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Sip the Cup of Goodness

5/1/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
 My Grandson was telling me about the excitement of
a snake in his yard…

”Was it a rattler?” I asked.
“No…it was a good snake”, he stated.
I inquired, “What made it a good snake?”
“It eats the bad snakes”, he replied with a grin;
My grandson has a great dislike of snakes!

So what is “Good”?

Let me start with some adjectives that describe Good from
the Websters Dictionary 1828

Kind; affectionate;  as a good father; good will.
Faithful; as a good friend.
Promoter of Happiness; pleasant, agreeable, cheering.
Honorable; fair, unblemished, as a man of good fame or report.
Cheerful; favorable to happiness. Be of good comfort.
Favorable; compassionate, humane.
Benevolent; merciful; gracious.

All of the above adjectives completely describe God.

Not just part…but,
His totality…His Character.


And here is the best part!
He shares that Goodness with you and me via the Holy Spirit..

We can exhibit acts of goodness because of the
Cross and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 107:1
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
(NIV)


God is good…
His love has been given to us…via the cross…and then He gave us the Holy Spirit.

Notice the name “Holy” what does holy mean?
Try this on for size…

Perfectly just and good.

If I want to have a spirit in me…
I want it to be that and nothing less.
Remember we are have been looking at ways to Remedy  Neglect…


Picture
 Galatians 5:22-26,
“God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled.
There is no law against behaving in any of these ways.
And because we belong to Christ Jesus, we have killed our selfish feelings and desires.
God’s Spirit has given us life, and so we should follow the Spirit.
But don’t be conceited or make others jealous by claiming to be better than they are.”
(CEV)


Here is the great news about these attributes…
they are provided for us
as a gift from God.

Our Father in Heaven has given us the Holy Spirit
whom produces in us these characteristics!
The essence of these attributes is how we…

Love God and love others!


Prayer:
Dear Lord, I want your spirit to rule in my life!
Nothing more and nothing less.
Help me to allow the Fruit of Goodness "eat up" the bad in and around me...
So I can love you and love others with all my heart!
Amen!

Caprice <><

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A Kindness that Warms the Soul

4/17/2015

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Picture
I watched as my husband sat with our grandson, who is at the 
"say & do...everything you do" phase. 

He wants to please his grandpapa...
"Say please"..."Peess" is returned with a 

bright smile.
Did you tell Grandma thank you for lunch?..."Tank you Grama"

But sometimes his 2 year old self gets in his way...
He raises a defiant "MINE!", as he pulls at his beloved toy. 
"Stop-it!" he says with rumbled brow as he tires of a game..."Stop-it, please" reminds Grandpa. "Stop-it Peesss", comes his reply.
Our grandson is being taught to respond politely.


Proverbs 3:1-2
 "My son, always remember what I have taught you;
    keep my instructions dear to your heart.
If you do, they will be your guide to
    a long, healthy,prosperous life."
(VOICE)


On another note...I love the hussle and bussle of an International airport and being the passenger that is ready to embark on a long awaited adventure. 
You know how it feels... 
you are at the airport...you have checked your list numberous times...
yup...you have everything...
done everything...and remembered everything. 
Everything you needed to do is done...
Picture
Then the only thing that you couldn't control has happened...
with a mighty rearranging of everything compromised weather has developed...
So BIG...it has closed down airports...
delayed flights...and angered a huge line of 
"to-be" passengers 
of which you are at the very end of that line.
Last year on our way to visit our son and his family I had the privilege of watching an incredible airport employee do her job and do it well! 

She had the knack of "calm in the midst of a storm". 
She stayed focused and got us all through the situation with ease and a sense that
our plans were important! 
Her thoughtfulness was well received. 
On our return flight we spotted her out in front of the terminal assisting a person in a wheelchair who needed to catch her bus. 
She was trained to alleviate the distress of customers when the "BIG storms of discontent" 
came thundering down the runway.


