Just a thought from me to YOU

Victory in Jesus

2010-04-15T05:35:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Have you ever felt like a failure? Have you ever been discouraged? Did you ever want to quit? Oh how the evil one knows our buttons and loves to push them. I had just finished typing and printing the words below that come from a book entitled: The Saving Life of Christ by Major W. Ian Thomas. It is a book full of truth and life for those who believe! I got a call from a Christian sister who was crying due to a battle she had just endured. She felt she had sinned as she lost control of her temper. Ever been there? Well the beauty of the situation was that she had cried out to Jesus to forgive her but the evil one was still yelling of her failure! She called just as I was about to put this printed paper in my purse. Wow! Does God see your pain? Does He care? Eternity past He saw this sister in distress and had the paper in my hand when she called. Don't tell me He isn't a God who acts on our behalf. First I assured her that she was forgiven 1 John 1:9 and that sin was actually in her past as we spoke, covered by the righteousness of Christ to be rememberd no more as far as the east is from the west. We began praising Jesus for His great love poured out for us. Then I said you must listen to what I have in my hand. It is the greatest truth that has hit my heart in a very long time. I was somewhat down in my Spirit as I began to read this book and God showed me His great love toward me. Please read the following with a believing heart and rejoice in Jesus!

You compromise with Amalek ( your flesh) at your peril! In your flesh dwells no good thing. Spare it if you will but it will never spare you! Presume to find something good in it, when God has wholly condemned it, and the day will come when it will destroy you and rob you of your crown! God says that no flesh will ever glory in His presence. It can only make your body the devil’s plaything, so that he can be incarnate in all you say and do, robbing Christ of His rightful sovereignty in your humanity, whose life alone constitutes the true and only source of genuine righteousness.
Are you still offering to God the best of what God has condemned?
Do not be deceived by Amalek! Resist him with the rod of God held high, appropriating the victory already won. Carve your way through his ranks, for this is your victory, even your faith! Go on and go in, thanking the Lord JESUS for His life, as you have learned to thank Him for His DEATH—for what He is, as you have learned to thank Him for what He DID! Christ is your VICTORY!

Thank you for reading and my prayer for you is that you will find victory for each day in Jesus!

When Life is Uncertain

2010-02-18T04:53:00.000-08:00

Dear Ones,
How we must react to God's will? Our SS lesson this week is on the time in Jesus' life that He must face the wrath of God against sin and know the terror of the full power of satan. He had just finished having the passover meal with His disciples where He had told them the bread was a symbol of His body which is broken for them and the wine was a symbol of His blood that would be shed for them. The disciples didn't fully understand but led by Peter they all said they would die with Jesus. Jesus quouted the old testment saying the sheperd would be stiked and the sheep would scatter. Yet even Jesus has been tempted in every way that you and I are tempted. He knew God's will yet He was afraid. He knew He would suffer yet He wanted this cup to pass from Him. This is where the road met the rubber! Jesus surrendered His will to God's. He knew the imediate future looked bleak yet He said "Not my will but Yours be done." It was sacrificing His will to do the will of the Father.
When life overwhelms us we must remember to go to the Father God. Jesus went into the garden of Gethseme and fell on the ground in great sorrow. Yet as He prayed to the Father three different times He surrendered His will to Abba Father.
What could this mean for us? When we are faced with difficult decisons we must go to the One who holds us by His mighty hand. We must surrender our will to His. It is not easy in fact it is very difficult.
I can give you an example. I of late have been praying that God would help me to be obedient in the little things that He might use me in a greater way for His kingdom. There is a section of our city called Rice and Mann and much evil is done in this neighborhood. Murders and rapes and beatings are common day. Yet my heart has been drawn to this neighborhood. A girl who sells her body in order to survive asked Jesus to come into her heart at God's Provisions (clothes closet). The change in her countance was miracouly beautiful. Then a small five year old little girl was at AWANA last week whom I helped to understand the difference between God and Jesus. She was so precious and I pray I will have many more opportunities to work with her. She couldn't say her address but she said I stay at Rice and Mann. God is opening a door and I want to be obedient. It is a difficult way but I know God will go with me and before me to make my path smooth as I trust in Him.
That is what Jesus ultimately did. He trusted the Father and went through much suffering to be raised to the glory of God. He sits at the right hand of the Father praying for you and me. What a comfort!

