Cross Walk and Bomb Scare

Every year our city has a Cross Walk to commenerate Jesus walking to Calvary before he was crucified. This was the 28th year that this walk has been going on, but it was my first time to participate.  I had been wanting to go for a few years, but this was the first year that it worked out that I could make it.  

When I decided to go, I didn't call any friends or anyone to ask them to go, I just kinda went.  I figured that there would be someone that I knew, because a lot of people attend, and because people always tell me that I know everyone, so I was bound to know someone, right?

When I got to the movie theater, where everyone was meeting, I noticed that everyone seem to have a group of friends that they were meeting up with.  Every time someone new arrived there were shouts of "hello", hugs and "how are you?"   But as for me, there was no one that I knew.  I suddenly felt very alone, wanting to run back to my car and leave.  But then I started thinking, "is this how Jesus felt on his cross walk?"   Did he feel all alone in a sea of people?  What was Jesus thinking as he was walking, carrying the cross to his death?   What pain he must have felt, when he heard Peter deny him.  Where were the others?   The ones who only less then a week before, who were singing his praises, ready to crown him king.  As I looked around, I wanted to feel what Jesus felt, I wanted to know the pain my savior suffered on my behalf.  

As I watched the people gather, I wondered what were they here for?   Were they here to remember our king, or were they here because a friend asked them to come?  Was it social or was it personal?   

What about those that were there, that day over two thousand years ago?   What compelled them to come see Jesus crucified?   Were they there because there neighbors were?  Were they there because they wanted to be there for Jesus, or were they caught up in the crowd, yelling "Crucify Him"?   

So many young people, kids and babies joined us on our walk today.  And I wondered, did parents bring their kids out to see Jesus crucified?   Did they tell their children the truth about Jesus and what was happening?   Did they point and say, "see her, that's his mom"?   

There are times in our history, that when asked everyone can tell you where they were and what they were doing when it happened, the Kennedy assassination, the Space Shuttle explosion, the Twin Towers coming down.  Was it the same for the ones in Jesus' time.  Did they talk about the day the earth shook and the sky darkened?   

Right as we were beginning our walk I felt a twinge in my knee, and I thought, "praise The Lord".  I wanted to feel some pain when I walked.  Jesus did.  To me this was not a fun time, I did not wave to the passing cars.  This was truly a time to remember, to allow myself to feel and to say thank you, for I know that even if I was the only sinner in the world, Christ would have still died for me.  

As we were walking our 2.2 mile route, we were suddenly stopped.  It seems someone called in a bomb threat at the park where we were heading.  As we waited, I thought about Palm Sunday when the Pharisees wanted Jesus to quiet the people down.  Jesus said that even if the people were silenced, the rocks would cry out.  Here the enemy was trying to silence Jesus' people, doesn't he know that even if he stopped us, the very rocks would sing praises to The Lord?   As the police made us wait, I thought, what would stop me from praising my savior?   Would I stop, under the threat of death?   I can honestly say, that no, I will praise Jesus and spread the Good News, even under the threat of death.  Nothing will stop me.  

So I ask you, do you know Jesus?   If you were to die tonight, do you know where you would wake up tomorrow?   You see the Bible tells us that all have sinned.  We have all done things that are wrong and against God's Law.  And because of that sin, we all deserve death and eternal separation from God.  But God humbled himself and came down to Earth, Jesus, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and then voluntarily died on the cross to pay the price for our sin.  You see, it was the Jews or the religious leaders or the government that placed Jesus on the cross, it was His Love For You!   Jesus died for you, was buried in a tomb and then rose again three days later, thus conquering death.   That was God's part, that is His gift to you, our part is to accept this gift.   We must admit that we are sinners, that we deserve death, and accept God's gift as payment for our sins.  When we ask Jesus to come into our hearts, he does and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.  

If you already know Jesus as your savior, please respond with "amen" below.   If you have never done this and would like to, please go to my website and leave me your contact information.  I would like to pray with you, answer any of your questions and send you a Bible.  

God Bless.  

Licking the Spoon and Taking out the Trash

Esther 4:14
For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Luke 19:40
But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cryout.”  

