Life these days

It is 2:54 in the afternoon on Friday the second of September.

There is a lull in my work, I work from home these days and for the most part, I really enjoy it. Things can occasionally become stressful, but not today.

As I look out the windows, I see the skis starting to darken, seems to be the season here in the south for a fair amount of rain. So be it. I like it.

Now to what I have been thinking about a lot lately…Are any of you familiar with the story about “The Woman at the Well?”

It’s a heartwarming and also gut-wrenching story that is found in the Bible. It can be found in John 4:1-25. You might want to read it, especially if you, like me have had several relationships over the many, many years. And yet you are a born-again believer. So what do we do with this information? I have read the Bible cover to cover twice. What do I do?

So what I want to do, is examine the story in light of today. Simply because we live in the modern world, have things really changed that much? There are still many places in our world where women are still considered property. Even here in the United States of America.

The Story of the woman at the well is about a time when Jesus is traveling, and the disciples go on ahead. And Jesus goes up to a well where a Samaritan woman is drawing water. Jesus asks her for a drink of water. And this Samaritan woman said, “Why would a Jewish man asks a Samaritan woman for a drink of water?” (Taken from TPT Bible) Jesus replied, do you know who I am, and do you know the gift God has for you? Then Jesus said to her if you drink from this well you will thirst again. But I can give you life-giving water that if you drink from you will never thirst again. At this point the Samaritan woman is trying to calculate how is this man going to draw any water, he doesn’t even have a bucket, or rope and this particular well was very deep. The life-giving water that Jesus is speaking of is the water of the Holy Spirit of God. The Samaritan woman realizes she wants this and asks Jesus for this water. Jesus then asks her to get her husband and bring him back here, the Samaritan woman says I am not married, and Jesus says you are speaking the truth, and then he goes on to tell how many times she has been married. Obviously for any of us, if someone said these kinds of things to us, how would we react? (I have paraphrased a lot please read the whole story at John 4:1-25)

I am a woman at the well, are you? On May 2, 1989, I gave my heart to Christ. So I am a born-again believer who has since that time been divorced twice and I live with my soul mate.

What’s your story and how do you deal with this? Please comment.

Blessings all!

Restoration Church 5/19/19

Good Day to any that may read my blog…I will we getting back to the “40 I ams” shortly, but for today I have an awesome treat….

Restoration Church 5/19/19

Speaker – Gary Woods

Alone at the Throne

Our Speaker started out by suggesting a thought, “Imagine you are in the Throne Room of God.”  And God is on the throne.  You look at God, not just because He is God, but because God is crying.  Not the gentle kind of crying, but the full-on shoulder’s heaving kind of crying.  You can tell God’s heart is broken.  There are angels present, and you are thinking, “Angels DO SOMETHING!”

Then suddenly it’s just you and God.

The angels have left.  It’s just you and God.  How do you comfort God?  You walk slowly over to God and you pat his shoulder, and you say to God, “What’s wrong, why are you crying?”

God gestures towards a closet.  You go to the closet and open the door.  Inside the closet are numerous packages, all are wrapped…. you look and notice one particular package that is at the bottom of the pile.  You notice this package because it is so beautifully wrapped, and all the rest are in plain wrapping.  The beautifully wrapped package is just about buried by the other packages, and the weight of these packages are partially crushing the pretty one.

You look to God.  “What is in the specially wrapped package?”  God says, “Your Salvation and your gifting is in that box.”

1 Corinthians 12: 4-14

⁴ Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

⁵ And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

⁶ And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

⁸ For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

⁹ To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

¹⁰ To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

¹¹ But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

¹² For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

¹³ For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

¹⁴ For the body is not one member, but many.

That is why God is crying.  Your gifting is still in that box

But God is still crying, and you ask Him, “What can I do?”

You go on to say to God, “I will tell them.”  God’s crying subsides just a bit, He wants us to share our gifting, He wants us to tell others about Him and our relationship with Him.  We are part of God’s big picture.

