WOMEN FOR THE NATIONS

2012-01-11T09:39:00.001+13:00

I have been asked many times to re-post this, especially in light of the earthquakes and after shocks....so here it is. May you be very blessed

El Cether-God My Hiding Place By Kevin Pauley

"You are my hiding place; You protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance. Selah." Psalm 32:7

HCSBA young boy ran, ducking and dodging, trying desperately to avoid the hail of rocks that flew through the air. His persecutors yelled instructions to each other in their hunting language as they tried to head him off. He cried as he ran, though he despised himself for the weakness.

A couple of the rocks had landed hard, leaving bleeding gashes on his shoulders and head. He was used to running and hiding, and soon was able to elude his tormentors. He cut down one path that ran by a small ledge overlooking a creek.

Instead of continuing to run on the path, he jumped through a small opening in the vines and landed in the creek. He immediately doubled back and threw himself under the ledge. A small cave had been cut by centuries of water flow and he hid there with his hand clamped over his mouth so that his ragged breaths would not betray him.

Soon enough, his enemies' footsteps could be heard pounding along as they went right by his secret hiding place. That small cave is what I think of whenever I meditate on God's name, El Cether. It's pronounced "say-there" and means "hiding place."

David knew well what it meant to be pursued by enemies. He spent a lot of time in dark caves, eluding those who would do him harm, and it was a natural step to begin thinking of his God as El Cether (God My Hiding Place). But "cether" also means secret.

It is used when someone tries to secretly whisper into your ear or when someone tries to sin in secret. Jonathan advised David to meet him in a secret hiding place to determine King Saul's intent.

Abigail used the covering of a hill to meet David secretly in order to avoid a disastrous slaughter. God does not promise to keep all trouble from us. But He does promise to be our secret hiding place. That hiding place is found in our private devotional encounter with El Cether.

Our faith in His abiding strength and provision is both our hiding place and our shield from the darts of the enemy. Through His Word and His Spirit, He feeds and strengthens us in the midst of our conflict, often right in front of our enemies.

All we have to do is abide in His presence, clinging to His mighty hand as the world rages around us. Someday, we will hear His voice calling, "My dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the crevices of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely." The next thing you know we will be home-safe, warm and with no further need to hide.

2012-01-11T09:31:00.000+13:00

So often we enjoy the things that we stagnate on...George and I have a favourite coffee shop, a favourite drive, I have a favourite outfit, favourite music etc

2 of the girls have moved, Leonie leaves for Auckland and Myra has moved back to their lifestyle block.

I was feeling really sad about all the "movement" when the Lord gently reminded me that the devotional I am writing is called "A NEW SEASON , A NEW SONG". Well, yes, we need new songs, not that the old ones aren't anointed but we need NEW WINE! Hallelujah, we need to breathe clean fresh air, we need to drink pure running water, NOT, stagnant water!

So today surrender yourself to the fresh "newness" of what God would pour into your life, surrender to the plan, because dearly beloved one we are constantly moving forward NOT camping!

What a mighty God we serve!

Love you every day

Sharmaine

A Good Chuckle

2012-01-04T14:02:00.001+13:00

This was sent to me by a friend, it made me smile! Hoe you enjoy it! Have you ever told a White lie? You are going to love this, especially all of the Ladies who bake for church events: Alice Grayson was to bake a cake for the Baptist Church Ladies' Group in Tuscaloosa, but forgot to do it Until the last minute. She remembered it the morning of the bake sale and after rummaging through cabinets, found an angel food cake mix & quickly made it while drying her hair, dressing, and helping her son pack for scout camp. When she took the cake from the oven, the center had dropped flat and the cake was horribly disfigured and she exclaimed, "Oh dear, there is not time to bake another cake!" This cake was important to Alice because she did so want to fit in at her new church, and in her newcommunity of friends. So, being inventive, she looked around the house for something to build up the center of the cake. She found it in the bathroom - aroll of toilet paper. She plunked it in and then covered it with icing. Not only did the finished product look beautiful, it looked perfect. And, before she left the house to drop the cake by the church and head for work, Alice woke her daughter and gave her some money and specific instructions to be at the bake sale the moment it opened at 9:30 and to buy the cake and bring it home. When the daughter arrived at the sale, she found the attractive, perfect cake had already been sold. Amanda grabbed her cell phone and called her Mom. Alice was horrified - she was beside herself! Everyone would know! What would they think? She would be ostracized, talked about, ridiculed! All night, Alice lay awake in bed thinking about people pointing fingers at her and talking about her behind her back. The next day, Alice promised herself she would try not to think about the cake and would attend the fancy luncheon/bridal shower at the home of a fellow church member and try to have a good time. She did not really want to attend because the hostess was a snob who more than once had looked down her nose at the fact that Alice was a single parent and not from the founding families of Tuscaloosa , but having already RSVP'd , she couldn't think of a believable excuse to stay home. The meal was elegant, the company was definitely upper crust old south and to Alice 's horror, the cake in question was presented for desert! Alice felt the blood drain from her body when she saw the cake! She started out of her chair to tell the hostess all about it, but before she could get to her feet, The Mayor's wife said, "what a beautiful cake!" Alice , still stunned, sat back in her chair when she heard the hostess (who was a prominent church member) say, "Thank you, I baked it myself." Alice smiled and thought to herself, "God is good."

New Year ....New Thoughts

2012-01-03T20:56:00.002+13:00

Well precious friends here we are at a new road, new year, new decisions and new thought patterns or maybe not?

We start every new year with gusto, lists in our hand feeling so satisfied that we have chosen a higher way, a better way , that this year will be different to any other. We set ourselves impossible goals, impossible schemes and forget to place them all at the feet of the Dream Giver.

Oh no, I can hear you dispair "Is it wrong to have goals , to want to change? "

No my beloved it is RIGHT! "Well " I can just hear you think , "then how does that fit?"

You ask really good questions.

When we ponder our goals ponder them with Him, when we set our goals, consult Him our Abba first and see if they fit with His goals for you! This dearest friends is the pathway to success, so often we try and squeeze God into our plans , into our schedule only to find it becomes a minefield of challenges and then we bemoan our fate and ask why it did not work out!

So clear the junk out of your trunk, bury old "corpses" ( old stinking thinking, old habits) and smile, face the future knowing who you are and beloved have the best year ever no matter what.

Hugs

Sharmaine

So.....Consider this

2011-11-29T22:12:00.002+13:00

How are you all doing?

I have been thinking about Job's wife recently. As you know my "filler" job is counselling until God releases me back into full time ministry.

Job 2:9 is relevant. I have been dealing with a few women who have lost so much in the Christchurch earthquake. They have become embittered, even those who know God seem to want to have nothing to do with Him and encourage those they care deeply for to "curse" God .

When will you allow your heart not to be turned from the joy of intimacy with Him? When will you stop berating the Lord for the "things" that you believe He has taken away from you?

When will you sit and rather hand your grief to Him, the lover of your soul.

Ponder today the events of your life, how you perceive them, how you present. Think of God and His great love for you, so much so that He gave His Son for ALL who would believe in Him.

God Bless you and I love youevery day !

Abuse ?

2011-11-04T20:02:00.004+13:00

I know someone who is writing what will be an excelent expose on abuse in the church. The abuse she is talking about is the silent abuse that takes place in Christian homes and what is done about it in the church.

This got me thinking about other abuse in the church such as Pastors whose families go through so much that it borders on abuse. God never asked a man to sacrifice his family on the ministry alter! I was told a story of a ministry family that were given a manse, however the church office was in the bottom of their house so they constantly had no privacy! Come on this is not what Jesus paid the price for.

What about the way that parishioners abuse pastors and their families.......

Judgement comes first to the church.

It is time for us to change to allow ourselves be re-arranged, it is time for the bride of Christ to wash her robes, it is time for us to love each other as we love ourselves.

Is that not another point, how much do we love ourselves? Are we able to love others if we cannot love ourselves? Of course not!

Jesus paid a price that is incomprehnsible for our freedom, He loves you today and everyday, He is our desire, He is our purpose and He is our King.

You are so so loved!

Hugs and blessings

Sharmaine

2011-10-08T08:31:00.002+13:00

I am sorry that I have been away from familiar for a while, but it has been difficult to articulate the place I have found myself in.How do you even begin to speak about walking through the valley of the shadow of death and similtaneously describing the continuous bombardment of pressure and cruelty,HOWEVERLet the bells ring......I have left my paying job to walk on the water with Him, you and me. We will journey into the hearts of ourselves, into places hitherto unspoken of and sometimes just have a cup of coffee and tea together gathering around the campfires of our hearts to share our secrets and dreams.I may have been away BUT I love you every daySharmaine1 Cor 13

HEAVEN AND HELL

2011-04-04T04:50:00.002+12:00

Sisters
Wete received this from Dr Raynold Bori. When I was at a conference some time ago In the USA I received a prophetic word to tell people that Jesus is coming soon!

He is coming soon! Please read this testimony and let it minister to you!
I apologise for not including the pictures should anyboby want them contact me and I will send the PDF documnent to you!

Prepare to meet your God! The Kingdoms of Heaven & Hell, and the Return of CHRIST by Angelica Zambrano aka.23 Horas Muertra For a period of 23 hours, a young Ecuadorian girl named Angelica was shown the Kingdoms of Heaven and Hell, and the Return of Christ. She witnessed Jesus weeping as He overlooked multitudes of souls lost forever, a world that has rejected Him, a Church that is mostly unprepared for Him, a people that have stopped witnessing to the lost, and an entertainment industry that even lures children to satan. She witnessed many of our esteemed cultural icons suffering in the Pit; singers, entertainers, and even a pope.

Angelica was also shown how the Kingdom of Heaven is all wonderfully prepared and ready, an unimaginable glorious place, where no evil exists. Though Jesus is ONLY coming back for a Holy People, and many of God's children will NOT be ready on that day, and will be left behind in a world that will fall apart.
(Location: El Empalme, Ecuador. Sept. 29, 2009)

My name is Maxima Zambrano and we attend the "Casa de Oracion" Church in El Empalme. We were fasting for 15 days, and crying out to God. My daughter Angelica also joined us. During those fifteen days of fasting, I was able to see beyond the natural, which I've never done before. We were praying and fasting at the retreat, and even continued praying and crying out at home, waiting for God to speak to us.
The Lord gave us much encouragement. Because of our trials, we were often ready to give up, but the Lord was there to help us. He gave usJeremiah 33:3 "Call unto Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not." My daughter had been emphatically requesting that from Lord, though I didn't know it at the time.
My name is Angelica Elizabeth Zambrano Mora. I am 18, and study at the "Colegio José María Velazco Ibarra", here at El Cantón, El Empalme, Ecuador. I first accepted Christ when I was 12, but I told myself, "None of my friends were evangelicals and I felt strange amongst them", so I walked away from God, and lived a bad, terrible life.
But God pulled me out of there. On, my 15th Birthday, I was reconciled to the Lord, but I was still double-minded. The Bible says, "A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways" (James 1:8) and I was one of those

Maxima (the Mother):
persons. My dad would say, "You don't have to be like that, it looks awful, it's wrong," but I would reply, "This is the way I am, and how I want to be, nobody has to tell me how I should be, nor what I should do, nor how I should dress, or behave." He would respond, "God is going to deal with you. He is going to change you.

Angelica (The daughter):
"During my 17 birthday, I came closer to the Lord. On April 28th I came to Him and said, "Lord, I feel so bad, I know that I'm a sinner," and I told Him how I felt. "Lord, forgive me. I want You to write my name in the Book of Life and to accept me as Your child." I repented and gave back my life to the Lord. I said, "Lord, I want You to change me, to make a difference in me." I cried with all my heart, asking the Lord to change me. But, as time passed by I felt no change. The only difference was that I began to attend church, to read the Bible and to pray. That was the only change in my life.
Then, in August, I was invited to fast for 15 days. I decided to join, but before entering I said, "Lord, I want you to deal with me here." During the fast, the Lord was speaking to almost everybody, except me! It was as if the Lord had not seen me, and that hurt. I would pray, "Lord, aren't You going to deal with me?" I would cry alone and continue, "Lord, do You love me? Are You here? Are You with me? Why don't You speak to me like You do to everyone else. You speak so many things to other people, even words of prophecy, but not me." I asked for a sign that He was with me, and the Lord gave me Jeremiah 33:3, "Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." I said, "Lord, did You just talk to me?” Because I heard His audible voice and had a vision of the words written in Jeremiah 33:3.

I said, "Lord, is that for me?" I kept it to myself, while everyone else was testifying what the Lord had given them and what they had seen. But I kept it secret and would only meditate on the words: "Call unto Me" means to pray, but what did "great and mighty things" mean? I thought, "This can only mean heaven and hell." So I said,"Lord, I only want You to show me heaven, but not hell, because I've heard that it is a horrible place." But I then prayed with all my heart, "Lord if it is Your will to show me what You must, then do so, but change me first. I want You to make a difference in me; I want to be different.”

When we finished fasting, there were trials and difficulties and sometimes I felt faint, unable to continue walking with the Lord. But He gave me strength. I started to hear His voice and know Him better. We became good friends. The Lord is our best friend, the Holy Spirit. I told Him, "Lord, You are my best friend. I want to know You better," and shared all my thoughts with Him.

I prayed during all of August and then in November, a servant of the Lord came to our house and said, "May the Lord bless you." I replied, "Amen." He then said, "I am here to bring you a message from God...you must prepare yourself, because the Lord will show you great and mighty things which you do not know. He is going to show you Heaven and Hell because you have been asking, from Jeremiah 33:3." I asked, "Yes, how did you know? I haven't told that to anyone."

He responded, "The same God that you serve and praise, that very same God I also praise told me everything."
Soon we began to pray. Some sisters from our church, and others from my family were there with us praying. But as soon as we started praying, I began to see the Heavens opened. So

I said, "I see the Heavens are opening, and 2 angels are coming down!" The man said, "Ask them why they are here."
They were tall and beautiful; with beautiful wings. They were large and shining, and seemed transparent, brilliant as gold. They wore crystal sandals and had on holy garments. "Why are you here?" They smiled and said, "We are here because we have a task to carry out...We are here because you must visit Heaven and Hell and we will not leave until all of this comes to pass." I responded, "very well, but I only want to visit heaven, not hell." They smiled, and stayed there, but did not say anything more. After we finished prayer, I could still see them there.

I also started to see the Holy Spirit; He is my best friend; He is Holy, He is omniscient; He is omnipresent! I could see Him, transparent and brilliant at the same time; with a brilliant countenance, I could see His smile and His loving gaze! I can hardly describe Him, because He is more beautiful than angels. The angels have their own beauty, but the Holy Spirit is far more beautiful than they are! I could hear His audible voice, a voice full of love, a passionate voice. I just can't explain His voice; a voice like lightening, yet at the same time He would say, "I am with you." so I would strive to continue walking with God, even as trials surrounded us. We were going through very difficult moments, but victorious ones at the same time. I said, "Lord, let Your will be done." I continued to notice the angels even at school, and in my classes. I was so happy, so full of joy because I could actually see them!

The servant of the Lord, who visited my house, told me to prepare myself, because I was going to see Heaven and Hell. But he also told me something difficult. He said,"You are going to die." It wasn't easy when I heard this.
"How am I going to die? I'm so young", I asked. He replied, "Don't worry about anything, everything God does is perfect, and He will bring you back to life, so you can testify about Heaven and Hell, which is what the Lord wants all of us to know about." I said, "Amen, but will I be run over by a car, how will I die?" Ideas came rushing into my mind, but the Lord told me not to worry, everything was under control. I said, "Thank you, Lord!"

On November 6th, after I returned home from school, the Angels were still with me, even while praising the Lord. They would not speak to me; all they would say was,"Holy, Holy, Holy, Hallelujah," giving glory, honor and praise to our Heavenly Father. The Holy Spirit was there along with the angels and I would rejoice. Many people say that the gospel is boring, but that is a big lie from the devil to keep people from searching for God's presence. I also used to believe this, but after I met the Lord and the Holy Spirit, I know the gospel is not boring, it is the most beautiful experience you can have on Earth!
I could see; play with, and even talk to the Holy Spirit. But the angels would not talk to me, but they would praise the Lord. I would say, "Holy Spirit come along with me to do this or that" and He would be there. I could feel and see Him.
I saw Him when He would rise to His feet, and would even prepare a seat for Him. Although many can't see Him, He is here! That relationship has continued, there's no reason to stop it, once you've experienced it…there's no way that I would withdraw. When I consider where He pulled me out from, what I was before, I am so thankful for His mercy, for all His love toward humanity and toward me!

On November 7th, when I was returning home, I heard a voice that said, "Be prepared, for you will die today," I knew it was the Holy Spirit because I could see Him. I ignored His voice and said, "Lord, I don't want to die today!" But He repeated, "Be prepared, for you will die today!" This time He said it louder and with greater force. I replied, "Lord, I know it's You talking to me; I only ask for a confirmation and after that, do with me as You will. I'll do whatever You ask, I'll surrender, even if I'm afraid, because I know You are with me and You are real."
I prayed, "Let that person you used before, bring me the message. Let him be at my home this instant, before I arrive, and let him tell me that today I will die." Now, somehow the Lord knows our past, present and future. He knew what I would request of Him. So when I arrived home, the servant of the Lord was already there.

Maxima:
When my daughter got home, we were in the kitchen. When Angelica she saw the servant of the Lord she said, "May the Lord bless you." The man of God responded, "God bless you. Are you ready? For today is the day that the Lord will take you, at 4 PM." She just stood there, astonished that the Lord had granted her request.
Angelica:
When I heard this I said, "Amen...but I don't want to die, I can't die! No, Lord, I'm afraid, very much afraid, terrified!" The servant of the Lord said, “Let's pray that your fear will leave now in the name of our Lord." I said, "Amen" and we prayed. Soon I felt all fear leave me, and an indescribable joy came, thinking that death was the best thing that could happen to me! I started to smile and laugh while everyone was looking at me. They could all see that I went from being dismal to joyful. I was smiling, jumping and singing.

Maxima:
My daughter instantly felt joy in her heart and started eating. She had a little bit of everything, saying, "If I don't return, well I've eaten and I'm full."

Angelica:
Everyone started laughing and asked, "Why are you behaving like this instead of being sad, you're happy, you're joyful?" I told them, "Of course: I'm going to see the Lord, I'm going to be with Him, but I don't know if I'll be coming back so I want to give away all my things." They all stared at me and asked, "You're going to give away all your belongings?" My Mom's eyes were wide open in surprise!

Maxima:
My daughter started giving her things away. She gave everything away, everything! Our church sisters were with us, as usual, and she gave something to every one of them. When I questioned her intentions, she said, "If I return, they can give everything back to me, but if I don't come back, then they can keep everything."

Angelica:
I can imagine how sad my Mom must have felt when I said that. But I felt so happy, that I started giving everything away: my clothes, my bed, my cell phone, everything, with one condition: If I come back, everything must be returned to me. They all started laughing.

Maxima:
She was very determined, but as a mother I felt so much sorrow. It wasn't easy. I wondered, "Lord when the moment comes, how will it be?" I couldn't understand. As they started praying, I was arranging thing in the house. They said, "sister, come let's pray." But I replied, "You go on, I will join you shortly. Just let me finish this task."

Angelica:
They were all observing me as we prayed. I prayed, "Lord, I want to do Your will. You're not a man that You would lie or repent, I know You are real. If I am going to fail You, then it's best if You just take me with You; but If I am going to do Your will, then bring me back, but help me say the truth, prepare me, help me to preach and to tell people to repent." That was my shortest prayer. I told this to the servant of the Lord and said, "Don't tell my Mom what I said to the Lord." He replied, "I won't tell her now, but once the Lord has taken you, I'll tell her." We continued praying and came together in a prayer circle.

Maxima:
At 3:30 PM, the Lord told His servant to anoint my daughter. So some of us went into the room and anointed her. He gave us two minutes to anoint her all over, from her hair down, everything, all her body. She was fully anointed.
Death

Angelica:
My Mom and another church sister, Fátima Navarrete, anointed me with oil. But as they were anointing me, I felt something covering me, like a glass that was surrounding me. It's hard to explain, I felt covered with something like armor, and I couldn't explain how I was covered. After that, when they tried to touch me, they no longer could.

Maxima:
As we were praying over Angelica, I was trying to lay my hands on her, but I couldn't touch her! She had some type of covering around her. It was strange, nobody could touch her! This covering started at the top of her head to her feet, about 30cm (12 inches). That was what shocked me the most. I've lay my hands on people before, in service to the Lord, but something like this had never happened before! I said, "Oh, something must be happening," and I started to pray and to give thanks to the Lord. Suddenly, I felt great joy. The sorrow in my heart was gone, the pain was gone, and I now felt joyful and happy! We continued praying and about at 4:00 PM, my daughter fell to the floor.

Angelica:
During prayer, I felt shortness of breath; I couldn't breathe. I felt a pain in my abdomen and in my heart. I felt my blood going dormant, and tremendous pain all over my body. All I could say was, "Lord, give me strength, give me strength!" because I felt I couldn't go on. I had no strength, it was leaving me! When I looked up to heaven, in the spiritual realm, not with my physical eyes, I saw heaven opening up. I saw angels, not two nor ten, but millions of them gathering together. In the midst of the millions of angels, I saw a Light, 10,000 times brighter than the sun. And I said, "Lord that is You who is coming!"

Maxima:
When she fell down, we tried to stand her up, but she was unable to stand on her own. At this time, we were able to touch her. She was saying, "Pray. I don't have strength, Mommy, I don't have strength and I feel pain." First, she felt pain in her heart, and then it went down near her abdomen. We kept on praying and pleading with the Lord. The Lord took her life!
Never before in my life had I seen anybody die. I had to see my daughter, as she was agonizing! It was not easy at all! I couldn't understand her last few words, and at the end she stopped. I placed my hand on her face, and a mirror to her mouth, to see if she was breathing. She had no breath, she just stood still. I held her, she was still warm, as normal. I took
a sheet and covered her up, and in a short while she started to get cold, very cold. Her hair was set back, like the hair of a dead person, and she turned icy cold.

Angelica:
Jesus was coming down, and I felt my body dying. As Jesus and the Angels got closer, I felt I was leaving, that I was no longer me. I was no longer alive, I was dying, and it was agonizing! When my body fell to the floor, they were already here. My house was full of angels, and in the midst of the angels I saw a Light, stronger than the sun! It was very difficult; I felt tremendous pain, as my soul and spirit were being torn away.
I was crying and screaming, as I saw my body on the floor. I asked, "Lord, what is happening? What is happening?" I wanted to touch my body and get inside it again, but when I tried, it was like to grabbing air: I couldn't touch it. My hand went straight through it. None of those who were praying there could hear me! And I shouted, "Lord, help me!"

Maxima:
My husband arrived while we were praying, and he saw her there. The Lord gave me strength at that moment because I didn't know what to do. It was like she was in a coma, but I knew she was OK, because it was the Lord's work. So I said "Lord, let Your will be done."
The Lord Jesus Christ

Angelica:
At that moment I hear the Lord's voice, a beautiful voice with thunder and love, "Fear not, Daughter, for I am Jehovah, Your God, and I have come here to show you what I have promised you. Arise, for I am Jehovah, who holds you by your right hand and tells you, Fear not, I will help you." Suddenly, I arose. I had been kneeling down, looking at my body, wanting to get back in but not being able to. When I heard His voice, fear had left me, and I was no longer scared.
As I started walking, the angels began to open a path. There was a strong light shining, and as I gazed at it, I felt peace. As I looked, I saw a beautiful, tall, elegant, muscular man. Light was projecting from Him. There was too much light for me to see His face! But I could see His beautiful hair of brilliant gold and a white garment with a wide golden girdle that crossed His chest. It read, "KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."
I looked at His feet, He was wearing shiny golden sandals, of brilliant gold. He was so beautiful! He extended His hand to me. When I took His hand, it wasn't like when I touched my body, my hand did not go through it. I asked, "What is happening?"

And He said, "I am going to show you hell, so that you return and tell humanity that hell is real; that hell exists. And also, My glory
will I show you, for you to tell My people to be prepared, for My glory is real and I am real." He said, "Daughter, do not fear"- He said it again and I said, "Lord, it's just that I want to go to heaven, but not hell, because I've heard that it's horrible!" He said, "Daughter, I will be with you. I will not leave you in that place and I am going to show you that place because there are many who know that hell exists, but they have no fear. They believe it's a game, that hell is a joke, and many don't know about it. That is why I am going to show you that place, because there are more that perish than those that are entering My glory." When He said that, I could see tears streaming down to His garments. I asked Him, "Lord, why are you crying?" He replied, "Daughter, because there are more that perish, and I will show you this, so that you will go and tell the truth and so that you will not return to that place."

Hell

Suddenly, as He was speaking, everything started to move. The Earth shook and split open, and I saw a very dark hole below.
We were standing on a sort of rock with angels surrounding us. I said, "Lord, I don't want to go to that place!" He said, "Daughter, do not fear for I am with you." In a split second we descended into the dark hole. I tried to see but there was a terrible darkness. I did see a huge circle, and hear millions of voices.
I was so hot, I felt my skin burning. I asked, "Lord, what is this? I don't want to go to this place!" The Lord said that this was just the tunnel to hell. There was a horrible, repulsive and nauseating smell, and I begged Jesus not to take me. He responded, "Daughter, it is necessary for you to come and know this place." I cried, "But why, Lord, why?" And He said, 'so that you can tell the truth to humanity; humanity perishes, it's lost and few are entering My Kingdom." In saying this, He would weep. His words strengthened and encouraged me, so I continued walking.
We arrived at the end of a tunnel, when I looked down I saw an abyss covered in flames. The Lord said "Daughter, I give this to you." It was a large binder with blank sheets of paper. "Daughter, take this pencil so that you can write all that I will show you, what you will see and hear. You will write everything as you are observing it, as you will live it." I said, "Lord, I will do it, but I am already seeing so much, Lord. I am seeing souls being tormented, and immense flames."

Maxima:
Time was going by, and my daughter was still lying there. "Lord, what is happening?" Tears were coming out of her eyes, but when I wiped them away, they would just come again. I placed a mirror to her mouth to see if she was breathing, there was nothing. We checked her pulse, nothing. We placed a hand on her stomach, nothing. The servant of the Lord said, "the place where she is, is not a place of smiles but a place of torment."

Angelica:
I told Jesus, "I will testify that hell is real, that hell exists, but take me out of here now!" And He replied, "Daughter, we haven't even entered that place, and I have shown you nothing yet, and already you want Me to take you out of this place?" "Lord, please take me out of here," I said. Then we started to descend into the abyss! I started to cry and scream, "Lord, no, no, no, no- I don't want to go!" and He would reply, "You need to see this."

I saw horrible demons, of all types, both large and small. They were running so fast, and carrying something in their hands. "Lord, why are they running like that and what are they carrying?" He answered, “Daughter, they run that way because they know their time is running out, because time is so short to destroy humanity and especially My people. That which they carry in their hands are darts to destroy humanity, because each demon is given a name and according to the name that is given to them, they have a dart to destroy that person and bring them to this place; their goal is to destroy that person and bring them to hell." And I would see the demons running and exiting toward Earth and He told me. "They are going to Earth to bring and throw humanity into this place." As He said this He would weep, He would weep so very much. He was weeping all the time and I would cry too.

Maxima:
My Daughter was dead for 23 hours, but I did not notify the authorities. I prayed, "Lord, I will wait for 24 hours. If my daughter is not back in 24 hours, I will call a doctor." But, the Lord brought her back before 24 hours were up.

Angelica:
The Lord said to me, "Are you ready to see what I am going to show you?" "Yes, Lord," I said. He took me to a cell where I could see a young man being tormented among the flames. I noticed that the cell was enumerated, though I couldn't understand the numbers, they seemed to be backward. There was a huge plaque in that cell, and the young man had the number "666" on his forehead. He also had a big metallic plate that was encrusted into his skin. The worms that were eating him, were unable to damage that plate; neither did the flames burn it. He screamed, "Lord, have mercy on me. Take me out of this place. Forgive me, Lord!" But Jesus would respond, "it's late, too late: I gave you opportunities and you would not repent."

