The Sparkle in You

     Here is another caption that certainly reflects a part of me.  Blue is my favorite color but pink is one of my favorite colors to wear.  If you add a little bling to it, voila, I'm sold on it.  I love fabric with sequence, rhinestones or any little kind of shiny addition to it.  I think it draws attention and makes it special.
     Do you sparkle in the Light to others?  Do others see you and say I want that?  When our thoughts are on godly things and not our circumstances, we will have a peace that others are searching for.  We are examples to others, whether we want to be or not.  May your words be crystal clear, your actions be like sharpening iron and your thoughts shine on the days to come.

Zechariah 9; 16-17  ''The Lord their God will save his people on that day as a shepherd saves his flock.
They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown. How attractive and beautiful they will be!''

''As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.''  Proverbs 27:17

As I Walk...

     As I begin this week, I can certainly feel His grace, mercy and love upon me.  I've had anxious moments this weekend about my near future but I feel reassured this morning.  Why do I doubt?  When things crash in and my sense of normalcy is gone, I tend to wonder 'what now?'  Reminding myself that my life plan has already been established and blessed helps to calm those fears.
     Who or what do we have to fear when God is with us and on our side?  Our trials strengthen us and the blessings are more appreciated when received after.
     I am blessed by a new helper today.  A caring, friendly sister in Christ who I hope to get to know better with time.  Change can be good and for our benefit if we accept it with open arms.

Scream

     I didn't blog yesterday because when I feel like I have to much to say, I know it is best to say nothing at all.  This face painted caption reflects my feelings the past couple of days.  I can't write about mercy, patience or forgiveness when I am all out myself.  Maybe I should go read some of my own blogs?
    Haven't we all felt this way?  The best way to keep my mouth shut is to think about my own faults and shortcomings.  [sigh]  I think about the fact that we are measured with mercy with the same amount we give to others.  Then I think, woah I'm in trouble.  My friend says 'mercy is not your gift.'  I'm trying to give more but it is not easy.
     'Blessings are mine, with ten thousand beside' is what I'm trying to focus on.

Allowed Where?

     'An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.'  Do you believe that?  Of course it's never too late to start but teaching the Bible to children is the best life guide you can share with them.  The government may block Biblical teaching but your home is a perfect setting to not only teach but to imitate Godly principles.  It can have a 'trickle down' effect from your kids to other kids at school.  The written Word may be banned in public schools but the power of a Godly babe's mouth cannot be shut.
    'Be still and know that I am God.'  Sometimes God uses hardship, like prison, to take away worldly distractions so that we may turn to Him.  I often think God allows people to be locked up not only to protect the city but also to protect them from their own destruction and allow some maturity to take place.  Prison ministry is a life altering chance for many to let them know there is always hope awaiting them.
    Why do we wait?  We are not born with a moral compass but must be taught right from wrong.  If we begin by building a firm foundation within our children, they are less likely to fall to the worldly storms they will encounter.  When they do turn away, lead them back to standing once again on the Rock.
    'When we are no longer a nation under God, we will be a nation gone under.'  Ronald Reagan

Way Back Wednesday.... Hair

     So here we are at Christmas 1988, or should I say HAIR we are... haha.  We all had more hair back then than we knew what to do with.
     Yes, we were all stronger back then in our younger days.  I was walking, driving and had the world in my reins.. or so I thought.  Both my parents had full time jobs back then and were after the American dream. Proverbs 20:29  ''The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.''
     Yes, the hair has fallen and faded just as our strength has with time.  Yet we are all still here running the race of life for Christ 24 years later.  His grace and mercy has protected us and brought us thru all those years.  Isaiah 46:4  ''Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.''
      Although I think overcoming my past hardships is worthy of gray hair, I'm blessed to not have had to travel that road yet.  The 'fall out' was a rough enough road to endure.  Whether you can see it or not, my parents have attained their earthly crowns as they wait to one day trade them in.  Proverbs 16:31  ''Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.''

Don't Show It Off

     Have you seen more than you wanted lately?  Do we really need to know whether you're in boxers or briefs by the naked eye?  Isn't it called 'under'wear because it's not to be seen?  The practice of wearing your pants half down and your underwear half showing puts a spotlight on your lack of thinking ability.  Buying a belt or pants that actually fit will do you more good than just to your waistline.   Modesty is not a lost art.
    Have you heard more than you wanted lately?  Knowledge is good but only to a point.  Action speaks louder than words every time.  Some of the most recognized people on earth that are considered intelligent are totally ignorant on what's truly considered valuable knowledge.  It is said, 'when we open our mouths, we remove all doubt on whether people think we are foolish or not.'  Wouldn't you rather have someone show you what love is thru their life than just quote the verses?   ''But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.'' 1 Corinthians 8;1-3
      