I am sure that most of you who are reading this are familiar with pixels.  Just imagine that there is a huge family portrait hanging on the wall in the throne room. Now that picture is done by a digital photographer.  It is a digital print.  That picture is made up of billions of pixels.  Each pixel is a believer.

Matthew 7: 24-27

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

If we read and utilize God’s words, we are like the man who builds his house on the solid rock.  God’s words to us are our instruction manual.

Did you ever put something together that came with an instruction manual?  Sometimes we get a bit ahead of ourselves and think that we don’t need the manual. A how is that working out for you?  I know when I have done that in the past, it didn’t work out so well.  Now I am speaking from experience.  Use the manual!  God’s manual, the Bible!

Genesis 1:26

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

We look like our Dad!  The angels recognize this and so does the demons.  The angels not only recognize this but the like this.  However, the demons, not at all, they hate this.

1 Thessalonians 5:23

23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Since we are created in God’s image and the angels like this and the demons hate this, we need to pray this verse from 1 Thessalonians over ourselves and our families and friends daily.

1 John 3:2

2 Beloved, now are we the sons (and daughters) of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Matthew 5: 13-14

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

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

We are the salt.  Salt enhances the flavor of everything around you. And it is also a preservative, this can help to preserve the lives of those around us just by being a light to this world.  Make sure that your gift of salvation and whatever your gifting personally is, is not tucked under a basket.  Let your light shine.

John 1:12

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Do this…

Romans 8:15

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

God is our Daddy, live as such! Remind yourselves daily that you are a child of God.

2 Corinthians 5: 17-20

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Christ is trying to reconcile the world to God.  We are ministers of reconciliation; this is part of our identity.

1 Peter 5:8

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

“The devil’s favorite food is Christian Burgers!”

Ephesians 6:10-12

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

We are God’s army, and this verse doesn’t say Methodist armor or Lutheran armor or Catholic Armor of Pentecostal armor or any other particular denomination’s armor. It’s Daddy’s armor.  “Put on the whole armor of God.”

2 Timothy 4:7

7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Isn’t this what you want your legacy to be?  We are in a war, we need to fight the good fight, “we are not Doormat Christians.”  Or at least we shouldn’t be.  That’s not what God wants from us.

Daddy, I don’t want you to cry anymore, I want to be what you want me to be.  Amen

What Makes us a Child of God

1. I am a child of God

Romans 8:16   The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

Back in the end of April, in the year 1989, I went to a revival meeting with a friend.  The revival meeting was to last, I think, five days I was invited by someone who, unbeknownst to me had been praying for me to come to church, but more importantly to come to a know the Lord.

I went.

It was interesting.

The speaker was a man named Fred Meyers, I think, this was now 30 years ago.

I had spent a large part of my life knowing who God is, but not EVER inviting Him into my life.  Have you ever done this?  Ignoring someone who wants so badly to be a part of your life?

Pastor Meyers was really an eloquent speaker, he incorporated wonderful stories into his teaching.  Done in such a way that you didn’t realize you were being drawn closer and closer to the truth.  Like I said he was very eloquent.

I went to the meeting on Monday April 30, 1989

I couldn’t go on Tuesday May 1, 1989.  But boy oh boy did I do a lot of thinking on what I had heard.

On Wednesday as I was getting ready to go to the Revival Meeting, I took a hard look at my life, and decided that inviting Christ into it was the only available route for me to take.  I certainly was not doing a very bang up job by myself.

So, on Wednesday May 2nd, 1989 I became a child of God.  I asked God/Christ/Holy Spirit to come into my heart.  I asked for the forgiveness of my sins, of which I had plenty.  And believe me I wasn’t eloquent, but God heard my plea, and came and took up residence in my heart. And He forgave me of my numerous sins.