I asked Jesus, "Lord, why is he here?" Then I recognized him. On Earth, this young man knew the Word of God, but abruptly he walked away from the Lord, preferring alcohol, drugs and walking on the wrong path. He did not want to follow the way of the Lord. Jesus warned him many times on what could happen to him. Jesus said, "Daughter, he is in this place because anyone who rejects My word already has a judge: The Word that I have spoken will judge him in that last day," (John 12:48) and then Jesus wept.
When the Lord weeps, it's different than we do. He would weep with this pain in His heart and He would sob profoundly. "I did not create hell for humanity," Jesus said. So I asked Him, "Then why is humanity here, Lord?" He answered, "Daughter, I created hell for satan and his angels, who are the demons; (Matt. 25:41) but, because of sin and the lack of repentance, humanity ends here, and there are more that perish than those who reach My glory!" (Matt 7:14)

He continued weeping and it would hurt me so much to see how He cried. "Daughter, I gave My life for humanity, so that it would not perish, so that it would not end up in this place. I gave My life out of love and mercy, so that humanity would proceed to repentance and could enter the Kingdom of Heaven." Jesus would moan as someone who could no longer withstand the pain, that's how much pain He felt watching the people here.
Being with Jesus, made me feel safe. I thought, "If I let go of the Lord, I'll be stuck here!" I asked, "Jesus, do I have relatives in this place." He looked at me as I was crying and He said, "Daughter, I am with you," because I was so scared. He took me to another cell. I never could have imagined seeing a relative of mine in that cell. I saw this woman being tormented, she had worms that would eat her face off, and demons would plunge a type of spear into her body. She would scream, "No, Lord, have mercy on me, forgive me, please, take me out of this place for one minute!"

In Hell, people are tormented with the memories of what they did on Earth. Demons would mock people and tell them, "Worship and praise because this is your kingdom!" and the people would scream remembering that they knew God, because they knew the Word. Those who had known the Lord were tormented twofold.
The Lord said, "There is no other opportunity [for those here]; there is still opportunity for those who are alive." I asked Him, "Lord, why is my great-grandmother here? I don't know if she ever knew you. Why is she here in hell, Lord?" He replied, "Daughter, she is here because she failed to forgive...Daughter, he who does not forgive, neither will I forgive him."

I asked, "Lord, but You do forgive, and You are merciful." And He answered, "Yes, Daughter, but it is necessary to forgive, because they have not forgiven many people, and that is why many people are in this place, because they failed to forgive...Go and tell humanity that it is time to forgive, and especially My people, for many of My people have not forgiven. Tell them to rid themselves of grudges, of resentment, of that hatred in their hearts, for it is time to forgive! If death were to surprise that person who has failed to forgive, that person may go to hell, for no
one can purchase life." When we left that place, my great grandmother was engulfed in fire and she screamed, "Aaaah," and began to blaspheme the name of God, she would curse Him; every person in hell blasphemes against God.

As we left that area, I could see that hell was full of tormented souls. Many people would extend their hands out, begging Jesus to help them and take them out of there. But the Lord could not do anything for them and they would start blaspheming God. Then Jesus would weep and say, "It hurts Me to hear them, it hurts Me to see what they do, because I can no longer do anything for them. What I will tell you is that I still have opportunity for he who is still on Earth, who has not yet died, who is still alive; he still has time to repent!"

The Lord told me there were many famous people in Hell, and also many people who had known about the Lord. He said, “I am going to show you another part of the furnace." We came to a place where a woman was surrounded by flames. She was in great torment and would scream, begging the Lord for mercy. Jesus pointed to her with his hand and told me, "Daughter, that woman that you see over there, surrounded by flames, is Selena." As we started getting closer, she screamed, "Lord, have mercy on me, forgive me Lord, take me out of this place!" But the Lord looked at her and said, "It's late, it's too late. You cannot repent now."

She saw me and said, "Please, I beg you, go tell people about this, please speak out and do not be silent; go and tell them not to come to this place; go and tell them not to listen to my songs, nor sing my songs." So I asked her, "Why do you want me to go and say that?" And she answered, "Because every time people sing and listen to my songs, I am tormented even more, the person who does this, who sings and listens to my songs, is walking to this place. Please, go tell them not to come here; go tell them that hell is real!" She would scream and demons would hurl spears from afar into her body and she would cry, "Help me, Lord, have mercy on me, Lord!" But sadly, the Lord told her, "It is too late."

I looked all over that area, it was full of singers and artists who have died. All they did was sing and sing, they wouldn't stop singing. The Lord explained, "Daughter, the person who is here, must continue doing here, whatever they did on Earth, if they had not repented."

As I was observing the area, I noticed a lot of demons that were spilling down some type of rain. I actually thought it was raining. But I noticed the people in flames running away from the rain and shouting, "No, help me, Lord!...No, this can't be," and the demons would laugh and tell the people, "Praise and worship because this is your kingdom forever and ever!" I saw the flames increase and people's worms would multiply! There was no water there, it was brimstone that would multiply the flames and increase each person's anguish. I asked Jesus, "What's happening?...Lord, what is this?" The Lord replied, "This is the wages of anyone who has not repented." (Psalms 11:6)

Then the Lord took me to place where there was a very well-known man. Before now, I used to live as a double minded young Christian girl. I used to think that any person that died would go to Heaven; that those who celebrated mass, would also go to heaven, but I was wrong. When Pope John Paul II died, my friends and relatives would tell me that he had gone to heaven. All the news on TV, on Extra and many other places would say, "Pope John Paul II has died, may he rest in peace. He is now rejoicing with the Lord and his angels in heaven" and I believed all of it. But I was only fooling myself, because I saw him in Hell, being tormented by flames. I looked at his face, it was John Paul II! The Lord said to me, "Look, Daughter, that man that you see there, is Pope John Paul II. He is here in this place; he is being tormented because he did not repent."
But I asked, "Lord, why is he here? He used to preach at church."

Jesus replied, "Daughter, no fornicator, no idolater, no one who is greedy and no liar will inherit My Kingdom."(Eph. 5:5) I replied, "Yes, I know that is true, but I want to know why he is here, because he used to preach to multitudes of people!" And Jesus responded, "Yes, Daughter, he may have said many things, but he would never speak the truth as it is. He never said the truth and they know the truth and although he knew the truth, he preferred money over preaching about salvation. He would not offer reality; would not say that hell is real and that heaven also exists; Daughter, now he is here in this place."

When I looked at this man, he had a large serpent with needles, wrapped around his throat, and he would try to take it off. I pleaded with Jesus, "Lord, help him!" The man would scream, "Help me, Lord; have mercy on me; take me out of this place; forgive me! I repent, Lord; I want to return to Earth, I want to go back to Earth to repent." The Lord observed him and said to him, "You very well knew. You knew very well that this place was real...It's too late; there is no other opportunity for you."
The Lord said, "Look, Daughter, I am going to show you the life of this man." Jesus showed me a huge screen on which I could observe how this man offered mass many times to the multitudes. And how the people who were there were so idolatrous. Jesus said, "Look, Daughter, there are many idolaters in this place. Idolatry will not save, Daughter. I am the only One who saves, and outside of Me, no one saves. I love the sinner, but I hate sin, Daughter. Go and tell humanity that I love them and that they need to come to Me."
As the Lord was speaking, I began to see how this man received multitudes of coins and bills; money, all of which he would keep. He had so much money. I saw images of this man seated on a throne, but I was also able to see beyond that. While it's true that these people do not get married, I can assure you, I'm not making this up, the Lord showed it to me, those people do sleep with nuns; with many women there! [1 example]

The Lord showed me these people living in fornication, and the Word says that no fornicator will inherit His Kingdom. As I was watching all of this, the Lord told me, "Look Daughter, all of this which I am showing you is what goes on, what he lived and what keeps on happening among
many people, among many priests and popes existing." Then he told me, "Daughter, go and tell humanity that it's time to turn to Me."
The Lord showed me a place where many people were walking to hell. I asked Him, "Lord, how is it that they walk to this place?" He replied, "I will show you." He showed me a tunnel with many people walking through it. These people were chained from hand to foot. They were dressed in black and carrying a load on their back. Jesus said, "Look Daughter, those people that you see there, those people don't know Me yet. That which they carry on their backs is sin, but go and tell them to turn their burden over to Me, and I will give them rest; that I am He who forgives all their sins...Daughter, go and tell those people to come to Me, for I await them with open arms, and go tell them that they are walking to this place."

As I was watching the people walking, I said, "Lord, that person over there is my cousin; that young man is my cousin, Lord, and that young girl coming down is also my cousin; my family is coming to this place!" He replied, "Daughter, they are walking to this place, but go and them where they are walking, go and tell them they are walking to hell. Go and tell them that I have chosen you as my watchman...I have chosen you as my watchman, for it means that you are to tell the truth. You must go and tell all that I have shown you. If you do not speak out and something happens to that person, his blood will be poured over you, but if you go and do as I have told you, then that person has an account with me. If the person does not repent, then the responsibility resting upon you will be lifted, for the account will rest upon that person and his blood will not be poured over you. (Ezekiel 3:18)"

Jesus told me that many famous people were walking to that place, famous and important people. Take for example,Michael Jackson. This man was famous all over the world but he was a satanist. Although many people may not see it that way, but it is the truth. This man had satanic covenants: He came to agreement with the devil in order to achieve fame and attract many fans.
Those steps that he performed, that's the way I saw demons walk while tormenting people in hell. They would slide backward and not move forward, while they shout; enjoying the anguish they impose upon the people. Let me tell you that Michael Jackson is in hell. The Lord showed him to me after Michael died. He let me see Michael Jackson tormented in flames. I cried to Jesus, "Why?" It wasn't easy to see how this man was being tormented and how he would scream. Anyone who listens to Michael Jackson's songs or sings them or who is a fan of Michael Jackson, I warn you that satan is trapping you in his web so that you will end up in hell. Right now, renounce it in the name of Jesus! Jesus wants to set you free, so that you will not be lost.

The Lord said, "Daughter, there are also people who know Me, that are walking to this place." I asked, "Lord, how can people who know You also come here?" He replied, "That person who has left My ways and that person who is living a double life." He started showing me people who were walking to Hell. They were tied from their hands to their feet.
They each wore a white garment, but it was torn, stained and wrinkled. Jesus said, "Daughter, see how My people have walked away from Me. Daughter, I want to tell you that I am not coming for these people. I am coming for a holy people, ready, without blemish, without wrinkle and without defilement...Go and tell them to return to the old paths." (Eph. 5:26-27) I started to see many of my uncles and many other people who had walked away from the Lord's ways. "Go and tell them that I am waiting for them, to surrender their loads to Me, and I will give them rest." Jesus was weeping, "Daughter, they are coming this way. Go and tell your uncles; go and tell your relatives that they are coming this way! Daughter, many will not believe you, but I am your faithful witness, I am your faithful witness. I will never leave you. Even if they do not believe you, Daughter, go and tell them the truth, for I am with you. I will also show you, Daughter, how people arrive at this place."

We went to a tunnel where there were a multitude of people falling into the abyss. Not 1 thousand, not 2 thousand, but as many as the sand of the sea, countless. They were falling by the second, like handfuls of sand being thrown down. The souls were falling rapidly. Jesus was weeping, He said, "Daughter, this is how humanity perishes; this is how it is lost!...Daughter, it hurts Me to see how humanity perishes."
Jesus said, "Demons also hold meetings in this place." And I said, "Demons hold meetings?" Jesus said, "Yes, Daughter, they meet to plan, to plan what they will do to humanity. They hold daily secret meetings." And with that, Jesus took me to a cell, where I saw a wooden table with chairs around it. And there were demons – all types of demons. Jesus explained, "Daughter, they are now planning to go and destroy the pastors' families, the missionaries, the evangelists and all of those who know me. Daughter, they want to destroy them; they have many darts."

The demons would laugh and mock and say, "Let's destroy humanity and bring it to this place." Jesus said, "Go and tell them that I am with them. Tell them to not leave open doors, to leave no place to satan, for satan walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.(1st Peter 5:18)" But the Word says, "he walks as", because the only real Lion, is the Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ of Nazareth (Revelations 5:5)! Jesus said, "Daughter, they especially want to destroy the pastors; family." I asked, "Why do they want to destroy the pastors' family?" And Jesus responded, "Because they are in charge of thousands of people that are the sheep of the fold; the sheep of the fold that the Lord has given them. They want these people to return to the world again; to look back and end up in hell...Go and tell the pastors to speak the truth. Go and tell them to preach the truth and to speak everything that I tell them and to never keep to themselves what I tell them!"

As we left that place and He told me, "I want to show you something else...There are also children in this place." And I replied, “Children in this place, Lord? Why are there children here? Your Word says, 'let the children to come unto Me, and do not stop them: for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these." (Matthew 9:14) Jesus replied, "Daughter, it's true, of such is the kingdom of Heaven, but that child must come to Me, for he who comes to Me I will not throw out."(John 6:37) Instantly, the Lord showed me an eight year old boy being tormented in fire. The boy cried, "Lord have mercy of me, take me out of this place, I don't want to be here!" He kept crying and screaming. I saw demons around this boy, that resembled cartoon figures. There was Dragon, BoyZ, Ben 10, Pokémon, Doral, etc. "Lord, why is this boy here?" Jesus showed me a large screen of this boy's life. I saw how he would spend all of his time in front of the TV, watching these cartoons.
Jesus said, "Daughter, these animated cartoons, those movies, those soap operas that are seen daily on TV are satan's instruments to destroy humanity...Look, Daughter how this came to be." I saw how the boy was rebellious and disobedient toward his parents. When his parents talked to him, he would run away, throwing things and disobeying them. After this happened, a car ran over him and ended his life. Jesus told me, "Ever since then, he has been in this place."

I looked at the boy as he was being tormented. Jesus said, "Daughter, go and tell parents to instruct their child as is written in My Word. (Proverbs 22:6)" The Word of God is real, it tells us to correct a child with the rod, but not every moment, only when the child has been disobedient to his parents. (Proverbs 22:15)
The Lord told me something that is very sad and very painful. He said, "Daughter, there are many children in this place because of animated cartoons, because of rebellion." I asked Him, "Lord, why are animated cartoons to blame for this?" And He explained, "Because they are demons that carry rebellion, disobedience, bitterness and hatred to children; and other demons enter these children, so that they do not do good things, but do that which is bad: whatever children see on TV, they want to do in reality." Hell exists, hell is real, and even children must decide with whom they will go. I said, “Lord, tell me, why are there children in this place?" And Jesus answered, "Once children have knowledge that there is a heaven and a hell, then they have a place to choose."

The Kingdom of Heaven

There's much more to be said about hell, but now I'll share what I saw in Heaven. Jesus said, "Daughter, now I am going to show you what I have prepared for My Holy people." We left that place, going out through a tunnel. While traveling through this tunnel, we suddenly came out to where there was light. I saw no more darkness, torment or flames. He said, "Daughter, I am going to show you My glory,” and we started ascending to the Kingdom of Heaven! Soon we arrived at a door with giant letters written in gold, it said: "Welcome to the Kingdom of Heaven." Jesus said, "Daughter, go in, for I am the Door and he who enters through Me, will enter, will go and will find pastures."(John 10:9)
After the Lord said these words, the door opened and we entered. I saw angels giving glory, honor and praise to our Heavenly Father! (Revelations 7:11-12) As we continued walking, we approached a table of which I could see the beginning, but not the end. (Revelations 19:9) I observed a large throne, and a smaller throne surrounded by thousands of chairs. Between the chairs were garments along with crowns. The Lord told me, "Daughter, the crown that you see there is the crown of life."(Revelations 2:10)

Jesus said, "Look, Daughter, this is what I have prepared for My people." I saw that the table was covered with a white tablecloth with gold edging. There were plates, gold goblets, fruit; everything was served. It was so beautiful. There was a very large vessel in the middle of the table, which contained the wine for the dinner. And Jesus said, "Daughter, everything is ready for the arrival of My church."

We went to another place, where I saw many people in a garden. There were well known people from the Bible, but they were not aged, but young. There was this young man with a large kerchief in his hand who danced and whirled around and praised the Lord. Jesus said, "Daughter that young man that you see there is My servant, David." He was giving glory to our Father. Suddenly, another young man passes by and Jesus told me, "Daughter, he is Joshua; he is Moses; this other young man is Abraham." Jesus would call them out by their names. They all had the same countenance! Jesus said, "Daughter, that woman that you see there is My servant, Mary Magdalene; My servant, Sara."

But then He told me, "Daughter, she is Mary. Mary, who gave birth to Jesus Christ, Who I am. Daughter, I want to tell you that she has no knowledge of the things happening on Earth. I want to tell you that you must go and tell humanity, tell idol worshippers that hell is real, and that idolaters will not inherit My kingdom, but go and tell them that if they repent, they can enter My heavenly dwelling place. Go tell them that I love them and tell them that Mary has no knowledge of anything[happening on Earth] and the only One that they must exalt is Me, because neither Mary, nor St. Gregory nor any other saint can offer salvation. I am the only One who saves and outside of Me – nobody, nobody, nobody- saves!" He repeated it three times - that nobody could save; only He saves.

Humanity has been deceived believing in an assumed saint, which is not, but is a demon, working through an idol made by the hand of man. But, let me tell you that the Lord wants to give you the best. He wants you to enter the Kingdom of Heaven; to repent and to leave idolatry. Because idolatry will not save you. Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the one that saves, who gave His life for you, for me and for all humanity. The Lord has a great message for humanity. As He wept, He told me, "Please, Daughter, do not be silent; go and tell the truth, go and tell what I have shown you."

I saw how Mary worshipped the Lord, and I saw women with very beautiful long hair. I said, "Lord, how pretty the way they wear their hair." He told me, "Daughter, that which you see is the veil that I have given to a woman." He added, "Daughter, go and tell women to take care of the veil that I have given them."

Then He told me, "I have something to show you that is very important." I looked far away and saw a shining city, a city of gold! I said, "Lord, what is that? I want to go over there." He answered, “Daughter, I will show you what is over there. What you are seeing is the heavenly dwelling, the heavenly mansions which are ready for My people."
We started walking, until we reached a golden bridge. As we walked over it, we came upon streets that were made of pure gold! (Revelations 21:21)

Everything was so beautiful, so brilliant, like shining glass, it was absolutely supernatural, inexplicable! We saw heavenly mansions, and watched thousands of angels constructing them. Some of the angels constructed very rapidly, others constructed slowly and others were not constructing at all. I asked the Lord, "why are some angels constructing rapidly, while others are slower, and some have those stopped constructing?" The Lord explained, "Daughter, that is how My people work on Earth, and the angels work as My children work on Earth....Daughter, My people no longer spread the gospel. My people no longer fast. My people no longer go to the streets to distribute tracts telling the truth. My people are now ashamed. Go and tell My people to return to the old paths. Those angels that you saw that were doing nothing belong to those
people that have walked away from My paths...Daughter, go and tell My people to return to the old paths," (Jeremiah 6:16) and in saying this He started to weep.
I heard other people singing, so I asked Him, "Lord, I want You to take me over there, where those people are singing." Jesus was observing me, I could tell how He was observing me, but I couldn't see His face, only the movements of His face. While His tears were pouring over His garment, I asked Him why He was weeping. But He would not explain it to me.

Later we arrived at this beautiful garden. There, among the heavenly mansions, I saw flowers that were swaying. That must have been the singing I heard. The Lord pointed with His finger and said, "Daughter, look, they praise Me; they worship Me! My people no longer do as they did before. My people no longer praise, no longer worship Me; no longer seek Me as before. That is why I told you, Daughter, to go and tell My people to seek Me, for I will go, I will go, I will go - for a people that seeks Me in spirit and in truth, for a people that are ready, for a holy people!" And weeping He said, “I am coming, I am coming!" Then I understand why He was weeping, because He is coming, but not for those that are half-hearted. He will return only for a people that is seeking Him in spirit and in truth.

Then the Lord told me that I had to return to Earth. I said, "Lord, I don't want to go back to Earth! What do you mean – Earth? I want to stay with You. You brought me here and I'm not going anywhere because I am with You!" Jesus said, "Daughter, it is necessary that you return to Earth to go and testify that My glory is real, that what I am going to show you is real; that what you have seen is real – so that humanity will come to Me, repent and not perish." Weeping, I fell to His feet; there I saw wounds on His feet. I asked, "Lord, what are these wounds here?" He answered, "Daughter, it's the scar from that yester day, when I gave My life for humanity."

He also showed me the scars in his hands, I asked, "Lord, why do you still have that?" He told me, "Daughter, it is the scar that has remained." So I asked, "Will this go away?" He replied, "Daughter, this will go away when all the saints are reunited here...Daughter, I must take you to Earth: Your family and the nations are waiting for you."

I tried to refuse but He pointed down to Earth with His finger and said, "Look, those people that you see down there are your relatives; that body that you see there, is where you have to return...It is time to leave this place." Then He took me along a beautiful crystal clear river and said "Daughter, enter the river and submerge yourself." Before I entered that crystalline river of living water, I was experiencing indescribable joy, but after I submerged myself and came out, I was elated. I thought I would not have to return home, but the Lord told me, "Daughter, you have to return to Earth...Daughter, I am going to show you something: How I am coming to Earth for a holy people. I am going to show you how the day of the Rapture will be."

The Rapture and Tribulation

We walked to a place with a giant screen, and I saw people in it. I could observe the whole world. Then suddenly I saw thousands of people disappearing. Pregnant women had their pregnancy disappear, and they looked like they had gone crazy screaming.
Children had disappeared from all over. Many people were running from here to there, screaming, "This can't be, this can't be! What's happening?"

I saw those who had known the Lord, that were left behind. They were saying that Christ had come, the Rapture happened. They screamed and wanted to kill themselves, but they couldn't. The Lord told me, "Daughter, in those days, death will flee; Daughter, in those days the Holy Spirit will no longer be on Earth." (Revelations 9:6) There were accidents but I didn't see a single dead person: all of them were alive, although injured.
I observed enormous traffic with thousands of people. He told me, "Daughter, look, this is how everything will happen." I then saw people running from one place to another, shouting, "Christ came, Christ came!" They would plead, "Lord, forgive me, forgive me, take me with You!"

But sadly the Lord said, "It will be too late. The time to repent is now...Daughter, go tell humanity to seek Me, for during that time there will no longer be opportunity. (Isaiah 55:6) Daughter, it will be too late for all those that stay behind." When Jesus observed how people were left behind, He began to weep and said, "Daughter, I will go to Earth as it says in 1 Thes. 4: 16-17 : “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

But not everyone will go with the Lord, only those who are doing His will (Matthew 7:21)and living a holy life. For the Lord told me, "Only those that are holy will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, (Hebrews 12:14), No one knows, neither the day nor the hour in which I will go for My holy people, not even the angels know it." (Matthew 24:36)
On the screen I saw people running around. Magazines and TV news said that “CHRIST HAD COME.” The screen closed, and Jesus finished by saying, "I will go for a holy people." This was all He showed me. After that, He brought me back here to Earth.
With angels gathered round, we began to descend these beautiful stairs; white steps with flowers surrounding them. I was crying all the way down, pleading with Jesus, "Lord, please, don't leave me here. Take me with You!" He responded, "Daughter, the nations, your family are waiting for you...Daughter, you must enter that body. You must receive life, Daughter, so you can go and testify what you have seen. Many will not believe you; many will believe you, but I am your faithful witness. I am with you. I will never leave you."

Return to Earth

Maxima:

When my daughter came back, we were waiting there, and she was stretched out on the floor. She went, "uuhmm," nothing else. I said, "Thank You, Lord, because my daughter is back!"
We all gave thanks to the Lord. Soon she started breathing slowly, little by little. After about five hours, she was able to open her eyes and talk. At first we could hardly understand what she was saying; it just wasn't clear. She had no strength. We needed to keep the windows covered, because her eyes couldn't handle the light.
Being curious, we all wanted her to tell us what she saw. But because she was so weak, she could only tell us a little. It was 2 weeks until she was able to share her full testimony.
Demons came to torment her after all this. She could see them clearly, they would try to hide themselves in the shadows. They were here within three days of her return, before she could really talk. She asked them what they wanted and they replied, "We have come to make a pact with you...You must shut up. You must not say anything of what you saw down there, because if you speak, we will kill you."

She described the demons as ugly, large and fat, ugly. She said there were no words to describe how horrible they looked. She would rebuke them, but they would not leave. When they came they would jump on her and try to choke her. She would fight back rebuking them, but she had no strength. One time when she rebuked them, a tremendous light appeared and then they fled! It was the Lord.

What my daughter went through was not easy. She was given a profound message to all humanity, to seek God. But humanity thinks that what it is doing is alright. Youth that are into drugs and alcohol, they think that's OK, but it's not. One of the greatest experiences that my daughter had was when she saw many entertainers in hell, including dancers, and also Pope John Paul II. It's time to seek the Lord, to repent and to humble oneself before Him. The Word of God is true when it says, "Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away."(Mark 12:31) The Word of the Lord will be fulfilled in its due time.

The Lord also showed her a tunnel, where people were walking to hell. Many people are already in hell. It's real! But even the Lord's people don't believe this, many just don't believe.

The main message was that we should seek the Lord, not just from our lips, but from the deepest part of our heart, for the Lord's coming is at hand. Jesus said, "I am no longer at the door; I am beyond the door. I will come soon; My coming is near. My people have left Me and gone back to worldly things...Tell My people to return to the old paths." The church today must go back to the old paths, that it is where we are in the fire, seeking the Lord. When the trumpet sounds we must be ready to meet the Lord, and it will be wonderful!

The Lord's Urgent Message
Angelica, speaking before an audience:

The Lord told me, "Daughter, in those days the Holy Spirit will no longer be on Earth. In those days, He will no longer be on Earth."(2 Thes. 2:7) And I saw enormous traffic, with accidents. Many people wanted to kill themselves, but Jesus said, "They shall seek death, but death shall flee from humanity. Death will no longer be during that time."(Revelations 9:6) I saw people watching TV and magazines that read, "Thousands and Thousands have Disappeared." Many already knew that Christ had come for His holy people. Those who knew the Lord, but were left behind, went crying through the streets, wanting to kill themselves, but they could not do anything.
While in Heaven, Jesus said, "I will come for a holy people and I will come soon for My church." But two weeks ago the Lord told me, "Daughter, I take pleasure in what you are doing, that you are fulfilling what I have given you, but do not tell My people that I am coming soon. Tell My people that I am coming right away." Again the Lord said, "Tell My people that I am coming right away and that I am coming for a holy people. Tell My people that only the holy ones, only the holy ones will see Me!...And do not be silent: Keep on declaring what I have told you."
Angelica Praying with the audience:
Everybody, close your eyes, and place your right hand over your heart. Raise your left hand and if you feel like crying, then cry. Now tell the Lord what you feel in your heart. For those who want to accept the Lord, repeat after me. Lord, I thank You for Your love and Your mercy, thank You, Lord, for the word that has reached my heart today. Father, I ask for Your forgiveness. Forgive me. Wash me with Your precious blood. Write my name in the Book of Life. Accept me as Your child, Lord. Right now, I forgive anyone that I had not been able to forgive. I renounce to my lack of forgiveness. I renounce all things that have hindered Your flow, and I ask You to transform me and to fill me with Your presence every day. Thank You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit; in the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Angelica:
“This testimony is not a lie; it's not a joke; it is not a story; it is not a dream, hell is real! Hell exists! To anyone that does not believe, I want to tell you that hell is real, very real. I cannot find words to tell you how real it is. I wish that you could experience it yourself.”
Angelica, speaking with Narrator:
The time is soon, God allows signs to reveal to humanity what is about to happen. Do not remain condemned; that's what the devil wants. Ask yourself if you are already walking through hell's tunnel? Today is the day of salvation, today is the day to invite Jesus, your Savior into your life. These are simple and yet great words to say: "I accept You, Jesus as my Lord and my only Savior. I give You my life and soul with all my heart. I want to be with You for eternity.”
Choose your final destiny: Life or death, heaven or hell, Jesus or the devil. It's clear, either you belong to Jesus or to the devil. Either you do what is right or you do what is wrong. You choose your destiny: eternal life or the lake of fire. Think about it. Decide now. Jesus Christ died on the cross for each one of us, for our sins, and He gave us the opportunity of salvation by His mercy. Accept Christ as your only Savior!
Now that you've heard this testimony, don't let this moment be the one you regret forever in hell.”
“No idolaters” will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.
Ex. 20:3-6 You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God...
Rev. 21:21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.
Rev. 21:27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Rev. 22:7 Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.
Rev. 22:11 Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy.
Rev. 22:12 Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.
Rev. 22:13-15 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

EARTHQUAKE

2011-03-06T20:53:00.002+13:00

Dear Friends

I apologise for not being online until now.
You have all probably heard of the devastating earthquake that has ripped the heart out of our city.

As I and my husband continue to work around the clock with shocked and devasted people we covert your prayers. Never before have we needed your support as much as we do now. We personally have lost almost all the university copiers and materials as well as most of our personal possesions. Photographs and clothes...BUT God..He is still on the throne and we love and serve Him with all our hearts please pray!

I have attached but a few phots to show a small glimpse of what we are experiencing.

All my love always

Sharmaine

2010-12-01T15:00:00.002+13:00

IN honor of women's history month and in memory of Erma Bombeck who lost her
fight with cancer.

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck(written after she found out she was dying from cancer).

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth

would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in
storage..

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained,
or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much
less

about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace...

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his
youth.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day

because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more

while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't

show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every

moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only

chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later. Now

go get washed up for dinner.' There would have been more

'I love you's' More 'I'm sorry's.'