Keep the faith,

Opal

Do you have a mundane life?

2009-08-20T05:04:00.000-07:00

I am reading a book entitled Jesus among other God's by Ravi Zacharias. This morning he was speaking of the life. He asked a question that I pose to you. Do any human beings ever realize life while the live it--every, every moment? The saints maybe--they do some, because they slow down and think and look beyond activities to their longings and somehow broach the possiblity of meaning that transcends their actions. In short if we are to truly understand who we are, we must understand what bread can and cannot do.
Jesus met a woman at the well.The diciples come and offer him lunch. He was talking to a socially ostracized and desperate woman whose life had been used and abused till she had no sense of self-worth left. The disciples chided Him for talking to this outcast, saying "you must be hungry".He says he has food that they don't know which is to do the will of My Father.
So my first understanding is that if I am to be fulfilled, I must pursue a will that is greater than mine--a fulfilled lfie is one that has the will of God as its focus, not the appetite of the flesh.
Jesus went on to say look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. He pointed to a hunger that was of universal proportion. There was hunger everywhere and He said there was food for all. It was not wheat or water, It was Christ Himselfk the Bread of Life. The Samaritan woman grasped what He said with a fevor that came from an awarenes of her real need. The transaction was fascinating--she came with a bucket and He sent her back with a spring of living water. She came rejected, He sent her back accepted by God Himself. She came wounded, He sent her back whole. She came living a life of quiet desperation. She ran back overflowing with hope.
The disciples missed it all. It was lunchtime for them.

What about you and me? Do we awaken each day with stuff on our minds. Crowding us with things to do, jobs to go to, appointmnets to meet and oh don't forget about food. We must have food to survive right? But if we get up to the same routine each day. Day after day, what is our satisfaction in this life? What can we do?
It is not only reading God's living Word that will excite and satisfy your soul but it is doing the will of God. In obedience we will find God's blessings. We must realize there are people all around us each day that need to know the hope we each have. If we just live our lives for us and our friends will we miss the will of God? I have come to realize that the majority of my weeks are spent working and eating and sleeping. I love Sundays and I love fellowship but Jesus wants us to see the fields of those who might never know His love. The outcast folks, the desperate folks the rich folks. Who is God putting in your path every day at work that He might use you to reach.
I challenge yoiu to begin to pray that God would use you to His glory! Oh what a life to be satisfied by Him. There is no greater satisfaction than this. There is nothing in this world that will satisfy you for it will leave you longing for more.

Pray for us as we pray for you. . .

Opal

A Word From the LORD

2009-08-04T04:30:00.000-07:00

Have you ever read the Word and suddenly the words seem to lift off the page? I am so grateful that as I read each day and come to a time where I am struggling or overwhelmed that God meets me in His Word. He not only meets me but He has prepared eternity past that I would be in His Word this morning at a place in His Word through my daily reading. He gives me encouragment and stirs my Spirit to know He is talking with me! So as I was reading yesterday He showed me something I want to share with you who would read . . .

I was reading in the 12th chapter of John as my dailey spot to read. I came to verse 27,28 that lifted off the page as my Spirit jumped within me. That verse reads "Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? Father save Me from this hour? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father glorify Your name."

I sensed within my Spirit that Jesus was showing me something wonderful and something scarey. God by His will and His purposes drew me to Himself to glorify Him. So as I come to this hour, this day, this momement it is for His purpose. It is to glorify His name. So as I began to understand I realized each moment we live, each day that we awaken it is for this purpose that we have come. To glorify His name.

Wow! If we could walk in obedience as Jesus walked in obedience we would be very aware that it is for His purpose that we have come that He might receive glory from our lives!