Was there a bunch of fan fair, no, not here on earth, but I do like to think that there was a celebration going on in Heaven.

In the verse that is written above, it says that the Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.  The Spirit of God now has residence within us.  He helps us to stay on the straight and narrow road, if we listen.  This is the really hard part.

Listening…

Psalm 46: 10 says…. Be still and know that I am God…

Photo by Matheus Bertelli on Pexels.com

Not only do we need to communicate with our Lord and Savior, but we must really learn to be still and listen for His voice telling us what he wants us to do.

Does He speak to me, at times?  Am I very good at being still, NO.  This life we live is so filled with all things tec and not all of it is good.  When is the last time you just sat, and thought about the verses you just read?  and how to apply them to your life?  some are very good at this. While others, don’t do it often enough to allow it to become a habit.

Not all habits are bad. There are some good ones. Let’s learn a new habit.  Let’s “SOAP”

So, I have read this……

“S”cripture, Romans 8:16   The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

I have written this scripture, Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

I am…..

“O”bserving this scripture, thinking about it, what does it mean to me?

How can I ……

“A”pply this scripture to my life…. Okay, now this is where it can get a little tough. In applying this to my life I must consider and agree that God is actually my Father, if I am a child of God and the Holy Spirit testifies with my inner spirit, then this means, to me, that I need to listen and when I am convicted, I need to do what I am being convicted of.  This I honestly believe is our conscience.  You know when you are doing something wrong.  I am sure you have been aware of “Red Flags,” I sure know I have been.

I am…..

“P”raying about and with this scripture…. Father, it’s me, in Romans chapter 8 verse 16 it says that the Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are Your children.  Father teach me as a child learns from their father, help me to be open to what you are saying.  Help me to hear what you are saying; and do as you would have me do.  And Father I ask you to forgive me of my sins, and help me, to acknowledge that once you forgive, they are forgotten, they are erased from the slate, help me to not continue to make the same mistakes over and over and over again.  I don’t know that I have asked you this before, but Daddy, I am asking you this right here and right now…I don’t want to repeat my past mistakes.  And I ask this by the precious blood of Jesus, that was shed for me.  Amen.

And this is partly what it means to me to be a child of God.

Come back tomorrow for another I AM chat.

Oh and please leave comment.

 

The 40 “I ams”

Go ahead and read over these, and over the course of the next few weeks I will be discussing them one or two or three at a time.  Should be interesting.

Just remember…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God… Romans 8:23

 

1. I am a child of God

Romans 8:16   The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

 

2. I am redeemed from the hand of the enemy.

Psalms 107:2   Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story-those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,

 

3. I am forgiven.

Colossians 1: 13-14   For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

 

4. I am saved by grace through faith.

Ephesians 2: 8   For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-

 

5. I am justified

Romans 5:1   Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

 

6. I am sanctified.

1 Corinthians 1:2   To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ-their Lord and ours:

 

7. I am a new creature.

2 Corinthians 5: 17   Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

 

8. I am a partaker of His divine nature.

2 Peter 1:4   Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

 

9. I am redeemed from the curse of the law.

Galatians 3:13   Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”

 

10. I am delivered from the powers of darkness.

Colossians 1:13    For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,

 

11. I am led by the spirit of God.

Romans 8:14   For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

 

12. I am a son (or daughter) of God.

Romans 8:14   For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

 

13. I am kept in safety wherever I go.

Psalms 91:11   For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;

 

14. I am getting ALL my needs met by Jesus.

Philippians 4:19   And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

 

15. I am casting all my cares on Jesus.

1 Peter 5:7   Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

 

16. I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Ephesians 6: 10   Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

 

 

17. I am doing all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13   I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

 

 

 

18. I am an heir of God and a joint heir with Jesus.

Romans 8:17   Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

 

19. I am an heir to the blessings of Abraham.

Galatians 3: 13-14   Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” ¹⁴ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

 

20. I am observing and doing the Lord’s commandments.

Deuteronomy 28: 12   The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.