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute.

look at it and really see it . .

live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!

Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what
Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us..

JUST WANT TO SAY I LOVE YOU ALL THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU!!

Home Again

2010-11-15T20:24:00.003+13:00

We are in the incredibly fortunate position to have our children currently at home with us. Now I think I need to clarify, our children are 27years old and 34 years old. So we not only have our children living with us but we also have our 4 year old grand son living with in our home as well. My husband is a busy person and it takes very little to guess that our home is often likened to a railway staion noise, people and everything else!

Home is a vital place in a family, it is a place where masks can be left at the door and pure joy can emunate from every pore of your being or dispair can drape itself like a wet heavy blanket around your shouldres. It is a place of lively communication and often a home can be filled with confidences. It is real vibrant and alive.

Our scripture today is:

Deuteronomy 6:7a You shall teach them diligently to your sons.

As parents we have enormous responsibilities to teach our children properly. The spiritual education of a child rests at the parents feet. This would be taught through being a Godly example as well as teaching our children the value of The Word of God.

E.M. Bounds wrote this:

CHARACTER AND CONDUCT
Conduct is what we do;
Chracter is what we are.
Conduct is the outward life; character is theis the life unseen,
Hidden within, yet evidenced by that which is seen.
Conduct is external, seen from without;character is internal operating within....
Character is the state of the heart, conduct is its outward expression.
Character is the root of the tree, conduct, the fruit it bears.

I read somewhere that it takes creative parenting to teach our children Christian values and responsibilities. We all have the same amount of time, 24 hours a day.

Ann Launders (some of you may remember her column) printed these house rules from a lady in california:_

If you sleep on it-
Make it up.
If you wear it-
Hang it up.
If you drop it-
Pick it up.
If you eat out of it -
Put it in the sink (in my house I add wash it up!)
If you spill it-
Wipe it up.
If you empty it-
Fill it up.
If it rings-
Answer it.
If it howls-
Feed it.
If it cries-
LOVE IT!

Living together is often difficult and certainly not easier when you are all adults...however it can be pure joy, and most of the time it is. We have pow - wow meeting every now and again to facilitate honest dialogue with each other...what do you do in your home?

1 Cor.13 is our measuring stick always.

Let me end with something from John Henry Jowett:-
The Bible doesn't say very much about homes; it says a GREAT DEAL ABOUT THE THINGS THAT MAKE THEM. It speaks about love and joy and peace and rest. If we get a house and put these things into it, we shall have secured a home.

Remember Jesus and I love you

Sharmaine

Women of The Word - LO RUHAMAH

2010-09-15T19:36:00.003+12:00

Hosea 1:6
Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the Lord said to Hosea, "Call her Lo-Ruhamah, for I will no longer show love to the house of Israel, that I should at all forgive them".

I cannot even imagine being named "UN-LOVED".
How devestating it is for any child to know that their name means un-loved, and even more devestating to know that God was using her as an example to her people-an example of their sin.

You see God had set the nation aside because of their unbelief, and Lo-Ruhmaha's mother, Gomer had acted on that lack of faith. It is not unreasonable to wonder if Lo-Ruhamah was even Hosea's child?

I wondered how a child would be effected by their name and I wondered how this child, this girl/woman would react to her father. Whether it would be easy to be loving to your father while having this knowledge.

But...just as God wooed His people back to Himself, I like to think that He wooed Lo-Ruhamah back to Himself as well. When God declares a people or persons sin it is only to seperate them from the sin and bring them back into relationship with Him.

I want you to know today that when God called His people away from sin in the Bible it is no different to Him wooing you to Himself today. He longs for you, He yearns for fellowship with you, He wants you in the circle of His love.

What are you trapped in today? What sin keeps you seperated from His love? Today when He calls to you, He will seperate you from your sin, He will cleanse you, He will heal you, He will love you......today just reach out to Him...

Do not wait any longer..do not be lonley, do not feel lonley, do not crave love...Jesus is more than enough, He is waiting.

Remember Jesus loves you,
Hugs as always
Sharmaine

Women of The Word - ZILPAH

2010-08-24T20:39:00.004+12:00

This may seem like a very strange choice of woman to write about, but there is something very special about her and she so reminds me of many other women like her in our society.

Zilpah was the concubine that was given Jacob when Leah thought her childbearing days were over.

It is noticable that The Bible does not mention how Zilpah felt about being "handed over" as a concubine, but there is one amazing thing that we do know about her, she named her first son Gad. Now Gad means good fortune or "a troop". From this it appears that her outlook is positive even though her lot must have been precarious and difficult.

It appears that Zilpah really delighted in her children, we can assume this because she named her second son Asher which means "happy". In amongst her joy there were many marital contentious issues which brought a lot of sorrow.

My heart was saddened when I read that when Jacob returned to his homeland it was Zilpah and Bilhah (also a concubine of Jacob) who were put in the front of the caravan. These women were just not loved.

Like Zilpah so many of us lead imperfect lives. The challenge that this woman offers us accross the pages of The Bible is to check what we focus on, the negative aspects of our lives or do we rejoice in the gifts, like our children, the blessings that Jesus sends our way.

What are you going to choose today, are you going to live a life of being joyous and grateful or a life of complaining? Which one will make you happy?

Remember Jesus and I love you

Hugs

Sharmaine

Women of The Word - ABIGAIL

2010-08-06T12:10:00.003+12:00

I will be discussing over the next few weeks some of the women of The Word. We will discuss their strengths, sometimes their weaknesses....

Join me as we journery forward together and discuss one of my favourite women called ABIGAIL.
1 SAMUEL 24:3
His name was Nabal and his wife's name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman,but her husband, a Calebite,was surly and mean in his dealings.

This is surely one of The Words most mismatched couples! Since it was the custom in those days to arrange marriages, Abigail had probably been wed to Nabal because of his wealth, definatly not for the love between two people. Abigail was a faithful and very wise woman who knew how to use her head. Nabal's name meant "fool" and his actions certainly matched the meaning of his name.

The Word speaks very highly of Abigail and records the mean-spirited. Abigail had faith and her husband had no time for God - certainly his attitudes and actions were not those of a faithful believer!

One of the things I love most about Abigail is that her and her husband's relationship could not have been easy, she did not allow bitterness and resentment to take root in her heart and crush her spirit. Instead she uses her many gifts and graces to bring the best to her household.

At a festive time greedy Nabal offended King David. Abigail recognised the danger, and one of the servants knew who to approach. He reported the situation to Nabals wise wife. Immediatly Abigail understood her husbands foolishness and the danger it would place them all in.

Abigail did not spend time going and arguing with her husband, instead, she went and prepared food for Davids men and set off to approach their leader and make peace.

She met the King on the way intent on exacting retribution.

Abigail knew her husbands attitude had risked all his holdings and placed her in a very difficult position-yet she demonstrates her position lay not with her husband but with God.

David immediatly appreciated Abigails faith and good qualities and praised God for her quick actions. If Nabal did not know how to recognise his wifes good qualities the King did. Her turned aside his wrath because of this faithful womans response.

While Abigail worked out a peace plan her husband partied. She returned to find him drunk! Only the next day could she discuss her actions with him! Nabal literally had a fit - perhaps experiencing a stroke. A few days later he died.

David saw Nabal's death as God justice and immediatly sought Abigails hand in marriage. In a moment faithful Abigail moved from being the wife of fool to being the bride of a KING!!

In Abigail we see so many examples of her faithfulness and her refusal to turn into a bitter hardened wife who complained and was miserable in herself and made the life of those around her terrible. Instead she endured, was graceful to her household, was wise in her dealings.

Humility clothed Abigails strength. She stood in the Peace of God. We know that it is only God that can bring strength and peace into broken relationships and it is only God that can bring tranquility into broken lives, Abigail experienced that and my beautiful sisters so can we!!

I encourage you today to be an Abigail to stand clothede in the strength and love of God.

Remember Jesus loves you so do I!!!!

ref: Pamela McQuade

NEW NAME

2010-08-04T05:48:00.001+12:00

Thanks to those who contacted me about a new name.....God has not settled anything in my spirit as yet so until He does...Women for the Nations we will be!

God Bless you all

NEW NAME

2010-08-01T19:19:00.002+12:00

I am seeking a new name for my ministry any suggestions? It is a really bold and important move as I believe that the Lord wants to do a "NEW THING!"

Please dear friends, I would so value your input

Remember Jesus loves you, so do I!
Sharmaine

Sin Seperates Us

2010-07-31T07:19:00.004+12:00

So often we try and compomise the gospel because we want to be "sensitive" to what unbelievers say or do. Beloved sin is sin, it creates a divide between us and our Precious Jesus who shed His blood on the cross at calvery.

Yes we love the sinner, no we do not love the sin. It is important that we realise that unconfessed sin will seperate us from God forever.

I thank God every day that He made a way back for me, that the cross is the bridge over the divide and that "whosoever shall call on the name of Jesus WILL be saved" I thank God I am WHOSOVER.

As you go about your day remember HE DIED FOR EVERY ONE OF US!

Jesus loves you and so do I! Have an awesome day

Perseverence

2010-07-23T06:58:00.004+12:00

James 1:4 says "Let endurancehave its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing"

We live in a society where everything is about instant gratification. I read that so much of life is painted with speed, flash, and sizzle that we get intimidated by everyone else's flash.

The scripture today teaches us to persevere with enduring patience. Yes we will have trials in life and many of these trials want to see us defeated, I know. I am aware of how many times one can just want to stop and camp at the border of your pain or trail. Perseverance is a term used to describe Christians who faithfully endure and remain steadfast in the face opposition, attack and discouragement.

This can seem so huge for so many of us, however I know that installed inside every one of us is the patience to endure without complaint and calmness.

Many of you know about my on off battle with weight and I know that it takes only 21 consecutive days to develop a new habit. So often our flesh does not want to wait, does not want to take the time to develop Godly habits, the flesh screams at us and tells us it "wants it now"

Commitment and discipline are not words that the world are comfortable with. This decade wants everything that "feels good." These words are words that demand denial of self or pain. Dr feelgoods people do not like either of these.

We need to persevere in :-

PRAYER (EPESIANS 6:18)
IN OBEDIENCE (REVELATION 14:12)
IN FAITH (HEBREWS 12:12)
IN SERVICE (1 CORINTHIANS 15:58)
IN SELF CONTROL (2 PETER 1: 5-7)

The scripture promises us certain blessings if we will endure to the end:

FINAL DELIVERANCE (MATTHEW 24:13)
REWARDED FAITH (HEBREWS 11:6)
ETERNAL INHERITANCE (REVELATION 21:7)

When we live this way the fruit of The Spirit will be evident in our lives. (Galatians 5:22,23)

Remember God and I love you!

Quiet

2010-07-21T08:31:00.002+12:00

I love Isaiah 30:15, it says,

"In repentace and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength"

I wonder if this morning we can think about true repentance and what it means, when you have repented do you find rest settling over you?

The other part of this is quietness, how often in your day are you quiet? Absolutly quiet? How often do you just sit in silence and wait......Your Father has much to share with you....I encourage you today to just be quiet and be refreshed!

Remember God and I love you!

WOMEN FOR THE NATIONS: How do I say thank YOU?

2010-06-16T14:25:00.000+12:00

WOMEN FOR THE NATIONS: How do I say thank YOU?

How do I say thank YOU?

2010-06-16T14:20:00.002+12:00

As a family we are going through one of the most trying times that we have had for a long time.

The picture above depicts the GRACE of our LORD the MERCY of our God. I today want to say how very grateful I am that through this all HE is carrying me. All glory, all honour, all power to my King, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, His name is JESUS!!!

Hugs always

Sharmaine

AT LONG LAST

2010-06-09T12:57:00.002+12:00

Well I guess I have absolutly NO EXCUSE for not writing in this last season except that I felt that I was closeted and waiting.

Do you ever experience that ...just waiting and wastching....seeing what God will do...HOWEVER, last week I got the shocking news that a couple who my husband and I had mentored in the ministry for 15 years were both dead! If that was not enough she died at his hand.

Dear friends my heart cannot contain the sorrow or the questions, BUT, GOD, has caused the storm to still and has caused my heart to stir with the breathe of new life.

So I am really sorry for not speaking to you sooner but here I am BACK!!

I want to share this letter with you from Pastor Riley

By Pastor F. M. Riley
February 12, 2010

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."

Psalm 90:12

Dear ____________,

Thank you for writing. I am glad the studies were a blessing to you. I
have an entire series of studies setting forth the truth of the
Pre-tribulation rapture which I will be glad to send to you or any of
our readers who request them. Just ask for "The Pre-tribulation Rapture
Series."

Dear brother, I DO NOT know that the rapture of New Testament believers
has to fit within the holy days of the Jewish calendar, for the Lord's
New Testament church is primarily a Gentile entity. The Lord's church
is not Jewish, and therefore it is possible that the church does not
have to conform to the Jewish holy days. However, that question is up
to the Lord. The church may indeed have to conform to them! We will
soon see! If it is required that the prophecies regarding the Lord's
church be fulfilled in accordance with the Jewish holy days, then it
appears to me that everything predicted leading up to the rapture of
the church is coming together like a hand fitting into a glove.

Brother, the Lord Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem on the back of a
donkey on the 10th day of Abib [Nisan] nearly 2,000 years ago in exact
fulfillment of His appearance as the Messiah [King] predicted in Daniel
9:25, bringing the 69 weeks of Daniel to fulfillment on that exact
day.

Four days later He was crucified [cut off] in direct fulfillment
of Daniel 9:26(a). The Lord Himself verified this truth three times in
Luke 19, verses 40, 42, and 44. Then knowing how precise the Lord is
all through His inspired Word, I see no Scriptural reason why the 70th
week of Daniel may not commence right where the 69th week left off,
with only the 2,000 years of GRACE intervening. If this should be the
case [?], then the Tribulation period [the 70th week of Daniel] will
begin on Abib 11 on the Jewish calendar which this year begins at
sundown in Israel on March 25th. This date therefore then looms on the
horizon as a distinct "possibility."

Quite significantly, the Jews back in November began building an altar
according to the exact specifications set forth in the Scriptures. That
altar is now complete! On January 12th, KorbanPesach.org, a committee of
the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, sent an invitation to Jews all over the
world to come to Jerusalem on Passover this year to reinstitute the
actual, literal sacrifice of the Paschal Lamb. They plan to buy enough
lambs so that every Jew who attends will be able to partake of the meat
of their Paschal lamb exactly as specified in Exodus 12. They are
anticipating at least a million Jews coming to Jerusalem to observe the
Passover this year, which will occur on March 29-30.

Brother, for the following information I am glad to give credit to Bob
Mitchell who wrote about this on his Interesting Prophecies on January
8th. I also want to express my appreciation to a dear sister in
Australia [who prefers that her email address not be circulated] who
forwarded this information on to me. I am sharing it with you and other
readers by rewriting it in my own style and adding my own comments.

Remember that Peter in Acts 2:17-21, when speaking to the Jews in
Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost [Acts 2:5; 2:14; 2:22; 2:36;
2:39(a)], and transliterating from Joel's prophecy, clearly stated, "I
will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and
your old men shall dream dreams….."

Both the context and the wording used here makes it clear that this statement is speaking of the Jewish people. This cannot be denied by anyone who understands the grammatical construction of sentences and has a real desire to "rightly divide the
Word of truth," 2 Timothy 2:15. It clearly states that in these "last
days" Jews would be given prophecies, would see visions, and dream
dreams. I am aware that many people today claim they have been given
these "gifts," but it is very obvious that some making the claim have
and some haven't. 1 John 4:1-3 is still in the Bible! However, when I
run across a Jew today who claims to have been given a prophecy or a
vision or a dream, I pay a good bit more attention to their claim than
I do that of Gentiles making a similar claim. Without apology to
anyone!

Then in view of this inspired prophecy given by Peter, I think it is highly significant that…….

In 1217 the Jewish Rabbi Judah Ben Samuel prophesied that the Ottoman
Turks would rule over the holy city of Jerusalem for eight Jubilees. A
Jubilee is a period of 50 years according to Leviticus 25:8-13. Eight
Jubilees would then be 400 years. Sure enough, 300 years later in 1517
the Ottoman Turks seized control of the city of Jerusalem and ruled
over it for the next 400 years. They were finally driven out of the
city and the holy land in 1917 by the Allied forces under the command
of General George Allenby. The Rabbi's prophecy about the 400 years was
fulfilled exactly to the year.

The Rabbi had also prophesied that during the ninth Jubilee Jerusalem
would be a "no-man's land." This is exactly what happened from 1917 to
1967, due to the fact that the holy land was placed under British
Mandate in 1917 by the League of Nations and literally "belonged" to no
nation.

Even after Israel's war of independence in 1948-49 Jerusalem
was still divided by a strip of land running right through the heart of
the city, with Jordan controlling the eastern part of the city and
Israel controlling the western part of the city. That strip of land was
considered and even called "no-man's land" by both the Israelis and the
Jordanians. Anyone even stepping into that strip would be shot down. I
lived during that period of time and well remember the reports in the
newspapers and shown on TV about the division of Jerusalem. It was not
until the Six Day War in 1967 when the entire west bank of the holy
land was conquered by the Israeli army that the whole city of Jerusalem
passed back into the possession of Israel. So once again the prophecy
made by the Rabbi 750 years previously was fulfilled to the letter.

But that is still not the end of the matter. The Rabbi also prophesied
that during the 10th Jubilee Jerusalem would be under the control of
the Jews and the Messianic "end times" would begin. The 10th Jubilee
began in 1967 and will be concluded in 2017. The Rabbi's prophecy has
been fulfilled to the letter right up to this present day.

There is then no Scriptural reason to believe it will not continue to be
fulfilled exactly as it was given, until the conclusion of the seven
year Tribulation in 2017. This then means that the pre-tribulation
resurrection and rapture of New Testament believers will occur this
very year; 2010, and that the Messiah and Savior of Israel will return
and establish His Millennial Kingdom in 2017, again fulfilling to the
letter the Rabbi's prophecy.

Glory to God! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Jesus is coming for His
people VERY SOON! Praise the God of glory! Thank God for the "blessed
hope."

But this still isn't the whole prophetic picture. During the 18th
century [the 1700's] Rabbi Vilna Gaon prophesied that the Hurva
Synagogue in Jerusalem, probably the most magnificent Jewish Synagogue
in the entire world, would be destroyed and rebuilt twice, destroyed
yet again and built a third time. He prophesied that when it was
rebuilt the third time, then construction would begin on the [third… ?]
Jewish Temple.

The Hurva Synagogue was first destroyed by the Muslims shortly after it
was originally built. A hundred years later it was rebuilt a second
time. Then it was destroyed for the second time by the Jordanian army
during Israel's war of independence in 1948-49. It lay in ruins until
2001! That year the Israeli government and the Jewish people in Israel
began rebuilding it again. Now here is the fascinating relation to
end-time Bible prophecy…….

The Hurva Synagogue has just been completed, and is scheduled to be
dedicated and officially opened in a grand ceremony in Jerusalem on
March 15, 2010. Significantly, the Jewish Rabbinate in Jerusalem has
already announced that the plans for rebuilding the Jewish Temple will
be presented to the nation of Israel and the Jewish people on March 16,
2010. The Rabbi's prophecy wins again!

Glory to God! Thank you Lord Jesus! Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! O
glory be to God! Our Lord's coming for His people is right at the
door! Read Revelation 3:8.

Dear brother and dear readers, it is time for people to GET READY OR
GET LEFT! Read John 3:3-7, 3:16, 3:36, 5:24, 14:6, Acts 4:12, 16:30-31,
and Romans 10:8-13. DO IT TODAY! Tomorrow may be too late!

2 Corinthians 6:1-2. Then bow your head and your heart before the Lord
and ask the Lord Jesus Christ to come into your heart and grant you
true repentance and save you, cleanse you, and make you one of His
children. The ONLY way anyone is ever "accounted worthy" is to have the
"righteousness of Christ" imputed to you. Compare Luke 21:36 with
20:35-36, and then carefully read Romans 4:1-25.

Any reader who needs spiritual help is urged to contact me or some
other true believer in whom you have real confidence. I will count it a
blessing to answer your questions, study the Word with you, pray with
you, and do whatever I can to help you find salvation in Christ, or the
assurance and peace that the Lord wants to give to all of His
people. May God grant you His GRACE is my prayer for you.

Dear brother, I hope this answers your questions and gives you
additional spiritual insight. Please feel free to email or write to me
anytime. My greatest blessing is to be used of the Lord to minister His
Word to His people, and to the lost who are seeking Him for
salvation. Please keep me in your prayers. God bless you.

Pastor F. M. Riley

I would love to hear from you and have you insights into this letter.

What I do know is that JESUS IS COMING SOON. Now soon could be 1 day or 1000 years let us be ready!

Remember Jesus and I love you

Hugs

Sharmaine

10 Little Christians

2010-01-23T19:46:00.001+13:00

Thanks Merinda!

10 Little Christians standing in line

1 disliked the preacher, then there were 9

9 little Christians stayed up very late

1 overslept Sunday, then there were 8

8 little Christians on their way to Heaven

1 took the low road and then there were 7

7 little Christians chirping like chicks

1 disliked music, then there were 6

6 little Christians seemed very much alive

but one lost his interest then there was 5

5 little Christians pulling for Heaven's Shore

but one stopped to rest, then there were 4

4 little Christians each busy as a bee

1 got his feelings hurt, then there were 3

3 little Christians knew not what to do

1 joined the sporty crowd, then there were 2

2 little Christians, our rhyme is nearly done

differed with each other, then there was 1

1 little Christian can't do much 'tis true

brought his friend to Bible study -- then there were 2

2 earnest Christians, each won one more

that doubled the number, then there were 4

4 sincere Christians worked early and late

Each won another then there were 8

8 splendid Christians if they doubled as before

In just so many Sundays, we'd have 1,024

In this little jingle, there is a lesson true,

You belong either to the

building or to the wrecking crew!

- Author Unknown

Hugs
Sharmaine

Angies Marriage Advice

2010-01-14T12:28:00.000+13:00

Angie’s Marriage Column ~ January 13, 2010

Ask Angie: Dear Angie, I have been married to an alcoholic husband for eight years now and we have two young children together. We have taken marriage courses and I have been reading the Love Dare. I have tried the detach method but it is difficult since he starts drinking every day at around 9 or 10 in the morning (since he was laid off over six months ago) and drinks until he goes to bed which is usually midnight. If I don't talk to him when he's drinking he gets angry. How can I make the detachment work in this situation and how can I protect our children from his anger?

Marriage Guidance: My first suggestion would be for you to talk with your husband when he is sober and let him know in a polite but assertive way that you are not going to interact with him when he is drinking. Explain that if he would like to have family interaction with you or the children he must not be drinking.

Explain to him that this is how you are protecting yourself and the children from the affects of addiction. The alcoholic needs to be left to themselves while drinking so they can see that no one is going to enable any of the alcoholic behavior. You may have to set personal boundaries for yourself and the children.

Remember that setting boundaries for you is not a threat or a way to control the alcoholic. On the contrary, your boundaries have nothing to do with them, and everything to do with you! The alcoholic may not like your new attitude and that is why you explain to them why you have set boundaries. Explain to them that you will not be around an argumentative or abusive alcoholic, but when they are sober, you would love to talk with them. Tell them, “I Love you, but I don’t love the disease.”

As most of us know we can’t make an alcoholic stop drinking—we are powerless over all aspects of the addiction. But we certainly do not have to entertain alcoholism in any fashion. When your husband is sober let him know that you “love him” but “hate the addiction”. Separate the person from the addiction as much as possible. Tell him how much you enjoy being with him when he is sober, but when he drinks its like being with a different person and you are uncomfortable.

One reason why an alcoholic would get angry when you detach from him is because it get to his conscience and lets him know that his drinking is not appropriate behavior for a father and husband to be partaking in every day. He is feeling guilty about it. You see as long as his wife enables the addiction he doesn’t have those feelings about himself and everything is ok. But is it really ok? Not really.

Detaching from the alcoholic is not only a good and reasonable choice for your personal spiritual and emotional welbeing but also for the alcoholic. Your detachment “when he is drinking” is what helps him to take responsibility for the addiction. He has to make choices for himself, not you for him. Only when we stop fighting with the addiction and trying to control every aspect of the addicted person do we find solace and comfort, and will the addict come out of denial and seek healing.

Don’t drown with the alcoholic. You need to rescue you! Here is a chapter I selected from our book on the alcohol addiction called The Alcoholism Trap that I hope will encourage you to take the steps needed to take care of you and your family while living with an alcoholic.

Stop Rescuing The Alcoholic
And Start Rescuing You
17

You’re so busy throwing out the lifeline trying to rescue the alcoholic that you didn’t notice that you were drowning with them. How does it feel? It does not feel very good, does it? You have been giving all your strength in the saving and rescuing the alcoholic in your life that you don’t have much strength left for yourself.
Here’s what I want you to do. Next time you feel like throwing out a line to the alcoholic, don’t do it. Let him or her figure out a solution on their own. This gives the alcoholic a big wakeup call. It may even get them all angered up, but hello! They need to wakeup out of their slumber. “Oh, okay, maybe I do drink too much”.

The alcoholic will not like it at first that you’re leaving them to tend to their own miserable lives by themselves, but, later they will be glad you didn’t keep rescuing them. They may even dish out a lot of mean and hurtful words, but hey, so what. You know what you need to do when the alcoholic starts to attack. They are just words and you know how to detach from the abuse of an alcoholic and still live with them and love them, right? As a matter of fact the more you learn to detach, the better you will feel about yourself.

Be Nice To Yourself

Remind yourself periodically that it’s not your fault the alcoholic drinks. The alcoholic has a compulsion to drink, which has nothing at all to do with you. So you should not feel guilty, remorseful, angry, or depressed. If you allow these kinds of negativities to control the way you think and feel, it will eventually impair your own mental and spiritual well-being. When you are feeling lonely, frustrated or mentally drained from the day, do something about it. Take care of yourself! What do you like to do for fun? Don’t sit around watching the alcoholic drink; it is going to drive you crazy. Take up a hobby. Go see a movie or a play. Go out to dinner with a friend. Take a long walk in nature. Take the kids out for ice cream. You get the picture, right? You do not want to be cooped up watching someone else drown in their sorrows, or inflict abuse upon you. Why? Because you have better things to do than sit around brooding with an alcoholic. Sound ruthless? Well it is not.

Don’t Allow Yourself To Become A Victim

. It’s very important to understand that loved ones of alcoholics unintentionally make themselves become victims by the way they think and position themselves with the alcoholic. Oh poor me, I’m having to put up with this drunken behavior every single day; I just can’t take it anymore! The alcoholic is the only victim here when you come right down to it. They are the ones addicted and controlled by alcohol, thus, they are the true victims. Although, they, unbeknownst to them, would love to bring you into the alcoholic sickness with them, so you must be aware of when this is happening.

Here is how it works, when the alcoholic feels like they are sinking further and further into the addiction, they will grab onto you to keep themselves afloat, but that will only pull you both under. This happens in very subtle ways. The alcoholic may pick a fight with you. They expect you to fix everything that goes wrong in their life. They may drive you to drink with them, or they may try and accuse you of bad things and tell you how immoral and awful you are. When the alcoholic gets a reaction from you, it is their safety line, giving them justification for drinking and continuing in their alcoholic behavior.
Some rescuer type people are more susceptible to being pulled under than others. Did you know that a rescuer will always look for someone to rescue, even though they constantly get pulled under themselves. It might have something to do with the environment they grew up in – maybe they had an alcoholic parent or sibling they always rescued, and so they end up marrying someone they can continue to rescue, like an alcoholic or other addict. It is a subconscious thing.

I think it is important for you to know what your responsibilities are as a loved one of an alcoholic.

Take Responsibility For Your Well-Being

Who is going to take care of you? Not to offend anyone, but no one really cares about your health and well being more than you, except for God, your heavenly Father. That means if we seek out God for our life’s troubles, such as issues with alcoholism then that is taking responsibility. Why is it, we always feel like we have to DO something ourselves? Isn’t asking God for help enough? I think it is, but too often we want to control the outcome of events and issues in our life, so we take steps that we feel will control those issues, but most of the time nothing changes, and sometimes we make things worse. Why can’t we just settle for God?

God is wisdom – wisdom comes from the Father who created us, therefore, if and when we allow God into our life and we begin exploring the realms of spiritually, that is when we become filled with God’s wisdom and guidance for us. God is our safety line, and you are the safety line to the alcoholic until they have spiritual clarity enough to reach out for God on their own. The alcoholic has a difficult time grabbing onto God for their safety line because there are too many hurdles in the way, as we all know, but through you, they can come to see and know God for themselves. Do you see how that works?

The wiser and more knowledgeable you are in God, the more secure you will feel about your position as a loved one of the alcoholic, thus making you feel better spiritually, emotionally and mentally. Remember what I said earlier? Don’t deprive yourself of health and well-being just because you live with someone who doesn’t give a darn about their health. It will be your wellness that brings the alcoholic to their senses.

