Apostolic Girls

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. (III John 1:2)

Always begin your day with prayer and bible reading
Purchase the hand held weights and use them when you’re just sitting around. They have them in all colors.
Occasional fast food can be alright but it should be a rare occasion. Cooking healthy meals at home are more enjoyable and it saves you money.
Stop drinking soda, it is in no way healthy for you and it’s expensive! Water is free and good for you! If you need flavor try lemon or lime.
Take in lots of water on a daily basis, 75% of Americans are dehydrated.
On shopping days, park far away at a store on purpose! Walking is a good thing!
Lose your sweet tooth by not eating sugar in the morning or you will crave it all day!! If you must partake, it’s best to eat it after 3 pm.
In the morning, eat breakfast, it speeds up your metabolism . . . Oh and STOP DRINKING SODA!
Cut off the TV & internet sitting, go outside and enjoy the fresh air!
Get off the couch and walk, jog or run for around 15/20 minutes. This is a great way to wake up and clear your mind.
If inclement weather keeps you indoors, try Wii fit, a treadmill, or video aerobics are also a great tool to use.
Regularly eat wheat grain/bread rather than white flour/bread, it is much healthier for you.
Love your milk!! Calcium and Vitamin D are essential for strong healthy bones, so don’t forget to drink it!
STOP DRINKING SODA ;)

You can get more information at: http://www.apostolicgirl.com/

I went to Wal-Mart Unprepared

I feel like God did this just to show me that I always need to be "Missions Minded". Now to be missions minded you don't have to travel to China to win souls, or just give an offering to churches over seas. Being missions minded is beyond just the foreign field. You can be missions minded in your hone town, work or even at school. My husband and I came to Sebastopol MS determined to reach as many souls as possible. We came Missions Minded.

But today I walked into Wal-Mart, (outreach central) and had not one church card in my purse. Now you can ask my husband I always have 20-30 cards at a time but not this time.

I had changed purses yesterday without replaces the cards and today I walked out thinking that I wouldn't go anywhere that I would need them.

Needles to say, I'm I. Walmart and a nice ladystops me to ask how to make spaghetti. No one has ever asked me how to cook something so I knew it was from God. Next I'm in line checking out and the lady behind starts a friendly conversation with me.

I walked out the door feeling defeated. Not one church card was passed out. And I had two great chances to do so. You can tell people which church you go to but there is something awesome that happens when your able to place a church card in there hand.

Lord, continue to use me and keep us "Missions Minded"

Our Awesome Young People

I just wanted to take a moment and brag on the young people at PGPC.....I love each and every one of them as if they were our own. We are so happy about what God is doing in their lives and in our lives while we are here. It is awesome to see what God is going to do in their lives.

The Obedience of Samuel

As you know, I teach Kindergarten here at the school. It's a Christian school, so we do have bible lessons through out the week. Our story for this week was Samuel when he was just a boy and lived in the temple. We all know that story of how Samuel, after a long day of work in the temple, laid down on his mat to sleep when he heard a voice. He heard the voice multiple times and thought it was the priest, Eli. Finally, he came to realize that it was God that calling his name. God told Samuel that Eli would one day no longer be priest.

The thing that I never took time to realize was, why Eli would no longer be priest. Eli had two sons, Hophni and Phinehas. Hophni and Phinehas did not obey or did they love God. But Samuel was different, heloved God and he was obedient and that's why God used him......But let's take a look back at Eli.....Why did God no longer want Eli to be priest, he seemed to be obedient and I would assume to be the priest that you would have to love God. Obviously there was something in Eli's life that did not please God.

When God spoke to Samuel about Eli, his reason for not keeping Eli as priest probaly to some seemed unfair.......Eli's son were not obedient, to God, to their father or to the house of God.

Proverbs 23:13-14 says, "Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell."