Do you live for your glory or His? For what purpose do you live? Bro James Dean once said we should chew upon the Word of God given to us all day. Yes! If we chew upon the Word of God we will glorify Him with our lives. The Word of God will show us how to be Holy as He is holy. He will show us the purpose for each day and how to glorify HIm with our lives.

Walk in His ways and by His power and His will and purposes will be in our lives.

Bless my soul and everything that is within me to the glory of Him!

Thanks for reading. Keep the Faith

Opal

The Question

2009-06-29T06:02:00.001-07:00

This was sent to me by email and it really hit my heart hard with the truth of it all. Please read on and see what you believe?????

Subject: The question that could change your life.

If you do not read another email this year, read this.

> THE QUESTION THAT CHANGED MY LIFE
> -by David Ryser.
>
> .
> A number of years ago, I had the privilege of teaching at a school
> of ministry. My students were hungry for God, and I was constantly
> searching for ways to challenge them to fall more in love with
> Jesus and to become voices for revival in the Church. I came across
> a quote attributed most often to Rev. Sam Pascoe. It is a short
> version of the history of Christianity, and it goes like this:
>
> Christianity started in Palestine as a fellowship;
> it moved to Greece and became a philosophy;
> it moved to Italy and became an institution;
> it moved to Europe and became a culture;
> it came to America and became an enterprise.
>
> Some of the students were only 18 or 19 years old--barely out of
> diapers--and I wanted them to understand and appreciate the import
> of the last line, so I clarified it by adding, "An enterprise. That's a
> business."
>
> After a few moments Martha, the youngest student in the class,
> raised her hand. I could not imagine what her question might be. I
> thought the little vignette was self-explanatory, and that I had
> performed it brilliantly. Nevertheless, I acknowledged Martha's
> raised hand, "Yes, Martha."
>
> She asked such a simple question, "A business? But isn't it supposed
> to be a body?"
>
> I could not envision where this line of questioning was going, and the
> only response I could think of was, "Yes."
>
> She continued, "But when a body becomes a business, isn't that a
> prostitute?"
>
> The room went dead silent. For several seconds no one moved or
> spoke. We were stunned, afraid to make a sound because the
> presence of God had flooded into the room, and we knew we were
> on holy ground. All I could think in those sacred moments was,
> "Wow, I wish I'd thought of that." I didn't dare express that thought
> aloud. God had taken over the class.
>
> Martha's question changed my life. For six months, I thought about
> her question at least once every day. "When a body becomes a
> business, isn't that a prostitute?"
>
> There is only one answer to her question. The answer is "Yes."
>
> The American Church, tragically, is heavily populated by people who
> do not love God. How can we love Him? We don't even know Him;
> and I mean really know Him.
>
> I stand by my statement that most American Christians do not
> know God--much less love Him. The root of this condition originates
> in how we came to God. Most of us came to Him because of what
> we were told He would do for us. We were promised that He would
> bless us in life and take us to heaven after death. We married Him
> for His money, and we don't care if He lives or dies as long as we
> can get His stuff. We have made the Kingdom of God into a business,
> merchandising His anointing.
>
> This should not be. We are commanded to love God, and are called
> to be the Bride of Christ---that's pretty intimate stuff. We are
> supposed
> to be His lovers. How can we love someone we don't even know? And
> even if we do know someone, is that a guarantee that we truly love
> them? Are we lovers or prostitutes?
>
> I was pondering Martha's question again one day, and considered
> the question, "What's the difference between a lover and a prostitute?"
> I realized that both do many of the same things, but a lover does
> what she does because she loves. A prostitute pretends to love, but
> only as long as you pay. Then I asked the question, "What would
> happen if God stopped paying me?"
>
> For the next several months, I allowed God to search me to uncover
> my motives for loving and serving Him.
>
> Was I really a true lover of God?
> What would happen if He stopped blessing me?
> What if He never did another thing for me? Would I still love Him?
>
> Please understand---I believe in the promises and blessings of God.
> The issue here is not whether God blesses His children; the issue is
> the condition of my heart. Why do I serve Him? Are His blessings
> in my life the gifts of a loving Father, or are they a wage that I have
> earned or a bribe/payment to love Him? Do I love God without any
> conditions?
>
> It took several months to work through these questions. Even now I
> wonder if my desire to love God is always matched by my attitude
> and behavior. I still catch myself being disappointed with God and
> angry that He has not met some perceived need in my life. I suspect
> this is something which is never fully resolved, but I want more than
> anything else to be a true lover of God.
>
> So what is it going to be? Which are we---lover or prostitute?
>
> There are no prostitutes in heaven, or in the Kingdom of God for
> that matter, but there are plenty of former prostitutes in both
> places. Take it from a recovering prostitute when I say there is no
> substitute for unconditional, intimate relationship with God. And I
> mean there is no palatable substitute available to us (take another
> look at Matthew 7:21-23 sometime).
>
> We must choose.
>
> Dr. David Ryser.