Respect Yourself

Don’t beat yourself up over the issues of addiction. Respect and love the person you are and take each day one day at a time, and go from there. Don’t look back and don’t look forward more than what is absolutely necessary. The more you think of what next week, next month or next year will bring with the alcoholic, the more overwhelmed, depressed, and awful you will feel inside. You don’t know what tomorrow or next month will bring, so stay tuned only to today and what you can do today for yourself.

The more you love and respect yourself, the more you will be helping the alcoholic. How can that be, you might ask? Well, the more you respect yourself, the less likely you are to succumb to the control and manipulation of the addiction. Remember, you are NOT the one with the drinking problem, so don’t disrespect yourself by the way you think, behave or in any other way as if you did have addiction to alcohol.

Get yourself healthy in mind, body, and spirit, and see to it the alcoholic knows you are taking care of you! Let him or her know you are not in the alcoholism trap with them.

Don’t Become Controlled By The AlcoholicAccording to Alcoholics Anonymous, alcoholism is an insidious disease. That means whoever abuses alcohol will most likely become insidious in behavior. The devil himself gets to the non-alcoholic through the addicted person. You don’t ever have to take a drink in your life, but somehow the alcoholic ensnares you in with them and you begin to have an alcoholic mind with the alcoholic. That is if you let him or her do that to you. Understand this, the alcoholic most likely does not even realize they are doing this, it is just another part of the addiction that seems to sweep whatever is in its path into a sickness, which actually keeps people further away from God. If you think about it, addictions are but one way in which satan deprives people of God. Don’t let this happen to you.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks; and to him who knocks, the door will be open. Mathew 7:7-8 NIV

Read all 22 chapters (205 pages) of The Alcoholism Trap – Understanding why the alcoholic drinks and what you can to do help the alcoholic you love achieve total sobriety.

The main thing here to remember is to take care of you and the children. Don’t allow yourselves to be taken down into the addiction trap with the alcoholic. Depending on how old the children are, say over the age of six or so, you can talk to them about their dad’s sickness so they may be aware of his emotional outbursts and behaviors. You will be pleasantly surprised to know that children have great natural compassion and understanding about such matters—more than we often give them credit for.

Pray for your husband. Pray for guidance, faith and strength to get through this trying time in your life. God will answer your prayers if you wait on Him for the answers. Whenever you feel emotionally out of sorts, get out your bible and pray about it. This always gives us a sense of closeness with God and comforts us in time of need.

Many people do not know that diet has a lot to do with many health afflictions that consume our body, alcoholism being one of them. Of course, there are many triggers that predetermine alcoholism in a person but sugar imbalances are the reason why physically alcoholics are addicted to sugar in the alcohol. This is just another area that you may want to check into if you love and live with an alcoholic.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

God Bless!

In Christ,

Angie and Frank

Draw Near to God

2010-01-05T14:42:00.002+13:00

Hebrews 10: 19-25

Jesus is The Way, The Trutgh and The Light, no one will ever come to The Father except through Him!
The writer of Hebrews gives us 4 reasons why we are permitted to pray:-

1. We have free access to the sactuary through The Blood of Jesus;
2. We have Jesus as a High Priest in the house of God;
3. Our hearts have been cleansed from guilty conciences;
4. Our bodies have been washed with pure water (v's 19-22)

So today PLEASE DO NOT POSTPONE drawing near to The Father. You can make contact with Him personally through prayer.

He is waiting impatiently to hear you !

Remember Jesus and I love you

Hugs

A Tiny Seed a Tiny Deed

2009-12-29T18:53:00.002+13:00

We have just comr through the rush of Christmas and should be sitting contemplating the New year....yet so many of us feel inadequate , feel unable to offer something...yet as you read this devotional by Max Lucado one of my FAVOURITE authors please place his words in your heart and let the New Year be the time that you stretch your faith and stir your self to do.

A Tiny Seed, A Tiny Deed

Posted: 27 Dec 2009 10:01 PM PST

“Do not despise…small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin.” Zechariah 4:10 NLT

Against a towering giant, a brook pebble seems futile. But God used it to topple Goliath. Compared to the tithes of the wealthy, a widow’s coins seem puny. But Jesus used them to inspire us…

Moses had a staff. David had a sling. Samson had a jawbone. Rahab had a string.
Mary had some ointment. Dorcas had a needle. All were used by God.

What do you have?

God inhabits the tiny seed, empowers the tiny deed…Don’t discount the smallness of your deeds.

Remember God and I love you

:)

I Know

2009-12-16T13:32:00.001+13:00

I Know
Mike DeVries

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

There are perhaps no two more powerful words than the words "I know."

I know what you're going through.

I know what it is like.

I know how you are feeling.

I know.

We all long to hear those words, do we not? We all long to believe that there is someone, anyone, who knows what it is like - who knows what we are going through. When you find that certain someone who does know what it is like, doesn't it seem to change everything?

Some two thousand years ago, in a sleepy town in Judea, God did something revolutionary. Rather than offering a voice of concern to a weary world, God did something beyond what anyone could have ever dreamed or imagined.

In Jesus, the Word, the voice, comes to dwell among us.

In the incarnation, we celebrate the reality that God knows and cares enough about people that He chose to dwell among us in a very physical and present sort of way. The unseen God of Israelite history was now the seen God. The invisible made visible.

We are told in the Scriptures that in Jesus "we saw the glory of the one and only." In other words, Jesus was putting God on display. You want to see what God is like? You want to see how to live in harmony with the Creator? Look at Jesus. He is the way and the truth and the life.

In the incarnation is found a large message from God to you and me: I know.

I know what you're going through.

I know what it is like.

I know how you are feeling.

I know.

So wherever you find yourself this day, no matter what circumstances you may find yourself in, know that there is a God who knows. Feeling alone? He knows. Feeling overwhelmed? He knows. Feeling as if you just cannot go on? He knows. Feeling like there is no one who understands? He knows. He's been there too. In Jesus, He knows.

He knows. He knows. He knows.

The True Meaning of Christmas

2009-12-13T17:40:00.001+13:00

The True Meaning of Christmas
Dr. Frederick K.C. Price
Christmas is one of the most important days among Christians. This day commemorates and celebrates the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christmas is more than just a holiday. It is the remembrance of the fact that God so loved the world that He have His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Jesus' birthday - Christmas is about God's love. It is about God's love for you and me. It is God expressing His great love for mankind, through the giving of the greatest gift, the Lord Jesus Christ. He loves us not because of what we are, but He loves us because of what He knows we can become, if we'll allow Him to get involved in our lives.

John 1:1-3, 14:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

This passage from the Book of John tells us what Christmas is all about. It is about Jesus coming into the world. It is about the Word of God, the Living Word; Jesus is called the Logos, or the Word of God, and it says, "In the beginning was the Word."

Notice that verse 1 says "the Word was with God." This verse shows Jesus' separate and distinct personality. Then it says "the Word was God." Now, I can't explain this to you. I can't explain it in a rational way so that you can understand it intellectually, but that's what the Bible says, it says that the Word was with God and then it says that the Word was God. Praise God that He doesn't require us to understand it mentally in order to gain the benefits from it; all we have to do is simply believe it.

Romans 8:1-3:

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,

This is the purpose of Jesus' coming. His purpose was to come and take away our sin. To come and pay the penalty that all of us should have rightfully paid as a result of Adam's sin in the garden of Eden. Jesus came to do it for us; that's what this season is all about. That's the true meaning of Christmas, that Jesus came to do what the flesh could not do and that is to bring us back into fellowship and communion with the Heavenly Father.

Hebrews 2:10-15:

10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
12 saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You."
13 And again: "I will put My trust in Him." And again: "Here am I and the children whom God has given Me."
14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Jesus came to set us free from the ravages of death. Praise the Lord! The real meaning of Christmas is Jesus Christ: crucified, dead, risen, ascended, and coming again!

Hello

2009-12-13T17:30:00.003+13:00

Dear Friends

It has been some time since we last spoke! My dear friends I never thought that I would have been so busy (being under satans yoke) so exhausted and then so sick. Just imagine the anticipation as I discovered that all my HOPE was answered and God has saved me for another day.

Sometimes the jouney just seems too great.

I wonder what your journey has been like, I would welcome your testimonies and prayer requests!

God is doing something extraordinary! We have a brother in our church who has 250 recorded miracles that have happened to people in the last nine weeks!

God bless you all

Hugs
Sharmaine

HALLOWEEN AND THE CHRISTIAN

2009-10-28T12:42:00.002+13:00

Halloween Origins and Customs

History traces Halloween back to the ancient religion of the Celtics in Ireland. The Celtic people were very conscious of the spiritual world and had their own ideas of how they could gain access to it - such as by helping their over 300 gods to defeat their enemies in battle, or by imitating the gods in showing cleverness and cunning.
Their two main feasts were Beltane at the beginning of summer (May 1), and Samhain (pronounced Sah-ween) at the end of summer (Nov. 1). They believed Samhain was a time when the division between the two worlds became very thin, when hostile supernatural forces were active and ghosts and spirits were free to wander as they wished.
"During this interval the normal order of the universe is suspended, the barriers between the natural and the supernatural are temporarily removed, the sidh lies open and all divine beings and the spirits of the dead move freely among men and interfere sometimes violently, in their affairs"
(Celtic Mythology, p. 127).

The Celtic priests who carried out the rituals in the open air were called Druids, members of pagan orders in Britain, Ireland and Gaul, who generally performed their rituals by offering sacrifices, usually of crops and animals, but sometimes of humans, in order to placate the gods; ensuring that the sun would return after the winter; and frightening away evil spirits.

To the Celtics, the bonfire represented the sun and was used to aid the Druid in his fight with dark powers. The term bonfire comes from the words "bone fire," literally meaning the bones of sacrificed animals, sometimes human, were piled in a field with timber and set ablaze. All fires except those of the Druids were extinguished on Samhain and householders were levied a fee to relight their holy fire which burned at their altars. During the Festival of Samhain, fires would be lit which would burn all through the winter and sacrifices would be offered to the gods on the fires. This practice of burning humans was stopped around 1600, and an effigy was sometimes burned instead.

This Jeremiah Project web site is my response to the situation in America today, a "famine in our land of hearing the words of the Lord" - Amos 8:11
Halloween Origins and Customs
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The Origins of Halloween
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History Of Halloween
The origin of Halloween is fascinating and anyone interested in finding out about the history of Halloween and where this American tradition was founded, will find the information in this article to be eye-opening.
An Ancient Celebration
October 31, Halloween, is one of the more popular holidays for children. What child wouldn't want to dress up as a monster or fairy and score a bag of candy in the process?

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Blending of Paganism with Christianity

When Christianity spread to parts of Europe, instead of trying to abolish these pagan customs, people tried to introduce ideas which reflected a more Christian world-view. Halloween has since become a confusing mixture of traditions and practices from pagan cultures and Christian tradition.

By A.D. 43, Romans had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. During their rule of the Celtic lands, Roman festivals were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain. The Romans observed the holiday of Feralia, intended to give rest and peace to the departed. Participants made sacrifices in honor of the dead, offered up prayers for them, and made oblations to them. Another festival was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of "bobbing" for apples that is practiced today on Halloween.

As the influence of Christianity spread into Celtic lands, in the 7th century, Pope Boniface IV introduced All Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs, to replace the pagan festival of the dead. It was observed on May 13. In 834, Gregory III moved All Saint's Day from May 13 to Nov. 1 and for Christians, this became an opportunity for remembering before God all the saints who had died and all the dead in the Christian community. Oct. 31 thus became All Hallows' Eve ('hallow' means 'saint').

Sadly, though, many of the customs survived and were blended in with Christianity. Numerous folk customs connected with the pagan observances for the dead have survived to the present.

In 1517, a monk named Martin Luther honored the faithful saints of the past by choosing All Saints Day (November 1) as the day to publicly charge the Church heirarchy with abandoning biblical faith. This became known as "Reformation Day," a fitting celebration of the restoration the same biblical faith held by the saints throughout church history. [What about Halloween?]

Trick-or-Treat?
Some trace the origins of present day "trick-or-treat" to Samhain, which was the supreme night of demonic jubilation. Spirits of the dead would rise out of their graves and wander the countryside, trying to return to the homes where they formerly lived. Frightened villagers tried to appease these wandering spirits by offering them gifts of fruit and nuts. They began the tradition of placing plates of the finest food and bits of treats that the household had to offer on their doorsteps, as gifts, to appease the hunger of the ghostly wanderers. If not placated, villagers feared that the spirits would kill their flocks or destroy their property.

The problem was... if the souls of dead loved ones could return that night, so could anything else,human or not, nice or not-so-nice. The only thing the superstitious people knew to do to protect themselves on such an occasion was to masquerade as one of the demonic hoard, and hopefully blend in unnoticed among them. Wearing masks and other disguises and blackening the face with soot were originally ways of hiding oneself from the spirits of the dead who might be roaming around. This is the origin of Halloween masquerading as devils, imps, ogres, and other demonic creatures.
Others trace "trick-or-treat" to a European custom called "souling".

Beggars would go from village to village begging for "soul cakes" made out of square pieces of bread with currants. The more soul cakes the beggars would receive, the more prayers they would promise to say on behalf of the dead relatives of the donors. At the time, it was believed that the dead remained in limbo for a time after death, and that prayer, even by strangers could guarantee a soul's passage to heaven.

In many parts of Britain and Ireland this night used to be known as 'Mischief Night', which meant that people were free to go around the village playing pranks and getting up to any kind of mischief without fear of being punished. Many of the different customs were taken to the United States by Irish and Scottish immigrants in the nineteenth century, and they developed into 'trick or treat'.

Halloween Comes to America
Traditional Halloween symbols (witches, black cats, pumpkins, candles, masks, parties and pranks) appeared in the U.S. during the late 1800's. In 1848, millions of Irish emigrants poured into America as a result of the potato famine. With this sudden influx of people, the holiday of Druidism found its new home on alien shores. "Proudly Celtic, they called Halloween Oidche Shamhna (`Night of Samhain'), as their ancestors had, and kept the traditional observances" [Common Boundary, Sep./Oct. 1993, p. 31].

The Jack-o-lantern is the festival light for Halloween and is the ancient symbol of a damned soul. Originally the Irish would carve out turnips or beets as lanterns as representations of the souls of the dead or goblins freed from the dead.

When the Irish emigrated to America they could not find many turnips to carve into Jack O'Lanterns but they did find an abundance of pumpkins. Pumpkins seemed to be a suitable substitute for the turnips and pumpkins have been an essential part of Halloween celebrations ever since.

Pumpkins were cut with faces representing demons and was originally intended to frighten away evil spirits. It was said that if a demon or such were to encounter something as fiendish looking as themselves that they'd run away in terror,thus sparing the houses dwellers from the ravages of dark entities. They would have been carried around the village boundaries or left outside the home to burn through the night.

Bats, owls and other nocturanal animals, also popular symbols of Halloween, were originally feared because people believed that these creatures could communicate with the spirits of the dead.
Black cats have religious origins as well. Black cats were considered to be reincarnated beings with the ability to divine the future. During the Middle Ages it was believed that witches could turn themselves into black cats. Thus when such a cat was seen, it was considered to be a witch in disguise.

Witches and witchcraft are dominant themes of the holiday. Witches generally believe themselves to be followers of an ancient religion, which goes back far beyond Christianity, and which is properly called 'wicca'. Witches are really just one side of a modern revival of paganism - the following of pre-Christian nature religions, the attempt to return to worshipping ancient Norse, Greek or Celtic gods and goddesses.

To witches, Halloween is a festival of the dead, and represents the "end and the beginning of the witches year. It marks the beginning of the death and destruction associated with winter. At this time the power of the underworld is unleashed, and spirits are supposedly freed to roam about the earth; it is considered the best time to contact spirits" (Halloween and Satanism, P. Phillips and J.H. Robie, 1987, p. 146).

The apostle Paul said Witchcraft is one of the acts of the sinful nature and those who practice it will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:16-21; see also Revelation 22:15).
Divination
The various activities traditional to Halloween are mostly associated with the idea of obtaining good fortune and foretelling the future. Samhain was a time when it was customary for the pagans to use the occult practice of divination to determine the weather for the coming year, the crop expectations, and even who in the community would marry whom and in what order.

• The idea behind ducking, dooking or bobbing for apples seems to have been that snatching a bite from the apple enables the person to grasp good fortune. Unmarried people would attempt to take a bite out of an apple bobbing in a pail of water, or suspended on a string. The first person to do so was believed to be the next to marry.
• Samhain is a time for getting rid of weakness, as pagans once slaughtered weak animals which were unlikely to survive the winter. A common ritual calls for writing down weaknesses on a piece of paper or parchment, and tossing it into the fire.
• There used to be a custom of placing a stone in the hot ashes of the bonfire. If in the morning a person found that the stone had been removed or had cracked, it was a sign of bad fortune. Nuts have been used for divination: whether they burned quietly or exploded indicated good or bad luck.
• Peeling an apple and throwing the peel over one's shoulder was supposed to reveal the initial of one's future spouse.
• One way of looking for omens of death was for people to visit churchyards, because the spirits of those who were going to die during the coming year were thought to walk around the churchyard during this night.
Should Christians adopt such practices?
Can we borrow pagan customs and superstitions of ancient peoples and "Christianize" them?

As believers, we are called to "Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. [1 Thesalonians 5:21-22] Who can deny that virtually all of the symbols of Halloween are evil? Witches, monsters, ogres, vampires, ghosts, ghouls, goblins, devils and demons all portray evil. Christians are to "... have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." [Ephesians 5:11]

Is Halloween just another innocent holiday that doesn't harm anyone? Is it really just childish fun? Vandalism and wanton disregard for the property of others is common on Halloween night. Even normally well-behaved children are driven by unseen forces to destructive behavior. Police officials everywhere report a great increase in such activities on Halloween.

Worse yet are the horrifying accounts of poisoned candy and fruits booby-trapped with razor blades and needles. Such threats are so real that many hospitals offer free X-rays of Halloween treats in order to prevent children from being harmed. Who but Satan could inspire such monstrous actions?

Should the church be compromised by accommodating itself to the culture?
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." [Romans 12:2]
"For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?" [2 Corinthians 6:14, 15]

When America and the world celebrates the Festival of Samhain and the powers of darkness by masquerading as evil creatures or decorating our homes, schools, businesses and churches with occult symbols, Satanic power is glorified.

The sort of practices celebrated on Halloween are what defiled the ancient nations [see Leviticus 18:24-30]. The Israelites were warned against such practices when they entered the Promised Land, "When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations." [Deuteronomy 18:9]

Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God. The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so. [Deuteronomy 18:10-14]

As an alternative to the celebration of evil and death, Christians should rather do what Christians are supposed to do every day and that is shine the light of Jesus Christ. We should emphasize the Christian influences and strive to make Hallow's Eve a celebration of the acts of God through his people the saints. We should make it a day when acts of charity instead of vandalism and hatred abound. A day that emphasizes the light of Christ instead of the darkness of evil. A day when people meditate on the acts of Godly people instead of ghosts and goblins.

While you may have participated "all in fun," be assured, Halloween is serious business for Satanists and witches. Those who oppose Christ are known to organize on Halloween to observe satanic rituals, to cast spells, to oppose churches and families, to perform sacrilegious acts, and to even offer blood sacrifices to Satan.

While some may say, "But we only do this in fun...we don't practice witchcraft," those things that represent Satan and his domain cannot be handled or emulated "for fun". Such participation places you in enemy and forbidden territory and that is dangerous ground.

Tom Sanguinet, former high priest in the Celtic tradition of Wicca (witchcraft) said "The modern holiday we call Halloween has its origins in the full moon closest to November 1, the witches’ New Year. It was a time when the "spirits" (demons) were supposed to be at their peak power and revisiting the earth planet." He went on to say, "Halloween is purely and absolutely evil, and there is nothing we ever have or will do that would make it acceptable to the Lord Jesus." [The Dark Side Of Halloween]

As evil prevails, Americans have embraced an evil day of Satan, with the pranks of 'would be' hoodlums, combined with 'demon faces' on pumpkins, clothing of 'death' being worn, and calling it fun. When Christians participate in Halloween, it sends a message to children that witchcraft, demonism, Satanism, and the occult are something fun, entertaining and harmless.

Many years ago, C.S. Lewis wrote that one of Satan's most deceptive tactics is to convince people that he doesn't exist. Apparently he has done a good job in his deception. Sadly, many people think of the devil as no more than a symbol of evil: like Santa Claus, he is just a fictional symbol. Many people today also do not think of witches as real people who practice magic, but simply as imaginary figures who represent the supernatural world and everything that is 'spooky.'

Recognizing this pagan holiday gives the false impression that what is actually lethal is innocuous. Some children develop a fascination with the supernatural which leads them later into more sinister occult practices. It's the spiritual equivalent of painting a loaded gun to look like a toy and giving it to child to play with.

It is the kind of celebration that encourages kids like the 16-year-old in Pearl, Mississippi who stabbed his mother to death in her sleep and then opened fire at his high school, killing two students and wounding seven. Authorities found this student along with at least six others involved in a small, avowedly satanic clique that calls itself "Kroth."

How some people can defend this kind of activity as just another innocent holiday that doesn't harm anyone is beyond me.
Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. (John 3:19-20)

Acceptance of the Supernatural
Central to Satan's goals is the widespread acceptance of the supernatural, including the occult, on the part of North Americans, accompanied by a great revival of spiritism all over the world.

Over the last 30 or so years, the occult has moved into the mainstream of America - in television, movies, magazines, business, and various aspects of daily life. Movies, books, magazines and encyclopedias of the supernatural have abounded. Turn on your TV and hear from the ever-present "Psychic Friends" hotline, or see lead characters in TV shows meet their "spirit guide." Entire bookstores devoted to the occult have become common. Universities regularly offer courses on witchcraft and magic - usually the so-called "white" variety. Myriads of mystical Eastern religions, bizarre and often demonic, have invaded North America and found in most cases an amazing responsiveness.

Indeed, Halloween has taken root in America. Americans spend $21 million on Halloween candies yearly second only to Christmas in total sales. Halloween is the Number 1 season for selling humorous greeting cards. In North America, some 25 million cards are sold annually. (Peter Smith, "By the Numbers," The Toronto Star, 2002-OCT-27.) Halloween is the third-largest party occasion next to Christmas and New Year's Eve.

Increasingly the curriculum in many public schools is becoming a primer in occultism.

Impressions, a curriculum used in many school districts instructs teachers and students in how to cast spells. One teacher's manual reads, "Tell the children that a magician has cast a spell on some children. Have them work in pairs to write the magic spell the magician used. Have each pair write another spell to reverse the first spell. Have them chant their spells."

About 16,000 school districts use the Pumsey the Dragon curriculum, by Jill Anderson. Many of the relaxation techniques used are identical to those used in hypnosis. Another curriculum called Duso the Dolphin employs relaxation techniques and sends hypnotized youngsters off on guided fantasies to a place called Aquatron.
Satanism has become a phenomena that crosses the city limit into the rural areas of our nation.

It is reported there are some 6000 witches, and approximately 10 million people are involved in the occult. However, it is very difficult to establish how many actually participate. These individuals are involved in a wide variety of activities from simply casting spells to human sacrifice. The news wires carry story after story about young children being kidnapped, only to be found later as victims of some bizarre ritualistic crime.

As satantic involvement among our youth increases, we begin to see the primary goal of such activity. According to Scripture (2 Cor. 4:4; Rev. 12:9), Satan's goal is to deceive man by blinding him to the truth of the gospel and to receive worship for himself (Matt. 4:9; Isa. 14:12-14).

It has become clear that the primary goal is to alter an individual's values and turn him against himself, his beliefs, family, God and society.
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8)
Young satanists believe the strong will rule with Satan. Once an individual becomes involved, they often make a pact with Satan. They commit themselves to a future date when they will take their own lives by suicide. They believe if they submit themselves to Satan in death, they will come back in another life as a stronger being and rule with him forever. According to recent statistics, fourteen young people a day take their own lives.

What's wrong with Halloween?
It does not have even one single redeeming virtue. It is custom born out of pagan superstition. It is a demon-inspired, devil-glorifying, occult festival. It is an evening holy unto evil, death, and divination. The Scriptures tells us to "Abstain from all appearance of evil." [1Thess. 5:22]
Wake up Christian! This is the night of evil and those who love the Lord Jesus Christ should have nothing to do with it.

We are all accountable for our choices and decisions. Ignorance is no excuse. The choice is up to you. Have you been involved in this satanic holiday? Do you struggle with giving it up because "it's just fun" and an innocent opportunity for children to dress up and collect candy? Don't take my word for it. Let God show you what he would have you do. You might begin by praying the following:

Father in heaven I come to you in the name of Jesus Christ to confess that I'm a sinner. I'm sorry! Please forgive me. I believe with all my heart that Jesus Christ is Your Son and that You raised him from the dead. I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins and that I might be saved. Each and everyday Father I turn my will and my life over to Your care, and may Your Holy Spirit lead and guide me in all the things I think , do and say. I'm Yours and You are mine. Father, please use me that I might help others come to know and love Your Son Jesus Christ. Thank you for saving me. Amen

Faith

2009-10-18T19:30:00.004+13:00

I do not know how you view faith, to me faith is a very important part of my relationship with God.

Without faith in all the years gone by I am quite sure I would have been lost.

Let me share with you. I was an adopted child, adopted into a family where the mother never really wanted me but had me for the sake of her husband. Alas he died when I was 5 so since then I had to endure the ministrations of a woman saddled with a child she never ever really wanted. (Praise God she gave her life to Christ just before she died!)

I searched for my "real" family all over the world imagining 1 000 000 ways that our initial greeting would take place. Would we float into each others arms, weeping tears of reconciliation....or would I meet my mother and she would wrap her arms around me and tell me she was young and foolish and how much she has prayed for me all her life......etc etc etc. (MY mother and father were dead by the time I traced my family)

Well I found my 2 sisters the one was terribly embarrassed and made sure I understood there was no "inheritance " due to me, the other tried but....

I then found my brother after much searching. A big gentle giant of a man, but because I got a lift with someone else could only see him for half an hour.

After a while I tried to contact him again but he had moved to Cape Town and so...there I was again asking my heavely Father 100's of questions.

About 2 weeks or so ago the Lord I truly believe it was HIM, reminded me of my search so I got up, very, very early and emailed all the addresses I could find in a small village where I believed my brother to be.

Guess what friends I got a reply from a very special Christian Lady who passed my message to my brother and he sent one back saying he loved me and wanted contact.

Today I received an email from my brother, it began with:

My darling Charmaine
You were unfortunately the lost child of our family I have often thought of you in my life and as you know I have always been a fisherman.

Well I am still very overcome with emotion, friends today I want to share with you that for the second time SHE THAT WAS LOST NOW IS FOUND!

And not only that, but my brother is a fisherman, he loves the Lord and while he fishes for fish I fish for souls!!!!

I am totally overwhelmed at my Heavenly Fathers favour, He promises us the desires of our hearts and if we will only believe..........

Having stood in faith for many years I have a brother.!

If you have something that you are trusting God for NEVER EVER GIVE UP!!!!

God is faithful and if you will stand and let your faith touch Him, you my friends will be amazed at what will happen.

So on this special day, from my heart to yours

Sharmaine

Holy Alphabet

2009-10-12T06:00:00.002+13:00

Hi Everyone
For those who are fighting their own personal battles.

whatever it may be. NEVER GIVE UP!

The Holy Alphabet... This is Beautiful

Whoever came up with this one must have had some

Divine Guidance!

Although things are not perfect

Because of trial or pain

Continue in thanksgiving

Do not begin to blame

Even when the times are hard

Fierce winds are bound to blow

God is forever able

Hold on to what you know

Imagine life without His love

Joy would cease to be

Keep thanking Him for all the things

Love imparts to thee

Move out of "Camp Complaining"

No weapon that is known

On earth can yield the power

Praise can do alone

Quit looking at the future

Redeem the time at hand

Start every day with worship

To "thank" is a command

Until we see Him coming

Victorious in the sky

We'll run the race with gratitude

X-alting God most high

Yes, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...

Zion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!

Hugs always

Sharmaine

Seed Scatterers

2009-10-07T06:24:00.002+13:00

Hi Everyone
You know how I continue to preach JESUS IS COMING SOON? Well I want to thank my friend Judith for forwarding this article by Ron Graham to me, it touched my heart in its simplicity and truth.