Proverbs3:3 
"Stay focused; do not lose sight of mercy and truth;
    engrave them on a pendant, and hang it around your neck;
    meditate on them so they are written upon your heart."


You know if I am to tell you the truth...

sometimes I hear those voices echoing around in my own head. 
"I don't want to share...me first...good to the last drop...oops sorry none for you!"

There is a word that I found in Greek that fits the airport employee's actions; 

chrēstos,
an adjective meaning "good, mild, and fit for use." 

This woman was a good fit for her job, and I should say she serves her employer well. 
You too have been...outfitted with a very special attribute as a believer......Kindness. 

Remember...it is one of the fruits that can we can use to "remedy neglect".
The neglect that people face everyday...

the feelings of being... 

Overlooked
Forgotten
The invisibles


In this life you can be trained to show acts of kindness or 
you can be taught to respond with a kind answer but here is an important nugget of truth.
What brings the training all together is...
heart matters!
The remedy comes from our helper who is busy training us up...the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 13:4
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud." 
(NIV)


Kindness has to be sincere, to be felt...anchored in love...
Then kindness will overflow from your heart in gracious abundance.

Picture
I am reminded of the story of Paul on the Island of Malta, 

Acts 28:1-2, 
"Once we were safe on shore, 
we learned that we were on the island of Malta. 
The people of the island were very kind to us. 
It was cold 
and rainy, 
so they built a fire on the shore 
to welcome us."

Won't you welcome someone in out of the cold of this world 
with the  kindness that is wrapped around your 
heart...attitude and gestures? 


Dear Lord, Help me to show kindness to everyone I meet today. May they see the kindness of your love in everything I do!


Caprice <><
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In Their Place

4/9/2015

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Picture



Hot tears ran down her cheeks as the

sting of the biting comments of a friend registered in her heart.

Sound familiar?

Have you ever been stunned by someone
who you thought was a friend?


Picture


Stunned because you don’t quite know what to do next…
How do you respond to words meant to cut you to your core?

Through the years this has been a struggle for me…
I always find the words of response…

three days later!!


 Although this is actually a good thing for me…
Because in my heart
I know that I am not to retaliate…

So I searched my heart and mind…as a believer…
What am I suppose to do?

Then God sent me to a training camp that I will never forget.
And I will always be grateful for…
the valuable lesson learned.

When it comes to the difficult people in my life…

I need to be careful…
NOT to put them in their place…

Instead…

I need to put myself in their place.


There usually is a reason for the biting edge...
Sometimes it is me…
My lack of caring…cranky attitude or quick and unfiltered words.

And other times…it is the other person.
The baggage that they have been carrying around for a lifetime
has weighted them down until
they latch out from the pain of it all…

 with cutting words and sometimes actions.

Picture
 Here are some guidelines from 1 Peter 3:9-11,
for helping us to become the
“peace-maker”.


1. Do not pay back evil with evil or insult with insult.

2. Repay an insult with a blessing,
a very genuine and sincere blessing.
This may take some time.
Removing yourself from the situation and pray,
Prayer will help you to come up with the right response!


Picture
 3. Be careful what you say… 

Don’t tell lies or spread gossip.

4. Do what is right.


Always seek peace and pursue it...

Chase after it with all your might!


 
If we truly Love God and in turn love others and we need to be willing to…
 “Put ourselves in their place”

And love them just where they are...with all there bumps and bruises…
The same way God loves us…


Bumps…Bruises…Biting Edges
and…
with all our baggage.

Picture
 His love is unconditional and brings with it…peace.

Colossians 3:13-15
“Make allowance for each other's faults,
and forgive anyone who offends you.

Remember, the Lord forgave you,
so you must forgive others.

Above all, clothe yourselves with love,
which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.
For as members of one body you are called to live in peace.

And always be thankful.”
(NLT)




Heavenly Father,
Help me to see those you have put in my life
through your loving eyes.
Grant me the right words,
words laced with kindness and blessing.

I want to be your “peace-maker”.

