Sunday, April 12, 2009

i WILL rejoice and be glad!!!!!!

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

Hope you had a wonderful Easter! I did. I worked very hard last week on my little granddaughter's, Makayla and Ashley, Easter dresses. They were absolutely precious. The wonderful part of making them was not the outcome of how pretty the dresses but the excitement in their lives that Grammy had made their dress and they thought they were simply beautiful. Bill took some pictures and as soon as he puts them on the computer, I will post one.

I also had a almost new dress. It was a dress I had had for several years but not worn. I decided I would break it in and guess what? it was so big that the long length of the dress made it a to my feet dress, but it was attractive. My friend made a picture specifically so I could post it on my website. Wish me good luck because that is not my thing. If I can't get it posted, I'll get either Bill or Janie to help me.

Everyone had a new outfit except Bill and he put his pants and shirt in the dry cleaners and forgot to pick them up. He was still very handsome as always and neat.

Times have change. Fashions have changed. Customs have changed. Used to be everyone got new outfits on Easter. There was something about bringing in spring or something. You know Easter and after was when you were supposed to start wearing white and lighter colors for spring and summer but things have changed and one season just blends into the next season without that distinction anymore.

There were some who had on new outfits. We took our granddaughters out to eat after church and we observed the little girls who had on new outfits. They were very obvious because most of their shoes were from Payless where we spent several hours pouring over Sunday shoes. Ended up with dress flip flops which looked very nice with their yellow and pink dresses.

I truly did not realize how much older I was until Janie took my picture, and at my best, I have really aged. Guess my almost 70 years old is showing....funny to think that as I do not feel as old as I look. hahahaha

The Word says 'This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.' That is a statement made to myself by David that says I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT. No matter what the situation, calamity, or joyous occasion, I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT. Why? because I have made the quality decision to REJOICE AND BE GLAD...sometimes that is hard to remember but we should write upon our door posts and in the front of the pot so that every time we have a quite moment, we read THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE - I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT....NO MATTER WHAT!

We do not have any guarantee about tomorrow. We only have today - right now - the present - you notice it is called ' the present ' because it is a present to us to enjoy and rejoice in the present moment. I look around me and I see so many people that I could touch in more ways than I am and it makes me so sad with myself because I am missing blessings by being so within myself and not looking to do for others.

There is a little lady in our apartment complex. Her name is Lois. She walks a lot and she is so precious. She is in her 80's and at least twice a week, I look through my peep hole and there she is. She has a head of lettuce or a bag of candy or a can of Sweet Sue Chicken and Dumplings or something just to let me know she is thinking of me. The Sweet Sue just appeared by our door one day when we were gone but I knew who it was from.

It is the thought of it - I want to challenge myself and all of us to think more of others and the little things - the Sweet Sue things - than just dredging from one day to the next and being miserable. The Word says to 'Give and it shall be given unto you -.....pressed down, shaken together, and running over.'

Have a great day this day......the present!

Sunday, April 5, 2009

IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR -----

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

Psalms 63 says: O GOD, YOU ARE MY GOD, EARLY WILL I SEEK YOU:
Dake put a note her that says 'from the dawning of day.' There is a place in the New Testament (I can't put my finger on it) that talks about Jesus going out early in the morning and praying.

I decided one day I was going to try it. I lived right by a park that my granddaughter's and I walked in and during the day it was beautiful, but let me tell you something at 4 in the morning, it is a spooky place. The bushes had shadows I couldn't make out and finally I landed in a well lit place within running distance of my front door. I never did that again. The best I can do is rise early to get this little epistle done and then grunt about it. hahaha

MY SOUL THIRSTS FOR YOU, MY FLESH LONGS FOR YOU IN A DRY AND THIRSTY LAND, WHERE NO WATER IS: TO SEE YOUR POWER AND YOUR GLORY, SO AS I HAVE SEEN YOU IN THE SANCTUARY.

If we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. Things happen when we truly get thirsty for God. There is a place within all of us that is reserved especially for God and can only be filled with Him. People try to fill up that space with other things - relationships, drinking, drugs, sex, many, many things, however, until we know the love of God and the things of God, we will never be satisfied on this earth. I remember how empty I felt when God was dealing with my heart and how different it was when I finally gave up and 'let God' into my heart - He gives water where we will never thirst again. Praise His Name!!!!!

