BE ALL YOU CAN BE!

My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.

We have been talking this week about the will of God. When I looked in my concordance this morning what caught my eye is the fact that you and I have a will of our own and guess who gave it to us? our Heavenly Father. Now think about it. Why would He give us a will of our own? The answer could possibly be so that we could choose of our will to serve Him and choose His ways.

I always raised my children to be good adults. It wasn't that important that they be perfect kids, but to point them in childhood to being good adults. I wanted them to experience things in their life while I was around so that when I wasn't around, they would have a clue as to how to handle life.

When I was a child, my parents did it - everything - for me. As long as I was quiet and well mannered, they were happy, however, when I got out on my own, I didn't have a clue as to how life worked. I wanted more for my children.

God wants more for us - that is the reason He gave us free wills. He didn't want robots. He wanted free, word inspired, redeemed, smart people to make a choice to accept Him as their God and follow Him no matter where he leads or doesn't lead. He forces no one to serve Him or accept Him.

So many times when I have done things for God, I have been rejected. Especially if you are teaching the Word of God. The persecutions that come, the rejection makes it hard sometimes to continue. Many times I have run away or stopped doing what I was doing because I couldn't stand under the pressure.

Then the Lord reminded me that it was not me that was being rejected....it was Him....it was His Word.... That to me was even sadder than my being rejected because of what I stood for. How many people in this world reject God? How many don't want anything to do with Him? How many will not accept Him as their Saviour?

We can relate to that in the games children play. Remember when kids picked the ones they wanted to be on their team? I don't know about you but this little fat girl was never the first one chosen to be on a baseball team. It is sad but that is where self-esteem starts - not being the chosen one.

Can you imagine - if God had to have self-esteem - how rejected He must feel in this world we live in? How sad for this world because He is the Lord of love.

I was raised in 'hell and damnation.' At one point in my life I wanted nothing whatsoever to do with the church because of the 'hell and damnation' I was raised in. But, what got me was the love of God. How much He loved me and ACCEPTED ME JUST LIKE I AM. In Him, I found myself. He created me to be me - not someone else. He gave me a complete free will to do as I choose and in Him, I found who I am. Not the next door neighbor - not the beautiful people who I always felt inferior to, but me.....He loves me......good, bad, ugly, or indifferent.

Now some of you can't comprehend that and think that is a terrible saying, but I can tell you for a fact that the majority of the people in this world think they are unworthy.....that they are not good enough......that they are not beautiful enough....that they are not rich enough.....that their life style is too different...that they have made too many mistakes. God reaches down to where we are as we are and doesn't try to make us into something we are not. He takes the threads of our torn up lives and makes us A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST JESUS. It's not a second chance, it's a first chance....to be everything we can be.

What a choice to make!!!!!!!!

Well, for someone who didn't have anything to say, I have sure said a lot today. I love the Lord with all of my heart and my heart's desire this day is that you would love Him also.

Have a great weekend!

Charlotte

God wants us to be all we can be!

My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.

There is a lot said today in the church's about not admitting that you are 'a sinner saved by grace.' That you have passed that part of your life and you are now sanctified and holy and a praiser of God rather than a 'sinner saved by grace.'

While in my experience I have found that you have to grow in the Lord, and not stay in that converted state, however, we must never get too far away from Calvary.

When I gave my life to Jesus, I was a mess. My husband and I had broken up and in the process, I discovered I liked to drink. I wasn't an alcoholic, but I enjoyed mixed drinks. In those days I also enjoyed dancing, if you can imagine. For a while -just a while - my friends and I would close Hot Springs. At that time clubs had to close at midnite. My mother kept my three children and never knew what I was doing -I suppose she didn't even question or she would have spoken.

In the midst of it all, my friend from Texas, came to visit me. They call her Rachel now, but she will always be Shelley to me. I smoked at that time also. I was wondering what in the world I was going to do with her at my house all week because she was so full of God and I wasn't. The Lord spoke to her to come and never mention His name to me.

She came and was just Shelley to me and the kids, and we loved her so. She wasn't judgmental. She never made me feel bad about who I was and more than that the Holy Spirit, that wonderful Spirit of love, filled my home while she was there, and when she left, she took Him with her. I will never forget walking back into my house and filling the emptiness there.

I had thought when she got saved and filled with the Spirit that she was crazy. She not only talked to God, but He talked back to her. That's nuts!!!!!! Right???? Well, after she left my house that day, I did something that was different - I went out in the midst of the tall pine trees by my house in the big city of Tull, Arkansas, and told God - I don't know what she's got, but whatever it is, I want it.

God is faithful, and several months later, by His leading, I gave my whole heart and soul to Him, and He filled me with His Holy Spirit, and I have never been the same again. There is an old song that I remember my mother singing as she washed dishes that says "Oh He's a wonderful Saviour to me," and He is. He has never let me down in the over 30 years that I have served Him and I have never been disappointed in Him.

We are looking at the will of God concerning us. Laura sent me part of the following (By the way, Laura is Shelley's daughter).

"Perfectionism is never satisfied. Perfectionism fails to realize that God loves us unconditionally. God's love enables us to change and mature and He doesn't withhold His love from us until we are perfect because we will never be perfect. Only God is perfect.

We think that others like us better for our perfection, but the truth is, it's just the opposite. People like to be around flexible, tolerant, imperfect people like themselves."

When we play the part of a sanctified, 'holier than thou' type Christian, most of the time it turns people off. Then on the other hand, sometimes people get scared of us when we are who we are, because the seeds of it show that we are serving a living, prayer answering God.

"HERE IS A TRUSTWORTHY SAYING THAT DESERVES FULL ACCEPTANCE: CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS - OF WHOM I AM THE WORST. BUT FOR THAT VERY REASON I WAS SHOWN MERCY SO THAT IN ME, THE WORST OF SINNERS, CHRIST JESUS MIGHT DISPLAY HIS UNLIMITED PATIENCE AS AN EXAMPLE FOR THOSE WHO WOULD BELIEVE ON HIM AND RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE." 1 Timothy 1:15,16

Paul, the great evangelist, wrote these words to Timothy.

Do you realize how patient God must be to accept us just like we are - good, bad, ugly, or indifferent - and to strive to help us grow to be all we can be in Him?

God's will concerning us is to be who we are - not a big show of virtue - but let who we are be who we are in Christ Jesus - and allow our light to shine so that others can see and want to know the wonderful Saviour that we serve.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for allowing us to be who we are. Keep on loving us and drawing us unto You so that our light will shine out to others so that they will want to know you and have the great privilege of serving You. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Have a wonderful day!

Charlotte

There's honey in the rock!

My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.

I have added some new music this morning. Take a minute to tune in and listen especially to Russ Taff. I believe that this song by Russ Taff trumps anything Gaither has ever taped before. It is sung from a believer's heart and it is evident.

