE OF THE STATEMENT

I want to look at the three different ways that salt works.

First, we note that Salt Saves. Salt is a preservative. When Jesus told his disciples that they were the salt of the earth, He was telling them that they were preserving the world from ultimate deterioration.

We are to be the salt of the earth. Dr. Raymond Barber said in relation to this text, “Isn’t it high time we start being what we have become?” Are you preserving a godly environment around you, or are you adding to its sinfulness and faithlessness?

Secondly, we know that Salt Salves. Salt is often used as a healing agent for the following:

Sore throats, toothaches, postnasal drip, bee stings, mosquito bites, painful gums, poison ivy, and poison oak - http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/beauty-hygiene/uses-for-salt-medical-treatments-ga.htm

We live in a sin-sick world that is hurting, and we must be the salt that God has prescribed.  As the salt of the earth, we can and we must serve God under any and all circumstances.

Finally, we that Salt Seasons. Again, salt only makes a difference if it is poured out of the shaker and onto your food. Here is a spiritual checklist to see if your have lost your savor or not:

1. Supplication - 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

2. Study - 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

3. Showing up to church - Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

4. Stewardship - Malachi 3:8-10 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. (9) Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. (10) Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

5. Soul-winning - Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Based on the statement of Jesus, we can and should ask ourselves a very simple question:

• Are we the salt of the earth? – living and testifying for Jesus Christ.
• Or are we good for nothing?

GRANDMA'S KITCHEN......TASTERS WELCOME, ANYTIME♥

I have moved my blog over to where my other blogs are listed. I hope all of you find your way over here. I am so sorry for any problems you may have because of this move but the other blog was not working properly. I hope to get all the recipes over to this place. Thank you all for being so patient with me. I have enjoyed each of you as you have come to my blog. You have been wonderful friends.♥♥Grandma


CHOCOLATE CHIP CHEESE CAKE

2 Rolls chocolate chip dough

2 8-oz. packages cream cheese, softened

3 eggs

2 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Spray 9x13 pan with Pam. Slice cookie dough into rounds and cover the bottom of the pan. Cream the cheese, eggs, and sugar. Add vanilla. Pour this mixture over the cookie dough. Use some of the left over cookie dough to cover the top. Crumble it over the top. Bake at 300% for 1 hour. You can drizzle chocolate icing over the top if you like. We usually don't but you can if you want. Let cool before cutting into pieces.

This is a cake I posted on here about two years ago but I thought you might enjoy it again. It is very easy and most tasty. See you soon, Grandma

Four Hundred Years And Counting!

Psalms 138:2 - I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

If we could step back in time 400 years we would find ourselves in a world completely different than what we find today in every way imaginable.  To go back to the world of 1611 would almost be like visiting another completely different planet.  The religious landscape was a barren wilderness made so by a millennia of religious intolerance that had desecrated the concept of soul-liberty.  It was a world ruled by mostly ruthless, licentious potentates who until recently had trembled in the shadow of the church of Rome!


Religious persecution made the air heavy with fear and superstition.  Men were vassels in a world where cleric and king ruled supreme.  Unless you were fortunate enough to be born among the aristocracy you were likely to be resigned to a subsistent existence.  Although there was a burgeoning merchant class we were still years away from a true middle-class to which all could aspire.  It was a world where religious ceremony was most often conducted in Latin, a language that had long since vanished from popular use.  It was a world where, in most places, it was a crime to have a bible.  It was an ugly, harsh, and cruel world.

There were small groups of people who often assembled in secret dotted across the landscape from Turkey to England.  They often had very little bible if any at all and what they did have would have to be guarded and held secretly.  Consequently they memorized vast portions of Scripture. They were noted for having a verse of scripture on their tongue when called upon to give account of themselves.  They were called Paulicians, Albigenses, Waldenses, Petrobrusians, the Cathari, and they were all known as Anabaptist, re-baptizers.