Obviously I don't agree with beating a child, but the word of God tell's parents to give correction....Now I'm not a parent yet but for some reason this story almost brought me to tears. I started to see that when I do become a parent and if I don't teach my child to obey, it doesn't only harm the children, but it harms the parents.

Eli lost his place in the house of God because he stopped making his children obey. I believe God made an example out of Eli. We have to teach our children to obey. I don't want my children to be lost and I don't want to lose my place in the house of God.

As I said before, I don't have children yet, yes I know and I am not telling anyone how to raise their children but I do feel like God laid this on my heart for a reason.

Love you all!

Change

I have not been able to blog for a long time. We have been so busy. The Lord has truly showed up and showed out. I never would have thought that this was the plan that God had for my life. My husband and I moved to Sebastopol, MS around the second week of August. The Lord had a plan for us that was greater then our plan. Our intention was to return to IBC (Indiana Bible College) August 23 for another school year, but that was not Gods plan. 3 weeks before we should be leaving for IBC, the Lord moved us to Pine Grove Pentecostal Church in Sebastopol, MS to be Youth Pastors. We were so nervous and we still are, but we have stepped into a blessing.

We have anywhere from 40-50 young people between the ages of 12 and unmarried. We felt like they had given this huge job to the wrong people. We attend an amazing church. I have never even visited a church like this. They are so in tune with God. It feels like revival every service. AWESOME! Our pastor is 1st class. A man of wisdom beyond his years. He and Sis Copeland, show a great love for the saints of Pine Grove Pentecostal Church.

I absolutely love our young people. They are so on fire for God. We have something at the church for the youth at least 2 times a week and they love every minute of it. They are all like one big family. We can't wait to see where God is going to take them.

Our church has a Christian school K-12. I teach there Monday through Thursday, and love it. I have truly found a job that I love to wake up and go to every morning. Brad teaches in the school everyday till 12noon and then for the rest of the day he continues his duties as youth pastor. I am so proud of him and what God is doing in his life.

The Lord has truly blessed us. We are so excited to be here and a part of this church. Can't wait to see all that God has in store.

www.pgpc.net

Does the Devil Know Your Name?

We go to church Sunday morning, Sunday night, and wednesday....We even have activities through out the week....So the Devil is scared of us...Right? NOT!

We are familiar with the story in Acts 19 where a few men went to cast out demons as Jesus and Paul had done....

Acts 19:11-16 reads:11And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

12So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

13Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the LORD Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

14And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

15And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

16And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

The evil spirits did not even know the name of these men. They were not afraid of these men, they knew that these men had no power.

We can go to church, attend every outing, sing on the platform, play an instrument, even teach sunday school.....We could be the janitor, the sound person, the youth leader, or even the pastors wife.....None of these scares satan. He does not care what you do or who you are as long as your life is not 100% dedicated to Jesus. If we are not giving bible studies, spending time in a prayer closet, or living in holiness (both inside and out), Then the devil is not scared.

I want to make the devil scared, I want him to know my name. When I go to pray for someone or something, I want authority against satan and his evil spirits.

We have to be careful praying for people and being altar workers, we need to make sure our life is right and that we have spent time with God daily in prayer, or else as the men in this story, the evil spirits could leep on us and we could become a dwelling place for the spirits of the devil.

I want the devil to be scared of me. When I walk down the streets of my city, I want him to be scared that I just might win someones soul over to the Lord. Every time I walk into the house of God, I want him to be scared that we just might pray someone through to the Holy Ghost.

I want the devil to know my name!

Inside Out

This morning in prayer, my mind went back to a song that we use to sing in Sunday School...."Inside out, Inside out, You must serve my Jesus from the inside out. I am your child and I may not know very much, but I know the word of God is true. If you read your bible, you'll find there ain't no room for doubt, cause the word of God is spiritual from the inside out"

Matthew 23:24-26 (King James Version)
Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

A lot of times we focus on the outside more then we focus on the inside. Now if you know me, you know that I support holiness, standards and clothing guidelines just as strict as anyone, but we have to start from the inside. Regardless of what we look like on the outside, if our heart is not right with God or if our temple has become unclean, God cannot use us. To be used in His kingdom, we must first be clean on the inside. We must search our hearts. Search our temple. Search our vessel. Clean it out. Go before the Lord for Him to cleanse us. Then the Lord will work on the outside. He will gives us convictions.

