tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27646453623868611632024-03-19T00:45:32.037-04:00Hope and Beauty in A Boys WorldMy Walk Through Life...
1 Cor 2:9Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16949471213153043914noreply@blogger.comBlogger802125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764645362386861163.post-74533580277112271802023-08-31T08:20:00.003-04:002023-08-31T08:22:12.028-04:00Mark This!<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: red;"><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="1128001" id="verse_1128001" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px; vertical-align: top;"> "</span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><b><u>But mark this: </u></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">There will be terrible times in the last days. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: helvetica;"><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="1128002" id="verse_1128002" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: start;">For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. </span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: start;">They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. </span><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="1128004" id="verse_1128004" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: start;">They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. </span><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="1128005" id="verse_1128005" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: start;">They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">2 Tim 3</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEje8QcCCkn0zfyJbAv5Ni4Ix9LqZejXPuONTrOaB6A_11tXph5q_vcp40MqnWHSI8NRkpQO3GiC27wU8X5Z2TZr0nEP7e1_biU9fhFcz8WKnzu6pY9MXFuk8olROi5F3El-str6pPZgIEyxhouZc3Q-WKy-pykCgoDUiDh2SnBG3c01WRCPspXZm6ZUG4k" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="800" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEje8QcCCkn0zfyJbAv5Ni4Ix9LqZejXPuONTrOaB6A_11tXph5q_vcp40MqnWHSI8NRkpQO3GiC27wU8X5Z2TZr0nEP7e1_biU9fhFcz8WKnzu6pY9MXFuk8olROi5F3El-str6pPZgIEyxhouZc3Q-WKy-pykCgoDUiDh2SnBG3c01WRCPspXZm6ZUG4k" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">There are some passages of Scripture, God tells us to <span style="color: red;">MARK</span>. There are some things He wants us to know. 2 Tim 3 is one of those passages we are suppose to mark. It is a warning for those of us living in the last days. We are living in terrible times :(. What does it say people will be like in the last days?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="color: red;">"People will be lovers of themselves"</span>- We are living in a "selfie" era. Worldly psychology calls this narcissism. I actually don't believe in "narcissism". Selfishness isn't a personality disorder, it's a sin disorder. Sin makes you selfish and it makes you stupid. Sin hardens your heart so your heart grows cold. Sin makes you throw relationships away because you only care about yourself. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="color: red;">"lovers of money"</span>- I think this is only gonna get worse as money gets more scarce. People think money can make you happy but it only makes you discontent. The more you have, the more you have to worry about. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="color: red;">"boastful"</span>- braggers, name-droppers</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="color: red;">"proud"</span>- haughty, </span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">finding their identity in accolades... </span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">not realizing everything they have came from God's gracious hand. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="color: red;">"abusive"</span>- someone who speaks evil, slanderous, causing deep harm without remorse, no fear of God</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="color: red;">"disobedient to their parents"</span>- not compliant, refusing to submit. This isn't talking about toddlers. This is written to "men/adults". Another passage says "</span><span style="background-color: #f8f8da; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death." Toddlers can't do that. There is a very real mindset right now that teens know more than their parents. That has always been a trap but I feel like it is out of control now. There is a "nobody tells me what to do" lie out there that is taking teens down left and right. :( They don't understand that there is FREEDOM found in submission. Rebellion leads to bondage. Teens are rioting and destroying cities and actually killing their parents. You can read this stuff in the news. It's very real. And very sad. So many hurting parents right now. :( </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="color: red;">"ungrateful"</span>- ungracious, unthankful, entitled :( </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="color: red;">"consider nothing sacred"</span>- wicked, living controlled by bodily appetites with no fear of God, thinking that sin has no consequences, no convictions, giving no spiritual thought to how you live, no reverence for sacred places like THE WOMB, marriage, the family. Anything goes when nothing is sacred. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="color: red;">"unloving"</span>- without natural affection, hard-hearted toward family, unsociable</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="color: red;">"unforgiving"</span>- refusing to reconcile. This is the cancel culture, boundary-loving, therapy-living, bitter crowd who will throw relationships away over any offense. Letting bitterness control and identify them. They give no grace. These people justify estrangement and blame everything on others. Constant fault-finders. People who are actually going BACK into their childhood through hypnotic type avenues to FIND offenses. Always looking back, never forgetting what is behind and pressing forward. These people do not understand what Jesus did on the cross... FOR THEM.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="color: red;">"slanderous"</span>- false accusers, siding with the devil. <i>Anybody can accuse anyone of anything. </i>Anyone can sue someone with a few dollars and a piece of paper. The enemy is known as the "accuser of the brethren". If you are falsely accusing someone and slandering them, you are siding with the devil. Jesus is an ADVOCATE. These people are the opposite of advocates. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="color: red;">"without self-control"</span>- powerless to live in control, addictions</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="color: red;">"cruel/brutal"</span>- fierce and not tame. Mean-spirited people who cause great harm.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;"><span style="color: red;">"haters of good"</span>- opposed to goodness & good men, the woke mob, people who want to destroy things that are good, people who want to take down ministries and pastors. This is TARGETED attacks. This would also describe enablers. Enablers help harm things that are good. Supporting what is evil is the same as hating what is good. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;"><span style="color: red;">"treacherous</span>"- BETRAYERS, traitors. People who have been in intimate places of your life who turn against you and cause harm. Modern day Judas.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;"><span style="color: red;">"reckless'</span>- to fall forward/ headlong, acting before thinking, not counting the cost</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;"><span style="color: red;">"conceited"</span>- means to "raise a smoke/wrap in a mist", to blind with pride, to render stupid</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;"><span style="color: red;">"lovers of pleasure"</span>- constantly stimulating the appetites of the flesh, constant entertainment (phone, music, sports), dopamine chasers</span></span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif";"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;"><span style="color: red;">"having a form of godliness but denying its power"</span>- these people look the part, call themselves Christians, take on the form, chameleon like. Can include people in full-time "ministry".</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;"> "Denying" means to refuse something being offered/ to act entirely unlike himself. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;">"Power" here is talking about life-changing power, miracle-working power, the power that comes from armies. This is the power that enables us to be like Jesus. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;">*********************************</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;">We are living in terrible times. We are living in the last days. It is easy to see these qualities in others but we have to know that IF WE ARE NOT SURRENDERED, if we are not walking in the light, this will be us. If we are not be transformed by the renewing of our minds, we WILL BE CONFORMED to this world. And this is a description of "people". </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;">Praise God that He enables us to participate in A DIVINE NATURE! This list is our nature. This sinful nature is in all of us and if we are denying the power of God, we are merely a "form"... a counterfeit. The enemy uses those people to cause devastating pain in lives around them. We have to take an end times test and see where we are failing! Confess it and ask God to give us THE POWER TO CHANGE. This list should not describe us but it is gravity if we aren't pursuing Christ. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;">Is this list me? Is it you? I hope not. We are living in the last days and we cannot get sucked into the tide of this generation. The enemy is doing all that he can to control our minds through the customs and behaviors of this world. The devil is using music, movies, social media, non-Biblical counselors (this is a big scary one right now), secular colleges, etc.. to conform us. And most of the time we don't even know it is happening! It is subtle. But it is a tide that takes you so far from safety, it is nearly impossible to swim back. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;">The Bible says we need to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. To be constantly repenting in order to bear fruit. To evaluate ourselves based on our fruit- not intentions- FRUIT. All of that comes from a disciplined, surrendered life to Christ. And as we abide with Him, we will look more like Him and less like this list. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;">This list is a list about "people". I don't want to be like "people". I want to be like Jesus. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;">Let's take an honest look at our lives and our hearts. If you aren't being transformed by the renewing of your mind, you will be conformed to this list. Get in the Word. Confess your sin. Get away from this destructive stuff and start being fruitful. God wants to use you to change the world. Don't get robbed by your own flesh. Die to self and LIVE for the Lord. We are living in the last days. Today is the day to get right with the Lord. If this list describes you, REPENT. God loves you and He has the power to change you. He will bless you and restore the years that have been lost. He wants to give you healthy relationships. He wants to deliver you from unforgiveness and bitterness. Time is running out. No more putting it off, surrender now and watch God's forgiveness give you peace and purpose.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;">Much love,</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;">Steph</span></span></p>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16949471213153043914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764645362386861163.post-26669150988528906312023-08-16T09:51:00.002-04:002023-08-16T09:51:34.761-04:00153<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Hi, my name is Stephanie. :) I am the girl who used to blog during her little boys' nap time. I started this blog when I was pregnant with my now 16 year old! I wanted my mom to be able to see pictures of the kids. What I could have never dreamed was as I journaled through life as a stay-at-home mom that people would be interested. But God used blogging back in those days to bring people together, to share the gospel, and for discipleship. I was allowed to see the life of a mom with a large family. She was happy, in love with her husband, and loving her kids. I had seriously never seen anything like it. I read every word she wrote and it changed my life. We need to "see" things. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It was the heart of Jesus.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; text-align: start;">He said to them, </span><span class="rl unset" id="yui-gen45" style="background-color: #fffdd3; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">“Come and see.”</span><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; text-align: start;"> </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I didn't realize my blog was a "come and see" for younger girls who had never seen a Christian marriage. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">College girls started reading my blog because I talked about how I fell in love with Tim and they were intrigued. God used this blog to open doors for conference call Bible Studies, on-line Bible studies, and retreats where we were able to pour into girls. I made REAL life friends. Friends who are still my friends! Girls gave their lives to Jesus and turned from sin. It was just plain exciting to watch God moving. All while I was a stay-at-home mom praying to be used by God. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">As the years passed, God answered our prayers for more children and miraculously filled our hearts with 8! There was no more nap time. Our life got really really busy and HARD. No time to blog or sleep or eat for a few years. The trials don't stop when you have babies so we were just trying to survive. My dad and my grandparents all died in a short amount of time and the grief was heavy. I had to have surgery on my back and Tim had a double hip replacement. I honestly have no idea how we made it through it all. But we relied on the love God had for us and He showed Himself strong when we were weak. He is still doing that. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We built our dream house for ministry a few years ago. It was a huge project and a huge blessing... and well just huge. lol. Too huge and too much to take care of. So, we had a blast living there and using it for ministry for a couple years and then decided we were ready to slow down and simplify.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedqQDoGoLFhoN1KeuahBx7KlDwdcwMMHSqlUrgmZuI-E8IeZrOjtDvGX413yqt3NN3vjAGskdAzLv5zKaa9Ai466TaDb2mFDUK8ci2lYoAqUE9h_Yy7APf5qRALZ79Tqw6lnMSz9xkLfKd2Y0MyrDAWP2htMdtatMuaw1L3nj1lC30RT6DAD_JCb_mks/s3024/IMG_0358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedqQDoGoLFhoN1KeuahBx7KlDwdcwMMHSqlUrgmZuI-E8IeZrOjtDvGX413yqt3NN3vjAGskdAzLv5zKaa9Ai466TaDb2mFDUK8ci2lYoAqUE9h_Yy7APf5qRALZ79Tqw6lnMSz9xkLfKd2Y0MyrDAWP2htMdtatMuaw1L3nj1lC30RT6DAD_JCb_mks/s320/IMG_0358.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2Ph9oHb26ESFDKfVnWjFcdOZbI8YnanWXOPvsS_LjRp73uJ4hVfU_BXtJK-uNEC29N_JdQrDjAsdpQPw_mrRMsS8E67v4dNISNSH1ezHhFywg6mgDvtopV0K5NjpaVj7WHqSJKRdLTpdvrDQ1H_X2OKb3pMS1ZCjgZyMx1MXhCbHymGwTR7w-MQKgpJE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="960" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2Ph9oHb26ESFDKfVnWjFcdOZbI8YnanWXOPvsS_LjRp73uJ4hVfU_BXtJK-uNEC29N_JdQrDjAsdpQPw_mrRMsS8E67v4dNISNSH1ezHhFywg6mgDvtopV0K5NjpaVj7WHqSJKRdLTpdvrDQ1H_X2OKb3pMS1ZCjgZyMx1MXhCbHymGwTR7w-MQKgpJE" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> We sold our dream house and now we live in a dream house God gave us on the lake. I can't tell you what a gift this place has been. It is Psalm 23 living. Still waters really do restore your soul. There is peace here and we love being together on the boat. Tim is a brilliant builder and has built some of the most beautiful homes but I can tell you with 100% confidence: STUFF DOESN'T SATISFY. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Tim and I both know that. Creating beautiful things is part of being made in the image of God. He is Elohim (Creator) so when we are creating, we are getting to use our God-given talents and abilities. Years ago a carpet cleaner man gave me great advice. I had to call him because one of my little boys had pretty much sharpied my entire house while I thought he was napping. As I was in tears over my leather furniture, he said. "Don't go falling in love with things that won't love you back." That is true but not as true as:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;">“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The more you have, the more you have to worry about. I crave peace and simplicity. The cool thing is that we have been able to share what God has allowed us to build with others. That was my favorite thing about that house. Watching others have fun on the property and hosting huge events. It just got to be too much time and energy to take care of the property. We wanted to have more time to have fun with our kids. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">*************</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">After over 20 years, I am still madly in love with Tim. It is a different kind of love. He is like my hunky navy seal combat partner after all the spiritual battles we have faced over the years. Our love is deep. I am so thankful to have such a strong leader and co-laborer, co-prayer warrior, co-parent, co-CUTIE, co-dreamer, co-kisser. :) I want to enrich his life. I want to be a good helper. Our marriage hasn't been easy because life is not easy with so many kids and so much opposition in the spiritual realm. But our marriage is RICH because of prayer, our faith in Jesus, and the miracles we have witnessed. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #e9eef1; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;">"Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?"</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #e9eef1; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;">Proverbs 20:6</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #e9eef1; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">By God's grace, I did find a faithful man. Thank you, Jesus.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #e9eef1; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Single girls, pray for God to lead you to a "faithful man". </i></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It is hard for me to look at this blog. Two of my boys are college-age now. The days of matching clothes and naps are over now. So much has changed. I am in a new season of mothering with the older kids that requires a lot of trust and prayer. Not trust in my mothering but trust in God's grace and His promise to complete the work He starts. My trust is in the Holy Spirit's work in their lives and the fact that God's Word is with them. I know it is in them because I planted those seeds. Now, I pray and trust... and wait like a patient farmer.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-size: 14.4px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;">"See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-size: 14.4px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. </span><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="1151008" id="verse_1151008" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-size: 14.4px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">You too, be patient and stand firm"</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-size: 14.4px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">James 5:7-8</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I am asking God to water the seeds and the Holy Spirit to cause them to break open and spring forth a valuable crop.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Instead of biting my nails (which I have done a lot over the last 2 years), I have to continue to be faithful to do what God is calling me to do: to teach my younger kids to know and serve God. And to ask God how He wants to use me now. There are no "good old days" with Jesus because He saves the best for NOW (John 2:10). And it is always "now". So we can always look forward to the best days of our lives when we walk with the Lord. Live with expectancy. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The last year our family has walked through an excrutiatingly painful trial. I have walked through a lot of trials over the last 20 years but nothing like this. If it weren't for the power of God, I would not be moving forward. Through our family's pain, God has been working in us. One of the supernatural things He is doing in me is allowing me to see other people's pain.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> The other night we were dropping Reece off at college and we went out to eat. As we were walking in the restaurant, there was a big tough dad yelling at his daughter in their car. I saw it as we walked in. He was cussing her out and berating her. She was in a softball uniform and about Hope's age (13ish). She was alone in a jeep with him and it was awful to witness. Then they walked in and sat at a table across from us. Her mom and brother were there and the dad continued to cuss her out at the table. She had no one coming to her defense. The mom sat quietly. The dad was drinking a beer. It was obvious nobody dared challenge him. She walked into the bathroom and I followed her. In the bathroom behind closed doors, I said- "are you ok?". She just stared. I said, "you need help. God sees what is going on and He wants to help you". Tears began to pour down her cheeks. I said, "I want to help you". She said "do you have your phone?". I ran back to the table to grab my phone and she gave me her number. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">God is El Roi- the God Who SEES.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">He is giving me His eyes to SEE.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The next day at Church I saw a lady across the room and I could see pain written all over her face. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The other night at the pool I talked to a 93 year old lady for a long time about her life. She was so full of the Spirit and beauty, it blew me away. I thought to myself, "she must have had an easy life to have this much joy". Then her daughter told me that years ago she and her beloved husband were vacationing in Daytona beach. They were celebrating his retirement and walking hand in hand on the beach when a drunk driver hit them and killed her husband. She was in a critical condition in a coma and went through a long and painful recovery. Now, here she was all these years later talking to me about the goodness of the Lord. She spoke with kindness. She had known the deepest pain yet come out beautiful and tender instead of bitter and hardened. How? Only forgiveness and knowing the love of Jesus could do that. Now, she was ministering to me. She was showing me that trials can make you more lovely. </span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">People are HURTING. I am more aware of it than ever. And most of the time, the deepest pain of all is silent because the enemy isolates you after he attacks you. The people who should support you or protect you<u> hurt you</u> and you have no idea where to turn. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">These are the people I want God to lead me to right now. People without a voice. People who feel hopeless. People who have known betrayal. People who need a word that SUSTAINS the weary. </span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I want God to lead me to these people. I want Him to take me to the hurting captives because He has given us the keys to open their prison doors. God, where are they? Where are the people you want me to go to with Your Word and Your hope?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Recently I read the passage about the disciples fishing all night and Jesus telling them where to cast their nets.</span></p><p class="chapterStart" id="yui-gen37" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"> "So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.</span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="1018004" id="verse_1018004" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.</span></p><p id="yui-gen49" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="1018005" id="verse_1018005" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>He called out to them, <span class="rl unset" id="yui-gen45" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“Friends, haven’t you any fish?”</span></span></p><p id="yui-gen46" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;">“No,” they answered.</span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="1018006" id="verse_1018006" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>He said, <span class="rl unset" id="yui-gen36" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”</span> When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. <span class="vnum" data-bible-id="1018010" id="verse_1018010" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px; vertical-align: top;"> </span></span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">Jesus said to them, </span><span class="rl unset" id="yui-gen35" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">“Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”</span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="1018011" id="verse_1018011" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. <b><u>It was full of large fish, 153,</u></b> but even with so many the net was not torn."</span></span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;">John 21:3-6, 10-11</span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">When I read that passage, I thought- "I want to catch 153 large fish". </span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"God, can you still use me? Have I aged out of the system? Can you still pour your Spirit out on me to reach people? Will you show me where they are? Show me where to cast my nets. Help me to catch 153 large fish. I want to lead 153 people to you before I die."</span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">That is my current prayer. I am weaker than I have ever been because of the trials. But isn't that when I am strongest? I am more broken-hearted than I have ever been but isn't that when God is closest? </span></span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">So, I ordered some tracts to be ready to share the gospel. I am praying for eyes to see the people God wants me to share good news with. </span></span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Maybe it's you? Are you one of my 153 I have prayed for?</span></span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Are you hurting? Do you need hope and to know that God truly will use all things together for good IF YOU LOVE HIM. Do you love Him? He loves you.</span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Have you ever been honest with God about your sin and need for a Savior?</span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">When I was 19 years old all alone in my room, I opened my Bible and saw my need for a Savior. I knew I was not going to heaven if I continued to live in sin and rebellion. </span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I didn't want to pretend anymore. I said, "God, please forgive me. I need your forgiveness. If I can know You, I want to KNOW You".</span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">He met me in that moment and quickened me. He brought me to life. Everything changes when you surrender your life to Jesus. </span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Don't put it off any longer. Be reconciled to God through Jesus. Heaven throws a party every time a sinner repents. </span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">REPENT. TURN AROUND. RE-ROUTE. </span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If you are trapped in sin or addiction, there is freedom through Christ. </span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Jesus sets captives free. </span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Today is the day of salvation. God will treat you better than you would ever treat yourself. He has plans for you that will blow your mind. But you have to TRUST Him.</span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; font-size: 14.4px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">"Surely God is my salvation;<b> <u>I will trust</u></b><b><u> and not be afraid</u></b>. </span></span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; font-size: 14.4px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">The L</span><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">ord</span><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; font-size: 14.4px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">, the L</span><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">ord</span><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; font-size: 14.4px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"> Himself, is my strength and my defense</span><a class="ftnt" id="ftntv_691002_1" rel="footnotes" style="background-color: #fffdd3; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; font-size: 0.6em; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: lowercase; vertical-align: text-top;">[</a><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; font-size: 14.4px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">; </span></span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; font-size: 14.4px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><b><u>He has become my salvation</u></b>.” </span></span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; font-size: 14.4px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">Is 12:2</span></span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Who wants to join me in becoming a fisher of men? </span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's time. There is a hurting world out there. We need to ask God to give us CREATIVITY to know how to build His house. We need to ask Him where to cast our nets. And I am specifically asking God to help me lead 153 people to Christ. </span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If you are hurting, please email me. I want to pray for you.</span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">tsblackiston@comcast.net</span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Do not suffer alone. God sees your pain. He took your pain upon Himself so that by His stripes, you could be healed.</span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">May God bless you today.</span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Give your time and attention to prayer and to being in the Word today.</span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">God wants to reveal Himself to you.</span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">All my heart, </span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Steph</span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><br /></p><p id="yui-gen47" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16949471213153043914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764645362386861163.post-2752165624146552652022-01-30T13:41:00.002-05:002022-01-30T14:18:28.358-05:00Redeeming Repentance<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="1068012" id="verse_1068012" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial."</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="color: red;">1 Cor 6</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">I woke up at 5 am this morning with so many thoughts swirling through my head. Writing helps me process and I am hoping writing God's Word will help someone else process.</p><p style="text-align: center;">There has been a lot of discussion/arguments about the movie, Redeeming Love that just came out. I read the book almost 20 years ago when Reece (our oldest) was a newborn. I don't remember details but I remember not being able to put the book down and crying. I loved it back then. It was a beautiful story of God's relentless love toward someone who did not deserve it. I think we can all relate to that! A lot of women did. It pulls you in emotionally. </p><p style="text-align: center;">It quickly seemed to become everybody's favorite book. So when they announced a movie was in the works, I was so excited! This was gonna be awesome!! Such an opportunity to bring God's Word to life and it is always fun to support Christian movies since we want more of them. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I planned a romantic night out to a fancy dinner with Tim and then we were gonna go see the movie the weekend it was released. What a perfect date night! My friend texted me and asked what we were doing so I told her. She texted back, </p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>"heads up...heard Redeeming Love has a lot of soft porn in it". </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Huh?? You should have seen the look on my face when that text came through. So, I googled some trusted movie review sites. She was right and spared me (and my cute prince!!!) from unknowingly walking into something I would never have signed up for. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I shared this info on facebook and said I wasn't going to see the movie. Since then, hell has broken loose (no pun intended). Many women were thankful for the heads up but others were offended. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>I have been accused of a holier-than-thou attitude. That I should be able to "handle" it. That it is a great teaching tool for young girls to understand redemption. </i></p><p style="text-align: center;">Almost all the Christians who have seen it say the sex scenes are "uncomfortable". One friend said she had to get up and walk out. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>(I have to wonder if that "uncomfortable" feeling described by so many Christian women is the Holy Spirit grieving.) </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">What is the big deal? </span></p><p style="text-align: center;">Most people love to say "Primetime TV contains much worse". </p><p style="text-align: center;">A lot of women justify the sex scene because they are "married". So, somehow that makes it ok to watch two people having sex? </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>We are seeing a de-sensitizing. </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><u>"Having lost all sensitivity</u>,</span><b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"> </span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">they have given themselves over</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"> to sensuality"</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Eph 4:19</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">I was talking to my spiritual mom about all this and she said she had a raw conversation in her women's Bible Study. She asked them: "Would it be ok if I came over to your house and watched you and your husband have sex?" They said NO. "Would it be ok if I came over and listened to you and your husband have sex?"- NO. "Would it be ok if I had camera crews come and film you and your husband having sex and then I watched it on a screen?"-NO. "Then why is it ok to do it and slap a Christian fish on a film of 2 people having sex and thousands of women watch it?".</p><p style="text-align: center;">She also went on to say that one of the acts of Baal worship back in the day was for 2 people to have sex on Baal's altar and people gather around to watch. <u>That was an acceptable sacrifice to Baal</u>!! :( </p><p style="text-align: center;">This movie is suppose to be based on the book of Hosea. It is ironic to me that it is exposing thousands of women to the very sin that angered God in Scripture. The fall out from this movie also doesn't point to the Lord. The fruit is rotten. Division, fighting, compromise, etc...</p><p style="text-align: center;">***************************</p><p style="text-align: center;">The Bible is CLEAR about how we deal with sexual immorality. Run, flee, put it to death!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Why? Because God wants us to miss out on a cool new movie? No. Because He wants to BLESS us. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red;">"Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts"</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red;">2 Tim 2:22</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">After years of doing conferences for high school/college age girls, I quickly discovered porn wasn't just a problem for guys. Girls were addicted to it too. From college girls to homeschool girls, erotica and romance novels quickly turned into porn addiction. They didn't know that the sin they flirted with was more addictive than heroine. </p><p style="text-align: center;">If looking at a naked person can take down King David, it can take down me and YOU too. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Our eyes are the lamp of our whole body. If our eyes are filled with light, our whole body will be filled with light. But if you are allowing darkness in through your eyes, it fills your whole body and your whole life <i>with darkness</i>. </p><p style="text-align: center;">This IS a big deal. That is why I am willing to speak out about it. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Even though I am getting beat up for it. I don't care. Take your shots. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I have looked into the eyes of girls taken PRISONER by this and lives shattered. I have wept with my best friend as her husband went into rehab for porn... AGAIN. Eventually divorce was inevitable. Soft porn (if there is such a thing) turns into hard porn that turns into death porn that turns into lives, marriages, and families devastated. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I have looked into eyes that are filled with this darkness and the depression that comes with it. No one should be flirting with sensuality. Not even in a "Christian" movie that plays on your emotions. It reminds me of Eve. The fruit "<i>was pleasing to the eye</i>". There will always be a lure. Something that will draw our flesh in. James 1:14 says that our sinful nature is DRAGGED AWAY and ENTICED. The Message puts the next part it this way. </p><p style="text-align: center;">"Lust gets pregnant and has a baby- sin! Sin grows up to adulthood and becomes a real killer."</p><p style="text-align: center;">Sexual sin is different than other sins. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body."</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">1 Cor 6:18</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"> Exposing yourself to sexual sin is planting seeds in your heart, your mind, and your marriage. You just don't realize they are venus fly trap seeds that start eating away at all things pure and lovely in your life. I'm not letting this garbage anywhere near my marriage. Marriage is HOLY. Sex within marriage is sacred. It is not meant for the big screen. It is the holiest of holies and to be treated that way. If you want a good sex life, you have to protect it! The enemy hates amazing sex lives. Because our bodies are instruments of righteousness and a weapon against him. He will do anything he can to keep us from experiencing the beauty of sex in its fullness. The devil wants to RIP YOU OFF.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVYQ2s8y8E-XHwGu6mVsXCoe76SAiQbZSoZktJ4y66eD5x6fvxMjdB83ueSdd9IJwVPYGmgY33dU6ifpIdTz-vmgAYVfW3GYxIFABZf0C7QQDqExnm_9hefZp_dKSRJh6mJJBmNhDJGeM1A0bLSAkUALr2FyAHropjF0hmhIOCcD7S2Z8dYa7YUwLC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1000" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVYQ2s8y8E-XHwGu6mVsXCoe76SAiQbZSoZktJ4y66eD5x6fvxMjdB83ueSdd9IJwVPYGmgY33dU6ifpIdTz-vmgAYVfW3GYxIFABZf0C7QQDqExnm_9hefZp_dKSRJh6mJJBmNhDJGeM1A0bLSAkUALr2FyAHropjF0hmhIOCcD7S2Z8dYa7YUwLC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">We cannot give our flesh a chance! We cannot think we are beyond temptation. You will get DRAGGED by your flesh. Like my mom always said, "sin will take you further than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay & cost you more than you are willing to pay".</p><p style="text-align: center;">The enemy knows how to entice us without us even knowing we are walking right into his trap. He will make the fruit lovely to look at. Just like the Venus fly trap! </p><p style="text-align: center;">***************************</p><p style="text-align: center;">Nothing is considered sacred anymore. Holiness seems like an out-dated idea with no relevance in our culture. Holiness has become "optional" for the believer. The Word is no longer the standard. Our emotions are. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span class="text 1Thess-4-3" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NLT-29567" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"> </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red;">1 Thess 4</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">When we understand what Jesus did on the cross for us and what our sin did to Him, we should HATE what is evil and cling to what is good. It is a command that is for our good. The people who choose to live holy are the most blessed, most joyful, most satisfied people I have ever met. </p><p style="text-align: center;">The Bible tells us why they are this way in Isaiah 35 when it talks about a Highway called the "Way of Holiness". </p><p><br /></p><p class="line1" id="yui-gen32" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.8em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">And a highway will be there;</span></p><p class="line2" id="yui-gen33" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 3em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">it will be called the Way of Holiness;</span></p><p class="line2" id="yui-gen34" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 3em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">it will be for those who walk on that Way.</span></p><p class="line1" id="yui-gen35" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.8em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">The unclean will not journey on it;</span></p><p class="line2" id="yui-gen36" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 3em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">wicked fools will not go about on it.</span></p><p class="line1" id="yui-gen37" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.8em; text-align: justify;"><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="714009" id="verse_714009" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; left: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;">No lion will be there, </span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: red;">nor any ravenous beast;</span></span></div><p class="line2" id="yui-gen39" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 3em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">they will not be found there.</span></p><p class="line1" id="yui-gen40" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.8em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">But only the <u>redeemed</u> will walk there,</span></p><p class="line2" id="yui-gen41" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 3em; text-align: justify;"><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="714010" id="verse_714010" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; left: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">and those the L<span class="yhwh" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">ORD</span> has rescued will return.</span></div><p></p><p class="line1" id="yui-gen42" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.8em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">They will enter Zion with <u>singing</u>;</span></p><p class="line2" id="yui-gen43" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 3em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">everlasting <u>joy</u> will crown their heads.</span></p><p class="line1" id="yui-gen45" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.8em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Gladness and <u>joy</u> will overtake them,</span></p><p class="line2" id="yui-gen46" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 3em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">and sorrow and sighing will flee away.</span></p><p class="line2" id="yui-gen46" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 3em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Is 35</span></p><p class="line2" id="yui-gen46" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 3em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="line2" id="yui-gen46" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 3em; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="line2" id="yui-gen46" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 3em; text-align: center;">When we make the choice to shun evil and separate ourselves from sin, we travel on a different road. </p><p class="line2" id="yui-gen46" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 3em; text-align: center;">There are no fools there or lions or beasts. But only THE REDEEMED. Those who know what their Savior has done for them. The redeemed sing! They have joy and gladness! Sorrow and sighing flee away. When you are living in sin and compromise, you no longer have those precious things. </p><p class="line2" id="yui-gen46" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 3em; text-align: center;">It is a a parallel highway that we are suppose to walk on as we sojourn to our eternal home. </p><p class="line2" id="yui-gen46" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 3em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="line2" id="yui-gen46" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 3em; text-align: center;">Righteousness matters! I explained it to my kids like this: Imagine God giving you his most beautiful robe (or wedding gown). The Bible says we are suppose to be "unspotted" (James 1:27). </p><p class="line2" id="yui-gen46" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 3em; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="line2" id="yui-gen46" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 3em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Pure religion is this... to keep himself </span></p><p class="line2" id="yui-gen46" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 3em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span>UNSPOTTED from the world.</span></p><p class="line2" id="yui-gen46" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 3em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #01103a;"><br /></span></p><p class="line2" id="yui-gen46" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 3em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="line2" id="yui-gen46" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 3em; text-align: center;">So here you are in your God-given robe (or wedding gown). The devil has a paintball gun, the world has a paint ball gun, and your flesh has a paint ball gun. You gotta learn how to BOB AND WEAVE (or shun as the Bible calls it!). So that when He appears you can stand before him "confident and unashamed" (1 John). It is His righteousness that gets us into heaven but we have been called to live holy lives and to be UNSPOTTED. </p><p class="line2" id="yui-gen46" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 3em; text-align: center;">Listen to what our heavenly Father expects of His sons and daughters:</p><p class="line2" id="yui-gen46" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 3em; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="color: red;">"What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? </span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="color: red;">For we are the temple of the living God. </span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="color: red;">As God has said:</span></p><div class="stanza" style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-top: 8px; text-align: justify;"><p class="line1" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">“I will live with them</span></p><p class="line2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">and walk among them,</span></p><p class="line1" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">and I will be their God,</span></p><p class="line2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">and they will be my people.” </span></p><p class="line2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Therefore,</span></p></div><div class="stanza" style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-top: 8px; text-align: justify;"><p class="line1" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">“<b>Come out from them</b></span></p><p class="line2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><b>and be separate</b>, <span style="text-align: right;">says the Lord.</span></span></p><p class="line1" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Touch no unclean thing,</span></p><p class="line2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">and I will receive you.” </span></p><p class="line2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">And, “I will be a Father to you,</span></p></div><div class="stanza" style="background-color: white; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-top: 8px; text-align: justify;"><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">and you will be my sons and daughters"</span></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">2 Cor 6</span></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p class="line2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is on my heart not because I want to condemn people. Jesus didn't come into the world to condemn but he did flip tables when people started selling diseased junk to His people and using His name to make money! Redeeming Love sure reminds me of that. This is not acceptable to the Lord, nor is it holy. But it is VERY profitable. </span></p><p class="line2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="line2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, what is our response? Shame and sorrow? <b>Maybe</b>. </span></p><p class="line2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you have been living in sin, there should be shame and sorrow. </span></p><p class="line2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">BUT- God says if you go to Him with godly sorrow, you will find mercy and salvation and A LIFE OF NO REGRET. (Wow, what a gift!)