The Bible that I hold in my hands comes to us from that world, the world of 1611 England and Europe.  It was not the first Bible in English.  Wycliffe had translated the New Testament into English from the Latin Vulgate 250 years earlier.  Tyndale translated from the original tongues some 80 years earlier.  There had been the Bishop’s Bible, the Great Bible, the Matthew's Bible and, in popular use at the time, the Geneva Bible.  Yet, in 1611 a Bible was published that had been authorized by the British Crown.  None of the other translations had been authorized and the earliest translations were unlawful.  The King James was translated out of the original tongues with the former translations diligently compared and revised.  It was a Bible that was appointed to be read in all the churches.

It is a Bible that has proven its merits time and time again.  It has been blessed with the visitation of the Spirit of God in its preaching and teaching for 400 years now.  It is not a “Johnny-come-lately”.  It is a tried and true standard.  It is a Bible that was received by the people of God within just a few decades of its publishing, displacing the Geneva Bible.  For over 200 years it alone stood as the Word of God in English.  It was preached and taught as such.  Even after 100 years of seeking to displace its time honored and God blessed text it remains the standard by which all others are judged and in whose light their blemishes are revealed!  It is the Word of God in English.  The King James Bible of 1611!

This is the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible so it seems appropriate to “magnify thy word” this year.  I do so unashamedly and without inhibition.  I am a King James Bible preacher and I pastor a King James Bible church!  I’m going to spend this year reminding our church why!

I am not one who believes that some issues are only good for the college classroom when it comes to theology and doctrine.  I am a firm believer that God’s people should not just be told what to believe but why! Just knowing the “what” our beliefs can dissipate under the blistering attack of unbelief and textual criticism.  Knowing the “why” our beliefs are tempered in the forge heated by the scoffing and doubt of those who oppose the truth.

Door Knocking Doesn't Work Anymore

Do you remember when preachers all preached about going on door-to-door visitation? By that, I mean cold calls, city surveys, house to house. You walk up to a door picked randomly, knock on it, introduce your church, and inquire about the spiritual state of the soul who lives there. Then, based on the reply, give the gospel and invite that person to accept Jesus as Savior. You leave a little while later with a smile, a hearty handshake, and a promise from them to come visit your church soon.

Does this ever happen anymore? Or are you more likely to have the dogs set on you? Maybe have someone pull a gun in your face? Is this a familiar scenario instead: you knock on the door and all the lights go off. You wait. And wait. And wait. You leave a church tract or information booklet that you know is going to get thrown away in a few minutes, unread.

In the past few years, I have sat across the table from nameless independent, fundamental pastors who have told me, personally, that door knocking doesn't work anymore. Sure, they have a door to door campaign sometime during the nicest weather of the year, when it's not too uncomfortable for their church members. Maybe in conjunction with VBS, which has become the largest evangelical outreach program of the year in many churches!

Does it sadden you when you hear of a pastor who "just doesn't visit anymore"? Maybe he's too old, maybe it's too risky, or maybe his wife tells you, "No one comes when he visits them. He goes to visit newcomers and they stop coming." Soon it's not just contacts he's not visiting, it's cold calls as well. I have recently heard a pastor say that when he is in the hospital with one of his church members awaiting serious surgery, he is often the only preacher in town who shows up for his people, and that he would estimate that three out of four pastors don't even visit their congregation when hospitalized. Does a pastor who does not visit excuse a congregation that does not visit? Of course not, yet we all know the old truism, "You never rise higher than your leadership".

I don't mean for this article to be a critical article. I do want to point out what I am beginning to see as a growing problem and cancer in independent, fundamental baptist churches. I also want to confess my own faithlessness. My pastor started a new campaign at the beginning of this year. "Instead of trying to get a certain number here on Big Day in March, " he said,"I am going to set a goal we need to reach every week. A goal we can make sure we reach, and is dependent on us going out, not on them coming in. The Lord has led me to set 500 doors a week as our goal."

"500 doors a week! Is he insane?! That's crazy! That's unreachable! This is going to be more discouraging when we don't reach it!" my brain said. I didn't openly criticize his leading, but I sure did question it in my head! I didn't say a word to anyone, and I tried to keep my face neutral, but for the next few weeks, every time I heard the goal, I shook my head, mentally.