Opportunities

    Did you pass on an opportune moment today or did you make the most of it?  Each day we are nudged by God to bless someone else with what we are able to give.  If we would take a moment to think about the hardship of another and act upon it, then the blessing is not just given but received.
    There are opportunities everywhere to be an example to others.  Taking cupcakes to my doctor's office today shows them that I appreciate what they do for me.  It's a little way to say 'thank you for doing more than just your job.'
     I cannot cook anymore but I can afford to buy a meal.  An older couple I know that have served in the church for many years are struggling themselves to stay at home themselves.  They are often overlooked and are not in the spotlight.  Taking them a meal today not only helps them nutritionally but lets them know they are loved and not forgotten.
     I don't write this to boast about my efforts but just to show we can all serve others in some way.  Showing God's love is an endless blessing to be poured out by each of us.

Temptation

     So my dad and I went to see 'The Bourne Legacy' movie today.  I don't know about you but the smell of movie popcorn to me is like a drug.  It smells soooooo good and yet I know it's a sure fire road to coughing for me.  So I try to get out of the intoxicating concession lobby as quick as I can.  I take my air machine with me now to movies and it's a good thing.  The only drawback is that it concentrates the room air into my mask so if I sit next to someone with popcorn, that is all I can think about.  Luckily, no body today was near with popcorn.
     We are each tempted by different things but if it is going to harm you physically or spiritually, AVOID IT.
'Lead me not into temptation.'

Debt

     Okay, so if I kept receipts, this would definitely be me!  Can I blame Walmart?  No.  Kohls?  Maybe.  The fashion industry for waiting 40 years to make clothes that finally fit me?  YES!  Permission must be granted to look in my closet to see the damage/investment I've done.....ha.
     I'm glad God doesn't keep receipts either.  He says 'love keeps no record of wrongs.'  Would there be enough pen and paper just for my list?
     I can say that all of my retail purchases are made with money I have and not on credit.  I don't like owing anyone financially.  I like this verse....Romans 13:8  ''Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.''  Yes, I am in deep debt to those who love me here on Earth but my deepest debt was paid on the Cross.
     Yes my collection of jeans is a longed for possession to make up for all those years of knit pants I had to wear.  My true treasures await me in heaven tho, that can't be moth eaten or destroyed.  Earthly treasures are trivial but what we do for Christ is eternal.
     Has your debt been paid or are you just making the minimum payment to Him?

Lying

      In the news today, ''Mitt Romney on Thursday accused President Barack Obama and his allies of launching personal attacks and perpetuating lies about him in TV ads.''  Now I don't believe either candidate is flame-retardant when it comes to lying in their campaigns but this statement from the press made me think of this caption.
      I don't think any of us are fireproof, whether it be a white lie or a bold faced lie we've told.  Some people lie so often, even their true statements are questionable.  Lying is often self-serving and denys others the right to make decisions based on the truth.  Lying also has a building effect and just perpetuates more lies to cover up the last.  Lying is a damaging force and can ruin reputations.  We've seen this lately in social networks and the power of slanderous posts about people.
     'If you always tell the truth, you won't have to remember what you said.'  The thought of that would clear alot of memory space in the minds of people.  God's word will always be true, consistent, unchanging and hold the test of time.  Isn't that reassuring to know there is something here for us that is completely trustworthy?

Proverbs 12:22  ''The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth.''
Proverbs 17:20  ''The crooked heart will not prosper; the lying tongue tumbles into trouble.''
Proverbs 21:6  ''Wealth created by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap.''
Proverbs 26:28  ''A lying tongue hates its victims, and flattering words cause ruin.''

Way Back Wednesday.....Band Memories

     This is a picture of me at Christmas but the fact that I'm kneeling leads me to my story.  When I was in 7th and 8th grade I played the flute in band.  I think 7th grade was just a chance to try something new but 8th grade was a challenge all together.  I don't think I realized when I signed up that 8th grade was a marching band for football games. I can tell you everything was a stress and struggle for me; climbing the bleachers, the marching practice, the bus for away games and not to even mention actually playing the flute.  I'm not a quitter and I so wanted to be just like all the other kids.  Well then came the formation practice out on the football field and at one point, we had to kneel on our left knee.  The goal is to look uniform throughout the band but I couldn't kneel on my left knee, just my right knee.  So I had to be the odd man out and be different.  As I think about it now, I don't know why the band teacher couldn't have switched the chosen knee to be on?  I thought everyone in the bleachers would think I messed up.  Although that was a concern of mine, I was more focused on just getting back up while holding the flute in position.  Yes, my brain was flooded with what the world thought of me.
     So there are two lessons I want to point out from this story.  First, it's okay to be different than the world around you.  As Christians, we are called to not conform to this world but to be transformed like Christ.  My pride was really the only thing that was hurt in being the odd man out.  Pride is often what holds people back for standing up for what's right in a crowd.  Secondly, the world will not stop or change for you.  We need to  remember the world does not revolve around us but that's no excuse to quit.  We must press on and adapt as necessary.