</span></p><p class="line2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret</span></span></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">2 Cor 7:10</span></span></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: justify;">"Repent" is not a popular word but it can change the course of your whole life! And it is not a one time thing. We produce fruit in KEEPING WITH REPENTANCE. Acts 11 says repentance is a gift from God!</p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #e9eef1; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red;">God has granted repentance that leads to life.</span></span></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;">I know from Scripture there are two main responses to someone who preaches repentance. </p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;">1. Beheading (John the Baptist)</p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;">People want to kill you (most of the prophets in Old Testament)</p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;">Crucifixion (Jesus)</p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;">OR</p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;">2. Salvation (Jonah)</p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;">Preaches repentance and <b>an entire wicked nation falls to its knees.</b> </p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;">Salvation (Jesus)</p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><b>A remnant responds. </b></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;">May that be us! Falling to our knees. Responding to Jesus and His call to holiness.</p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;">I am asking the Lord to show me areas I need to repent of and HE IS. He wants the best for us. He wants to give us ABUNDANT life. He doesn't want us walking around in chains and wounded by our chronic bad choices. :( </p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"> He wants us to walk in freedom. </p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;">But we have to LOVE HIM MORE THAN OUR SIN and even our deceitful hearts that lead us astray. </p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;">I am bracing myself for the attacks. Just don't use the "holier-than-thou" one. That's not what this is. That dart is just a smoke screen.</p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;">I am BURDENED to see believers walking in the fullness of life and to bring God glory in the way they live. </p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;">Ask God to give you HIS convictions. Not mine. Not your friends. HIS!!!</p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="line2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness</span></span></p><p class="line2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">John 16:8</span></span></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;">He chose you out of the world. Don't go back. It is empty. </p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;">The enemy only wants to steal, kill, and destroy.</p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;">But Jesus came that you may have LIFE and have it the full. </p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;">Guard your heart!</p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;">Guard your marriage (or your future marriage).</p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;">Be a gatekeeper in your home. </p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;">Don't grieve the Spirit. If something makes your spirit get tied in knots, GET OUT OF THERE. The Holy Spirit always has your best in mind. </p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;">If you are ready to repent and TURN from anything you know goes against God's Word, just spend some time in prayer. Confess your sin. He is faithful and just and will FORGIVE!</p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;">You will receive mercy and find salvation. </p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;">Know this is from my heart and that I am FOR YOU.</p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;">If you will take the Word seriously, and take sin seriously, be prepared for a joy-filled life of no regret!</p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="line2" style="font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: center;"><br /></p></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16949471213153043914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764645362386861163.post-8440254175259385302021-01-26T12:55:00.003-05:002021-01-26T13:07:39.566-05:00Be the Standard!<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> When the going gets tough, the tough gets goin'! </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-Billy Ocean 1985 :) </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was reminded of this in my quiet time when I read 2 Samuel 23. We get an inside look into the lives of 3 of David's mighty men. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These 3 guys engaged in some very intimidating battles and miraculously WON. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Check these three tough dudes out:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p id="yui-gen46" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="290008" id="verse_290008" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>These are the names of David’s mighty warriors:</span></p><p id="yui-gen42" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Josheb-Basshebeth,<span style="text-transform: lowercase;"> </span>a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter.</span></p><p id="yui-gen43" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="290009" id="verse_290009" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the Israelites retreated, <span class="vnum" data-bible-id="290010" id="verse_290010" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The L<span class="yhwh" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">ORD</span> brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.</span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="290011" id="verse_290011" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. <span class="vnum" data-bible-id="290012" id="verse_290012" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the L<span class="yhwh" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">ORD</span> brought about a great victory.</span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">2 Sam 23</span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. "The chief": He kills 800 men in one encounter. That's insane. 1:800.</span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Eleazar: Everybody chickens out and bails, except him. He stands his ground and kept fighting until his hand was so tired, it was literally stuck to his sword. The Lord brings a great victory and the chickens come back to get the goods after battle.</span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. Shammah: Finds himself in a lentil soup war. :) He takes his stand. Defends and brings the heat on the Philistine soup brigade. The Lord brings a great victory!</span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Y'all! These guys are such an example for us today. We may be the only one fighting but that doesn't mean we will lose these intimidating battles. We are to STAND our ground. We are to continue fighting the Lord's battles even if everybody else bails out. These 3 mighty warriors did their part and watched God bring GREAT victories through their determination. </span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"The Philistines" of 2021 seem to outnumber us. I am not sure that is reality but it is definitely the picture the enemy is painting so that we will cower in fear. </span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A lot of Christians are retreating. And leaving the ones who remain to have a ration of 1:800. But that does not mean we will lose! Often times God <i>wants</i> the battle to be impossible so we will see His glory! Remember in Judges when there was a guy named Gideon? </span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Often instead of building our army, God shrinks it</b>. </span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span class="versenum" style="background-color: white; display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">The </span><span class="small-caps" style="background-color: white; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"> said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"> has saved me.’ Judges 7:2</span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That verse tells us why He does it. So we won't boast! So we won't think we won the battles in our own strength.</span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In 2021, we are seeing many Christians retreat. They are going home. I have to admit, that's what I want to do! Go big or go home? Go home! If it was up to me, I WOULD GO HOME TOO!!!</span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But what if these mighty men had gone home? God can win battles without any help at all... but I want to be God's mighty one who stays! I want to see His power!!!</span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have been studying and meditating on Isaiah 59:19:</span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">When the <span class="criteria" id="yui-gen26" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">enemy</span> comes in like a <span class="criteria" id="yui-gen27" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">flood</span>,</span></div><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">The Spirit of the <yhwh id="yui-gen28" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Lord</yhwh> will lift up a standard against him.</span></div></span><p></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What does this mean? What is a "standard"? </span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">One definition is- to fly (to the attack) on horseback</span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Another version says:</span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"For he will come like a rushing stream</span></div><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Which the wind of the Lord drives."</span></div></span><p></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to give God permission to use me as part of His standard against the enemy! The enemy is always intimidating. Because he will always be bigger/stronger than we are. But BIGGER is HE Who lives in us! We have to know that it is not going to be by our power or by our might, but by His Spirit that we win these battles! As we hold up our swords toward the enemy's overwhelming momentum, the wind of the Holy Spirit shifts the direction of the flood and drives it away from the people in danger.</span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It reminds me of the verse I have taught my kids:</span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Therefore SUBMIT to God, RESIST the devil, and he will flee from you. </span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. </span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When we resist the devil, God uses us to redirect his flood of destruction. I believe the Holy Spirit actually redirects the enemy's fury back toward the enemy. Like that word "nus" that reminds me of a "noose". The enemy proudly builds the gallows. The Lord steps in and redirects his evil fury. He ultimately hangs himself. God has been outsmarting the enemy since his creation. The enemy is a created being who cannot thwart the plan of Almighty God. That's one reason he is so angry. </span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>When we resist the devil, we flip the spiritual magnets so that the evil is repelled from us and pulled back toward the one who sent it.</i></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;">As I was studying this, there is a name for it:</span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;">FLOOD MITIGATION.</span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">flood mitigation</b><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; text-align: start;">involves the management and control of flood water movement, such as redirecting flood run-off through the use of </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">floodwalls</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"> and </span><span style="color: black;">flood gates</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">,</span></span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; text-align: start;"> rather than trying to prevent floods altogether. It also involves the management of people, through measures such as evacuation and dry/wet proofing properties. </span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3K6s5DFwm1e1NaD7GTaxFYhfqdMDdJGk8BklnSDh91EY3Xz63xQ2lG73F9XW_U2iijVx8qPMWVJLAZggRLlfisCrhfmODYZTh_hkDiqA4VFnQGEAUjjlY5TODHfsvFuTl2RmLTN6Kd2g/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="639" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3K6s5DFwm1e1NaD7GTaxFYhfqdMDdJGk8BklnSDh91EY3Xz63xQ2lG73F9XW_U2iijVx8qPMWVJLAZggRLlfisCrhfmODYZTh_hkDiqA4VFnQGEAUjjlY5TODHfsvFuTl2RmLTN6Kd2g/" width="288" /></a></div><br />When people ask you what you do, tell them you are involved in "flood mitigation":<p></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i>When the <span class="criteria" id="yui-gen26" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">enemy</span> comes in like a <span class="criteria" id="yui-gen27" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">flood</span>,</i></b></span></div><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"></span></i></span></b></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i>The Spirit of the <yhwh id="yui-gen28" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Lord</yhwh> will lift up a standard against him.</i></b></span></div><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are in the final battles, we need to ask God to raise us up as His standard. We have to redirect the flood back toward the enemy in order to protect the Church. As we deflect and resist the enemy's wicked flood, his evil becomes a boomerang.</span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"Their evil will boomerang on them."</span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">2 Peter 2:13</span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What the enemy intends for evil, God REALLY does use for good. </span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the names for God is Jehovah Nissi. It means The Lord is My Banner. </span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Basically, He goes in, wins, and declares victory over the enemy. Then He presents us with the victory banner to hold up. </span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Moses experienced this when Joshua won the battle over the Amalekites in Exodus 17. Moses went to the top of a mountain and held up his hands and gave Joshua the victory. Aaron and Hur held his hands up steady the entire night! That is when Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. He said, </span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">"<u>Because hands were lifted up against</u></span><u><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"> the throne of the L</span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">ord</span></u><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">,</span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"> <b>the L</b></span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><b>ord</b></span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><b> will be at war</b> </span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”</span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hands are definitely being lifted up against the Lord in our day. The same hand that swore ON THE BIBLE, on the same day, signed a law to murder babies. </span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That is declaring war with God. The same hand swearing on the Bible is taking the Lord's name in vain and pretty much breaking all 10 commandments in defiance of the Living God. </span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ask God to use you as His Standard against this flood. Ask Him to use you to redirect this evil back toward the enemy. The wind of the Holy Spirit will do it. </span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>God doesn't use the ABLE, He empowers the AVAILABLE.</u></span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You will see Jehovah Nissi win impossible battles and then hand you the banner. </span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Don't shrink back. Grab your sword, get on your horse and GO into the battle. Ask the Lord what that looks like practically. Maybe it is starting a Bible study for teens in your home. THEY NEED IT!!! They are getting beat up by the enemy. Maybe you need to speak into a friends life who is headed toward an affair in her marriage and believing lies. </span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Maybe it is going to minister to an elderly person who is dying of loneliness. Get creative! Whatever your gifts are, use them! Mine is speaking forth the Word. That may not be yours. One of my best friends has a strong gift of mercy and is just showering everybody with beauty and love. </span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You are commanded to use hospitality. I am not sure the Bible defines hospitality as a gift. He just tells us to do it without grumbling! I believe hospitality is one of the most effective things we can be doing right now. Just loving on people in our homes! Maybe getting on your horse looks like getting involved in political leadership- DO IT! We need godly leaders at the helm! Maybe you are older and you have the ministry of PRAYER AND INTERCESSION! You are on the frontlines. Please don't stop praying. You are moving mountains. Maybe you are a pastor's wife feeling the weight of the flood, keep resisting and encouraging your husband to keep going!</span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do what God has called YOU to do! </span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you don't know, ask Him! He will show you and the Holy Spirit will compel you. </span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="color: #01103a; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;">Those are my thoughts for this morning. I just want to encourage you that there is a STANDARD being raised up. A remnant who refuses to back down even if it is 1 against 800. Where there is intimidation, condemnation, and false accusations, the enemy is moving. RESIST HIM. Draw near to God and rely on His power and KEEP STANDING. </span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="color: #01103a; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;">Go to God in prayer and tell Him you are available! </span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="color: #01103a; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;"><br /></span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" </span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">And I said, </span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><b>"Here am I. Send me!"</b></span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Isaiah 6:8</span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="color: #01103a; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;"><br /></span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="color: #01103a; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;">May the Holy Spirit of God empower you and bless you!</span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="color: #01103a; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;">Steph</span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="color: #01103a; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;">><></span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="color: #01103a; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #01103a; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 16px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da; color: #01103a; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 16px;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p id="yui-gen44" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.25em;"><br /></p>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16949471213153043914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764645362386861163.post-12852756454628155862021-01-20T12:29:00.006-05:002021-01-20T13:01:08.934-05:00What are we SUPPOSE to do now? <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOitcqJFNOF4HdX7-xhqdHd-6gC0s083SZKbW7dBDHNS4sLkOywJk7bdRzbI2imj5M1L64n6e686_LDRC6oGNnT4mnAHOMuw0IfPzO8MQ7KHi5RLTUdaN_9dMuwKp3dSB5HRWbGwRVYnU/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOitcqJFNOF4HdX7-xhqdHd-6gC0s083SZKbW7dBDHNS4sLkOywJk7bdRzbI2imj5M1L64n6e686_LDRC6oGNnT4mnAHOMuw0IfPzO8MQ7KHi5RLTUdaN_9dMuwKp3dSB5HRWbGwRVYnU/" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As I watched President Trump say goodbye this morning, tears filled my eyes. Not because I worship a man or need to be de-programmed... but because I am so thankful for how God has used this man to protect us from evil. I read something that said, "why don't we recognize the 'good ole days' before they are over"? God was SO merciful to give us President Trump these last 4 years. He fought for life and freedom. He felt like an over-protective father figure.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As I watched Air Force One disappear in the distance, it felt like the man God had been using as a restrainer disappeared before our eyes. The floodgates of evil are now flying wide open. Christians have a bulls eye on their backs because wicked leaders are taking their seats. Their first laws being written are exposing our most vulnerable, our unborn and elderly. The enemy always attacks the most vulnerable first because he is cruel and has 3 simple goals: stealing, killing, & destroying. He always goes for the weakest ones first. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"The wicked draw their swords and string their bows to kill the poor and the oppressed, to slaughter those who do right." </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Ps 37:14</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But enough about what the enemy is doing. That is obvious, overwhelming, and heart-wrenching. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">What is God doing? and what does He want us to <i>be doing</i>?</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I loved it when President Trump (my over-protective dad :) said, "I will never stop fighting for you". I love it because that is what God says.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Ex 14:14</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Lord has allowed the enemy to do what he is doing. I don't know why. Most people in the Bible were very confused because God's plan is so much higher than ours. Our thoughts can't understand what He is doing. Job certainly couldn't understand. After every traumatic thing that happened to him, he finally says "some things are too wonderful for me to know/understand". </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But then Job goes on to say what he <i>does know</i>:</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">"<u>For I know</u> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">that</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"> my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth"</span><span class="p" style="background-color: white; line-height: 13px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Job 19:25</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So after all Job endured with no explanation, he sums it all up with that. Some things are too wonderful to understand but I KNOW MY REDEEMER LIVES. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When we don't understand what is going on, we have to remember that our Redeemer lives. He is coming to make all things right. God has a plan in this chaos. It is unfolding before our eyes. America has lost it's power as a country because it rejected God and His Word. We have piled our sin all the way up to heaven. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are living in the days of Noah. Right is wrong and wrong is right. Evil is paraded and righteousness prosecuted. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 Peter 3 talks about how we are to live in the last days. (I am going to be memorizing it today if you would like to join me. )</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The first verse of 2 Peter 3 says it was written to <i>stimulate us to wholesome thinking</i>! We need that now more than ever! Minds stimulated by the Word of God instead of the news or social media! </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, drum roll please....</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Number one thing to DO: </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. Stimulate your minds to wholesome thinking. </span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Guard what comes into your mind. Remind yourself of the truth of the Word! </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"I have written... them as <u>reminders</u> to <u>stimulate</u> you to <u>wholesome thinking</u>."</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">Stimulate means to agitate, to fully WAKE UP, to activate! We need our minds activated and fully awakened by the Word. "Wholesome thinking" means pure thoughts or "</span><span style="background-color: #f9fafb;">found pure when unfolded and examined by the sun's light". Our thought life needs to be pure right now. So holy that when our thoughts come into the light, they are found 100% pure. That is so convicting and makes me pause this second to repent of an impure thought life. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f9fafb;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The passage goes on to say that scoffers are coming following their own evil desires. It tells us a day is like a thousand years to the Lord and that He is not being slow. He is being patient WITH YOU and because He doesn't want anyone to perish.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f9fafb;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When He does come, it will be like a thief. And it says that everything will disappear with a roar, the earth will be destroyed by fire and everything done on the earth will be laid bare. There will be no where to hide and no one to blame. We will all give an account for how we lived on this earth. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f9fafb;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then it goes on to tell us what to do since everything is getting destroyed.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">You ought to live holy and godly lives"</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Number 2 thing we "ought" to be doing:</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>2. We are to be living Holy and Godly Lives!</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">So, as you make your daily decisions, ask yourself: Is this holy? Is this godly?</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">If you don't know what is holy and what is godly, ask God to show you through His Word.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">We don't decide what is holy and godly, God already did and He has told us. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">drum roll for #3!!!!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>3. Look FORWARD to what God is going to do and SPEED IT'S COMING!</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Keep looking forward. The best days are truly yet to come. We have so much TO LOOK FORWARD to as believers. God has given us a FUTURE and a hope. No one can take that away. How do we speed it's coming? I believe by sharing the gospel. That is what God is waiting on. He desires that everyone hear the gospel and be saved! If you want to get out of this broken place faster, SHARE THE GOSPEL with someone today. :) </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">It goes on to tell us what we are looking forward to:</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">But in keeping with His promise <u>we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.</u></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Can you imagine living in a place where only righteousness dwells!!?? </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We will!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Let's move on to the 4th things we need to be doing...</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>4. Bust your tail to be found spotless, blameless, and AT PEACE with Him.</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found <u>spotless, blameless and at peace with Him.</u></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How is God going to find us when He comes? Living in sin? Or serving Him? Bitter or at peace? </span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Blameless or ashamed? How we are living right now matters. We could see Him face-to-face this afternoon. What condition will He find us in? Bust your tail... <span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="color: red;">"so that when He appears, we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming." 1 John 2:28</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remember that God's patience means salvation for so many... if they hear and respond to the gospel. Tell them the way to heaven! </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 Peter also tells us that when ignorant and unstable people distort Scripture, it is to their own destruction. We are already seeing people use the Word of God to promote their evil agendas. They won't get away with it in the long run. What they are doing is self-destructing. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They have pulled a grenade and put it in their pocket. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The last thing this tells us to do is...</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">5. Be on your guard so that you may not to get carried away by the error of evil people... but grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus!</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><u>be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error</u> of the lawless and fall from your secure position. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><u>But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.</u></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am grieving as I watch our country destroyed but I am determined not to get "carried away" by all the error of evil people. I am determined to grow in 2021.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I want Him to find me at peace. The wicked leaders in our country now were not my will or my vote. God has allowed this I know He will continue to empower us to know how He wants us to live. Jesus Christ cannot be de-platformed and the Word of God will never be silenced. The people trying to attack the Bride of Christ will one day be gnashing their teeth and bowing their knees as the Bride of Christ is revealed. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So what are suppose to do now? Start with those 5 things. Or start with 1. Read 2 Peter 3 yourself and ask God to show you what you need to be doing. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do not give way to despair. Continue to KNOW that our Redeemer lives when you don't know anything else. The joy of the Lord will be our strength in 2021! I am grieving for our nation, for the unborn, for the elderly, for the Church, etc. But we do not grieve as those who have no hope. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am stockpiling on the Word of God and on Rice-A-Roni in order to be ready to help those in need :). We are considering growing a garden (as much as I despise the time that will take), not out of fear but out of preparation. We want to be able to continue to have food to share no matter what comes. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">"When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality." Rom 12</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Fix your eyes on Jesus. He is working. It is exciting to serve Him in these dark days. Yes, there is evil pouring in with destruction in it's wake. Without God in leadership, expect chaos and disorder. :( </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">But, God uses what the enemy intends for evil for good and for the saving of many lives. It also says in 1 John that the reason that Jesus came was to DESTROY the devil's work. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">We are going to see miracles in 2021. We are going to see revival. And I believe we are going to hear the trumpet sound at any moment. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Don't lose heart. Stay busy and keep building the Kingdom of God by sharing the gospel.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Let's work together to speed up the return of Christ!</span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -1px;">I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">John 11:25-26</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God will never stop fighting for you. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Spend time with Him today.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Steph</div><div style="text-align: center;">><></div><p><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f9fafb; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 17.92px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f9fafb; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 17.92px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f9fafb; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 17.92px;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></p>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16949471213153043914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764645362386861163.post-38139654433217686712021-01-16T11:11:00.007-05:002021-01-16T11:28:10.101-05:00Sandcastles and Tsunamis<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="text Matt-7-24" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There was a spiritual storm that came in to the world in 2020. I am not sure any of us had any warning. It was a spiritual tsunami that caught us all of guard. Now that the tsunami is rolling back out to sea, it is revealing the destruction and disaster it left behind. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="text Matt-7-24" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you have been around me when I am teaching Bible Studies, I may have taught you the hand motions to one of the most foundational (<i>no pun intended</i>) passages in the Bible:</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Matt-7-24" style="background-color: white;">"So then, everyone who hears my words and puts them into practice is like a wise man. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Matt-7-24" style="background-color: white;"><u>He builds his house on the rock</u>. </span><span class="text Matt-7-25" id="en-NIRV-23342" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Matt-7-25" style="background-color: white;">The rain comes down. The water rises. The winds blow and beat against that house. But it does not fall. It is built on the rock. </span><span class="text Matt-7-26" id="en-NIRV-23343" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>But everyone who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><u><span class="text Matt-7-26" style="background-color: white;">He builds his house on sand. </span><span class="text Matt-7-27" id="en-NIRV-23344" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span></span></u></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Matt-7-27" style="background-color: white;">The rain comes down. The water rises. The winds blow and beat against that house. And it falls with a loud crash.”</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="text Matt-7-27" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Matt 7:24-27</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As we are surveying the shocking damage caused by this spiritual storm, there is one thing the houses left standing have in common: They were built on the solid rock of Jesus...OR, they ran to the rock that was higher than them when the storm hit. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I." Ps 61:2</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our house definitely felt the full vengeance of this spiritual storm. We got close, hunkered down, and ran for safety: to THE ROCK, to Jesus Christ. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As the wind and rain beat against the windows of our house (for a long time), the waters started rising. We knew only the Lord could keep us safe in this level of storm. Our house survived... only because HE WAS STRONGER THAN THE STORM.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The beauty about Jesus is that you can run to Him at any time. Maybe your house wasn't built on the solid rock of Jesus and there is major destruction in your marriage and the lives of your kids. When your heart is overwhelmed, RUN to the rock that is higher than the waters engulfing your house! It isn't too late!!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> I remember when our friends were stuck in the hurricane in Abaco, everyone was running for the highest point on the island. They wanted to get higher than the storm's waters. They survived the storm because of where they ran. We will survive because of Who we run to.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As we watch the waters from the 2020 tsunami continue to recede, we are faced with the reality that the storm left in its wake. The sad reality is that there may be another storm brewing. We have to continue to run to the solid rock of Jesus with our families. Not to wine, not to prescription medications to dull the anxiety and help us disengage in the war, not to extra-marital affairs, nothing will see us safely through these storms other than the Lord and His Word. We have to learn how to deal with anxiety in a healthy way and use the tools God has given us BEFORE running to alcohol and/or drugs. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's the deal, the tsunami is coming whether you are sober-minded or not. You need to be clear-headed in order to pray and run to safety. Make every effort to stay clear-minded! There is a reason that command comes right before the roaring lion verse.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Be ALERT and of SOBER MIND. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Believe me, I want to check out right now too. This boxing match in the spiritual realm is intense and bloody. The seriousness of what is happening in our world can be so overwhelming. I am counseling people in crisis almost every day. Marriages falling apart, depressed teens, depressed adults, adults trying to figure out how to care for their elderly parents, etc. It would be so nice to pretend like this isn't happening and just drink wine, but it IS. And God has entrusted us with the ministry of reconciliation. We have to be begging people to be reconciled to God and to each other. We have to be teaching people how to build their house on the ROCK or rebuild their houses on the ROCK. We need to be in search and rescue right now, trying to find people who are buried in the wreckage of this storm and fighting for life. We need to make our homes ground zero for the wounded. Take a break from the fight and get refreshed with some LIVING WATER and then get back in the fight! There is no time for resting. Look what happened to David when he stayed home (<i>napping and going on strolls</i>) instead of engaging in the war. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">"In the spring,</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"> <u>at the time when kings march out to war</u>, David sent out Joab and his servants with the whole army of Israel...</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">One evening David <i>got up from his bed</i> and <i>strolled around on the roof</i> of the palace. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><b>And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman."</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Disengaging from war will get you into a bigger mess. We are meant to be busy in battle.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It keeps us out of trouble. If they enemy has tempted you with an extra-marital affair when you should have been out to war, RUN. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does."</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">1 Cor 6:18</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">GET OUT OF DANGER NOW.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">*********************</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How do you build your house on the rock? The passage tells us. You HEAR the Word of God and put it into practice. We can't be hearers only but DOERS. We believe the Word of God is true and we act on it. Faith without works is dead. Even the demons believe and tremble. This is different. This isn't "Church", this is total surrender and commitment to obeying the Word of God- no matter what. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This means walking in the power of the Holy Spirit. Being so filled with light, that you have no dark corners. Asking God to make you His floodlight.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: justify;">"If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.”</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Luke 11:36</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If your marriage is in trouble (don't be embarrassed, most are!), run with your spouse to the rock that is higher. Confess your sins to your spouse and ask God to take your broken marriage and put it back together. Develop healthy habits of reading the Bible together and praying together daily. It is the daily <i>seemingly insignificant</i> decisions that are most SIGNIFICANT!!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Watch as God breathes His life back into your marriage. Decide to have fun in these dark days. Surprise your husband with a candle lit dinner after the kids are in bed. Or better yet, run away for an overnight together. Write him a love note. Kiss him for no reason... in front of the kids.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Don't let the flame of your marriage dwindle while being hyper-focused on things you can't control. <u>Focus on what you can control</u>. Fan the flame of your marriage! Ask God for creativity how to bless your spouse. There is a reason it is called "making love". I really think God has given us the ability to "make" love! Ask God to give you love FROM HIM for your spouse. Your love has limits. His doesn't. His love is agape (ours isn't) and His love never fails (our does). </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you have a spouse who is an addict, get help. Nothing will work while they are addicted. They have to be sober-minded for there to be forward movement. Don't be an sin enabler. Get them to a Christian rehab. (I know of a good one in Chattanooga if you are in need).</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> God can pull you both out of a slimy pit. I love that God called certain things in our lives "slimy". He knows that some pits we find ourselves in are impossible to get out of apart from His supernatural intervention. </span></span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">He lifted me out of the slimy pit,</span></span></div><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-40-2" style="position: relative;">out of the mud and mire;</span></div></span><span class="text Ps-40-2" style="background-color: white; position: relative;"><div style="text-align: center;">he set my feet on a rock</div></span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-40-2" style="position: relative;">and gave me a firm place to stand.</span></div></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Ps-40-2" style="position: relative;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Ps 40:2</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Ps-40-2" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Ps-40-2" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The enemy has weakened us all this year. It won't require much for him to slug us with one final and fatal blow. </span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Ps-40-2" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">BUT GOD....</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Ps-40-2" style="position: relative;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.</span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Ps-40-2" style="position: relative;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">2 Cor 12:9</span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Ps-40-2" style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Ps-40-2" style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The power of God works BEST in our weakness! Bring your weakness to the Lord, so that the power of Christ can flow through your spiritual veins. </span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Ps-40-2" style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYiRWwzEFseFhiHJ7u0yz-eSdugYkDNz8tX8whaOzM3oHfNiLmEK-LmXwvmDhT74GJqHQp2xRVQiebv173i0pO8pNcLxc1HPvE7TY_bMuU0voy6CORIsmnc472qgeLa4RuEUtdTO22tY/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="620" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYiRWwzEFseFhiHJ7u0yz-eSdugYkDNz8tX8whaOzM3oHfNiLmEK-LmXwvmDhT74GJqHQp2xRVQiebv173i0pO8pNcLxc1HPvE7TY_bMuU0voy6CORIsmnc472qgeLa4RuEUtdTO22tY/" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, is not the time to disengage. We are all weary. Do not check out.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do not give up.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">FIGHT.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes."</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Neh 4:14</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you need help, email me. I loved that picture that was circulating in the news of the waitress that reached out to the abused boy. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She wrote him a note and he responded: </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWUwSsMe5gnmK-OPf8sjCq_dqVFT5d8iym8vDWyab5mRv-A4noKuWGrliHK0ZuwpWaY1MHTJFqkmDefQmCmFp8L-7-RY_RdYkWdJgIrOvhfgQy_ojHRE1-IGUE0mEk84Ag9IbNVkdCTc/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="780" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWUwSsMe5gnmK-OPf8sjCq_dqVFT5d8iym8vDWyab5mRv-A4noKuWGrliHK0ZuwpWaY1MHTJFqkmDefQmCmFp8L-7-RY_RdYkWdJgIrOvhfgQy_ojHRE1-IGUE0mEk84Ag9IbNVkdCTc/" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">God is reaching out to you. He wants to HELP you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Respond to Him!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="text Ps-34-17" id="en-NLT-14382" style="position: relative; text-align: start;">The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> hears his people when they call to him for help.</span><br style="text-align: start;" /><span class="indent-1" style="text-align: start;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-34-17" style="position: relative;">He rescues them from all their troubles.</span></span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span class="indent-1" style="text-align: start;"><span class="text Ps-34-17" style="position: relative;"><b>Ps 34:17</b></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you don't know the Lord, today is the day of salvation. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These spiritual tsunamis before the return of Jesus will overpower you apart from the saving power of God. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Think sandcastle vs tsunami)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dYxDuPi7tCUHmeozbqgnUBKNcLOPG-4cQp31jjZU1nI0I0ZVWfdhyphenhyphendPjg5gq0bglCGrSqmeEQt0Ddrbd-KWdldhXgt-wFUIqBCgB4qKFrH-JfOaQKKwH4upUnxDT7-jRkv0FOEQjYE4/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dYxDuPi7tCUHmeozbqgnUBKNcLOPG-4cQp31jjZU1nI0I0ZVWfdhyphenhyphendPjg5gq0bglCGrSqmeEQt0Ddrbd-KWdldhXgt-wFUIqBCgB4qKFrH-JfOaQKKwH4upUnxDT7-jRkv0FOEQjYE4/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Repent of your sin.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Believe and be saved!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When the rain and wind beat against your house, it won't fall.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Think house high on a rock)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijv_p8hhBPkORq-_L8xhWCiMs94OZGpr7h5cKZGArisKk17DPCODlLjxwfTBxcUoP1dzjtjv70oFc7SfR2gag3RSLECJnMWurYzSJGpL77-JR0Lv9lAGAsa2vdoDwxjg_JZ7x9ik-orQ8/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijv_p8hhBPkORq-_L8xhWCiMs94OZGpr7h5cKZGArisKk17DPCODlLjxwfTBxcUoP1dzjtjv70oFc7SfR2gag3RSLECJnMWurYzSJGpL77-JR0Lv9lAGAsa2vdoDwxjg_JZ7x9ik-orQ8/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I will end with this prayer... that God would strengthen you in you INNER MAN! (or woman!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><span class="text Eph-3-14" style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span class="text Eph-3-14">"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, </span>from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, <b>to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man"</b></span></div></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Eph 3:14-16</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Steph</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">><></span></span></div><p></p><p><br /></p>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16949471213153043914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764645362386861163.post-2833973879784193322021-01-14T14:59:00.007-05:002021-01-14T20:20:15.948-05:00Cancel Culture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKw9q_XHyV2_bNKui0MNdJljuEZAxGUswP72pRZQDixpl3ZD95rqXvzT69VRUMAenzRUVbuCwYuwlRJgpQ1hc9mM_gK4hOI7NC2BE8gY7CTqirUxCouNlwPJ_IotMKqzOcVGEA3Wyr4Q/s900/cancelled-01-900x900.