BECAUSE YOUR LOVING KINDNESS IS BETTER THAN LIFE, MY LIPS SHALL PRAISE YOU. THUS WILL I BLESS YOU WHILE I LIVE; I WILL LIFT UP MY HANDS IN YOUR NAME.

See what this says - YOUR LOVING KINDNESS IS BETTER THAN LIFE - and because of this I will praise you and I will lift my hands in Your Name.

MY SOUL SHALL BE SATISFIED AS WITH MARROW AND FATNESS; AND MY MOUTH SHALL PRAISE YOU WITH JOYFUL LIPS:

This isn't silent praise. It says my mouth and my joyful lips will praise You.

WHEN I REMEMBER YOU UPON MY BED, AND MEDITATE ON YOU IN THE NIGHT WATCHES. BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN MY HELP, THEREFORE IN THE SHADOW OF THY WINGS WILL I REJOICE. MY SOUL FOLLOWS HARD AFTER YOU: YOUR RIGHT HAND UPHOLDS ME.

According to this scripture not only are we supposed to seek Him early but also to meditate in the night watches.

One sure way of putting yourself to sleep at night is to meditate on God or His Word. The devil doesn't like for us to meditate on God or rise early to seek His face. Sleep comes easy when we try to live closer to God either early or late.

Better close for today - Father, remind us to not only seek you early but to meditate on You when we can't sleep. Give us a thirst for Your Word and the things of God so that we can live pleasing in your sight. In Jesus Name. Amen (it is done)

Have a great Monday!

Thursday, April 2, 2009

IT'S ALL IN GOD'S HANDS

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

Well, for the majority of folks, today is the last day of the week. Unfortunately or fortunately, I have today and tomorrow to go. My days off are Sunday and Thursday. I work short days but still I have to be there every day. Fortunately, I have a good job and although sometimes I get weary of it, I do get my paycheck regularly and today is pay day.

Bill is also working. In fact, he has worked the past two weeks without a day off and we never see each other. I am gone before he comes in and he is asleep when I come in. The battery went out on our car Wednesday night and he had to replace it, so he did not go into work on Wednesday night so we did get to see each other. I enjoyed being with him as I really like the guy.

Pastor Eric was talking Sunday about if we truly live for the Lord, there will be times that people will say untrue things about us....just like they did Jesus. They falsely accused Him and eventually crucified Him based on those lies. This was the same people that the week before cried 'Hosanna, to the King' and waved palm branches for Jesus when He entered the city.

David says in Psalms 109 - HOLD NOT THY PEACE, O GOD OF MY PRAISE; FOR THE MOUTH OF THE WICKED AND THE MOUTH OF THE DECEITFUL ARE OPENED AGAINST ME: THEY HAVE SPOKEN AGAINST ME WITH A LYING TONGUE. THEY COMPASSED ME ABOUT ALSO WITH WORDS OF HATRED; AND FOUGHT AGAINST ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.

FOR MY LOVE THEY ARE MY ADVERSARIES; BUT (there's the but) I GIVE MYSELF UNTO PRAYER, AND THEY HAVE REWARDED ME EVIL FOR GOOD, AND HATRED FOR MY LOVE.

David goes on to ask God to not bless these people and to deliver him from what has happened. He concludes this chapter in the 30th verse with I WILL GREATLY PRAISE THE LORD WITH MY MOUTH; YES, I WILL PRAISE HIM AMONG THE MULTITUDE. FOR HE SHALL STAND AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE POOR, TO SAVE HIM FROM THOSE THAT CONDEMN HIS SOUL.

To turn the other cheek....to truly believe that 'all things work together for good' when we trust and depend on God. To not retaliate but to believe that your life is in the Hand of God and He will bring you out on top no matter who the person or what the situation.

Jesus said from the cross 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.' Even though God honored that prayer because it was from His Son, the Jewish race has paid a high price for what happened to Jesus. Just in the last part of this century have they become a nation again and we hear over and over how victorious they are. Israel is a tiny, little bitty country compared to the rest of the world. Yet, no matter what happens, they still stand - why? because God is on their side.

In adversity in our lives, we have to remember also that we will still stand and why? because God is on our side.

When Matthew (he is my youngest) was in Junior High School he started running with a bunch that wasn't good. Some of them were much older than he was. Everywhere I looked there were young people that he should not be hanging with. Because he looked older than what he was, they would kid him about being a mama's boy because he still lived at home. For goodness sake, he was only 14 or 15 years old. I finally just got tired of it and started praying 'God either get them saved or get them out of his life' You would not believe the people that left town and his best friend, who reads this Charlotte in the Morning, went to jail and while he was in there got saved and is now a preacher.