 

21. I am blessed coming in and I am blessed going out.

Deuteronomy 28: 6   You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

 

22. I am an heir to eternal life.

1 John 5: 11-12   And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹² Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

 

23. I am blessed with all spiritual blessings.

Ephesians 1: 3   Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

 

24. I am healed by His stripes.

1 Peter 2:24   Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

 

25. I am exercising my authority over the enemy.

Luke 10: 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 

 

26. I am above and not beneath.

Deuteronomy 28: 13   The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.

 

27. I am more than a conqueror.

Romans 8: 37   No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

 

28. I am establishing God’s word her on earth.

Matthew 16: 19    I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

 

29. I am an overcomer by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony.

Revelation 12:11   They triumphed over him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death. 

 

30. I am daily overcoming the devil.

1 John 4: 4    You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

 

31. I am not moved by what I see.

2 Corinthians 4: 18    So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

 

32. I am walking by faith and not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5: 17   Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:^[a] The old has gone, the new is here!

 

33. I am casting down vain imaginations.

2 Corinthians 10: 4-5   The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

 

34. I am bringing every thought into captivity.

2 Corinthians 10: 5   ⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

 

35. I am being transformed by renewing my mind.

Romans 12: 1-2   Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 

36. I am a laborer together with God.

1 Corinthians 3: 9   For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

 

37. I am the righteousness of God in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5: 21    God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

 

38. I am an imitator of Jesus.

Ephesians 5: 1   Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children

 

39. I am the light of the world.

Matthew 5: 14    “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

 

40. I am blessing the Lord at all times and continually praising Him with my mouth.

Psalms 34: 1   I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.

 

The Resurrection of Jesus

I have taken the four Gospels and tried to put them together in one story, this is the result.

At dawn, Mary Magdalene, Mary, and Salome brought spices to the tomb to anoint Jesus’s body

Just prior to this there had been an earthquake and an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled back the stone and was sitting on it.  The angels countenance was as lightening and his raiment, white as snow.

The soldiers who were guarding the tomb shook and became as dead men, they probably fainted dead away.

Also, in Luke we are told – two men – stood by them in shining white garments. Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Salome were afraid and lowered their faces, the angels asked them, “Why are you seeking the living among the dead?” Also, “Don’t be afraid I know you seek Jesus, He is not here, He is risen, just as He said, see where He laid. Go quickly and tell His disciples, he is risen from the dead and goes before you to Galilee, there you will see him: low I have told you.  And they departed from the sepulcher with fear and great joy.  And they did run to the disciples to tell them and not to tell anyone else.

In Luke 24: 7& 8 it says, “The son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and the third day rise again from the dead.  And they remembered His words.

Luke 24: 9 when they got to the disciples and told them these things and to the 11 and all the rest, Mary Magdalene and Joanna (the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, one that had been a follower of Christ and had ministered to Him of her substance.), and Mary, the mother of Jesus and other women that were with them; that told these things to the apostles. And they seemed as idle tales (the one Greek word, idle tales, stated as such, occurs nowhere else in the New Testament,  it is applied strictly to the trifling self idiotic babble of dotage [older age])  Peter rose and ran to the sepulcher, he looked in and saw the linen clothes laid by themselves, he left and wondered in his head what was come to pass, (and that other discipleship outrun Peter and got first to the sepulcher, he stooped down and looked in, but did not go in.)  Then came Simon Peter, following Peter, and went in and saw where the linen clothes laid and the napkin from His head was wrapped (folded) together laying in a place by itself. Then (the other) Peter who was there first, went in and saw and believed, for as yet, they knew not the scriptures that He must rise again from the dead.  Then the disciples went again to their own homes……

Then what?  Leave a comment.

Days in Passing

I have a book titled, “Blessed to be a Blessing,” by Kenneth Copeland. This is truly a fine writing and one that I am intending to put into practice and then some.