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKw9q_XHyV2_bNKui0MNdJljuEZAxGUswP72pRZQDixpl3ZD95rqXvzT69VRUMAenzRUVbuCwYuwlRJgpQ1hc9mM_gK4hOI7NC2BE8gY7CTqirUxCouNlwPJ_IotMKqzOcVGEA3Wyr4Q/s320/cancelled-01-900x900.jpg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">There is so much anger, hatred, and bitterness in our world today. You can see it oozing out of people's mouths and eyes on the news. </p><p style="text-align: center;">The love of many has certainly <i>grown cold</i> as it says it will in the last days.</p><p style="text-align: center;">What is this new idea "cancel culture" that is becoming normalized in our culture?</p><p style="text-align: center;">Here is the definition of cancel culture:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px;"><i>"Cancel culture (or call-out culture) is a modern form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles - either online on social media, in the real world, or both. Those who are subject to this ostracism are said to be "canceled."</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="color: #202124;"><span style="background-color: white;">This isn't just happening in social and professional circles, it is happening in families. I would describe "cancel culture" simply as unforgiveness. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="color: #202124;"><span style="background-color: white;">If we don't agree with someone, it is much easier to remove them from our lives than to do the hard work healthy relationships require and talk through disagreements. Another hard thing it requires is HUMILITY. People who have adopted this cancel culture think they are right, innocent, and validated in their decision to remove someone from their lives. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="color: #202124;"><span style="background-color: white;">Is this what the Bible teaches?</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="color: #202124;"><span style="background-color: white;">No. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="color: #202124;"><span style="background-color: white;">The Bible says that God requires us to walk in forgiveness. It warns us that we can develop roots of bitterness by "canceling" people and ultimately defile those around us. We aren't to let the sun go down on our anger. To forgive whatever grievance we have with one another. The strange thing about this cancel culture is that they are usually the ones doing the harm yet blaming it on the one they cancel. New Age Religion calls this "neutralizing" people. That if someone is "toxic", you simply neutralize them and move on with your life. </span></span><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">Then you are finally free</span><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124;"><i>But are you really free?</i> Is it even realistic to remove all toxic people from our lives while we live on this earth? Maybe if you live alone on a deserted island.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">But then again you are actually STILL STUCK with a toxic person because of the sin in your own heart! To think everyone else is toxic and our heart is pure is a very deceptive lie from the pit.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">The Bible teaches us we are to cancel ourSELVES. We are to nail our sinful nature to the cross and not live for ourselves anymore. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="background-color: white;">While we were sinners (or while we were TOXIC), Christ died for us!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">By "canceling/neutralizing" people (aka unforgiveness), </span><i style="color: #202124;">we are pouring more "toxins"(aka sin) into our own heart.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #202124;">If anybody should have canceled a culture, it was Jesus Christ! </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="color: #202124;"><span style="background-color: white;">He should have canceled me, and you, and the entire toxic/sinful world! </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="color: #202124;"><span style="background-color: white;">Let's remember His last words:</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="color: #202124;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Corbel, Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red;">And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Corbel, Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Jesus died offering forgiveness to the world. The world that nailed Him to the cross... because He SO loved them. There is a direct correlation between the forgiveness He offers us and the forgiveness we offer others!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span class="text Eph-4-31" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NLT-29264" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">"Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Eph-4-32" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NLT-29265" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." Eph 4:31-32</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="text Eph-4-32" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="text Eph-4-32" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Unforgiveness is required before we come to the Father in prayer.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="color: #202124;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="text Eph-4-26" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NLT-29259" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">Anger and unforgiveness does not free us. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="text Eph-4-26" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">It controls us. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span class="text Eph-4-26" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Eph-4-27" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NLT-29260" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>for anger gives a foothold to the devil.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="text Eph-4-27" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: red;">Eph 4:26-27</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="text Eph-4-27" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;">I think when we fail to walk in grace and humility and hold grudges, we are at great danger of falling away. We cannot FORGET where we came from. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, <b>forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.</b></span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">So, dear brothers and sisters,<i> </i>work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. </span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">2 Peter 1:9,10</span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;">We have to make allowance for each other's faults! God made a costly allowance for ours.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="text Eph-4-27" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. <b>Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you <u>must</u> forgive others.</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">If you have adopted this "cancel-culture" belief system, ask God to forgive you. It is definitely the short-cut out of difficult relationships but it defiles you and so many others in the long run. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 1 John</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you are having trouble with anger and bitterness because you have been wronged, take it to the Lord. He is not going to command you to do something He won't empower you to do. He will give you the power to forgive. There is real hurt and pain that can only be handled by Jesus. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Maybe your pain is directed toward someone in your family. Go to them. Be at peace with all men as far as it is up to you. If they don't want peace or relationship, that is their decision but be a peacemaker. Walk in humility. God will give you the strength. It is very vulnerable. Imagine how Jesus felt as He hung naked and bleeding on the cross offering forgiveness to those casting lots over his clothes. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Don't take part in this new push of bitterness and unforgiveness. It is way too dangerous spiritually. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you want to feel refreshed, repent of unforgiveness. Extend forgiveness. Walk in love. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out,</span><span style="background-color: white;"> that times of refreshing may come from the Lord"</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Acts 3:19</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Take your pain to the Lord. Ask Him for help. Don't start "canceling" people you disagree with politically. Don't believe the New Age garbage that you can "neutralize" people who are toxic. New Age teaching convinces you that anyone you want to remove from your life a "narcissist". There is no taking responsibility of your own sin.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">What this really does is "neutralize" you in any effective ministry because it allows a root of bitterness to be planted. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Holy Spirit will empower you to navigate difficult relationships. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am not suggesting anyone stay in an abusive relationship, that is different. There are VERY difficult, selfish people that we can't pour all of our emotional energy into. That is not what I am saying. Have boundaries (when necessary) but let the Holy Spirit guide those boundaries in love. And always be ready and willing to forgive!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Because of Jesus, we can love FREELY. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"I will heal their waywardness and <b>l</b><b>ove them freely,</b> for my anger has turned away from them."</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Hosea 14:4</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">Ask God to give you His power to love people FREELY. Not holding onto anger and grudges. Give your pain to the Lord and let Him truly SET YOU FREE!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Christians must say no to "cancel culture"! </p><p style="text-align: center;">And say yes to "forgiveness culture"!</p><p style="text-align: center;">I think "remembering" is the key to being able to forgive. Remember how much Jesus has forgived you. I am so thankful He didn't take a short cut and just "cancel" us. He died in order to forgive and have relationship. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Steph </p><p style="text-align: center;">><></p><p><br /></p>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16949471213153043914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764645362386861163.post-90699527204067720942021-01-13T22:12:00.002-05:002021-01-13T22:47:15.801-05:00Spiritual Flat Tires<p style="text-align: center;">Jan 13, 2021 </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am following Nehemiah's example and weeping, mourning, fasting, and praying for our nation. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is where I think we are in this situation in our country: </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think we may be in Exodus 14 :). </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">In Ex 14, the Red Sea is being divided and God's chosen people are about to go free. The Israelites are about to walk on DRY GROUND (have you ever seen a drained lake? It isn't DRY). </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">There was a wall of water on their left and a wall on the right. There was a "way of escape". There is always a way of escape with the Lord! </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">"Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters--</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><u>a pathway no one knew was there!"</u></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">Ps 77:19</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Egyptians continue to pursue them right into this pathway. Next the Lord looks down from heaven and throws the very organized Egyptian army into confusion. I love the next part...</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"<u>And He took off<span style="text-transform: lowercase;"> t</span>heir chariot wheels</u>, so that they drove them with difficulty;</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"> and the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.”</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think we are going to see miracles this week. We are dealing with an organized army of people fighting against God and His Bride. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am anticipating them to be thrown into confusion and for God "to take the wheels off their chariots".</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> They may just be walking into a Red Sea trap. It is fun to watch how <i>just when the enemy boasts that he has the people of God in check</i>, God says, </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"check-mate"</b>. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-R8rnNTwGbufVfG58gThJo8YiCz5fFoS6YOYLWnxXdGX94dL4jp0TSJE5OLLYPjsE1AV60TA8VlBFFdIGeLNyeaNCwm3sLMWEbwusMDAUxgVYZRtG-4nmV3vcZFVZjarvtoauyaG9vA/s568/egyptian-army-red-sea.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-R8rnNTwGbufVfG58gThJo8YiCz5fFoS6YOYLWnxXdGX94dL4jp0TSJE5OLLYPjsE1AV60TA8VlBFFdIGeLNyeaNCwm3sLMWEbwusMDAUxgVYZRtG-4nmV3vcZFVZjarvtoauyaG9vA/s320/egyptian-army-red-sea.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I could be wrong but I am praying for that and watching for it. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But, here is the good news! Our hope is in the Lord just like Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego. We KNOW He is able to save but even if He doesn't!!!! So, even if He doesn't throw this army of misguided people into confusion, then He will still protect us. You can see in Isaiah 65 that there is a distinction between wicked people and His true servants. And their experience in trial is much different. (This is obviously talking about Israel but the Word of God is alive and active and speaks into OUR lives and our situations.)</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">“I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help.</span></span></div><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-65-1" style="position: relative;">I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me.</span></div></span><span class="text Isa-65-1" style="background-color: white; position: relative;"><div style="text-align: center;">I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’</div></span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-65-1" style="position: relative;">to a nation that did not call on my name.</span></div></span><span class="text Isa-65-2" id="en-NLT-18876" style="background-color: white; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; text-align: center; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">2 </span><div style="text-align: center;">All day long I opened my arms to a rebellious people.</div></span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-65-2" style="position: relative;">But they follow their own evil paths</span></div></span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-65-2" style="position: relative;">and their own crooked schemes.</span></div></span><span class="text Isa-65-3" id="en-NLT-18877" style="background-color: white; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; text-align: center; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">3 </span><div style="text-align: center;">All day long they insult me to my face</div></span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-65-3" style="position: relative;">by worshiping idols in their sacred gardens.</span></div></span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-65-3" style="position: relative;">They burn incense on pagan altars...</span></div></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: red;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“But I will not destroy them all,”</span></span></p><p><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-65-8" style="position: relative;">says the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>.</span></span></div><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Isa-65-3" style="position: relative;"><div style="text-align: center;">“For just as good grapes are found among a cluster of bad ones</div><span class="indent-1"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-65-8" style="position: relative;">(and someone will say, ‘Don’t throw them all away—</span></div></span><span class="indent-1"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-65-8" style="position: relative;">some of those grapes are good!’),</span></div></span><span class="text Isa-65-8" style="position: relative;"><div style="text-align: center;">so I will not destroy all Israel.</div></span><span class="indent-1"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-65-8" style="position: relative;">For I still have true servants there.</span></div></span></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: red;">Therefore, this is what the Sovereign </span><span class="small-caps" style="color: red; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; color: red;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: red;">says:</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;"><span class="text Isa-65-13" style="background-color: white; position: relative;"></span></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;"><b>“My servants will eat,</b></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;"><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-65-13" style="position: relative;">but you will starve.</span></div></span><span class="text Isa-65-13" style="background-color: white; position: relative;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>My servants will drink,</b></div></span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-65-13" style="position: relative;">but you will be thirsty.</span></div></span><span class="text Isa-65-13" style="background-color: white; position: relative;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>My servants will rejoice,</b></div></span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-65-13" style="position: relative;">but you will be sad and ashamed.</span></div></span><span class="text Isa-65-14" id="en-NLT-18888" style="background-color: white; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; text-align: center; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">14 </span><div style="text-align: center;"><b>My servants will sing for joy,</b></div></span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-65-14" style="position: relative;">but you will cry in sorrow and despair."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="text Isa-65-14" style="position: relative;">Is 65</span></div></span></span><span class="text Isa-65-15" id="en-NLT-18889" style="background-color: white; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; text-align: center; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">15 </span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></span><p></p><p><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Isa-65-16" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, even if wheels don't start falling off their wagons, there is still supernatural protection found in being a true servant of God. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am burdened to <u>get ready</u> for what is coming. I am not adopting the "fortress mentality" of building a bunker and hiding in it with 1,000 rolls of toilet paper. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We may be hiding in caves eventually, I don't know.... but for now we have to stay true to mission and <b>GO</b> into all the world with the gospel! </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am stockpiling the Word of God and food in my house because I want to be ready for the days coming. Not only for my family but for hurting people. People who need a warm meal, the word that sustains the weary, and a safe place to run. The Bible says the Name of the Lord is strong tower, the righteous run to it and are safe. I want our home to be symbolic of that verse. God is definitely answering that prayer as our home is full of people coming in and out. Some for comfort-food and some for comfort-counseling from the Word. Some to play ultimate frisbee. :)</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>(warning: always be discerning about who you let into your home. The enemy will do sneaky stuff if you aren't discerning. He is cruel and loves to sneak into Christian homes. I am not as ignorant as I used to be.)</i></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The gift of hospitality has never felt more special than it does now. We need to be getting our homes ready to share... and to simply love on people.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay."</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">1 Peter 4:9</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are headed into some major spiritual turbulence, no doubt. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">People say, "I am not buying into the conspiracy theories". Ok, fine, but you DO need to buy into the "signs of the times". Jesus said some people know more about the weather than they do about the signs of the times. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"> "You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the signs of the times!" Matt 16:3</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Joseph was warned of things to come and so he prepared. Noah was too. Think of how they must have mocked Noah for buying into conspiracy theory! I think the reason the Prov 31 woman laughed at the days to come WAS BECAUSE SHE WAS PREPARED. As I memorize Prov 31, I see a very wise woman who made sure her family was taken care of. She also opened her arms to the poor and extended her hands to the needy. She had plenty to share. I am not laughing at the days to come yet but having a plan sure does help! </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ask God what to do. He will show you. And when He does, obey! I think God is going to use His true servants in INCREDIBLE ways in 2021. He probably won't if they are in a bunker. He probably will if they are prepared!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"> Pray and see how God wants to use your family to BLESS others during this time of hardship and darkness. Store up to give. Ask God to bring people to your home who need encouragement. Who knows... an angel may just show up! I want an angel to come spend the night!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:2</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We have to use our freedoms before they are gone. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Or before WE are gone! </u></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Last night, as Tim and I watched the choatic insanity surrounding the new efforts to impeach the President of the United States, I got so discouraged. It just makes me soul-sick to watch people fighting for evil and seem to be winning (they won't in the end). Tim and I got down on our knees and prayed together for our country. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tim ministered to me so much last night. He said, "Steph, remember how Jesus was asleep in the boat in the storm? It was because the storm was of NO THREAT to Him. These people are of NO THREAT to Him." </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That is comforting to think about. That Jesus Christ could be soundly sleeping as they go through these dumb debates. Maybe that is what I should be doing. I don't know. But I do know that Jesus can wake up and silence this national storm at any time. He isn't biting His nails watching this go down like I am, or like the disciples in the boat were. The disciples even asked Him if He cared when they woke Him up from his nap <i>on the cushion</i>. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Mark 4:38</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It wasn't that He didn't care. He was in total control the entire time. He silenced the storm in an instant. He can do that at any point.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">As Tim and I kept talking, Tim said, "Steph, what if we REALLY ARE the generation to be raptured? What if we <u style="font-weight: bold;">never have to say goodbye?</u> "</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">(Cue the ugly cry while I fall asleep beside my precious husband. That is one of my biggest prayer requests: that our family would go be with the Lord <i>together</i>.) </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">What if our generation IS the favored generation that doesn't taste death!? </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I think we ARE.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>"The generation that never had to say goodbye". </i></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I know living in 2021 doesn't feel like favor but IT IS. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He is going to show us what to do. </span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="color: #001320; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">Get gas. Get food. Get in the Word. :)</span></div><div style="color: #001320; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">Not because you are paranoid but because you are <u>prepared</u>.</span></div><div style="color: #001320; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">"Preach</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"> the word;</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"> <u>be prepared</u> in season and out of season"</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">2 Tim 4:2</span></span></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Be ready to minister. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Put your spiritual tennis "shoes" on and get on your mark. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be <b>fully prepared</b>."</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Eph 6:15</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">God's ways are higher than ours and His thoughts not our thoughts. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">No matter what God chooses to do in our country, I am confident of this:</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"> <u>we are going to see the goodness of God in the land of the living. </u></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Don't lose hope!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Steph </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">><></span></span></p><p><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></p>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16949471213153043914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764645362386861163.post-33562525121865740802021-01-11T23:26:00.006-05:002021-01-11T23:49:05.581-05:00"Tell me, what do you have in your house?"<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope you got excited about your email notification! It took a genius to figure out how to update this dinosaur blog. :) </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am trying to move away from facebook and instagram to stay off the radar and so I don't get censored as quickly. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I also want you to have something to look forward to reading!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So much bad news, fake news, sad news.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I want you to read some GOOD NEWS!</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And guess what, with Jesus Christ...there will always be GOOD NEWS!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The good news is that no matter what happens in this life, if Jesus Christ is your Savior, you are invincible in life and death. You are protected by the powerful name of Jesus and God can supernaturally provide for us in the scariest times. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tonight I was super encouraged as I read the story about the poor widow in 2 Kings 4. Her husband died and then a creditor came and said he was going to take her SONS if she didn't pay up. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She had NO MONEY. My stomach dropped thinking about someone threatening to take my kids away into slavery... after my husband died.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She goes to Elisha and tells him the deal. He asked her what she has in her house. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">“except a small jar of olive oil.”</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> He tells her to go to her neighbor's house and borrow all the jars she can. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRecTE90JClzH_aSETTOibxZ8xJUGZI3AYJz9hQFA4hi65L0pKKg25Bc3FVTNXjAuNWcVUNnSYa7x2o0F0RPgef4IfNu85xcrnDaOQMxLCn8S4z6rFLQGmLiS0I932F2GcedDhhlkB-o/s2048/widows-oil.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRecTE90JClzH_aSETTOibxZ8xJUGZI3AYJz9hQFA4hi65L0pKKg25Bc3FVTNXjAuNWcVUNnSYa7x2o0F0RPgef4IfNu85xcrnDaOQMxLCn8S4z6rFLQGmLiS0I932F2GcedDhhlkB-o/s320/widows-oil.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then he tells her to go home, <b>shut the door,</b> and start pouring. <i>You have to wonder what she was thinking but off she goes! </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She pours, and pours, and pours, and pours. She tells her sons to bring her another jar and they say... there aren't any more. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It says, "<span style="color: red;">then the oil stopped flowing"</span>.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzy-2j7J4gnuAfRVdw7IlGCxkHYgKPrMmeK3r_Ml0wT-P1fkiRL3yAZtlEMM0WAMP9sQl1rnE8LO-zhqCZq3Ogp2yCRcWvoNorxG4rTuuJpnfD9oyubxRHcT7M_xkgwDzgujBSPBAXLM/s1154/oil-jar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="1154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzy-2j7J4gnuAfRVdw7IlGCxkHYgKPrMmeK3r_Ml0wT-P1fkiRL3yAZtlEMM0WAMP9sQl1rnE8LO-zhqCZq3Ogp2yCRcWvoNorxG4rTuuJpnfD9oyubxRHcT7M_xkgwDzgujBSPBAXLM/s320/oil-jar.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She pays off all her debts with the money from all the oil and then has money for her and her sons to live on. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WOW.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God is so good. He cared about her. And He cares about YOU. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It encouraged me that God can do miracles BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I often worry about how we are gonna have enough food to eat if it keeps getting worse in our country. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't panic but I DO try to prepare. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> I watched a pastor I respect give a warning that we needed to prepare for what could be a very rough week ahead. He said to get your home ready. I have ignored most of the hysteria lately but I trust this pastor and I am thankful for a prophetic heads up. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, off I went to Costco, like the Prov 31 woman (I have been memorizing it)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was like "the merchant ships bringing food from afar!" </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Prov-31-14" id="en-NIV-17299" style="background-color: white; position: relative; text-align: start;">"She is like the merchant ships,</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: start;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Prov-31-14" style="position: relative;">bringing her food from afar."</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span class="text Prov-31-14" style="position: relative;">Prov 31</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span class="text Prov-31-14" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(<i>modern day Costco run!)</i></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I pray as I shop for God to give me wisdom to know how to care for my family in such scary times.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lots of rice, lots of chicken to grill and freeze, lots of black beans. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But then my anxiety starts going down as I remember that widow only had <i>one jar of oil</i>! </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God WILL TAKE CARE OF US if we run out of canned beans!!!! Maybe the black beans will just keep coming! </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are going to see miracles behind the closed doors of our homes. </span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remember the super scary plague of darkness? I hate the dark. If I was Pharoah, I would have LET THE PEOPLE GO! But guess what... the Israelites had LIGHT IN THEIR HOMES?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I expect to see that if there is a 2021 "black out" (aka Plague of Darkness). </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Bible says the plague was a darkness <i>that could be FELT</i>. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Total black out. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It lasted 3 days. (let's hope that if we are about to go into a similar black out it will only last 3 days!). But I love the next verse... <span style="color: red;">yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived</span>!!! </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">YAY GOD!!!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let there be LIGHT! </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And there was light. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And there will be light.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Because Jesus is the LIGHT and if He is living in your home, there will be light. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You will not walk in darkness. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">"Then the </span><span class="name" style="background-color: white; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"> said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness spreads over Egypt—darkness that can be felt.” </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">No one could see anyone else or move about for three days. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><b><u>Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived." </u></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><b>Exodus 10</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We probably are headed for a "black out" and maybe another stay-at-home order as riots break out surrounding this very controversial inauguration. And as more info comes out about serious crimes committed behind the scenes. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As all the other believers have said, I also condemn violence of any sort- I hope and pray there is no more violence or lives lost. I played zero part in that. That cannot be associated with me or 99% of people at that rally. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God hates those who love violence.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">The </span><span class="small-caps" style="background-color: white; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: start;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"> examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">Psalm 11:5</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">*********************</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The President of the United States has successfully been cut off from his people by big tech bullies and we are left wondering what on earth is going to happen next. Nancy Pelosi is energized as she tries to destroy Trump. But I think there was a woman scarier than Nancy Pelosi once and her name was Jezebel. Elijah was terrified of her. And rightly so. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She killed prophets for fun. She hated the people of God and especially the prophets. She married a guy named Ahab and convinced him to promote and worship Baal, a weird nature/fertility god.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She was ruthless in her pursuit of Elijah. It was her full-time job. She would stop at nothing to have him killed. She turned her husband against him too. She was very convincing and very divisive. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I find it so ironic that her wicked husband whose wife is "TROUBLE MAKER of the century calls Elijah "the troubler of Israel".</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">So Obadiah went to inform Ahab, who went to meet Elijah.</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, <b><u>“Is that you, O troubler of Israel?”</u></b></span></span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><a name="19"></a></span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">“I have not troubled Israel,” Elijah replied, “but you and your father’s house have, for you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed the Baals. Now summon all Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel, along with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel’s table.”<a name="21"></a></span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">So Ahab summoned all the Israelites and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.”</span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">But the people did not answer a word."</span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The enemy loves to do this. I have definitely experienced it. I</span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">t's this weird self-fulfilling prophecy when the one causing the trouble <i>calls you the "troubler"</i>. </span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is so crazy, it usually shocks you. </span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love how Elijah responds to it. </span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"I haven't troubled Israel, YOU HAVE!"</span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These accusations influenced the Israelites so Elijah has to go call down fire from heaven to remind them of truth! It is sad though because Elijah has to ask them how long they will waver- <i>if the Lord is God, follow Him but if Baal is God, follow him. </i></span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think this applies so much to what we are watching right now! The Christians are either being silenced or accused of being TROUBLERS. We are such trouble that we must be STOPPED/CANCELED! </span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An extra-sad-bonus to this is that Christians are watching and <i>wavering</i> between choosing God or the world. Just like the Israelites were. </span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is time to decide though. <br />Choose God!</span></u></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Don't get confused by all these crazy accusations and twisted types of blame-shifting.</span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You know what is true!</span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A line has been drawn in the sand.</span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We have to KNOW where we stand in order to survive what is coming. </span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"He who is not with Me is against Me"</span></span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Matt 12:30</span></span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Y'all, no more wavering! Give your life completely to Christ. Don't waver between God and the world. Go all in! There is safety in following Christ. There is no safety in the world! They may claim peace but they have none.</span></span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace."</span></span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Jer 6:14</span></span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Going with the crowd will not end in peace. Follow Christ!!</span></span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Yes, the way is narrow and few find it but it leads to LIFE!!!</span></span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"But small is the gate and narrow the way <b><u>that leads to life</u></b>, and only a few find it."</span></span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Matt 7:14</span></span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope you are encouraged by reading the Word here. I will keep sharing it until they shut me down. </span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God WILL take care of you. Your canned beans won't run out! Look what God did for Elijah (who was unable to run to Costco and stock up!):</span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; text-align: start; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span><span style="color: red;"><span style="text-align: start;">The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning</span><span style="text-align: start;"> and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.</span></span></span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you are wavering between God and the world, tell the Lord the truth. Ask His forgiveness and get right with the Lord right now. He LOVES you. He wants to guide you through this darkness. He wants to LIGHT UP your home. </span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: justify;">"<u>You</u> are the light of the world. </span></span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: justify;">A city on a hill</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> cannot be hidden. </span></span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. </span></span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone </span></span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>in the house</u></b>." </span></span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Matt 5:14,15</span></span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">><></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p class="reg" style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></p>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16949471213153043914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764645362386861163.post-65625603910663026622021-01-10T00:06:00.016-05:002021-01-10T17:47:39.778-05:00Why Did It Have to be Snakes?<p style="text-align: center;"> Nehemiah Chapter 1 has really ministered to me these last couple of days. I am so thankful that God gave us His Word and all of these stories to read so we would know how to respond to everything coming at us!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Yes, we are living in "unprecedented" times but not "unprincipled"! </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">"Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come."</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">1 Cor 10:11</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope."</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Romans 15:4</span></p><p style="text-align: center;">We are not alone. He did not leave us here as orphans.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The Word of God will illuminate this dark path! The Bible is alive. It truly is our Treasure Map to heaven!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">"Christ, </span><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="1109003" id="verse_1109003" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">in whom are hidden all the <b>treasures</b> of wisdom and knowledge."</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Col 2:3</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes part of the journey to the Treasure (Jesus!) is dangerous. We have been given a map (the Word). And when the journey gets scary, we will see miracles...like water pouring out of a hard rock!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"<u>He led you <b>through</b></u><b> </b>the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its <i>venomous snakes and scorpions</i>. He brought you water out of hard rock."</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Deut 8:15</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm sensing we are entering into venomous snake/scorpion territory. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(Why did it have to be snakes?" Indiana Jones)</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1BSnkt8igWaBMNjcX_f-Qp9Wv0_ee-nOv7rZN-QHQvdZBFm29uFFmbmfxMIzFQfHMpjz8o-lgTWhXRaH4Au8tDGuub3V_KSz3r7mv5_12h1bN1kLXac07JomKnKPoijTEf6tPQ1SUto/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="960" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1BSnkt8igWaBMNjcX_f-Qp9Wv0_ee-nOv7rZN-QHQvdZBFm29uFFmbmfxMIzFQfHMpjz8o-lgTWhXRaH4Au8tDGuub3V_KSz3r7mv5_12h1bN1kLXac07JomKnKPoijTEf6tPQ1SUto/" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> He is leading us THROUGH the snakes and scorpions and is going to give us water out of hard rock. Imagine water gushing out of your Bible when you open it because spiritual water does. Turn your rock faucet on. :) </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">********************************</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.25em;">Something that is getting on my nerves these days are people acting like none of this political stuff </span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.25em;">matters because our citizenship is in heaven. They condemn anyone who is struggling as they watch their country being destroyed and accuse them of idolatry. </span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">(Sidenote: Anything can be an idol but it's not the "thing's" fault. It is the heart's fault. We have to constantly be keeping ourselves from idols).</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you have real faith (<i>like them</i>), you only care about heaven- not earth. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, a few thoughts. I am trying to imagine our goofy generation having this conversation with the greatest generation of all time who risked their lives so that we could live in this freedom. They knew freedom was worth fighting for! If our grandparents heard these conversations, I think they would have a few stern words for us. At my grandfather's funeral, he had <u>two</u> flags presented to Reece: the American flag and the Christian flag. You CAN love both. You don't have to pick one!! </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Secondly, it is just spiritual elitism rearing its ugly head. They like to mock and tear down people who are deeply affected as they watch this disaster. There is often condemnation for anyone who loves America and especially Donald Trump. It has somehow been twisted into a sinful thing. It is wild how fast norms are changing! I think this type of talk is done by people who are simply not aware or engaged in the spiritual battle for our country. Maybe it makes them feel better about their apathy? God sees who is engaged in the battle and who isn't and it will be credited to their account. He sees who is speaking out against the things He hates and praying for them to be stopped. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are STEWARDS while we are here. God cares about this nation and he has told us to occupy until He comes. Our job as stated in Gen 1 is to subdue the earth and have dominion here! We are STEWARDS! That is our JOB. Call it idolatry if you want but we have a job to do.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord! </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do not apologize for loving your country. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;">But do keep your passions in "check" with the Holy Spirit. Have your discernment radar gun on HIGH as you read what people are saying right now. Even if it is Beth Moore, John Piper, Tim Keller, or Ann Voskamp. These people have no more access to truth than you do. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Be a BEREAN and be careful of high sounding nonsense. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"Don't let <u>ANYONE</u> capture you with empty philosophies and <i>high-sounding nonsense</i> that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ."</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Col 2:8</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I just asked Tim while we were having breakfast, "Is it wrong to love your country?"</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He thought about it and then said, </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"It isn't wrong to love anything. You just can't love it more than you love God."</span></p><p style="text-align: center;">There are ditches everywhere right now. If you love your country more than God, that is a ditch. If you are so caught up in your cause that you forget the gospel, that is a ditch. If you are too busy worrying about everybody else's problems, that is a ditch. If you think it is sin to for believers to love their country, that is a ditch. If you think you have everything figured out, that is a ditch. Spiritual elitism is the bent of all of us. We have to ask God to search our hearts and show us our offensive ways!</p><p style="text-align: center;">I love this verse:</p><p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: red;">"<span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground."</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">Ps 143:10</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">Walking in the Spirit will keep us out of ditches. </p><p style="text-align: center;">God, keep <b><u>ME</u></b> out of ditches and lead me by your Good Spirit!</p><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.25em;">I think soon we are going to be forced to bow to "Ne</span>buccadnezer" and few will have the courage to stand. There is already a demanding of conformity or you will PAY. Some are even losing their ability to buy and sell (through Paypal and Venmo) already. This is gonna take spiritual <b>GUTS</b>. We have to continually ask God to fill us with His Spirit, teach us from Scripture, and help us know how to navigate this. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">**********************************************</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">First of all, how did Jesus respond when a people/land He loved was falling apart?