It is a powerful thing to pray for your enemies and let God take care of things, and your only job is to hold your shield of faith and forgive them - for they know not what they do.

David said in this scripture I GIVE MYSELF UNTO PRAYER. King Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to God for a situation that was unbearable. So whether it is a person or a situation, giving ourselves unto prayer is the answer. He holds our lives in His hand.

One time before I ever even dreamed I would marry again, I had been single for many years. There were times I was afraid that I would die and Matthew would have no one to look after him (I was 40 when I had Matthew. There is 18 years between my oldest and my youngest). Then when I didn't die and I kept getting older, I got to fretting about what would happen to me when I couldn't take care of myself anymore. Just fretting. One day I was praying, God, what is going to happen to me when I get old. God, what is going to happen to me when I get old. My boys live up in northwest Arkansas and my daughter now lives in Florida. All of a sudden, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart to not fret because I was in His Hands. I could see myself in His Hands. I was so small compared to His mighty Hands. I knew I didn't have to fret because God was in control. Who would have ever believed that my William would come along at our age and complete my life so fully.

Another time I was having problems on my job. God assured me in my heart that everything was going to be all right - the same way - assuring me that I was in His Hands and only when His little finger moved did I realize that He was there all the time.

When I write these little epistles sometimes I don't understand why God gives me the things He gives me to write about, but my prayer is that something that I write will minister to your heart and help in a situation that you are going through. My prayer is that when you need a touch from God, you can turn to Charlotte in the morning and there will be a scripture or a sharing that will encourage you in your walk with God.

Thank you, God, for being on our side. Thank you, for always being there and holding us in Your mighty Hand. Thank you for Jesus. Thank you that we can come to you about any and everything and you listen and you care. Thank you, Father God. In Jesus name we pray. Amen (it is done)

Have a great day this Friday! See you back on Monday!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

LITTLE IS MUCH WHEN GOD IS IN IT!

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

Isaiah 55 starting with the 8th verse says this:

FOR MY THOUGHTS ARE NOT YOUR THOUGHTS, NEITHER ARE YOUR WAYS MY WAYS, SAITH THE LORD. FOR AS THE HEAVENS ARE HIGHER THAN THE EARTH, SO ARE MY WAYS HIGHER THAN YOUR WAYS, AND MY THOUGHTS THAN YOUR THOUGHTS.

I am so glad that God's thoughts and His ways are higher and wiser than mine. I mess up big time sometimes but God's way doesn't mess up. James the first chapter talks about if we ask God for wisdom, He will give us wisdom and He won't scold us saying we are not good enough or holding it over our heads that we are less than He is. He shares wisdom with us willingly.

When I was about 10 years old, I went to a Vacation Bible School and my part on the ending program was to get a key out of this treasure chest and say this scripture:

WISDOM IS BETTER THAN RUBIES AND ALL THINGS DESIRED CANNOT BE COMPARED TO IT. Proverbs 8:11.

I still remember that verse of scripture. Wisdom = good common sense.

FOR AS THE RAIN COMES DOWN, AND THE SNOW FROM HEAVEN, AND RETURNS NOT THERE, BUT WATERS THE EARTH, AND MAKES IT BRING FORTH AND BUD, THAT IT MAY GIVE SEED TO THE SOWER, AND BREAD TO THE EATER; SO SHALL MY WORD BE THAT GOES FORTH OUT OF MY MOUTH: IT SHALL NOT RETURN UNTO ME VOID, BUT IT SHALL ACCOMPLISH THAT WHICH I PLEASE, AND IT SHALL PROSPER IN THE THING WHERETO I SENT IT.

Now let's think about what this is saying. This is April - April showers bring May flowers. There is an old song 'Thou April showers may come your way, they bring the flowers, that bloom in May. So keep on looking for that blue bird and listening for his song, whenever April showers come along.' Remember that one? You may be to young. The showers and the winter snows when they melt, provide water for the ground to prepare it to receive the flowers and buds for Spring (which is where we are now).

For a plant to grow, it requires water, sunshine, and air. This is the recipe for green healthy plants. That is the way God set it up. If a plant lacks even one of these ingredients, it will die. We call it photosynthesis where these ingredients produce the chlorophyll (green) in plants. This process does not fail.