Keep the Faith,

Mom

Something Wonderful to share

2009-06-04T05:07:00.000-07:00

As I was reading my SS lesson for this week and our lesson is from Galatians 1 and the verses that caught my attention were 1:6-9. I want to share something wonderful with you.

Paul had presented the gospel of Christ to these folks and as he left them, other religious men came from Jerusalem and began to tell them that they had to follow their religious laws in order to be really saved. They made it appear that Paul had not told them the whole story of how to be saved. Yet Paul's heat is enraged that such untruth was being preached to the young church. So he writes this letter to the Galatians to help them know the truth that will make them free.

Oh, my friend: The gospel is faith plus nothing--nothing for you to do, only accept God's precious gift.

I had John 1:12-13 explained to me like this. It reads, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of men, but of GOD."

1) You see we didn't inherit a relationship with God because of our Mom or Dad's relationship with Him. 2) We can't get a relationship with God because we want it with all of our flesh. 3. Nor can we have a relationship with God because someone desperately wants it for us. But it is of God. It is a miracle of rebirth. It is a miracle of God drawing us to Himself through the Holy Spirit and revealing Himself to us.

So how can we receive what God is offering to us?

We must pray to HIM admitting we are sinners in great need of a Savior. We must believe on Jesus Christ's name and Him crucified and risen again on the 3rd day according to the scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
And by the miracle of God you will be reborn into His family. He will wash away all your sins and you will know peace with God within your heart.

I love the old hymnal "Just as I am" because that is a picture of God's grace. We can never be good enough to be in His presence or do enough good things to earn it. We must understand that Jesus paid the full price for our sins. Jesus satisfied God's wrath against sinners once and forever. So we must come just as we are, broken, in great need and fall before Him admitting He is our only hope.

I want to thank you for reading this blog. I don't know what you are going through but God does and He put this upon my heart to share. I don’t know if this is something that you have been struggling with or something God wants to use to help you share with someone else. I will pray for you and know that God sees your life and He is our greatest hope.

Keep the Faith

Opal

Do You Want to Be Made Well?

2009-04-27T06:01:00.000-07:00

Jesus went up to Jerusalem. There in Jerusalem was a pool called Behtesda having 5 porches. There lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed waiting for the moving of the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water was made well of whatever disease he had.
Now we come to a man who had been diseased for 38 years and Jesus asks him "Do you want to be made well?"
I have to presume that if this was asked, the man had to be aware of his disease. Yet as I pondered that question I wondered if there were those diseased that would not want to be made well and therefore the question. Then as i further thought why would a person not want to be made well i looked back on my life. Looking back over my life I lived for myself before Christ. I thought I had a pretty good life. Yet when I became aware of my disease of sin I could not do anything about it. I was powerless to heal myself, just as this man had been powerless for 38 long years.
It is only by the grace of God that Jesus comes to us offering to make us well. Offering to pay the price for our diseased life. Just as he spoke health into this man's life telling him to pick up his mat and walk he will do for us. He offers us life by His sacrifce. Paid in full for us to be made whole. Praise God for the Son who walked obediently even unto death. Praise Jesus Christ who despised the shame of the suffering and the cross for the joy set before Him. What was that joy? It was the joy of seeing us in need of Him. It was the joy that our answer to that question, DO YOU WANT TO BE MADE WELL would be yes! YES! Wash me clean and I will be clean in deed!