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span class="text Luke-19-41" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">"But as He came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, He began to weep.</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"> </span><span class="text Luke-19-42" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NLT-25741" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span class="woj">“How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes." </span></span></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; color: red; text-align: start;">Luke 19:41-42</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">Goodness, if anybody had the spiritual elitism to hyper-focus on heaven and ignore the cares of this world, it was JESUS. But he didn't. He WEPT over the city and wanted them to understand the way to peace. I hope peace has not been hidden from America's eyes. It sure feels like it right now. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let's look at how Nehemiah responded to the destruction of his land:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. <i>The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”</i></span></span></p><p id="yui-gen35" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="414004" id="verse_414004" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>When I heard these things, <u>I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed </u>before the God of heaven. <span class="vnum" data-bible-id="414005" id="verse_414005" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Then I said:</span></p><div class="embedded" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1.25em 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><p id="yui-gen36" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, <span class="vnum" data-bible-id="414006" id="verse_414006" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. <span class="vnum" data-bible-id="414007" id="verse_414007" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.</span></p><p id="yui-gen37" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="414008" id="verse_414008" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>“Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, <span class="vnum" data-bible-id="414009" id="verse_414009" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’</span></p><p id="yui-gen38" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="414010" id="verse_414010" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>“They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. <span class="vnum" data-bible-id="414011" id="verse_414011" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”</span></p></div><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">I was cupbearer to the king."</span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I believe a spiritually mature response to your country getting burned down is </span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. To Weep</span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. To Mourn</span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. To Fast</span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">4. To Pray</span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think a lot of us are in the weeping faze right now. Be encouraged. That is where you should be. Next stop will be mourning. Next, fasting. And then straight into a very powerful time of prayer.</span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He is reminding himself of Who God is.</span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He is great and awesome. He keeps His covenant of love with those who love Him!</span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nehemiah asks God to listen to the prayers he is praying DAY AND NIGHT. This was prayer <b>work</b>. Not a meal-time-blessing. He was wrestling in the spiritual realm. He confessed his sins and the sins of his country. He included himself in the mess. Not blaming. Accepting responsibility.</span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He didn't blame poor leadership. He rightly attributed the mess to the people NOT OBEYING GOD- starting with HIMSELF! </span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stay humble and teachable.</span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> He reminded God of His promise to Moses (such a great example of praying Scripture!) that when people are disobedient God scatters them. It is called "social distancing" is 2021. I think we are experiencing a "scattering/exiling" because of our country's sin. But, when the people return to God, guess what? He gathers the exiled back together from the farthest horizons. </span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Doesn't it feel like that now? We have been exiled but God says if we return to Him, He will GATHER us back together! </span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love how Nehemiah prays for the Church. </span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="414010" id="verse_414010" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>“<b>They</b> are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand."</span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He is concerned for others. He is an INTERCESSOR. </span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He approaches God with such humility.</span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Let your ear be attentive to your SERVANT"</span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And he mentions those who delight in revering His name.</span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Is that me? Am I a servant who <i>delights in revering God's name</i>? I hope so. I hope I would have made his mental list. </span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He ends with "give your servant success".</span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He knew real success comes only from God. </span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">By the end of his prayer, he has a strategy and asks God to bless it. </span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm going to the King, give me favor in his presence. </span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"I was cupbearer to the king".</span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to end my prayers with</span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"I was mother of 8" </span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">or</span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Head Dishwasher"</span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"I was the changer of diapers" lol</span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">May God USE us where He has placed us. </span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope you were encouraged by something you read.</span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have started blogging again for a couple reasons. </span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think Blogger is a little more under the radar for now with weird fact-checking bologna and because I want to get the WORD out to those who need it.</span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love y'all. Remember God's covenant of LOVE to you.</span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jeremiah says He will never stop doing good to you!</span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="color: red;">"And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship Me, and they will never leave Me."</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="color: red;">Jer 32:40</span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Read Nehemiah 1 and ask God to speak TO YOU! </span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Blessing~</span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Steph</span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">><></span></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvETmy9gl4p-9oX0DwFbOQ8y5C3F_gVMhWYSkIa4yeo1hW2Ti1fbHRdlyQ2-tHMfIot_-L-MqJBUCbqBCYdb1gIGUGu_v5JeARfYAVsUK4MwKpgDJaA0SV8HWobfG6vnzl6frzngIV3fM/s1280/maxresdefault.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvETmy9gl4p-9oX0DwFbOQ8y5C3F_gVMhWYSkIa4yeo1hW2Ti1fbHRdlyQ2-tHMfIot_-L-MqJBUCbqBCYdb1gIGUGu_v5JeARfYAVsUK4MwKpgDJaA0SV8HWobfG6vnzl6frzngIV3fM/s320/maxresdefault.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16949471213153043914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764645362386861163.post-63606155137709759722021-01-08T13:04:00.005-05:002021-01-08T13:23:25.497-05:00Fire Power<p style="text-align: center;"> As we continue to move into unmarked spiritual territory, we have to sharpen our swords and put on our armor. We need to ask God to show us how to fight His battles. </p><p style="text-align: center;">This is a new level. It always reminds me of when I played Super Mario bros. as a kid. There were always new scary things trying to kill you as you moved up the levels. Some weird new horned turtle would start flying toward me, and I would say, "What is THAT and how do you fight it?".</p><p style="text-align: center;">Ahhh, fire power. </p><p style="text-align: center;">The closer we get to the return of Jesus, the weirder the opposition is going to get. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Time to use our FIRE POWER and blow these strange new spiritual opponents away. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Our spiritual fire power is going to come from the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. :) </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red;">"Don’t put out the Spirit’s fire. "</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red;">1 Thess 5:19</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5P44rV5cAEqrNuN77QZXARxVjUc5Y6IhF85LRA8R_d7Fv_TM_a690xoqbeiZe9wYTA8Mb63k-grofq97xOrilNZvjgnMm637poTSyywOKz9bqzsnaYqLzLibsI2hxxEhGnhmiFFYKKvw/s300/Fire_Mario_SM3DW.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="205" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5P44rV5cAEqrNuN77QZXARxVjUc5Y6IhF85LRA8R_d7Fv_TM_a690xoqbeiZe9wYTA8Mb63k-grofq97xOrilNZvjgnMm637poTSyywOKz9bqzsnaYqLzLibsI2hxxEhGnhmiFFYKKvw/s0/Fire_Mario_SM3DW.png" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Seriously, we are headed into VERY dark and challenging days. We need to be sensitive to the voice of God.. now more than ever! God warned us that is was going to get more difficult in the last days and about the rampant blindness and deception. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px;"><span style="color: red;"> "He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px;"><span style="color: red;">John 8:44</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px;"><span style="color: red;">"Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe."</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px;"><span style="color: red;"> 2 Cor 4:4</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px;"><span style="color: red;">"We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one."</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px;"><span style="color: red;">1 John 5:19</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px;"><span style="color: red;">"But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived."</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px;"><span style="color: red;">2 Tim 3:13</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red;">"For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect."</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red;">1 John 5:19</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">I would highly caution you to stay away from anything that would cloud your thinking in these days. You <u>have</u> to be sober-minded. If the elect can get deceived, then that means you and I can. Whether you are using alcohol, prescription drugs, or illegal drugs. You need to be fully awake in the spiritual realm. There are so many warnings about being sober-minded in Scripture. Pray about it. Remember, God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and A SOUND MIND. Ask Him to fulfill His promise to you and give you a sound mind. He will! And when He does, protect it! Protect it with the helmet of salvation. </p><p style="text-align: center;"> The enemy is going to pull every crafty trick out of his hat during the last days in order to destroy as much as possible. He knows time is running out. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>But</i> <i>so do we</i> and we have access to the power the spoke the world in to existence to be effective! Jesus came, not only to save us in the future, but to save us NOW. We don't have to cower in fear and put all our hope in the rapture. God is MORE than able to save us right here, right now. If you are a Christian, you are marked with Holy Spirit. You have an <b>army</b> of protection. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; text-align: center;">Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; text-align: center;"><b><u>in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live</u>.</b> Gal 1:4</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"> We need to be examining everything these days and holding on tight to what is true and good (1 Thess 5:21). If we are in the Word and having our minds renewed, we will be able to spot the spirit of falsehood. It reminds me of one Christmas when my mom and I took Hope to the Opryland Hotel for Christmas. They gave you these cool glasses to wear on the boat ride. When you put the glasses on, you could see candy canes everywhere. That is what happens when we get in the Word, we begin to SEE things in the spiritual realm. </p><p style="text-align: center;">If we get caught up in a cause or a movement, we are going to get in trouble. We have to recognize and fight "the Lord's battles". It broke my heart watching the people inside the capitol building fighting for their cause. It makes me sad watching any of the violent rioters over the last crazy year. I so wish I could have talked to that girl who was shot at the Capitol building. I would have told her, "yes, this is WRONG. But we can trust God to take revenge. He will redeem this mess. You don't have to fight this battle with your own hands. Let's get in the Word and figure out what He wants us to do! Evil NEVER wins with Jesus. He conquered it."</p><p style="text-align: center;">Those rioters were fighting for their cause but didn't have the restraint or wisdom of the Holy Spirit. They didn't understand that we don't wage war as the world does.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. </span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. </span><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="1088005" id="verse_1088005" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 0.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">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."</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-size: 14.4px;">2 Cor 10:3-5</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;">It is so easy to get carried away in conspiracy theories today. Especially when some of them are TRUE! But we have to examine these things and see how they line up with the will of God. </p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;">And, we have to want His will more than our own! It may be His will to speed up the last days and get us out of here. I don't know but not our will be done, HIS!</p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;">We have to use the weapons God has given us until He comes for us. Those weapons can demolish strongholds. And that is what we are up against... STRONGHOLDS. You can shoot a "stronghold" with a gun. You can't demolish arguments by breaking through a window. The weapons we fight with are not weapons of this world. The Word of God can shatter strongholds. The gospel can break through the most hardened heart and bring true change. </p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;">That doesn't mean we don't engage in politics. I am so encouraged with Christians obeying the call to LEAD! It also doesn't mean we won't be engaging in a real war soon when liberties continue to be stripped away and our constitution ignored. My godly grandfather engaged in battle. And he <u>did</u> have to use the weapons of this world on a Navy Ship. It doesn't mean we don't use our VOICES to speak out against evil. Especially evils like euthanasia and abortion or other forms of violence where people are being murdered. Speak out! Fight! But don't take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; text-align: start;">The world is going to hate us. Jesus was really clear about that. He doesn't want you to be caught off guard when it does. The world hates us because it hated Him first. It hates us because Jesus rescued us out of it and it no longer has power over us. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span class="text John-15-18" face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span class="woj">“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.</span> </span><span class="woj" face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet</span><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"> </span><span class="woj" face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="woj" face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">John 15</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;">We must be shrewd as snakes!! And respond to spiritual warfare in wisdom. That is where the Holy Spirit comes in. </p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;">The goal of the devil is to SILENCE. Silence the gospel. To silence truth. To silence cries for freedom. To silence the Church. </p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 18px;">Because he knows that JESUS CHRIST is the hope of the world. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">"<b><u>HIS NAME</u></b> will be the hope of all the world.”</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">Matt 12:21</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">We are entering into a spiritual famine. We got a taste of it in 2020 when the Churches closed.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">"The days are coming," declares the Sovereign Lord, "when I will send a famine through the land-- not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but <u>a famine of hearing the words of the Lord</u>"</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">Amos 8:11</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">It is time to stockpile the Word and put it in your warehouses like Joseph did when God warned him of coming famine! </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: red; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">"He gathered up all the food of the seven years when there was plenty</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"> in the land of Egypt, and stored up food in the cities; he stored up in every city the food from the fields around it. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">So Joseph stored up grain in such abundance—like the sand of the sea—that he stopped measuring it; it was beyond measure."</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: red; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">Gen 41:48,49</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;"><b>"When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses"</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">Gen 41:56</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">The best thing you can be doing right now is STOCKPILING the Word of God. So as we move into (what I believe is a) spiritual famine, you will have a storehouse to open for starving people. </p><p style="text-align: center;">We need to be taking in our daily bread and living water. </p><p style="text-align: center;">God will use us as rivers in this dry and parched land.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red;">“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red;"><u>out of his heart</u> will flow <b>rivers</b> of living water.”</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red;">John 7:38</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">You heart will turn into a river of living water when you believe in Jesus and know Scripture.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">**************************************************</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">So, what do we do in response to all this evil?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">We stockpile the Word. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"> We get ready to GIVE. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">We open our homes. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">We give our children Living Water so they won't thirst during the famine. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">And we ask God to use us in ways we cannot even imagine.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">We don't SHRINK BACK.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;"><u><b>according to His power that is at work within us</b></u>"</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">Eph 3:20</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">His POWER is at work within you. He is going to do so much more than you can imagine. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">Surrender your fear. Ask God to fill you afresh with His Spirit for these days. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">If you don't know Jesus Christ as your Savior, today is the day of salvation!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;">You don't have to drown in fear. He wants to replace your fear with faith. Stop what you are doing right now and ask God to forgive you. Believe in Jesus Christ as THE WAY of salvation and you will be saved. Email me if you do this and I can help you learn how to walk with God. God saved me. He changed me. He will do that for you too. He doesn't just love you, He SO loves you. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16949471213153043914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764645362386861163.post-71087855989297056092021-01-07T14:46:00.007-05:002021-01-07T22:21:34.463-05:00Birth Pains<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rw1-_aOdjcYhpEQkHhEn-m3TTfGtj8WAAKWfN0UzQ-DBCWdICZdB-FWVR32XjhN1I3mh40Eah2pIiKUxYxvkogra8rHjm8Q0233AZ-MZE5ErLxAl2o6WSxrAXUKEeA9baKM1-gZBlVk/s2048/DSC_0058.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1362" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rw1-_aOdjcYhpEQkHhEn-m3TTfGtj8WAAKWfN0UzQ-DBCWdICZdB-FWVR32XjhN1I3mh40Eah2pIiKUxYxvkogra8rHjm8Q0233AZ-MZE5ErLxAl2o6WSxrAXUKEeA9baKM1-gZBlVk/s320/DSC_0058.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After birthing 8 children, I feel like I can address the topic of "contractions" with authority. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have experience with birth pains.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, when God's Word says "birth pains", my ears are listening. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="red" face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #a80000; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">“Watch out that no one deceives you.</span><span class="red" face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="color: #001320;">..</span></span><span class="red" face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #a80000; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things <i>must happen</i>, but the end is still to come.</span><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="red" face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #a80000; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.</span><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"> </span><span class="red" face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #a80000; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">All these are the beginning of <u>birth pains</u>."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="red" face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #a80000; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">Matt 24</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="red" face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #a80000; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;">I want to encourage you that the things we are seeing MUST HAPPEN. I think that is kind of obvious after so many Christians praying against what we are seeing and so many people physically trying to stop it. But it is still happening right before our eyes. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;">It reminds me of Hope's birth (you may remember this one). I wanted to try to have her naturally. Can't be too hard, right? Well, she came so fast there was no doctor or nurse. It was just me screaming my head off in terror (as I thought my body was going to break in half), " I CAN'T DO THIS!!!!! I wanted to stop the train. Tim calmly looked at me as Hope was being born, "Um, you ARE doing this".</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;">These things MUST HAPPEN according to the Word of God. That doesn't mean we don't try and push back/restrain evil- we certainly do! But we also have to trust in the sovereign and prophetic Word of God that already has certain things mapped out before the return of Jesus. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;">"Nation will rise against nation" in the original language is "ethnos with rise against ethnos"- or race against race! Goodness, we are seeing a spike in racism like I have never seen before. We each need to guard our hearts and fight racism in these last days. Don't fall into that sneaky trap of the enemy and the world that wants you to turn against someone of a different skin tone. Above all else, LOVE! We have so much to gain from loving one another in these dark days instead of hating each other. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;">We are seeing the kingdoms of the world rise against each other. I believe things are lining up beautifully for a one world government and for one man to have all the answers- the antichrist. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;">Famines and earthquakes are on the horizon. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;">These are the beginnings of "birth pains". </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;">What is this talking about? </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Who is in labor? </i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;">Creation and BELIEVERS.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; text-indent: 18px;">"For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. </span><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="1054020" id="verse_1054020" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 0.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 18px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; text-indent: 18px;">For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope </span><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="1054021" id="verse_1054021" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 0.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 18px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; text-indent: 18px;">that</span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; text-indent: 18px; text-transform: lowercase;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; text-indent: 18px;">the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; text-indent: 18px;">We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. </span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; text-indent: 18px;">Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies" </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; text-indent: 18px;">Romans 8</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; text-indent: 18px;">Creation is groaning because it has been under a curse since the garden. It is eagerly awaiting the wedding when the bride comes through that door and all is made RIGHT! Just like the Disney movies at the end when the prince and princess get married and the blue birds chirp with excitement. The kingdom comes back to life! That is going to happen when we (the Bride of Christ) is revealed. All of Creation will be liberated from bondage and decay! Until then creation groans as in the the pains of childbirth. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; text-indent: 18px;">And not only creation, but US! We are waiting eagerly for our adoption and redemption of these broken bodies! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; text-indent: 18px;">I feel like Jan 6 was a big GROAN in the spiritual realm. Contractions are not fun AT ALL. But, they are doing something! They are getting us closer to BIRTH. And these contractions are getting us closer to the birth of a new Kingdom. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; text-indent: 18px;">Your Kingdom COME, right!??</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 14.4px; text-indent: 18px;">It's coming.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can see the contractions. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR11zv_GIOc5Mp1QenYafvE1_OiRmwNqPjRoBtGYvk2Z5wA2F526F9UwN2TGoqkM7bxGmtLpgEaWv_k_QDHqem9tfW5cn49A6WSBvPZpJZUG4PoMxQ3Do7UQAgtqyseo5B3__ehxeWP_U/s2048/crew-106.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1363" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR11zv_GIOc5Mp1QenYafvE1_OiRmwNqPjRoBtGYvk2Z5wA2F526F9UwN2TGoqkM7bxGmtLpgEaWv_k_QDHqem9tfW5cn49A6WSBvPZpJZUG4PoMxQ3Do7UQAgtqyseo5B3__ehxeWP_U/s320/crew-106.jpg" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When I was in labor, I knew if I was going to do it without an epidural... I had to have a "focal point". For some people it is a someTHING or their husbands or a picture. For me, I really just had to <i>zero in on Jesus</i>. I had a Scripture rock that I squeezed, worship music playing, and it was just ME AND GOD.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I went into the bathroom alone and said, "I can do this if you do it with me." It felt as if God set aside any of His duties of controlling the world to be by my side and give me strength. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was just us. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tim was there too, I think. ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2s57egwG2FmwCBz5W1-GCSalNxE4caxGmEPtgT3sMLx9D6ZtfedUeTHd9Gmt1F_JPtPDj0kydsgP-gDq_X9EjWInivvzjdAIM7s5H-8DQOF-OKB0JzZtMAOgEExi7HlzkPjnzRIGCoDk/s2048/IMG_3527.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2s57egwG2FmwCBz5W1-GCSalNxE4caxGmEPtgT3sMLx9D6ZtfedUeTHd9Gmt1F_JPtPDj0kydsgP-gDq_X9EjWInivvzjdAIM7s5H-8DQOF-OKB0JzZtMAOgEExi7HlzkPjnzRIGCoDk/s320/IMG_3527.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaF5tSG4ZbIAvuAZHak6wO_zlVTfBT0oI9E8vjEExfV1ldSXSXJLFeuVfqcj6DIBwfCQQa-ow_NW9w6vEnCzsBCOsnNJy8qRiDqVQzB9k8Ekz8Cp9cMEs2sQVoaIDEoTwGJr1Zd9oqX3Y/s2048/IMG_7741.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaF5tSG4ZbIAvuAZHak6wO_zlVTfBT0oI9E8vjEExfV1ldSXSXJLFeuVfqcj6DIBwfCQQa-ow_NW9w6vEnCzsBCOsnNJy8qRiDqVQzB9k8Ekz8Cp9cMEs2sQVoaIDEoTwGJr1Zd9oqX3Y/s320/IMG_7741.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdRCuDpLXaY3lGMxgFzAlakQZ6VlGUSBkNJTBDBBveBG624ZmIZDazMWICcSG4VX1DSOc13ZLqgTGe8-OV1KPn-wcQnec9xWnSLOgi64Cb5vj2kcWNQHENsp2lF2N5RD1JNaq1y6yyKE/s2048/IMG_7743.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdRCuDpLXaY3lGMxgFzAlakQZ6VlGUSBkNJTBDBBveBG624ZmIZDazMWICcSG4VX1DSOc13ZLqgTGe8-OV1KPn-wcQnec9xWnSLOgi64Cb5vj2kcWNQHENsp2lF2N5RD1JNaq1y6yyKE/s320/IMG_7743.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79lMDxIZATOIYZ7V_kT5hyphenhyphenz2MbdAGAQamvT6P4Am9z1Ip7QSfJXZ83ltAFt5rSppDfoAS-Qv8okEiKjHRaokzeLy0ZNCR6PUzU6czvttEjY13B2J3vVUIev98s5M4uTMSvUZc-8HIR4k/s2048/IMG_7745.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79lMDxIZATOIYZ7V_kT5hyphenhyphenz2MbdAGAQamvT6P4Am9z1Ip7QSfJXZ83ltAFt5rSppDfoAS-Qv8okEiKjHRaokzeLy0ZNCR6PUzU6czvttEjY13B2J3vVUIev98s5M4uTMSvUZc-8HIR4k/s320/IMG_7745.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If we could see into the spiritual realm, I think this is what we would see.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Birth Pains.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We are groaning. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But we are also birthing something AMAZING. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is painful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sometimes it feels like me might die in the process.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, we find our focal point.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">JESUS.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0azjB6STVa8NeSXFHpfeY1BEqLAAl96D9WpY5xKOa3U_KzbOn6IR1KOttFl2RlH8-Qhb6CIlCaoH6cIs-wmZ_odLLLlZmOJ9ll2LMUD1SBEo6iIo2MMf3m2qIxUV_tKlwm8LsRi9lZ0/s2048/crew-126.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0azjB6STVa8NeSXFHpfeY1BEqLAAl96D9WpY5xKOa3U_KzbOn6IR1KOttFl2RlH8-Qhb6CIlCaoH6cIs-wmZ_odLLLlZmOJ9ll2LMUD1SBEo6iIo2MMf3m2qIxUV_tKlwm8LsRi9lZ0/s320/crew-126.jpg" width="320" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: red;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #e9eef1; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">"But <u><b>my eyes are fixed ON YOU</b></u>, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #e9eef1; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Sovereign L</span><span style="background-color: #e9eef1; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">ord</span><span style="background-color: #e9eef1; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">; IN YOU I take refuge"</span></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans serif;">Ps 141:8</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7C39VmLEqj5V2GzBuoS0ihqXEkz8tGjf_Cq2NWShNQDmQ-fs6Fi-9mBr-rcwoqYu9CqDDqc1fOAuCzpwyBqzTByfYR7fb1Wsm9fDN7sbMzoCjQODHlCGXOuTZgqNOuzptoDTzt6SbyyE/s2048/crew-133.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7C39VmLEqj5V2GzBuoS0ihqXEkz8tGjf_Cq2NWShNQDmQ-fs6Fi-9mBr-rcwoqYu9CqDDqc1fOAuCzpwyBqzTByfYR7fb1Wsm9fDN7sbMzoCjQODHlCGXOuTZgqNOuzptoDTzt6SbyyE/s320/crew-133.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />And, then, when we see what God is birthing out of all this groaning, we will WEEP WITH JOY.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "avenir next", avenir, "helvetica neue", helvetica, ubuntu, "segoe ui", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red;">"For the natural realm can only give birth to things that are natural, </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "avenir next", avenir, "helvetica neue", helvetica, ubuntu, "segoe ui", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red;">but the spiritual realm <u>gives birth to supernatural life</u>!"</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "avenir next", avenir, "helvetica neue", helvetica, ubuntu, "segoe ui", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red;">John 3:6</span></span></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFA7ICKdog1cLLgwPOlf8EOiW75L3z0oLcjuYaETM0D8Uk3LF5YNRpa3w_v4MaxyQwGxJZjQOzJ9x12CrZSWWAqCkUA0bkO6eVe6JKFMwDVormLyPn71pAT98tUrmJLqy7OFMGi1eIWM/s2048/crew-172.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFA7ICKdog1cLLgwPOlf8EOiW75L3z0oLcjuYaETM0D8Uk3LF5YNRpa3w_v4MaxyQwGxJZjQOzJ9x12CrZSWWAqCkUA0bkO6eVe6JKFMwDVormLyPn71pAT98tUrmJLqy7OFMGi1eIWM/s320/crew-172.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Be prepared for birth pains in 2021. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They are getting closer together. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Such things MUST HAPPEN.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We need to be wise and prepare.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But even more than that, we need to keep our focal point!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">JESUS.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">"Let us fix our </span><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">eyes on Jesus</span><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">, the </span><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">author</span><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"> and </span><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">perfecter</span><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"> of our </span><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">faith"</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">Hebrews 12:2</span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(If you are wondering, these are pictures from more than one birth. That newborn picture is Crew.)</div><br /> <p></p>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16949471213153043914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764645362386861163.post-41696573881743260872021-01-07T10:27:00.005-05:002021-01-07T22:17:55.287-05:00A Whole New World<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> As I watched the events of January 6 go down in history, the world started spinning. What ON EARTH is happening? Evil sure seems to be winning. Protestors (who may or may not be true Trump supporters) losing their minds, leaders who do not know or love God being sworn in to have total control over us and this country, truth being twisted, division, fighting, paranoia, depression, hopelessness, etc... It was honestly too much to process. I kept thinking of my grandfather's commitment to this country and him risking his life to protect it for ME. Now, it is being destroyed from the inside and patriotism is condemned. The Church has no common voice. "Christians" are all over the map. Some even voting to support abortion and all the evil things around the corner??!! Courageous Christians using their voices to speak for life and liberty and getting beat up... by other "believers".</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We are living in crazy crazy times.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This morning (January 7) I woke up with a deep PIT in my stomach. It does feel like waking up to a whole new world (you know you are singing the Aladdin song right now). The magic carpet in this new world is wildly out of control though and I want to get off. I want to go back to 1984 when I was a little girl playing at my grandparents house while they listened to Gospel music. I miss peace. I miss safety. I miss my grandparents and their godly generation. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But Acts says that God chose the exact times and places in which I should live. And the exact times and places in which YOU SHOULD LIVE. He chose us to be right here. Right now. He is going to give us everything we need to serve Him and He will protect us from the lurking evil that we cannot control. Jesus prayed this prayer FOR YOU... </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">"My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one."</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">John 17:15</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;"><u>Jesus is still praying for us</u> and is going to save us TO THE UTTERMOST.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">"Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red;">Heb 7:25</span></span><span class="p" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; line-height: 13px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am pretty sure "the uttermost" includes 2021, pandemics, wicked leaders, lost freedoms, religious assaults, and everything else coming our way. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I texted my mentors this morning and said I am SO sad. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It feels like living in a funeral that won't stop. So much grief. So much destruction and death. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My spiritual dad said read Ps 46. I'm gonna pass that on to you... in case you don't have a spiritual dad.</span></p><p class="indent1stline" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">God is our refuge and strength,</span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">an ever-present help in times of trouble.<a name="3"></a></span></p><p class="indent1" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">Therefore we will not fear,</span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">though the earth is transformed</span></p><p class="indent1" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">and the mountains are toppled</span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">into the depths of the seas,<a name="4"></a></span></p><p class="indent1" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">though their waters roar and foam</span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">and the mountains quake in the surge.</span></p><p class="selah" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 30px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">Selah<a name="5"></a></span></p><p class="indent1" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">There is a river whose streams delight the city of God,</span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">the holy place where the Most High dwells.<a name="6"></a></span></p><p class="indent1" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">God is within her; she will not be moved.</span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">God will help her when morning dawns.<a name="7"></a></span></p><p class="indent1" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">Nations rage, kingdoms crumble;</span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">the earth melts when He lifts His voice.<a name="8"></a></span></p><p class="indent1" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;"><b>The Lord of Hosts is with us;</b></span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">the God of Jacob is our fortress.</span></p><p class="selah" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 30px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">Selah<a name="9"></a></span></p><p class="indent1" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">Come, see the works of the Lord,</span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">who brings devastation upon the earth.<a name="10"></a></span></p><p class="indent1" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">He makes wars to cease throughout the earth;</span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;</span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">He burns the shields in the fire.<a name="11"></a></span></p><p class="indent1stline" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">“<u>Be still and know that I am God</u>;</span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">I will be exalted among the nations,</span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">I will be exalted over the earth.”<a name=""></a></span></p><p class="indent1stline" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;"><b>The Lord of Hosts is with us</b>;</span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">the God of Jacob is our fortress.</span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, it is Jan 7. What do we do now? We read our Bibles. We continue to "build our arks". </span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">"By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith." Heb 11:7</span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">"As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man."</span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">Matt 24:37</span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This doesn't mean we shrink back in fear and hide in our houses. This means we build our arks by sharing the gospel and telling people that Jesus is coming! It means rescuing the hurting and ministering to broken hearts. It means discipling our children and giving them the tools they need to navigate all this darkness. It means building our houses on THE ROCK so the storms won't knock it down. It means investing in our marriages and making them stronger so they can (literally) carry the weight of the world. We need to be reading our Bibles so we can know the truth in a world controlled by the Father of Lies. </span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It means having Bible Studies and maintaining fellowship. We see the day approaching!! We have to be meeting together & encouraging one another EVEN MORE! </span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">"not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another<i>,</i> <u><b>and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."</b></u></span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">Heb 10:25</span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have written about this before but REMEMBER that when the plague of darknes struck Egpyt, the Israelites HAD LIGHT IN THEIR HOMES.</span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">"No one could see anyone else or move about for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived." Ex 10:23</span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Annoint your homes. Ask God to protect your home by the blood of the Lamb. Fill your home with worship and the Word. </span></span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #001320;">Lastly, </span><span style="color: red;">"do what is right and do not give way to fear." 1 Peter 3:6</span></span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jesus is coming soon. </span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">May He find us busy and full of FAITH. </span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I love you and I am here for you! I hope and pray that reading God's Word brings comfort to you in these difficult days. </span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There really is a whole new world coming. And we won't be flying on a magic carpet but behind the King of Kings on a white horse.</span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I can't wait.</span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Steph </span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">><></span></p><p class="indent2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;"><a name="fn" style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></a></span></p><p class="selah" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 30px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: right; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16949471213153043914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764645362386861163.post-88883764997117863762021-01-06T10:18:00.009-05:002021-01-07T21:36:58.550-05:002021: The Last Days<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"> "<span class="text 2Tim-3-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text 2Tim-3-2" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NLT-29816" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text 2Tim-3-3" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NLT-29817" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good.</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text 2Tim-3-4" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NLT-29818" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text 2Tim-3-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NLT-29819" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span class="text 2Tim-3-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!"</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="text 2Tim-3-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: red;">2 Tim 3:1-5</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="text 2Tim-3-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="text 2Tim-3-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">God wants us to understand that in the last days, there will be very difficult times. This goes against everything in me as <b>I LOVE COMFORT</b>. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="text 2Tim-3-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Even last night, I got in my comfy bed with Tim under my electric blanket and said, "ahhhhhh, I LOVE comfort."</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="text 2Tim-3-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">After 2020, I think I love comfort even more! Nothing about 2020 felt comfortable or familiar. Walking around a world of people in masks who are terrified of getting close to you due to a Chinese virus that may have been developed in a lab, feels like a sci-fi movie. A Presidential election with fraud written all over it, feels like a sci-fi movie. The streets of Washington filled with millions of hard-working Americans who just want to protect the freedoms God so mercifully gave us, feels like a weird dream. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;">We are watching our freedoms being assaulted and stolen. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;">Our comfort zones are slipping and we are realizing that Jesus Christ really is our stability. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red;">"HE will be the stability of your times"</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red;">Isaiah 33:6</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">*****************************</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;">2 Tim gives us a picture of the other things we are seeing. It is so WILD how prophetically accurate the Bible is.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;">The part of this verse I want to talk about is the "religious" crowd. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;">I grew up in the Bible belt. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;">I grew up going to Church. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;">A Church that had a lot of problems. (There were some amazing people there! There are amazing people in every Church, I think!)</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;">But there were shady relationships between secretaries and the pastor that caused multiple splits. Prideful leadership. "Platform" was the goal. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;">It took great courage to question leadership so sin was overlooked for years. Sin was minimized or labeled as an "emotional affair" and for some reason, those aren't that big of a deal in the Church. </span></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;">(BTW, It is <b><u>never</u></b> just an "emotional affair"). After so many years of controversy, the pastor would eventually leave and go start another ministry in another town. It would take YEARS for the Church to heal and regain strength. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;">I really didn't want much to do with Church after seeing the messy hypocrisy and "religion".