We have been talking about the will of God this week. Laura, my niece, who does Encouraging Words sent me an e-mail which I am going to forward to you if I have your address, and it goes right with what we have been talking about this week. If you ask for a beautiful flower and a butterfly, and God sends you a cactus and a caterpillar, what are you supposed to do? Should you hang your head and toss them aside, or be diligent in caring for the things sent your way? In due season that cactus will bloom beautifully and the caterpillar will erupt into a beautiful butterfly.

The question is do we miss the will of God by not observing where we are walking and what we are doing?

When I was going to UCA I worked at a convenience store for a while. There was a guy that came in early one morning and asked me would I hold some things for him until he returned. I told him I would. Later on in the day, the guy came back and asked where the religious lady was. They knew immediately who he was talking about. When I heard of it, I was amazed as I'm not a preachy type person. I asked him when he came back, how he knew I was religious. He said I had my gospel music playing.

When we are, who we are, when we walk with God, God's light shines out of our life even though we might not realize it.

We have talked about giving our lives totally and completely to the Lord - the bottom rung on the ladder. We have seen that some of the mentioned in the Bible were in the will of God when they prayed for others. Still others, had a special calling on their life to do a specific job.

I heard a woman at a Women's Conference at Christ for the Nations in Dallas one time. She was expounding on how she had bugged God about where she was supposed to go to speak - here? or here? She finally came to the conclusion that God really didn't care where she went to speak...just go and do.

Still other times we read that God sent Paul specifically to a place for a set period of time.

The conclusion I have reached in my life about the will of God, is that God puts us in the place we are, to be all we can be, for His Kingdom's honor and glory.

There is a parable in the Bible about a lord who handed out talents. The one to whom he gave the most talents, took those talents and produced five more. When the lord came back he told him in Matthew 25:21 WELL DONE, YOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT: YOU HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL OVER A FEW THINGS, I WILL MAKE YOU RULER OVER MANY THINGS.

Further in that chapter it talks about FOR I WAS HUNGRY, AND YOU GAVE ME MEAT: I WAS THIRSTY, AND YOU GAVE ME DRINK: I WAS A STRANGER, AND YOU TOOK ME IN: NAKED, AND YOU CLOTHED ME: I WAS SICK, AND YOU VISITED ME: I WAS IN PRISON, AND YOU CAME UNTO ME.

THEN SHALL THE RIGHTEOUS ANSWER HIM, SAYING, LORD, WHEN DID WE SEE YOU HUNGRY, AND FED YOU? OR THIRSTY, AND GAVE YOU DRINK? WHEN DID WE SEE YOU A STRANGER, AND TOOK YOU IN? OR NAKED, AND CLOTHED YOU? OR WHEN DID WE SEE YOU SICK, OR IN PRISON, AND CAME UNTO YOU?

AND THE KING SHALL ANSWER AND SAY UNTO THEM, VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, INASMUCH AS YOU HAVE DONE IT UNTO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE, MY BRETHREN, YOU HAVE DONE IT UNTO ME.

Like the Azaleas that bloom even in the rock, we are to bloom wherever we are planted. That is God's will concerning us.

Lord, help us to bloom where we are planted. Help us to be content wherever you have put us even if we don't want to be there. Let our light shine out for You and Your Kingdom to let everyone know what a wonderful Saviour You are. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.

Have a wonderful day today!

Charlotte

We will understand it better by and by!

Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.

In 1 Thessalonians 4 we read FURTHERMORE THEN WE BESEECH YOU, BRETHREN, AND EXHORT YOU BY THE LORD JESUS, THAT AS YOU HAVE RECEIVED OF US HOW YOU OUGHT TO WALK AND PLEASE GOD, SO YOU WOULD ABOUND MORE AND MORE. FOR YOU KNOW WHAT COMMANDMENTS WE GAVE YOU BY THE LORD JESUS.

FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD, EVEN YOUR SANCTIFICATION....

I have heard preaching on sanctification as if it is a state that we have to live in to be able to see God. How I have perceived it over the years and turned a deaf ear to it is - that sanctification somehow nullifies grace and goes on to where the way you live is all that matters. In other words, works is what counts and not grace.

That is a misconception.

Sanctification is the Greek word hagiasmos which means consecration - holiness. So the next step after giving our lives totally and completely to God is to consecrate ourselves to living for him....not because grace is nullified but so that as Paul says YOU WOULD ABOUND MORE AND MORE.

Sanctification is kinda like humility. You can't write a book on 'Humility and how I achieved it.' Neither can you write a book on 'Sanctification and how I achieved it.' If this happens something is out of whack.

In my life every time I have thought I was somebody, God has delighted in showing me that HE TRUMPS ME. He can give me more lessons on 'What you need to do next' than anyone I know.

It's kinda like an onion. First you peel off the yellow/white skin, then you take off the layers one layer at a time. Just when you think that you have a perfect onion, there is another layer to come off.

That is the way it is when we truthfully serve God. When we think we have arrived, God can show us we have only begun.

This is not a put down - it is living from glory to glory. I can look back over my life and see the struggles I had at one time and it is laughable to me now because those struggles are no longer even a thought in my head because those things were conquered in my life.

Does that mean I am now sanctified/holy? No, at least not in my own eyes. It means I am going on to conquer another aspect in my life so that one day I can be like Jesus. When I become holy in my own eyes, I am in trouble.

It is like mountain climbing. We go up inch by inch. Sometimes the way is steep and seemingly dangerous, and then we reach a plateau where we can rest a while. All the time as we climb we are going up to the pinnacle of the mountain where God is. We struggle and we tire and we want to give up and then comes an easy spot where we just sail up that mountain not realizing how far we have come, because we don't look down, we look up. At some resting point, we look down and man! oh! man! how far up we have come. If I had realized how far, I might have gotten a nose bleed, but I was consecrated to living for God and seeing Him face to face, so my eyes were on Him not on anything else.

The things that tripped me up are just dust on the path already traveled and I go on trusting in God from glory to glory until one day when I get to the top of that mountain, I WILL SEE JESUS, and I will be changed into His likeness because I couldn't do it totally on my own.

Note: If we do not start at the bottom of the mountain and go up rung by rung. If we THINK we get to start 3/4s of the way up, then where is the place we go??????? The only place to go is to have God's job! That is where Satan got stumped. Thinking on he was more than what he was....He wanted God's job.

I don't know about you but I am content going from glory to glory and letting God be God, because I need Him to be my TRUMP. How about you?

I Peter 4:1-2 says FORASMUCH THEN AS CHRIST HAS SUFFERED FOR US IN THE FLESH, ARM YOURSELVES LIKEWISE WITH THE SAME MIND; FOR HE THAT HAS SUFFERED IN THE FLESH HAS CEASED FROM SIN; THAT HE NO LONGER SHOULD LIVE THE REST OF HIS TIME IN THE FLESH TO THE LUSTS OF MEN, BUT TO THE WILL OF GOD.