Today I pray the Lord starts on the inside. I want to be a clean vessel.

The Tyranny of the Urgent

I started reading the book "Having a Mary heart in a Martha world", a book that I believe EVERY women that wants to serve God to the fullest, but does not seem to find the time, or if you need a book of encouragement to get out there and do what God wants you to do.

There is a part in chapter one that has caught my attention. The book role place what probably takes place in every one of our lives....."Part of me is Mary. I want to worship extravagantly. I want to sit at his feet. But part of me is Martha--and there's just so much to do! So many legitimate needs surround me, compelling me to work. I hear God's tender call to come away, I respond, Yes Lord, I will come. But then the phone rings, I'm reminded of the check I was supposed to deposit--yesterday! Suddenly all of my good intentions about worship disappear, swallowed up by what Charles Hummel calls "the tyranny of the urgent"."

I know that there are many mornings that I have gotten out of bed and looked at my prayer closet, and said "I will be right there" then the next thing I know it is lunch time and my "to do" list has gotten a whole lot longer. I believe that we all should have a "Threshing floor", a place that we fall before God to receive from Him what only He can give.

Threshing Floor:Wikipedia Definition
A threshing floor is a specially flattened surface made either of rock or beaten earth where a farmer would thresh the grain harvest. The threshing floor was either owned by the entire village or by a single family. It was usually located outside the village in a place exposed to the wind. Threshing is the process of loosening the edible part of cereal grain (or other crop) from the scaly, inedible chaff that surrounds it. It is the step in grain preparation after harvesting and before winnowing, which separates the loosened chaff from the grain. Threshing does not remove the bran from the grain.

In the spiritual since a threshing floor is a place where God can harvest us. Take away the bad and useless, to bring forth our harvest.

We need to make a threshing floor in our lives. I have made my closet a prayer room in my home. It has helped in so many ways. I can, at any point of the day, just walk in and shut the door, then its just me and God.

I know its hard, but we need God in our lives. We need to some times just come and sit at His feet. God wants to help us, and He has things that He wants to tell us....but until we can slow down, calm down, and sit down so that God can speak, we will not here His voice

Women , We can do it!

The Lord has placed many people in my life to help me along the way. He has shown me favor by allowing me to know the following women.....

Thank you to my mom....for all the random day-trips and playing hookie from school/work just to hang out....Thank you for all the late night talks.....thanks for being you!....Thank you for not giving up on me.....for being a father and a mother at the same time.....for showing me how to work hard, and take care of yourself.....Your are an amazing women.

Thank you to my mother-in-law....the best I could have asked for, someone I can talk to.....thank you for all your help.....and for allowing me into your life.

Thank you to my home Pastors wife Sis Paula Watts.....for your amazing advise, example of how a women should act, a prayer warrior and amazing worship leader.

Thank you to my mentor....Cylinda Nickel....you have no idea how I relive a lot of our conversations just to make it through the day...thank you for showing me how to run a crazy house (not that yours is....OK maybe a little sometimes), host a dinner, be a life giver and still have time to be an amazing person.

I think about the difference that these women made/make in my life everyday....and it makes me want to be the best that I can be. Just because we are women, wives, mothers, housewives, or career moms....We can still make a difference....We need to be there for one another. Encourage one another. Don't let time pass by without you lifting up your sisters in prayer. We are each others support system.

My prayer today is that I become a women that changes lives. I want to be someone that people can talk to and I want to be a prayer warrior....I want to intercede on my sisters behalf.

We cannot allow gossip to come into our hearts, we may all be different, but we are all in this together.