Bad Taste

     I've always liked Family Circus cartoons.  They are simple, short and to the point yet have definite meaning behind them.  This one definitely reflects my eating habits, especially as a child.  I am one who wants to know what's in it and will usually try one bite.
    This reminds me of a mission trip my dad went on to Haiti and they were served a suspicious meat.  They were so hungry, they didn't care what it was.  Pastor Cebien said it was cuban chicken, which they decided might have been rat...??  So recently when I saw a Panera Bread sign advertising their 'cuban chicken sandwich', I just had to laugh and say no thanks to myself.
    This cartoon also reminds me of the phrase 'don't drink the koolaid.'  Yes, I'm referring to Obama's eloquent, yet bold faced lies.  Did I like it the past four years?  No and I refuse to swallow it this time either.
    Be cautious in what you take in, not only to your stomach but to your mind also.  Some things just leave a bad taste that's hard to get rid of.

Flexible?

     Okay, I know I'm not the only one who can relate to this caption. I've witnessed some of people's  inflexibility at times. I want things around here to go back to 'normal.'  Adjusting to a new normal is not an easy or welcomed idea.  We all have our own ideas of what normal is in our own lives and that routine is our comfort zone.
    We have things in our lives, like a car breakdown or a change in our jobs, that force us to change course whether we like it or not.  My friend the other day said  'as I've gotten older, I've learned to be flexible.'  I think that's the right attitude.. consider others besides yourself.  Sure you could have done things differently or maybe even better but you are not an island.  There are always factors to be considered beyond our own desires.
    Even God knows the way He wants things to be, He gives us the choice to choose Him rather than us being robots.  Freewill is God's way of being flexible, I think.  It is the inflexibility of our hearts and minds that keeps us from taking that leap of faith.

Hang It On The Cross

1 Corinthians 1;18  ''The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.''

     This verse was in my daily Bible reading today and reminds me where to lay my burdens.  Every doubt, sorrow, worry, or anxious moment has been paid for at the foot of the Cross.
     ''Now I can trade these ashes in for beauty and wear forgiveness like a crown.  Coming to kiss the feet of mercy, I lay every burden down at the foot of the Cross.''
      I can honestly say God has won my heart and my trials are turned into victory thru Him and for His glory.  If you read further in the passage past this one verse, it talks more about our foolishness.  1 Corinthians 1;24-25  ''But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.  This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.''
     How come we can recognize how little we know when we get lost going from point A to point B, but we often think we know better than God or can do things without Him?  Arrogance needs to be humbled, anxiety needs to be calmed, and patience needs to be sought.  Where can you find such a peace-giving place?  At the foot of the Cross, where grace and suffering meet.

Timing

    Why now God, why now??  Have you ever thought that when something bad happens?  We never question when good things happen.  Sometimes bad things come to us to make us aware of the unknown so we can possibly take action.  Sometimes it's to remind us of our limited time we have here.  In all times, it is to draw us nearer to the Lord.  It reminds me of the song, 'Blessed be the name of the Lord,...You give and take away,..my heart will choose to say.. Blessed be Your Name.'
     As I found out today, my 3yr old cat Tiger has heart disease and suffering from a blood clot in her aorta. I pray that the timing of this is to make me aware of her condition and give her maintenance medicine in the future.
     God's clock is perfect and we are all subject to it.

FBF PRAYER REQUESTS---AUG 2012

FBF PRAYER REQUESTS......AUG 2012


MARTIN AND HANSY TUOHY

1. Evangelism at town square. Torben, Kevin and myself hope to begin evangelism at the town square on Friday nights, reaching out to the youth that are headed to the bars.

2. Discipleship with Torben. He has begun a Bible training study program which I am leading him through as we meet weekly. 

PHILIP AND SANDRA PRIME

A few years back Sandra and I were placing Bibles in doctors'/dentists' waiting rooms, as well as other places of business where people would be looking for reading material while waiting on some service to be performed. I placed a Bible in a quick-change oil business where I was told it would probably not get read (as you can imagine there was other reading material competing for attention.) Some time last year Rosio picked up the Bible and read while waiting on her car to be serviced; before leaving she jotted down our phone number. Nearly a year passed before she finally made contact with us. She studied for the first time yesterday with Sandra.
1) Please pray that Rosio would turn to Christ for salvation.
2) That the Lord would give us a renewed zeal for evangelism.