Lord, help us to live the rest of our time not in the flesh but to the will of God. I pray for the ones reading this (and the ones who don't) that whatever their struggle is right now, You would help them to go through and come out on the other side, victorious, leaving that struggle as dust behind them...as just a memory of how I overcame. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Have a great day today!

Charlotte

WHAT IS THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS CONCERNING YOU?

Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.

A lot of time when you have lived a lot of years, you look back and try to analyze what you have actually done in your life - or not done. If you are a Christian, your thoughts go to what have I accomplished for the Lord. Have I done whatever I have done with a sincere heart? Was my well being in mind or was I doing this for the Lord and with His direction? In my life I have seen others succeed and actually make big money on their talents for the Lord, and I wonder where I went wrong or if I went wrong or maybe God just had a different path in mind for them that did not apply to me.

What does the scripture say about the will of God?

In 2 Corinthians 1:1 Paul proclaims that he was AN APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST BY THE WILL OF GOD. We know that Paul was 'called out' by God directly so this was an obvious calling on Paul's life for a work cut out just for him.

2 Corinthian 8:3-5 says FOR TO THEIR POWER, I BEAR RECORD,

YES AND BEYOND THEIR POWER THEY WERE WILLING OF THEMSELVES; PRAYING US WITH MUCH INTREATY THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE THE GIFT, AND TAKE UPON US THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE MINISTERING TO THE SAINTS.

AND THIS THEY DID, NOT AS WE HOPED, BUT FIRST GAVE THEIR OWN SELVES TO THE LORD, AND UNTO US BY THE WILL OF GOD.

This scripture talks about being willing - to pray for Paul and his team. But Paul had a different idea of what he wanted from the people than what happened and what was the will of God. AND THIS THEY DID, NOT AS WE HOPED, BUT (there's the but) FIRST GAVE THEIR OWN SELVES TO THE LORD and then to praying for Paul BY THE WILL OF GOD.

So no matter what job the Lord gives us to do in our life - even if it is 'just praying,' first we need to give ourselves to the Lord. Then our 'just praying' becomes mountain moving in our lives and the people we 'just pray' for. Actually, 'just praying' and seeing God move because we prayed is the most exciting thing I can think of.

Colossians 4:12 says this EPAPHRAS, WHO IS ONE OF YOU, A SERVANT OF CHRIST, SALUTES YOU, ALWAYS LABORING FERVENTLY FOR YOU IN PRAYERS, THAT YOU MAY STAND PERFECT AND COMPLETE IN ALL THE WILL OF GOD.

Epaphras, whoever he/she was, was a servant of God and his/her labor was in praying. His/her prayer was that the Colossians as well as you and I may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

What does it mean to stand perfect and complete in all the will of God?

In 3 John 2 John writes BELOVED, I WISH ABOVE ALL THINGS THAT YOU MAY PROSPER AND BE IN HEALTH, EVEN AS YOUR SOUL PROSPERS.

Paul and John wrote the same thing under the direction of the Holy Spirit that FIRST THEY GAVE THEIR OWN SELVES TO THE LORD and EVEN AS YOUR SOUL PROSPERS.

From this we can see that above any work that we do, the check is to make sure we have given our selves completely and wholly to the Lord and we continue to prosper spiritually by growing in God.

From this we would get that prosperity in the material realm and perfect health for our body are the will of God for us BUT are the results of our soul prospering.

Does this mean that if we are not in good health and don't have a lot of financial prosperity that our soul is not prospering?

It does not mean that. This is a journey we are on. We do not start at the top and work down. We start at the bottom and work up. The first rung on the ladder is giving ourselves wholly and completely to God....trusting Him no matter what, and as I Thessalonians 5:18 says IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS: FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF CHRIST JESUS CONCERNING YOU.

To go through adversity of any and all kind and stand right slap dab in the middle of it and thank God and praise Him for His goodness because we know that all things work for our good. We might not even be able to see any good, but the test is to stand and give thanks and praise - this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.

I John 2:17 says this AND THE WORLD PASSES AWAY, AND THE LUST THEREOF; BUT HE THAT DOETH THE WILL OF GOD ABIDES FOREVER.

Lord, remind us to give thanks in all things, no matter what and to praise you because our lives are in your hands to work and will as you choose. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen.

Have a great day today!

Charlotte

Oh! To Trust You More!

Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.

When I read this today, I marveled as to the likeness of the situation in Louisa Stead's life and mine with exceptions.

She and her husband were relaxing with their four-year-old daughter on a Long Island beach when they heard a desperate child's cry. A boy was drowning, and Louisa's husband tried to rescue him. In the process, however, the boy pulled Mr. Stead under the water, and both drowned as Louisa and her daughter watched.

Louisa was left with no means of support except the Lord. She and her daughter experienced dire poverty. One morning, when she had neither funds nor food for the day, she opened the front door and found that someone had left food and money on her doorstep. That day she wrote this hymn.

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word.
Just to rest upon His promise,
Just to know "Thus saith the Lord."

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood,
Just in simple faith to plunge me
'Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

Yes 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease,
Just from Jesus simply taking,
Life and rest and joy and peace.

I'm so glad I learned to trust Him,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that He is with me,
Will be with me to the end.

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

Louisa M. R. Stead (1850-1917)

(Taken from 'The One Year Book of Hymns compiled and edited by
Robert K. Brown and Mark R. Norton - Devotions written by
William J. Petersen and Randy Petersen)

All of the hymns we have looked at this week were written by people who life had handed a lemon. William Cowper - mental illness, Fanny Jane Crosby - blindness, Tommy Dorsey - death of a loved one, and Louisa Stead - poverty.

These people instead of stopping trusting in God and saying 'why me?', they looked up to God and found reason to trust Him more and pen it.

Life is not easy.....that book says 'I never promised you a rose garden.' Many of us have not gotten rose gardens, but instead lack, loneliness, despair, unsolvable problems and sickness. Some of you reading this today have said 'why me?'. Why am I sick? Why don't I have money like so many I see? Why doesn't God send me a mate?

The old saying 'If life hands you a lemon, make a lemonade.' Life can be filled with so many blessings when we trust Jesus first and foremost in any and all situations....to say 'Lord, what can I do for you today?' instead of OH, woe is me.

Remember DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED. TRUST IN GOD, TRUST ALSO IN ME. IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE THERE ARE MANY MANSIONS; IF IT WERE NOT SO, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU. I AM GOING TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU; AND IF I GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME BACK AND TAKE YOU TO BE WITH ME THAT YOU ALSO MAY BE WHERE I AM. John 14:1-3

A way of looking at it is this is our training class. It may be several years long. Several tests will be given to see what you have learned and when you are ready, you can proceed to your mansion where there is no sickness, no poverty, no loneliness, no want, for it is a place prepared by Holy Hands for Holy People who have learned to trust in Jesus no matter what the situation.