I love you all!

Do people know who or what your? Can they tell that you are a Child of God? Has anyone asked you latley if you are a Christian/Pentecostal?

People need to be able to see something different in us. They should want to know where we go to church, or how did we become so happy. This morning while working in the shop, A gentlemen asked me if I was pentecostal....I answered yes and procceded to tell me that he was non-denominational and had just moved near-by.

Immediatley I got happy...."Thank you Lord that I am different....We shouldn't have to go around telling people who we are, what we believe, or where we go to church. They should ask us....They should see something in us that they don't see in everyone else.

I want to stand out, I want be see a difference in me!

A little homesick today

So today has been a little rough on me. I miss my mom, my family, the big city of Charlotte, NC....but the main thing that I miss is my home church! Everyone there, my Pastor Rev Watts and First Lady Sis Watts, and Ashley! They are such amazing examples of who we all should live our lives. Everyday I try to remember all the things that they taught me....things I will never forget.

God has placed men and women of God in our lives for a reason. People are ok with the Pastor telling them to live a certain way as long as it doesn't require change. But I want change! I know it is hard to not become upset with your Pastor or Pastors wife when they correct you, but they do it protect you. They do it because they know what is right for you.

I sit here and think of the times that I sat in a church pew or my Pastors office, and left thinking that I didn't have to obey those rules.....I look back now and wish I would have listened. We have to allow people to speak things into our lives.

God used Noah, Moses, and Paul....they were all "MEN"....If it was good enough for them, then its good enough for me.

Thank you Lord for the men of God that you have placed in my life.

Weeds are taking over!!

So obviously I am new to this whole house wife thing, because I have let the weeds in my flower beds run wild. My sister-in-law came home yesterday from Texas, so cleaning was in the air. We all wanted everything to look like "home" for her. So I had the bright idea of weed eating my flower beds and planting new flowers my self. I began to pull and tug at this weeds that seemed tougher then they looked. After 2 broken nails, I thought, why not just go and buy soil and mulch to cover the entire area and you won't even be able to see them.....

Then I could hear God say, you have to get the root. "Wow" Amen! So I pulled and tugged for hours in this Mississippi heat...(If you have ever been in this area in the summer, you know my pain)....I worked so hard to get down to the root of these weeds. They had been growing so long that they had wrapped themselves in my bushes. But I was the women for the job to get them out!

As I was digging, pulling, and tugging......I thought, "This was crazy to ever let it get this bad! I need to take time everyday and search this flower bed for weeds before they kill my new flowers."

I was quickened in my spirit that this was another one of Gods daily lessons. Here we are, flowers in a flower bed and if we are not careful things will come in and try to kill us. We cannot allow little things of this world to try to creep into our lives. They may start out as something so small, and it looks harmless, but its roots will start to grow longer, stronger, and thicker then we can control. A lot of times we try to cover things up on the outside, by making our lives look perfect, but in reality you have to start from within. I pray that God helps me everyday to stay holy before him, and rid myself of things of this world.

I am so thankful that God still speaks in the garden!

Are You Ready?

Seems like simple question right? Wrong! Its not! You may think it is,but only to realize that after you said yes, you truly are not ready.

I feel like I have said yes to this question. Actually I have shouted it out, YES I AM READY!!! But what now, what comes after you say that you are ready?

The Devil, test, adversity, and the Lord wanting to make sure that you are truly ready. Sunday night I was lying in my bed and it was as though the Lord asked me again, "Are you ready?"

Now, obviously we could never be 100% ready. I believe that there are 2 parts to being ready. I believe that you have to have these in order to say "Yes, I am ready!'

Part 1 Is your heart willing?

Exodus the 35th chapter tells a story of the people having a willing heart. The Lord asked for them to bring forth a willing offering. He didnt beg, pled, or command, but he asked for a willing heart.Willingly they brought everything they had to offer. Verse 22 points out that they were "willing hearted". It has to be in your heart, not just on you lips. At the end of the chapter a workmen is chosen for the tabernacle and it says that He hath filled him with wisdom of heart to work all manner of work. The Lord knows what he is doing. He will give you what you need to work in his kingdom, but are you willing? Is your heart willing?