</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;">It wasn't until I had a personal encounter with the Lord in college that changed me forever. I couldn't believe I could know Jesus! I couldn't believe He knew me and still loved me! I couldn't believe the grace and forgiveness I found that night. He placed a calling on my life and put His Spirit inside me! </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;">God was so faithful to plop me into the home of a pastor and his wife who loved God and loved me. They have discipled me for over 20 years. They taught me how to walk with God and to trust His Word. They taught me how to listen to the voice of the Spirit and know the difference between the spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. Not that I am invincible. I still have major blind spots but I am so thankful that I was taught how to walk with God. How to march in step with His Spirit. Not worshiping Church but worshiping God. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;">My mentors taught me if the Church where you are going gets weird, you leave. Your allegiance is to Jesus Christ and His Word. He said if one well of water gets muddy, God will spring forth clean water somewhere else. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;">The spirit of religion is still alive and well in the South. One of the good things about this past year is that it has exposed where the Spirit is at work. Where the Spirit is at work, ministry went on. <i>You cannot stop a minister of God who is compelled to do the work of God.</i> If ministry is able to shut down, it wasn't of the Lord. The Word of God cannot be chained (2 Tim 2:9). If Shepherds no longer care about their sheep, they aren't true shepherds. There is a powerful passage in Ezekiel 34 about this:</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;"><span class="text Ezek-34-7" id="en-NLT-21297">“Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>:</span> <span class="text Ezek-34-8" id="en-NLT-21298"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>As surely as I live, says the Sovereign <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>, you abandoned my flock and left them to be attacked by every wild animal. And though you were my shepherds, you didn’t search for my sheep when they were lost. You took care of yourselves and left the sheep to starve.</span> <span class="text Ezek-34-9" id="en-NLT-21299"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>.</span> <span class="text Ezek-34-10" id="en-NLT-21300"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>This is what the Sovereign <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> says: I now consider these shepherds my enemies, and I will hold them responsible for what has happened to my flock. I will take away their right to feed the flock, and I will stop them from feeding themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths; the sheep will no longer be their prey.<br /></span></span><span style="color: red;"><span class="text Ezek-34-11"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>“For this is what the Sovereign <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> says: <b><u>I myself will search and find my sheep</u></b>.</span> <span class="text Ezek-34-12" id="en-NLT-21302">I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and <b><u>rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day</u></b>.</span> <span class="text Ezek-34-13" id="en-NLT-21303"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>I will bring them back home to their own land of Israel from among the peoples and nations. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and by the rivers and in all the places where people live.</span> <span class="text Ezek-34-14" id="en-NLT-21304"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in the lush pastures of the hills.</span> <span class="text Ezek-34-15" id="en-NLT-21305"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>.</span> <span class="text Ezek-34-16" id="en-NLT-21306"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. <br /></span></span><span style="color: red;"><span class="text Ezek-34-16"><b><u>I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak</u></b>.</span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;"><span class="text Ezek-34-16"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;">2020 definitely felt like a dark and cloudy day where the sheep were scattered. Shepherds were more concerned with disinfectant than the sheep starving and being eaten alive by wild animals. I'm not trying to be harsh because I get it, I panicked too in the beginning. Nobody knew how to respond to this. But almost a year later, we should be way past the initial shock and focused on the search and rescue of the sheep... instead of disinfecting ourselves. Suicide, depression, and divorce are skyrocketing. It is time to go after the scattered sheep. The wild animals definitely are while the shepherds are in endless meetings.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;">The key in continuing to serve during such difficult days is the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will empower us to go into all the world sharing the gospel, even when we should be afraid. The Holy Spirit will compel us to do ministry even when the world's voice says it is too dangerous. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;"><i>A religious spirit hates the things of the Holy Spirit. It's job is to frustrate the work of God. A religious spirit may be a Bible Teaching Ninja but totally disconnected from the heart of God. A religious spirit is more concerned about programs than prayer A religious spirit spends months in meetings while the work of God is never MET. A religious spirit needs to be in visible leadership and have control over decisions. A religious spirit HATES being questioned and flips it around to make you look divisive. A religious spirit condemns. A religious spirit does not understand grace. A religious spirit is always <b>breeding ground </b>for secret sin and eventually manifests in scandal. A religious spirit fights to protect reputation instead of fighting the Lord's battles. A religious spirit squelches the people of God and the Spirit who is at work in them. A religious spirit causes people to burn out. A religious spirit causes depression because the burden is TOO HEAVY. </i></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;">2 Tim 3 says to social distance from religious people! to stay away from them. It is for freedom that God has set you free. Don't be enslaved again! There is no time to be tangled up with a spirit of religion. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;">Jesus was very direct about dealing with "religion" in the Church. He had not patience with it. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;">It is a counterfeit with ZERO power. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;">How do you know where the Holy Spirit is at work?</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;">Look for FRUIT. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;">Look for JOY. Look for wholeness. Look for discipleship and shepherds who truly care about the sheep. Look for strong families. Look for depth. Look for fruit in ministry, lives being changed. Look for GRACE. Look for ministry. Look for freedom. Look for a place you can serve. Look for places were fruitful ministry went forward in 2020 (that is a big clue). Look for humility, approachability, and transparency in leadership.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;">I believe we are going to see miracles in these last days. The days are going to be difficult but the Spirit is going to be poured out in a way we have never seen before. The harvest is RIPE and the workers are few. Lately, my days have been filled with counseling the hurting, sharing the gospel, begging people to be reconciled to God (especially teenagers), cooking dinners for people who need a safe place, and asking God to continually fill me with His Spirit. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;">We need wisdom for these dark days. No doubt, we are living in a crooked and perverse generation!</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;">But that is when we SHINE!!! Hold fast to God's Word and watch the strobe light!!!!</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span class="text Phil-2-15" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NKJV-29407" style="text-align: start;">"children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, </span><span class="text Phil-2-16" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NKJV-29408" style="text-align: start;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>holding fast the word of life" </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span class="text Phil-2-16" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="text-align: start;">Phil 2:15</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="text Phil-2-16" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="text-align: start;">I cannot encourage you strongly enough to stay connected with the body of Christ. Find out where the Spirit of God is working and join in the work. Social distance yourself from religious spirits. I believe they are way more dangerous than Covid. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="text Phil-2-16" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="text-align: start;">Study the what the Word says about the Holy Spirit!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="text Phil-2-16" style="color: red; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><span style="text-align: justify;">"Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives."</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="text Phil-2-16" style="color: red; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Gal 5</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="text Phil-2-16" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="text-align: start;">The Holy Spirit is going to get us through these dark days and empower us to have fruitful ministry! Earnestly seek the gifts of the Spirit and ask Him to continually fill you with His Spirit to do His work! You will see MIRACLES. Because it is supernatural, dynamite power! </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial">You plug your phone in every night! </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial">Plug your SELF in to the power source of heaven!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere"</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Acts 1:8</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pXy6D_N1xOBseSCSguDN_qBgbkvZS_GDWjuyZs09PRz6D_7GOvU21dt2Y240pFvoumSZy_-UqxI94I4TdUqNkDNf_LPVvbPBH8nPIdeoSqRUysbNXVh91KBrGj2Aqdr8W-j2w9g6MWY/s900/0d7190e3ea8a26030657c4835c67536e.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pXy6D_N1xOBseSCSguDN_qBgbkvZS_GDWjuyZs09PRz6D_7GOvU21dt2Y240pFvoumSZy_-UqxI94I4TdUqNkDNf_LPVvbPBH8nPIdeoSqRUysbNXVh91KBrGj2Aqdr8W-j2w9g6MWY/s320/0d7190e3ea8a26030657c4835c67536e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><span class="text 2Tim-3-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p><span class="text 2Tim-3-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16949471213153043914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764645362386861163.post-54106752749697003602020-04-30T12:36:00.003-04:002020-04-30T14:22:59.751-04:00Valley of Trouble Transformed into Door of Hope<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was only weeks ago that I was at Disney World celebrating my daughter's 10th birthday. We laughed and danced and savored every minute. It was more fun than I have had in a long time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At one point, as I was dancing and laughing at the Magic Kingdom, I felt like the Lord spoke to my heart to "prepare" for what was ahead. I tucked that fleeting thought into my heart and kept having the time of my life. God saw what was right around the corner. He knew what was about to crash into our happy world. And I'm sure His heart hurt. If Jesus cried as a man, and we are made in God's image... then you have to wonder if God cries. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In a matter of weeks, Tim would lose his ability to work as a dentist. Our second income (rental house in Florida) would be shut down as the beaches are closed by the government. We would begin living in a world of fear, masks, isolation, and me trying to make sure I can feed our large family. I think I was living on adrenaline for the first 2 weeks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My 2 year old got a 100 degree fever so I had to quarantine her within our quarantine. Just me and her as I wonder if she has IT. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Would she die? Would I die? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">While I was quarantined with Belle, a tornado comes raging through Chattanooga. At almost midnight, I had to scoop children out of bed and cram us all into a tiny pantry with a mattress as we prayed. The tornado did not hit us but it did hit our friends and cause some of the saddest destruction I have ever seen. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSt5g8ZnqEf0nukxWUjRBX50iMD2W83v4MUupR_7WfBVyMojpDDrMNRKaj7WSPa20z_TdKJWZMWjHFsPIQ-mI0O-yWesNhf9cx8PgAQXlKVmXnEzL8G_qs_XYycJghO_kBLtyxBo7QwY/s1600/IMG_7054%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSt5g8ZnqEf0nukxWUjRBX50iMD2W83v4MUupR_7WfBVyMojpDDrMNRKaj7WSPa20z_TdKJWZMWjHFsPIQ-mI0O-yWesNhf9cx8PgAQXlKVmXnEzL8G_qs_XYycJghO_kBLtyxBo7QwY/s320/IMG_7054%255B1%255D.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We certainly weren't at Magic Kingdom anymore. Meanwhile, Tim is trying to figure out what his new normal looks like. He can't work for an undetermined amount of time. He is the provider for 10 people. Who could have ever dreamed that dentists and beaches would both be CLOSED? We are now living what feels like a weird end-times movie that certainly isn't believable. I grieve that my children have been exposed to so much scary stuff at such a young age. I try to "shelter" them as much as I can. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Stress is high in our home as I am battling fear and worry. The teenagers just lost their ability to do ANYTHING with ANYBODY. My little ones are stir crazy (2 and 3 year olds are not built for being stuck inside for months!). There are a lot of apologies happening in our home these days. We are all doing our best to respond to an ever-changing scary situation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">God is purifying us through it though. We are all uncomfortable. We are squirming like LIVING sacrifices as God changes us through this trial. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The dross of our ugly ole flesh is surfacing. But as we give God control to USE this for good, and purify us, He gently wipes our dross away...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">leaving us stronger and more vibrant. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"I have refined you, but not as silver is refined.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Is 48:10</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e9eef1;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e9eef1;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ps 66:10</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The refining pot <em style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">is</em> for silver and the furnace for gold,</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But the L<span class="yhwh" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">ORD</span> tests the hearts.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Prov 17:3</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mal 3:2</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black;">This refinement through trials is not a fun process but it is "necessary" in the lives of believers.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , "sans serif";">"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while,<b><u> </u></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , "sans serif";"><b><u>IF NECESSARY</u></b>, you have been grieved by various trials"</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , "sans serif";">1 Peter 1:6</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tim and I have gone through our share of HARD. I think the Christian life can (in some ways) is harder than the non-Christian. Because of the warfare and because of engaging in other people's lives in an intentional way. It would be a lot "easier" to be sitting in a recliner watching reality TV or doing whatever we wanted to do rather than actively being engaged in a war. People who live for themselves and are "checked out" to others' problems never even know there is a war in the spiritual realm. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But that isn't what God has called us to. Even stuck in our houses, we are still engaged in battle. We can war in prayer and by digging into the Word in order to hear God's voice about which direction to go in this dark wilderness.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We can still call people and tell them we love them and we can pray for them. I tried to call 5 people everyday for the first few weeks of this. It blessed <b><u>me</u></b> to reach OUT.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">God promises to use all things together for good for who?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"><u><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE</span></u></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"><u><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></u></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you love God, that promise is FOR YOU! What the enemy intends for evil (and the enemy absolutely intends this virus for evil, no doubt about that!), </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">God uses for GOOD!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The enemy desires to kill, steal, and destroy, but Jesus gives ABUNDANT LIFE!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I love this verse that God keeps bringing to my mind...</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"I will return her vineyards to her</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and transform the Valley of Trouble into a DOOR OF HOPE."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hos 2:15</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">God transforms valleys of trouble into doors of HOPE! How cool is that? He can totally transform all of this trouble into HOPE!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I don't want to waste this time of trouble. I want to surrender to God's work in my life and in the lives of my children. His Spirit is actively working! Doors of hope are opening for the gospel to be proclaimed.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fffdd3;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Holy Spirit is being poured out if we can just stop worrying long enough to see it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I don't want to hyper-focus on the trouble. I want to fix my eyes on JESUS the author and finisher of my faith and the TRANSFORMER of trouble. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Bible says that Jesus sought out lonely (desolate/wilderness) places to pray.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Luke 5:16</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img height="320" src="https://connect.xfinity.com/appsuite/api/image/mail/picture?folder=default0%2FINBOX&id=1203276&uid=IMG_6975.jpg&scaleType=contain&width=1024" width="240" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We can pray in this lonely place. God loves spending time with us in prayer. He moves mountains and performs miracles in response to our prayers. He deeply cares about you. Spend time in this wilderness TO PRAY.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fffdd3;">The enemy is bent on destruction. He wants anxiety and worry to wear us down. Especially our minds. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fffdd3;">But God has not given us a spirit of fear... He HAS given us a spirit of love, a spirit of power, and a spirit of a SOUND MIND.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fffdd3;">He has given us the mind of Christ.</span></span></div>
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Fight to protect your sound mind by taking every thought captive and soaking in the Word as it literally RENEWS YOUR MIND.</div>
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Ask Him to give you fresh vision. </div>
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Ask Him to give your your daily bread!</div>
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The disciples asked Jesus how to pray and this is what He said!</div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>“<u>This, then, is how you should pray</u>:</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>“ Our Father in heaven,</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>hallowed be your name,</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>your kingdom come,</i></b></span></span></div>
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<b style="color: red; font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5em;"><i>your will be done,</i></b></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>on earth as it is in heaven.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Give us today our daily bread.</i></b></span></span></div>
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<b style="color: red; font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5em;"><i>And forgive us our debts,</i></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: 2em;"><i><span style="color: red;">as we also have forgiven our debtors.</span><span style="color: red; text-indent: 0.5em;"> </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>And lead us not into temptation,</i></b></span></span></div>
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<b style="color: red; font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: 2em;"><i>but deliver us from the evil one.<span style="text-transform: lowercase;">"</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="text-transform: lowercase;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>MattHEW 6</i></b></span></span></div>
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This prayer helps reset my vision on heaven. And on the basics.</div>
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If you don't know Jesus Christ as your Savior, cry out to Him for salvation right now. Don't put it off any longer. He loves you. He doesn't desire to punish you. He took your punishment! Ask Him to forgive you and HE WILL! Begin a new relationship with God today as you start reading your Bible and learning more and more about WHO HE IS! He is faithful and true and you can trust Him with your anxiety and worry. Cast it on Him! He tells you to!<br />
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I am not minimizing the effects of this pandemic. Our family is being HIT hard. We just have to keep walking by faith that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And that His promises are YES AND AMEN.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I love you and I am with you in this! God will prove Himself faithful. He cannot deny </span><u>WHO HE IS</u><span style="font-size: small;">!</span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">"I saw heaven standing open </span><span class="criteria" id="yui-gen40" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b>and</b></span><span style="background-color: #f8f8da; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"> there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called </span><b><u><span class="criteria" id="yui-gen41" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Faithful</span><span style="background-color: #f8f8da; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="criteria" id="yui-gen42" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">and</span><span style="background-color: #f8f8da; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="criteria" id="yui-gen43" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">True</span></u></b><span style="background-color: #f8f8da; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>Rev 19:11</b></span></span></div>
Be Blessed!</div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16949471213153043914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764645362386861163.post-81262883040985720522019-04-08T11:25:00.001-04:002019-04-08T11:25:08.085-04:00John 3:16 and Me<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8SzQRUWWppl9NP2J6aXImr6cfUcPXEO7rVsVAW6Lo3gVsRstFMiS8uGd43kuaJ-1B4hAlfIOBu_AQUijES7c_UgOKynmPwMHvIx2Wd9FGImMB0-9y7bZvzLs6cmHpPWlfVZPxeWnxSo/s1600/IMG_0521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="833" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8SzQRUWWppl9NP2J6aXImr6cfUcPXEO7rVsVAW6Lo3gVsRstFMiS8uGd43kuaJ-1B4hAlfIOBu_AQUijES7c_UgOKynmPwMHvIx2Wd9FGImMB0-9y7bZvzLs6cmHpPWlfVZPxeWnxSo/s320/IMG_0521.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lately, I have been hearing a lot about this new DNA test that can unveil much more about your ancestry than you could have ever known. It can tell you your health predispositions, traits, relatives, etc. By exploring your 23 chromosomes, the website says that they can tell you a lot about YOU. Just pay $200, mail in some of your saliva, and they can unlock a whole lot of information.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have quite a few friends who have done this. The reports are usually not encouraging. People are finding out truths about ancestors that can be somewhat unsettling. I just read about a girl who discovered she had 29 siblings after growing up as an only child. Their biological father was a sperm donor. That's a lot to find out!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">People who were adopted are finding out who their real parents are. They seem to be left with more questions than answers and are having to walk through deep pain along with the discovery. One of my friends told me that the test told her that her daughter had a pre-disposition for being bi-polar. That is unnerving to think about for a mom! But, it runs in the family so it may just run right into her? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Another person I know found out that her mom was married to more men than she was ever made aware of. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Often, the information obtained opens wounds but the people needed to talk to for reconciliation are no longer living. It is extremely difficult to process.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There tends to be misplaced <u>shame</u> and a deep darkness that comes with the uncovered knowledge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What do we do with all this information? Is it beneficial to even know?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think as we continue to see the breakdown of marriages and the family, our generation is left with a lot of unanswered questions. Who am I, really? Where did I come from? What are my pre-dispositions? What is the truth about my past?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If we aren't careful, this can become damaging... we were never suppose to look into our DNA for these answers. It can feel hopeless.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e9eef1; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have to press on! Not looking back but looking forward by faith!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;">"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has </span><span class="criteria" id="yui-gen31" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">called</span><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"> me </span><span class="criteria" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">heavenward</span><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"> in Christ Jesus."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Phil 3:14</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It doesn't matter if you come from a solid family or the most dysfunctional family since Adam and Eve. Either way, we have inherited a broken and sinful nature. We inherited it from our parents who inherited it from their parents who ultimately inherited it from theirs (a famous couple in the Garden of Eden). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Every DNA test is going to give you BAD NEWS. I can save you some money by telling you that your ancestry <b>will</b> include some of the following: alcoholism, mental disorders, divorce, suicide, homosexuality, infidelity, cancer, abandonment, and every other sin. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You have the same predisposition for brokenness as they did! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That is the bad news. :(</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Here is the GOOD NEWS!!!!! You have been REDEEMED!!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Not with spit but with the precious BLOOD of Jesus Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;">"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were REDEEMED from the </span><b><span class="criteria" id="yui-gen34" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">empty </span><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"></span><span class="criteria" id="yui-gen33" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">way</span><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"> of </span><span class="criteria" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">life</span></b><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"> <b>handed down to you from your ancestors</b>, </span><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;">but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 Peter 1:18,19</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When you give your life to Jesus Christ, you are given a whole new DNA!!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e9eef1;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them <b>you may participate in the <u>divine nature</u></b>, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e9eef1;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2 Peter 1:4</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e9eef1; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You can overcome by the blood of the Lamb. Just like all of the overcomers in Hebrews 11! How did they do it? Two words... </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e9eef1; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1.</span></span><span style="background-color: #e9eef1; color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">BY </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e9eef1; color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2.FAITH. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e9eef1; color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">They longed for heaven. They didn't focus on the past or where they came from. They focused on where they were going!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e9eef1; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you look long and hard enough, you will find FAITH in your ancestry as well. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e9eef1; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There <b>are</b> people who have gone before you who finished well!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yes, you need to be aware of your weaknesses that may have been inherited. If you come from alcoholism, don't drink alcohol. Don't give the enemy a foothold to trap you! If you come from a long line of divorced people, invest in your marriage and ask God to stop the cycle of divorce through your faithfulness in marriage. Give your children a heritage that they can stand on. Let this be a reminder that we are all handing down SOMETHING to our children. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;">We all come from dysfunction thanks to Adam and Eve. We can get discouraged by what we find out through our spit OR we can focus on building a foundation for the future generations coming after us!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;">For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. <b>But even greater</b> is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, <i><b>for all who receive it will live in triumph </b></i>over sin and death through this one man, <u>Jesus Christ</u>. </span><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;">Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and <u>new life</u> for everyone.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Romans 5</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hallelujah!!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If my kids were to get a glimpse into my life before Christ, it would be so sad for them. One hard look into their spit, and they will see the emptiness of their DNA and how much they need Jesus!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is devastating for me to remember who I was without Jesus. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tim and I have both apologized to them for the years we squandered away with sin and bad choices. Apart from Christ, I have NOTHING to give them. But Jesus didn't leave me like that. He REDEEMED me from my empty life with the precious blood of His Son. He has given me a new nature. My children need to know that without the blood of Christ, they will walk in their own fallen nature as well.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;">We have got to be reminded of the GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL!! That God can set "any old bush on fire" (as Kay Arthur used to say). It doesn't matter where you came from. It matter what Jesus did on the cross as He conquered death and made a way for you to be reconciled to God! He can live His perfect life through you. He knows what lies ahead for you. He knows your predispositions and He still LOVES you. When you accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of your life. He will give you the grace you need to walk through illness and He may miraculously heal you if you ask Him. <i>We don't have to be afraid</i>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;">You can have victory over the enemy's foothold in your DNA. Jesus is stronger than the alcoholism, the homosexuality, the adultery, and whatever else is crouching at your door. You can participate in a DIVINE nature instead of your own! You can give your children a glorious inheritance of faithfulness and a life lived well! But it won't be through pointing them to spit, it will be pointing them to THE BLOOD.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;">I prefer "John 3:16 and Me" over 23 and Me. :)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;">It's not what my DNA says about me. It is what Jesus says about me!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;">He redeemed me from the empty way of life handed down to me (PERIOD).</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">John 3:16</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;">It is no longer I who live but Christ!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;">I don't know why I have been burdened to write about this. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;">I just want everyone to know that Jesus LOVES you. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;">If you are writing your life story now of brokenness and sin, Jesus Christ can change that in an instant. You have no power over sin and the enemy's grip on you. But Jesus does.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;">Run to Him and let Him give you new life today.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;">If you don't know how to start a relationship with God, please write me an email.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;">I can tell you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;">tsblackiston@comcast.net</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in <b><u>Me</u></b>."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Acts 26:18’</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da; color: #01103a; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16949471213153043914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764645362386861163.post-52231047936774499722019-03-16T13:38:00.001-04:002019-03-16T13:38:13.961-04:00Hang On<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have a couple kids at the baseball field, some watching "A Bug's Life", one napping, one playing with Legos and I decided to sit down and write. It feels like a whole lifetime ago that I blogged. I love processing through writing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I miss it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is healthy for me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think I will have to wait until heaven to process this life because it is going SO FAST.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I seriously can't keep up... much less process it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This past year has felt like "the third heaven" in some ways. We have gone through such extreme trials that I have wondered if we died. They definitely should have killed us. Like Paul said, "I dare not speak of it". This last year of suffering has definitely felt like an out-of-body experience and God <u>has</u> spoken to us inexpressible and sacred things.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. </span><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="1090003" id="verse_1090003" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— </span><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="1090004" id="verse_1090004" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2 Cor 12</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God has used physical suffering to weaken both me and Tim this last year. If we hadn't have clung to the Word, we would have despaired. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tears truly felt like my food like David said in Psalms.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. </span><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="1090010" id="verse_1090010" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in <u>weaknesses</u>, in insults, in <u>hardship</u>s, in persecutions, in <u>difficulties</u>. For when I am weak, then I am strong.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2 Cor 12</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This word "weaknesses" means <i>physical sickness or disease</i>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The word "hardships" means <i>necessary distress</i> and the word "difficulties" means <i>a narrow place or extreme afflictions</i>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I hope you canNOT relate to these words but I have a feeling you can. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are not the only ones who have been beat up by trials lately. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; text-align: start;">Remember that your Christian brothers</span><span style="background-color: #fffdd3; text-align: start;"> all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 Peter 5:9</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I see suffering in so many strong believers lives. There is deep pain in their eyes as they share what they are enduring. These extreme afflictions <u>are like a narrow space</u>. They can be SUFFOCATING. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think my favorite word in the list is "hardship" because they are NECESSARY. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; color: #01103a; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These trials are doing something. 1 Peter 4 says physical suffering has "<b>a RESULT</b>".</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="1155001" id="verse_1155001" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #5c749a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: red;"><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="1155001" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px; vertical-align: top;">"</span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. </span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;"><b>As a result</b>, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The result of physical suffering is that we will not live the rest of our lives for earthly human desires but rather for the WILL OF GOD. I can promise you physical suffering has done just that in my life. I look around as I drive my kids all over town and nothing feels familiar anymore. Tim and I long for heaven. We long for our kids to walk with God. We long to finish well. We long to tell people about God. That isn't because we are super spiritual, that is because physical pain and suffering has purified my heart. You realize what matters. There has been a result in our lives. We have been forever changed by suffering. And that is how I can delight in weakness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the last few years, we have also grieved watching believers fall and get "disqualified". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At one point, they were serving God. Then over time, they begin walking in pride, the enemy seizes the opportunity to deceive and after <b>years of compromise and rejected counsel</b>... they FALL. :(</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Otherwise, I fear that <b>after preaching to others</b> I myself might be <u>disqualified</u>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 Cor 9</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That is a hard thing to watch and a hard thing to reconcile. I always think of the child of a pastor who at one time had a thriving ministry only to sacrifice it all on the altar of sexual sin. How do his children process it? It is like schizophrenia. The person they were and the person sin has caused them to become are shockingly different. After all, they used to preach to others! Sin deadens their spirit and they lose their senses. It's exactly what leprosy does. It makes us numb. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Such a picture of what sin does in our lives!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I read the story of Nebuchadnezzar to the kids last night. He stands on his roof and takes all the credit for the Kingdom. <i>As the words were still on his lips</i>, God rebukes him and he loses his mind. He starts eating grass, his hair turns into eagle's feathers, and his fingernails in to claws. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This goes on for years until, by God's mercy and gift, he repents and comes back to his "senses". That is what pride does. I told the kids that if we see pride in one another, than we can feel free to ask "Is that a feather I see in your hair"? :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pride has been the common denominator in the "disqualifications" I have watched. I don't think they lose their salvation but they definitely lose their minds and any opportunity to serve the living God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I wonder if Nebuchadnezzar knew how bizarre he was acting when he was eating grass and had eagle-feather-hair. It doesn't seem like people <i>know</i> when they lose their spiritual minds. To me, that is the scariest part. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One day you walk in and the once normal person is <i>eating grass</i> like that's normal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Only God can (<b>PERHAPS)</b> grant repentance for a prideful, grass-eating, claw-having, eagle head.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-indent: 30px;"> "<u>if God <b>perhaps</b> will grant them repentance</u>, so that they may know the truth, </span><span class="vnum" data-bible-id="1127026" id="verse_1127026" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 30px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-indent: 30px;">and </span><em style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 30px;">that</em><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-indent: 30px;"> <u>they may come to their senses</u> </span><em id="yui-gen37" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 30px;">and</em><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-indent: 30px;"> </span><em id="yui-gen30" style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 30px;">escape</em><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-indent: 30px;"> the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to </span><em style="background-color: #fcfdfd; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 30px;">do</em><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-indent: 30px;"> his will."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fcfdfd; text-indent: 30px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2 Tim 2:25</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;">Tim and I are still training up little ones in the Word. We are also discipling 2 amazing teenagers. God is teaching us as we teach them. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;">It is hard to let go of the control you have had as a mother. I ride in the passenger seat now with a teenage driver. That's how this entire season of life feels... OUT OF CONTROL.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;">I'm like "wait, you are driving but YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO DRIVE!!". They are having to learn so fast in every area of life. They have to learn self-discipline, discernment, how to connect with people--- how to connect with <i>the right people</i>, convictions about dating, submission to authority, integrity issues, sexual purity. It's a lot. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;">Especially in a generation that the enemy is out to get! How can a young man possible keep his way pure in 2019? the same way he did in 1919... by living according to THE WORD. By hiding God's Word in their hearts so that they won't sin. By letting grace teach them to say NO to ungodliness and worldly passions (Titus 2). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center; text-indent: 30px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;">I can't lecture them into holiness, I can't ground them into holiness, it will be their decision and the work of the Holy Spirit. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;">I <b><u>can</u></b> continue to pour truth into their lives. I <u><b>can </b></u>stop what I am doing and enter into their worlds for ANOTHER conversation about holiness. I <b><u>can</u></b> make them my priority in prayer. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center; text-indent: 30px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;">I have started praying lately that God would grant them a "willing spirit" (Ps 51) and make them "eager to do what is good" (Titus 2). I have also realized that is is only by the Holy Spirit that they will be able to say "Jesus is Lord".</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfdfd;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 Cor 12</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;">I absolutely believe you can know Jesus as your Savior without calling Him Lord. This is an act of the Spirit and I have told my boys that. They can't even start living for the Lord apart from His Spirit. They need Him for the first utterance and desire! And as they call Him Lord, it is a beautiful relationship. We are yielded to Him. We view this world through His lens, not our own. We pray to do well in sports so that we can have a platform to reach lost teammates. We don't participate in the sin all around us because of our deep love for Jesus Christ and gratefulness for what He has done for us. We understand that staying sexually pure brings God glory and our bodies are living sacrifices! Not our own but bought with a price that was PAID IN FULL. So we honor HIM with our bodies. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;">I found an awesome verse yesterday. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 Cor 16:15</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When I looked up the meaning of this word "devoted", it can be translated ADDICTED!!! It actually is translated addicted in the King James Version!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><em id="yui-gen31" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"that</em><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"> they have </span><span class="criteria" id="yui-gen30" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">addicted</span><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"> </span><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;">themselves to the ministry"</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;">1 Cor 16:15</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I almost started to cry because of how this ministered to my heart.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It breaks my heart seeing an entire generation addicted to their phones, to electronics, to porn, to social media, to all sorts of things. It is SCARY raising teenage boys because of how the enemy is crouching at their door and his desire is to destroy them. But there are godly addictions! Addictions to ministry!! That is my prayer for them! That they would ADDICT THEMSELVES to serving God! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;">May we be obedient to teach our kids about the Lord. To teach them His Word. To pray for them and to stay humble when God does a mighty work in them!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;">******************************</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;">The other part of this last year that has felt like the third heaven and an out-of-body experience is the HUGE answer to 10 years of prayer for a place to do ministry on a larger scale. We are so excited that God has opened a big door for us and I pray that it is for effective ministry!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #01103a; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"because a great door for effective work has opened to me"</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 Cor 16:9</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tim loves architecture and has been designing a home where we can live and do ministry for years. It is so fun to watch him do what he does best. He is a brilliant designer. Who needs Joanna Gaines when you are married to Tim Blackiston? :) </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So crazy that when I was a baby Christian in a prayer tower at Bible college, I prayed for a godly husband to serve God alongside of. Not only did God give me a godly husband but a godly husband who<u> built my my own prayer tower</u>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That's God.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Exceedingly and abundantly MORE than we could ever ask or imagine. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are beyond excited about what God is doing in our lives in the midst of so much suffering. Sometimes God has to flatten us in order to bless us :) </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">so the blessing itself doesn't ruin us...because we couldn't handle it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God doesn't want any of us to stand on our roofs like Nebuchadnezzar did as we look around at all God has done yet claiming we did it all. It is all by Him, through Him, and for Him! Our new home will be just that too. We are praying for God to breathe His life into our property. Otherwise, it is just a bunch of wood and windows.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, I have to go because it's time to make lunch. I hope this ministered to someone somewhere. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is hard. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Life is hard. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Heaven is coming. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Be careful how you live. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not as unwise but as wise and knowing the times! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus is coming for us. I believe it is so soon. He is coming to make all things right. He sees your pain. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u>Hang on</u>, He is faithfully busy doing something amazing. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffdd3;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,</span></span></div>