I thank you for reading and I hope it has stirred your heart in gratitude that Christ came to you and now you live for Him.

Keep the Faith

Opal

Jesus said "Take up your cross" . . . How?

2009-04-20T04:23:00.000-07:00

Jesus said in Luke 9:23 "Then He said to them all. If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me."

So this morning in my quiet time I asked the Lord to help me make this personally my verse, my life line to Him. I so want to understand what it means for my life to "take up my cross daily and follow Him". I am passionate about His word and I share that passion every time God's Provisions is open and each Sunday in SS. I know the Lord uses me on this computer to touch lives. Yet I feel lacking in my Spirit. It is to be a daily filling and a daily dying and a daily following the LORD!
How does that look? I've begun to reazlize it means that I must lay down my possessions. I must lay down my pleasures. I must lay down my self. I so want the Lord ot fill me to overflow for Him! My heart breaks at the thought thay my LORD would be ashamed of me yet if I look back over my life since He washed me into His blessed righteousness I find myself lacking. I have had great moments of being a part of His gratness and I am truely forever grateful. Yet that verse says I am to DAILY deny myself and take up my cross. MY CROSS? The cross was a symbol of shame, guilt, suffering and rejection. So as I take up MY cross I must surrender to Him and be identified with Him in surrender, suffering, rejection and sacrifice.
Until we understand and come to the LORD with a griefed heart to desire to daily walk with Him we will find ourselves lacking. Being used by Him, no doubt, for if we give the LORD only a portion of ourselves He will use what we surrender but He desires our WHOLE lives not just a portion.
Jesus Christ is calling us to disciplship. (Warren Wierbe says disciple is like an apprentice. A disciple is more than a student who learns lessons by means of lectures or books. He is one who learns by living and working with his teacher in a daily "hands on" experience.)

The world will look on such a life as foolishness but oh to know the life that would glorify Christ daily!
It was the prayer of my heart that the Potter would see the flaws in my life and cut them out or just smash my heart and start over yesterday morning. He has begun this morning to speak of my daily walk with Him. PRAISE HIM! He hears us when we pray and want to show us His ways!

My prayer for each of you that has taken the time to read my thoughts that your heart has been stirred to understand the life that glorifys Christ.
Keep the Faith,

Opal

Back to: What do you do with abundance . . .

2009-02-08T11:52:00.000-08:00

The prayer of Jabez is partly about being blessed in order to be a blessing to others. So we are to bless others with our abundance? God through Moses wrote in Deut. 15: 7-8: 'If there is among you a poor man of your brethern, . . ., you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.'
John McArthur says this was God's call to lend to the poor with no expectation of being repaid. The people are to have an attitude of warmth and generosity.

So as the ice storm hit we opened our home to wayward young couples for a few days. I hope they felt the wamth and generosity that was extended to them. Then there was a brother in need of a stove which we gave not expecting anyting in return. Then there was the help of utilities to be turned on. . . . The list could go on yet I must confess God hss blessed us beyond what we deserve to the point of abundance. So I can attest that the blessings were all mine to reach out with an open hand to others in need.
So I would encourage you to be obedient to what God calls you to do for He will lavish His riches blessings on your life.
2 Chronicles 16:9 "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro thorughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him."

Are you game? Go ahead and be the one whom God could say was loyal to Him. It will be the greatest joy you will ever know. Wouldn't you like to experience the joy that only God would give?

Hope this is helps you to know what to do with abundance . ..

Mom

What do you do with the Abundance?

2009-02-05T19:13:00.000-08:00

I'm pondering how to say what I will say so come back later and read this blog. Thanks for coming. . . . .

Storms at Christmas Time

2008-12-23T04:59:00.000-08:00

So many people focus on the presents under the tree when the Christ Child which came is totally left out. So many people during this part of the year go into deep depression. Most of the time it can happen during any part of the year as storms will come to each of us. I once heard a preacher say that if you aren't in a storm just wait a little while and one will hit you. He said you had either just come out of a storm, was in the midst of one or about to have one hit. Jesus did say that in the world we would have trouble but to take heart for He is in the world.