All the Faces

A SNAPSHOT OF OUR LIFE

As the month of March draws closer, I can help but let my mind remember. Remember, March 18,1962.It was my wedding day. It is the day that my life changed forever. Jim and I became "ONE", bound together forever by marriage through the love that we had for each other. It will be 49 years this March. There have been so many great-good times. Our children, the Lord gave us being head of the list. He gave us five children who, truly we would give our life if need be. He blessed us with 20 Grandchildren that no Grandparent could be happier to have as part of their lives. Blessing continue with the Great Grandchildren, of which we have seven. There will be many more in the years to come, we are sure. If we do not get to see them all, hopefully we will have left enough of an imprint in the lives of our children and Grandchildren, they will feel as though they have known us. We have know some days of disappointment, sadness and yes even heartbreak at times. Having the Lord as our foundation has been what has seen us through it all. He always brought us back to our center in Him. As long as we had our eyes on Him, we stayed on the right road but if our eyes got blurred and we could only see "me", "myself", and "I", we, for a time would go down the wrong path. We have had some reproofs, some corrections and yes, even some whippings to bring us back close to His side. At the time, they were not pleasant but we always knew they were for our good!Even in the times of grief, the joy we got from the Lord was always a spark in our hearts ready to be fanned into full flame by our seeking repentance and God showing his Grace and Mercy toward us as His Children and our Fellowship with Him was quickly restored.

I wrote this poem a few years ago on our anniversary for Jim and I would like to share it with you all.

Salty Christians–Part 2

(Mat 5:13)  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

In this verse, Jesus informs his disciples that we are the salt of the earth. In the last post, we looked at the PRIORITY of the statement. Today, we will look at:

THE PROMINENCE OF THE STATEMENT

There are four important facts to consider about:

First, Salt does not do its best work in the shaker. Have you ever gone through a drive thru and gotten an order of French fries with no salt on them? They had the salt by the deep fryer, but it didn’t do you any good because the salt did not make it out of the shaker. You don’t receive the benefit of the salt until it is out of the shaker.

Now, how does this relate to us today? Well, you can sit in church your whole life, but you won’t be effective unless you get up and live out what you hear taught. Churches today are filled with too many un-used salt shakers.

Secondly, Salt is no good until it makes contact. Living in Michigan, I have become very familiar with rock salt. I keep a small garbage can full of it by my back door. But I am not amazed and confused every morning when I wake up and my driveway is icy even though that all of that rock salt is sitting there. It does no good until it comes in contact with the ice.

A Christian can never be effective in this world until they begin to come in contact with a lost and dying world around them. Christians are most effective when the lost not only hear the gospel from them, but see and observe the salt in their life.

Too many are content to hear the gospel preached to them, but not go out and tell anyone else around them. That is why Jesus’ last command before He ascended into Heaven was, “Go ye…”

Next, we see that Salt loses itself in order to become effective.

Salt is most effect when it is completely dissolved. When it is too cold (20-15°F), salt cannot dissolve, and therefore cannot work – I have learned the hard way and wasted some bags (and $) of salt to no avail. I believe this is a principle that Jesus taught in Mark 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

When Jesus talks about losing your life, He is not telling you to go out and run head-first into oncoming traffic. He is teaching us that in order to truly live, we must lose those things that we hold dear, the things that we think we can’t live without (jobs, hobbies, etc.).

We die in order to live. Just as salt, we must lose ourselves in order to become effective for Christ.

Finally, we know that Salt is no good when it loses its savor.

Salt CAN lose its ability to be effective. HOW?

1. When foreign chemicals are mixed with it, it loses it savor. When we allow sin to be mixed in with our life, we lose our saltiness.

2. When it sits on the shelf too long, it begins to crystallize and gets hard – Many Christians have sat in church so long doing nothing and continuing in their sin that their hearts have grown cold and hard.

And what does Jesus say is the result of someone who has lost their saltiness, lost their savor? THEY ARE GOOD FOR NOTHING! If I said you were good for nothing, you would say I was being mean spirited and harsh – but that is exactly what Jesus is saying.