When we use God's Word as seed to plant, it will not return void. In other words, if you plant a seed of God's Word in someones heart, it will grow and eventually make a huge difference in that person's life.

Paul talks about some workers are the ones that just prepare the ground. Others plant the seed and still others harvest the crop. But (there's the but) the abundance is from the Lord and the results that his Word has on man.

To those who do not believe, this is foolishness, but just as God set photosynthesis in motion so He set His Word in motion to not return void.

I have planted seed before that did not come up. I have planted seeds that when they sprouted, the squirrel ate them. I have planted seeds before that birds ate. And then I have planted seed that grew into beautiful plants. But (there's the but) God's Word will not return unto Him void - of no effect.

FOR YOU SHALL GO OUT WITH JOY, AND BE LED FORTH WITH PEACE: THE MOUNTAINS AND THE HILLS SHALL BREAK FORTH BEFORE YOU INTO SINGING, AND ALL THE TREES OF THE FIELD SHALL CLAP THEIR HANDS. INSTEAD OF THE THORN SHALL COME UP THE FIR TREE, AND INSTEAD OF THE BRIER SHALL COME UP THE MYRTLE TREE: AND IT SHALL BE TO THE LORD FOR A NAME, FOR AN EVERLASTING SIGN THAT SHALL NOT BE CUT OFF.

Just as springtime is a time to be thankful to God for His beautiful world that only He could paint with such majesty, also when we do for the Lord, it will give us joy and peace. If we don't give Him praise the rocks will cry out and the trees in the field shall clap their hands. Instead of bad only good will come because God is God and what He sets in motion works.

Matthew is my rebel child. He is strictly redneck - all the way. You say redneck and Matthew is.

We were talking here while back and he said, "Mom, do you know the reason why I believe in God?" He said, "Remember that time you fell in the back yard and couldn't get up and I had just driven off?"

Well, I remember it well because I couldn't get up and it was dark and our big old dog I feared would lick me to death.

He said, "I got up to the corner and I knew I was supposed to turn around and come back home." He did and came in calling my name. He was grown so there was no specific time for him to come home so I could have been out there until he came back, but God directed him to come back.

You see - little is much when God is in it.

God works for us to glorify Him....to bring honor and glory to His Name....I don't want the rocks to have to cry out in my place....as long as I have breathe, I will praise His name for who He is and all the wonderful things He does. Glory be to You, Father. Thank you for being You. We give You praise.

Have a good one!

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

EVERYTHING THAT PERTAINS TO LIFE

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

Actually, I am doing part of this in the evening because I am afraid I will oversleep in the morning so am giving myself a head start.

This has been a good week - starting Charlotte in the Morning again. I love to write and for some odd reason the Lord blesses what I put my hand to....ohhhhhh, but I believe that is one of his promises from Deuteronomy 28 - He will bless everything I put my hand to - He will make me the head only and not the tail - above only and not beneath. I keep reminding my family of this when I cook (which was only my mother's forte). Some ladies from my church and I are going to a cooking class over at UCA on April 14 and Bill is so excited - hahaha - he thinks I can learn in one session. He doesn't know how far I have come - since when I was very young I had to write to my mom to find out how to boil beans. That is the truth, my friend.

Speaking of trees - I am reminded of Galatians 5:22 and 23 which says BUT (there's the but) THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONG SUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH, MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE: AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NO LAW.

Now, what came before the BUT was this: NOW THE WORKS OF THE FLESH ARE MANIFEST (written down as in a book), WHICH ARE THESE: ADULTERY, FORNICATION, UNCLEANNESS, LASCIVIOUSNESS, IDOLATRY, WITCHCRAFT, HATRED, STRIFE, SEDITIONS, HERESIES, ENVYING, MURDERS, DRUNKENNESS, REVELINGS, AND MUCH LIKE: OF THE WHICH I TELL YOU BEFORE, AS I HAVE ALSO TOLD YOU IN TIME PAST, THAT THEY WHICH DO SUCH THINGS SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Then the BUT, which compares two lifestyles....a life without the Lord and a life with the Lord. Notice that in verses 22 and 23, it is called the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. As on trees, which we have been talking about, fruit does not grow on baby trees. Fruit comes as the tree matures and has strengthened to withstand the wilds of the weather in the ground it is planted.

