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!

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!

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!