Amen

 

Caprice <><

 

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The Remedy for Neglect

3/5/2015

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 I have been a gardener since I was 10 years old…I love getting my hands dirty!
Working in the garden helping things to grow…over the years I have planted…
Some flowers for the eye
Vegetables to help me stay well nourished
And shade trees for a hot summer days that offer refreshment

Picture
Picture
 In order for these plants to be healthy…
I need to look deep into the soil at what is it that their roots are tapping into for nutrients…


Is the soil rich?

Well watered?

Is there plenty of sunshine?

But sometimes as I have said in the past things get neglected
So I need to take a step back and take a fresh look at things...
And seek the remedy for neglect
A good look and review of what works and..
What definitely does not

Life needs an overhaul every so often too!
Time goes by and we as people tend to skate on issues and attitudes in order just to get by.
Why because if “it ain’t broke…why fix it?”...such a laziness can settle into one’s heart and attitudes rather quickly

Well I am here to tell you that anything in life worth doing…is worth doing 100%

 "God is more concerned with conforming me to the likeness of His Son than leaving me in my comfort zones.
God is more interested in inward qualities than outward circumstances -
things like refining my faith,
humbling my heart,
cleaning up my thought life and
strengthening my character."

- Joni Eareckson Tada


 
We can sometimes overlook the simple as Christians...
forgetting to...
Love God and Love others

So lets look to what makes this work…
the following is adapted from "The Expositor's Bible Commentary"
 

Love = Sacrificial, unmerited deeds to help a person in need

Joy = an inner happiness not dependent on outward circumstances

Peace = Harmony in all relationships

Forbearance = putting up with others, even when one is severely tired

Kindness = Doing thoughtful deeds for others

Goodness = showing generosity to others

Faithfulness = trustworthiness and reliability

Gentleness = meekness and humility

Self-control = victory over sinful desires


Here is the great news about these attributes…they are provided for us as a gift from God.
Our Father in Heaven has given us the Holy Spirit who produces in us these characteristics!
The essence of  these attributes is how we…


Love God and love others!

Galatians 5:22-26,
“God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled.
There is no law against behaving in any of these ways.
And because we belong to Christ Jesus, we have killed our selfish feelings and desires.
God’s Spirit has given us life, and so we should follow the Spirit.
But don’t be conceited or make others jealous by claiming to be better than they are.”

(CEV)



Prayer:
Lord help me to live my life by
remembering to use the tools for living a life of love for others and most of all
a 100% love for you! 
Amen


Caprice <><

Picture
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Perspective

1/16/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Remember the Peanuts cartoons by Charles Schultz? 
I heard a sermon that opened with the following…

Lucy is in her psychology booth and 
Charlie had stopped in for some advice…

“Life is like a deck chair Charlie, on the cruise ship of life,
some people place their deck chair at the rear of the ship
so they can see where they’ve been.

 Others place their chair at the front of the ship so they can see where they are going.” Lucy then asks,

“Which way is your deck chair facing?”
Charlie responds without hesitation,

 “I can’t even get my deck chair unfolded.”



Picture

Some days I can really relate to the difficulty of

getting my deck chair opened.

And usually this difficulty comes from uncertainty about
where I am going or where I have been.

First step…start by getting that chair open… 
take it one step at a time you can do it!


Then proceed to the rear of the ship and the past..

2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is united with the Anointed One,
that person is a new creation.
The old life is gone—and see—a new life has begun!”
(Voice)


Did you catch that?

If I believe God gave us Jesus…
the One chosen by God to provide us with a future…
a new start…
those things of my past…
my old way of doing things are gone…
no more do I need to linger in my former approach to life…
because I have been made new.

Picture
Reflection is good…

"Live thoughtfully today
and you won't have to live regretfully tomorrow."
- 
Woodrow Kroll

So when you look to where you have been…remember who holds you up as you go.