That is the same with the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. We cannot expect full fruit on our spiritual tree until we have been rooted and grounded in God. It is truly hard to love someone who is totally unlovable, and the only way we can do that is through the Lord. It is hard to be kind and gentle with someone who is a back stabber. BUT (there's the but) 2 Peter 1 verse 3 says ACCORDING AS HIS DIVINE POWER HAS GIVEN UNTO US ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN UNTO LIFE AND GODLINESS THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM THAT HAS CALLED US TO GLORY AND VIRTUE.

One time I worked at a truck line in Benton. It was run by a woman who didn't like women. Sorry - she hired me. She was so overbearing that she would make me turn in a pencil stub to get a new pencil. I would go home and pray God, if you want me to love her, you are going to have to give me love for her, because I don't have it. I would go to work in the morning singing 'Sheltered safe within the arms of God - so let the storm clouds rise, the black clouds roll, they don't bother me cause I'm sheltered safe within the arms of God. He walks with me and naught on earth can harm me, for I'm sheltered safe within the arms of God.'

God gave me kind things to do for her. Love in return for her ugliness. Now looking back, that job was a great blessing to me as. In the morning, we got the freight out and the bills etc. and in the afternoon they went out on the back roads to drink, and I was alone with nothing to do all afternoon. I asked her if it would be all right to bring my Bible up there and study my Bible. She said sure she didn't care. So for three years in the afternoon, all I had to do was study my Bible. Guess who grew in the Lord. Guess what happened - my mind slooowly got renewed to a new way of thinking-------ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO LIFE -how? THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM THAT HAS CALLED US TO GLORY AND VIRTUE.

I'm not a preacher - I'm not what do they say - a Bible thumper - something like that. I am a plain ordinary person who God saved and filled with His Holy Spirit and who uses His Word as a guide for my life. All things that pertain to life - that is what is found in God's Word. It is a road map for prosperous living....I'm not talking about being rich in money...I'm talking about water that makes me never thirst again - the living water that only comes from God.....and is only found in His Word.

Father, put a strong desire in our hearts to study Your Word, God, so we won't flounder, we won't fall but will stand upright looking always up to You for the answers that pertain to life. In Jesus name. Amen (it is done)

Have a good one!

Monday, March 30, 2009

FIRST AND FOREMOST

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

This is the most beautiful time of the year to me. The leaves are coming back on the trees, the flowers are blooming out and I can sometimes smell the Daffodils as I see them bloom out in folks' yard. In Dallas the Azaleas are in bloom along Turtle Creek and since I live in Arkansas now, I still miss seeing their beauty.

My granddaughters and I were talking yesterday about the beautiful trees we saw as we were coming home from church. Upon closer look those wonderful trees with the sparkling white blossoms were Dogwood trees. My mom and dad used to going riding in the car for relaxation and my mother would always have dad stop and she would walk into the woods to pick the beautiful Dogwood blossoms to take home and enjoy.

Since this is Easter week the trees reminded me of the legend of the Dogwood tree. The legend goes that the Dogwood blossoms are in the form of a cross--two long and two short petals. And in the center of the outer edge of each petal there is nail prints, brown with rust and stained with red, and in the center of the flower there is a crown of thorns, and all who see it will remember how during this season Jesus gave His life on the cross of Calvary for you and I.

As we think about this Holy Week, we can remember how Jesus sought God in the garden while His disciples slept - FATHER, LET THIS CUP PASS FROM ME, NEVERTHELESS NOT WILL BUT THINE BE DONE - he was arrested - Peter cut off the ear of one of the soldier and amazingly Jesus put it back on healed like a newborn babe - when he said I was among you every day and you did not arrest me and here you are coming after me with a band of soldiers and forcibly taking me - even to when they asked Him who He was and He said I AM and they fell back because of the authority of what He said...even to being betrayed by Judas for 30 pieces of silver....what a long week He spent....what a price He paid....for You and me.

These events in the garden was just the beginning of His week. The amazing part of this event is that JESUS WAS THE SON OF GOD - THE CREATOR OF THIS UNIVERSE - WHO SAID 'LET IT BE' AND IT WAS. As the song says 'He could have called ten thousand angels to destroy this world and set Him free - He could have called ten thousand angels, but He died alone for you and me.'