So, we notice today that Jesus is saying we can either be salt, or we can be good for nothing. WHICH ARE YOU TODAY?

Salty Christians–Part 1

(Mat 5:13)  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Today, the term “salty” is often used, but not in a good way. Someone who is “rough around the edges, foul language, etc.” But once of the characteristics we are expected to exuberate as Christians is saltiness.

Why did Jesus compare the Christian to salt?Salt is something very common during Jesus’ earthly ministry, and is still common today. It is said that salt has over 14 thousand uses.

In the times of the Bible, they used salt with the sacrifices:

Leviticus 2:13 And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.

In the Middle East, during the times of the Bible, it is said that salt was used as a token of a covenant. When an agreement was made, each person would sprinkle a little salt and say something to the effect of, “There is salt between us.”

All of this shows the importance of salt during these times that Jesus is teaching. So, we will take a three-part look at the aspects of Jesus expectation of the Christian to be the salt of the earth:

THE PRIORITY OF THE STATEMENT

To understand the statement, we need to understand the background of it. There are three important questions to consider:

First, Who Said It? Jesus – He is the greatest authority in the entire world, on all things. After He finished the Sermon on the Mount, the Word of God tells us in Matthew 7:28-29 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: (29) For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

After listening to this great sermon, the hearers could feel and knew that there was something different about what and how Jesus taught. He had the authority of God, because He was God. He knew the Word because He was the Word.

Too many Christians give more authority to preachers and friends than they do the Lord and the Bible. The Word of God is our final authority for all areas of faith and practice.

The second question we will consider is, What Did He Say? Jesus said that they, and in turn us today, are salt. Salt is something that is essential in this world, something that is needed. Christians who are sold-out and living for God are needed today, but little in supply. In essence, Jesus was saying, “You are what keeps things going.”

Jesus did not say, “You MIGHT be salt…you should TRY to be salt…but, “Ye ARE the salt of the earth…” Regardless of what real or imaginary limitations we may have in ability, we are expected to be salt. There is nothing that should prevent us from doing so.

The final question we consider is, Whom Did He Say It To? He said it to His disciples, not the multitude (5:1). We often get into trouble because we expect those who are lost to believe and live like Christians (be salt, light, etc) and can’t figure out why they won’t. It is because they are a part of the multitude, but not a disciple.

The word disciple means learner. Some try, unsuccessfully, to separate disciples from the saved and say that a disciple is a different level of Christian, or a more committed Christian. The Bible does not make this distinction, and all believers are considered disciples.

No doubt some disciples are not doing a good job following the Lord; it does not mean they are not a disciple. Think about kids at school. Students in same class get different grades on same test. They are all students, but some are better than others. Therefore, all born-again believers are disciples, some are just closer to the Lord than others.

What priority do you make Jesus and His commands in your life?

400th Anniversary of KJV

Have you heard about this conference in Toledo, Ohio? I would love to be able to attend, and am going to try to get there if I can!

Cost: FREE

Starts: Sunday the 10th and goes to Wednesday the 13th of April
Sunday morning starts at 9:45 and Sun evening at 6

Daily: M-W the morning services start at 9, but there will be donuts and coffee with the speakers for everyone starting at 8:30. They will have three sessions every morning and they will be set up more as a lectures on specific topics regarding the KJV. M-W evening services will kick off with Scripture reading by guest/staff preachers at 6:30 and service will actually start at 7:00 with two preachers each night, choir, inspiring videos on the Bible and special music as well.
Guest speakers:
Dr. Bill Grady
Dr. Sam Gipp
Stephen Shutt
Mickey Carter
Douglas Stauffer
Gail Riplinger

Location:6250 S. Ave., Toledo, OH 43615

Website: CLICK HERE

Compromised Worship

(Exodus 8:26)  And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us?