Part 2 Are you spiritually willing?

After you having the willing heart and you announce to God that you are ready and willing to be used, you will begin your fight. The Lord is going to test you. He is preparing you for what is to come, because if it wasnt a bed of roses for Him on earth, then its not going to be for you. The Devil will fight you. He is going to try everything to discourage you and put a doubt in your heart and mind for what God has called you to do. In Acts 27:23 "For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve." We need to realize who we are, who He is, who we belong to and who we serve. God will takeyou through some storms but we have to be ready to have faith and trust and Him.

Psalms 107:33 He turns rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground.

God will make a way, and He will work it all out in the end, but are you ready? Are willing to do what it takes?

God Whispers

A little over a month ago I was in a service at my home church, that impacted my life. We had a visiting pastor from New York who preached. Believe it or not I could not tell you for the life of me what the title of his sermon was or what was his scripture text. All I remember was going to church and looking for answers from God. Have you ever done that? Been in a service and be so overwhelmed by a problem that you can't concentrate? Well this night all that kept going over in my mind was "Lord I need you to speak to me".

He called for an altar service and I most definitely was ready. I needed something from God and I needed it right then. If you know me, you know I have a passion for serving God, and I am ready to do whatever He may ask of me. I know that the Lord has a great calling on my life, but like most saints, we doubt what our calling really is. I pressed through to the point where I felt as though it was just me and Jesus in the sanctuary. I began to pour out my soul, not caring what other people thought of me. While I was praying, The visiting pastor came and whispered in me ear, "God has a great ministry for you, but he whispers"......WHAT!!!! Lord I don't need you to whisper, just tell me! I was blown away. The first part I was excited about, the second part, not so much. Do you know what this meant? I had to listen extra hard, I had to be sensitive to Him and I had to be ready.

And it happened just as he said. God whispered to me. In a crazy moment in my life He confirmed that I was doing what I needed to be, and in the center of His will. Happiness and joy flooded my soul. You couldn't make me mad or sad if you wanted to! But, in the midst of all my happiness, the Lord threw a curve ball. Situations took a turn. What I thought would be the last thing to happen in my life became the first. But I remember the way I felt even after it happened....I was mad!!!! Of course I was, and why was I? I knew that this was not suppose to happen. I knew what the Lord told me. I got home, and went straight to my room. As I was sitting there, this calming spirit came over me. I began to remember what the Lord had told me. I needed to turn it over to the Lord. The devil tried to make me doubt the Lord. "Oh you definitely heard that wrong, now didn't you!" But no, the Lord does not lie, and I know what I heard and what I felt.

The only thing for me to do was to turn it over to the Lord, and I did just that. For once, I completely handed it over to Jesus and did not interfere whatsoever.

A lot of times, we feel like we need to help the Lord put things in motion. He does not need our help. If we would just trust Him and His word, then life would flow a little smoother.

The Lord changed the whole situation and during it all, gave me peace about it all. God may not always do the things the way that we would, but hey, that's why He is God!

Always be sensitive to God and be ready! Things will not always go the way you expect.

Are you afraid of the dark?