Seed Scatterers - Ron Graham
“Behold,
a sower went forth to sow;” Matthew 13:3b. Farmers are by definition
seed scatterers, and they usually have stacks and stacks of gunny sacks
practically bursting at the seams with seeds just before planting
season, all stored up nice and secure in their big old barns. Here’s a
“what if” scenario. What if farmers choose to keep their seeds in their
barns instead of planting their fields? I’ve seen fields in my area
where I can only assume some adverse situation happened to a family and
the fields didn’t get cultivated or planted; the fields just turned
into big weed patches. But a farmer who purposely neglects his field to
hold onto his seed is not only unwise, but deliberately neglectful. His
fields would remain barren. Come harvest time what would he have?
Seeds. That’s it; all he would have is a barn full of seeds.

Youand I read and study our Bibles, and some even do so faithfully every
day. As we study God’s word we grow in our knowledge of Him and His
word and over time we acquire a wealth of understanding. But what good
is all that knowledge if we keep it stored up in our personal little
barns? Just like the farmer, we too store up, but in our case it’s
knowledge. When our storage shelves are full of this extremely
important information, which determines the difference between eternal
life in Heaven or Hell, we should freely spread that knowledge around
to all with an appetite to learn.

Oncewe’ve stored up all that knowledge it’s time to ready ourselves for
getting it to the masses. What kind of believer would we be if we just
kept all that knowledge to ourselves? We would be like the farmer who
refused to plant his seeds, deliberately neglectful and very foolish.
You see, the knowledge we’ve received from studying God’s word doesn’t
actually belong to us, at least not to us alone. We can obtain a mass
of knowledge through studying His word but we must remember it’s His
word and it was meant to be shared. Simply put, God’s word is public
domain.

Untilthe farmer sows his seeds into the ground he can’t hope to reap any
kind of bountiful harvest. Once he sows the seeds they begin to grow
and the foliage of the plants begins to spread across his entire field.
Of course the farmer isn’t finished when he sows those seeds, not by
any means. That’s only the beginning. He waters and cultivates his
plants and applies pest and weed deterrent which results in healthy
crops. He cares for the plants while they grow and they thrive through
his diligence of care giving. When his field is ready he can harvest
the crop and reap the fruits of his labors and enjoy the rewards of
such diligence.

Believersare not so very different than farmers. We also spread seeds; it’s just
that our seeds are the word of God. As we learn more and more through
our careful study of His word we are then able to “water and cultivate”
those seeds. The folks we teach are then empowered by God to sow what
they’ve learned and as they grow in knowledge and discernment they pass
that knowledge on to others. At first as people pick up biblical
knowledge they pass it on slowly, almost timidly. In time, and as their
study habits get more involved and become a pleasure not a chore, they
are empowered to seed larger fields and do so with clarity and
frequency.

Whatwe’ve learned of God and His will for our lives is a benefit that we
can pass on to others, and like the farmer who plows and seeds his
fields and benefits from the result we to benefit from our due
diligence. People profit from the farmers efforts by taking advantage
of the end result. Likewise, many people can benefit through our seed
spreading efforts by absorbing the truth of God’s word. And really,
studying the word of God is all about knowledge, understanding, and
wisdom, storing up seeds for planting, and then proceeding with
planting them. God’s word was always meant to be shared and
distributed. Many use it to argue with other believers or to prove to
others how smart they are. This should never be our motivation in
spreading God’s word.

There’ssomething I’ve neglected to mention thus far. I’m not sure everyone
understands that there are rewards that will be distributed at the end
of our Christ-centered travels. When we are through here on earth God
will remove us from the world and there will be a point after that
removal when we will stand before the Bema Seat of Christ and He will
reward us with crowns that are specifically created for each type of
work we did for His Kingdom.

Oneof those crowns will be rewarded for our many efforts of advancing His
Kingdom here on earth. Similarly, little work will result in few
crowns. If we will travel about unabashedly standing up for Jesus and
spreading the good news of His Gospel, and teaching others the truth of
His word, then of course, our rewards will be great. “And he that
reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that
both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.” John
4:36. There’s an old adage that goes something like this “You can’t
take it with you”. But on the other side of that phrase is “You can
send it up ahead”. That’s what we are doing by teaching and preaching
and everything else we do for Gods Kingdom while we reside in these
bodies on this planet.

Itshould be understood that basically all believers are ministers and
teachers. We will all be confronted sooner or later with a question
about the Bible and if we answer that question “correctly” we’ve then
taught that person something from God’s word. All Bible teachers are
responsible for teaching God’s word correctly. What that means is we
aren’t to substitute our own ideas and precepts for the truth of God’s
word. That’s why studying God’s word is an ongoing process. We may
never fully grasp it all but we should strive to be correct in all the
interpretation we pass on to others. We believers, as teachers must
understand there will be severe consequences for passing along bad
seed. In other words if we’ve changed our Master’s seed, mixed it up
with some bad seeds, and then sowed it in place of the whole truth we
must be prepared for the consequences of our erroneous actions. There
will be a high cost to pay by those who teach a false Gospel.

It’sa given that Satan hates all people, but especially he hates those
believers who are out there spreading the seeds of truth, preaching and
teaching God’s word to those who are still lost. The lost belong to
Satan and he hates giving up even one soul to God. Satan will do
anything to keep the seed that we believers sow from ever taking root.
He’s subtle in his chicanery. His road blocks are not immediately
observed. Some people have very hard hearts and as such they thoroughly
reject the word of God, but others may have very willing hearts that
accept the word of God quite easily. But then those hearts may be so
fertile that they accept every teaching out there as truth. These last
folks are just as deceived as the previous because they just can’t
discern between the truth of God and the lies of Satan.

Clearlythere are challenges to spreading the Gospel, but if it were impossible
God would never have told us to do so. Sometimes the ground just needs
some extra tilling and fertilization mixed in to reactivate all the
nutrients in the soil. “For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and
Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.”
Jeremiah 4:3. Some hearts are like thorny ground and the thorns need to
be removed first. It might take a little work on our part and it might
even be painful.

“The religion that is born of mere excitement will die when the excitementis over” Charles Spurgeon.

People are all different and there are many approaches to reaching the lost. Now and then, as we meet and get acquainted with new friends or neighbors there may be a small time lapse between meeting them and getting to a point where we actually
feel the Holy Spirit leading us to speak to them about Jesus. Through
our study of the Bible we will become much more in tune with God’s Holy
Spirit. He will guide us to see the perfect time for witnessing. Even
just our daily living routines can be a witness and proof as to Whom we
follow.

The knowledge we possess after we’ve made learning God’s word a priority in
our lives is always to be shared. It’s as though a light comes on the
more we study. It’s too bright of a light to merely place under a
basket somewhere. Instead we should be spreading that light around.
Jesus tells us that we believers are the light of the world. But if no
one can see your light what good is it? Those who are going astray
because of the darkness must be shown the light of Christ. “Let your
light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and
glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16.

God’s word is very powerful. If we don’t take His word seriously or if we try
to water His word down to keep from offending someone, then we’ve done
exactly what the enemy would have us do. If he can’t get us to abandon
God’s word altogether, then perhaps he can get us to see that in some
instances it will offend, and so we should be more feeling and caring
and keep the whole truth from being brought out. If we were to follow
the evil ones suggestions, sooner or later, the whole word of God would
become of non-effect.

This concept of watered down seed spreading is especially prevalent acrossAmerica. “What do you mean Ron?” Well, what would happen to the farmer’s crops if he sowed his seeds sparingly? He would have a pretty
sparse looking field which would be rather unhealthy because of all the
weeds that would take over. Many men have gone to great lengths to
study God’s word only to concentrate their preaching and teaching on a
small section of scriptures instead of teaching the full council of
God, which is contrary to God’s own word. “Whom shall he teach
knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are
weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be
upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line;
here a little, and there a little:” Isaiah 28:9-10.

God is very frank when it comes to training up His children. Many believe
that to be so blunt can be hurtful. They’ve perceived the Bible to be
outdated and in need of an overhaul. They are sure that God never meant
to chide those individuals who live a lifestyle that’s completely
contrary to His word; it just cannot be what God intended. They put
their own precepts over God’s. They may change His word, or instead of
teaching the whole council of God they ignore many parts as irrelevant,
even though those scriptures might mean the difference between life and
death.

Here’s an example, you’re watching a family out enjoying a Saturday picnic
together, joyfully singing songs and dancing and playing on the grass
and it gives you a warm feeling inside to witness such love. But you
realize they’ve set up their picnic table on a train track and they are
completely unaware of any approaching train, but you know that a train
will be coming down that track at precisely 12:00 noon. It’s now 11:55
and the family is sitting down at the picnic table as they begin to
enjoy their meal together. Are you helping them by keeping silent about
their approaching doom? Or have you just condemned them all to death by
keeping silent?

Sowing and feeding the flock are parables Jesus used as He taught the
disciples about His Kingdom. It’s interesting that Jesus never once
told His disciples that seeding those fields would be a bed of roses.
He never told them to avoid painful subject matter if they perceived it
might make someone uncomfortable. Plainly we see quite the opposite
when it comes to sharing the Gospel of Christ. Difficulties arise as we
go about spreading God’s word and sometimes we’re confronted with
uncomfortable situations that might make even our loved ones turn away
from us, but nothing should deter us from getting those fields sown.

Cultivating,seeding, watering, harvesting–Jesus tells us that the rewards for such
diligence done for the purpose of increasing the flock for His Kingdom
will bring awesome rewards. Have you prepared your fields? And if so,
have you scattered His seeds?

So friend let us scatter seeds,
Hugs always
Sharmaine

Unexpected Extraordinary Kindness

2009-10-07T06:18:00.002+13:00

Thank you Claire Pienaar from the Whale Watchers Inn in Witsand South Africa. God sends special people like you across our paths everynow and again.
May God bless you and keep you and cause His face to shine upon you and may there always be peace in your home! Peace being the fulness of the Word, nothing missing, nothing broken, nothing lost!!!
This is Ministers appreciation month and what a gift you gave me, the gift of family!!

Food For Thought

2009-09-30T09:17:00.002+13:00

I was moved when this was forwarded to me on email.

ONCE IN A WHILE, I AM REMINDED OF HOPE

Five (5) lessons about the way we treat people
1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady. During my second month of college, our professor

Gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student
And had breezed through the questions until I read

The last one:

"What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the

Cleaning woman several times. She was tall,

Dark-haired and in her 50's, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question

Blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if

The last question would count toward our quiz grade.

"Absolutely, " said the professor. "In your careers,

You will meet many people. All are significant.. They

Deserve your attention and care, even if all you do

Is smile and say "hello."

I've never forgotten that lesson.. I also learned her

Name was Dorothy.

2. - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain
One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American

Woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway

Trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had

Broken down and she desperately needed a ride.

Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.

A young white man stopped to help her, generally

Unheard of in those conflict-filled 19 60's. The man

Took her to safety, helped her get assistance and

Put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his

Address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a

Knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a

Giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A

Special note was attached.

It read:

"Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway

The other night. The rain drenched not only my

Clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along.

Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying

Husband's' bedside just before he passed away... God

Bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving

Others."

Sincerely,

Mrs. Nat King Cole.

3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those

Who serve.

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less,

A 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and

Sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in

Front of him.

"How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked.

"Fifty cents," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and

Studied the coins in it.

"Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.

By now more people were waiting for a table and the

Waitress was growing impatient.

"Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins.

"I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put t he bill on

The table and walked away The boy finished the ice

Cream, paid the cashier and left.. When the waitress

Came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the

Table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish,

Were two nickels and five pennies..

You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had
To have enough le ft to leave her a tip.

4 - Fourth Important Lesson. - The obstacle in Our Path.
In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a

Roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if

Anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the

King's' wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by

And simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the

King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did

Anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of

Vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the

peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the

stone to the side of the road. After much pushing

and straining, he finally succeeded. After the

peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed

a purse lying in the road where the boulder had

been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note

from the King indicating that the gold was for the

person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The

peasant learned what many of us never understand!

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve

our condition.

5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts... Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a

hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who

was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only

chance of recovery appeared to be a blood

transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had

miraculously survived the same disease and had

developed the antibodies needed to combat the

illness. The doctor explained the situation to her

little brother, and asked the little boy if he would

be willing to give his blood to his sister.

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a

deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will save

her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed

next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing

the color returning to her cheek. Then his face

grew pale and his smile faded.

He looked up at the doctor and asked with a

trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away".

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the

doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his

sister all of his blood in order to save her.

Hugs

Sharmaine

Angie's Marriage Coumn

2009-08-27T18:09:00.001+12:00

Angie’s Marriage Column ~ August 26, 2006
A Husband’s Porn Addiction

Ask Angie: My husband and I have been married for four and a half years and have been together for nearly seven. I was drawn to him initially because of his love for Christ. I had fallen away from God and was trying desperately to get my life back on track when I met him. We have one child together who is two and a half. When my daughter was about six months old I found out that he had been looking at pornography. It broke my heart. I hated that he had brought that garbage into our Christian home. He begged me not to leave him and promised he would not do it again. About six months later I found out he had been continuing to do it. I told him if this did not stop I would have to leave. Some time passed without either of us mentioning it, but our marriage began to crumble. He became distant and indifferent towards me and our daughter. I thought constantly about leaving him, but never had the courage to do it.

And now I have found out that he has not only been continuing to look at the pornography, and has been "using" it, instead of coming to me, but that he has been lying about it. I had been asking him directly if he had been looking at it, and he always told me no. I am so heart broken not only that he has been looking at and "using" it for his "needs," but mostly now that this addiction has made him start being untruthful with me. I told him yesterday I felt like I had to leave. He cried and begged me to stay. I still love him very much, and I am committed to our family. But I am concerned that if I stay, I am condoning this addiction and he will just do it again. I want him to know that I am serious. That it HAS to be me or the porn. Any advice? ~ Lost & Heart Broken

Marriage Guidance: I am truly sad for your situation. Porn addiction is not just something that only affects the person involved but it also affects the whole family and those who love them. Children are affected by a dad’s indifference and a wife is affected by the shame, rejection, and loss of intimacy with her husband. And the addict is affected by the shame, guilt, low self-esteem and lack of Christ in his life.

I encourage wives who are having similar issues in their marriage to print out this marriage column and read/study it with their husband’s. You can conquer addiction with God at the center of your life and marriage. Please click on all of the links within the article, which will offer more encouragement and help for pornography addiction.

Porn addiction is becoming more and more prevalent in marriage today. It doesn’t seem to matter whether the marriage is a supposed Christian marriage or not. The truth is if a Christ One is having trouble with porn addiction then my first thought to that person would be to rethink and review your Christian faith because a Christian should NOT be a slave to any sin, whether it is greed, anger or porn addiction.

God loves us and does not allow His children to become trapped within the insidiousness of addiction. When a person becomes addicted and controlled by something it will literally keep him or her further away from Jesus. And that’s exactly what addiction does. This is why the addict says they will never look again or use again but until they actually “give” their lives over to their source, Jesus Christ they will continue to lead their life controlled by whatever it is they are addicted to.

When an addict says they will never look again, drink again, or shoot up again, they are in denial. Only a person in denial would say such a thing because they will do it again! A person is powerless on their own to stop an addiction unless they get down on their knees in sincere sorrow and repent. They need God to overcome sexual addiction!

The addict may even believe they “do” want to quit the addiction. But the problem with that is they think they can quit on their own free will—just simply walk away from it. I’m here to tell you that without God we are nothing! Without the power of Christ working in our lives, it is impossible to quit an addiction or at the very least be happy and content person without it.

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (Galatians 5:16-17)

What does this scripture mean, “live by the Spirit?” If you live each day controlled and led by the Holy Spirit (Jesus Christ) studying His words and praying for freedom against temptation, then the words of Christ will be in your heart and mind. And the love of Christ will be behind your actions, and the power of Christ will help you with your selfish desires. Do you see how that works? Live by the Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who BELONG to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with it passions and desires.
(Galatians 22-24)

If we profess to be followers of Christ, why then are we not following Him? The minute we take our eyes off of Jesus, stuff happens and our Christ-like character changes drastically. Have you taken your eyes off of Jesus? Is stuff happening in your Christian life that shouldn’t? If you aren’t following the example of Christ then whose example are you following?

Porn addiction is a delicate issue that takes a great deal of understanding before most people can even begin to get a firm grip on it. Some people take porn addiction with a lackadaisical attitude. They believe that as long as they aren’t involved in the physical act that it is not adultery. But looking at porn is adultery of the mind!

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28)

Jesus lets us know that when a man allows himself to be captivated by a woman’s beauty it will bring on lustful thoughts. If your mind is controlled by lust you will act out in lustful ways. You have now become prey each and every time you go back and view pornography. She (porn) now has control of your body and your mind and your spirit. You are being controlled by desires and lust. (Proverbs 6: 25-29).

Scripture tells us that the prostitute (women of porn) will reduce the man to a loaf of bread. It’s sad but true. Porn addiction is playing with fire.

A man absolutely needs to keep his eyes on Jesus! He has to continually pray about his feelings and ask Jesus to free him from lustful thoughts and temptations. But even more than that he has to give his whole life to Christ and in return Christ will free the porn addict from being enslaved to sin.

…And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it! (1 Corinthians 10:13)

But if a man is only half-heartedly giving his life to the Lord and being lackadaisical about his relationship with Christ then temptation will be more difficult to bear. In this culture that is filled with so much depravity you cannot let down your guard. Understand that strong temptations and desires happen to everyone, but not everyone succumbs to those desires. Why is that?

Because they run from temptation when it gets in front of them! They instantly ask God to help them in that moment of temptation and god helps them! Run from immorality and pray for God’s help with lust EVERY SINGLE DAY. Going to church once a week is not enough. You have to be the church, be the man of God that God wants you to be. Choose Christ’s love over the darkness in the world. Run from tempting situations.

Sometimes we’ll need to run from tempting situations so we’ll not be persuaded to sin. Running from sinful situations is a virtue of character. When we avoid those areas where satan has set his enticing traps we are using self-control, which is THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT –Christ is working in us!!

Flee from sexual immorality. (1 Corinthians 6:18)

Birds of a Feather Flock Together

If you hang around those types of people who rebel against God’s message of truth then stop being friends with them. It’s really that simple. It’s like an alcoholic who still keeps friends with drinking alcoholics. Don’t you think they will be tempted to drink by hanging around those who drink and have a “don’t care” attitude? If a person has quit drinking and they are trying to remain sober they certainly wouldn’t go visit old friends who are drinking, right? It’s the same way with porn addiction. You may have to lose some friends. But were they really that good of friends to begin with?

Run from temptation and any other situations that are tempting such as being on the computer, going to bars, sleazy magazines, or late night cable channels. Why allow these tempting areas to come between you and God? Get rid of them. Stow computers away for a while. Stay away from feeding grounds that advocate sexual immorality. Get rid of cable. Do what you need to do to help you with being tempted.

Choose new friends that you know love God and walk a righteous path. Choose friends who have had trouble with addiction in the past and have overcome it through Christ. They can help you on your spiritual journey towards love and happiness.

Addiction is an Emotional and Spiritual Sickness

Addiction is a sickness and God is our healer. When we take our life problems into our own hands and never humble ourselves to our source, Jesus Christ we remain sick and spiritually bankrupt. Pride deceives us into believing we can conquer addiction on our own, but pride gives us a false sense of security that keeps many people trapped in their addiction and past baggage. Don’t let pride do that to you. Get down on your knees today and ask God to free you of your afflictions.

God has the power to renew your spirit and will give you a renewed attitude full of new thoughts and new love—real love! Addiction is only a hurdle in your life. It is not something that is with your forever unless you allow it to be so. All addictions can be completely eradicated forever through the workings of Christ.

God wants you to choose. He wants you to choose Him over the desires of the world. God wants all of your life, not just those parts that you are willing to give to Him. Give Him ALL of your life, today! So now it is time for you to choose. Christ or addiction?

Close the door to temptation today! Download our free eBook Closing The Door To Temptation. Save it on your desktop and go back to it whenever you need encouragement and to hear God’s words of wisdom. Remember without Him we are nothing. With Him we become the people God meant for us to become.

God Bless!

Frank and Angie Lewis

FOR HELEN

2009-08-13T15:56:00.002+12:00

Although this is for everyone it is especially for Helen!!!

The new job is going well, with a great team to support me! But I was thinking about what "well" meant.....

"Well" is thankfulness and "well" is having the ability to never ever give up."Well" is standing in the place of perfect peace, peace meaning nothing missing nothing broken and nothing lost!

So for today I will be thankful for challenges and opportunities and thankful for things that drive me crazy and thankful for things that I do not particulary enjoy doing!

I read this delightful prayer some time ago and want to share it with you:-

Thankful Prayer

Lord, thank you for this sink of dirty dishes; we have plenty of food to eat.
Thank you for this pile of dirty, stinky laundry; we have plenty of nice clothes to wear.

And I would like to thank you, Lord, for those unmade beds; they were so warm and comfortable last night. I know that many have no bed.

My thanks to you, Lord, for this bathroom, complete with all the splattered mirrors, soggy, grimy towels and dirty lavatory; they are so convenient.

Thank you for this finger-smudged refrigerator that needs defrosting so badly; it has served us faithfully for many years. It is full of cold drinks and enough leftovers for two or three meals.

Thank you, Lord, for this oven that absolutely must be cleaned today. It has baked so many things over the years.

The whole family is grateful for that tall grass that needs mowing, the lawn that needs raking; we all enjoy the yard.

Thank you, Lord, even for that slamming screen door. My kids are healthy and able to run and play.

Lord, the presence of all these chores awaiting me says You have richly blessed my family. I shall do them cheerfully and I shall do them gratefully.

Amen

PROUD STRONG WOMEN!!!

2009-08-13T15:52:00.002+12:00

Hi Everyone
I received this on email and just thought it was wonderful! So with apologies to all the guys who follow this blog......

What makes me weak? My fears.....

What makes me whole? My God.

What keeps me Standing? My faith.

What makes me compassionate? My selflessness.

What makes me honest? My integrity.

What sustains my mind? My quest for knowledge.

What teaches me all lessons? My mistakes.

What lift's my head high? My pride, not arrogance.

What if I can't go on? Not an option.

What makes me victorious? My courage to climb.

What makes me competent? My confidence .

What makes me sensual? My insatiable essence.

What makes me beautiful? My everything.

What makes me a woman? My heart .

Who says I need love? I do.

What empowers me? My God & Me.

Who am I?

I AM A PROUD STRONG WOMAN!

I wonder

2009-07-21T21:16:00.002+12:00

I wonder what Abraham felt when he was told to sacrifice his son.....I have wondered what it would feel like to sacrifice a child......

Imagine God, He gave His ONLY not one of, but His ONLY begotton Son.....how very privledged we are....

I do not know about you, but no one else would have died on the cross for me, BUT HE did, willingly......
No greater love than calvary my friends

So to those today who wonder and sit in the valley of decision, to those who complain about their lives, never satisfied, top those who feel unloived, to those who believe no-one can ever love them......

REMEMBER......

He gave and gave and gave and gave...His ONLY......

Trust Him today with the faith of Abraham....trust Him today, the One who gave us Jesus!!!

Remember God and I love you

Sharmaine

Free to love like Jesus

2009-07-21T21:11:00.001+12:00

Free to Love Like JesusAlan Riley

In the day in which we live, it takes a lot to shock us. We see so much sorrow, death and destruction each night on the news that after a while we become desensitized to it.
Something I saw around this time last year shocked, sickened and saddened me.I'll never forget it. Maybe you remember seeing it too.

A 49 year old woman named Esmin Green was admitted to the emergency room of King's County Hospital Center in New York for psychiatric evaluation, and she was left in the waiting room for over 24 hours. At 5:32 am, the security camera shows her collapsing on the floor. For the next 30 minutes, Ms. Green lay on the floor convulsing, moving and at one point appearing to try to get up. Hospital workers and employees came in, looked at the woman and then left. One even appeared to be looking at the television while completely ignoring the stricken woman. She stopped moving at 6:07 am.

One hour and three minutes after she collapsed, a hospital worker came into the room and nudged Ms. Green with her foot. When she got no response, the worker waited a few minutes more and then summonded help. But it was too late. Esmin Green was dead.
How could someone collapse in a hospital's waiting room and lay there for an hour until she died? How could hospital workers and perhaps other people waiting for treatment in the waiting room ignore someone who was obviously in need of help? How could people be so uncaring and heartless toward another human being?

We later heard that six workers at King's County had been fired for their failure to help Ms. Green and for their attempts to cover it up. Obviously, they should have been. But as I thought about this story, I can't help but think that to one extent or another, you and I are in some ways as guilty of neglect as those hospital workers.

Now to be sure, if someone collapsed in the hall outside my office or in the parking deck as I was walking to my car, I would no doubt act decisively to assist them and to summon help. I am sure you would do the same. But how many times recently have I crossed paths with someone who was in great need spiritually or emotionally and I ignored them just as those hospital workers ignored Esmin Green?

Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan to expose the racism and elitism of the Pharisees. He also wanted to point out their lack of compassion for those in need. You remember the story... a man is attacked, beat up, and left for dead. Several religious leaders pass by the injured man before a Samaritan - a group of people hated by the Jews - stopped to help.

In those moments when we are being really honest with ourselves and with God, we know in our hearts that left to our own devices we tend to be like the Pharisees. It is when we are being like Jesus that we reach out in love and compassion to help and to share the gospel with all we come in contact with. Our culture teaches us to withdraw from and distrust those who we don't know and those who are not like us. Jesus has set us free to love like He loves.
And He reminds us that when we touch the least of these we are touching Him. When we refuse them, we are refusing Him.

Have you seen?

2009-07-11T18:19:00.001+12:00

Have you seen a dead man talking;
Witnessed yet, a lame man walking,
A man with blind eyes sees again,
A leprous man… now void of pain.

Have you seen water turned to wine,
Witnessed demons cast into swine;
Young girls raised now from the dead,
A mother cured …on her death bed.

Have you seen Him walk on water,
Feed nine thousand and not falter,
Stopping a storm with one raised hand,
Restoring sight with spit and sand,

Have you seen Him nailed to a cross,
Mankind’s gain, but Satan’s loss,
He bled and died for you and me,
Bearing the sins of humanity;

Have you seen my precious Lord,
Holding fast salvations sword;
Beckoning you “Come trust in Me,
From this time until… eternity”

Have you seen…Jesus my Lord?

With thanks to Louise for forwarding this to me!

Hugs Sharmaine

AT LAST

2009-07-11T18:07:00.002+12:00

Dear Friends

What a wild ride!!!

Thank you to all of you that have chastised me :) for no new comments and those of you who have asked me to write and others that have patiently sat beside me while I had many things to sort out!!

Firstly from May to present 2 months my grandson has been very ill, Praise God he is on the mend even though his Mum rushed him to the 24 hour clinic last night;

Secondly my computer and cell phone both decided to break irreperairably;

I started working in a formalised situation and suffered 2 health set backs...

BUT...

PRAISE HIM WHO IS FAITHFUL!!!

I want to encourage you tonight/today when the world is crashing down around you look up...the salvation of the Lord is nigh!!!

Lots of hugs and love in HIm

Sharmaine

PS and THANK YOUhb

Musings

2009-04-30T22:07:00.002+12:00

Dear Friends

There is something about another birthday that causes one to be introspective and muse...

So here are some of my ramblings, join yours in and lets talk...

I felt that today is a new day a gift from my Abba, He has given me this day to do with as I wish. I can choose to grow in it or waste it, either way what I do with it is important because I have exchanged a day of my life for it.

You see when tomorrow comes today will be swept away on the river of rememberences and therefore I pray that I will not in any way regret any of the price I have paid for it.

Another thing that was so upmost in my thought today was Tommy Tenny's statement that, " Favour is what happens whe PREPERATION meets opportunity and success is what happens when PREPERATION meets poetntial.

Lots of chewing on that statement.

What are you chewing on...what things are directing your pathways?

Last but not least...NEVER FORGET:-

GREAT CAPTAINS ARE NOT MADER ON CALM SEAS BUT IN STORMS!

I SALUTE YOU MY FRIENDS, GREAT CAPTAINS AROUND THE WORLD!

My Father

2009-04-23T12:09:00.003+12:00

I love my Abba, He is everything to me. We watched God the Perfect Father...this was with some trepidation...my experience with earthly fathers was not one that I would ascribe to...but with the gentleness of God my Father over a number of years I learnt His gentleness, strength and commitment to me.

I learnt to run into His Presence, just like a child, to entreat Him as a daughter and to dance and be a little wild. I learnt His indulgence and I learnt His strength...I love Him.

How have you learnt to know Him, how do you know Him.... He is my...

Elohim-God the Creator

Jehova-The Great I Am

El Shaddai-Almighty God who is more than enough

Adonai-Thae Lord and Master

Jehova Jireh- our Provider

Jehovah Rapha-Our Healer

Jehova Nissi-His Banner over us

Jehovah Mekaddesh-Our Sanctifier

Jehovah Shalom-God our Peace

Jehovah Tsidkenu-Our Righteousness

Jehovah Raah-The Lord our Shepherd

Jehovah Shammah- our ever Present Lord

Seek Him, Reach Him He wants to hear your voice hear your dreams and your aspirations(even though He knows them) He cares so much about you that even the very hairs on your head are numbered and He knows every time you loose 1.