Through it all - I've learned to trust in Jesus,
I've learned to trust in God.
Through it all - Through it all -
I've learned to depend upon His Word.

Another way of saying it is GOD AND HIS WORD TRUMPS US!
GOD AND HIS WORD TRUMPS US! Isn't have wonderful food for thought?

Lord, teach us Your ways..renew our minds to do things Your way instead of man's. Help us to take what life hands us and learn to trust You more...so that when we meet You face to face, You will say to us 'You did good.' In Jesus Name. Amen.

Have a victorious day today!

Charlotte

A Wonderful Savior is Jesus My Lord -

Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.

This week we have been looking at some of the great song writers which wrote the great songs of the church. These songs have been cast away in so many of our churches for new and 'better' songs, yet when we reflect back to the writers / circumstances from which they sprang, we are saddened because of the lose to the people of God. So many were written as a result of adversity that came into lives and from the adversity their faith in God sprang forth.

Fanny Crosby probably wrote more songs than any other composer. She was blinded by a doctor error when she was around six years old. She said of her handicap, "I have always believed that the good Lord, in His infinite mercy, by this means consecrated me to the work that I am still permitted to do."

One particular day she needed five dollars and didn't know where to get it. She prayed about it, and a few minutes later a stranger came to her door and handed her that exact amount.

She was so amazed at the Lord's marvelous answer to her simple prayer with the thought in mind "It is so wonderful the way the Lord leads me." She wrote this as a result of this incidence:

All the way my Saviour leads me; what have I to ask beside?
Can I double His tender mercy, who through life has been my guide?
Heav'nly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know whate'er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know whate'er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.

Another that she wrote that is one of my favorites is this:

A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord, A wonderful Savior to me;
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock, where rivers of pleasure I see.

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock that shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He hideth my life in the depths of His love, and covers me there with His hand,
And covers me there with His hand.

Fanny didn't start writing hymns until she was forty, but she made up for lost time. She wrote over 8,000 hymns. She was blinded by the light of this world but had a shining light in her soul.

Phoebe Palmer Knapp, wife of the founder of MetLife composed a tune in 1873 and brought it to Fanny in Brooklyn. "Play it for me on the organ," Fanny asked. Knapp did and then asked, "What does this tune say?" She turned to see Crosby kneeling in prayer. Knapp played it a second time and then a third. Then the blind woman responded, "That says,'Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine!"

Now I ask you - as Jack Nicolson said in 'As good as it gets,' would it hurt us to be around such as this? Would it harm the church to sing songs written by soldiers -tried and true - of the cross of Jesus Christ? Songs written from the heart of adversity, pain, suffering, yet bottom line of trusting in God to walk this walk that we walk while on this earth no matter what the circumstance?

It goes on to say
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

Question - have we traded the God of action in a life for religious entertainment?????

We are in the last days - Jesus could come any day now - we need to watch and pray and be careful what we say, sing, and do. It might be the last we do on this earth.

Fannie Jane Crosby (1820-1915)

(Facts and some quotes taken from 'The One Year Book of Hymns' compiled and edited by Robert K. Brown and Mark R. Norton - Devotions written by William J. Petersen and Randy Petersen)

Lord, we want to be soldiers of the cross. Help us look to these people who have trusted in You and given their lives to pen words and praises to be a witness to us of Your great power and love. In Jesus name. Amen.

Have a great day today!

Charlotte

One mixed up, messed up life!

Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord. Isn't it amazing how God uses the foolish things (and people) of this world to astound the wise.

One person who stands out in my mind always is William Cowper who was beset with emotional problems throughout his life. His mother died when he was only six years old. He had a very domineering father. At school he was teased and ridiculed by the other children. When he got older and fell in love, his father would not allow him to marry the girl he loved.

He was forced to study law and panicked when he learned he had to take the bar exam before the House of Lords and tried to commit suicide. He was remanded to an insane asylum in 1764 after several suicide attempts and while in the institution he met Jesus though reading the Word.

He always felt guilty and unworthy of God's love. He loved to take long walks and when he recovered from his mental state, found he had a great sense of humor. He became great friends with John Newton who wrote "Amazing Grace" and who had a great influence on Cowper.

One time after coming back from a long walk with Newton, Cowper read in Genesis that "Enoch walked with God" and it inspired him to write these words:

"Oh for a closer walk with God, A calm and heav'nly frame.
A light to shine upon the road that leads me to the Lamb.

The dearest idol I have known, What e'er that idol be,
Help me to tear it from Thy throne and worship only Thee.

So shall my walk be close with God, calm and serene my frame;
So purer light shall mark the road that leads me to the Lamb."

One quote that Newton - the composer of Amazing Grace - is accredited with is "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior!"

Newton was one of the mentor's in Cowper's life that set him on the right path to good mental health.

Cowper is most noted for this hymn:

"There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanual's veins,
and sinners, plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;
and sinners, plunged beneath that flood, lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
and there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away.
Wash all my sins away, wash all my sins away;
and there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away.

E'er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
And shall be til I die, and shall be til I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.

Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I'll sing Thy pow'r to save,
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave,
lies silent in the grave, lies silent in the grave,
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave."

Cowper would certainly be surprised that the work of 'this poor lisping, stammering tongue' has filled the mouths of millions who claim the blood of Jesus as their atonement.

William Cowper (1731-1800)

Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O Lord, you preserve both man and beast. How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.....For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. Psalms 36:5-7,9

Thank you, Lord, for your redeeming love. Thank you that you can take one mixed up, messed up life and turn it around, set feet on solid ground and use that life to astound the wise. Thank you, Lord, for doing this in my life. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Have a wonderful, blessed day this day!

Charlotte

Draw me nearer, Lord!

This is the Atlantic Ocean. We had a wonderful day at the beach. Anna was the only one that went in the water. I couldn't get past the sand as the bogging down in it made me lose my balance.

The foolish man built his house upon the sand. It added new meaning to the scripture.


A friend sent me this:

THE OLD PATHS
I liked the old paths, when Moms were at home.
Dads were at work. Brothers went into the army.
And sisters got married BEFORE having children!

Crime did not pay; Hard work did;
And people knew the difference.

Moms could cook; Dads would work;
Children would behave.

Husbands were loving; Wives were supportive;
And children were polite.

Women wore the jewelry; And Men wore the pants.
Women looked like ladies; Men looked like gentlemen;
And children looked decent.

People loved the truth, And hated a lie;
They came to church to get IN, Not to get OUT!

Hymns sounded Godly; Sermons sounded helpful;
Rejoicing sounded normal; And crying sounded sincere.

Cursing was wicked; Drugs were for illness;
And divorce was unthinkable.