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #fffdd3;"><div style="text-align: center;">
and no mind has imagined</div>
</span><span style="background-color: #fffdd3;"><div style="text-align: center;">
what God has prepared</div>
</span><span style="background-color: #fffdd3;"><div style="text-align: center;">
for those who love him.</div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8da;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 Cor 2:9</span></span></div>
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<br />Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16949471213153043914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764645362386861163.post-66008851848035672032018-06-04T16:38:00.001-04:002018-06-04T16:42:49.603-04:00Racing Against Horses<div style="text-align: center;">
Oh how I miss writing! It helps me process. It helps me share what God has shared with me. My days are crammed with so much life. There is no time to sit. I stand in the kitchen feeding people most of the day. God has given me a full life and I LOVE IT! </div>
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Belle is growing and she has stolen my heart completely. Maybe because she is just a straight-up-surprise-gift that we didn't have the faith to plan. Or maybe it's because we are older and know to savor every second of life.<br />
Or maybe God just wanted to blow us away with His love.<br />
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I have honestly struggled because she feels so holy.<br />
TOO HOLY for me. Like I am standing on holy ground around her. They are all holy but there is something tangibly holy about a 6 pound baby. She's delicate and lovely. She's a girly girl. I feel God's presence around her. I KNOW God planned her before He planned the oceans. I just weep feeling unworthy to be the mother to these 8 world changers.</div>
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I couldn't even write about motherhood on Mother's Day because it is such a humbling day for me. I could have never done anything to deserve these children. I fail them daily yet God chose me for this. </div>
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People tell me all the time, "I don't know how you do it". I tell them, "It's all THE LORD". This was His plan for me! I don't know why but I'm sure Moses, Abraham, Joseph, Mary, and every other very human person struggled with God's supernatural calling on their life too. It doesn't make sense. Grace NEVER MAKES SENSE.</div>
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How many children to have is such a prayerful thing in every marriage. It is a matter of marching in step with the Spirit. The only way I know how to describe how I had 8 children is... I was compelled.</div>
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We were compelled. There was warfare. There are seasons of faithlessness and fatigue. But by God's grace and willing hearts, we completed the work He assigned to us. We can't do it in our own strength. We couldn't have raised one child in our own strength. We are 8 children beyond our natural capacities! Yet His calling on our marriage and lives remains- to raise these children to know and serve God.</div>
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I believe God is raising up Christian couples to have larger families. </div>
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Just normal couples living for Jesus whose hearts are being tugged by the Spirit.</div>
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There is no magic number. The lady with the mite gave more than the rich dude! It's not about numbers. It's about the heart. It's about faith. It's about calling. I praise God for couples who are stepping out in faith and asking God what He wants for their family. It may be one child. It may be 12. </div>
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Obedience and sacrifice always come with a cost.</div>
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Having children has cost us a lot. A lot of money. Sanity! My body has suffered. Our comfort has suffered along with many other comforts. </div>
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But I see motherhood as a major part of how I worship. </div>
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When I have complications after delivery, I praise God because (like David said) how could I bring a sacrifice to the Lord that cost me nothing? </div>
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I am amazed that my body was able to be used to bring 8 more people into this world! Praise God for those varicose veins! Think of what Jesus's body went through to give us life! Praise God we get to identify with Him through bringing children into this world! Motherhood truly has saved me! It has saved me from MYSELF. </div>
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The verse I can't stop thinking of is John12:24</div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">Very truly I tell you, </span><span class="criteria">unless</span><span style="background-color: white;"> a kernel of wheat </span><span class="criteria">falls</span><span style="background-color: white;"> to the ground and </span><span class="criteria">dies</span><span style="background-color: white;">, it remains only a single </span><span class="criteria">seed</span><span style="background-color: white;">. But if it </span><span class="criteria">dies</span><span style="background-color: white;">, it produces many seeds.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">That is such a picture of motherhood. Life pours out of us as we surrender and die to self! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">With Jesus, death=ABUNDANT LIFE!</span></span></div>
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<img alt="Image result for kernel of wheat" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/736x/81/d7/b1/81d7b12a19f11787d16ce35ae27a5827--say-to-verse.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">This has been a very hard season for me. Physical/Health issues+the darkness that comes from post partum and exhaustion but God always pulls me through! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I am so thankful. He resurrects and rebuilds us mommas to make us better than we ever were before! I think the dark season after you have a baby is because you are truly taking ground from the enemy and you can feel it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">God is so faithful to heal and restore.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I have been thinking a lot about the process of healing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Multiple times in the Bible, healing was a process. It wasn't instant.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Sometimes the sick person had to go do something out of obedience to find healing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Sometimes Jesus did a partial healing before the complete healing came.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">"When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and they begged him to touch the man and heal him. <span class="vnum"> </span>Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then, spitting on the man’s eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked, <span class="rl">“Can you see anything now?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span class="vnum"> </span>The man looked around. “Yes,” he said, “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span class="vnum"> </span>Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His <b>sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly.</b>"</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Mark 8</span></div>
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Don't be discouraged if you are still waiting for complete healing of your body, or your marriage, or your family! Sometimes it is a process. </div>
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But there is <u>purpose in the process</u>!</div>
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We get a little insight into "the why" in the process in Deuteronomy 7...</div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="text-indent: 16.2px;">"The L</span><span class="yhwh" style="text-indent: 16.2px; vertical-align: baseline;">ORD</span><span style="text-indent: 16.2px;"> your God will drive out those nations before you, <u>little by little</u>. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you.</span><span class="vnum" style="text-indent: 16.2px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 16.2px;">But the L</span><span class="yhwh" style="text-indent: 16.2px; vertical-align: baseline;">ORD</span><span style="text-indent: 16.2px;"> your God will deliver them over to you, throwing them into great confusion until they are destroyed."</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 16.2px;">God sees the big picture. He is doing everything at just the right time (little by little) because He is PROTECTING you from what you can't see.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">I have been noticing a lot about how Jesus served and operated during His short time here.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">"But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." Luke 5:16</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">He purposely went to lonely places to pray. I HATE lonely places. He sought them out. </span></div>
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Just *maybe* ;) Jesus still inhabits the lonely places. Maybe our lonely places are ON PURPOSE. I’m gonna follow His example and seek out solitude to spend time in prayer. I have a mentor/friend who goes away alone every year just to pray. That is a true discipline. I think social media has fried our brains so that they can't be still enough to pray any more. I know I struggle with that.</div>
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<span style="color: red; text-indent: 0px;">"all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them" John 8:2</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;"> He wasn’t a "stage/platform guy". He SAT DOWN! He humbled Himself. He let go of status. He just loved people. I think we are living in a selfie world full of people desiring ministry status (if there is such a thing). Jesus motivates me to SIT DOWN and meet people where they are. Especially my kids.</span></div>
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I have no desire for limelight. I want to walk in HIS LIGHT. An unnamed child of mine wants to be famous more than anything. I tell her :) "be famous in God's eyes". </div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">I crave anonymity more than ever these days. Just let me be faithful, Lord... changing diapers and teaching toddlers your Word. Help me to SIT DOWN and teach the people around me.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">"When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span class="vnum" style="vertical-align: top;"> </span>Jesus said to them, <span class="rl">“Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”</span> <span class="vnum" style="vertical-align: top;"> </span>So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn<span class="vnum" style="vertical-align: top;"> </span>Jesus said to them, <span class="rl">“Come and have breakfast.”</span></span></div>
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<span class="rl"><span style="color: red;">John 21</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">He cooked yummy breakfast. He found joy in serving food.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">I feed 10 people 3 times a day. I could use some new passion in this area! My homemaking skills are not cutting it lately. Even with my beloved Cindy.</span></div>
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There are simply a lot of messy oxen in this barn that are gonna produce a harvest one day!</div>
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Proverbs 14:4</div>
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I have always been a wing-it-girl. I truly have always been the girl who just wants to have fun. Well, you can't do that with 9 starving people all around you. God help me love my JOB of serving food. Give me creative ideas how to feed an army every day! </div>
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<span style="font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">( I also love that it says EVEN WITH SO MANY {fish} THE NET WAS NOT TORN because sometimes I worry our quiver may bust open because it's too full but not with Jesus!! lol. The enemy (and the world) love to tell us that we have too many kids. Only Jesus can prevent the net from tearing because it's full. It should have torn. <u>But it didn't!</u> It was full of LARGE HEALTHY FISH. Again, how many children you have is between your husband, you, and the Lord. It is hard to have that "one more" but God will give you the grace you need to survive it. I am living proof. <i><u>My net should have torn a long time ago.)</u></i></span></div>
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<i>Jesus loves full houses. :)</i></div>
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<i><span style="color: red;">"I want my house to be full."</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: red;">Luke 14:23</span></i></div>
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I found this verse the other day and LOVED it:</div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">“If racing against mere men makes you tired, how will you RACE AGAINST HORSES? If you stumble and fall on open ground, what will you do in the thickets near the Jordan?”</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">Jeremiah 12:5 </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;"> I’m so thankful with Jesus we can not only walk on water but we can RACE AGAINST HORSES. That’s what having 8 kids feels like. I want God to teach me how to race against horses. Life with Christ is the greatest adventure.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;"><b>LET’S GO.</b></span></div>
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Our identity is not in motherhood because there is a name even greater!</div>
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Our identity is in Jesus!</div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red;">"a name better than sons and daughters; </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red;">I will give them an everlasting name that will endure forever."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red;">Is 56:5</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: start;">Don't find your identity only in being a wife or being a mother. We identify with the name of Jesus and raise children IN HIS NAME.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: start;">I am all about having babies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: start;">You have to have a STRONG HUSBAND to bear the weight of it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: start;">You have to have a strong marriage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: start;">You have to have a strong relationship with Jesus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">Focus on those things. Then you will have the strength you need if you feel like God is calling you to have another child to raise for God's glory. Yes, it is HARD. The hardest thing I will ever do on earth. When Tim and I got married, I gave him a globe and told him I wanted to change the world. I could have NEVER dreamed it would look like this. :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">I am so thankful for these 8 children. I am so thankful I get to be a mom. I am so thankful for GRACE in the journey and a God Who has promised to do this impossible job through me... if I stay out of His way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">Be encouraged sweet sisters. God is calling you to run with horses. I don't pretend to know what that means in your life but God will show you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">Keep abiding and watch Him do what only He can do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">If you don't know Christ as your Savior, open your Bible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">You will find Him there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">Love and miss all of my blog friends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">What sweet days those were.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">Write me any time! Love hearing from you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">tsblackiston@comcast.net</span></div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16949471213153043914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764645362386861163.post-32576741771770141142018-01-27T23:08:00.001-05:002018-01-27T23:45:53.518-05:00Bestowed A Beautiful Crown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; text-align: start;">"You shall be a </span><u><span class="criteria" style="text-align: start;">crown</span><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; text-align: start;"> of </span><span class="criteria" style="text-align: start;">beauty</span></u><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; text-align: start;"> in the hand of the Lord</span><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; text-align: start;">,</span><br style="text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; text-align: start;">and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.<br />Isaiah 62:3</span></span></div>
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Belle's pregnancy really felt magical. That doesn't mean I didn't have heartburn like crazy (now I know why--- her HAIR!!), or big ugly varicose veins, or the other strange things that happen in an 8th pregnancy. But more than anything I am going to remember how special I felt to be carrying her in my womb. My tummy made people smile. That is a fun superpower to have! People wanted to talk to me about if she was my first or if she was a boy or a girl. Pregnancy really is an open door for talking to people that is unique. </div>
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Everything felt more beautiful since God placed her in my womb.</div>
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Even the snowflakes that fell right before her birth were SHOCKINGLY beautiful in their design.</div>
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You could see their perfect shapes. It was crazy!</div>
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Of course I thought God made those amazing snowflakes because of Belle but I think He did it to show thousands of people His glory and His creative power.</div>
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I've studied snowflakes a lot the last couple years.</div>
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He really does reveal Himself through creation!</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow?"</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Job 38:22</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: 12.8px;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIJdBVTJNHpimkVx7iTokOIdVCvVvmhBWrDR6yelXs3U3Ji2R182NM7bRs9doN9ZInvLRe6r9ONh5EoX7QJ-A6B09e75dtTCv-_YqzjvZesFArbhiFTJ3n-VI6gzyQy6h4ysjArQ8Vb8/s1600/IMG_E3504%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1354" data-original-width="1239" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIJdBVTJNHpimkVx7iTokOIdVCvVvmhBWrDR6yelXs3U3Ji2R182NM7bRs9doN9ZInvLRe6r9ONh5EoX7QJ-A6B09e75dtTCv-_YqzjvZesFArbhiFTJ3n-VI6gzyQy6h4ysjArQ8Vb8/s320/IMG_E3504%255B1%255D.JPG" width="292" /></a></div>
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I found these fun cookies the day before she was born.</div>
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Her name is </div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">Belle Loren</span></i></div>
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"beautiful crown"</div>
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It all came from the verse God gave me about her.</div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">"to bestow on them a </span><u><b><span class="criteria" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: start;">crown</span><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"> of </span><span class="criteria" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: start;">beauty</span></b></u><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"> instead of ashes, </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">the oil of joy instead of mourning, </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">They will be called oaks of righteousness, </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">a planting of the Lord </span><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">for the display of His splendor."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="color: red;">Is 61:3</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke;">We thought about naming her Bella or Isabelle but Tim chose </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke;">just "Belle" and I love it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke;">I also love that he named her. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke;">My dad named me and I will treasure that forever.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke;">There is something deeply powerful about your father calling you by name.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke;">Thankful her heavenly Father will call her by name too!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke;">(I miss my dad so much. I wonder what all he can see while he is present with the Lord.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke;">He loved babies and children... And they loved him.)</span></span></div>
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This picture was a few hours before we checked in to the hospital.</div>
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We were watching Lake play indoor soccer.</div>
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( Funny- you can hardly see my tummy in this picture and it looks HUMONGOUS in the next one!)</div>
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This was around 4:30 am when we were checking in.</div>
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It was stressful because Worth got croup ( I despise croup!) in the night and I was so scared to leave him.</div>
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But, we called the Dr, gave him medicine, and prayed. I think I slept 2 hours... maybe.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tim and I celebrated our 16th anniversary while at the hospital.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What a blessing to share this day with her!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She is such a gift to our family and to our marriage.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">The day before she was born, her story flashed through my mind like a movie. </span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">A vivid glimpse back to the office waiting room where Tim chose to have a reversal, to our date a Chueys when I took a pregnancy test in the bathroom and we just stared at each other while our tacos got cold-lol, to the clear verse God gave me about her (that He had bestowed on us a “crown of beauty”), the gender reveal party when that pink smoke poured out where I’ve honestly never seen deeper joy than I saw on Tim’s face, and the daily joy of carrying her in my womb.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWg-_uVlOJpyd5_Hiq31bc3ABH63lZBq6GBrYqXMymNBa0y5G5ul8O-R8FlrSvQEZyLU8y2k2rAuPxExOJPxGBaoricB7D3_eEHd9kdi-Y_NUqurzt1voS8tDrH0mPRFUt-igBapf-w8/s1600/096-20170812_363_RS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWg-_uVlOJpyd5_Hiq31bc3ABH63lZBq6GBrYqXMymNBa0y5G5ul8O-R8FlrSvQEZyLU8y2k2rAuPxExOJPxGBaoricB7D3_eEHd9kdi-Y_NUqurzt1voS8tDrH0mPRFUt-igBapf-w8/s320/096-20170812_363_RS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I believe she is <i>especially</i> a gift to Tim. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Lord truly does reward us with children.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">God saw the amount of courage and faith it has taken to have 8 children.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The amount of energy and discipleship that no one sees (except the Lord).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I truly believe she is a reward.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">They all are but she feels like the spiritual icing on our cake.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have prayed that she would bring Tim great joy.</span></div>
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She has already done that.<br />
I've never seen him more excited about having a baby.<br />
He has had so much peace about her from the beginning.</div>
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We were going to renew our vows at the hospital (we do it every year with the kids)<br />
BUT the best laid plans don't happen when you are IN LABOR!!<br />
Belle can be our flower girl after we get home.</div>
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Lol.</div>
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We "just so happened" to get room #8. :) God is so awesome and in to the details of our lives!</div>
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He was there with us.</div>
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We knew it. </div>
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His presence is so strong when people are being born and when they are born again!</div>
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He is the giver of LIFE.</div>
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He is LIFE.</div>
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And He gave His life so that we could ALL live.</div>
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I love thinking of all the angels encamped and assigned to the Labor and Delivery Floor of the hospital.</div>
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Each baby fearfully and wonderfully HAND-made with purpose.</div>
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All gifts from God!</div>
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So, the doctor came in around 6 am and broke my water around 6:30. In all of my pregnancies, I deliver within 3-4 hours after my water is broken. So I thought she would definitely be here by lunch time! And I was determined NOT to get an epidural. I am scared to death of epidurals after a botched spinal tap 13 years ago that left me in a total mess and needing a patch procedure to fix it.</div>
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Years of back pain has made me choose natural labor over a needle in my spine. </div>
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So I was walking up and down the halls with Tim.</div>
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I wanted to speed things up so I started climbing the seven flights of stairs.</div>
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Then I started skipping stairs.</div>
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Then I started using the breast pump.</div>
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Facetimed the kids.</div>
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Already missing them like crazy!</div>
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Still 4 cm... what?? </div>
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Wishing I had a cuter hospital gown about now.</div>
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I didn't know you could bring your own.</div>
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Totally doing that next time!</div>
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(ha ha- just kidding mom.. I think our quiver is FULL)</div>
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So, more time goes by. I crank up the breast pump. </div>
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Tim was too tired to climb more steps so I kept on by myself.</div>
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I hadn't exercised this much in my entire pregnancy.</div>
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Some doctors saw me in the stair well and asked me if I was trying to break out.</div>
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Ha! I said, "I don't think that would work- I'm trying to have a baby!".</div>
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More hall walking.</div>
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Contractions are getting stronger.</div>
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Two of my best friends are at the hospital and my mom.</div>
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Tim's love for me is mind-blowing. </div>
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I never knew love like this existed.</div>
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Waiting... waiting... waiting.</div>
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I thought she would have been here hours ago.</div>
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Now, it's like 4:00 pm!!!!</div>
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Where is this baby girl??</div>
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Doctor informs me I am at 7.5- yay!!</div>
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I'm still booking it up and down the stairs.</div>
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More pumping, walking, etc...</div>
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And NOTHING.</div>
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Contractions stop.</div>
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This had never happened before.</div>
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I was starting to worry.</div>
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The doctor says that he may need to start pitocin to jump start things.</div>
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Yikes!</div>
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I can't do pitocin naturally.</div>
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Um- NO.</div>
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My "birth plan" isn't panning out.</div>
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I was trying so hard to have this baby naturally.</div>
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But now I am in a time crunch because my water is broken.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPt1OuOgStIygg-TJ5cVPQDT43eZ-aHdgLgdXfFHI4IxzNOY_NlTQ5USlqdqVkeX4oGps-YM2VuRNEWOHbnUS2P6eGEIK7es2aoFW4uafnvqzJIHLBlS8Hr-LDU67bpofeZqUphuioJBE/s1600/IMG_3816%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPt1OuOgStIygg-TJ5cVPQDT43eZ-aHdgLgdXfFHI4IxzNOY_NlTQ5USlqdqVkeX4oGps-YM2VuRNEWOHbnUS2P6eGEIK7es2aoFW4uafnvqzJIHLBlS8Hr-LDU67bpofeZqUphuioJBE/s320/IMG_3816%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We needed fresh wind and fresh fire!</div>
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We were losing steam.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Tim looks like Clark Kent in his reading glasses.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He is totally superman when he reads the Bible to me.</div>
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By 6:00 pm, I was tired.</div>
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Stuck at 7.5 cm, 2 hours of sleep, 12+ hours of labor, 500 million miles of stair climbing.</div>
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I was scared something was wrong.</div>
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I decided to get an epidural.</div>
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I couldn't do 8-10 cm on pitocin with no meds. I just couldn't. It was too much.</div>
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The lady came in to put in the epidural and I had a breakdown. I was sobbing.</div>
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I asked her if I could pray over her hands.</div>
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I have epidural phobia thanks to that horrid spinal tap in the ER all those years ago.</div>
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Epidural was in and the numbness started immediately.</div>
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After they started the pitocin, baby girl was ON HER WAY.</div>
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Tim said, "I'm really glad you have that epidural because your contractions are going off the top of the paper and there are no breaks in between them".</div>
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I couldn't feel a thing.</div>
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It had been a LONG time since I had a baby with an epidural.</div>
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Almost 11 years ago.</div>
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I forgot how wonderful it was to not feel the pain!</div>
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Dr. Brody brought out the bubbles (It was his birthday AND our anniversary AND baby's birthday!).</div>
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I let my mom and friends stay in the room. It really was peaceful.</div>
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I don't let anybody in when I do it naturally.</div>
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(Ain't NOBODY need to see that!)</div>
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But when I am not screaming in pain, I want people in there to experience the miracle of BIRTH.</div>
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I listened to Christy Nockels song "All for Your Splendor" on repeat.</div>
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I probably listened to it 50 times.</div>
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It makes me cry because the lyrics are from her verse.</div>
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I could listen to it 50 times right now!</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
I am so thankful Suzy and mom were there with me. </div>
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Belle is named after my mom, Lorene.</div>
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Belle is her 12th grandchild.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She only had 2 daughters.</div>
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That's a big boost for the family tree!</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
She's here! Praise God! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She's safe.</div>
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I just wanted her here safely.</div>
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Thank you, Lord.</div>
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I had a bet with Tim that she was going to have RED hair.</div>
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I just thought she would- have no idea why.</div>
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And then out came the most beautiful BRUNETTE baby girl!</div>
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What a surprise!</div>
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She always looked so beautiful in her ultrasound pictures.</div>
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She would even cross her little ankles and be so feminine.</div>
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Outside of the womb, she is like a gorgeous porcelain doll who just so happens to be the spitting image of her daddy!</div>
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What a privilege to have a front row seat to such miracles.</div>
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I still can't believe God has allowed me to be part of all of these LIVES!</div>
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I have no doubt that I am doing exactly what I was created to do.</div>
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God has asked me to be a vessel and a voice for life.</div>
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Tim cutting the cord.</div>
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Love!</div>
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You can see my tear in the next one. </div>
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Oh the tears of thankfulness when I saw her and held her in my arms!</div>
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Suzy is one of the most thoughtful, loving people I have ever met.</div>
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So blessed to have had her as a best friend for over 15 years.</div>
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If you know of any GODLY men, let me know.</div>
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She is waiting on God's best.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">This picture means the world to me. </span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Such of picture of my relationship with Jesus. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Isaiah 41:10</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The verses I think of when I think of Tim are...</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="nkjv_P3" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"Most men will proclaim each his own goodness,</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span class="nkjv_TC" style="padding-right: 30px;"></span><u><span class="nkjv_T4"></span>But who can find a faithful man?</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span class="nkjv_T4"></span>The righteous man walks in his integrity;</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span class="nkjv_TC" style="padding-right: 30px;"></span><span class="nkjv_T4"></span>His children are blessed after him."</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Prov 20:6,7</span></div>
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By God's grace and strength, Tim is a faithful man.</div>
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He has his struggles and failures like all of us.</div>
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That's why we all need a daily walk with a Savior!</div>
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His life blesses me and our children.</div>
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I love and respect him more every day.</div>
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He brings such stability to our family.</div>
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He knows he is <u>completely dependent on the Lord</u> and spends time in the Word every morning.</div>
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Knowing He is submitting to the Lord makes it so easy to submit to him.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I run to the Lord and Tim in times of trouble. And I am kept safe. I find help and protection. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I can hide under their protective wings. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStUqv9N3yxLAfNwfJMRo2XxilIXT5z18Omc8-JKtsdd9Q3kLPtaQ_4GXMMbAuLHwisrDBXlzB5BX9uf9RbGA8WVIR-lBA2o6Rhwbx1Ob2Q4dn8Y_FNMSEnfcWXZ5pH8yaSHb8_foXAQ8/s1600/IMG_3860%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStUqv9N3yxLAfNwfJMRo2XxilIXT5z18Omc8-JKtsdd9Q3kLPtaQ_4GXMMbAuLHwisrDBXlzB5BX9uf9RbGA8WVIR-lBA2o6Rhwbx1Ob2Q4dn8Y_FNMSEnfcWXZ5pH8yaSHb8_foXAQ8/s320/IMG_3860%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I especially have to do that during pregnancy and post</span>partum<span style="font-family: inherit;"> months as I am so physically/spiritually vulnerable. </span></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It baffles me to watch all the feminist marches. I guess I can understand to a degree but coming under this man’s authority is the smartest thing I could have ever done. </span></div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m so thankful for his strength and protection over me. I KNOW I am the weaker vessel. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">“In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.”</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">1 Peter 3:7 </span></span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Thankful we all have “equal rights” to enter the throne room and presence of God. Thankful God sees no distinction between male and female in His love and care. But there are roles (leadership/submission)that are beautiful when 2 are walking in submission to the Lord.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Thankful for this dear friend. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">She is a rescuer. Taking care of orphans and her needy friends like me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">She took all the beautiful pictures.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">I am indebted to her.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Not for the pictures but for her pure and rich friendship.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvKTjfper0BJt16eyhKE2WWsJzhJ0xFhAOuXESnVKs1tIWk0QXz2a9jmQzSBTeINYa4fEpFv4AM5fXa52LAHMAmjlAtgjXSiPd_SPaaI0OhchcyAUSF43rXmjbH_hv6mctL2vtKxaBwk/s1600/IMG_3584%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvKTjfper0BJt16eyhKE2WWsJzhJ0xFhAOuXESnVKs1tIWk0QXz2a9jmQzSBTeINYa4fEpFv4AM5fXa52LAHMAmjlAtgjXSiPd_SPaaI0OhchcyAUSF43rXmjbH_hv6mctL2vtKxaBwk/s320/IMG_3584%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqo4QsIFi12rZ1HzoKdj6Hm8idb_DZPgdlemDna0POFEyeAzwrJGuOZQmBmeC_hpCKTgtBgeKFg0UGqLxxbyVktpIUp72iM6UY7t-FIKb4b3R8tZO12h0fgzDZCxM6QZ3gEG3cup-2Vo/s1600/IMG_3587%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqo4QsIFi12rZ1HzoKdj6Hm8idb_DZPgdlemDna0POFEyeAzwrJGuOZQmBmeC_hpCKTgtBgeKFg0UGqLxxbyVktpIUp72iM6UY7t-FIKb4b3R8tZO12h0fgzDZCxM6QZ3gEG3cup-2Vo/s320/IMG_3587%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Meeting her teenage brother for the first time. </div>
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He is the one who begs to hold her the most.</div>
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He got my dad's baby-lovin' DNA.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uLUaPidZhGRHyHvDgiVK6kb3VI7ge5_oX_IKooM0-t7y6hI194Dh-QsczKXK0UqUUy3iGNUiv-a0RFbSZpvPtPisDQry7IR5sQ30lNGncy-R2yBt1t3QEZi3eRGcF8Oc4KsCXh5HZb0/s1600/IMG_3605%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1080" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uLUaPidZhGRHyHvDgiVK6kb3VI7ge5_oX_IKooM0-t7y6hI194Dh-QsczKXK0UqUUy3iGNUiv-a0RFbSZpvPtPisDQry7IR5sQ30lNGncy-R2yBt1t3QEZi3eRGcF8Oc4KsCXh5HZb0/s320/IMG_3605%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKBQr3Z0MZcnmAHZGgmSNJTO_f2sd7cETqfZmMw9zRKDkSndmLupwjtcWyxmNhcTfqZ-7sgjN2dy5Sv1J1S1Lt6l6hHSmY0vrWMGGNFdCPBTgnQ-JbnY8d23ZM0uDxI5KghHYILXfNEA/s1600/IMG_3606%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1080" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKBQr3Z0MZcnmAHZGgmSNJTO_f2sd7cETqfZmMw9zRKDkSndmLupwjtcWyxmNhcTfqZ-7sgjN2dy5Sv1J1S1Lt6l6hHSmY0vrWMGGNFdCPBTgnQ-JbnY8d23ZM0uDxI5KghHYILXfNEA/s320/IMG_3606%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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No doubt Hope gets most of the credit for her. She told me years ago she KNEW God was going to give her a sister because she asked Him for one. We all need that type of faith! I am so excited for both of them.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEL5dRZrWXCRVEj26VGgqw9gfsbm80vflPE_Q_jMRW6qjsB0l2aURbCX855qvPWs8_iQQNk6k1hVGggSNcfNLS6MMUcZiFrVsNwMoywhLnLMHNx193JnKLCQ5Y0y3UiIlT__h2wBknfsU/s1600/IMG_3659%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEL5dRZrWXCRVEj26VGgqw9gfsbm80vflPE_Q_jMRW6qjsB0l2aURbCX855qvPWs8_iQQNk6k1hVGggSNcfNLS6MMUcZiFrVsNwMoywhLnLMHNx193JnKLCQ5Y0y3UiIlT__h2wBknfsU/s320/IMG_3659%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Belle is SO stinkin cute.</div>
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Real life doll.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I told my friend</span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> today I simply don’t have a “file” for her. I just stare at her in awe of God’s goodness. She is so peaceful. She hardly cries. Her little face is perfect. She’s feminine. I catch myself wanting to say “he” or “him” because I’m SO used to having baby boys. And a smile covers my face as I get to say “HER”. </span></div>
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I did get a spinal headache. It was really bad.</div>
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They wanted to do ANOTHER patch procedure but I just wanted to GO HOME. No more needles in my back.</div>
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I prayed God would heal the leak without intervention. </div>
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I had to lay down in the back of the truck on the way home because my head throbbed if I sat up or stood up. I really do hate epidurals. </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">Belle stayed in bed with me as I dealt with this spinal headache and tried to keep her safe from germy siblings. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">Mom was here grocery shopping and</span><span style="background-color: white;"> helping with homeschool. She’s been a lifesaver so I could deal with this terrible headache. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Thankful God gives grace and help when we need it most.</span></div>