When storms of life hit me I become overwhelmed and can’t see past my pain. As I focus on the storm I feel as if I am sinking from the weight upon my heart. So I have learned to talk to God when I am in the storm. Just last Sunday night I heard a wonderful sermon on storms of life and thought then I might need to share the truth I learned with someone.

The preacher began with the reading of Matthew 14: 22-33. It is the story of Jesus walking on water in the midst of a storm that was tossing the disciples boat to and fro. The preacher said he could preach a whole sermon on prayer from this passage as Peter cried out to Jesus. He said Peter could have prayed a long prayer but he just cried out “Jesus save me!” The preacher said just be real before God. He sees your pain and He sees your hurt and He knows what you are thinking and how your heart is. But then the preacher said I’m going to talk to you about storms not prayer and there are 2 kings of
storms. 1) Correcting Storms that might come from disobedience or messing up. and then 2) Perfecting storms which God will use to build truth into our lives.
This preacher gave us 5 anchors to throw out during the storm. These disciples were instructed by Jesus to get in the boat and go before Him to the other side. It was the sea of Galilee. They encountered a problem or two. First they were 5 miles from shore and the direction of the wind was against them and the darkness of the night kept them from seeing the shore. The preacher said we could focus on vs 22 and know (1st Anchor):God called these disciples to the storm and He calls us to the storms of life. Everything in our lives is sifted through the hands of God to allow happen. He said God is far more interested in our being holy then happy. He is building Jesus into our lives. God’s ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts greater than ours. Jesus said we will have trouble in the world but to take heart for He has overcome the world.
Anchor 2: God’s power protects me in the storm. Mark 6:47 where this same story is told tells us that Jesus saw in the darkest night from the mountain where He was praying the disciples tossing in the sea. That is a miracle as the night was black with no moon yet Jesus saw the disciples 5 miles from shore, tossing in the sea. Jesus sees you and me in the most terrible storms and He prays for us. He sits at the right hand of the Father and intercedes for us to the Father. He sees and cares that we are being tossed within the storm. The disciples were not thrown from the boat or drowned because of the storm.
Anchor #3: Jesus presence comes to me in the storm. Psalm 23 “though I walk through the shadow of death, thou art with me”. Precious words of comfort aren’t they? We have the assurance that no matter what we go through in this life, Jesus is there with us, never to leave or forsake us. Isaiah 43:1-3 helps us to know that when we are in the storm He sees and prays and sustains us.
Anchor:#4 His power sustains me here even in the storm.
John 6:2 says ‘But He said to them, it is I, do not be afraid. Then they willingly received Him into the boat and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.” .
Anchor #5 Jesus will give us victory not freedom from attack. He will be our greatest hope within the storm. The wind and waves obeyed Him and became still. He will quiet the waves and the greatest fears within in as we lean on Him during the storm. He will be our strength and He will be our joy. I often try to sing praise in the storm as I have learned that when my soul is downcast if I sing praises to Him who holds me my soul with lift into the arms of Him. Him who cares for me even greater than the sparrow which falls. 1 Peter 5:7 reads “Cast all your anxieties upon God for He cares for you.” I claimed that during a storm, memorized it and used it many times to encourage others.

So as you go through this Christmas season just remember what it's all about. If some storm hits just lean on Jesus and He will get you through.

Keep the Faith,

Mom

Oh to know the Sweet Aroma to the LORD!

2008-11-17T04:35:00.000-08:00

In my daily quiet time this morning I have just finished reading the book of Exodus and began to read the 1st chapter of Leviticus. I was caught up in the beautiful way Moses was always obedient to the LORD. The tabernacle preparations have been completed and the day has arrived to raise it up. Oh what an experience as each piece was erected to the glory of God. So as it was finished, the LORD's Glory came down in the form of a cloud and filled the tabernacle! No one went into the tabernacle. Then the joy of serving the Lord began. The people were instructed how to bring their unblemished offerings that would be burned for a "sweet aroma to the LORD".
There it was over and over in my reading~"the offering became~a aweet aroma to the LORD."
So here enlies the joy! As we serve the Lord our offering becomes our obedience which become a sweet aroma to the LORD and He will show us His glory! I have found this true in my own life.
Not so long ago on a Saturday that God's Provisons (church clothes closet) opened I had read Romans 4 that morning. I had a moment of vs 4 jumping off the page. 4."Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt."