Here, Moses has already begun the task of going to Pharaoh and demanding that he let Israel go. So far, God has sent four judgments to Egypt. The first three affected everyone, but now they are beginning to only affect the Egyptians. It is after this fourth plague, the plague of flies, that Pharaoh offers his first of four compromises to Moses and Israel. As I read Moses’ reply, it led me to think about the compromise many churches are making today in the name of worship.

Many pastors are leading their congregation to make changes in how they conduct their church services in the name of reaching the lost. This compromise led to the spiritual downfall of many churches, in spite of the fact that attendance figures are up, and popularity is on the rise.

What is needed today are some Moses’ who will recognize the choice to be “culturally relevant” or “missional” for what it is: a worldly compromise. Moses recognized that if they took Pharaoh’s deal and worshiped there in Egypt that not only would God not be pleased, but the Egyptians would see right through it and want to stone them. May we all recognize that compromised worship will not reach the lost nor will it please God.

Latest Quips and Quotes

"Spiritual leadership requires spirit filled people. Other qualities are important, to be spirit filled is indispensable." J. Oswald Sanders

"It is much better to be drawn by the joys of heaven, than driven by the sorrows of earth." - C. H. Mackintosh

"No, I distinctly remember forgetting that." - Clara Barton (when asked about a past slight)

"The measure of maturity is not age, but the acceptance of responsibility." - Cary Schmidt

"The acid test of our love for God is obedience to His Word." - Bob Jones, Sr.

"Let us never forget that what we are is more important than what we do." - Hudson Taylor

"We talk of the Second Coming; half the world has never heard of the first." - Oswald J. Smith

"'Run, John, run,' the law demands, but gives me neither feet nor hands.
Better news the Gospel brings, It bids me fly and gives me wings." - John Bunyan

"Time is given us to use in view of eternity." - H.A. Ironside

"A revival is nothing else than a new beginning of obedience to God." - Charles Finney

"Defend the Bible? I would as soon defend a lion! Unchain it and it will defend itself." - C.H. Spurgeon

"More men fail through lack of purpose than lack of talent." - Billy Sunday

"Anything that dims my vision for Christ, or takes away my taste for Bible study, or cramps me in my prayer life, or makes Christian work difficult, is wrong for me; and I must, as a Christian turn away from it." - J. Wilbur Chapman

It is not only that sin consists in doing evil, but in not doing the good that we know. - H.A. Ironside

"Peace is such a precious jewel that I would give anything for it but truth." - Matthew Henry

God does test us, but they are open Book tests!

Have a favorite? Submit it at bibletruth@live.com ~ Or, if you would like these in your inbox as published, Subscribe to Quotes and Quips by Email

He Did Not Come Down–Part 3 of 3

MATTHEW 27:39-44, key vs. 40, 42

As we finish up this study on these three groups of people who were present at the crucifixion of Jesus and how they all wanted Him to come down from the cross, we look at the final group:

SENTENCED ON THE CROSSES – 27:44

The first thing that we notice is that the Two were Critical – 27:44. Matthew’s Gospel account clearly shows us that both of the thieves who were on the cross, suffering from the death penalty for their sins and transgressions against society, were critical and blasphemous when the process of the crucifixion started. Both of these men were just like the scribes and chief priest in that they were under conviction for their sin.

And when we go to Luke’s gospel account, we see that there are two ways to respond to conviction.

One thief was Calloused – Luke 23:39. This thief was looking for what just about everyone else is looking for – some sort of temporal relief from their current situation. Many people come to church, or begin to pray, not because they seek  to worship a holy God and repent of their sin, but because they are expecting some magical genie to grant them their wish so they can go back to living their life they way they had before.

This thief was not seeking forgiveness of his sins, but just a pardoning from his punishment. He was bitter at his lot in life – though it was well deserved. Some people are so obstinate to their need of a saviour, even till the bitter end.

But we notice a change in the other thief, he was Convicted – Luke 23:40-43. This second thief shows us a couple of truths:

1. It is never too late to turn to Christ as long as you have breath.

2. When under conviction, we can choose to either get better or get bitter.

Too many people today are under conviction about their sin, yet too prideful, scared, or confused to turn to Christ.