The flag was honored; America was beautiful;
And God was welcome!

We read the Bible in public;
Prayed in school; And preached from house to house.

To be called an American was worth dying for;
To be called a Christian was worth living for;
To be called a traitor was a shame!

Preachers preached because they had a message;
And Christians rejoiced because they had the VICTORY!

Preachers preached from the Bible;
Singers sang from the heart;
And sinners turned to the Lord to be SAVED!

A new birth meant a new life; Salvation meant a changed life;
Following Christ led to eternal life.

Being a preacher meant you proclaimed the word of God;
Being a deacon meant you would serve the Lord;

Being a Christian meant you would live for Jesus;
And being a sinner meant someone was praying for you!

Laws were based on the Bible; Homes read the Bible;
And churches taught the Bible..

God was worshiped; Christ was exalted;
And the Holy Spirit was respected..

I still like the old paths the best!

Speaking of the old paths. No matter what you can't beat the old hymns. They are histories of people who walked with God and expressed their relationships in song, just like David. The church is missing out by not using these old songs.

We started this week with a history of a hymn. Thought I would continue that this week. The song that came to mind was one of my favorites "I Am Thine, O Lord" written by Fannie Crosby.

According to the 'One Year Book of Hymns,' she wrote this in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was visiting a friend and collaborator William H. Doane in his home. The sun was setting, and though Crosby could not see the changing light because she was blind, she could certainly hear and feel the hush of twilight. Their conversation turned to the nearness of God. Crosby wrote the words of this hymn before she retired that evening. Doane added the music the next morning.

The words say this:

I am thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice, and it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith and be closer drawn to Thee.

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord, by the pow'r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope, and my will be lost in Thine.

O, the pure delight of a single hour that before Thy throne I spend.
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God, I commune as friend with friend!

There are depths of love that I cannot know til I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach til I rest in peace with Thee.

Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
to the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
to thy precious, bleeding side.

SUBMIT YOURSELVES THEREFORE TO GOD. RESIST THE DEVIL, AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU. DRAW NEAR TO GOD, AND HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU......HUMBLE YOURSELVES IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, AND HE SHALL LIFT YOU UP. James 4:7, 8, 10

Lord, draw us closer to You. Let us find that rich communion with you that Fannie Crosby wrote about and knew even though her eyes could not see. I draw near to You, Lord, draw me nearer. In Your name I pray. Amen.

Have a rich day today!

Charlotte

Precious Lord, Take My Hand

Oh, Lord, my God, how majestic is Your Name in all the earth!





Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord. I overslept today and received this e-mail from a friend. Thought you might be inspired.

Back in 1932, I was 32 years old and a fairly new husband. My wife, Nettie and I were living in a little apartment on Chicago 's south side. One hot August afternoon I had to go to St. Louis , where I was to be the featured soloist at a large revival meeting. I didn't want to go.

Nettie was in the last month of pregnancy with our first child. But a lot of people were expecting me in St. Louis. I kissed Nettie good-bye, clattered downstairs to our Model A and, in a fresh Lake Michigan breeze, chugged out of Chicago on Route 66.

However, outside the city, I discovered that in my anxiety at leaving, I had forgotten my music case. I wheeled around and headed back. I found Nettie sleeping peacefully. I hesitated by her bed; something was strongly telling me to stay. But eager to get on my way, and not wanting to disturb Nettie, I shrugged off the feeling and quietly slipped out of the room with my music.

The next night, in the steaming St. Louis heat, the crowd called on me to sing again and again. When I finally sat down, a messenger boy ran up with a Western Union telegram. I ripped open the envelope. Pasted on the yellow sheet were the words; YOUR WIFE JUST DIED.

People were happily singing and clapping around me, but I could hardly keep from crying out. I rushed to a phone and called home. All I could hear on the other end was 'Nettie is dead. Nettie is dead.'

When I got back, I learned that Nettie had given birth to a boy. I swung between grief and joy. Yet that same night, the baby died. I buried Nettie and our little boy together, in the same casket. Then I fell apart.

For days I closeted myself. I felt that God had done me an injustice. I didn't want to serve Him anymore or write gospel songs. I just wanted to go back to that jazz world I once knew so well. But then, as I hunched alone in that dark apartment those first sad days, I thought back to the afternoon I went to St. Louis . Something kept telling me to stay with Nettie. Was that something God? Oh, if I had paid more attention to Him that day, I would have stayed and been with Nettie when she died.

From that moment on I vowed to listen more closely to Him. But still I was lost in grief. Everyone was kind to me, especially a friend, Professor Fry, who seemed to know what I needed. On the following Saturday evening he took me up to Malone's Poro College , a neighborhood music school. It was quiet; the late evening sun crept through the curtained windows. I sat down at the piano, and my hands began to browse over the keys. Something happened to me then. I felt at peace. I felt as though I could reach out and touch God. I found myself playing a melody, once into my head they just seemed to fall into place:

' Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand! I am tired, I am weak, I am worn, through the storm, through the night lead me on to the light, take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.'

The Lord gave me these words and melody, He also healed my spirit. I learned that when we are in our deepest grief, when we feel farthest from God, this is when He is closest, and when we are most open to His restoring power.

And so I go on living for God willingly and joyfully, until that day comes when He will take me and gently lead me home.

-Tommy Dorsey-

Did you know that Tommy Dorsey wrote this song? I surely didn't.
What a wonderful story of how God CAN heal the brokenhearted!

Beautiful, isn't it?

Worth the reading wasn't it? Think on the message for a while.
Thought you might like to share this, I just did.

Everyone is born into the world to do something unique and something distinctive and if he or she does not do it, it will never be done.

"I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I may not pass this way again."

Have a wonderful day this Monday!

Charlotte

THINE IS THE KINGDOM

Oh, Lord, my God, how majestic is Your Name in all the earth!





Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.

I have always had this thing about getting my reward from man. Man looks at the outside of us, but God looks at the inside of us. I want my reward from the Father. I was reminded of this today when I was looking at Matthew 6 which says:

TAKE HEED THAT YOU DO NOT YOUR ALMS BEFORE MEN, TO BE SEEN OF THEM: OTHERWISE, YOU HAVE NO REWARD OF YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN. THEREFORE WHEN YOU DO YOUR ALMS, DO NOT SOUND A TRUMPET BEFORE YOU, AS THE HYPOCRITES DO IN THE SYNAGOGUES AND IN THE STREETS, THAT THEY MAY HAVE GLORY OF MEN. VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, THEY HAVE THEIR REWARD.

I don't even like for them to keep a record of my giving (or not giving) at the church. I have known some preachers in my day that checked those records to see who to favor and who not to favor. That is so wrong!