Remember God and I love you today and always

Sharmaine

Do You Know?

2009-04-19T21:57:00.002+12:00

I wonder if you have ever truely felt like this......shattered to say the least!!!! What do you do when a loved one turns against you ......and accuses you for the sake of the gospel.....how do you cope when you are acused of "always talking church!"

Rejoice I say rejoice.....Words kill...words also become self fulfiling prophecies...............

What a testimony to be accused of loving the Lord too much.....what a testimony when people revile you and despise you for the sake of the gospel. Yes it hurts, yes, you shatter, BUT GOD....say in Psalm 23, "Yea though I walk through "yes through"the valley.... you will pass through...

No matter what your circumstances today...no matter what report you have received.....no matter what the world may say, remember Jesus chose YOU, yes you, before the begining of time........."They said.... let us create" The ruler of the universe chose you...........

So today whose report will you believe.............I BELIEVE THE REPORT OF THE LORD, AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.

Beloved friend, look to the Son and the shadows will stay behind you.........

Remember we love you and pray for you

Today and always

Sharmaine

1Cor.13

Think on this

2009-04-15T15:26:00.005+12:00

I have been so very burdened by the cross. I know, I know I have discussed it and posted it, but my heart was particularly burdened this morning that our Lord was taken and beaten so severely and mocked, His beard plucked out........stripped of His clothing............a scarlet robe placed on His weary bloodied body............a crown of thorns pushed down on His head...............silent, looking past His pain into the future, "Whose future you may ask" Yours and Mine!!!!

Looking into the sins I would step willingly step into, knowing that at the depths of my despair I would need a Saviour, The Saviour, I would need my God, I would need HIM!!

Then as if that was not enough they must have shoved His clothes back on and made Him start His journey to Calvery......

At Calvery they stripped Him naked again, cast lots for His clothes, nailed Him to the cross and lifted Him for all to see.

My King.....hanging on the cross naked, beaten, worn, YET, still concerned for those whose frailties He knew so well...............

Then grace darkened the sun and they could no longer look on His body jeeringly..........the curtain TORE, and in three days He was Alive.........VICTORIOUS..........

Take a moment today to think of the cross and the victory, take a moment to think of what this means to you, take a moment to realise you are NOT DEFEATED, no matter what the circumstances are you ARE VICTORIOUS through HIM...........

Take time to thank Him...............Take time to bless Him.......take time , take time

You are truely beloved

Always

Sharmaine

Re-Establishing Trust in Marriage

2009-04-14T19:36:00.000+12:00

Angie’s Marriage Column - April 8, 2009

Ask Angie: I am finding it hard to trust my husband again. We've been married for 31 years. this Valentine's day and in year 28 I found out he was heavily into drugs, which he now claims to be free of, but I still have a hard time believing him because of the extent he wants to hide his use. All the lies, deceit, and now the unwillingness to discuss it with me, leaves me with many unanswered questions.

He denies that other women were a factor in the drug use, but I do not believe that is true, because our intimacy is non-existent, and has been for some time. He claims to be unable to perform. I don't buy it. So here we are, I don't trust him and I constantly look for clues to make sure he's not using. I hate living this way, I am a born-again Christian, and I pray for God to guide me and help me to truly once and for all forgive, and I will think I have, and then he'll be late or not acting like he normally does and I find myself watching him.

Marriage Guidance: Your situation is very typical for married couples when one is addicted to a substance. You are so emotionally and mentally attached to the actions, feelings, and behaviors of your addicted husband that it is driving you crazy…the not knowing and the fear of being “out of control”.

Although it is sad to see anyone waist away their life in addiction, the truth is you cannot control what the addict says or does – it is impossible. The first thing you must understand is that you cannot “be in control” of what your husband does, which means, who he sees, where he goes, when he comes home, what he says, and how he treats you.

You can’t overpower addiction…the more you try, the more it will swallow you up with it. And that is what’s happening to you. Your husband’s addiction is literally taking you down with him. I’m going to throw you a life preserver, grab onto it and allow God to pull you into the shore. Neither I, nor anyone else can pull you into safety…you have to have the willingness to do so and to trust in Jesus to pull you into safety. OK?

God Grant Me The Serenity To Accept The Things I Cannot Change

Ask God to give you the strength to accept, that which is out of your control. God grant me the serenity to accept that my husband’s addiction is something I cannot change. How does a wife accept that she can’t stop her husband from using drugs or drinking? By backing off and giving every aspect of addiction over to God. It can be difficult to do at times, especially when the addict is abusing you in some way, which happens often in homes where addiction is present.

Most loved ones of addicts want to throw out the booze, throw the drugs down the toilet, Take the car keys, scream and yell for the addict to stop in their addiction. But none of these efforts will do any good whatsoever. Addiction is more powerful than anything a mere man can try to do to stop it. Overcoming addiction and the affects of what addiction can do to a family can only be overcome through the power of God working in our lives.

Even to your old age and gray hairs I am God, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4

The problem is we’re trying to rescue our loved ones instead of handing that responsibility over to God. Only God has the power to save us from the temptations of this life and only God can save us. Without God we are nothing. Wives and husband's who try to rescue their spouses from addiction become so entangled within the insidiousness of the addiction that they become mentally, emotionally and spiritually sick with the addict.

When a wife is spiritually sick how can she even begin to see clearly enough to help herself. Don’t allow yourself to get pulled into addiction one more second. You are finding it hard to trust your husband again because you can’t trust your husband. As long as he is wrapped up within the web of addiction there is no trust. The reality is you can’t trust addiction so how can you trust the person who is addicted?

I realize it hurts to think that the man you married has been with other woman. Addiction makes us do crazy things. So knowing that should we blame immoral behavior on addiction. Yes, we should! Does it mean that once the user quits using their substance of choice they will not behave immorally? Of course not – that would be ridiculous to say it would. But it means that being addiction free he can now make proper and right choices for his life. It is at this time that a wife can support, encourage, and influence her husband and help him to turn his life around and stay addiction free!

Courage To Change The Things I Can

So now that you know you cannot change one iota about your husband or the addiction, lets take a look at what you can change. You can stop looking for clues that he has stopped using. This is not going to change anything. You can stop worrying about his inability to perform. This is not going to change anything. You can stop living for the addiction and start living for Christ. This WILL change your attitude. Ask Christ to give you the courage to change those things that you can.

…I can do everything through Him who gives me strength! Philippians 4:12-13

When we begin to find positive things that we can change in our life, it will make us feel better. You cannot change what your husband does, but you can change what you do about what he does. You can change your reaction towards what your husband does or doesn’t do. Learn to detach from his miserable behavior. You can change the way you think about your husband. You can change your attitude about addiction and know from the bottom of your heart that addiction is something you have no power over, whatsoever.

You can choose to forgive, even though you will have to continue to forgive his addictive actions every single day. By forgiving you will be freeing your heart and mind of pent up resentment. You can start to take better care of your spiritual, mental and emotional self by detaching from the addiction. You can choose to allow Christ to pull you into safety and trust that He will keep you safe from addiction.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

These changes are changes that you have the power, through Him, to change. You can do everything, through Him. They are all things that involve you and your attitude toward your situation and toward your husband. Once you make these small, but sometimes-difficult changes you will discover a sense of peace within yourself that will actually be supportive to your husband. Whether or not you see that now or not doesn’t really matter. What matters is having hope that your husband can become free for good from addiction.

Understand that once you stop trying to be responsible for your husband’s actions you will feel a big burden lifted from your shoulders. Jesus Christ has lifted that burden from you and gave you a sense of peace in the midst of turmoil. You allowed that burden to be gone from your heart and mind. Now that you are on the shore and out of danger of drowning with your husband you can help him.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loves us. (Romans 8:35 –37)

And The Wisdom To Know The Difference

Do you now understand what you cannot change and what you can? If it has anything to do with your husband and the addiction you cannot control it or change it. Give it to God and let Him change it. Give up the burden of responsibility and all aspects of addiction. Let your husband know that you love HIM, but you do not love the addiction.

Change your attitude and begin to take better care of you, through Him. Change what you can about yourself and that will make a big difference in your husband coming out of denial and getting help for his addiction. Only after you help yourself, through Him, will you be able to help your husband. Let God pull you into safety.

May God Bless,
Angie

“Thought the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10

Good Friday

2009-04-09T16:38:00.002+12:00

Today and Sunday are probably the most significant days on the Christian calendar. Not Christmas or any other day but today…..You see friends today was the day that they crucified my Lord. My Jesus who I love today was the day that He died for you and me so that we never ever have to fear death. Today was the day that He was born for, today was the day that He willingly became the everlasting sacrifice the one and only perfect unblemished Lamb of God, The sweet smelling sacrifice, the last sacrifice in fact my friends THE GREATEST LOVE STORY EVERY TOLD..

You see my friends Jesus had the weight of the world on his shoulders. Even before the crucifixion began, he clearly had physical symptoms associated with severe stress. The night before the execution, his disciples reported seeing Jesus in “agony” on the Mount of Olives. Not only did he not sleep all night, but he seems to have been sweating profusely. So great was the stress that tiny blood vessels were rupturing in his sweat glands and emitting as great red drops that fell to the ground (see Luke 22:44). This symptom of severe stress is called hematohidrosis.
Jesus was physically exhausted and in danger of going into shock unless he received fluids (which he apparently did not). This is the man that the Roman soldiers tortured. Having previously been beaten by the Jews, it was now the Romans' turn.

The beatings administered by Roman soldiers are well known to be very bloody, leaving lacerations all over the body. Romans designed their whips to cut the flesh from their victim's bodies. The whips commonly used in those times the whips were made from sharp bone and bits of metal. These beatings were designed to be painful to the extreme.

It would also cause a fluid build up around his lungs. In addition, a crown of thorns was forced into his scalp which was capable of severely irritating major nerves in his head, causing increasing and excruciating pain, as the hours wore on. Our Lord was crowned with that crown of thorns in mockery by the Romans (Matt. 27:29). The object of Pilate's guard in doing this was probably to insult, and not specially to inflict pain. There is nothing to show that the shrub thus used was, as has been supposed, the spina Christi, which could have been easily woven into a wreath. It was probably the thorny nabk, which grew abundantly round about Jerusalem, and whose flexible, pliant, and round branches could easily be platted into the form of a crown. Many experts say however that the thorns that were used were hooked so once impressed into the Lords head they were virtually impossible to remove.

In Christ's severely stressed condition, these beatings were easily enough to kill him. His body was horribly bruised, cut and bleeding. Having had no nourishment for many hours, and having lost fluids through profuse sweating and much bleeding, Jesus would have been severely dehydrated. This brutal torture would certainly be sending him into what doctors call “shock,” and shock kills.
In addition, Jesus was forced to carry the wooden beam on which he would die. Imagine the effect of carrying a heavy weight if you were in that condition.

Crucifixion was a common mode of punishment among heathen nations in early times. It is not certain whether it was used by the ancient Jews; probably it was not. The modes of capital punishment according to the Mosaic law were, by the sword (Exodus 21), strangling, fire (Lev. 20), and stoning (Deut. 21).
This was regarded as the most horrible form of death, and to a Jew it would acquire greater horror from the curse in Deut. 21:23.
This punishment began by subjecting the sufferer to scourging as discussed earlier. In the case of our Lord, however, his scourging was before the sentence was passed upon him, and was inflicted by Pilate for the purpose, probably, of producing pity to avoid a demand for further punishment .

The condemned person carried his own cross to the place of execution, which was outside the city, in some conspicuous place set apart for the purpose. Before the nailing to the cross took place, a medicated cup of vinegar mixed with gall and myrrh (the sopor) was sometimes given, for the purpose of deadening the pangs of the sufferer.

Our Lord refused this cup, that his senses might be clear (Matt. 27:34). The spongeful of vinegar, sour wine, posca, the common drink of the Roman soldiers, which was put on a hyssop stalk and offered to our Lord in contemptuous pity (Matt. 27:48; Luke 23:36). He tasted it probably to allay the agonies of his thirst (John 19:29).
Hung completely naked before the crowd, the pain and damage caused by crucifixion were designed to be so devilishly intense that one would continually long for death, but could linger for days with no relief.

According to Dr. Frederick Zugibe, piercing of the median nerve of the hands with a nail can cause pain so incredible that even morphine won't help, “severe, excruciating, burning pain, like lightning bolts traversing the arm into the spinal cord.” Rupturing the foot's plantar nerve with a nail would have a similarly horrible effect.

Furthermore, the position of the body on a cross is designed to make it extremely difficult to breathe.

Frederick Farrar described the intended, torturous effect: “For indeed a death by crucifixion seems to include all that pain and death can have of horrible and ghastly—dizziness, cramp, thirst, starvation, sleeplessness, traumatic fever, tetanus, shame, publicity of shame, long continuance of torment, horror of anticipation, mortification of untended wounds—all intensified just up to the point at which they can be endured at all, but all stopping just short of the point which would give to the suffer the relief of unconsciousness.”

One doctor has called it “a symphony of pain” produced by every movement, with every breath; even a slight breeze on his skin could bring screaming pain at this point.
Medical examiner, Dr. Frederick Zugibe, believes Christ died from shock due to loss of blood and fluid, plus traumatic shock from his injuries, plus cardiogenic shock causing Christ's heart to fail.

At the ninth hour (the time at which a sacrificial lamb was killed everyday in the Jewish temple), Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated,“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” and soon died, after saying “It is finished.” At about this moment is probably the time when the temple's priestly ram's horn would have been blown that day, announcing that the priests had completed the sacrifice of the lamb for the sins of Israel. Also at that moment, the great, thick curtain that closed the Holy of Holies room from view, ripped open from top to bottom.-Mark 15:34 and Matthew 27:46

James Thompson believed that Jesus did not die from exhaustion, the beatings or the 3 hours of crucifixion, but that he died from agony of mind producing rupture of the heart. His evidence comes from what happened when the Roman soldier pierced Christ's left side. The spear released a sudden flow of blood and water (John 19:34). Not only does this prove that Jesus was already dead when pierced, but Thompson believes it is also evidence of cardiac rupture. Respected physiologist Samuel Houghton believed that only the combination of crucifixion and rupture of the heart could produce this result.

There is no question that it was painful beyond words.

Biblically, it is clear that Jesus chose and willed His moment of death. That moment was induced not by pain, emotional stress, heart attack, or any other, but by His will. Though fully human, He is also fully divine. As God, He could not die from external sources, but only of His own volition and will.

Near the end, a criminal beside him mocked, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us.” Little did this sinner know that the man he was speaking to hung there voluntarily. He was speaking to our Creator, capable of releasing all the power in the universe and beyond, and easily saving himself. Jesus remained in this agony and shame, not because he was powerless, but because of his incredible love for humanity. He suffered to provide the needed way of salvation for you and me.

The accounts given of the crucifixion of our Lord are in entire agreement with the customs and practices of the Romans in such cases. He was crucified between two “criminals” (Isa. 53:12; Luke 23:32), and was watched by a party of four soldiers (John 19:23; Matt. 27:36, 54), with their centurion. The “breaking of the legs” of the crucified was intended to hasten death, and put them out of misery (John 19:31); but the unusual rapidity of our Lord's death (19:33) was due to his previous sufferings and his great mental anguish. The omission of the breaking of his legs was the fulfillment of a symbol (Ex. 12:46).

He literally died of a broken heart, a ruptured heart, and hence the flowing of blood and water from the wound made by the soldier's spear (John 19:34).
Our Lord uttered memorable words from the cross, including “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (23:43), as well as John 19:26, Matt. 27:46, Mark 15:34, John 19:28, Luke 23:46, and John 19:30 (“It is finished.”).

This Jesus the man I serve and love, My God, my Saviour, the King of Kings the Lord of Lords, died for you and He died for me…He died for your healing and He died for my healing……He died for your deliverance and for my deliverance.

During this time remember how special and loved you are so special that God gave His ONLY begotten Son for you and me.

If we can pray for you or help you in any way please email me on:

alcc@xtra.co.nz

God Bless you now and always

Sharmaine

How To Resolve 4 kKinds of Marital Conflict

2009-04-01T06:48:00.001+13:00

Kathy Collard Miller, D. Larry Miller

ROMANS 12:17--21 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Conflict often makes our beloved seem like an enemy. We can easily begin to think, "It's me against you!" when we're supposed to be on the same side. Yet when we start picking a fight with our spouse and, in effect, try to take vengeance by getting our own way, we're certainly not trusting God to fulfill his promise to work in someone's life. If we're supposed to give food and water to our enemy, then let's resolve our conflicts with our best friend--our mate! Here's how to identify the four main kinds of conflict and what to do about them:

1. Faults and Weaknesses. Everyone has faults. Faults aren't sins. Faults could be based in the weaknesses of your spouse's personality. A person who seems to talk too much is a gregarious kind of person. You may judge that she talks too much, but that's because you may not talk much at all. She is most likely thinking you don't talk enough. This is not a conflict about sin; rather, it is a lack of compassion and understanding about who God created your spouse to be.

If your conflict comes from trying to change your spouse, remember that only God can change someone. It isn't your job. Don't allow conflict to separate you emotionally because of his fault or weakness. At the same time, you can gently point out how too much talking prevents both of you from contributing to the conversation. Speaking "peaceably" means inviting a dialogue--not haranguing your spouse for what you perceive is wrong. Ask God to make any changes that he wants. Believe it or not, he might not plan to change that person at this time, and you can relax and eliminate the conflict knowing that he has his perfect timing.

2. Unintended Emotional Injury. When someone hurts your feelings and he didn't intend to (although we might think he did), we can easily fall into the trap of blaming and taking it personally. Each person thinks he is right.

It's important to express your hurt by saying something like, "I know you didn't intend to hurt me, but I felt . . . [and share your feelings]." Give your spouse the benefit of the doubt. He loves you, and most of the time, what you think is meant to hurt you isn't intended that way. It was most likely a misunderstanding, or he inadvertently touched on something that is a wound within you, possibly even from childhood.

Acknowledging the underlying causes of why this "triggers" you is essential. Most often, things from our childhood are at the root. For instance, a wife was neglected by her father, and so any slight by her husband takes her back emotionally (without her knowing it) to those longings of wanting her daddy to love her. Because of this trigger, she will need to take responsibility for her own reaction. The person who inadvertently hurt his or her spouse can remember this: "The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out" (Proverbs 20:5). God wants you to compassionately invite your spouse to address her hurt and possibly her wound from the past.

The "offending" spouse will need to walk "peaceably" by not reacting in kind with anger or hurt. By keeping your cool, you will cover the situation with a calming balm. Proverbs 15:1 urges us, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

3. Preferences. During your courtship, you most likely appreciated the differences that completed you as a couple. If one of you is outgoing and friendly, the other person is most likely more reserved. You liked how your spouse made friends easily so that you didn't have to put out so much effort. But now that difference has made him or her into an enemy. You may feel that he is so friendly with everyone else that he ignores you.

Living peaceably means recognizing that a preference isn't sinful. Just because you think one way doesn't mean your spouse's opposite thinking is wrong--it's just different. Different isn't wrong. Your conflict is based in thinking that there's only one way to think about something or do something. But look at Proverbs 27:14: "If a man loudly blesses his neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse." If because you're an early riser you think it's pretty close to a sin to sleep in late, the Bible says you're cursing your friend. Some things just aren't in a sin category.

If your spouse thinks strongly about something, then it may be even more of a conflict if you feel that you're going to be forced to abide by your spouse's preferences. That's why you need to try to feel his passion or preference. That doesn't mean you need to change your preference, just understand how much it means to him. You may both choose to do your "own thing" separately if one person doesn't enjoy the desired activity, but leave room for both of you to do what you want at some point. Or take turns. If your conflict is about where to go on vacation, decide that one year you will go to the lake and the next year you will go to the mountains. Or find a place that has both a lake and a mountain.

If you feel that your own preferences aren't ever honored, first look at the word ever. Is that really true? Or is your spouse giving in on some things thinking she is pleasing you, except that particular thing isn't that important to you so you don't give her credit for her effort? But when you say "You never let me" or "We don't ever," your spouse may point out something that she thought she was doing for you but you hadn't noticed because it's not your important preference. This is why it's important to communicate what's valuable to you. And if your spouse tells you you're not really hearing what she says, listen! Really listen and try to feel her passion. Understand that just as your activity is important to you, so also is her activity to her.

4. Sin. When your spouse sins, he can certainly seem like the enemy. Yet Romans 12:17--21 tells us we have a choice whether to live peaceably with our enemy. That doesn't mean overlooking his sin or doing nothing about it, but it does mean having an attitude of good that isn't overcome by evil. And most of the time in conflict, evil means being angry. Being angry means that you're trying to be in control instead of allowing God to be, and that won't get you the result you want. Yes, you'll still need to call your spouse's attention to the sin. If it's horrible and terribly painful, like adultery, and your spouse refuses to remove himself from the sin, then you may need to separate legally. But most of the time, we're dealing with sin that is grievous but not liable to end the marriage. What then can we do?

God calls us to righteousness if we are the offended party. This is not a self-righteous, I'm-better-than-you attitude, but a humble heart like the one 1 Peter 3:8--9 describes: "Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."

Compassion means thinking, "I could do something like that, and even if I haven't, I've done something equally bad or pretty close." Sin is sin. Regardless of the degree of sin that we have committed, we've all fallen short. We all stand on equal ground before a holy God who has forgiven us. In those moments, Galatians 6:1--2 is a good reminder: "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (NKJV). We could have done the same thing if we were tempted in the same way.

Compassion also means forgiving our mate, but forgiving doesn't mean we're saying the sin didn't happen or that he or she shouldn't suffer the consequences of sin. But it means releasing our anger and our need to take revenge. Then set up a plan for accountability and strength for your spouse to turn from the sin so that the two of you can be reconciled.

How Others See It
Henry Cloud and John Townsend
Agree on a follow-up plan. "If I notice something again, how do you want me to help you? What do you want me to do?" This way you become a team member to deal with the problem and not a police officer. You might want to talk to him about bringing other resources to the problem as well, such as friends to hold him accountable. The important issue is that you are together as a team to fight the reoccurrence.

Becky and Roger Tirabassi give seven motivators for forgiving others:
To forgive someone benefits you.
To forgive doesn't mean you allow the person to continue to hurt you in the same way.
Most people don't intentionally try to hurt you.
God wants us to forgive others.
It won't be long before you will need to be forgiven.
Forgiveness becomes easier when you look for similar behavior in your life.
Forgiveness is not a feeling. It is a decision!

source: CWalk
This article originally posted on November 5, 2007.
Excerpted from
What's in the Bible for Couples © 2007 by Kathy Collard Miller, D. Larry Miller, and Larry Richards, Ph.D.
__._,_.___

2009-03-20T17:09:00.002+13:00

Your Answer is at the DoorRev. James C. Matthews

"So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him' ... 'Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists'. ... 'When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door.

When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!" "You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel." But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. (Acts 12:5,7,12-16, NIV)

One morning during my prayer and devotion time, I ran across a scripture that stopped me in my tracks. There was something in the text that God wanted me to see. So I backed up and reread the text again. Then it hit me! These believers, who were praying earnestly, weren't expecting their prayers to be answered. I said to myself: "How can this be? How can we prayer "earnestly" for something and not believe our answer when it arrives?" God revealed to me that this happens all the time. He sends answers to our prayers and they are returned to Him stamped "Unclaimed."

Why is this? How can we take the time to pray and not expect our answer or recognize it when it comes knocking? I believe there are three main reasons why this happens.
First, is a "lack of expectation" due to "past experiences". In looking at the context of this scripture, these individuals had experienced fellow believers being killed, even after they prayed for their release.

They had endured the stoning of Stephen, the slaying of James and now their leader Peter was schedule to be next. Those who were in the house praying, told the young girl who reported that their prayers had been answered, that she was "out of her mind". However, we must remember that our past experiences or failures do not determine or dictate God's present or future course of action.

Many of the most difficult things that hinder our forward movement in life, are not the things that lay ahead of us, but those things that are behind us that distract us from what is happening in our lives now. We must expect God to answer our prayers and be on the look out for its manifestation in our lives, regardless of what happened yesterday. The Bible says that he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

Secondly, prayer in the lives of many believers, has been minimized to being nothing more than a "religious activity or responsibility", instead of it being the heaven moving gift of God. When we lose sight of the fact that we are calling upon an omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent Creator God of the universe, who also happens to be "our Father", we can become overwhelmed by the severity of our situation. We must understand that we are not calling upon another human being or some distant disinterested deity - but our Father who has no limitations. If I can find it in His Word, and agree with what He has said, the facts of my situation will have to line up with the truth of His word. Facts change everyday, but the truth never changes.

Because I've decided to believe the truth above the fluctuating facts, I have a legitimate expectation of manifestation (answered pray) in my life. Prayer is more than religion or a believer's responsibility, but a relationship with our Father!
Thirdly, "God's ways are not our ways". I truly believe, that part of the difficulty those gathered in prayer had in receiving their answer, was that it seemed "too easy". They prayed and God answered their prayer. It was that simple! Believe it or not, this happens more often than you think. I've discovered that many of us overlook our answers because we "feel" that we haven't toiled, labored or suffered enough to have earned an answer from God.

Remember, you are a "son", not a slave! You don't earn blessings - you receive them! Jesus said, in Matthew 7:11, "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"
Therefore, what have you been praying to God about? Did you know that God is your Father and He wants to bless you? Do you expect your prayer to be answered? If not, you need to take a good look around, because the answer to your prayer may have already arrived, and waiting on you to receive it!

ANGIES MARRIAGE COLUMN FEBRUARY2009

2009-02-27T21:46:00.002+13:00

Ask Angie: Angie, my husband is a Christian, and I just found out that he has been looking at porn on the Internet for about a month. How do I have a relationship with him after this? We went through this when we first got married 19 years ago...I don't think I can do it again!

Marriage Guidance: You have to see your husband underneath the cloak of this addiction. Addiction is not who he is but what he has allowed to filter into his heart and mind. You need to pray about his recovery and ask God to give you the strength to get through these hard times in your marriage.

Some husbands lie to themselves and believe its ok to look at naked women and men. But the truth is its not ok if you have stopped enjoying your wife. It’s not ok if you look forward to viewing women on the Internet instead of the woman you married and that God has blessed you with. It would be a good idea to print this marriage column out and read through it with your husband. Work together on this issue by being supportive and encouraging.

Try and be your husbands other half (help mate) rather than an antagonist. You both need to sit down and talk through this with respect and consideration of each others feelings. Some husbands are in denial and believe they don't have a problem with porn. But since you said your husband is a Christian or trying to be a Christian then he is not in denial and should work towards inner healing. Help him do that.

Pornography viewing is an addiction of the heart, mind and soul. It is a symptom of something greater going on within those who view it. Just as drinking is a symptom of alcoholism; viewing porn is a symptom of a sexual, emotional, and psychological issue going on within the mind of the viewer. He needs to figure out “what” the problem is within him (past issues) and tackle it head on through His Creator. Was he sexually abused as a child? Was his mom or dad an alcoholic who didn’t show him any love? Was he emotionally bruised from someone in his past as a child?

We all have issues from our past but we must grow away from these sufferings and learn from them. We can’t keep blaming our failings and weaknesses on our past – that’s not right. Grow up, be responsible and take accountability for your actions. If you have bruises that need healing, then heal them! You know what to do. But just in case you forgot, I will help you out a bit with some marriage guidance. Click on the article at end of marriage column, Pornography Addiction:

What Can A Man Do?

Lust is an unhealthy desire that takes a person away from that which is right and good. It does not matter if it is lusting after strangers on the Internet or a fleshly body in a secret place. To yearn for the flesh of another person other than who you are married is wrong thinking taking over your mind and eliminating the natural goodness that resides in man.

The evil one knows that by getting you to think and envision the lusty images in your mind first it will entice you to desire it. Once you take a peek, you look again, and again, until you can’t seem to get the immoral imagery away from your mind, and you become ensnared within it. If you think long enough, you become what you think. God says we are not to even THINK about these things in our mind.

“Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes, for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life”. Proverbs 25, 26

You are worth more than a loaf of bread, aren’t you? If you continue in your wrong thinking long enough, you will turn moldy. Are you going to let that happen? So if the act of adultery is wrong, then so is the intention. It is considered mental adultery and thus a sin! To be faithful to your spouse with your body, but not your mind is to break the trust that is so vital to marriage.

“There is nothing wrong with looking at porn, at least I’m not having an affair!”
Pornography for many is more justified than the physical act and if they get caught looking at it, all they have to say is, "well, at least I didn't have an affair."

WRONG! But you are having an affair each and every time you look at another woman or think of another woman in a lustful way! Don’t you get it; you are allowing naked strangers to control who you are. Is that who you are? I thought you were a child of God? He created you. What happened to respecting His choices for your life? Why are you disrespecting yourself by choosing to turn your back on God?