• Phonophobe- fears of noise
• Carcinomaphobia- fears of cancer
• Paedophibia- fear of children
• Nyctohylophobia- fear of dark wooded areas, or forest at night
• Pyrophobia- fear of fire
• Taphephobia- fear of being buried alive
• Telephonephobia- Fear of telephones (which I know I don't have)
• Papaphobia- fear of popes
• Lachanophobia- fear of vegetables
• Entomophobia- fear of insects
• Eosophobia- fear of dawn
• Clinophobia- fear of beds
• Gynaephobic- men that fear women
• Triskaidecphobia- fear of the number 13. Arnold Schonberg suffered from this phobia he dies 13 minutes from midnight on Friday the 13
• Arachibutyrophibia - the fear of peanut butter getting stuck to the rook of your mouth
• Zoophobia- fear of animals
• Tonsurphobia- fear of haircuts
• Xenophobia- fear strangers or foreigners
• Phobatriviaphobis- fear of trivia about phobias
  

Useless Information...But it makes you think

1. No president has been an only child
2. The longest inaugural address by the U.S. president was given by William H Harrison. It was an hour and forty-five minutes long during an intense snowstorm. One month later he died of pneumonia.
3. Adolf Hitler was Time's Man of The Year in 1938
4. Adolf Hitlers great-great-grandmother was a Jewish maid
5. Catherine the Great relaxed by being tickled
6. Christopher Columbus had blond hair
7. Cher's real name- Cherilyn La Pierre
8. Tom Cruise's real name- Thomas Mapother
9. Tom Hanks is related to Abraham Lincoln
10. Alfred Hitchcock did not have a belly button
11. A single violin is made of seventy separate pieces of wood
12. The word checkmate used on chess come from the Persian word Shah-Mat, which means "The king is dead"
13. Approximately 60 circus performers have been shot out of cannons. At last report 31 of them have died.
14. People in Iceland read more books per ca pita than any other people in the world
15. 70% of Americans eat McDonalds everyday
16. Coca Cola was originally green
17. The bible is the #1 shoplifted book in America
    
18. The book of Esther in the bible is the only book that does not mention the name of God
19. The bible has been translated into klingon
20. Minnows have teeth in there throats
    

Mani and Pedi Time

OK, so it is very rare that I splurge on myself. I love to splurge on other people but I hesitate when it comes to myself. But I caved in while I was in Arkansas and got me a manicure and pedicure. I was just so relaxing.

Have you ever noticed that when you are in an atmosphere like that, there is always some kind of drama. Well it started right when we got there. A pretty young lady walked into the shop wanting a fill-in. She wasn't in the salon for a minute and a lady runs in after her and says "Is that your car?" and the young lady replied "yes it is"....."Well can you move it please, its Saturday and that is our busiest day at the store". The young lady replied "well there are no signs saying where I can and cannot park"...."But you have to move your car its a rule". The young lady goes outside and they have a few choice words, she moves her car, and comes back into the store. As she is sitting there getting her nails done, she tells the owner of the situation and doesn't forget to mention that her intention was to go into the pet store when she was done to get a gift for her dog and set up a grooming appointment. But now that young lady refuses to go to that store ever again. The shop lost a customer all because they were not thinking of the full picture.

Proverbs 19:22 What is desired of a man is kindness, 1 John 2:6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked

We have to remember to always show ourselves friendly. I know we are not perfect, but no one never said that we couldn't strive to be perfect. Every time we are in a store we should have a smile on our face and be ready to strike up a conversation with anyone at anytime. Jesus has commissioned all believers to go to the most distant and remote place on a earth, as well as to our next door neighbors, to spread His love and His word. Matthew 5:16 (NKJV) says, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. We want people to come to church, to be saved, and know who Christ is, but we cannot do that if we don't let them see what he is doing through us. Now we shouldn't have to go around and let people know who we are and what church we go to, what we believe, and why we are the best little thing on Gods green earth :)....They should be able to see it with us not even opening our mouths. We have to strive to be the vessel that God can use. I know it is hard when you are standing in a long line at the grocery store and the cashier is taking forever, she is complaining, and does not even speak to you.....but what if you looked past all that and smiled and just said a simple hello....you could turn her world upside down. I am sure she is not going to remember the lady before you that was rude, didn't speak, or complained......but she will remember the one lady who just had a sweet spirit. You never know, she may show up at your church one day, and what will she say about you? Will her memory of you be of cheer, or will she hope she had not walked into that sanctuary. We never know what is going on with people but we do need to remember how we are to respond. Let our light shine through. This world needs a change and it starts with you.