Matthew 6 continues BUT WHEN YOU DO ALMS, LET NOT YOUR LEFT HAND KNOW WHAT YOUR RIGHT HAND IS DOING: THAT YOUR ALMS MAY BE IN SECRET: AND YOUR FATHER WHICH SEES IN SECRET HIMSELF SHALL REWARD YOU OPENLY.

He continues in the 5th verse about prayer - AND WHEN YOU PRAY, YOU SHOULD NOT BE AS THE HYPOCRITES ARE: FOR THEY LOVE TO PRAY STANDING IN THE SYNAGOGUE AND IN THE CORNERS OF THE STREETS, THAT THEY MAY BE SEEN OF MEN. VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, THEY HAVE THEIR REWARD. BUT YOU, WHEN YOU PRAY, ENTER INTO YOUR CLOSET, AND WHEN YOU HAVE SHUT YOUR DOOR, PRAY TO YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN SECRET; AND YOUR FATHER WHICH SEES IN SECRET SHALL REWARD YOU OPENLY.

BUT WHEN YOU PRAY, USE NOT VAIN REPETITIONS, AS THE HEATHEN DO: FOR THEY THINK THAT THEY SHALL BE HEARD FOR THEIR MUCH SPEAKING. BE NOT YOU THEREFORE LIKE UNTO THEM: FOR YOUR FATHER KNOWS WHAT THINGS YOU HAVE NEED OF, BEFORE YOU ASK HIM.

Isn't it funny the things you remember. My mom and I used to go to the Church of Christ when I was a small child. I was always acting up in church. She used to say she spent more time on the outside of the church with me than on the inside, so she became very strict on me and my nephew, Bo. She carried a little switch in her purse and if we didn't behave in church like we should, she would switch us all the way home, which was about two blocks.

She taught me to make things with a hankerchief and my most blessed relief was when I would fall asleep and miss it all.

I remember there was a guy named 'Sleepy Cox,' and you guessed it - the reason he was called 'Sleepy' was because he slept through church every service. But even as little as I was I can remember that when they asked 'Sleepy' to pray, he was right on it.

The other fellow I remember was ol' Brother Dickson. When he did the dismissal prayer, you could count on being there another thirty minutes. He would go on and on and on and I would be so weary of his praying. I was ready to go slid down the banisters in the front of the church.

Jesus prayed the model prayer to teach us to pray. He prayed:

OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVEN,

HALLOWED BE THY NAME.

THY KINGDOM COME.

THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD.

AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS.

AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL:

FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, AND THE POWER, AND THE GLORY FOREVER.

AMEN.

Have a great weekend!

Charlotte

Faith with shoes!

Oh, Lord, my God, how majestic is Your Name in all the earth!





Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.

Prayer is something none of us do enough of. There are a lot of reasons to pray. Matthew 26:41 says to WATCH AND PRAY, THAT YOU ENTER NOT INTO TEMPTATION: THE SPIRIT INDEED IS WILLING, BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK.

Isn't that true. In our heart of hearts we have the ideal of following the Lord, but before we know it, we've done something completely off the wall that we would not have premeditated to do for anything. That is the reason we need to pray - lest our flesh not get bigger than our spirit.

Aren't you glad for Jesus.

James 5:15-16 says AND THE PRAY OF FAITH SHALL SAVE THE SICK, AND THE LORD SHALL RAISE HIM UP;

AND IF HE HAS COMMITTED SINS, THEY SHALL BE FORGIVEN HIM.

CONFESS YOUR FAULTS ONE TO ANOTHER, AND PRAY ONE FOR ANOTHER, THAT YOU MAY BE HEALED.

THE EFFECTUAL FERVENT PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN AVAILETH MUCH.

Just think how much we can do in just praying. THE EFFECTUAL FERVENT PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN AVAILETH MUCH.

Listen to this scripture from Luke 18 NOW HE WAS TELLING THEM A PARABLE TO SHOW THAT AT ALL TIME THEY OUGHT TO PRAY AND NOT LOSE HEART, (that was the purpose of this story He told) SAYING,

"IN A CERTAIN CITY THERE WAS A JUDGE WHO DID NOT FEAR GOD AND DID NOT RESPECT MAN.

THERE WAS A WIDOW IN THAT CITY, AND SHE KEPT COMING TO HIM, SAYING, 'GIVE ME LEGAL PROTECTION FROM MY OPPONENT.'

FOR A WHILE HE WAS UNWILLING; BUT AFTERWARD HE SAID TO HIMSELF, 'EVEN THOUGH I DO NOT FEAR GOD NOR RESPECT MAN, YET BECAUSE THIS WIDOW BOTHERS ME, I WILL GIVE HER LEGAL PROTECTION, OTHERWISE BY CONTINUALLY COMING SHE WILL WEAR ME OUT."

AND THE LORD SAID, "HEAR WHAT THE UNRIGHTEOUS JUDGE SAID;

NOW, WILL NOT GOD BRING ABOUT JUSTICE FOR HIS ELECT WHO CRY TO HIM DAY AND NIGHT, AND WILL HE DELAY LONG OVER THEM?

I TELL YOU THAT HE WILL BRING ABOUT JUSTICE FOR THEM QUICKLY.

HOWEVER, WHEN THE SON OF MAN COMES, WILL HE FIND FAITH ON THE EARTH?"

Prayer is a demonstration of our faith. It is faith with shoes.

Mark 11:24 says "THEREFORE I SAY TO YOU, ALL THINGS FOR WHICH YOU PRAY AND ASK, BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED THEM, AND THEY WILL BE GRANTED YOU."

This scripture does not classify prayers for ourselves or prayer for others - it says ALL THINGS FOR WHICH YOU PRAY AND ASK, BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED THEM, AND THEY WILL BE GRANTED YOU.

The only way you are going to go amiss is if you ask for something to 'consume it upon your flesh,' in other words, if it is something that would be sin to you that is contrary to God's Word, forget it, He'll not grant it.

Lord, we give you praise for Who You are. We ask that You forgive our sins and shortcomings. We come to You today praying for the many sick among us. Brenda, Harvey, Joe, Jodie, Pam, Tracy and her husband - this scripture says that the effectual, fervent prayer of a righeous man availeth much and because of Jesus, we are righteous. You said the prayer of faith would raise up the sick and we ask You, Father, to raise these up and heal them from the top of their heads to the soles of their feet - and where they have sinned, forgive their sins, as Your Word says. In Jesus name we ask. Amen (it is done)

Have a great day today!

Charlotte

Oh! to be His Hand extended!

Oh, Lord, my God, how majestic is Your Name in all the earth!





Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.

Well, Bill found our vacation pictures so I have posted a couple of new ones today. I was absolutely fascinated by the wild Azaleas growing out of pure rock on the side of the road. These were taken in Tennessee. Gives a whole new meaning to bloom where you are planted.