I can remember as I was raising four boys that sometimes things went to the closes son.  So if you were in the kitchen while I was baking, then you got to lick the spoon, likewise if I saw you when it was time to take out the trash, then you got that duty.  It was much easier than looking for another son, when one was always close by.  All I knew is that something was there to be offered or something needed to be done, it didn't matter as much by whom, just that is got done.  Some things were met with excitement and other things were met with "Awww, why me, I did it last time"  But sometimes there would be a blessing given to the one who did what was asked of him.
It seems that God often works in the same way.  When Esther wasn't sure whether or not she wanted to go before the King regarding the plot to kill her people, Mordecai assured her that God would deliver the Jews, even if He had to use someone else.  
When the Pharisees wanted Jesus to quiet the people and stop them from praising Him.  Jesus told the Pharisees that even if the people didn't praise Him, the rocks would. 
God's will, will get done, either with us or in spite of us. 
But how much more exciting it would be, to be the one that God uses.  
So how does God pick who to use?  Does He look for the brightest, strongest, handsomest, richest?  No, although being those things does not disqualify you from being used, it is not what God looks for.  Much like when I would call the son closest to me, God is also looking for those close to Him.  
Are you spending time with God?  Are you in His word?  Are you spending time in prayer?  
When you are close to God, you will hear His voice when He calls and believe me He will call.  
What will you do when He calls, will you joyfully do what is ask or will you argue "why you?"  
I pray that you will step up and do whatever it is that God calls you to do.

During my 90 days transformation, I have been asking God to use me.  I have been praying for the eyes of Jesus to see what needs to be done, and asking for a servant's heart to do whatever is asked.
Some examples where God has used me in this last few weeks have been:  
1.  I was able to pray with an elderly man on the bus who had just broke his cane and was worried about getting home.  He was also feeling that God must be mad at him, and I was able to share with him, God's love.
2. I was at the right place and time, when my step grandson was having difficulty breathing.  I was able to first calm him down and then get my son and his mom, who called the paramedics.  I was also blessed to use this as a teaching moment for my three year old grandson, as we prayed together for brother Joey and his parents. And then;
3. This weekend when we had a yard sale, God told me to put up a sign that said, "Need Prayer" and I was able to pray with several people that came to the yard sale.
See God did not look for anything that the world would look for, I am not some great prayer warrior, what I was, was staying close to God and then obedient when God called my name.
God wants to use you too.  
Please leave a comment about how God is using you, or any prayer request that you may have.

www.tshelp4life.com

If you write it they will read: Updates and Lessons Learned

If you write it they will read: Updates and Lessons Learned: Here I am about four weeks into my 90 day transformation, so I thought I would give an update and tell you what I have been learning. When ...

Updates and Lessons Learned

Here I am about four weeks into my 90 day transformation, so I thought I would give an update and tell you what I have been learning.
When I started this 90 day period, I had no idea where this would lead and what would happen, even though I have a long way to go to the end.  I am seeing God's hand in my life more than ever.
Physically, I feel great, I have energy and feel healthy.  My weight, is continuing to go down.

Mentally, I am totally enjoying spending more time reading.  Since I added the 21 Day Daniel Fast into my program, I am not watching TV of any kind, so I have a lot more time to read.  I am listening only to Christian Radio or Pod Casts that are uplifting and inspirational.  It is so important for me to put positive things into my mind to counteract the negative that comes from outside sources.  This is really helping me to stay focus.

Spiritually, God is God.  I am not only spending more time with God everyday, but I am opening my
eyes to those around me.  God has blessed me with meeting people that I have been able to pray with.

  How wonderful it has been to see how God has been able to use me.  No longer do I just say, "Oh, I'll pray for you",  without stopping and praying with that person right then and there.

In my business, I am busy working on my website, please check it out at www.tshelp4life.com.  There is still a lot to do, but I love working on it.  I also created my own logo.

So I am very happy with the direction things are going.  So now the lessons:

The first lesson has come from my study of the Book of Daniel, good book to study during a Daniel Fast, in the first chapter we read after Daniel and his friends were brought to live in the King's Palace as servants: ⁸ But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
Did you see that, Daniel purposed in his heart.  Sometimes we try, we come up with excuses, we do
everything but purpose in our hearts.  Make a decision.  Or in the words of Yoda, "Try not, do or don't do, there is no try"  If we want to change something in our lives, anything, it first starts with making a decision, purposing in our hearts, and then doing.  Give up trying.