We read both in Matthew 27:50 and Luke 23:46 – HE DID NOT COME DOWN!

A great theologian of old Matthew Henry said in relation to this portion of Scripture - He {Jesus} was, at His death, numbered amongst the transgressors, that we, at our death, might be numbered among the saints.

We are all one of the thieves on one of the crosses because we are all sinners who deserve an eternity in Hell and the Lake of Fire. I am glad that in June of 1999 it was not too late for me and I called out to Jesus in repentance and faith and He saved my soul!

How about you? Which thief are you?

... the privilege of suffering

Ponder this for a moment:

"I believe that God uses His people to be extensions of Himself. God is showering you with love...this is the privilege of suffering."---V.Andrews

• God uses His people...... He uses us when we are in tune to His will and His guidance.
• God uses His people to be extensions of Himself..... Your acts of love and kindness are the hands and feet of God.
• God is showering you with love.... When God uses His people, He showers us with love from Him.
• ...this is the privilege of suffering.... Being the recipient of God "using His people" to shower us with His love is a privilege.  A privilege granted to those suffering.

THE ONLY PERFECT ROSE

NOW WHEN THE WORLD IS CLOSING IN AND LIFE BECOMES A BURDEN AND I WANT TO RUN, BUT THERE’S NO PLACE TO HIDE. I JUST LOOK UP LIKE OLD STEPHEN TO THE RIGHT HAND OF MY FATHER AND HE ROLLS ME OVER THE TIDE



WELL I’VE NEVER SAID A PRAYER THAT HE COULD NOT ANSWER, AND I’VE NEVER SHED A TEAR THAT HE COULD NOT DRY. NOW WHEN THE WAVES OF LIFE ARE SO HIGH YOU CAN’T MOUNT THEM, THEN I KNOW HE’LL ROLL YOU OVER THE TIDE.

These are some of the words to one of my favorite songs. Today, I just want to share with you some of the things I have learned over my past nearly 68 years on this earth.

First I need to tell you for those who don't already know, I am just a sinner saved by God's grace, certainly nothing more and nothing less! I have been secure in that grace since I was a girl of eleven years old. I have failed Him many times, I have sought my own way at times, I have put myself first at times but he has never left me nor forsaken me. He always stood there with His nail pierced Hands out- streached waiting to lift me up back into His arms as soon as I ask to be forgiven. I have had to do that more times than I can count but He never seems to weary of me, He just keeps teaching me and loving me.

As I learn one lesson, He quickly begins to teach me another. It is sometimes a harder one but now I know, He is making me more like Him. So, I don't dread the lessons as I once did for now I understand it all more. He is the potter and I am the clay and He will be working on me until I take my last breath here on earth and open my eyes at HOME.

In all the years the best and most important lesson that I have learned as one of HIS children is that I MUST TRUST HIM IN ALL THINGS. He must be first in my life. He wants no less. I have learned that if I trust HIm, no matter what comes my way, even though for a time my outer countenance may be cast down, in my heart is a joy that He gives me and nothing can take that from me. It was a hard lesson for me to learn, I thought I could always do things my way and on my own. My pride would not accept any help. But I learned that if God made me, then I must go to HIm for the help that I need for my broken heart, my messed up life, for all the sickness and sadness that comes into each life. Oh what a relief it has been to learn this, IT has taken the burden off myself and put it where He told me to put it, ON HIM.

He Did Not Come Down–Part 2 of 3

MATTHEW 27:39-44, key vs. 40, 42

In our last post, we took a look at the first group of people who were present at Jesus’ crucifixion. This post, we will study the second group:

SCRIBES & THE CHIEF PRIEST – 27:41-43

The scribes, Sadducees, Pharisees, and chief priest were always at odds with Jesus during His earthly ministry. There are certain characteristics we notice about this group.

The first characteristic we observe was that they were often Copycats – 27:41. These religious leaders were acting more like politicians than they were prophets or preachers. We observe this from the word “likewise.” They were not leading the way like they were supposed to have been doing, but just following the crowd.