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It's a week later now and my headache is almost gone, praise the Lord!</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">"He gives the childless woman a family,</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">making her a happy mother.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms", arial, helvetica; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">Praise the L</span><span class="yhwh" style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; vertical-align: baseline;">ORD</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">!"</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">Psalm 113:9</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">I can't stop thinking about this verse. It popped in my head as I woke up yesterday. (I think when a song or a verse is in your head when you wake up, it is because the Lord has been watching over you while you are sleeping. Singing and using His Word to give you strength. Isn't that so awesome??).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I am so happy that God has given me a family and allowed me to be a mother. PRAISE THE LORD!! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">It is a lot of work. Overwhelming and impossible task actually. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">The last few weeks have been especially hard. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I've got amazing kids but they are leaders and high energy.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I have one especially busy little boy that is a full time job.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">When your tummy is so big that you can't pick things up off the floor... the house gets out of control... you just want to sleep all the time... momma gets GROUCHY.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Not been the happy mother I've wanted to be!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Those nights I go to bed completely defeated and convinced my kids are ruined for life.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">But God gives more grace and new mercies!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">And we have access to all we need because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">It's like a spiritual pinata burst open when He conquered death.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">How much "spiritual candy" we pick up is up to us!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I need every bit! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">I want to be a HAPPY mom!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> When I am walking with the Lord in thankfulness, then <b><u>He makes me</u></b> happy! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">I want my kids to know THEY make me happy! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Yes, this is HARD. Very hard.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> I can so easily fall into my flesh and I need God to CHANGE me! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">A HAPPY mom stands out. (A mean mom does too- they scare me and really make me want to run to the Lord!! I don’t want to be THAT MOM. I think sometimes God puts a mirror in front of us!! ).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> I have had 5 sick kids, a spinal headache, a tiny newborn who is learning to nurse, etc... Yet God is giving me joy! His promises are real. And are for me AND YOU! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">I am so thankful for my relationship with Jesus Christ. We have heaven’s spiritual blessings available to us as mothers. We just have to lay hold of it! (Or “appropriate” it as my pastor Wayne used to say!) <span style="color: red;">“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may LAY HOLD of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.”</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: red; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippians 3:12 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; text-align: left;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">I’m determined to GRAB HOLD of the JOY God has already placed in my account! Thankful we can’t overdraft our accounts!! Be encouraged mommas, He has more grace, more forgiveness, more joy, more love than you could ever imagine...stored up for you. Spend time with Him and ask Him for what you need!</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke;">"The Lord</span><span style="background-color: whitesmoke;"> has done great things for us, and we are filled with<b> JOY</b>."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: red; font-family: inherit;">Psalm 126:3</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Well, that's her birth story.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I wish I had done it without an epidural but I am laying it down.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Control is a myth, right?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">She's here and she's safe. That is all that matters.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Our mentor likes to joke that having a baby isn't a competitive sport.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Getting them here safely is the goal.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">We are head over heels for this baby girl and blown away by God's gift to us.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Now, may He empower us to do the impossible and to love them all with His love and not our own. To train them up in the Word and to be faithful to pray for them.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Being a mom is such an honor and eternally significant.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">It is WORK.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">At the end of my life, I want to be able to say what Jesus did...</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"> "</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the </span><span class="criteria" style="text-align: start;">work</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"> you </span><span class="criteria" style="text-align: start;">gave </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"></span><span class="criteria" style="text-align: start;">me</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"> to do."</span></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">John 17:4</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Not by power, nor by might, but by His Spirit!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Be blessed~</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Steph</span><br />
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16949471213153043914noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764645362386861163.post-85382752798281491952018-01-15T10:26:00.001-05:002018-01-15T10:26:11.653-05:00Life <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am in the last few days of pregnancy with Belle. I have mixed feelings about it as I just can't wait to see her face and hold her and kiss her but I am going to miss being pregnant. Even though it is uncomfortable and very hard (especially at my age!), I love it. I love being a vessel for life and feeling God's creative hand so close to me as He is knitting a new life in my womb. I have had vivid dreams (some prophetic) during this pregnancy. The Holy Spirit draws close to pregnant mommas. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've never felt the presence of God stronger than when I am delivering a baby. It feels like God puts all of His responsibilities (like operating the entire world) on hold while He stands beside me and gives me strength. Jesus Christ is all about NEW LIFE, creation, and birth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I still get nervous about every part of mothering. It is like the first time every time. I have never been good at the newborn stage because I coddle them so much! I just can't help it. My goal is that my babies NEVER CRY. :) So they have zero coping skills and usually don't sleep until about 9 months old. Maybe I will do better this time. Tim thinks it is funny because I say that every baby. And nothing changes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have to hang on to Jesus with everything I've got when I have a baby. It is hard to think straight and take my thoughts captive when I am exhausted. The enemy doesn't have pity and usually throws some crazy arrows in our lives when we are weakened. I am asking God to be merciful and build a wall around us during this time... I don't want a hedge- I want a BIG WALL.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to be found busy when Christ returns. I want to be busy about His business. I think Jesus is coming back soon. I have always thought that and I eagerly look to the clouds. There is a crown involved on those who are always looking and longing!</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke;">"Now there is in store for me the </span><span class="criteria" style="font-weight: bold;">crown</span><span style="background-color: whitesmoke;"> of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also <u>to all who have longed for his appearing</u>."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: whitesmoke;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">2 Tim 4:8</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: whitesmoke;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The enemy is taking down leaders. Men at the top of fruitful ministries so he can collapse the whole thing. It usually begins with small compromises and after years of chipping away, the enemy has a strong enough foothold to cause them to fall. Then there seems to be a blindness and lack of repentance. Maybe that's because of the years of secrecy, I don't know but it is scary to watch. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: whitesmoke;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We have to be ALERT and constantly working out our own salvation with fear and trembling. We have to pray for our husbands because that is who the enemy wants to take down first. We have to be on guard in the spiritual realm and having high standards for what/who is allowed in our homes. We have to train our children to think strategically and critically and to know that our battle lies in an unseen realm. The vision to see is found through time in the Word and prayer. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: whitesmoke;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I loved reading this in my quiet time this morning...</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">When you walk, they will guide you;</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">when you sleep, they will watch over you;</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">when you awake, they will speak to you.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Prov 6</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It reminded me of the importance of teaching our kids the Word and giving them a love/hunger for it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It is going to guide them when we aren't there. If the Lord calls me home, I can rest knowing that the Word will continue to be their Teacher, watch over them, and speak to them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I think the older I get and the more I see, I have to fight a cynical attitude. It requires more to trust people when you have had a front row seat to a deceiver. It is hard to be child-like when you have lost your innocence due to the enemy's attacks. But, with all these experiences comes WISDOM and the opportunity to love when it's scary. And to search our own hearts so that we aren't being insincere or building our own idols that end up hurting others. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to have a pure heart so I can SEE GOD.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: start;">"Blessed are the </span><span class="criteria" style="text-align: start;">pure</span><span style="text-align: start;"> in </span><span class="criteria" style="text-align: start;">heart</span><span style="text-align: start;">, for they will </span><span class="criteria" style="text-align: start;">see</span><span style="text-align: start;"> </span><span class="criteria" style="text-align: start;">God</span><span style="text-align: start;">."</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Matt 5:8</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to be able to delight when others prosper. Some of the most powerful words to me in this pregnancy have come from women who are unable to have babies. Think of the courage and strength it takes to celebrate someone ELSE who is pregnant when it is the deepest desire of your heart. Women like that are amazing to me. Can we celebrate others when it hurts? I want to be able to do that. I remember the dr telling me I would never be able to have more children after number 3 because I would be too sick to care for them. Oh, the pain of hearing those words. But God.... My Healer intervened and blessed us with 5 more children. </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My immune system is still weakened from those long years of illness. If you think of it, please pray my health would stay strong after delivery. When I get too run down, I can get in to trouble with my health. I am going to try and eat healthy but I am not the most disciplined person... especially when I am sleepy. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">16 years ago I was days away from marrying Tim. We hardly knew each other but we KNEW we had found “the one the Lord has chosen” for us. God was so clear in confirming His plan to us. (Single girls-God is faithful to do that!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I remember those days. Dreaming of what it would be like to be Tim’s bride. Bridal Showers and wedding rehearsals. Friends flying in town, etc...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was so ready to be married but I could never have imagined a love like this. He is so much MORE than I could have dreamed.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I tell him he has given me so much value and he says, “no. I just recognized the great value God put in you”. God has used this man to love me and heal me so deeply. He loves me Like Christ loves His Bride.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We have battled hard for our marriage and we will never stop.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We have been hit by the world, our own flesh, and the enemy. But God is on our side and stronger than all of those 3 combined. We have been through TERRIFYING storms.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yet God has been and is our refuge and He is our STRONGHOLD.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">*******</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I look back at these pictures from dating, wedding (love the rose pic with my dad’s smiling face!!), and honeymoon in Maui and remember those early days. God has given us a fierce love for one another that grows stronger with time. (I love that I asked strangers to take pictures of us kissing on our honeymoon. Now we ask our kids...lol)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I gave Tim a globe for a wedding present and told him I wanted to change the world with him. Never EVER could I have imagined God would call us to raise 8 children to do just that (I pray!). We will celebrate our anniversary and renew our vows (we do it every year) Friday in the hospital as we meet our precious new daughter. I can’t wait!! No doubt she is the best anniversary gift we’ve ever gotten!!! I ADORE Tim. I can never thank God enough for a godly husband. We are far from perfect but we have been given a love that will never fail. “Let marriage be held in honor among all.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hebrews 13:4 “Love never gives up....love never fails”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1 Corinthians 13</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I had the most beautiful baby shower every. I can't believe that my precious friends through a baby shower for number 8 and that anybody actually came! That baby shower and Belle's gender reveal party were two of the most special days of my life. I just sit in Belle's room dreaming about her and oooing and awe-ing over every tiny thing!</span></div>
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I'll keep you posted! Headed to the Dr now to get an update!</div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16949471213153043914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764645362386861163.post-62223561827426356492017-12-28T10:23:00.002-05:002017-12-28T10:27:20.939-05:00Growing Old Together<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I joke with Tim that when I told him I wanted to grow old together, I never thought it would actually happen! Well, it is happening!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And I am SO thankful to be by his side every step of the way and every season of life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I fall more in love with him every day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today is my birthday. I don't look forward to birthdays much anymore. I just can't believe how OLD I am! I still feel like I am in my 20s. I think because I gave my life to Christ at 20 and that was the most significant event of my life. It's like my heart and soul will always be 20. So, if we go by spiritual birth years, I AM 20. I remember the day after I gave my life to Christ, the sky was bluer, the grass was greener. Everything was alive. Not just me... creation was vivid and the Word of God became ALIVE and began speaking to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">How I wish I would have walked with the Lord all of my days. Someone asked me recently, "aren't you glad you had that time of rebellion because it makes you who you are?". "NO WAY!". I would take it all back in a second. I squandered away so much time and missed years of walking with Jesus. God didn't need my sin to make me who I am. That sin grieved His heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This morning as I woke up beside my prince-in-real-life, feeling my baby girl kick, hearing Worth sing through the monitor, and hearing fast footsteps around the house... I was overwhelmed with all the LIFE God has given me. He truly did come so that we may have ABUNDANT life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That (Zoe) life begins in us when we accept Christ as our Savior and then continues for all of eternity. My life is no longer my own, it is Christ's. I was created by Him and for Him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The verse that popped in my head this morning was "the steadfast love of the Lord NEVER ceases".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Memories of my life began swirling in my mind and the one theme through it all was God's steadfast love. He loved me WAY before I loved Him. He was/is faithful when I am not because that's just WHO HE IS... Faithful and True.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Some things I have learned over the years:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1. There is nothing better for spiritual growth than reading/memorizing Scripture every day. Reading books written by man and listening to sermons by man should be about 5% of your "spiritual food pyramid". If you read books, blogs, listen to podcasts twice as much (or more) than you read your Bible, you are not spiritually healthy. Go "organic" and get rid of the processed foods. Throw them away and commit to spending time with the Lord everyday allowing the Holy Spirit to teach you.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"I have not turned aside from Your ordinances,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For You Yourself have taught me."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ps 119:102</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. The Pudendal Block is the best way to have a baby. Believe me, I have tried it all.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. There is no formula to raising children. Most people either duplicate how they grew up without thinking about it or err too far on the other direction. For instance, I know people who were homeschooled who think homeschooling is the worst thing you could ever do so they put their kids in school trusting that will have a better "result". Or people who went to public school decide to homeschool because surely that will produce godliness, right? I do not believe there is a "right way". Every "way" has different pitfalls. I think there are wiser ways but if you are trusting in any system other than Christ, it won't work. The beautiful thing about parents who walk with Christ is that He leads SPECIFICALLY in each family. Don't be led by fear or by others, be led by Christ as you shepherd over your children. I just knew our oldest was going to go to school this year and as we prayed and sought the Lord, He clearly led us that it was His plan to keep homeschooling him. I was so encouraged by the involvement of the Lord in that decisions because it is HARD and scary to know what to do. But now we can move forward by faith and with confidence because God directed us by His Spirit! God has a plan for your kids life. Ask, seek, and knock and He will show you what to do! I, personally, have LOVED having my children home. Yes, it is hard. Yes, some homeschooled kids are socially strange. But so are some kids who go to school. The bottom line is POUR GOD'S WORD into your children no matter what education you choose. Disciple them, pray for them... love them <u>with all you've got</u>. We don't know how long we get to keep them this side of heaven. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">4. My identity has to be in Christ, not motherhood. It isn't healthy for me or anyone around me if I find my identity through my calling to be a mother. Jesus has to be my true vine or I will suck the life out of everyone around me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">5. If you don't walk with the Lord, you will be manipulative and controlling. When you trust the Lord to be your portion, you don't obsess and try to control people, things, and money. James says where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is all kinds of other sins. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke;">"For where you have envy and </span><span class="criteria">selfish</span><span style="background-color: whitesmoke;"> </span><span class="criteria">ambition</span><span style="background-color: whitesmoke;">, there you find disorder and every evil practice."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: whitesmoke;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">James 3:16</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">6. It is not love to hide someone's sin. Whether that is in marriage or friendship. True love goes in to rescue. It doesn't help operate the prison cell.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">7. Adultresses are REAL. They are lurking/ticking time bombs. The two biggest roots to being an adultress are unconfessed sexual sin and/or it has been modeled to you from your family. If you have those seeds in your heart, beg God to forgive you and free you from being controlled by adultery. Otherwise, you are a ticking time bomb. Adultresses don't find true love outside of their marriage or in someone else's... they find someone with a matching "spiritual magnet" and are drawn together by sinful gravity. We have a friend whose step mom had an affair with the only other man within 100 miles when they lived on an Indian reservation for a brief time. It's gravity toward sin. An adulteress and adulterer will find each other and build a life on sin. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is NOT love. It will ultimately destroy your soul and the souls around you. If you are struggling in your marriage or with lustful thoughts, get help. If you have a history of sexual sin and have never truly asked the Lord to forgive you, RUN TO HIM in humility. He can make you white as snow and CLEAN (<span style="color: red;">1 John 1:9</span>). If you come from a history of adultery and divorce, ask God to free you from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers (<span style="color: red;">1 Peter 1:18</span>). Start a new legacy of integrity and faithfulness for your children. Jesus Christ can break the chains or generational sins. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">8. Serving in the Church brings life and health and purpose! Get involved in a Bible teaching Church. You will thrive and so will your children. If your Church isn't teaching the Word, find one that is. There will always be a healthy spring of clean water. God is actively building His Church and watching over it. We were created to be a part of the family of God! We each have gifts to be used together to help His KINGDOM COME and HIS WILL BE DONE!!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">9. The "holistic movement" is gaining momentum and can quickly turn into New Age religion/self-absorption. I have seen people drift <u>so</u> far into weirdness when it comes to this stuff. Food becomes an idol. Health becomes an idol. Before you know it, you are worshipping something that cannot save and into hypnotism and eventually witchcraft. I am <u>all about</u> some healthy eating but stay out of the dangerous ditches. I have seriously seen this cost people their LIVES. Tim and I are purposing to get healthier in 2018 because our bodies are God's temple and we want to be able to serve Him in greater ways! Just use discernment in this area or you will get duped by something that looks safe but isn't.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">9. How many babies should we have? Again, there is no formula. God specifically leads in each couple. God led us to have a vasectomy reversal after number 6. Talk about scary!!! But God has blessed our obedience and has given us two children we would have never known. Pray, fast, and know that it has 99% to do with the spiritual strength of your husband and your marriage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pray for your man. He is your biggest ministry. God can/does change hearts. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">"And He will turn</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">The hearts of the fathers to the children,</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">And the hearts of the children to their fathers"</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Mal 4:6</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">You don't have to manipulate anything (re-read #5). :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Let your husband lead you in this area and trust God.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Don't have babies just to have babies. Have children to raise up the next generation of leaders in the Church. It is so incredibly hard but Tim and I know God has called us to this. Just like He calls missionaries to the jungle. I think it is a specific calling and we have NO IDEA why God chose us for this. We are incapable apart from His empowerment to do what He has called us to do. If you choose to have one child, raise him/her in the Lord! If you choose to have 10 kids, raise them in the Lord! There is freedom in Christ. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">No condemnation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">No competition. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Just follow Christ where He leads you! It is a delicate balance of <u>wisdom</u> and <u>FAITH</u>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">10. God will be faithful. He will protect us from every evil attack and lead us safely home. Evil attacks come and I have seen that they come in groups or "arrows". Stand firm. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Don't speak to the enemy. Speak to Christ who has authority over him and all of his tactics to destroy. Hide behind your shield of faith and ask God for an upgraded/bigger shield as you take new ground. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Be alert</u>. Don't take anything that alters your ability to discern or react in the spiritual realm. We are in a war. I believe the final battles. Don't grow weary. Soon, we will be seeing Jesus face-to-face... laying our crowns at His feet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am still learning and still seeking wisdom above all.</span></div>
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I am failing daily and clinging to God's grace.</div>
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Be encouraged.</div>
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God is FAITHFUL.</div>
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He will never fail you. </div>
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The steadfast love of the Lord NEVER fails!</div>
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Now that Christmas is over, I am counting down to the birth of our precious daughter.</div>
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I have prepared a place for her. </div>
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I have decorated it and now I wait! </div>
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Just like Christ does for us!</div>
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I bought her and hope some coordinating outfits (what a dream!).</div>
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I stare at her ultrasound pictures.</div>
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I rock in her rocking chair dreaming of holding her.</div>
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I savor every kick as this will be our last.</div>
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Our quiver is now full. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Extra full. :) </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
FULL of world changers who individually need to be loved, taught, and cherished.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Belle"</div>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Her name comes from two verses...</div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">"You shall be a <b>CROWN OF BEAUTY</b> in the hand of the L</span><span class="yhwh" style="background-color: white; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">ORD</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">,</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">and a royal diadem in the hand of your God."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Is 62:3</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; text-align: start;"> bestow on them a <b>CROWN OF BEAUTY</b></span><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; text-align: start;"> instead of ashes, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Isaiah 61:3</span></span></div>
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I wish my dad was here to see her and hold her. He loved children.</div>
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I miss him <u>and</u> my grandparents every day. </div>
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I can't wait to be with them again.</div>
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I miss hearing my grandfather's voice and him praying for my family.</div>
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I miss his example in the faith.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I miss his kindness.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
How I pray I take the torch that has been handed down to me and RUN.</div>
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**************************</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
I hope you are encouraged. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If you need prayer, write me!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
tsblackiston@comcast.net </div>
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<br /></div>
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I can't do much right now but I can PRAY!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Much love from one weary momma determined to hold on to Jesus with all her might.</div>
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Knowing it is really Him holding on to me with a hand that will NEVER let go.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Steph</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: 12.16px;"><br /></span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16949471213153043914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764645362386861163.post-66966131859095502062017-12-03T15:49:00.002-05:002017-12-03T16:12:56.612-05:00A Birth Plan<div class="nlt07_body-hd" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We had a wonderful Thanksgiving at the beach. The weather was perfect. We had about 20 people staying together and we just enjoyed creation and each other. Reece had surgery on his left shoulder (he is left-handed) because of a pitching injury. Hugging him and telling him I loved him as they wheeled him out for anesthesia was NOT FUN. But, he is recovering now and doing physical therapy and we pray that he will be more than 100% in time. </span></div>
<div class="nlt07_body-hd" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I love to feel my baby kick. I try not to complain about pregnancy because it is such a gift but the next few weeks are going to get interesting.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I can't believe </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: center;">I am weeks away from meeting my baby, Belle. </span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: start;">"to </span><span class="criteria" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: start;">bestow</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: start;"> on them a <b>crown of </b></span><span class="criteria" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><b>beauty</b>"</span></span><br />
<span class="criteria" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red;">Is 61:3</span></span></div>
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We left paradise to come home to Reece's surgery. Thankfully, God surrounded us with His protection and His people. </div>
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We are so thankful Reece was in such good HANDS.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: center;">Life is flying by at Nascar speed while this sweet baby in my tummy grows.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: center;">This is the time when mommas usually start coming up with their "birth plan". After 7 births (and especially Hope's birth), I have truly </span>learned<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: center;"> that we can make our plans but God is ultimately the one writing the script. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is thought-provoking to be this pregnant around Christmas. I just can't help but think about Mary. What all she must have been going through... as she neared the end of her pregnancy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I relate to Mary on certain levels: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">An ordinary girl chosen to do the impossible. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">She was often confused. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">She was torn between the natural and the supernatural. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">She loved Jesus. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Let's read about when she finds out God is going to use her womb as a vessel for the Savior of the world:</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, <span class="vnum"> </span>to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. <span class="vnum"> </span>Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, <b>favored woman</b>! The Lord is with you! ”</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="vnum" style="text-indent: 1em;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 1em;"><b>Confused and disturbed</b>, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.</span><span class="vnum" style="text-indent: 1em;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 1em;">“Don’t be <b>afraid</b>, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found <b>favor</b> with God!</span><span class="vnum" style="text-indent: 1em;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 1em;">You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.</span><span style="text-indent: 1em;"> </span><span class="vnum" style="text-indent: 1em;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 1em;">He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.</span><span style="text-indent: 1em;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 1em;">And he will reign over Israel</span><span style="text-indent: 1em;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 1em;">forever; his Kingdom will never end!”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="vnum"> </span>Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="vnum"> </span>The angel replied, “<b>The Holy Spirit will come upon you</b>, and the <b>power of the Most High will overshadow you</b>. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. <span class="vnum"> </span>What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. <span class="vnum"> </span>For nothing is impossible with God. ”</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="vnum" style="text-indent: 1em;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 1em;">Mary responded, “<b>I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true</b>.” And then the angel left her."</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 1em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Luke 1:26-38</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, what did we learn about Mary here? She was simply living her life & making her plans... plans to be Joseph's wife. She was probably jittery about the wedding and becoming a wife. I'm sure her childhood dreams were coming true...when all of the sudden an angel showed up with a very shocking message that would change EVERYTHING.</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The passage says she was favored and that the Lord was with her. She had kept herself pure. From all accounts, she was very ordinary except for her unseen super power:</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Lord was with her.</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When the angel appears and simply offers his greetings, she is immediately confused and disturbed and trying to figure out what in the world is going on. She was obviously afraid because the angel tells her not to be.</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Then the angel delivers the message directly TO HER from GOD. "You are going to be the mother of the Messiah". </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mary: "Wait, WHAT???? How in the world (no pun intended) is this going to happen?"</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Angel: "God is going to do all of it through the power of the Spirit."</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mary: "Ok, I am totally surrendered to God and His plan even though I can't understand it.</span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 1em;"> Use me, Lord."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(SIV Steph International Version)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Was this plan going to cost her everything? Would Joseph leave her? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">She wasn't sure what this would cost her but she was still willing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">She was focused on surrendering to God even if it cost her dreams and desires.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(That is always the type of heart God uses to change the world!)</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">“For the eyes of the L</span><span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">ord</span><span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"> run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of </span><em style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">those</em><span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"> whose heart </span><em style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">is </em><span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">loyal to Him."</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="color: red;">1 Chronicles 16:9</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">This wasn't a one time surrender. Her life would be a living sacrifice and a daily surrender. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">By God's grace, an angel visits Joseph so that he will also know the truth and not abandon her. I am sure that was a huge relief when Joseph told her! God is at work in her and around her... even while she sleeps. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">They were not *officially* married until after Jesus was born. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="color: red;">"But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus."</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="color: red;">Matt 1:25</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">I wonder if Mary was getting everything ready for the birth when she finds out she has to leave her house. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"> When I am about to have a baby, I crave order and a plan. Surely, she did too. She probably had her midwife on call and the baby bed ready when they got the knock on the door..</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="color: red;">"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world."</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="color: red;">Luke 2:1</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">******************************</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">Pretty sure a surprise trip out of town wasn't a part of her birth plan.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">Mommas may sit on a comfy birthing ball but NO ONE would ride a donkey at 9 months pregnant. Btw, I just realized that Scripture doesn't say she rode a donkey!! That idea was taken from another writing around AD 145. I thought that it was in the Bible! From what I have read, the trip was around 90 miles long. Let's hope she rode something! Can you imagine walking 90 miles 9 months pregnant???? Scholars think the trip took anywhere from 4-7 days as they walked through difficult terrain. Wealthier families may have used a chariot but since they had no place to stay, I am guessing they weren't in the wealthy crowd.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="text-indent: 16.2px;">"So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. </span><span class="vnum" style="text-indent: 16.2px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 16.2px;">He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. </span><span class="vnum" style="text-indent: 16.2px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 16.2px;">While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, </span><span class="vnum" style="text-indent: 16.2px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 16.2px;">and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them."</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 16.2px;"><span style="color: red;">Luke 2:4-7</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">I wonder if the out-of-control feeling was easier for her to deal with because she had given God control and trusted that this was ultimately HIS BIRTH PLAN. She immediately began to see the miracles surrounding this baby. God's promise to her was true. He was the Savior of the world. Now, she had the responsibility of taking care of Him and making sure He didn't get hurt. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">Twice in Luke 2, it says she treasured everything she saw and experienced in her heart. It was so sacred. How in the world did SHE get a front row seat to the Holy plan of God for the world? She didn't want to forget a second.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"> "</span><span style="text-indent: 16.2px;">Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart" Luke 2:19, Luke 2:51</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 16.2px;">Imagine the fear that took over when she lost Jesus for THREE DAYS (wrote about that a couple posts back). I lost Hope at Disney World and I still have PTSD from that. I have lost pretty much all my kids for a few minutes and it is terrifying.</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 16.2px;">Mary had to continue to trust that God not only had a birth plan but a LIFE PLAN for her child. </span></div>
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Life surrendered to Christ isn't easy. It isn't predictable. We can make our plans but He directs our steps. We have to know that His plans are WAY BETTER and WAY BIGGER than ours. </div>
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<span style="color: red;">“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span class="vnum"> </span>For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">so my ways are higher than your ways</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Is 55:8,9</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Be encouraged that God sent His Son to save YOU. He created you on purpose and for purpose. Your purpose will be found in Christ and allowing Him to live His life through you.</div>
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Single girls, be willing to lay down your dreams for Jesus. He is a GIVER not a taker. We cannot out give the Lord. Sure, count the cost but know life with Christ is WORTH everything it costs. You will get a front row seat into the miraculous. It will be confusing and scary at times but determine to stay the course.</div>
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Mommas- God has a birth plan for your children and a life plan. We have to trust Him. He is loving and He is good. Ask the Holy Spirit to come upon you and the power of the Most High to overshadow you as you mother.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I have struggled lately feeling so overwhelmed with the calling of raising 8 children. </div>
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It is hard... impossible actually... and I am ORDINARY. </div>
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Except I have a secret super-power... God is with me.</div>
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<br /></div>
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So do you. </div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">"And this is the </span><span class="criteria" style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">secret</span><span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">: </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">Christ lives in you."</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="color: red;">Col 1:27</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
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This Christmas, I am going to thank God for lengths He went to in order that I may be saved from my sin. I am going to thank God that He uses ordinary surrendered people to accomplish His will. </div>
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I am going to thank God I don't have to leave my house for a 90 mile donkey ride/walk through crazy terrain in the dark. I am going to thank Jesus that He willingly left heaven to come to this sinful and broken world and save all who would respond to such a great salvation. </div>
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<span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="color: red;">"how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation"</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="color: red;">Hebrews 2:3</span></span></div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16949471213153043914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764645362386861163.post-52269965230672605442017-11-08T12:20:00.002-05:002017-11-08T13:43:12.062-05:00New Life in Christ<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">"Let the redeemed of the L</span><span style="background-color: white;">ord</span><span style="background-color: white;"> tell their story"</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Ps 107:2</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">The Old Testament tells us 137 times to "REMEMBER".</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">So, even though life is whizzing by and I hardly have time to think (much less remember), I am choosing to! I never want to forget what the Lord has done... and is doing in my life.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">**************</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">November 1, 2017.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">As I walked into the bathroom half asleep, Tim said...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">"It's your spiritual birthday! I want to take you out tonight to celebrate."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">He remembered before me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I looked at myself in the bathroom mirror as I brushed my teeth and tried to get my pregnant body moving. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I said, "<b>it was 20 years ago today</b>".</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Tears came as memories started flooding my mind.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Remembering who I was when Christ rescued me from the dominion of darkness...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: red;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: start;">"When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners."</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: red;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">Romans 5:6</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">The night before I went out with my boyfriend to Halloween parties dressed up as a Chinese lady</span><span style="background-color: white;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">We drank too much, fought, and he ended up leaving me at a gas station on the strip.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">My college philosophy professor had tried to convince me there was no God and Christians were fools.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">My mom got diagnosed with breast cancer. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">I had placed so much sin between me and God, I knew my prayers were hindered. My sin blocked my access to God.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I knew about Jesus but I didn't know HIM or His Word.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I was LOST. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I was empty.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">What I didn't know is that I was being DRAWN (literally dragged) to Jesus.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: red;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">"And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: red;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">John 12:32</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Not long before this, I was at a fraternity party where the music was loud and sin was rampant. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">As I watched people dance and drink, I heard a still small voice that said,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">"You don't belong here. I have so much more for you."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">It was clearly the Lord. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">But I wanted to belong there. So I stayed. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">But I had HEARD His voice. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">God was pursuing me into the darkest places.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Calling me OUT.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 12.96px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"<u>for He called you OUT</u> of the darkness into His wonderful light."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 12.96px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">1 Peter 2:9</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 12.96px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify; text-indent: 12.96px;">God loved me WAY before I loved Him. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify; text-indent: 12.96px;">He saw me and knew me first. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify; text-indent: 12.96px;">He saw me WAY BEFORE I saw Him (conception!).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify; text-indent: 12.96px;">Reminds me of Nathanael in Scripture...</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify; text-indent: 12.96px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">“How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Jesus replied, <span class="rl">“I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span class="rl" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="rl" style="font-family: inherit;">You see, God was with that lost college girl. He saw me. He loved me.</span></div>
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<span class="rl" style="font-family: inherit;">He placed great worth in me because I was created in His image.</span></div>
