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.”

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.

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!

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?

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!

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

Family…we all have one.

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

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?

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.

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!

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?

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!”

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)

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

Okay are you geared up?

All right…get ready…set…go!!!

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!

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.

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 <><

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

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…

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.

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."

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.

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<><

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?

You                                                                                                                                                                  God

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

Do you wish you were closer to God?

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!

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