It is a sad truth that many preachers and teachers will change, or soften, what they believe in order to gain a larger crowd. Most do not proclaim what they believe based on conviction; but test the wind to see what is the popular and follow after that. Beware of those who claim to be preachers, yet will not stand against anything. It has be aptly said before that, “If you won’t stand against anything, you will fall for everything.”

Another truth we notice is that they were Compassionless – 27:42. We know that they had no compassion on those in need. How? Because they knew of all the people Jesus helped that they themselves often ignored. They did not believe in Jesus while He was amongst them healing the sick and lame; they wouldn’t have believed on Him had He came down from the cross.

The measure of a man’s faith can been seen in how they help others less fortunate than himself. The religious leaders always had to have the attention focused on them, and thus had no time or desire to help others. When the spotlight must always be pointed on us, even while helping others, reveals a real deficiency in our character. It is during those times when we are more worried about our reputations and what we can gain from “helping” someone that we are following the lead of the religious rulers of Jesus’ day in showing our lack of compassion.

The final characteristic we notice is that they were Convicted – 27:43. By making the statement, “for he said, I am the Son of God,” these religious rulers reveal to us that secretly, they were under conviction. They wanted Jesus to come down from the cross because they did not want to admit that they were sinners in need of Redeemer.

When under conviction, you have one of two ways to respond, as we see from the final group in the upcoming post.

He Did Not Come Down–Part 1 of 3

MATTHEW 27:39-44, key vs. 40, 42

We live in a world today that is very antagonistic to God and the things of the Bible. I thought about something that recently came across my desk from Answers in Genesis. They are a very successful Science group that promotes Creation and a literal interpretation of Genesis. Their newest project is a life sized replica of Noah’s Ark. There was a feature story on ABC’s “World News With Diane Sawyer, and article in the New York Times, and many other world-wide publications.

With this notoriety came a lot of negative backlash. Much of it came from the secular world, but some of it even came from the “religious” crowd who were against promoting a literal belief in Genesis. Why? Because to believe literally in Genesis would mean that mankind would be held accountable to its Creator and then would have to take the remaining Bible literally.

Most of religion today does not want to take a literal approach to God’s Word, especially to Jesus’ claim to be the only way to heaven. This was never more evident than at the crucifixion of Jesus, as we see in vs. 40 & 42 and the phrase, “let him now come down from the cross…” But if Jesus had not died on the cross, shed His precious blood for the remission of sins, and rose from the grave on the third day, then there would be no hope of salvation.

The sad truth is that the world is filled with people who don’t want to recognize Jesus as dying on the cross for their sins. Are you one of the ones groups of people who wanted Jesus to come down from the cross? This coming week, we notice from the text 3 groups of people who wanted Jesus to come down from the Cross, and we will look at the first group today:

SINNERS IN THE CROWD – 27:39-40

The first thing we observe about this group is that they Spoke Evil – reviled. The word used for reviled here is – blasphēmeō, which means:

1. to speak reproachfully, rail at, revile, calumniate, blaspheme

2. to be evil spoken of, reviled, railed at

They spoke all manner of evil and lies about Jesus as He hung there on the cross paying for their sins. We live in a world, and amongst people who can’t wait to blaspheme the name of Jesus. Whether it is taking the Lord’s name in vain out of anger, or making our precious Saviour the punch line of some crude joke on a television show – people are still reviling the name of Jesus.

They try to “tear down” the name of Jesus because the Bible tells us in Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

A second characteristic we notice about them is that they Stirred Emotions – wagging. This was a display of their contempt and a public insult. Job suffered the same response from his so-called friends, as he said in Job 16:4 I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you. David felt the same shame and penned this: Psalm 109:25 I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shaked their heads.

A final characteristic we observe is that they Spewed Error – saying. Here is a group of people who probably never read OT Scripture, or would have anything to do with anything else Jesus might have said, but are quoting Him now OUT OF CONTEXT because it helps their cause.

Just like those today who like to quote (Judge not…God is love…etc) but have no clue on the context of those verses and what they really are saying. There are a lot of “Bible experts” out there who never have even read the Bible from cover to cover before.