A lot of times we think we can't do a whole lot for the Lord....getting older..don't get around much around much like you used to....really busy.....a lot of responsiblity on our shoulders with job and family...burdens that weigh us down and distract from doing otherwise.

There is always one thing we can go.....that is pray for others. There are so many that need our prayers. To name a few......Tracy and her husband are both having serious health problems......Brenda is going in for tests for something that could be serious......Harvey who has had tests for cancer and I haven't heard how he is doing....don't forget Mary and Kele - Kele is on a ranch in Benton and from the pictures I have seen is doing great - remember Mary in her financial struggles and missing Kele....Joe in his recovering and healing of his back completely...Jodie with her health issues...Amber to get her life up and going in the right direction...Justin to find a wonderful direction for his life...my daughter and her family....Buddy, my son's dog that hit a car....so many.

When Jesus was on earth, He touched every one and they were made whole. That same Jesus dwells in our heart and we can be touched by the asking. There is a song that says 'Reach out and touch the Master as He goes by. You'll find He's not too busy to hear your heart's cry. He is passing by this moment your needs to supply. So reach out and touch the Master as He goes by.'

Now doctors are amazing and talented in what they can do, however, doctors cannot heal. The healing has to come from the Lord. Remember the woman with the issue of blood and she had put all her money into doctors trying to be healed. Her faith was if she would just touch the hem of Jesus' garment, she knew she would be healed. When she touched his garment, Jesus stopped and said, 'Who touched my garment! I have felt virtue go out of Me.' This virtue was healing power that flowed into the woman and healed her after all the doctors and all the money she had spent.

That same Jesus is alive and well today and willing to heal, if we will look to Him and lift up folks who are in need with a sincere heart.

The chorus says 'Oh to be His Hand extended...reaching out to the oppressed. Let me touch Him, let me touch Jesus, so others will know and be blessed.'

If you can't do anything else today - this day - lift up people who you know are in need. You might start with the ones I have put in this little epistle today. They need a mighty touch from God or maybe just a good blessing.

Lord, we lift up Brenda. We pray that the tests she is going to have will come back positive. We pray for Harvey, God. Heal him from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. Bless Robyn and her family and make things right between us. Heal Buddy speedily. We lift up Tracy and her husband. We ask for complete healing in this family and encourage their daughter as her load is heavy I am sure. We pray for Joe and Jodie for healing in their bodies and setting paths straight for young people's lives. We pray for Mary and Kele. We know God that all works for good to those who love you. Bless every person that reads this and the ones who don't. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen (it is done)

Have a great day today!

Charlotte

What a beautiful day for the Lord to come again!

Lord, You are my shield, my strength, my portion, my deliverer, my shelter, my strong tower, my very present help in time of need. Thank You.




Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our very first thoughts to the Lord. Wouldn't this be a beautiful day for the Lord to come again!!!

Here is something I thought I would pass along.

You are in your car driving home. Thoughts wander to the game you want to see or meal you want to eat, when suddenly a sound unlike any you've ever heard fills the air. The sound is high above you. A trumpet? A choir? A choir of trumpets? You don't know, but you want to know. So you pull over, get out of your car, and look up. As you do, you see you aren't the only curious one. The roadside has become a parking lot. Car doors are open, and people are staring at the sky. Shoppers are racing out of the grocery store. The Little League baseball game across the street has come to a halt. Players and parents are searching the clouds. And what they see, and what you see, has never before been seen.

As if the sky were a curtain, the drapes of the atmosphere part. A brilliant light spills onto the earth. There are no shadows. None.

From every hue ever seen and a million more never seen, riding on the flow, is an endless fleet of angels. They pass through the curtains one myriad at a time, until they occupy every square inch of the sky.

North. South. East. West.

Thousands of silvery wings rise and fall in unison, and over the sound of the trumpets, you can hear the cherubim and seraphim chanting, "Holy, Holy, Holy." The final flank of angels is followed by twenty-four silver-bearded elders and a multitude of souls who join the angels in worship.

Presently the movement stops and the trumpets are silent, leaving only the triumphant triplet: "Holy, Holy, Holy." Between each word is a pause. With each word, a profound reverence. You hear your voice join in the chorus. You don't know why you say the words, but you know you must.

Suddenly, the heavens are quiet. All is quiet. The angels turn, you turn, the entire world turns and there He is. Jesus.

Through waves of light you see the silhouetted figure of Christ the King. He is atop a great stallion, and the stallion is atop a billowing cloud. He opens his mouth, and you are surrounded by his declaration:

I am the Alpha and the Omega.

The angels bow their heads. The elders remove their crowns. And before you is a Figure so consuming that you know, instantly you know: Nothing else matters. Forget stock markets and school reports, sales meetings and football games. Nothing is newsworthy.. all that mattered, matters no more.... for Christ has come.

He could come any day now, any time now. Am I ready?

Jesus, come into my heart and my life. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me from all unrighteousness and be the Lord of my life. In Your name I pray. Amen (it is done).

Have a beautiful day today!

Charlotte

On Reducing Stress!

Lord, You are my shield, my strength, my portion, my deliverer, my shelter, my strong tower, my very present help in time of need. Thank You.




Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our very first thoughts tot he Lord.

Here's some good common sense stuff that might remind us to live with our feet planted firmly on the Rock.

CHRISTIAN WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS

Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.


1. Pray

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and unclutter your life.

7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two is often too many.)

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14 K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19. Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.

21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.

24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus."

27. Laugh.

28. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).

31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).

32. Sit on your ego.

33. Talk less; listen more.

34 Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

36 . Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)

Have a great weekend!

Charlotte

AS A DEER

Lord, You are my shield, my strength, my portion, my deliverer, my shelter, my strong tower, my very present help in time of need. Thank You.




Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.

Psalms 18:30-36 says this AS FOR GOD, HIS WAY IS BLAMELESS; THE WORD OF THE LORD IS TRIED; HE IS A SHIELD TO ALL WHO TAKE REFUGE IN HIM.

FOR WHO IS GOD, BUT THE LORD? AND WHO IS A ROCK, EXCEPT OUR GOD, THE GOD WHO GIRDS ME WITH STRENGTH AND MAKES MY WAY BLAMELESS?

HE MAKES MY FEET LIKE HINDS FEET, AND SETS ME UPON MY HIGH PLACES.

HE TRAINS MY HANDS FOR BATTLE, SO THAT MY ARMS CAN BEND A BOW OF BRONZE.

YOU HAVE ALSO GIVEN ME THE SHIELD OF YOUR SALVATION,

AND YOUR RIGHT HAND UPHOLDS ME;

AND YOUR GENTLENESS MAKES ME GREAT.

YOU ENGLARGE MY STEPS UNDER ME, AND MY FEET HAVE NOT SLIPPED.

I can't remember the author but there is a book that everyone needs to have in their library. It is called 'Hinds Feet on High Places.' It is indeed a classic and if you haven't read it, you need to find a copy and read it.