I will be putting these referenced verse into my everyday use, some I already do and some I really need to work on.

In the second chapter of the book, titled, “The Fools Dozen,” Pastor Copeland goes thru a list of twelve points, from which we can really learn. He suggest that you allow the Holy Spirit to convict you of any of these points that you have not been paying sufficient heed to over the years of your being a Christian.

Since I don’t want to give away all, I would really encourage you to get in touch with the KCM and acquire this reading for yourselves, however, I will let you in on some of the things that Holy Spirit brought to my attention.

1. I need to get out of debt. I don’t have a lot of debt, and for that I am grateful, but I need to prepare better for the future and lay the ground for not being in debt, ie I have an older car, runs great and I pray the Lord will help me to keep it that way.

2. If I am doing something I don’t want the Lord to see, hear, taste, or think, simple-don’t do those things.

3. For me this goes right back to 2.

4. Don’t speak poorly of anyone, remember what your mother said, “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all!”

5. 1 Corinthians 13:11 King James Version (KJV) When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

I think this speaks quite adequately to mischief. Something that some people just can’t give up.

6. Speak only those things that edify. This one kind of bit me…..I read this and thought of people I know who are constantly saying things to be cute…..instead of thinking I know people who do this, I need to pray for them, are they really doing something wrong? Let me ask you this, are they or you speaking truth?

7. Simple don’t trust yourself, trust in the word of the Lord.

8. Think before you speak…Don’t go to phone (or FB), go to the throne. Our words can be quite cruel, so think before you speak. Once they are out there, no matter how many times you say I am sorry, you can not undo the damage.

9. Walk in the light of God’s word and not in the darkness of the evil one.

10. If you have made a promise or a pledge, keep it.

11. Speak what you mean and mean what you speak. (Mark 11: 23)

12. If you believe in God, behave that way. And I know that there are some people out there that know of my recent move, that might say, I am not behaving appropriately, and to that I would say, I have gone to the throne and not to the phone.

13. (Bakers dozen) if you espouse to be a Christian, then believe and be a Christian…..Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken……” Don’t pick and choose!

There are some things for you to cogitate on for the day, be a blessing today.

This past Sunday, Easter!

Restoration Day.

Think about it, God devised a plan for each and every one of us. A plan to attain eternal life, with Him, in heaven.
Today is
What an amazing place to spend life eternal? Do you know the streets are paved with gold. Now there may be some of you who are reading this and thinking some different thoughts, but for those of us who love the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, what could be better?

But I digress…let’s get back to this day, this day of restoration. Thank you Father for this amazing day….this is the day that the Father in heaven prepared for us, to be able to come back to Him. So that we might have a eternal life filled with Glory rather than anguish.

As some of you may know I have moved to Florida, my earthly father is down here and I wanted to be closer to him. Now we may not be living in each others hip pocket, we are still closer in proximity than we were. He has a good life and a wonderful girl friend and I really don’t want to intrude on that, I just want to be a bit closer than an 18 hour drive.

So I moved a whole lot closer…we all know that when we move, we have to find a place to live, a new this and a new that, but for me what is of utmost importance is finding a new church.
Luckily I am blessed with a few friends down here who are already at a great church. So I went there for Easter services. Now let me tell you a little bit about this amazing church…..first of all this church is located at Trinity College here in Florida. With the church being at a college there is space used within the college. When some of the congregation arrive early for church, the classroom atmosphere is torn down and replaced by the church setting. This may not sound like a difficult undertaking, and it is not that difficult to do, but it is time consuming and there is some lifting involved, and incredible attention to even the smallest details. These amazing people change a college classroom into the children’s worship area and the toddlers room and the baby’s room, every Sunday, and they do it with gladness in there hearts.