“It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God.” 1Thessalonians 4, 3-5

The power to rid yourself of temptation and to remain faithful comes from what you believe. Therefore it does not rest in you alone but in your Creator. If you have been unfaithful to your wife by looking at other women, it is because you do not have the foggiest idea how to utilize the tools (gifts) God has given you. Otherwise you would not be addicted, right?
So, I say, live by the Spirit (The Spirit is Jesus Christ – Your Savior) and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16-17)

Virtually anyone can become addicted to porn if they allow their heart and mind to gravitate to it. Addiction doesn’t pick certain people to become controlled by it – it takes whoever wants to play; whoever is not trusting in God with their life. Porn addiction will take hold of your life just like any other addiction… if you don’t live by the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
What are the tools (gifts) from God that a man or woman can use against the power of porn addiction?

Faith to trust God with your life! God won’t let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. And He will provide a way out of temptation so you can stand up under it! Do you believe God can do that? Do you believe with that kind of faith? Then use it as a weapon next time you are tempted.
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Loyalty, in all areas of marriage is a part of the giving process that you learn through allowing God's love and forgiveness into your heart and mind. When you accept what the Truth is, you can actually give of yourself and do it freely. It's really that simple. Accepting is on the same line as humbling oneself. If you humble yourself to God you are giving yourself to God. Once you actually release your sins to God, He will rid you of temptation. You see how that works?
How great is the love the Father lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. (1 John 3:1)

Are you a child of God? Then why do you look to the world (evil and sin) for reassurance of self? If the world is where you look for truth, you will believe what the world says, and probably be weak in your sin again. As with any addiction we are powerless to defeat it on our own. The world justifies sin and makes people believe its ok to rebel against God.

It is God's will that all marriages be built upon the rock of loyalty and when you remain steadfast and loyal to your spouse, even through the hardships, you are allowing God to give you the understanding you need to remain faithful. By trusting in what God says for your marriage, you are less tempted to stray from the marriage, whether in the physical act or through pornography.

Therefore, you must stop looking to society for the answers. Faith comes from believing in what you cannot see with your eyes, bringing those beliefs into the heart and acting upon them with passion. Having and utilizing the power of faith is an individual matter that is gained by your own personal relationship with God. Make God your Captain.
Jesus Christ will free the man or woman from bondage when he or she believes and trusts God with His life. You can find your way home – Jesus is waiting for you to come follow Him.

Remember true repentance means we must change how our heart and mind thinks. What we think we believe. For what a man thinks he becomes.

Dear Friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul (1 Peter 2:11)

BLESSINGS IN ABUNDANCE!!!

CHANGE

2009-02-27T21:40:00.002+13:00

Courage To Change The Things We Can
By Angie Lewis

God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, courage to change the things we can, and wisdom to know the difference.

This is a very powerful statement and very good principles to live our life by, even if we don’t have a drinking problem. There are many things in our life, marriage, and our relationships that we would like to change, and we spend countless hours, and spend great amounts of energy trying to control and change people and circumstances.

Why are we doing this? Why can’t we just accept people for who they are and accept circumstances and outcomes how they happen? Why must we continually try and control what is obviously out of our power to change? Perhaps we aren’t asking God to help us with accepting some of the people we have relationships with. Maybe we have not put our faith in God to just let him control the outcome of circumstances.

God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change.

Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6Perhaps we think we can control and manipulte our spouse, boss, friends and family. Maybe we think we can change them to be the people we think they should be for us.

But all this does is cause strife and contention with the people were supposed to be loving and respecting. Have we prayed for God to give us the serenity to accept our spouse just the way he or she is? Or are we still leaning on our own understanding and wisdom?Let’s ask God to give us the courage to change the things we can and accept people for who they are. Wouldn’t that be better? What are some of the things that we can change? We can change ourselves, and we can work at changing the outcomes of circumstances that we initiated. Anything else would be controlling, manipulating and abusing people to be what we think they should be. Let’s pray for the courage to change what we can about ourselves; focus on changing the consequences of our actions by the spirit of courage given to us by God.

All we have to do is ask. If we truly want to accept the things we cannot change we first must be willing to give up the control if it. We must acknowledge our Lord and place our faith in His promise for us and then we will be given the courage to change ourselves. I thought, “Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom.” But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty that gives them understanding.

Job 32: 7-8Where does wisdom come from? Do you think wisdom is something we gain through the years or something we learn by just reading scripture? God says wisdom comes from the spirit within us. The Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ gives us the wisdom and understanding to know the difference between what we can change and what we cannot change. We can read about wisdom but it is a gift from God given to those who put their faith and trust in Him. God gives us the wisdom to know the difference. Can I change my alcoholic spouse and control their drinking habits? Can I make my adult child be a doctor instead of an accountant? Can I make my friends do what I want? We can try to control and change people in this way, but what is the use if it causes contention, bitterness and strife between us?

That is not of God. These are the things we cannot change. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28We must learn to acknowledge the things we cannot change so we can be free to love without control. For instance, we cannot make our alcoholic spouse stop drinking but we can change how we react to the alcoholic when they are drinking. We don’t have to enable him or her any longer; we can have the courage to change our behavior towards them. We cannot make our friends do whatever we want because that would be selfish and wrong. But we can ask God for the courage to change our feelings about the things we do with our friends.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

REMEBER GOD AND I LOVE YOU!

CHANGE

2009-02-27T21:37:00.000+13:00

2009-01-24T11:18:00.004+13:00

--Thomas Watson, "The Beatitudes" 1660

To render evil for evil is brutish;to render evil for good is devilish;to render good for evil is Christian.

"Blessed are the meek." Matthew 5:5 Meekness is a grace whereby we are enabled by the Spirit of God, to moderate our angry passions.

Meekness has a divine beauty and sweetness in it. This meekness consists in three things:

1. the bearing of injuries,

2. the forgiving of injuries,

3. the recompensing good for evil.

Meekness is opposed to:anger,malice,revenge andevil-speaking.

Meekness is a great ornament to a Christian. "The ornament of a meek spirit—which is so precious to God!" (1 Peter 3:4). How lovely is a saint in God's eye, when adorned with this jewel! No garment is more befitting to a Christian, than meekness. Therefore we are bid to put on this garment, "Puton therefore as the elect of God—meekness."(Colossians 3:12)Meekness is a noble and excellent spirit. A meek man is a valorous man. He gets a victory over himself! Anger arises from weakness of character. The meek man is able to conquer his fury.

"He who is slow to anger is betterthan the mighty; controlling one's temper is better thancapturing a city." (Proverbs 16:32). To yield to one's anger is easy—it is swimming along with the tide of corrupt nature. But to turn against nature—to resist anger, to "overcome evil with good"—this is truly Christian. Meekness is the best way to conquer and melt the heart of an enemy. Meekness melts and thaws the heart of others. The greatest victory is to overcome an enemy—without striking a blow!

Mildness prevails more than fierceness. Anger makes an enemy of afriend. Meekness makes a friend of an enemy.Meekness is the way to be like Jesus—"Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart." Mat. 11:29.It is not profession which makes us like Jesus—butimitation. Where meekness is lacking—we are likebrutes. Where it is present—we are like Jesus.

PRAYER AND OTHER THINGS

2009-01-22T23:01:00.002+13:00

I just love what Jean Nicholas Grou (1730-1803) said in his classic book "HOW TO PRAY", he said,

"You ask me what this voice of the heart is. It is love which is the voice of the heart. Love God and you will always be speaking to Him. The seed of love is growth in prayer. If you do not understand that, you have never yet either loved or prayed. Ask God to open your heart and kindle in it a spark of His love and then you will begin to understand what praying means."

Wow what powerful words! I do not have very much if anything to add, maybe just to ask you a few questions:-

How much do you love Him?

When last have you had intimate communication with Him? (intimate standing for in to me you see)

Have you taken the time to see into Him?

Stop and be quiet and listen to the wonderful things He will share with you, when you have finished praying do not just run away, but wait, be quiet and listen.

Remember you are valuable and precious

In friendship

Sharmaine

A SAYING FOR TODAY

2009-01-13T18:50:00.003+13:00

The question for each of us is not what we would do if we had the means, time, influence and educational advantages, but what we will do with the things we have!

Hamilton Wright Mabie

Tools of the Trade

2009-01-05T11:18:00.000+13:00

Tools of the Trade

WHY WERE THE WISE MEN CALLED WISE

2008-12-30T20:14:00.002+13:00

Matthew 2:1-121.

THEY SOUGHT GOD FIRSTMatthew 2:1-2

2. THEY DID NOT ALLOW THE ENEMY TO DISTRACT THEM FROM THEIR PURPOSE -Matthew 2:8 Matthew 2:12
3. THEY GAVE THEIR BEST TO GODMatthew 2:11

The three gifts of the Magi had a prophetic meaning: gold, the gift for a king; incense, the gift for a priest; and myrrh, a burial ointment as a gift for one who would die.

The first mentioned gift was gold. Gold was the usual offering presented to kings by their subjects, or those wanting to pay respect. When the Magi presented gold, they were honoring Jesus with the very best that they possessed, and they were also recognizing that Jesus was King.

The second gift brought out of the boxes by the Magi was frankincense. Frankincense is a very costly and fragrant gum distilled from a tree that is found in Persia, India and Arabia, as well as the East Indies. Frankincense is highly fragrant when burned, and was, therefore, used in worship, where it was burned as a pleasant offering to God. - Exodus 30:7,8

The primary lesson from frankincense is that our worship is to be pleasing to God.

The last gift brought by the Magi was Myrrh. Myrrh is an aromatic gum produced from a thorn-bush that grew in Arabia and Ethiopia, and was obtained from a tree in the same manner as frankincense. This thorny tree, called "balsamodendron myrrha", is similar to the acacia. It grows from eight to ten feet high, and is thorny. When it oozes from the wounded shrub, myrrh is a pale yellow color at first, but as it hardens, it changes to dark red or even black color.
Myrrh then is brought as a gift to acknowledge the human suffering that Jesus partook of when He came into our world.

DURING THIS TIME OF HAVING DONE SO MUCH FOR OTHERS, SO MANY PRESENTS BOUGHT, I WONDER WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN THE KING?

HOW MUCH TIME HAVE YOU SPENT WITH HIM AND WHAT GIFT WITHIN YOURSELF WILL YOU GIVE HIM?
GO TO THE THRONE ROOM I IMPLORE YOU KNEEL BEFORE HIM TELL HIM HOW MUCH YOU LOVE HIM AND BE ALL YOU WERE CALLED TO BE THIS COMING YEAR!!

LOVE AND HUGS
SHARMAINE

GOD GIVEN DREAMS

2008-12-17T15:47:00.003+13:00

God-given Dreams of the Heart
By Rebekah Montgomery

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a desire to share the Good News. Because of this, some of my earliest childhood memories are of “playing church.”
My sister Ruth and I would dress up our cats and dogs in doll clothes, sit them on little red wooden chairs, then present flannel graph Bible stories and lead them in singing.

But we weren’t playing. We were serious. The Great Commission had instructed us to “preach the Gospel to every creature,” which included cats and dogs, of course. We loved our cats and dogs. We never knew when one of them would be called to meet their Maker.
Occasionally, a member of our congregation would make a break for it, but from past bitter experience, they knew escape was futile. Mostly they sat through our services with resignation.

Their lasse faire attitude proved good training for me: As a speaker, I am sometimes greeted with similar trapped expressions on audience members’ faces.
At the end of each church session, Ruth and I would lead many verses of Just As I Am and extend an “invitation.” We felt this was vitally important and conducted them with great earnestness. We didn’t want any cat or dog to fry for an eternity in hell because we had cut short the invitation to play Barbie or ride bikes. Our theology may have been skewed, but our hearts were in the right place.

The longer we urged them toward repentance and salvation, the more verses we sang, the sorrier the animals looked. When we finally had the closing prayer, some of them seemed to bow their heads, so we were encouraged that some had repented.

Examples to Follow

As an adult, I wholeheartedly wanted to serve God. I didn’t suppose God would ever open up a ministry for me. After all, I was a woman, and according to the lights of many, women were not supposed to do anything in the church except cook the food for potluck dinners and clean up afterwards. My parents didn’t subscribe to this interpretation of the scriptures, but so many did that I realized if I were to exercise the gifts God had given me, I would be the target of a great deal of criticism.

Little by little, God showed me in the scriptures exactly what He had called women to do. He showed me Mary who washed the feet of Jesus. And Martha who served Jesus food at first century potlucks. Then there was Mary Magdalene and others who supplied Jesus with financial help. Deborah led, inspired, and judged. Miriam led music. Dorcas clothed widows and orphans.

Lydia networked. Pricilla instructed Paul. The woman at the well evangelized her village. Jesus didn’t consign these women to work only in the nursery and hold babies: He reserved that extra special job for Himself.

But most of all, God pointed out to me the women who stood at the foot of the cross and bore witness of His crucifixion. These were the women who hastily prepared His body for burial then assembled the spices to return on Sunday to do a proper job of it. They were the first to realize that the tomb was empty.

These were the women Jesus told to tell Peter and the disciples that He was risen — and that was precisely the job I felt called to do: To tell the world that Christ was risen.
I concluded if He had called me to a ministry within the church, He would open the doors for me so others would recognize my call, too — which is exactly what has happened.

The discovery of God’s call on my life has been a joyous adventure. He has allowed me to share the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection in a variety of ways, from Bible school for underprivileged inner-city children to wealthy, upper crust matrons, from seminary-trained pastors to illiterate Haitians, from babies to senior citizens.

If He Asks You, He’ll Show You How

Pursue the dream God has placed within your heart. And don’t be afraid or hold back.
I

f God asks you to build an ark, He’ll give you the measurements.
If He asks you to fish for men, He’ll give you the bait.
If He asks you to get out of the boat and walk on water, He’ll show you the technique.
If He asks you to pick up your bed and walk, He’ll give you a hand to help you up.
If He asks you to pray, He’ll teach you how.
If He asks you to love your neighbor, He’ll give you love.
If He asks you to go to a new land, He’ll give you the map. © Rebekah Montgomery 2008

MARRIAGE ADVICE

2008-12-17T15:04:00.002+13:00

Angie’s Marriage Column

Marriage question: What do you do when your husband says he wants a close relationship, but continually has a negative attitude and is quick to become angry? I am just so discouraged!

Marriage guidance: I can certainly understand your feelings. When someone says they want to be close with their spouse but then behave just the opposite, anyone would get discouraged. It seems your husband is in contradiction to his own feelings. You’re not going to know why your husband has a negative attitude until you guys come together and communicate yourselves with one another.

Many times couples think they are communicating just fine but when they accuse, blame, use negative emotions, name-call, or tell their spouse “how they are feeling” or “what they are going to do” that is not communicating properly and nothing in the marriage ever gets resolved. Most couples communicate incorrectly and that is why resentment and all kinds of negative feelings get in the way of coming to a resolve.

We should always consider the feelings of our spouse during verbal communication; the reason for this is simple. For two-way communication to work both sides need to feel comfortable and trust the person they are communicating with. If one person is getting their feelings rejected or shot down by the other every time they speak, they will shut down. This will cause discouragement and frustration in marriage.

"A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver”. (Proverbs 25:11)

Did you know that many couples never learn the proper ways of communicating with one another and they lose touch with the person they married – intimacy is gone and the marriage is in ruins. Then couples wonder what happened. Productive communication takes more than asking “why” or telling your spouse “what they did wrong” or “what you want” from them. Communication begins with listening to what they have to say.

“He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin”. (Proverbs 13:3) “Let your conversation be always full of grave, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone”. (Colossians 4:6)

What does our spouse want? Have you ever thought about that? Have we even asked? We’re so used to wanting our own needs met, that we forget that maybe our spouse has needs to. We must put ourselves in our spouse’s shoes once in awhile, otherwise what is the use of getting married if not to support one another through the difficult times. Here is a VERY true saying: Couples don’t know the person they married because they don’t communicate!

“For out of the overflow of the heart (attitude) the mouth speaks”. (Matthew 12:34)

Right now, you’re discouraged about what is happening in your marriage. What about your husband? He is probably discouraged too. Maybe you can help your husband to become encouraged and he can help you become encouraged. You’re married – that is what marriage is all about – working and growing together in the Lord.

“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification”. (Romans 14:19)

Marriage (between a man and a woman) belongs to God – Don’t let satan get a hold of it!

You guys are both pulling further way from each other because of your attitude. He wants to get close with you, but for some reason that’s not happening. I don’t know what is coming between the two of you, but one or both of you need to do something about it, and that means you need to communicate. Scripture tells us that we are to build each other up in our communication with one another.

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen”. (Ephesians 4:29)

The best thing you can do at this point is to resolve this issue before more resentment sets in and you guys cave in under temptation. Let your husband know that you feel discouraged about not being close anymore. Tell him you would like to work on becoming more intimate with him and ask him “how he thinks” you two can do that? Don’t tell him that you don't have a close relationship because he is angry and negative; let him figure that out on his own. Just do your part, building him up while you do it. That way, he can’t shut down on you, and he will be more likely to express his feelings too.

Husbands like to shut down with their wives. And the reason is some of us wives aren’t talking (communicating)! We’re usually nagging, yelling, ridiculing, blaming, arguing and or complaining. But that is not going to help the issue get resolved, is it. No!

A woman finds joy in giving an apt reply – and how good is a timely word!” (Proverbs 15:23)

The truth of the matter is you can only do your part in the marriage, that means you can’t feel for your husband you can’t take over his responsibilities in the marriage for him, or tell him what his responsibilities are. He must be ready to fulfill his own responsibilities just as you need to fulfill your own responsibilities. This is how husband and wife fulfill one another’s needs by doing what is right in the Lord and taking care of the duties and obligations that God imparted them with in the marriage. Do you see how that works? This is why it is so important to keep God ALWAYS at the forefront of the marriage. If we base our marriage upon things of the world will have a worldly marriage but when we base our marriage upon things of God we will have a Godly marriage and that is the way marriage is designed.

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord Forgave you”. (Colossians 3:13)

Get encouraged by reading scriptures and applying them into your life. Don’t worry about what your husband is or is not doing – just do what you can for the marriage, which is acting on your responsibilities and always keeping Christ at the top of your priority list.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

THANK YOU

2008-12-15T13:05:00.001+13:00

TO ALL MY FRIENDS WHO HAVE VISITED ME THIS YEAR ON MY BLOG PAGE .....MAY YOU BE ABUNDANTLY BLESSED, MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU MAY HE CAUSE HIS FACE TO SHINE UPON YOU!!

HUGS

SHARMAINE

HOW TO DEAL WITH ISSUES

2008-12-01T20:05:00.002+13:00

How to Deal With Your IssuesDr. Betty R. Price
Proverbs 4:20-27 gives us some very sound advice if we want to move ahead with God:
20 My son [that includes daughters], give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence [that is careful effort, perseverance], for out of it spring the issues of life.
24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead and your eyelids look right before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil.According to these verses, how we deal with the issues or challenges that face us in life come from our hearts.
In Matthew 15:18-19, Jesus gives us more information about the issues that come from the heart:
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornication, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

Jesus is telling us that any time we are involved in fornication and adultery, and all the other things He listed in Matthew, they come out of the heart. That is why you have to protect your heart, in order to keep those things from getting in there.

Luke 6:45 says: For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. It is up to us as Christians to keep all the ugly things out of our hearts and to protect our hearts with all diligence by right thinking and right action. So many people bring the types of things listed in Matthew from the world right into their Christian life because they have never been told that they do not have to keep those things in their hearts and they don't have to do them.

Many Believers don't really know how to take the Word and drive these things out of their hearts.

You might be wondering where the heart is. We know it is on the inside of us. There are many views about where the heart is. There are some who say the heart is where the spirit and the soul meet. This theory witnesses with my spirit. The Bible indicates that the spirit man is the heart of man. The heart and the soul go together. You can only separate them to talk about them, but they go together. When a person gets born again, he or she is supposed to take his or her born-again spirit--the new man--and renew the new man's mind by the Word of God. The renewed mind is a part of his heart and is the soul and spirit combined. It now exercises control over the old man--the soul that used to control the heart.

How do issues get into the heart?

These negative issues enter the heart through thoughts, ideas, and suggestions that are planted by Satan and also by the eye (what we see), the ear gates (what we hear), and by the mind (the things we experience and dwell on). Some of the other issues of the heart we also deal with, in addition to the ones Jesus talked about in Matthew are: sicknesses, bad relationships, rejection, promiscuity, hurts, depression, abuse, low self-esteem, loneliness, lying, jealousy, envy, gossip, bitterness, guilt, malice, lack of peace, lack of finances, worry, fear, overweight, racism, prejudices, and unforgiveness. The list goes on and on. We can't cover every issue, but there is a principle that leads to victory over every one of them: you cannot get victory over your issues or live the Christian life victoriously without the Word of God. You can take this same principle and deal with whatever issues you may be facing. There are still too many churches today that do not teach the uncompromising Word of God. Believers who attend these churches are usually up and down in their Christian walk. They may get emotionalized every week, but they are not taught to be overcomers. That is why they live in and out of sin, committing fornication and adultery, and doing all the other junk we covered earlier. Even when they are in church, they may be planning how they are going to meet their girlfriend or boyfriend and have sex that night. They may shout and fall out every Sunday morning in church, even after having a sexual affair that Saturday night before.

They are what we call carnal Christians, and basically they live that way because they don't know they can do better. They do not have enough Word in them. They will never have peace in their lives because they can't continue to live that kind of life and be prosperous or victorious in the kingdom of God. If you are caught in such a trap, the only way to escape and find peace is to find out what the Word says about your situation, and then do what it says. What does the Word say about fornication? What does it say about adultery? You are going to have to refuse to go down to the level of how you feel, and make up your mind that you are going to do what the Bible says to do.

This devotional was excerpted from Dr. Betty's book entitled, Wisdom From Above, Volume 1

2008-11-23T06:33:00.000+13:00

What To Do in Times of Trouble Bishop Keith Butler

For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 4:15 (KJV)

Do you know what time it is? It is time to give God thanks because He is your Deliverer! In the time of trouble, you have to abound in thanksgiving to God. Thank Him for protection. Thank Him for provision. Thank Him for your food. Thank Him for your job. Thank the Father whether or not it looks like things are working. When you do, you release His ability and power.

In 2 Corinthians 4:16 it says, "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not s een: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (KJV)

We have no need to faint and no need to fear. When we are in Christ, we don't gauge our future by what the stock market does. We don't gauge our future by what the news reporters say. We gauge our standing in this life by the word of God which lives and abides forever.
So I'm telling you today, don't look at all the things you are reading in the newspaper. Instead look to God. You may not see God, but you know He's there. You know He makes a way for you. So begin to thank Him for doing it right now.

In 2 Thessalonians 1:6 it says "it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you." In other words, God is going to trouble your trouble. In 2 Thessalonians 2:2 it says, "That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand ."

So, know what time it is and don't be troubled. Don't be frightened. Don't be full of fear. God is pleased by our thanksgiving, and He will move in our situation. It is time now to thank God for delivering us by His mighty power!
Scripture References: 2 Thessalonians 1:6; Acts 16:25-26

Bishop Keith A. Butler is the founder and pastor of Word of Faith International Christian Center in Southfield, MI, and Word of Faith Christian Center in San Antonio, TX. Bishop Butler ministers extensively in churches, conferences, and seminars throughout the U.S. and abroad with an emphasis on instruction and no-nonsense, practical application of God's Word.

2008-11-23T06:30:00.000+13:00

It's Better Not To Know Better Steven Furtick

My youngest son Graham lets me throw him up in the air so high that he almost goes through the ceiling. He loves it. He just turned 1 about a month ago.
His older brother Elijah used to let me do the same thing. He's 3 now, and he doesn't like it so much any more. It scares him. Didn't used to scare him, but my wife Holly says now that he's more aware of his surroundings, being thrown in the air freaks him out. I guess that's understandable.

Sometimes our awareness of our surroundings can take the naiveté out of our faith in God. When I first came to Christ, it was like I was letting Him throw me up in the air as high as He could (or would, more like it), and it never crossed my mind that this was dangerous.

It never crossed my mind that He might drop me.

If He prompted me to speak out for Him, I spoke up. If He urged me to give something to Him, I gave. If He wanted me to give up something for Him, I gave it up.

Then came mortgage payments, adult responsibilities and the like. Now I'm more aware of my surroundings. And it's a little more unnerving to get thrown up in the air.
It didn't frighten me at all when I didn't know any better...and sometimes I think it's better not to know any better.

As a child of God, and even more so as a leader, I don't ever want to become so aware of my surroundings that I stop innately trusting God because it's dangerous.
Not that we should stay in a state of perpetual childhood. It's good to grow up, to exercise wisdom, and to analyze the risks.

But when it comes time to jump, never let your awareness of your surroundings be the final factor when deciding how high to go and how much to trust.
As you finish this year strong, find confidence in the strength of the one who caught you the last time, and who is positioned to catch you again.

Steven Furtick is Pastor of Elevation Church, located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Under his passionate leadership, Elevation Church was named one of the 10 fastest growing churches in America. A devoted husband and father of two, you can find Steven blogging at www.stevenfurtick.com

2008-11-23T06:28:00.001+13:00

Closing Well - Dave Burchett

For twenty year-five years I have directed Texas Rangers baseball. And all of those seasons have taught me a valuable spiritual lesson from the National Pastime. I have learned how important it is to be a good closer.

In baseball parlance the closer is the pitcher who comes into the game in the last inning to protect the lead and finish off the win. It all comes down to the closer. If he does well the collective efforts of eight position players and the pitchers that proceeded will have a happy ending. If the closer fails all of that effort is wasted. There is nothing more demoralizing than playing a great game for eight innings and seeing it all blow-up in the last one. So what is the spiritual lesson learned from a baseball closer?

Closing out well is critical as a follower of Christ. I am praying and seeking to be a good closer in my faith walk with Jesus. Sadly that is not a given. Many great men of the Bible did not finish well. They allowed the efforts of many around them to end in frustration and anguish because they did not close well. The honest portrayal of human success and failing is something I love about God’s Word. It is one important aspect that makes the Bible unique and real.

The successes and failures are equally displayed. Men with great stories still managed to not close well. Examples? How about the story of Saul? How sad to hear words like this at the end of your journey.

“How foolish!" Samuel exclaimed. "You have disobeyed the command of the LORD your God. Had you obeyed, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your dynasty must end, for the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart. The LORD has already chosen him to be king over his people, for you have not obeyed the LORD's command." (1 Sam 13, NLT)

Imagine when the prophet came to Eli and proclaimed this dire message. What a kick in the spiritual gut this must have been.

"Therefore, the LORD, the God of Israel, says: The terrible things you are doing cannot continue! I had promised that your branch of the tribe of Levi would always be my priests. But I will honor only those who honor me, and I will despise those who despise me."
I would be willing to imagine that Saul and Eli were planning on closing well. They had moments of great leadership and fellowship with God. But they couldn’t close. You know that Saul’s story ended in madness. The results for Levi’s sons were horrific. His family needed a man who could start well, stay strong, and close it out with integrity and faith.

I want to finish strong. I want to close this journey with an effort that honors the One who was willing to finish for me. Paul understood athletics. Sports can be a good metaphor for life and he knew that well. At the end of my life race I have a couple of options that I could hear.
a) You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. (Gal 5)
b) You have fought the good fight, you have finished the race, you have kept the faith. (2 Tim 4)
I choose b) for the words I want to hear.

I pray that I will close well.

Dave Burchett is an Emmy Award winning television sports director, author, and Christian speaker. He is the author of When Bad Christians Happen to Good People and Bring'em Back Alive: A Healing Plan for those Wounded by the Church. For more information on Dave, log onto www.daveburchett.com

FIELD OF BROKEN DREAMS

2008-11-07T19:09:00.002+13:00

There are times when the world turns dark and we have nowhere to turn but to the creator! The only hope we have is Jesus. If you have ever felt like the poem below, I implore you turn your eyes, your hope on Jesus. He will NEVER forsake you He will NEVER leave you, He is the begining and the end.

I HAVE A FIELD OF BROKEN DREAMS

A HARVEST OF SHATTERED HOPE THAT LIES SCATTERED UPON THE GROUND.

WHEN I WALK THROUGH MY FIELD OF BROKEN DREAMS

AND EXAMINE THE HOPELESSNESS

I HAVE TO TIPTOE THROUGH THE BROKENESS OF MY LIFE

HOW DESPERATE HOW DESPERATE AND THEN....

I SCREAM AND SCREAM IN SILENT SURRENDER

AND GIVE THEM UP ON THE ALTER OF MY EGO.

COME AND LOOK

COME AND SEE

BUT, STEP CAREFULY NOW

WALK SOFTLY

THE RAZOR SHARP SHARDS

OF EVERY BROKEN DREAM

CAN DESTROY YOU

CAN KILL YOU

LOOK AT MY SOUL

IT IS BLEEDING

IT IS DEAD!