It is about a girl who was in the Fear Family. I believe her name was Much Afraid. It is about the journey she chose to go on with the Good Shepherd. She was crippled not only in her body but in her spirit as Fear was the only family she knew. As she climbed the mountain with the Good Shepherd she would have to pass through trials and tests and upon completion of that trial or test she would become stronger and stronger. She collected rocks from each occasion and put it in her bag as she made her way to the top of the mountain.

The further up she climbed the less crippled she became and when she finally reached the top and she reached into her bag, her rocks had become the stars for her crown. A one point it describes the river of life as being an alive river - with life. Can you imagine? Swimming in the River of Life?

This may not be exact as it has been a long time since I read the book but it is a wonderful book that metaphorically tells us about our journey here on this earth.

The trials and tribulations that we sometimes encounter are simply stepping stones to become stronger in God. Hinds feet in this scripture is simply a female deer. Some deer can stand one sided on a steep mountain slope because of the way God has made them.

I may have written this before but a deer, in danger, will run for water. He will submerge himself in water until just his nose is sticking out, because he feels the safety of the water. This way, he can hide from hunters or fires or whatever.

The chorus that we sing 'As a deer longeth for the water, so my soul longeth after Thee. You alone are my hearts desire and I long to worship Thee. You alone are my strength, my song. To You alone does my Spirit yield. You alone are my heart's desire and I long to worship Thee.'

Lord, lead us along this journey called life and help us to take refuge in You only for You are our ever-present help in time of need. In Jesus Name. Amen (it is done)

Have a wonderful day!

Charlotte

In season - Out of season!

Lord, You are my shield, my strength, my portion, my deliverer, my shelter, my strong tower, my very present help in time of need. Thank You.



Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.

Monday we read that things come and go in our lives like the Bible says 'and it came to pass.' Tuesday we read that there is a time for all things - a time to be born - a time to die - a time to plant - a time to harvest - a time for all things under heaven. We also read that we are to be happy during these seasons of life because God has appointed these seasons for us.

So many times during these seasons, we get to thinking that we are stuck in a particular unattractive time and will never get out of it. That is where Hebrews 11:1 comes in which says Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval.

In other words we have to put on shoes of faith and keep on walking believing that we will see the thing we hope for even though it is invisible at this time.

Ephesians 6 tells us about putting on the armor of God so that we will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. In this scripture faith does not have shoes it is an armor to hold in front of us to protect us again the flaming arrows of the evil one.

My little granddaughters got skates for Christmas. Makayla just got right up and started skating like she had been doing it all her life. Ashley, on the other hand, has had a really hard time. I noticed it first when she was clinging to the post out by the stairwell....white in the face...that those beautiful shoes with rollers was going to roll right out from under her. She is doing better but still has a ways to go.

'Now faith' is kinda like that - sometimes we aren't sure at all where we are going, and how we are going to get there. But (there's the but) that is what faith is. Following the leading of the Lord no matter if we can see the destination or not. Sometimes it can get kinda scary but we can't take off our shoes and sit down and do nothing. We have to keep on keeping on.

God told Abraham to take his huge family and move to a land that God would show him. Abraham obeyed not knowing where he was going. What faith it took to just up and follow God.

We may not have an amazing journey to take like Abraham did, but 'now faith' is walking life out - every season - season in, season out.

Delightful has started to college. I am so proud of her. She has taken a baby step - just one class - one night - but her dream is to be a nurse. Right now she can't see anything in her mind but being a nurse - she has started taking that baby step toward her goal - her season - and it will come to pass that one day she will walk across that stage - get her diploma and become a nurse as she has always dreamed.

Her season right now is to go to school and study to show herself approved - a workmen who will be a wonderful nurse.

The scripture we looked at yesterday is telling us to be happy in season and out of season because this is part of life. The challenges - the up and downs - the tests -the adventure of it all.

Bill has a very positive attitude toward life. He enjoys the new things he does. One time we were talking about when he was in the service. I made the comment that I bet that a particular situation must have been hard and his reply was 'no, I enjoyed it!'

To enjoy the challenges of life and be up to it.

Lord, help us to accept the challenges that come our way this day. Help us to be happy and positive in our journey for the seasons of life You bring our way. In Jesus name. Amen (it is done)

Have a good day!

Charlotte

Lord, You are my shield, my strength, my portion, my deliverer, my shelter, my strong tower, my very present help in time of need. Thank You.



Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.

Ecclesiastes 3 says this There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.
A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.
What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils?
I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves. He has made everything appropriate in its time.

How do we redeem our time? The Word says that only what we do for God will last. How much wood, hay and stubble is in our lives that will just pass away without remembrance. How do we redeem our time?

Verse 12 of this chapter says I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one's lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor - it is the gift of God.

Verse 22 says I have seen that nothing is better than that man should be happy in his activities, for that is his lot. For who will bring him to see what will occur after him?

Have a happy day today!

Charlotte

And it came to pass!

Lord, You are my shield, my strength, my portion, my deliverer, my shelter, my strong tower, my very present help in time of need. Thank You.



Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord. Hope you had a great weekend.

There is a phrase that I have come to rely on in my life. That phrase is "And it came to pass." In checking in my Dake Bible, this phrase appears 430 times in the Bible. Think about it. 'And it came to pass.'

Nothing stays the same. Today's problems are tomorrows victories. Today's sicknesses are tomorrows healings. The things that bothered us last month are only a memory. The problems we had raising our children are lost in the pride of their growing up to be strong adults.

There is an old song that says 'I'm going through - I'm going through - I'll pay the cost no matter what others do - I'll go the way of God's anointed few - I started out with Jesus and I'm going through.'

When I was a little girl, my heart's desire was to ride a bicycle. My dad was very protective of me and would not let me have one because he thought I would get hurt. Kids have their own ways anyway. The kids across the street had several big bikes. One of them was a 26" boys bike. There was an old tree stump out there, so I would climb up on that tree stump and get on that bike even though it was a lot bigger than I was (I was probaably 5-6 years old). I would get on that bike and fall and get back up on that stump and get on that bike and fall, but I kept on keeping on until I learned to ride that big old bike.

You see it is not the falling that counts it is the failing to get back up and try again that matters.

And it came to pass that I learned to ride that bicycle, even though I can't imagine me riding one now or to even have a desire to ride one -

When I found out I was going to have a baby, and I was sick, sick, sick. Thought that baby would never be born. Thought I had a tumor. But it came to pass that it was a boy and he is in his 40's now and fine and healthy.

Things in this life come to pass. So no matter what comes your way today, take it as a challenge because it has come to pass.

That song that says 'Through it all - Through it all - I've learned to trust in Jesus - I've learned to trust in God - Through it all - Through it all - I've learned to depend upon His Word.'

Have a great day today as it also has come to pass, so until tomorrow....

Charlotte