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<span class="rl" style="font-family: inherit;">I just didn't know any of this.... </span><br />
<span class="rl" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>YET.</u></b></span></div>
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<span class="rl" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="rl" style="font-family: inherit;">November 1, 1997, I was just sad. I felt horrible from drinking too much and staying up all night. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The prodigal daughter began to realize who she was and that eating pig food was REALLY disgusting.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="rl" style="font-family: inherit;">After I got home from my job, I went into my room.</span></div>
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<span class="rl" style="font-family: inherit;">I reached for a Bible that I had in my room over the years... <i>but never read</i>. </span></div>
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<span class="rl" style="font-family: inherit;">I blew the dust off of the cover.</span></div>
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<span class="rl" style="font-family: inherit;">I opened the Bible and said,</span><br />
<span class="rl" style="font-family: inherit;"> "God if you are real, I want to know you."</span></div>
<div class="nlt07_body" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 1em;">
<span class="rl" style="font-family: inherit;">I turned to Galatians 5.</span></div>
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<span class="rl" style="font-family: inherit;">I read the passage that listed the fruits of the spirit and deeds of the flesh.</span></div>
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<span class="rl" style="font-family: inherit;">At the end it said, "those who live like this (in the flesh) will not receive the kingdom of God".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My life reflected the life lived in the flesh. That was me. And according to the Word of God, I was not going to heaven. The Lord spoke to my heart, "you are either for me or against me... you have to choose".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I fell on my face and cried out to God for salvation. I didn't want to pretend anymore. I wanted to know Christ and know I was going to heaven. I wanted to live my life FOR HIM.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">I begged God to forgive me as I lifted my face off the floor. I <b>knew</b> I needed a Savior. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">As I received Jesus Christ as my Savior, my heart was "quickened" and I was born again. The floodgates of heaven were opened and forgiveness, love, and grace poured out into that room. I was changed forever by Jesus Christ. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white;">"I had only heard about you before,</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">but now I have seen you with my own eyes."</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Job 42:5</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"> "the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Col 1:6</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"And I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart"</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Ez 11:19</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"And you <em>hath he quickened</em>, who were dead in trespasses and sins"</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Eph 2:1</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">God had a lot of work to do in me. My heart had been made alive but I didn't know how to walk with Him. When I told the Lord, "if I can know you, I want to KNOW YOU", He gave me a hunger for His Word. All I wanted to do was read my Bible. It was ALIVE and breathing and speaking to me. I told everyone who would listen that my life had been changed. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">The next year would consist of God leading me to a Church where they taught me the Word (Calvary Chapel Knoxville). My mind had been trained by the world for 20 years. Now it was being renewed by His Word. I was turning away from the sin in my life and toward Christ. It was a radical U-turn that was only possible by the Holy Spirit. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My boyfriend proposed to me and I said yes because I knew God could change him the way he had changed me. He was an idol I just struggled letting go of.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But the Lord spoke clearly to me that he was not the one for me and that He had a husband for me but I had to TRUST HIM and wait.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, with the help of the Holy Spirit, the relationship ended. And I was FREE to run and grow without being all tangled up.</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 16.2px;">"let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, </span><span class="vnum" style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 16.2px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.blbclassic.org/tools/printerFriendly.cfm?b=Heb&c=12&v=1&t=NIVP#" style="text-decoration-line: none;">2</a> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 16.2px;">fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 16.2px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Hebrews 12:1,2</span></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">I graduated from UT. I got my degree in Child and Family Studies (which is so funny to me since that is exactly what I am doing now!). I was getting my Masters in Education so I could be a high school health teacher. But all I wanted to do was study the Bible. So, my mentor encouraged me to go to Bible College. In a matter of weeks I was on a plane to Austria all by myself. Headed to Bible College. </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">It was there that the Lord did major heart surgery on me. He began to heal me from the consequences of my sin. He began to pour out His love on me. I call that time my honeymoon with Jesus. It truly was. Every sunset over the Alps was for me... weekend trips all over Europe with the Lord at my side. I had miles to go (and still do) but God began changing me... one day at a time. </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">There was a prayer tower at the castle where I went to Bible College where I asked God for a godly husband (if it was His will for me). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I could have never imagined the plans God had in store for my life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I can't imagine that had the Lord not intervened, AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME, where I would be now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">These 20 years have been filled wish indescribable and glorious joy and they have also been filled with unimaginable pain and trial. God has been my constant. He has kept me from falling and when I do fall, He is the lifter of my head.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">He purposed before the foundation of the world for me to be Tim's helper and to raise a small army of amazing children. I would have missed it all had I not responded to the Lord that night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am so thankful I said, "yes" to enter into the greatest love story ever told.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Life is far from pain-free because there is a horrid villain in the story but the Prince of Peace is SO FAITHFUL. He is good. He is worth our LIVES.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">May I never forget who I am apart from Christ and all He has done for me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tim is my greatest gift on this earth. Our 8 children are a fruit of the amazing love Christ has allowed us to experience. We have a love so strong and it is not because we are great. It is the opposite. We are completely aware that our marriage is a gift from Him and we choose to give it back. Jesus breathes His life into our marriage and He enlarges our hearts for each other and for our children. His love NEVER FAILS or runs out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">"Now hope does not disappoint, <u>because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit</u> who was given to us."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Romans 5:5</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red;">"For You shall enlarge my heart."</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Ps 119:32</span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, today is the day of salvation. Stop what you are doing and BELIEVE in the name of Jesus Christ. Don't wait another minute!! Open your Bible. That is where you will find life and TRUTH!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He loves you and desires to forgive you so that you can live in relationship with Him now and forevermore.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="versionVerse" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", arial, helvetica; margin: 0px 0px 2px; padding: 5px 17px 5px 12px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">"There is salvation in no one else! </span></div>
<div class="versionVerse" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", arial, helvetica; margin: 0px 0px 2px; padding: 5px 17px 5px 12px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: red;">Acts 4:12</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: red;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: red;">Also, if you have a prodigal child... KEEP PRAYING! </span><br />
<span style="color: red;">I believe it was the prayers of others that were pulling me out of darkness. </span><br />
<span style="color: red;">God is ABLE.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">"Surely the </span><span class="criteria" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: start;">arm</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"> of the Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"> is not </span><span class="criteria" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: start;">too</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"> </span><span class="criteria" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: start;">short</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"> to save, nor his ear </span><span class="criteria" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: start;">too</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"> dull to hear."</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="background-color: white;">Is 59:1</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
*****************************<br />
<br />
So, what do you do when you have walked with the Lord and experienced His faithfulness for 20 years? ;)<br />
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16949471213153043914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764645362386861163.post-18091134607365792042017-10-04T12:52:00.000-04:002017-10-04T21:18:26.019-04:00Everything Under the Sun<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It has been so long since I blogged, it just took me an hour to figure out how to sign in to Blogger! Couldn't remember any of my sign-in stuff! So, after 100 verification codes and a new password, I am back in. It feels like a world I would need to break back into anyway because it has been so long. I understand why blogger doesn't recognize me anymore.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Lately, I have started to wonder if I even recognize myself!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> A lot has changed as I have gone through trials and triumphs I could have never expected during the last 3 years. Most things that I would have grabbed on to for support have crumbled.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We have been forced to hang on to the Lord and His people. We have had no other choice! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I have spent the last years craving anonymity and privacy... especially for my children. I have learned the hard way that you can share too much with too many people. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">When I gave my life to the Lord, I LOVED people. I invited everybody into my life. I had no reservations at all. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I think that was a gift from the Lord as He also invites ALL to come. Over the years, I have lost that open-door/innocent heart. Pain and betrayal really do rob you of innocence. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">But, as I study the life of Jesus Christ, He KEPT loving vulnerably to the end. And He KNEW betrayal was in the midst. We usually don't know its coming, but Jesus did. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">He told Judas to go and do what he was going to do... while showing the full extent of his love and washing his feet. He never held back love. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: justify;">"It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: justify;">son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus...</span><span class="vnum" style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: justify;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: justify;">So He {Jesus} got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, </span><span class="vnum" style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: justify;">and poured water into a basin. Then He began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him."</span></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: justify;">John 13</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">He loved FREELY (in the face of pain) until His final breath. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">He said He would <i>and He did</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>He still does.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">"I will love them freely"</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Hosea 14:4</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">I know He loved me freely as my sin wounded Him.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> He also walked in protective wisdom around certain people.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div id="pfData" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", arial, helvetica; position: relative; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center; text-indent: 1.25em;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">"But Jesus would not entrust himself to them...for he knew what was in each person."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">John 2:24,25</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Betrayal is part of the deal in the life of a believer. I truly believe it is unavoidable if we want to KNOW CHRIST.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Paul definitely had his fair share.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia.</span><span class="vnum" style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">Only Luke is with me.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">2 Tim 4:10,11</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 16.2px;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">"Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 16.2px;">The Lord will repay him for what he has done. </span><span class="vnum" style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 16.2px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: 16.2px;">You too should be on your guard against him"</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">2 Tim 4:14,15</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">I have learned so much during the last 3 years. Maybe you DO have to see everything under the sun to gain wisdom. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">There is a lot I wish I hadn't seen but I am thankful for the wisdom it has given me so I can better equip my children. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">And so I can recognize things sooner.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">We are living in a hostile spiritual environment. I truly believe we are seeing an elevated attack on Christian marriages and families. Christians are being DEPLOYED into a war. I feel like I spend so much energy fighting the oppressive attacks of the enemy. The health trials we have endured have been terrifying. I am so thankful my children are alive and that God has continued to let me have them on this side of heaven. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">I often look around and think, "no one could possibly understand". But they do. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">I have a feeling YOU do. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">You are going through it too... if you are living your life for Christ.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Our trials come in different shapes and sizes but they are all accomplishing the same goal... transformation into the image of Jesus Christ.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">"Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. <b><u>Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the </u></b></span><b><u><span class="criteria" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: start;">same</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"> </span><span class="criteria" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: start;">kind</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"> of </span><span class="criteria" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: start;">suffering</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"> you are."</span></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">1 Peter 5</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">My precious Rhett (3) was hospitalized twice this month for asthmatic episodes that rocked me to the core. We have walked this road with Lake but I wasn't prepared to do it again. I love thinking of Gen 2 where God breathes the breath of life into Adam. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">I imagine Him doing that for all of us. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Especially when my babies can't breathe.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">"Then the Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"> God formed the man from the dust of the ground. <u>He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils</u>, and the man became a living person."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Gen 2:7</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">"H</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">e <u>Himself</u> gives everyone life and breath"</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">Acts 17:25</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">I have been thinking a lot of Mary as I walked through this latest terrifying episode.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">It reminds me of when she lost Jesus.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">"Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. <span class="vnum"> </span>When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. <span class="vnum"> </span>After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, <span class="vnum"> </span>because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span class="vnum"> </span>When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. <span class="vnum"> </span>Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. <span class="vnum"> </span>All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span class="vnum"> </span>His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span class="vnum"> </span><span class="rl">“But why did you need to search?”</span> he asked. <span class="rl">“Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” </span><span class="vnum"> </span>But they didn’t understand what he meant.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span class="vnum"> </span>Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span class="vnum"> </span>Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people."</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Luke 2</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She knows Jesus is the Messiah and then she LOSES HIM???</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Talk about confusion and panic!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Her response reminds me so much of mine when I am terrified.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She gets angry, confused, and in the flesh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I think it is interesting that she calls Joseph "your father".</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She couldn't see the big picture.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When it says "I have been frantic". The original language means..</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0px;">to cause intense pain, </span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0px;">to be in anguish, </span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0px;">be tormented </span><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0px;">to torment or distress one's self</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I can RELATE!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I also understand what it is like to treasure things in your heart as a mother.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I treasure every day and every milestone I get with each one of my children. I treasure the supernatural miracles I get to watch God do in their lives. I treasure their laughs and their talents. I treasure each birthday and each new season with them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I treasure the whole miracle of motherhood.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mary must have really treasured THE MIRACLE of motherhood. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Even when things didn't go the way she thought they would.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">No one could possibly have understood what was going on in her heart through that whole ordeal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Being a mother is HARD and scary. And most of the time we can't understand what God is doing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Unexpected trials come that rock us to the core.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But there is a plan in it and there is growth through it...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> if we keep trusting. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">I HATE asthma and any type of breathing issue. It reminds me of how broken this world is that we live in. This isn't God's design. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">Neither was the shooting in Las Vegas. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">I whole-heartedly believe we are living in the final days before the return of Christ.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">Believers are going through very hard things.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">Evil is ramped up.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">The enemy is controlling the lives of people who allow him to. Once he can control their minds, he can use them to accomplish his purposes. It is very scary what he is capable of doing through one person yielded to him. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"> Whether it is through drugs (I think mind-altering drugs are his best avenue- <span style="color: red;">Revelation 18:23</span> tells us that pharmakeia {drugs} will be how the enemy controls NATIONS), sexual sin, television/gaming, etc...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">We have to be so careful and <i>sober-minded</i> in these days.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">"Therefore, with minds that are <u>alert and fully sober</u>, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at His coming."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">1 Peter 1:13</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">There is an epidemic of leaders falling. People who have been mentors or teachers in the past who are falling into sin or crazy belief systems.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">It isn't an overnight process. It is years of small compromises. Usually they stop reading their Bibles daily and then they justify that God can speak to us through many different means (other than His Word). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Maybe even things like music or creation but He has primarily chosen <b>HIS WORD </b>to speak to us. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Not yoga. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Not all this weird New Age health stuff.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Not music. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Not even "Christian" teachers. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Finding a solid Bible teacher in our culture is RARE. You can't just read blogs and listen to whoever is on the radio anymore. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Ministry has become idolatry. Motives have changed. Women are taking over and desiring more and more power. Don't get me wrong...I praise God for godly women to follow! I also love serving God and ministering publicly in His name but my highest and most significant calling is to be a helper to my husband and a homemaker! To disciple my children! I have been in the pediatricians office or hospital so much lately that my pediatrician said, "I think you are going to win mother-of-the-year". I laughed and said, "you and God are the only ones who have seen any of this". But I do know God has seen and He is cheering me on. It has been awful. It has been terrifying and LONELY. I was ALONE in the hospital holding oxygen on my baby's face all night and day as his tiny chest struggled to breathe. It was me and the Lord. But it was significant and it IS my MINISTRY.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><u>Public ministry is awesome</u> (if God entrusts it to you) but if you are doing it to serve yourself, it gets ugly quick.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Often real ministry feels like pouring your life out like a drink offering for someone else. It isn't self-serving or glamorous.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">"But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God,</span><footnote style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms", arial, helvetica; text-align: start;"> just like your faithful service is an offering to God."</footnote></span></div>
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<footnote style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms", arial, helvetica; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Phil 2:17</span></footnote></div>
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<footnote style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms", arial, helvetica; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Being Tim's helper and raising these children to know God and serve Him is the highest calling on my life. It is HARD. <b>Impossible actually</b>. </span></footnote></div>
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<footnote style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms", arial, helvetica; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">The oppression is real... sometimes so heavy I can hardly get out of bed. But I am thankful for this high and holy calling. </span></footnote></div>
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<footnote style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms", arial, helvetica; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have no idea why God chose someone completely incapable but He has a history of doing that all through Scripture.</span></footnote></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span class="vnum" style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 12.96px;"> "</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 12.96px;">Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. </span><span class="vnum" style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 12.96px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 12.96px;">God chose things despised by the world,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 12.96px;"> things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. </span><span class="vnum" style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 12.96px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 12.96px;">As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 12.96px;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">1 Cor 1:27-30</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;">So much has changed since I started this blog over 10 years ago!!! My adorable little boys are now in high school and turning into godly men before my eyes. We don't know what we are doing or how to raise teenagers but God's spirit is in them and pulling them harder than we ever could. We make a lot of wrong decisions but God's grace covers and corrects those. We are changing direction OFTEN trying to figure out the way through this uncharted territory. Our boys don't date and won't until they are old enough to consider marriage. I believe there is ONE the Lord has chosen for each of them and I am fighting for her and their future marriages. This is very counter-cultural and they already know that and have been challenged. Reece especially is learning who he is in Christ and how to stand alone. They are human and will have to wrestle through (just like we did and still are). Holiness is attractive to the world as much as they love to mock and ridicule it. It is a courageous life and a blessed life. Only God can work in their hearts to make wise decisions. How I pray and trust He will!</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">"And a great road will go through that once deserted land.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">It will be named the <u>Highway of Holiness</u>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Evil-minded people will never travel on it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways;</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">fools will never walk there.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span class="vnum"> </span>Lions will not lurk along its course,</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">nor any other ferocious beasts.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">There will be no other dangers.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Only the redeemed will walk on it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span class="vnum"> </span>Those who have been ransomed by the L<span class="yhwh" style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">ORD</span> will return.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">They will enter Jerusalem singing,</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">crowned with everlasting joy.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Sorrow and mourning will disappear,</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">and they will be filled with joy and gladness."</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Isaiah 35:8-10</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;">We are thrilled that God has given us another baby girl. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;">I'm not sure we will believe it until she is here in our arms.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;">Her name is "Belle" because of the verse the Lord gave me for her life...</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">"to bestow on them a </span><b><u><span class="criteria" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: start;">crown</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"> of </span><span class="criteria" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: start;">beauty</span></u></b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"> instead of </span><span class="criteria" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; text-align: start;">ashes</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">for the display of his splendor."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Is 61:3</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;">She is a crown of beauty instead of ashes and a plating of the Lord for the display of His splendor. May she be an OAK of righteousness!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;">I already love her so much.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;">"Belle" seems so fitting as God has given us the fairytale.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;">Every fairytale has a villian and hardship but God is such a good gift giver. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of fairytales, I ADORE Tim. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: large;">He is my greatest gift. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">We are in the battle together. Figuring out life together. Crying out to God together. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">He is my biggest pregnancy craving :). We are tired and beat up by trials but we are alive and pressing on- </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">with a love so deep, few ever experience it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">"You will show me the path of life;</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms", arial, helvetica; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">In Your presence </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">is</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"> fullness of joy;</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms", arial, helvetica; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">At Your right hand </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";">are</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"> <b>pleasures</b> <b>forevermore</b>."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Ps 16:11</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Over the last 3 years, I have stepped back from publicly sharing about our family. I unknowingly allowed spiritually sick people into our lives more than once. I have gained wisdom the hard way.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">I shut down facebook and instagram for a while. It was a good break. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">I DO enjoy minding my own business and living a quiet life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">"Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands"</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">1 Thess 4:11</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: large;">But I also know how much I was impacted by a blogger who shared her life. I had <u><b>never</b></u> seen anything like her family.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: large;">Large families were a foreign concept. She showed me a whole different way of life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: large;">I have also been discipled by a godly couple who took me in 20 years ago. Sharing your life through discipleship is so powerful and FRUITFUL. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: large;">I want young women to know the JOY of being a wife and a mother. I also want them to know that life is HARD but God is faithful. Keep clinging to Him. Keep reading your Bible every day. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Love you younger women so much!!!!<br />I want to be a resource for you to the best of my ability!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Keep fighting the good fight and BE BLESSED~</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Steph</span></span></div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16949471213153043914noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764645362386861163.post-83872353357638595602017-02-21T08:55:00.001-05:002017-02-21T08:55:03.399-05:00Gentle and Quiet<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Heiti Std R"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">There is a lot in the news these days about
women. God has entrusted us with great influence on our generation and the generations
to come.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Heiti Std R"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As I watch the news, 1 Peter 3 comes to mind.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Heiti Std R"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It is where Peter tells us (women) how to act
in a way that is PRECIOUS to God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #c00000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Heiti Std R"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“rather</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: #c00000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></i></span><em><span style="background: white; color: #c00000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Heiti Std R"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">let
it be</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: #c00000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="background: white; color: #c00000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Heiti Std R"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">the hidden
person of the heart, with the incorruptible</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: #c00000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></i></span><em><span style="background: white; color: #c00000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Heiti Std R"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">beauty</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: #c00000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="background: white; color: #c00000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Heiti Std R"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">of a gentle
and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #c00000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Heiti Std R"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1 Peter 3:3,4<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I used to read
that verse and think, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">“I can’t do
that. That’s not me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The fact is I
can’t do it! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">And neither can
you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">None of us come
by this naturally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="vnum"><span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">What does God
mean when He tells us to be GENTLE and QUIET?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="vnum"><span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">***********************<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<em><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Heiti Std R"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“let it be</span></b></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></b></span><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Heiti Std R"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">the <u>hidden person of the
heart</u>”<span class="vnum"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="vnum"><span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I love the
phrase “the hidden person of the heart”. I have taught my children that it is
our “inner man” who matters more than our “outer man”! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="vnum"><span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Our hidden girl
is eternal. She is who God sees.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">“People judge by
outward appearance, but the L<span class="yhwh">ord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">looks at the heart.” 1 Sam 16:7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The Greek word
for heart is “kardia”. It denotes the center of all spiritual life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">This is why we
ask Jesus to come into our hearts! Giving Him the driver seat to our passions,
desires, appetites, purposes, and emotions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Heiti Std R"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“so that Christ may</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></span><span class="criteria"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Heiti Std R"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">dwell</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Heiti Std R"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">in your</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></span><span class="criteria"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Heiti Std R"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">hearts</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Heiti Std R"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">through
faith” Eph 3:17<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Without Christ
dwelling in your heart through faith, there is no way we can move to the next
part of the verse. He is the only One Who can empower us to be “gentle and
quiet” (in the true Biblical sense).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Heiti Std R"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“with the incorruptible</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></b></span><em><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Heiti Std R"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">beauty</span></b></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Heiti Std R"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">”</span></b></span><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Heiti Std R"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The Bible says
this type of beauty is incorruptible. “Incorruptible” is an attribute of God
(Romans 1:23). Apart from God, beauty breaks down quick! I turned 40 this year
and just bought wrinkle cream. My outer
girl is breaking down! But, by God’s grace, my inner girl is gaining new
strength and vigor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are
wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">2 Cor 4:16</span><span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">If we allow
Christ in to the driver’s seat of our heart, we get to participate in <u>His beautiful
nature</u>! (2 Peter 1:4).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">So, what does “<b>gentle</b>” mean?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It means “meek”.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I loved this
description given on Blue Letter Bible-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">“Meekness toward
God is that disposition of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as
good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. In the OT, the meek are
those wholly relying on God rather than their own strength to defend against
injustice. Thus, meekness toward evil people means knowing God is permitting
the injuries they inflict, that He is using them to purify His elect, and that
He will deliver His elect in His time (Isa 41:17, Luk 18:1-8). Gentleness or
meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest. It stems from
trust in God's goodness and control over the situation. The gentle person is
not occupied with self at all. This is a work of the Holy Spirit, not of the
human will (Gal 5:23).”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">That’s not at
all what I thought this passage was talking about! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It is referring
to how we respond to suffering, injustice, false accusations, and trials. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">(*Sidenote- I don’t
believe it is a coincidence that the Greek word for “gentle” is spelled
“P-r-a-y-s”.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The way we
respond to suffering matters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Are we
“gentle”? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">This does not
mean we don’t speak out against evil. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Jesus definitely
spoke out against sin and described Himself with this same word!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: whitesmoke; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">“Take my yoke upon you and <u>learn from me</u>, for I
am <u>gentle</u> and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: whitesmoke; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We truly do need to learn from Him!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">*********<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I also think of
Joseph and all he endured. But he was able to keep going because He KNEW God
was good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">“You intended to
harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I
could save the lives of many people.” Gen 50:20<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">This truth
allowed him to endure pits and prisons, abandonment, family betrayal, and deep
pain. He didn’t blame God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="criteria"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">“You</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: whitesmoke; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span style="background: whitesmoke; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">are</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: whitesmoke; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="criteria"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">good</span></span><span style="background: whitesmoke; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">, and what</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: whitesmoke; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="criteria"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">You</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: whitesmoke; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="criteria"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">do</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: whitesmoke; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span style="background: whitesmoke; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">is</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: whitesmoke; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="criteria"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">good”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="criteria"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Ps 119:68<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">If we really
trust God and consider His dealings with us as good, then we are “gentle”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We are to be
gentle… and “<b>quiet</b>”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I have six sons
and one daughter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She is loud. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I tell her that
God gave her a loud voice on purpose and that she has to learn how to use it
for Him! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">“Has the L<span class="yhwh">ord</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>redeemed you? <u>Then speak out</u>!</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">Tell others he has redeemed you from your
enemies.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Ps 107:2</span><span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">How I pray that
she won’t be <i>silent </i>about the things
of the Lord. That is not what this means.<span class="vnum"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Quiet” means still, tranquil, peaceful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">How can we be
tranquil during suffering? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Stay in the
Word! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We have to allow
God’s love to “quiet” us remembering that He is mighty to save!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">“The L<span class="yhwh">ord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">your God in your midst,</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">The Mighty One, will save;</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">He will rejoice over you with gladness,</span><br />
<i><u><span style="background: white;">He will
quiet</span></u></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><u><span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></u></i></span><em><u><span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%;">you</span></u></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><u><span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></u></i></span><i><u><span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">with His love</span></u></i><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As I wrote this,
I realized how I truly can’t be these two words (gentle and quiet) apart from
Jesus Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I want these
words to define me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">But first Christ
has to define me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">And as I learn
to trust Him in suffering, I become gentle and quiet in spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">“which is very
precious in the sight of God”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">A gentle and
quiet spirit is very precious <b>and God
SEES it</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">May God enable
us to be gentle and quiet women who willfully submit to His good plan for our
lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Our life is,
after all, a glorious dance with our Prince of Peace.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Hand in hand.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He leads and we
follow.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">And then we happen
to notice we are dancing on water.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16949471213153043914noreply@blogger.com1