Often times God amazes me!! More often than not!! When we pray, we pray expectantly, but when He answers...why do we say "WOW?" He hears, He answers....He would say that is simple. But, I hope I never get so confident in God that He ceases to amaze me!
I look and see Him in all of creation, but the beauty of it is still amazing. The swirling of the clouds, the ripple of the water, the chirping of the birds, the shooting star. These are all simple to Him, the Creator, but to me, it is amazing.
Thank you God Almighty, for being the All Amazing One. Never let me take You for granted. I praise You in all You are and all You do.
Giving God Glory............
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
God Hears and Sees
God Hears and Sees all that we have done, all that we are doing and what we are going to do. Nothing surprises Him! He may be disappointed in us, but He is a loving God that forgives. (Thank goodness !)
He has a Plan for each of us, it we would just 'listen' to Him. It does not matter what other people think or say about you, as long as you are doing God's Will. If you are in the Center of His Will, (His Plan for you) all will work out best for you and God will get the glory.
Remember, He is our Father who wants to bless, to take care of us to the upmost. He can only do that if we are where we are supposed to be in Him, in a right relationship.
Where are you, God didn't move....give Him this day and let Him lead your steps today.
Jeremiah 29:11
He has a Plan for each of us, it we would just 'listen' to Him. It does not matter what other people think or say about you, as long as you are doing God's Will. If you are in the Center of His Will, (His Plan for you) all will work out best for you and God will get the glory.
Remember, He is our Father who wants to bless, to take care of us to the upmost. He can only do that if we are where we are supposed to be in Him, in a right relationship.
Where are you, God didn't move....give Him this day and let Him lead your steps today.
Jeremiah 29:11
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Listening to God as a Parent
| Listening In Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts. Hebrews 3:7-8 It's usually appropriate for our children to ask why we've come to a certain parenting decision. But sometimes, they must simply be satisfied with the answer: "I'm not sure. I just know that this is what we've decided." Pastor, author and longtime friend Tom Elliff remembers one snowy Friday night when his daughter was returning from a school event by bus. She called home from the school building to say that she was going out with her boyfriend to get something to eat and would be home soon afterward. "I'm sorry, Beth, you can't tonight." "Why?" "I don't know, but I'm coming to get you." The mood was naturally a little icy when he arrived to retrieve his daughter from school. She just couldn't understand it. Had she done something wrong? "No, I just had a reservation about it tonight. I needed you to come on home." When they walked into the house, the phone was ringing. His daughter answered and immediately turned white as a sheet. After listening for less than a minute, she awkwardly returned the phone to its cradle and stared dumbfounded in her dad's direction. "I will never question your authority in my life again," she said. As her boyfriend was pulling out of the school parking lot, someone shot a bullet through the passenger-side window. "He was okay at the hospital," she said, "but if I had been riding with him, I would have been dead." Inner reservations. Checks in your spirit. They're often God's signals that something isn't right. Learn how to listen to them, and don't be afraid to follow up on what He seems to be alerting you to. Your courageous decision to go against your teen's opinion and possible resistance could save a life. Discuss Talk about what you do when your children push back. How can you better back one another up in these situations? Pray Ask God to give you a heart that is spiritually receptive to His guidance and warnings. |
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Prayers of a Faithful Saint
Prayers of a Faithful Saint *****(This is a
story of really seeing the Spirit of God!!)
Chaplains had visited the home of Miss Shirley, age 83, and met her daughter and daughter in law, who both lives down the same street. The daughter shared how she had accepted Christ by watching Billy Graham on tv as a young girl.
The chaplains had been told, that day, that Miss Shirley's son was not a christian. The daughter in law asked for prayer for her husband and Miss Shirley said she had been praying for her son, Michael, for years.
A couple of days later, Samaritan's Purse was doing a mudout on Michael's home. Chaplains came to visit and met Michael on the front porch. Chaplains talked with Michael, listening to all that had been going on in his neighborhood. Then, the chaplains asked him about heaven and was he sure of his eternal home. Did he know for sure he would go to heaven when he died. Michael said no and the chaplains shared with him the gospel of Jesus. He smile and said his mother, Miss Shirley had told him about Jesus, but he never listened. Chaplains asked Michael if he would like to pray and receive Christ as his Lord and Savior. With his wife holding his hand, Michael prayed the Sinner's Prayer and accepted Christ.