Joshua 1:9
“This is my command—be strong and courageous!
Do not be afraid or discouraged.
For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” 
(NLT)


As you gather perspective…
be determine to have the capacity to view things in their true 
relations or relative importance

This will help you to set your goals for the future and then
To function in the present

So as far as 2015 is concerned

1 Corinthians 15:58
My dear brothers and sisters,
stay firmly planted--
be unshakable--
do many good works in the name of God,
and know that all your labor is not for nothing when it is for God.” 
(VOICE)

Set your course for a worthy future!

Picture
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Tossed About            Part 4

10/29/2014

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So whom do you resemble?
When you resemble something it is usually because
You have “re-assembled” some idea, style, or way of life…
 
You take what you currently are made up of
and give it a re-adjustment.

Sometimes this is good and sometimes this is not so good.

Colossians 2:8, 
“Be sure you are not led away by the teaching of those who 

have nothing worth saying and
only plan to deceive you.
That teaching is not from Christ.
It is only human tradition and comes from
the powers that influence this world.”
(ERV)

Do you follow the trends?

Think of all the trends that are in the social media circles.
Here today and gone tomorrow.
To “follow” or “un-follow”…who or what is popular…
By a click of your mouse...
You become an advocate of whatever you choose…
Are you careful of what you support?
Or are you tossed about by what is the popular craze?

Picture
Ephesians 4:14, 
“Then we will no longer be little children,
tossed by the waves and blown around by
every wind of teaching,
by human cunning with cleverness
in the techniques of deceit. “
(HCSB)

Are you being led, guided, or influenced by somebody or something?

Proverbs 13:20, “Become wise by walking with the wise;
hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.” (MSG)


The other day my Grandson and I were hiking on the ranch.
We were up on a deer trail when he says,
“Be careful Grandma and watch where you step…
take one foot at a time when you walk”.
I smiled at him and told him thank you for helping me
to be careful about where I put my foot.

He is right…I need to be careful where I step
and take it one foot at a time!

Picture
If I am not careful
my foot can land me in some
pretty awful stuff!

Take caution on where you go and whom it is that you follow.

Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to guide me

and a light for my path.” (GNT)

Be careful my friends…
Think twice before you get off course from the right path…
Hold on…stay the course…
Don’t loose sight of what is important…
Or better yet…remember…

The Father gave His Son…the one whose foot-steps
are worthy to follow
where they lead.

Psalm 1:1,
“God’s blessings follow you and
 await you at every turn: when you don’t follow
the advice of those who delight in wicked schemes,

When you avoid sin’s highway,
when judgment and sarcasm beckon you,
but you refuse.”
(VOICE)

"Few things are more infectious than a godly lifestyle.
The people you rub shoulders with everyday
need that kind of challenge.
Not prudish. Not preachy.
Just cracker jack clean living.
Just honest to goodness, bone - deep,
non-hypocritical integrity."
- Chuck Swindoll

Prayer:
Lord, Help me to take one step at a time trusting you to take and guide in the correct direction. And sometimes Father will you hold my hand? thank you for your care...Amen




Caprice <>< 

Part four of a the series based on the previous blog “Follow” 10/1/14
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Family           Part 3

10/22/2014

1 Comment

 
Family…we all have one.

Some of our families are…
biological and others are not,
Some good…and sadly some are not so good…

Picture
These families have had influence on the person we are today.
Whether that influence is physical or evident in our character…
Our families have had impact on us
And what we choose to do with that influence…is important
Well…let’s unpack this a little before we move on…

I am delighted to have 6 grandchildren under the age of 4...with another one on the way.
Each one of them is so unique and beautifully made.

Psalm 127:3, “Children are a gift from the Lord;

they are a real blessing.” (GNT)

The newest little guy is only 7 weeks old and such a sweetheart.
It is such a treat to peer into his eyes, searching his profile…
Is that his father’s nose and his mama’s chin?
Will his hair be curly or straight…light or dark?
Oh...his hands…those look a lot like Grandpa’s hands.

But whose feet are those?