 The next lesson comes from the book of Numbers.  In the book of Numbers God tells Moses to send
12 Men to spy out the land.  So twelve men went and spied out the land and when they got back they each gave their report about what they saw.  Now they all agreed that the land was great flowing with
milk and honey a great place to live.  But ten of the spies reported that there were giants in the way.  That the obstacles were too much to get pass.  Now two of the spies did not see the obstacles just the
opportunity.  They saw the possible.  They kept their eyes on the prize.  This was given to them by God, all they had to do was to go take it.  See it was a matter of perspective.  The same is true in our lives.  We all know people, like the ten, that just see the obstacles.  All the reasons why something can not be done.  What about you?   Are there things you want in your life, things that God has placed on you heart, but all you see are the giants?  Or like the two are you focused on the prize?  Now in our story in the Bible the people listened to the ten, and did not go in to take possession of the land and instead wondered the desert.  Are you wandering in the desert, when God is telling you to take possession of his promises, to what he has already promised?

And the last lesson come in the Book of Genesis.  And that is God blesses us through the difficult times.  I used to think, God if you would change my circumstances then others will see and they will come to know you.   But then I was reading the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis.  Now Joseph had 11 brothers that sold him into slavery.    But the amazing during his time as a slave, during false imprisonment, the Bible tells us that God was with him and that he was successful. What successful while a servant? A Prisoner?   Wow.  Are you like me, waiting until things are right to act like you are successful?  Do you stress, wondering when things will get better?   Now I'm not saying to ever stop praying or setting your sites higher, I'm just saying know that you are blessed right where you are.  God is working in your life now.  And He is able to do more than we could ever imagine.  By the end of the story, we find Joseph as second in command of Egypt.  Do you think that was one of his goals?  I think his biggest goals were staying alive and someday going home.  But he stayed true to God, always giving praise and thanksgiving.  His faith remained strong and God blessed him both in his struggles and out of them.
GOD IS GOOD!!

Staying the Course

1 You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. 2 You're blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. 3 That's right - you don't go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. 4 You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it. 5 Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set; 6Then I'd never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel. 7 I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways. 8 I'm going to do what you tell me to do; don't ever walk off and leave me.

Yesterday God showed me how important it is to stay the course.  

My niece is having open heart surgery today, so I was taking the bus from my home to Orange County to be at the hospital today during the surgery.  I was already on the bus, had my day pass for all my connections, when I get a call from my aunt, "surgery had been postponed due to problems with insurance".  Ok what to do, I'm already on the bus, although I could get off at the next stop and get another bus back home, but something said, no stay the course.  Then I get a message from a friend, can I come over and help clean her house.  "God, I could really use the money, maybe I should change course and go help her". "No, stay the course".
So I continued, praying for God's peace wondering did I hear him correctly, am I doing the right thing?   Am I doing the prudent thing?  Doubts, doubts, doubts.  But hearing the words, "Stay the course".  So almost four hours later I arrive at my destination, I get a call from my aunt,  surgery is a go, insurance has been worked out.

Thank you God, for showing me how to trust you, and to trust myself when I hear your voice.  Thank you for reinforcing how important it is to stay the course.  The enemy, will throw all kinds of things your way, making you doubt your commitment, making you doubt which way to go, but God says stay the course.

National Poetry Month

April is national poetry month. I didn't even know there was a national poetry month.  But how appripro that I should begin my 21 day Daniel Fast today.  Even though I didn't know, God knew, and he knew that when I woke up this morning to begin this 21 days of spiritual growth, that I would read the email that let me know that this is National Poetry Month and how special this journey is going to be.  
You may wonder, why is she going on about National Poetry Month?  Who really cares?  What does this have to do with her Daniel Fast?  Reading that this is National Poetry Month was like a sign that God is here with me, right now in this moment, in this time, in the next 21 days.  

For you see, if you were to ask me, "what is your favorite verse?"  I would say without a doubt: 
Eph. 2:10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 
If you did a word study on the word "workmanship" you would find that the word is Poiema.  Poiema is where we get the English word poem.  So we are God's "poem".  Beautifully written by the creator Himself.  
But the wonderful thing is, that until we take our last breath here on Earth, our poem is still being written.  I am excited to see what will be written in my life over the next 21 days, as I just submit myself to God's hand.

You too are God's workmanship, a poem not yet finished.  Do not strive with the author, instead allow God to make a beautiful thing out of your life.
HAPPY NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!!!  You are the most precious and beautiful poem in the world.