Living next door to Michael, his sister Gayla, just happened to be home to meet an insurance agent. The chaplains met Gayla and her husband in the yard. Gayla remembered the chaplains an said they were so happy they came back to visit. Hugging the Gayla the chaplain whispered into her ear that her brother had just prayed to receive Christ. Gayla at first, could not believe it...she then sobbed. She said he has not spoken to me in 15 years!! Chaplain said, "The Holy Spirit is working here, let's go". Gayla hesitantly took the chaplains armed and they started to walk across the yard into Michael's yard. Michael came out of the house and did not turn back, but continued coming onto the sidewalk, stopping to look at the two approaching. The chaplain and the sister stopped and the chaplain spoke to him, "Michael it is time to get out of the boat and walk in faith". Michael took a step toward his sister and stopped. She took a step toward him and said, "Michael I am sorry, will you forgive me?" He said, "Yes" as she collapsed into his arms sobbing.
The chaplains had been told that Miss Shirley had fallen the day before and broken both her wrists and was in the hospital. Gayla was so excited about what happened, she wanted to go tell her mother and invited the chaplains to go to the hospital with her. Arriving at the hospital, the group was walking in and looked up to see a large rainbow over the hospital. God's Promise.
While standing beside her mother's bed, with her sister on the other side, Gayla said, "Mother, Michael prayed to receive Christ today". The sister sobbed uncontrollably and the mother, cried and said, "My prayers have been answered'. Gayla then said, "That is not the end of the story Mother, I asked forgiveness from Michael and he forgave me and we hugged each other"!! Tears were flowing in the room and mother said, "If I could get up out of this bed, I would dance!"
Then, the chaplains asked the brother in law, standing in the room about his relationship with Christ and his reply was, "I am a Christian, but have not walked with the Lord as I should. Have not been to church in years. " The group gathered around the bed of Miss Shirley, holding hands and the chaplain led Dave in a prayer and he rededicated his life to the Lord.
Miss Shirley said her prayers have been heard and during the prayer, she said she felt as if someone kissed her on the cheek. His Presence was in that place.
***Note: This above story of salvation, rededication and family reconcilement was all filmed by BGEA media!! They were crying too!
Chaplains had visited the home of Miss Shirley, age 83, and met her daughter and daughter in law, who both lives down the same street. The daughter shared how she had accepted Christ by watching Billy Graham on tv as a young girl.
The chaplains had been told, that day, that Miss Shirley's son was not a christian. The daughter in law asked for prayer for her husband and Miss Shirley said she had been praying for her son, Michael, for years.
A couple of days later, Samaritan's Purse was doing a mudout on Michael's home. Chaplains came to visit and met Michael on the front porch. Chaplains talked with Michael, listening to all that had been going on in his neighborhood. Then, the chaplains asked him about heaven and was he sure of his eternal home. Did he know for sure he would go to heaven when he died. Michael said no and the chaplains shared with him the gospel of Jesus. He smile and said his mother, Miss Shirley had told him about Jesus, but he never listened. Chaplains asked Michael if he would like to pray and receive Christ as his Lord and Savior. With his wife holding his hand, Michael prayed the Sinner's Prayer and accepted Christ.
Living next door to Michael, his sister Gayla, just happened to be home to meet an insurance agent. The chaplains met Gayla and her husband in the yard. Gayla remembered the chaplains an said they were so happy they came back to visit. Hugging the Gayla the chaplain whispered into her ear that her brother had just prayed to receive Christ. Gayla at first, could not believe it...she then sobbed. She said he has not spoken to me in 15 years!! Chaplain said, "The Holy Spirit is working here, let's go". Gayla hesitantly took the chaplains armed and they started to walk across the yard into Michael's yard. Michael came out of the house and did not turn back, but continued coming onto the sidewalk, stopping to look at the two approaching. The chaplain and the sister stopped and the chaplain spoke to him, "Michael it is time to get out of the boat and walk in faith". Michael took a step toward his sister and stopped. She took a step toward him and said, "Michael I am sorry, will you forgive me?" He said, "Yes" as she collapsed into his arms sobbing.