Picture

Observing his mannerisms, as he gets older, 
we will begin to discover his personality and character as it develops.
Will he have a love of adventure…taking risks?
Or will caution be his compass?

What about his heart?
Will he be merciful…kind…slow to anger...compassionate?

Genesis 1:27, “So God created humans to be like himself; 
he made men and women.” 
(CEV)

Who will this “little man” be?

Familial resemblances.
Picture
Like father…Like Son…

John 1:12-13,
“Yet some people accepted him and
put their faith in him.
So he gave them the right
 to be the children of God.
They were not God’s children by nature
or because of any human desires.

God himself was the one 
who made them his children.”
(CEV)

Won’t you join the family?
Why not seek the right reflection…of the best family there ever was…
The family of God!
Picture
1 John 3:1,
“Consider the kind of extravagant love
the Father has lavished on us--


He calls us children of God!


It’s true; we are His beloved children.
And in the same way the world didn’t recognize Him,
the world does not recognize us either.
(VOICE)

Who do you resemble?

Prayer:
Lord, Help me to resemble...to look more and more like you every day...to take on the family characteristics of the family of God! Thank you for calling me to be your child and lavishing your love upon my heart. Amen

Caprice <>< 

For more information on how to join the family of God
http://www.harvest.org/knowgod/



Part Three of a new series based on the previous blog “Follow” 10/1/14
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Get Set...    Part 2

10/16/2014

0 Comments

 
Do you model or imitate someone?

Picture
I still can remember the first hard look I ever took at myself. It was in the reflection of my daughter as she tried to be me. As a little girl that looked up to her “Mama”, she was not aware that I was far from the ideal. 

Has someone or something caught your eye and you say to yourself…
“I want to look and be like that!”
Picture
Proverbs 13:20, “Become wise by walking with the wise;
hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.” (MSG)


So into the pursuit of impersonation you dive.

Pulling…Tugging…Pushing…Adjusting

Trying to attain something you were never
Created for or to be.

It is a lie…you know…trying to be something you are not.

Colossians 3:9-10, “Do not lie to one another,
 for you have put off the old self with its habits and have put on the new self. 
This is the new being which God, 
its Creator, 
is constantly renewing in his own image, 
in order to bring you to a full knowledge of himself.” 
(GNT)

Picture
The good that came of my daughters desire to be like me… 
was it made me take an inventory of who I had become 
and I made some very needed adjustments…

"Real contentment must come from within.
You and I cannot change or control the world around us,
but we can change and control the world within us."
Warren Wiersbe


What I saw in that reflection of me…
just had to go!

Colossians 2:6-7, 
“Now that you have welcomed the Anointed One,
Jesus the Lord, into your lives,
continue to journey with Him and
allow Him to shape your lives.
Let your roots grow down deeply in Him,
and let Him build you up on a firm foundation.
Be strong in the faith, just as you were taught,
and always spill over with thankfulness.”
(VOICE)


Get ready…Set…Go!
Be yourself…the You…God created you to be.
Caprice <><
Part Two of a new series based on the previous blog “Follow” 10/1/14
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Ready?

10/8/2014

0 Comments

 
Okay are you geared up?

All right…get ready…set…go!!!

Picture
Excuse me Caprice…but where are we going?

I am so glad you asked!
Heaven!

That is my goal…how about you?

I do hope that you are planning on being there and that you know 
which road to take…but if not…

Let me show you to the one who knows the way!

Picture
First things first…you need to follow the right leader
A great question to ask your self is… “Who do I follow?”
 
To follow is to move in the same direction...


Mark 8:34,
”Then Jesus called the crowd and his disciples to him.
“If any of you want to come with me,” he told them,
“you must forget yourself, carry your cross, and follow me.” (GNT)

To go to the same place as Jesus
To watch carefully and pay attention to His teaching and 

example is the carrying of your cross.

It’s a call to absolute surrender of “Me first”
The “Me” that wants… what I want…when I want it…attitude.
Instead of…trusting Jesus
His teachings are about becoming less of “Me” as I learn 
to love others as he loved us.