These SINNERS IN THE CROWD wanted Jesus to come down off the cross, but He didn’t! Stayed tuned as we will move on to the second group of people who wanted Jesus to come down from the cross.

Apply the Balm of Gilead

Many people are hurting because of wrongs inflicted upon themselves and/or others. We can ease their hurt by applying the Balm of Gilead - i.e., a bit of the love of Christ - to ease their hurt and their pain. Remember: "Love suffereth long and is kind."http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jeYVrt-Ku8

 Also, remember that when YOU are hurting, the Balm of Gilead can heal your sin, sick soul.

Stuff Christians Need to Stop Doing

Life is filled with reminders that we really aren’t in control. And when those reminders come—like a bucket of cold water—they can startle us into a carnal cycle of thinking. They can lead us into a downward spiral of emotional and spiritual distress. They can bring out the most fleshly of thought patterns.

These are really bad habits—far worse than nail-biting or over-eating. These are more elusive bad habits, and a lot more dangerous. They are the things that tend to creep in when life takes a turn we didn’t approve of. These are attitudes or behaviors we tend to default into when expectations go unmet or dreams are left unfulfilled—when our hopes are smashed on the rocks of disappointment.

If you haven’t already had this experience in the new year, you will soon. It may be something as small as a bad hair day or as large as a major life crisis—but guaranteed, something in your life, very soon, will not go as you expected or planned. Here’s the question.

When that happens, how will you respond?

May I suggest the following course of action:

1. Stop Complaining, Start Thanking
Just take a look at the book of Exodus and examine the word “murmur” in its various forms. You will discover that God takes complaining very seriously. And in contrast, He commands us repeatedly in His Word to give thanks unto Him—in all things and for all things. So, when things go wrong, start right here. Don’t complain. Don’t murmur. It’s a waste of emotional energy. Murmuring is against God—it is a formal complaint against His sovereignty. Refuse to do it. Instead, take the high road and say “Thank you!” It may seem impossible. It may feel awkward. But it is obedient, and it’s the first step to having real joy, even when things aren’t going according to plan.

2. Stop Moping, Start Hoping
Murmuring leads to moping. Complaints, whether kept in the heart or uttered on the lips, are like weights draped over the soul. They are heavy and burdensome. They laden the heart with self-pity and false feelings of “I deserve better.” Self-pity is a pathetic trap—don’t go there. Moping robs the heart of the blessing of God’s presence and power in the midst of the trial. It quenches the Spirit. Choosing to mope is the same as choosing to prolong and even worsen the agony of disappointment. Decide that moping is out in the new year. No self-pity. Instead, determine to hope in God, no matter where the road of life may twist or turn.

3. Stop Envying, Start Serving
First we murmur, then we mope, then we resent. We start to look at others and compare. We start to tabulate and calculate. And in our fleshly mind-set, we always come up short. Someone else has it better. Someone else has it easier. It’s a mind game we will never win. Comparison leads to envy and discontentment—a bad spirit festers and feeds on every perceived inequity or injustice. STOP!

HEALED AND WHOLE

HEALED AND WHOLE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

by Carol Parrott


If you have hurts today that you are holding on to. The best thing is to give them to the Lord. He wants to take all your hurts and pain and make you whole again.

We can only change things that we can control. Those other things are best left to the Lord for He sees the whole picture and we can not.

If you want your life to be beautiful again, just let God. He is there and He wants to take all your burdens upon Himself.

1PETER 5;7------CASTING ALL YOUR CARE UPON HIM; FOR HE CARETH FOR YOU.

ISAIAH 41:10----FEAR THOU NOT; FOR I AM WITH THEE; BE NOT DISMAYED, FOR I AM THY GOD; I WILL STRENGTHEN THEE; YEA, I WILL HELP THEE; YEA, I WILL UPHOLD THEE WITH THE RIGHT HAND OF MY RIGHTEOUSNESS.

God is waiting, He wants to help you and He will if you will let Him. connie