The chaplains had been told that Miss Shirley had fallen the day before and broken both her wrists and was in the hospital. Gayla was so excited about what happened, she wanted to go tell her mother and invited the chaplains to go to the hospital with her. Arriving at the hospital, the group was walking in and looked up to see a large rainbow over the hospital. God's Promise.
While standing beside her mother's bed, with her sister on the other side, Gayla said, "Mother, Michael prayed to receive Christ today". The sister sobbed uncontrollably and the mother, cried and said, "My prayers have been answered'. Gayla then said, "That is not the end of the story Mother, I asked forgiveness from Michael and he forgave me and we hugged each other"!! Tears were flowing in the room and mother said, "If I could get up out of this bed, I would dance!"
Then, the chaplains asked the brother in law, standing in the room about his relationship with Christ and his reply was, "I am a Christian, but have not walked with the Lord as I should. Have not been to church in years. " The group gathered around the bed of Miss Shirley, holding hands and the chaplain led Dave in a prayer and he rededicated his life to the Lord.
Miss Shirley said her prayers have been heard and during the prayer, she said she felt as if someone kissed her on the cheek. His Presence was in that place.
***Note: This above story of salvation, rededication and family reconcilement was all filmed by BGEA media!! They were crying too!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Christian Without Heaven?
Pablo is a 20 year old local Samaritan's Purse volunteer that has been volunteering with SP off and on since SP arrived in the community. Pablo was at a work site today when the chaplains came by for a visit. The team was on lunch break. Chaplains began talking with Pablo and learned he was a new Christian, but did not understand that by accepting Christ, that he had the assurance of heaven. Pablo was the opposite of what the chaplains normally see: People who have made a commitment to Jesus for eternal security but have not developed a close relationship with God (Fire insurance). Pablo was working because he had accepted Christ and had a servants heart and knew not of the eternal security he had received.
Pablo explained to the chaplains he had prayed and received Christ several weeks ago and was to be baptized at the Fielder Road Baptist Church (where we are housed) April 29. When chaplains explained to him, that when he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior, his name was written in the Book of Life and sealed by the blood of Jesus he replied, "Really?!" and tears flowed down his cheeks. He stood up and hugged the chaplain and cried tears of joy, saying, "Thank you, thank you". There was a sweet, sweet Spirit in that place. The team had all been sitting there, listening and everyone was touched by the innocence of a young Christian eager to serve. The chaplainw told Pablo, when he gets to heaven, be sure that he finds them so they can hear the story of how God used him during his life. He smile, with wet cheeks, and nodded he would.
Pablo explained to the chaplains he had prayed and received Christ several weeks ago and was to be baptized at the Fielder Road Baptist Church (where we are housed) April 29. When chaplains explained to him, that when he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior, his name was written in the Book of Life and sealed by the blood of Jesus he replied, "Really?!" and tears flowed down his cheeks. He stood up and hugged the chaplain and cried tears of joy, saying, "Thank you, thank you". There was a sweet, sweet Spirit in that place. The team had all been sitting there, listening and everyone was touched by the innocence of a young Christian eager to serve. The chaplainw told Pablo, when he gets to heaven, be sure that he finds them so they can hear the story of how God used him during his life. He smile, with wet cheeks, and nodded he would.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Looking for Goodwill and Sharing It
Binghamton, NY
Chaplains had been in the Bible College parking lot when a man drove up to donate a box of pots and pans. He was going to be leaving town that afternoon and would not have the time to look for another location, the chaplains took the box and offered to donate them for him.
After driving around a couple of days, with pans rattling in the trunk of the car, chaplains started to look for a Goodwill Store. Seeing an elderly lady out working in her yard, the chaplain got out and went to ask about a local Thrift Store or Goodwill that would accept donations. The lady did not know of one, but continued to share with the chaplain about the flood and her recent fall down several steps, having to have 4 large staples in her head. She then saw "Billy Graham" on the chaplain's shirt and remarked her husband used to watch Mr. Graham on television all the time, until he died. The chaplain asked Ms Isabel if she had not survived the fall, did she know that she would go to the heaven that Billy Graham preached about. She said, "No, I am a catholic and I am not sure you can know". She listened as the chaplain explained that scripture, 1 John 5:12-13 says "you may know that you have eternal life". The chaplain shared the Steps to Peace with her and she started to pray, asking forgiveness and Jesus to come into her life, before the chaplain even read the prayer to her. Ms. Isabel smiled and waved as the chaplains drove away. Goodwill had been found, in the driveway of Ms. Isabel!