You are not responsible for what other people think, say, or do - but you are responsible on how you react and respond. - C.H. Abernathy

Faith not Fear

Fear...What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of fear? What is the thing that you fear the most? Take a moment and think about it......Most people (Christians) will saying weather they are going to heaven or hell is there biggest fear. But why, Why do we fear at all?

Fear: a distressing emotion aroused by an impending pain, evil, danger, etc. (Random House College Dictionary)


Psalm 23: The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.


2 Chronicles 20:17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.

2 Timothy 1:7 says, For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. If the Lord did not give us a spirit of fear, the why do we have it....

Fear almost comes naturally to us. The enemy loves fear. It is something the he knows he can use against us. We have let fear control our lives. We have let it come into our homes.... (IE)telling the children to be safe, and don't talk to strangers. Yes these things are good, and children do need to know right from wrong, but what we need to teach is faith not fear. Pray with them and let them know that we need to continually serve God and trust in him. Teach them that the Lord will keep us safe as long as we are in the center of Gods will. Everything happens for a reason and God makes no mistakes. Marriages have been destroyed because of fear, fear of infidelity. It drives us insane. It makes us worry, stressed and then the next thing you know, we can't seem to have a day with an argument. We have let fear into our churches. People ask "Why is the church not growing? Oh, something must be wrong with the Pastor..." WRONG! Something must be wrong with us! And it is....We have fear, fear of embarrassment, and rejection. You may be sitting in a service and the Lord speaks to you about a ministry of some sort, or a fundraiser, an outreach program, a saint in the church that may be in need....Do you do something about it? Most likely the answer was "No...but...." Why? Why did we not do what the Lord had laid upon our heart?....because...."Well I don't know if that was the Lord speaking to me or my flesh" blah blah blah...honey let me help you out...IT WAS THE LORD!!!!......The devil is not going to tell you to start a jail ministry, raise money for the youth to go to Rally's and conferences, raise money for missionaries, or take a saint out for lunch because they are lonely. He (satan) wants you to sit at home and watch reruns of "Do Nothing". He gets no glory out of you doing the work of the Lord, but it does put a smile on his face when he watches as a child of God sits on the pew and does nothing. The Lord lays these things on our hearts for a reason.....Or you may even say..... "Well I can't do that I will leave that up to the Pastor or the youth leaders"....God laid it on your heart so obviously He is wanting you to do something. Now don't think for one second that I have always done what God has asked me to do....I have been one of the ones that has said, I am not qualified for that, or what if I invite them to church and they so no......It is fear, we all have it but we have to overcome it. I remember a few months ago I was in a Goodwill with 3 others ladies. One of them a pastors wife and another a missionaries wife. Wonderful examples of women of God. I had sorta drifted off to search the store myself. I found myself at the back of the store looking at books, which I never do. As I stood there, I felt as though someone was watching me. I glanced over and there was a lady that was walking toward me and just staring. I continued to look through the books. She then came and stood beside me, I could feel her spirit pulling at me, something told me that she wanted to talk. (I say something, because like you, I felt like it was my flesh talking). She finally spoke and said "hello" and I spoke back. I then turned and made my way back to the front of the store. After that, I was no longer comfortable. The Lord had basically just slapped me. I should have talked to her. I could have helped her....but I thought to myself, I am nobody. If this lady has a need, Lord you need to send her to another one of the ladies from the church, they are more qualified then me. I felt awful, so I started praying and asking God for forgiveness. I had not obeyed Him. I prayed and asked the Lord to lead her back my way, or help her to find someone to talk to. No more then 5 minutes after I had said that prayer, I looked up and saw her talking to the missionaries wife that was also there. I felt relief. Although it wasn't me, she found someone that could help, and God found someone He could use. (If you won't let Him use you, He will find a replacement) Now there was no prayer meeting, or laying on of hands....All she needed was someone to talk to. She needed some guidance and direction and didn't know where else to turn. God is not only going to use us at an altar, or a prayer meeting....He will use us anywhere. But we can't have fear. It can and will destroy our ministry if we let it. We have to learn to put our trust in the Lord. God does not call the equipped, He equips the called. Isaiah 43 says "But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine." God makes no mistakes. He did not call and redeem the wrong person. We are His and He will not forsake us. When He called us, He knew exactly what he was doing and we have to trust that. Our prayer should be, that we trust Him and that we may be more sensitive to His will. You can't go wrong as long as you are in the center of His will.