Sharmaine Anna Dobson

Quote for the Day

2008-10-28T11:01:00.000+13:00

"The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak."

Hans Hofmann

Psalm 23

2008-10-26T20:45:00.003+13:00

Psalm 23:
The Lord is my Shepherd = That's Relationship!

I shall not want = Thats supply

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures = That's Rest!

He leadeth me beside the still waters = That's Refreshment!

He restoreth my soul = That's Healing!

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness = That's Guidance!

For His name sake = That's Purpose!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death = That's Testing!

I will fear no evil = That's Protection!

For Thou art with me = That's Faithfulness!

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me = That's Discipline!

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies = That's Hope!

Thou annointest my head with oil = That's Consecration!

My cup runneth over = That's Abundance!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life = That's Blessing !

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord = That's Security!

Forever = That's Eternity!

With love always

CHANGED FROMINSIDE OUT

2008-10-26T20:36:00.002+13:00

Changed from the Inside Out....... When you believe in Christ, Christ works a miracle in you. You are permanently purified andempowered by God himself. The message of Jesus to the religious person is simple: It’s notwhat you do. It’s what I do. I have moved in. And in time you can say with Paul, “I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20).If I’m born again, why do I fall so often?

Why did you fall so often after your first birth? Did you exit the womb wearing cross-trainers?

Did you do the two-step on the day of your delivery? Of course not. And when you started towalk, you fell more than you stood. Should we expect anything different from our spiritual walk?But I fall so often, I question my salvation. Again, we return to your first birth. Didn’t you stumble as you were learning to walk? And when you stumbled, did you question the validity ofyour physical birth?

Did you, as a one-year-old fresh flopped on the floor, shake your headand think, I have fallen again. I must not be human?Of course not. The stumbles of a toddler do not invalidate the act of birth. And the stumblesof a Christian do not annul/ end his spiritual birth.Do you understand what God has done? He has deposited a Christ seed in you. As it grows, youwill change. It’s not that sin has no more presence in your life, but rather that sin has nomore power over your life.

Temptation will pester you, but temptation will not master
you. (Romans 6 v 12-14)

What hope this brings!Hear this. It’s not up to you! Within you abides a budding power.

Trust him!Think of it this way. Suppose you, for most of your life, have had a heart condition. Yourfrail pumper restricts your activities. Each morning at work when the healthy employees takethe stairs, you wait for the elevator. But then comes the transplant. A healthy heart is laced within you. After recovery, you turn to work and encounter the flight of stairs—the same flight of stairs you earlier avoided.

By habit, you start for the elevator. But then you remember. You aren’t the same person. You have a new heart. Within you dwells a new power.Do you live like the old person or the new? Do you count yourself as having a new heart or old? You have a choice to make.

You might say, “I can’t climb stairs; I’m too weak.” Does your choice negate the presenceof a new heart? Dismiss the work of the surgeon? No. Choosing the elevator would suggest only one fact—you haven’t learned to trust your new power. It takes time. But at some point you’ve got to try those stairs. You’ve got to test thenew ticker. You’ve got to experiment with the new you. For if you don’t, you will runout of steam.Religious rule keeping can sap your strength.

It’s endless. There is always another class to attend, Sabbath to obey. No prison is as endless as the prison of perfection. Her inmates find work but never find peace. How could they? They never knowwhen they are finished.Christ, however, gifts you with a finished work. He fulfilled the law for you. Bid farewell to the burden of religion.

Gone is the fear that having done everything, you might not have done enough. You climb the stairs, not by your strength, but his. God pledges to help those who stop trying to help themselves.“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of ChristJesus” (Phil. 1:6.) God will change you from the inside out.

Have a blessed day
His Love and mine

Thank you Louise!!!

Which Road Will You Walk On Today?

2008-10-21T11:44:00.000+13:00

Dear Friends

It is the most glorious day.

On days like today it is easy to look around us and have an abundant heart, a heart filled with praise and gratitude, a time of rejoicing in what we have been given.

What happens when the storm clouds gather and the road ahead looks dark and troublesome? Do we take the time to see the little miracles around us? Do we understand that even surviving the storm is evidence of God's goodness and mercy towards us.

What about the protection we have during the storm? I read somewhere that wonderment strengthens humility and from that grows love!

I have grown tired of arrogant preachers and arrogant Christians who have somehow transcended beyond amazing grace! I long for (and am really privleged to have 2 women like this in my life) people who have weathered the storm and still are grateful, people who have washed the feet of Jesus with their tears and love much because they know they are forgiven much.

Today if you have a judgemental or critical spirit, put it aside, spend time with Jesus, explain your struggles and ask Him to heal you from this place this terrible disease of arrogance and receive the sweet anointing of gratitude and love that will flood your soul.

Remember Jesus and I love you
When we have this gift how often do we stop and look around us for those little everyday mi

BOYS DAY OUT

2008-10-18T21:38:00.004+13:00

My son decided to take his nephew (my 2 year old grandson) out for an hour ....this was the result!!!!

HELLO!!!!

2008-10-18T21:09:00.003+13:00

How very wonderful to be speaking to you again....I have missed you so much!!!

I suppose you will be wondering why I have been away from my post? Well...I had an "episode" in the church kitchen!!!! What episode, well I felt a blinding pain flash through my head and next thing I knew I fell down on to the floor.

It is always important to commend people and I really commend the folk in the emergency room at the Christchurch Hospital. They were efficient, kind and really wonderful. I stayed in hospital for a week and the diagnosis was either a flash migraine or a TIA...I'll take the flash migraine!!!

Speaking to my brother Dave Goosen tonight I joked about "The Lord MAKES me lie down" so often that is true. We rush from pillar to post and so often to be "Mary" to sit at the feet of the Master and just receive.

Thank you to all of my precious sisters and brothers who prayed for me and to everyone:

YOU ARE SIMPLY THE BEST!!!

Hugs

Sharmaine

THE NEED FOR MINISTRY RELATIONSHIPS

2008-09-29T13:28:00.002+13:00

The Need for Ministry Relationships
By Cheri Stevenson Cheri Stevenson is the associate youth pastor at Central Assembly, Springfield, Missouri.

As ministers, we often focus on investing in others to the point of ignoring our own needs.
I had an exciting day a few weeks ago. It was one of those days where everything clicked for me. I had a few big breakthroughs, and during my drive home, I could barely contain myself thinking about the day's events. Then I got home and realized no one was else was there. I paced back and forth from my kitchen to my bedroom. I was anxious and confused; something was bothering me. It took me a minute to put my finger on it, and then I realized what it was. I had no one to tell about my day.

Why is it that we have such a strong need for relationships, for people to tell about our day Scripture tells us that God's character is knit into each one of us. "You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb" (Psalm 139:13, NIV). At the time of our conception, there was more knit into us than our hair and eye color. At that moment, a desire for relationships was also created in us by a Creator who himself desires strong relationships with His created ones. We need for those around us to love and care for us. We desire to have friends who, when we have an exciting or a rough day, are there to hear about it. We are created with the desire to live with close family and friends.

Psalm 139 continues to say, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful" (verse 14). Many times we forget to stop and praise God for our need for relationships that He instilled in us. It is very easy for us as strong women in ministry to neglect this need in our own lives. It is much easier for us to give and to take care of others, and even feel guilty for having the need for significant relationships ourselves.

Recently, I had an incredible and life-changing opportunity to be a part of an experience called The Cadre. The Cadre is a youth pastor mentoring program with well-known youth pastor Jeanne Mayo, founder and president of Youth Source Ministries and director of Oxygen Youth and Young Adult Outreach. Through The Cadre, I not only had the privilege to learn up-close from one of the greatest youth pastors in the nation, but I also formed friendships with other women serving in youth ministry that I will value for a lifetime.

I have known God's calling on my life since I was a senior in high school. However, I have always questioned if it was really my calling or when I get married it would become just my husband's calling. I think God knew how desperately I needed to know that it was possible for a woman to be a wife, mother, and a minister, and to do them all well. Through my experience with The Cadre, I have found the importance of having someone in my life who is a few steps ahead of me and who can help shed some light on the journey I am beginning. Before The Cadre I didn't realize how much I need women in my life who understand what it is like to be in ministry.

Relational Pitfalls of Women in Ministry

Life is relationships; the rest is just details. These eight words say it all.
As I have talked with other women in full-time ministry, I have found three common relational pitfalls that most of us can relate to.

1. Feeling isolated by the sense that no one else can relate or understand. In the past it was easy for me to isolate myself and end up with the feeling that I didn't have "true"; friends. When I first started in ministry, it felt helpful to distinguish between my two sets of friends. I had friends who were connected to my ministry and friends who were not. It felt comforting that I had friends who I wasn't "Pastor Cheri" around, but simply "Cheri." Now I've come to realize that my need for this came from the desire to be loved for who I am, and not just for what I do.

2. Constantly giving relationally to others but not receiving any relational investment from others. As women, we give so effortlessly through relationships that it seems only natural that we would also need to replenish ourselves through relationships. But as ministers, we often focus on investing in others to the point of ignoring our own needs.

3. The uneasiness of having no "true" friends; longing for friends that we feel safe enough with to be real with. I'm sure many of you, like me, have had moments that you just so desperately needed someone to understand you. I need a friend who wonâ€™t look differently at me because I'm not "perfect" or even close to perfect. Someone whom I can vent to when I need someone to listen and not react. Someone who understands why I care so much about the people to whom I pastor. Who understands how miserable it is to watch someone I've personally invested in make wrong choices in his or her life. That's why I need the friendships of other women in ministry.

Forming Friendships with Women in Ministry
But how do we avoid the pitfalls and find those relationships? You can start with the following steps.

1. Pray and determine what it is that you are looking for in a friendship. Pray that God will bring the right women into your life. Ask God to help you to discern what void you need to fill with these relationships. For me, I realized my need for peers who were involved in and passionate about my area of ministry. For you, it might be a need for friendships with women your age, or who are also balancing being a wife, a mother, and minister. Whatever your needs, begin by defining what they are and speaking to God about them.

2. Begin looking. It may be that you need to look at other churches in your town, or at churches outside your town. For a valuable relationship with another woman in ministry, it is worth an hour's drive to be able to meet for coffee and conversation. If the person you find is farther away, there are many avenues ofÂ communication that make it possible for intimate and lasting friendships, even over long distances. For some of us, it might be as simple as rekindling an old friendship, someone you grew up or went to college with.

3. Build your friendship on authenticity and safety. Begin with the foundations of authenticity and safety in your friendships. When we feel safe, our hearts open and intimacy takes place. As women, one of our heart's desires is to be open and connected. The best way for that to take place is to form a friendship where you can be yourself. It needs to be a relationship where you are not protecting your image or trying to get people to accept and like you. It should be a friendship that makes you feel loved and accepted no matter what. We have to be willing to be real, touchable, and vulnerable.

4. Commit to staying in touch. Life is relationships; the rest is just details. These eight words say it all. If we cannot stop to care about the significant relationships in our lives, we will lose so much. We have to fight the tendency to allow all the other details and busyness in our lives to win out, and be committed to the friendships that will energize us so that we can continue to minister to others.

Conclusion
I remember as a little girl riding with my dad in the car. As he drove, I chattered on and on about my day. (I'm sure I was filling him in on every single detail). With as much love and patience as my dad could muster, he said to me, "Cheri, you know it's okay just to be quiet sometimes."
I replied, "I know, but I just have so much to tell you!" And without taking a breath, I continued telling him all about my day.
Though men may never understand, women do recognize the need for someone to really listen to the details. We need for someone to truly hear what we are experiencing. It is no different for us because we are serving in ministry. Now, the only difference is that we have to become far more strategic and committed to forming and keeping relationships with those in our lives who really listen and understand.

DOUBLE LIFE

2008-09-29T11:53:00.002+13:00

the truth behind the smile
by Jenifer Peterson

Sunday had dawned crisp and clear that sunny, December morning. Behind the closed door of the bathroom, however, I was in for a storm. Waves of nausea and dizziness threatened to drown me while a fierce headache took residence behind my eyes.

"You can't do this, it's a terrible idea. Nobody is going to understand. You will be sorry."
The voice was clamoring in my head as I struggled to get ready for church. I had to get myself dressed, makeup on, and hair done so that I also could get my two children fed, cleaned, and dressed and out the door in time for the morning service. "What were you thinking? Are you crazy? You can't do this, you can't..."

As I pushed myself up from the floor, the nausea having knocked me to my knees a third time that morning, my heart pounded and I cried out, "Get away from me Satan, I am doing this and you won't stop me! Lord, help me!"

My husband had already left for church as usual, before the sun came up. It was up to me to get myself and the children there on time. This was not just a typical Sunday morning, however. In the service this day my husband and I were going to stand before the congregation where he had served as youth pastor for eight years and announce that we were taking a leave of absence. We also planned to share some painful, not-so-pretty truth about our lives.

I fully realized I was under direct attack from the Enemy to prevent me from doing this. To be perfectly honest, there was a part of me that wanted to crawl back into bed and hide under the covers. However, Satan was not going to win this one! Jesus Christ was getting the victory on this December morning! It was time to take off my mask and reveal the truth behind the smile. My life was spiraling downward in a dangerous cycle of depression and alcohol abuse.

I was leading a double life that only a very few of my closest friends even had a clue about—my secret struggle with alcohol, my ongoing battle with anxiety and depression, thoughts that became so dark at times I even thought about taking my own life. In the weeks leading up to this moment, I had been arrested for drunk driving, spent a night in jail, and lost my driver's license. You might say I was in the pit of despair. In a rare moment of clarity, God had shown me the first step in His plan of restoring the situation; I had to confess my sin to the congregation. As a couple, we had to admit that we needed support and prayers from our church family. My husband needed to take a break from the youth ministry and minister to his first and most important calling—his family.

My husband and I had finally come to the understanding that our life was completely out of balance and out of control. On my husband's part, he had sacrificed time with family to build a vibrant and thriving youth ministry. To deal with my growing sense of isolation and feeling abandoned by him, I had turned to alcohol. In the evenings and weekends when he was off ministering to students, I would nurse my self-pity and loneliness with a bottle of wine. As time went on, I found myself growing more and more dependent on the numbing, anesthetic effect alcohol had on the feelings of bitterness and resentment I was beginning to harbor towards my husband.

My mantra became, "Church gets the best of him, the kids and I get the rest of him."
At the same time, I would show up at church Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings wearing my "everything is fine" disguise. I sang in the choir. I would help out as a youth sponsor at different times. I even started a small group for stay-at-home moms, which met regularly for five years! The ever-growing gap between my public life and my private life was eating me alive inside.

When I would allow myself to think about the hypocrisy of this existence, I was flooded with feelings of guilt, shame, and disgust. Keeping up with what I saw as my double life was exhausting physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I so desperately wanted to stop using alcohol to deal with the difficulties of life. I knew I was living in sin and allowing alcohol to become an idol in my life. I knew this sin was getting in the way of the kind of intimate friendship Jesus wanted with me. Ultimately, I knew that this would lead to death and destruction. Yet, I continued to allow this stronghold to entice and entangle me (James 1:14-15). I had shared bits and pieces of these struggles with a few women in my moms' group, but always left out the "gory" details. I was keeping too many secrets, and they were keeping me in bondage to mental anguish and addiction. I read somewhere, a long time ago, "you are only as sick as your secrets." That is so true! My secret was about to be revealed...

I battled through the morning, through my physical and emotional weakness. I knew that God was providing me with a way to end this madness or, at least, to start correcting the course I was on. I had to get out the door and make it to church that December morning. Satan had too much at stake; he wasn't giving up without a fight. However, somewhere in me I clung to the promise of Psalm 8:6 that put Satan where he belongs—under my feet!
I held on tightly to my legacy in Christ, my anointing as His beloved daughter. I had to get up in front of that congregation. God was calling me out of the darkness. I had to step into the light.

That winter Sunday morning, I poured my heart and soul out in front of the people my husband and I were called to serve. As the words spilled from my mouth, I could feel a supernatural cleansing occurring within my heart. Like an open wound it hurt, it stung and burned, but I continued to go deeper. I confessed my sins of addiction, and the legal trouble I was in as a result of poor choices. I revealed my spirit of bitterness, anger, and depression. My husband admitted that he often had pursued ministry goals and success at the expense of his family. He announced that he would be temporarily stepping away from his role as youth pastor so that he could lead his family with no distractions. As we stopped speaking, there was a heavy silence in the sanctuary.

The lead pastor stood up and invited anyone to come forward who wanted to lay hands on my husband and me in a time of prayer. Within seconds, members of our congregation were on their feet and coming forward to lay their hands on us and to pray for us. My husband and I were seated with our heads bowed, but we could feel the warmth and weight of many hands touching us as prayers started rising up around us. Men and women, young and old, spontaneously spoke their petitions on our behalf. Later we would be told that nobody was left sitting in the pews. Every person in the church that day came forward, each one laying hands on the person in front of them in a human chain that ended with my husband and me receiving the power of the Holy Spirit through their touch.

Four years later I keep that Sunday morning close in my mind. It was through that experience that I learned an important lesson on community, confession, and restoration. First, we are designed to live in community and to share life with other people. Isolation is dangerous and will squelch the joy from your life. Second, confession is a necessary part of living in community. It may involve risk, it may be painful, but it is necessary to begin the healing process (James 5:16). Sometimes the deepest, darkest part of oneself is what needs to be uncovered in order to produce true, authentic community.

Everyone has a story! Finally, God has the power and desire to restore any life, any sinful situation. On my journey that gift of restoration could only be received once I embraced the community I was in and I practiced the discipline of confession. Only then was I able to receive the beginning of true and lasting healing in my life!!

HOW DOES ONE TAKE THE MASK OFF?

Can you identify with the author of this poignant article? The desire to stop hiding in and from pain is a God-given desire. The tricky part for many people is how to begin to come out of hiding. Following are some steps and resources that can help get you started on this sacred journey.

Tell God the extent of your pain. Expose your secrets to Him. If verbal prayer is difficult, write it out. God knows it all, loves you unreservedly; sharing this with Him is an act of trust and worship. This step fosters self-understanding and assists us as we go to others with our pain.

Choose another person to share your pain and struggle with. Prayerfully consider the best person for this! It ought to be a person who is loving, empathetic, able to keep a confidence, and non-controlling.

If you are unable to find the person described above, think outside the box. Are there churches or other Christian organizations that have a reputation for competent, compassionate care? If so, place a call and explore some options.

Consult some of the national resources below if you are unable to find help in your area.
Keep in mind that confession to an entire congregation is not always necessary, and may not be wise, depending on the health of the congregation and church leadership. Those first people who walk with you can help determine the best path, if needed, for more public confession. Much damage has been done in the name of "confession" when done unnecessarily or with people who are unable to receive a courageous confession.

During the process, remain open to avenues God places in front of you for healing. Professional therapy, medication, sabbatical, and deep spiritual friendships can all work together on your journey to freedom.National ResourcesAmerican Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) — www.aacc.netOpen Hearts Ministry — openhearts.gospelcom.net/Celebrate Recovery — www.celebraterecovery.com
Jenny HeckmanM.S. in Marriage and Family Counseling
Jenifer Peterson serves alongside her husband in student ministries in Holland, Mich. Additionally, she is a trained Pastoral Care Specialist. Jenifer and her husband have been married for 16 years and have two children.

DEAR FRIENDS

THERE IS ALSO:
www.harbourhouse.co.nz

OPRAH

2008-09-29T11:17:00.002+13:00

You may not know her as well as you think.
by Stuart Briscoe

Also read:• Are You Good To Go?• Double Life

Atlantic Monthly in a recent article asked today's "20-somethings" questions about the Ten Commandments. On average they didn't know more than two of them, but they didn't like "Honor Thy Father and Mother" or "Remember the Sabbath Day to Keep it Holy," and they said they preferred "Thou Shalt Not Drink and Drive" and "Thou Shalt Love the Environment." When asked if they thought a revision would be a good idea and, if so, who should oversee the revision, the resounding answer was—Oprah Winfrey.

Now if you have spent the last 20 years in hiding somewhere you may not be familiar with Oprah, so let me bring you up to date. She was born a little more than fifty years ago to unmarried teenage parents in a poverty stricken part of Mississippi. Poor, black, and female, her opportunities in life were limited. Raised by her grandmother, she attended church regularly and participated in church activities with great poise and ability. Uponreturning to live with her mother in Milwaukee, Wis., however, her teenage years were wild and full of abuse. Her father, who lived elsewhere, stepped in, imposed a rigid discipline including schoolwork and regular reading, and Oprah began to blossom.

At 19, she burst into the media world. In a remarkably short time, The Oprah Winfrey Show was breaking records in the tough Chicago market. The rest, as they say, is history. Today, she is probably the highest paid entertainer in the business; her abilities as producer, performer, writer, promoter, and philanthropist are legendary. TIME magazine listed her in 2006 as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Her television program, voted the number one talk show for more than 20 consecutive seasons, reaches 46 million people weekly and is released in 134 foreign countries, while her magazine, XM Radio show, and website reach millions more, not to mention her book club that only has to mention a book to send sales rocketing over one million. Oprah is a huge success in her wide and varied fields of endeavor!

But a strange thing has been happening to Oprah. Over a period of years, she has developed a warm friendship with Marianne Williamson, author of a book called A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles." This "course" was purportedly scribed years previously by Dr. Helen Schucman through a process of inner dictation by a "voice" she identified as coming from Jesus. Williamson became a regular on Oprah's show and gradually the talk turned more and more to the material contained in the Course in Miracles until it was recently announced that the course would be taught on the Oprah & Friends XM Radio Channel in daily segments for 365 days throughout 2008. This course being made available to millions of people in the U.S. and around the world announces clearly on its web page, "Even though the language of the course is that of traditional Christianity, it expresses a non-sectarian, non-denominational spirituality. A Course in Miracles therefore is a universal spiritual teaching, not a religion." Non-sectarian and non-denominational it certainly is, but is it non-Christian too? Judge for yourself.

The course literature states, "The course can be summed up this way: Nothing real can be threatened, Nothing unreal exists, Herein lies the peace of God. Among other things, the course teaches that "The recognition of God is the recognition of yourself," "God's Name is holy, but no holier than yours. To call upon His Name is to call upon your own," and "There is no sin."
If that leaves you a little mystified, you're not alone, but a quick perusal of the 365 lessons reveals that the object of the course is mind training leading to thought reversal, which means unthinking everything you've thought and believed thus far, and embracing what the course teaches. And what does it teach as it uses biblical terminology and totally reinterprets the terms to mean on occasion the opposite to the original biblical meaning?

It rehashes elements of first and second century Gnosticism, teaches New Age emphases, overtly rejects the fundamentals of the Christian faith concerning Christ as Savior and Lord and the meaning and means of salvation, redefines the work of the Holy Spirit, and remains ominously silent on fundamental subjects like sin and repentance. Oprah seems to have embraced all of this and is now actively propagating it. Capitalizing on her enviable reputation, marshalling her vast resources, and mobilizing her undeniable communication skills, she has enthusiastically committed herself to an endeavor that Williamson claims is not only the key "to changing one's personal life" but is the "key to changing the world."

Should there be any remaining doubt about what has happened to Oprah, an incident on A New Earth web seminar on March 3, 2008 sheds interesting light. A caller, noting Oprah's emphasis on New Age teaching, asked her why she has departed from the Christianity of her Mississippi youth. Oprah candidly answered that she began to get out of the box of biblical doctrine in her late twenties when her pastor was preaching the characteristics of God. When he said that "The Lord, thy God is a jealous God," she turned away from Him, thinking that if He was jealous of her (a total misunderstanding!) she had no desire to follow Him.

Tragic as this misunderstanding and its aftermath for Oprah undoubtedly are, the fallout from her missionary zeal to take her new message (she calls it "my greatest purpose and calling") to the world cannot be measured.

Why am I bringing this to your attention? Because at the same time I was becoming aware of this dramatically significant event taking place under our very noses, I met some women who were Oprah fans and who clearly had no understanding of what she was teaching. At that time I was teaching from Paul's second letter to Timothy, a letter containing the warnings of an aged apostle to a young pastor concerning dangerous trends he should expect in his day. It is clear the apostle was addressing following generations, such as ours, too.

One of the trends he talked about focused on the work of false teachers who, coming from a Christian background and claiming to have received special enlightenment, "worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women," (now don't jump ship yet, we all struggle with having the strength and will to make right choices) "who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth" (2 Tim. 3: 6-7).

OUCH!! We need to be aware of those around us who are confused yet hungering to know, but are unwilling to call truth, truth. All of the adjectives describing women in this passage—in other versions "gullible women" is used—are very displeasing to our intellectual palates. Paul actually used the term "little women" which probably meant women who were vulnerable because of moral and intellectual shortcomings.

Another unflattering label, but the point is that deception abounds and many women were the targets of the teachers and their attractive but dangerously wrong message in the first century and they are the ones who in my view are vulnerable today.
We should ask ourselves some pertinent questions here. Are there any women watching television each afternoon who are so inadequately versed in biblical truth that they are very vulnerable to well-produced expertly presented alternative views? Yes! Are many of them "loaded down" with depression and guilt even if they do not relate their problems to sin, either theirs or someone else's? Do they know they're burdened? Yes! Are they being fed a regular diet of moral relativity on the soaps that confuses them about desire and longing and its satisfaction? Yes! Are they eager to learn about spirituality that doesn't lead to the truth of life in the Spirit, the essence of biblical spirituality? Yes!

Here's the crux of the issue. Millions of women (the vast majority of Oprah's listeners are women) are being introduced to a spirituality that uses the language of Christianity but intentionally neuters the truth of that language—a spirituality that is at fundamental odds with the historic biblical faith. The gospel of our Lord Jesus is being misrepresented and women are being misinformed and misled. And the women of the church need to be aware and concerned. So what can they do? First, Christian women should pray for Oprah. Sadly, I have never met Oprah, but one can only admire what she has achieved and applaud many aspects of her life. However, we must fear for her spiritual well-being and be concerned about her vast influence.
Secondly, the women of the church should acquaint themselves with the mind altering that is taking place in the lives of many of their relatives, associates, and friends and redouble their efforts to provide loving, caring, informed, neighborly ministry to many of their gender who are eagerly learning without acknowledging the truth.

Oprah's magazine is called O. Its title reminds me to say "O Oprah!" with a genuine heartfelt concern for her and the women she is influencing.

Oprah's Spiritual Mentors

Through her talk show, Oprah has launched many New Age authors into super-stardom. As a result, she is pushing her New Age philosophy into tens of millions of households across the globe every week. Over 2,000,000 people from 139 countries have participated in her recent web-based seminar featuring Eckhart Tolle's book, A New Earth—Awakening Your Life's Purpose. Oprah's most significant role is increasingly becoming that of spiritual leader to millions of women. Here are some of her mentors featured on her media outlets.

Eckhart TOLLEMinistry: Worldwide teaching of his New Age philosophy. His books are published in over 30 languages and his teachings are distributed via books, videos, CDs, online learning intensives, and talk, retreat, intensive, and teacher series.Books: A New Earth—Awakening to Your Life's Purpose, The Power of Now, Practicing the Power of Now, Stillness Speaks, and Stillness Amidst the World.Teaching: His religious philosophy is a combination of Buddhist and Islamic thought, with some measure of what he calls "Christianity" (a few New Testament verses misapplied and quotes from Jesus and others in the Bible are sprinkled throughout his books in an attempt to show that this philosophy is consistent with "true Christianity"). He has said, "When challenges come, as they always do, make it a habit to go within at once and focus as much as you can on the inner energy field of your body."

Marianne WILLIAMSON (also referred to in the article)Ministry: Leads the Church of Today in Warren, Michigan, one of the largest "New Thought" churches.Books: Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles" (1992).Teaching: Reinterprets Christian doctrines within a New Age framework. For example, "Christ" refers to the common thread of divine love within every human mind.

Gary ZUKAVMinistry: The Seat of the Soul Institute—dedicated to assisting individuals in the alignment of the personality with the soul—the creation of authentic power.Books: The Dancing Wu Li Masters (1979): An Overview of the New Physics, The Seat of the Soul (1989), Soul Stories (2000), The Heart of the Soul: Emotional Awareness (2002), and The Mind of the Soul: Responsible Choice (2003).Teaching: That we should dwell in the company of our non-physical teachers and guides (spirit guides). Teaches the alignment of the personality with the soul.

Deepak CHOPRAMinistry: The Chopra Center for Well Being in La Jolla, California.Books: The Deeper Wound: Recovering the Soul from Fear and Suffering (2001).Teaching: An enlightened human consciousness can heal the body, based on Hindu principles.Source: Compiled from the above individual's websites.

Stuart Briscoe is a minister-at-large at Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wis., serving ministry couples and missionaries around the world. He and his wife, Jill, have three grown children and 13 grandchildren.