TED AND PRISCILLA CLARK

Pray for the salvation of the many who receive our tracts each day.  Pray for eternal results from the distribution of the Unshackled CDs.

Pray for the salvation of numerous people studying the Bible each week with us or with one of the families in our church.

BOBBY AND NAMATHA AVILEZ

1.       Our troubles with the “owner” of the House of Hope land continues. The latest is that she made a report to the Social Development Department and had them come visit us. They came twice and they said “We would like to have more homes like you guys’ in our province!’ Not what she expected! Praise the Lord! We have since forwarded a letter to the Social Development Department explaining the spiteful agenda of Wandee Cheunchooprai and her handler, Greg Wineman. Please pray as we seriously pursue acquiring a new property to move to.

2.       Pray for Wandee Cheunchooprai, that she would desist from stirring up our children at the House of Hope. She is the former staff, under whose name the House of Hope land was bought. As the legal “owner” of the land she has been trying to exert undue influence over our kids. Some of the older ones have been reporting to her since it looks like she is trying to make their lives easier (no chores etc) and ours miserable. 6 kids have left because of her and we have had to fire Namatha’s sister (the cook) and her husband, who has been doing Wandee’s dirty work and stirring up discontentment among the kids. Pray for the rest of staff to keep our eyes on the Lord and to walk in unity through the upheavals

Worth the Trouble

     Have you ever used the phrase, 'It's just not worth the trouble.'  Do we think first about how much it's going to take on our part to do something or do we think more about how much of a benefit it's going to be?
     Well when I think about the trouble I am, I hope that the caption above will be thought of.  Delightfully difficult is a good description of me, in that there will be adjustments needed when doing events with me.  I've known Charlene for over 10 years now and we have had our moments of difficulty, like machine breakdowns, and yet she still thinks I'm worth the trouble.
     On the other hand, I might be described as 'delightfully difficult' when I want things my way.  What I want  done may not be an easy task but being patient for it to happen can be more beneficial than harping on it.  I guess you might say the difficult will be accomplished faster, the more delightful you are.
     So when we think of helping someone as too much trouble, the verse 'Love thy brother as thyself' should remind us that we are all trouble and yet all worth it.  Cornerstone Bible Fellowship is doing 'Be the Church' this Sunday, where the members do something for others in the community that day.  Is it more trouble than just going to the church service for the day?  Yes.  Will it be a benefit and witness to others?  Yes.  Will it be worth the trouble? Yes.

Help me Lord, to notice
The hurting, sick, and lost;
Guide me as I help them
Regardless of the cost. —Schuldt

Way Back Wednesday---Before Me

     43 years ago today, my parents tied the knot in Greenbrier, AR.  They met at the Baptist Student Union at UCA playing ping pong.  The night my dad planned to ask my mom to marry him, the car broke down and disrupted his plan.  The ring was burning a hole in his pocket and he couldn't wait so he just asked her anyway.
     They look so young, huh?  Yes, you can do the math, 18 and 19. You don't make it this far without commitment thru all the hurdles that life brings.
     HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to my parents today.

Unexpected Trials

     Have you ever felt slighted for just being you?  Been judged by your cover?  Well that happened to me last night at Carino's in NLR last night.  Even tho I was the first on in the door with our group of five, the hostess totally considered me invisible.  Then when she seated us, she purposely went around me to give everybody else a menu.  She then asked 'does she need a menu?'  My mom said we could share but I demanded my own.  I mean is there a shortage?  Do people in wheelchairs not read?  I did not make a scene or issue of it then because we had company with us.  This is also not my first encounter with insensitive people so I just try to remind myself of the verse 'forgive them, for they know not what they do.'  We have informed the manager to educate and prevent further discrimination to other customers.
     Trials come in all forms and sometimes unexpectedly.  We overcome them with grace and a fault forgiving, grace filled attitude. [yes, that's not my strong suit]  Yes, it irks me to be thought of in a lesser sense than others but my strength and confidence in myself does not depend on their thoughts of me.

Starting Over

     I think starting over is one of the hardest things in life because we often do not like change.  We can't stand still tho or keep going around in circles, we must move ahead.  It may pertain to a job or a relationship but whatever it is, it requires strength and courage.  The end of anything is just a new beginning to something else.
     We've all started over at something and it's a scary, stressful place to be.  Our trust in Him is definetely tested beyond our comfort level.  We sometimes have to consider things that were never even thought about before and try new things.
      2 Corinthians 9:8  ''And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.''  If only we could remember this and reassure ourselves in those doubtful moments.
     So today if you are starting a new job or just starting over a new week, draw that needed strength from the One who provides for all our needs.