Jesus was falsely accused. Have you ever been falsely accused? Our preacher was talking about this Sunday. He said that if we truly live for God, there will be times that we are falsely accused -it is called persecution. There is nothing worse that I can think of than being falsely accused - lied about if you will - by people you associate with. Even a little white lie sometimes grows until it is unrecognizable. Times that your hands are tied and you really can't do anything short of 'duking' it out - but since 'duking' is out of the question (haha) - we have to do it God's way. That is what God is looking for in us - doing it His Way - nevertheless not my will but Yours be done, Lord.

No matter what the situation, we first of all like King Hezekiah (which is my favorite story) must go to God with the things that concern us.

Isaiah came to King Hezekiah and in 2 Kings 20 we read:

IN THOSE DAYS WAS HEZEKIAH SICK UNTO DEATH. AND THE PROPHET ISAIAH THE SON OF AMOS CAME TO HIM, AND SAID UNTO HIM, THUS SAITH THE LORD, SET YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER; FOR YOU SHALL DIE, AND NOT LIVE.

THEN HE TURNED HIS FACE TO THE WALL, AND PRAYED UNTO THE LORD, SAYING, I BESEECH THEE, O LORD, REMEMBER NOW HOW I HAVE WALKED BEFORE YOU IN TRUTH AND WITH A PERFECT HEART, AND HAVE DONE THAT WHICH IS GOOD IN YOUR SIGHT.

AND IT CAME TO PASS BEFORE ISAIAH WAS GONE OUT INTO THE MIDDLE COURT, THAT THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO HIM SAYING TURN AGAIN AND TELL HEZEKIAH THE CAPTAIN OF MY PEOPLE THUS SAYS THE LORD, THE GOD OF DAVID THY FATHER, I HAVE HEARD YOUR PRAYERS, I HAVE SEEN YOUR TEARS; BEHOLD I WILL HEAL YOU; ON THE THIRD DAY YOU SHALL GO UP UNTO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD AND I WILL ADD UNTO YOUR DAYS FIFTEEN YEARS.....

King Hezekiah did not consult with any of his wise counselors or best friends. What does it say - THEN HE TURNED HIS FACE TO THE WALL, AND PRAYED UNTO THE LORD.

Speaking of trees - Psalms 1 talks about BLESSED (happy) IS THE MAN THAT WALKS NOT IN THE COUNSEL OF THE UNGODLY, NOT STANDS IN THE WAY OF SINNERS, NOR SITS IN THE SEAT OF THE SCORNFUL BUT (there's the but) HIS DELIGHT IS IN THE LAW OF THE LORD; AND IN HIS LAW DOES HE MEDITATE DAY AND NIGHT. (get this) AND HE SHALL BE LIKE A TREE PLANTED BY THE RIVERS OF WATER, THAT BRINGS FORTH HIS FRUIT IN HIS SEASON; HIS LEAF ALSO SHALL NOT WITHER; AND WHATSOEVER HE DOES SHALL PROSPER.

Is it foolishness to go to God first - turn our face to the wall and pray like Hezekiah - God gives wisdom and THE RIGHT ANSWER. If you talked to me, I might not give you the best advice, but God is perfect in wisdom and power. He can do exceedingly abundantly above anything we can ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20)

There is a chorus I sing that says - I cast all my cares upon You. I lay all of my burdens down at Your Feet, and any time that I don't know just what to do, I just cast all my cares upon You.'

Father, help us to remember always to cast our cares first and foremost on You. Help us to cast them upon You and turn and walk away knowing that everything is in Your capable Hands. In Jesus name we pray. Amen (it is done)

Have a great day!

Sunday, March 29, 2009

TO BE REMEMBERED NO MORE!

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

JOHN 3:16-18 FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.

(now listen to this) FOR GOD SENT NOT HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD; BUT THAT THE WORLD THROUGH HIM MIGHT BE SAVED.

(get this) HE THAT BELIEVES ON HIM IS NOT CONDEMNED: BUT (there's the but) HE THAT BELIEVES NOT IS CONDEMNED ALREADY (and why?) BECAUSE HE HAS NOT BELIEVED IN THE NAME OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD.

Verse 19 says AND THIS IS THE CONDEMNATION, THAT LIGHT IS COME INTO THE WORLD, AND MEN LOVED DARKNESS RATHER THAN LIGHT, BECAUSE THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL.

v20 FOR EVERY ONE THAT DOES EVIL HATES THE LIGHT, NEITHER COMES TO THE LIGHT, LEST HIS DEED SHOULD BE REPROVED.