Chaplains had been in the Bible College parking lot when a man drove up to donate a box of pots and pans. He was going to be leaving town that afternoon and would not have the time to look for another location, the chaplains took the box and offered to donate them for him.
After driving around a couple of days, with pans rattling in the trunk of the car, chaplains started to look for a Goodwill Store. Seeing an elderly lady out working in her yard, the chaplain got out and went to ask about a local Thrift Store or Goodwill that would accept donations. The lady did not know of one, but continued to share with the chaplain about the flood and her recent fall down several steps, having to have 4 large staples in her head. She then saw "Billy Graham" on the chaplain's shirt and remarked her husband used to watch Mr. Graham on television all the time, until he died. The chaplain asked Ms Isabel if she had not survived the fall, did she know that she would go to the heaven that Billy Graham preached about. She said, "No, I am a catholic and I am not sure you can know". She listened as the chaplain explained that scripture, 1 John 5:12-13 says "you may know that you have eternal life". The chaplain shared the Steps to Peace with her and she started to pray, asking forgiveness and Jesus to come into her life, before the chaplain even read the prayer to her. Ms. Isabel smiled and waved as the chaplains drove away. Goodwill had been found, in the driveway of Ms. Isabel!
The Language of Love
Binghamton, NY
A few days ago, a Samaritan's Purse Team Leader was driving and saw a elderly, Japanese lady dragging a heavy garbage can to the road and stopped to offer help. Finding that she had been flooded and her children had helped her mud out her home, the SP Leader offered for SP to come and power wash and do mold remediation.
The spray team went in yesterday and got started with the basement. While there, one of the SP members talked with the lady and found out she was married to a US Army man after the war and came to America from Japan. She self taught herself English.
The SP member asked the chaplains this morning if they had a Japanese Bible. The chaplains called the number for the local Gideons and asked if they had one. The Gideon, Charles Kark, said he did have a Japanese-English Bible he used for speaking in churches and he was willing to give it to the BGEA Chaplains. The chaplains drove out to the farm and had prayer with Mr. Kark over the Bible.
The chaplains took the Japanese-English Bible to the job site, where Reiko (pronounced Layco) lives. The chaplains gave the Bible to the team leader and then went to talk with her. She is 76 years old and was raised in the Buddhist culture. She shared about the flood and getting older and her husband dying. When the chaplains asked her if she believed in Jesus Christ, she said she had attended the Lutheran church in high school and she believed in Him, but was not sure of heaven. Chaplains shared the love of Jesus and the hope and assurance He can give for eternity. Reiko, in broken English, prayed to receive Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.
The chaplains signed the Bible, along with the SP team, and the Japanese-English Bible was given to Reiko. She can now read more about the salvation and promises and hope Jesus gave to her.
A few days ago, a Samaritan's Purse Team Leader was driving and saw a elderly, Japanese lady dragging a heavy garbage can to the road and stopped to offer help. Finding that she had been flooded and her children had helped her mud out her home, the SP Leader offered for SP to come and power wash and do mold remediation.
The spray team went in yesterday and got started with the basement. While there, one of the SP members talked with the lady and found out she was married to a US Army man after the war and came to America from Japan. She self taught herself English.
The SP member asked the chaplains this morning if they had a Japanese Bible. The chaplains called the number for the local Gideons and asked if they had one. The Gideon, Charles Kark, said he did have a Japanese-English Bible he used for speaking in churches and he was willing to give it to the BGEA Chaplains. The chaplains drove out to the farm and had prayer with Mr. Kark over the Bible.
The chaplains took the Japanese-English Bible to the job site, where Reiko (pronounced Layco) lives. The chaplains gave the Bible to the team leader and then went to talk with her. She is 76 years old and was raised in the Buddhist culture. She shared about the flood and getting older and her husband dying. When the chaplains asked her if she believed in Jesus Christ, she said she had attended the Lutheran church in high school and she believed in Him, but was not sure of heaven. Chaplains shared the love of Jesus and the hope and assurance He can give for eternity. Reiko, in broken English, prayed to receive Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.
The chaplains signed the Bible, along with the SP team, and the Japanese-English Bible was given to Reiko. She can now read more about the salvation and promises and hope Jesus gave to her.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)