Easter morning started for me at a 7:00 service outside, 59 degrees, and beautiful, the sun was up, the birds where singing and so were we. Pastor Kevin Stamper lead the service and his lovely wife lead worship, God has blessed this family, and we learned about the day when the stone had been rolled away.
An interesting fact about rolling away, Gil-gal, as spoken of in Joshua chapters 4 and 5, this name means rolled away. The similarities of this two historical events need to be studied. Pastor Kevin, pointed this out to his church, I will be studying this to see what else I can find out..

After this service we had breakfast together, which was wonderful, and then we had the regular service at 10:00. What wonderful preaching and teaching in a very warm and friendly atmosphere.

Easter services can be a bit sad, but we need to keep in mind that if Jesus had not done what he did, where would we be? How does the world work these days, there is such sadness, due to all types of circumstances, some can be restored, and some can not.
One thing we have to remember in the execution of Jesus, is that, “the Pharisees weren’t killing Jesus, they where executing God’s plan,” Pastor Kevin.
Where would we be if this this had not been accomplished? Pastor Kevin spoke to all these issues.

The verses we looked at where primarily Matthew 28: 1-8, and some in Mark 16: 1-8, if you continue in Luke 24: 1-12, and then in John 20: 1-10, you get to see the really big picture, and you can put all the facts side by side…..I need a big piece of paper.

After the teaching Pastor Kevin asked everyone about their walk with the Lord, how is your walk? I accepted Christ into my heart a long time ago, but I am still a work in progress, how about you?

After church, the classrooms where restored and all was put where it was supposed to be put. Yes this is quite an endeavor but as I said before, it is done with a glad heart.

After church, a bunch of us went to lunch, and later on in the day we had an amazing Easter dinner together and then spent the rest of the evening playing boardtype games and enjoying the company of each other.

What a delightful first Sunday in my new home, God bless you all.

What is Life All About These Days? Ramblings of Rebecca…

It used to be that my life was about rearing my children, going to work, coming home at the end of the day and making dinner, perhaps throwing in a load of laundry.  Maybe even doing a bit of weeding…

I still spend time with the Lord, perhaps a bit more.  Trying to be more realistic with my relationships.  Especially with the Lord.  I was talking to someone the other day, who is a fairly new Christian, and this person was telling me about saying prayers with their children.  Explaining to them that this is simply a conversation with God.  While we were talking I suggested that they also stress, lightly stress the fact that, not only do they need to spend time with the Lord in prayer, but to also spend time with the Lord listening for His responses.  Whether it be a statement or a question from Him, don’t forget to listen.

I have also rekindled my desire to spend more time with Christian women.  A dear friend of mine asked me recently as I was dealing with some “stuff,” (more on that at another time) how much time do I actually spend with other Christian women…Hmmmm…good question, I answered her that I really am only spending time with my daughter, pictured above.  That’s about it!  This women, being the great teacher that she is said flat out, I think you need to start back in with the women’s group.  So I did and I am.  She was of course right.

However I still spend time with my daughter, a fair amount, actually, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.  I have been blessed with 18 grandchildren, three of whom are pictured above.  Such wonderful and sweet children.  I hope these three don’t forget me as they get older…I really feel like that is sad when our grandchildren grow away from us.  It doesn’t happen by itself either.  We as parents have to encourage our children to understand that our children will never know about that time in history if they don’t spend time with their grandparents.  In some way shape or form.  When this particular child of mine, had her first child, we spent a lot of time on Skype.  There are definitely ways to stay connected should you need to choose this path.

So if you are struggling with familial relationships, consider the options, there are so many! so think about what is available to you and do it.  Remember a relationship is a two way street.  If there is someone in your family, as there is in mine, figure it out.  As I will do.

Sadly I have one child and five grandchildren and one great grandson that I hardly know.  They live quite a distance away.  I know, no excuse, time goes by and things slip away.  We should really not allow this to happen.

But for right now I will help and enjoy these three munchkins, make sweaters and blankets for them and just love on them whenever I get the opportunity.