John 13:34-35, “So I give you a new command:
Love each other deeply and fully.
Remember the ways that I have loved you,
and demonstrate your love for others in those same ways. 

Everyone will know you as My followers
if you demonstrate your love to others.”
The Voice (VOICE)

To go along the road or path that
Jesus has for me as His follower
 
The Jesus path is about putting to death our selfish ways…it is thinking
of others and their needs.
Picture
I want to travel in the same direction as Jesus…

Jesus:
Speaking to his followers in Matthew 16:24…
“ If you want to follow Me, 
you must deny yourself
the things you think you want. 
You must pick up your cross and follow Me.” 
The Voice

It really is not that hard…
loving others as Jesus loves us

It is a beautiful place to be

And is one of the first steps to Heaven.
Caprice <><
Picture
For more information regarding how to follow Jesus go to
http://www.harvest.org/knowgod/
Part One of a new series based on the previous blog “Follow” 10/1/14

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Follow

10/1/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
What do you follow?

Do you follow someone or a group on Facebook…Twitter?

How about a favorite sports team?

To follow is to move in the same direction...
to go to the same place
To watch carefully and pay attention to somebody or something
To go along a certain road or path;
traveling in the same direction as something else…

Jesus speaking to his followers:

Matthew 16:24, “ If you want to follow Me, 

you must deny yourself the things you think you want. 
You must pick up your cross and follow Me.” 
The Voice (VOICE)

Picture
Are you being led, guided, or influenced by somebody or something?

Do you model or imitate someone?

Do you follow the trends?
Our culture changes its course as often as is convenient.

Think of all the trends that are in the social media circles. 
To “follow” or “un-follow”…who or what is popular…by a click of your mouse.  
As the wind changes direction so do we.
You may be committed to a cause and then….
the tide starts to recede
and so does your devotion to what it was that you followed.

Picture
Ephesians 4:14, “Then we will no longer be little children, 
tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, 
by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. “(HCSB) 

These past two weeks I have been moved to tears and saddened…Thus I have been in deep thought and much prayer regarding those who have stood firm against the choice to…”convert or die”…



Aug. 10, 2014 in The Christian Post; an article by Leonard Blair

“National spokesman for Iraqi Christians and Chaldean-American businessman Mark Arabo said the "evil" being carried out by ISIS militants in Iraq now includes shocking beheadings of children…
 
They are systematically beheading children, and mothers and fathers. The world hasn't seen an evil like this for a generation. There's actually a park in Mosul that they've actually beheaded children and put their heads on a stick," Arabo . told CNN’s Jonathan Mann last week

"The letter that they sent out with those three items (convert, pay a fine or die), they did ask to pay a fine but actually after they pay a fine, they (ISIS militants) are actually taking over their wives and their daughters and making them into their wives. So really it's convert or die, face death by the sword," explained Arabo.

"They've marked the red stamp of death on Christian homes and basically saying we know who you are and if you come back, you will get killed. That's why we're saying this is a Christian holocaust within our midst and the world community cannot turn a blind eye," said Arabo. "They are absolutely killing every Christian they see. This is a genocide in every sense of the word. 

They want everyone to convert and they want Sharia law to be the law of the land."



Picture
These Christians can’t just click a button to un-follow or unsubscribe to this horror.

Psalm 31:5, “I place myself in your care. 
You will save me, Lord; you are a faithful God."
 (GNT)

As we have seen, the reports that are coming in, many have stood firm even to death.

1 Peter 2:21, “You were called to this kind of endurance,
because Christ suffered on your behalf. 
He left you an example so that you might follow in his footsteps.” (CEB)

But wait…their hope is not here on this earth…they know something so much sweeter…the hope of Heaven …

 
Philippians 3:20-21, 
“But we are citizens of heaven 
and are eagerly waiting for our Savior to come from there.
Our Lord Jesus Christ has power over everything, 
and he will make these poor bodies of ours 
like his own glorious body.” (CEV)

I would like to ask you to do something…this is not a chain letter…you will not turn into a pumpkin if you don’t.