Sometimes you just got to stop and pray!

Sorry it has taken so long to write, I have a computer available to me. I was on a little mini vacation in Southern Illinos we Jason and his family. We had such a great time, but sometimes in the middle of all that you have to pray.





Yesterday morning, before I was even fully awake, I got a phone call. It was a girlfriend of mine. She was so upset. She was having a problem with her daughter, mother and her "baby daddy". Even tho' I am hundreds of miles away from her, I tried my best to help out the best way that I can. I talked to her and told her what I felt was the right thing to do. I told her to pray about it and about the whole situation, and so would I. I hung up the phone with her. And it clicked, "you should have prayed for her right then, when she was still on the phone"...but God I am on vacation, I need to get a shower and get dressed before everyone gets up.....lol.....Don't you hate when God makes you feel bad about something that you "should" have done....lol...So you know what porobably came after, prayer. I didn't call her back, but I did pray for her about her situation.



Later that day, I get a phone call from home. I have a cousin who was born and raised in church and has strayed away. The phone call informed that he had been jumped twice in one day and that it had upset my grandmother greatly. Of course I called everyone to see how they were doing and to give a word of encouragement. I stopped and prayed for my cousin and his salvation.

I said all that to say this...You have to be ready in and out of season. You never know when God needs you to stand in the gap.....During this whole time I was thinking how can I pray for others needs when I have needs of my own. But I did, I put everything else first. God brought a sweet peace to my situation so that I could be used where he needed to use me. So be ready to be used!!!

In His Hands

Ok this week has been really strange for me....I have this feeling that God is trying to tell me something! Have you ever had that feeling, and you just want to say "God just tell me what it is you want me to learn from this and it will save both of us some time" lol....Well I have been feeling like that all week....Its weird because I am not sad, or mad, or upset, or depressed, but I feel something weighing heavy on my heart. I do have so many questions for God and I almost feel that instead of telling me what he wants in my life, he is setting up a test for me. I love it when you know its coming but at the same time, I don"t because as you know I am not a very patient person. Its funny how God likes to choose a different method everytime he wants to tell you something.



I only want one thing out of this life, and that is to be in the center of Gods will. That is all that matters. If we are in the center of Gods will then it all will work out in the end. I think back to a sermon I heard a few months ago. This sermon changed my life and I don't think I will ever forget what was said. during the sermon I remember saying to myself "I want only to be in Gods will" over and over again in my head.



The preacher talked of how we need to be able to put our lives in Gods hands. Let God lead you where he wants you, and do with you as he pleases. If you get this into your head then, Guess what, It will all work out. We try to much to take control ourselves. Sometimes we think that we are putting it in Gods hands but at the same time we are trying to lead Gods hand. We cannot do that. God has to be in complete control. A lot of times we worry over nothing.



Since the sermon, I have tried my best to put it all in Gods hands. I feel like I have lived a stress free life for the last few months. I have been open to what ever God has in store for me. I mean, of course there will be some curve balls, because there are some things that God just wants to see how you handle it.

Try it, just where ever the Lord sends you, or whatever he has you do....do it! Don't question him. You will find that life is a whole lot easier then when you try to control it. Lets face it we all want to take control, it natural. But we have to be humble and submit to God. He is the one in control, and he needs no help.