V21 BUT (there's the but) HE THAT DOES TRUTH COMES TO THE LIGHT, THAT HIS DEEDS MAY BE MADE MANIFEST, THAT THEY ARE WROUGHT IN GOD.

All of us have a desire within us to be accepted for who we are. So many look to find a lover/companion/person who will love them for themselves. People are just human. Relationships are difficult. But (there's the but) here in this scripture we find that God loved us enough to make a way for us through Jesus and it is called GRACE (unconditional favor) (loving us in spite of ourselves). He does not condemn us no matter what mistakes we have made or will make and why? because of Jesus.

When I learned this in my heart, I found acceptance from the inside out. He knows me even to the thoughts that I think and the intent of my heart and He still loves me. When I learned that, then I could accept myself and my failings and find peace that passes understanding from the inside out.

One time a long time ago I was feeling so bad about myself. One of those days that everything's wrong and nothing is right. I have never thought I was beautiful. Sometimes when I was feeling really bad, it seems I could not even face myself in the mirror because to me I was ugly. This day I was feeling really bad about me, and when I got in my car and turned on the radio, this song came floating thru the airwaves: YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL TO ME - YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL - CAN'T YOU SEE - and as tears flooded my cheeks, I knew that that was God's love song to me and even tho I was feeling really bad about me - God loved me and accepted me just like I am.

Somehow over the years I have lost that image of myself. I still look the same but on the inside of me I am different and why? because of Jesus and His wonderful unconditional favor that would reach down to even me.

I teach a little kid's class on Sunday night and I get the biggest kick out of those kids. Their little minds are so sharp. We got to talking one night about stuff they had done wrong.....things some had hidden from their parents. One said mom had told them not to take food into their room and after mom was asleep she and her sister got some carrots out the frig and ate them in their room. One said she had slipped some candy that mom told her she couldn't eat. One even said he had slipped out of the house after mom and dad went to sleep and went next door to the neighbor's. I'm not sure of that one but we do stuff and we 'hide it from mom.' We hide it because we'll get in trouble if mom finds out. Right?

This scripture says that people don't accept Jesus because Jesus is the light and if they come to Jesus, the things they have done wrong will be seen in the light of Jesus. In other words, we will have to face ourselves and the deeds we have done. Do those deeds bring us happiness? No - how many happy alcoholics do your know - how many couple that live together are happy - how many liars find happiness in the truth (I guess that is why they lie) Things contrary to God's ways do not bring us happiness.

Jesus provided another way. He said be truthful, be honest, be loving, be kind, be gentle, obey your parents.......don't live with that person until you make a committment to them and them to you......don't drink in excess.....a different way. Does he give us the don'ts to make us unhappy...no...God's don'ts gives us life and life more abundant right here on this earth.

I have been in sales for many years and what you have to remember about selling is to promote the benefits.

What are the benefits of serving God?????????

Third John verse 2 says this BELOVED, I WISH ABOVE ALL THINGS THAT YOU MAY PROSPER AND BE IN HEALTH, EVEN AS YOUR SOUL PROSPERS.

Hey!!!! Is that a bad thing? Evie used to sing if heaven never was promised to me, I would serve God anyway because His Way of life - abundant life - that starts the days we accept Him for Who He is, is worth the living.

Another thing is this scripture says that HE THAT DOES TRUTH COMES TO THE LIGHT, THAT HIS DEEDS MAY BE MADE MANIFEST, THAT THEY ARE WROUGHT IN GOD. Being made manifest is written down like in a book - a Manifest Book - like truck lines use to keep track of their shipping in and out.

So what about the deeds that are not good? that are not wrought in God? When we come to Jesus, those deeds are put in the Sea of Forgetfulness and remembered no more. There is no condemnation in Jesus because of what we have done in the past. He WIPES AWAY OUR PAST!!!!!! If we say God, remember when I messed up back in 1970 and I remember it so well - God says, I don't remember that!

Got to go for today - kinda long winded today - Have a good one!

Father, thank you for loving us. Thank you for accepting us even though we make mistakes and mess up something awful sometimes. Thank you for forgiving us and putting those mistakes into Your Sea of Forgetfulness and remembering them no more. Teach us, Lord, to be all we can be and serve you with our whole heart - let Your will be the desire of our hearts. In Jesus Name. Amen!