 
1 Corinthians 15:58, “So, my dear brothers and sisters,
be strong and immovable. 
Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, 
for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” (NLT)

 
Will you join me in a prayer commitment for those facing these moments of decision…
testimonies of faith…
to follow Jesus or die?

If you will agree to be in prayer for these Christians who will not convert to Islam…
will you hit the like button on your facebook page? 
And if you are up to an additional challenge hit the share button 
to let others know we will stand firm for those who need our prayers.


James 1:12, “Happy is the person who can hold up under the trials of life.
 At the right time, 
he’ll know God’s sweet approval and will be crowned with life. 
As God has promised, 
the crown awaits all who love Him.” 
(VOICE)

Won’t you join me in prayer for them? Click “Like”

Encourage others to take the stand and pray...
click “Share” with your friends or timeline or pass this on as an email.

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Here are some suggestions on how to pray:

Pray for Their strength to trust the Lord,

1 John 5:4-5, “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.” (NLT)


For a peace, that will sustain them through the hardships.

John 16:33, “I have told you this so that you will have peace by being united to me. The world will make you suffer. But be brave! I have defeated the world!” (GNT)

For victory through the intense storm that rages around them.

1 Corinthians 15:57, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (NIV)

That the testimony of Faith be heard around the world!

2 Corinthians 2:14, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.” (NIV)

For the hope…that one day we will all be joined together in our New Heavenly home….

Revelation 7:9-12, “After this I looked, 
and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, 
from every nation, 
tribe, 
people and language, 
standing before the throne and before the Lamb. 
They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.  
And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God, 

who sits on the throne, 
and to the Lamb.”

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. 

They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:

“Amen! 

Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor
 and power and strength 

be to our God for ever and ever.
 Amen!” 
(NIV)

 

Caprice<><

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Questions for Thought                            

8/26/2014

0 Comments

 
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I want to ask you a simple question today “Where are you right now? Take a moment to answer that question.

How did you respond? Did you respond in regards to your current location?

If you answered by stating your location, you are like most of us in our response to this question. Adam answered that way when God asked him and Eve after they had done what God asked them not to.

Genesis 3:8-9, "When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees. Then the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”  (NLT)

What I was really asking you is, “Where are you in regards to your walk with God?” Where are you really? Don’t give me, and better yet yourself, the answer “Oh I am great!” The following is a sort of fact finder for you to do a personal review.

On the line below where would you place yourself in regards to your position to God?

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You                                                                                                                                                                  God

Are you happy at where you placed yourself on the line?

Do you wish you were closer to God?

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What is keeping you from getting closer to God?

Are there habits that are in your way?

What about your attitude?

Is your time management in tune with your relationship to God?

Are there relationships that need mending?

Are you part of a church so you can become stronger as a believer?

What will it take to get you closer to Him than you are today?

Do you talk to God on a regular basis, and in turn listen to Him?

Do you know what the word of God has to say and how it applies to your life?

Make a list of the changes and decisions that need to be made.

Now time to get serious and take action. Do the things on your list!

I want you to take one last look at where you placed yourself on that line. Look again with this thought in mind, God did not move, you did. So move on back and take the first step to getting closer to the one who created and loves you. Take action on that list and start today!

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Caprice <><



Dear God,
 I do truly love you and I want to change my location on the line to a position closer to you. 
Help me to be honest about the things that have moved me away from you. And then Lord I am going to need your help to take the action to do the things that I put on my list. 
Father I do confess that I need your help. 
Thank you for always being there; no matter how far away I take my self, you are there. 
You are right where I left you when I took my first step away; waiting for my return. 
I humbly ask your forgiveness for the items on my lists, those items that have placed a distance between you and I. 
Help me to turn around and run with all my heart back to you. 
Amen

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