So I went that morning realizing there are many good intentioned folks that believe if they work for the Lord in doing certain steps they will get to heaven. Jesus said I am the Way the Truth and the Life and no one comes to the Father except by Me! I spoke to the people that came that day about works. About the love of God for them given as a gift not to be earned but to accept by trusting Jesus Christ as their Saviour! I told them in my life before Christ I was a pretty good person and treated other folks well. I went to church everytime the door was open and I made sure my boys were raised in church. Yet for all the good I did I would have split hell wide open if I had died. I asked for anytone who wanted to give a testimony and had one lady who did. Afterwards a man lingered behind and I sat down with him for a while and spoke to him about Jesus love for him. I asked him if he was ready to accept God's gift and he said he wanted to but he just wasn't sure he could do it right then. I told him it was between himself and God and that I didn't want to give him the idea he was to do it for me. I prayed with him and could see he was shaken but reluctant. I told him I hoped to see him in heaven one day and that this was the day of his salvation and it was a choice. God would not force Himself on himl It was a gift that he had to take for himself.
So for my obedience I felt the joy from the Lord and knew my obedience had been a sweet aroma to Him.
You see we are not responsible for the results of our obenient actions, that is up to God. Yet I know that the truth shared with David that day will come back to his mind and God will continue to draw him. Maybe through another encounter with an obedient Christian.
So as my godly husband often says "when you know, you know!" I am real today and so grateful that the Lord showed me how sinful my prideful, arrogant heart was several years back. It is my life goal to walk in His ways and tell others of the hope He has given me! In this life we will have troubles but oh the joy to know Jesus has overcome this world. One day we will see Him face to face and my prayer is that I will hear "well done my good and faithful servant". How about you?
Who are you living for? Your family? Your success in this life? Or the One who loved you and gave his life for You?

Thanks for reading and Keep the Faith.

God will meet you anytime!

2008-11-01T17:46:00.001-07:00

I was so grateful for God's timing lately. I phoned someone who was going through a very rough time. God already knew all about it and He knew I'd care deeply. I at once began to pray and prepare for the journey. I asked off Friday and began the journey that would end in seeing God's provision for this person of great need. At the end of the day I was still praising God for all He had done that day. I got to be a small vessel in the whole realm of things but I can tell you that I realized just how much God loves us in every way!
Do you find yourself in need? Or in pain that you can't see past? Turn to God. Cry out very honestly what you feel. God will hear and maybe even send someone just in the nick of time. He may ask you to trust Him as He is great in battle! He will prove to be the faithful friend you need. He will prove to be the Father who cares the most. He will prove that when the storm rages around us, He will be right there to see you through.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not upon your own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths smooth. Proverbs 3:5-6

Gotta close. Keep the faith!

Mom

Spirit filled Living

2008-07-30T04:49:00.000-07:00

Oh, what a thought. God In You! Living through you. Controlled by God's Spirit. Is it possible to live a Spirit filled life? You would have to desire it. You would have to purify yourself through the forgiveness of Christ Jesus. For His Spirit will not be manefested in a dirty, filty heart. So deny yourself to God who loves you more than anyone else in the world.
Galatians 2:20 reads 'I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.'
What does a Spirit filled person look like? They speak Christ like and are pron to burst into song giving thanks with a grateful heart. A Spirit filled person is humble and submits to one another. Last but not least, a Spirit filled person has victory in warfare for they lean not upon their strength but the Lord's. For greater is He within me than he that is in the world.
I recently learned the differnce between quincing the Spirit and grieving the Spirit. "Quince" is not doing what the Spirit prompts you to do. "Grieving" is doing what the Spirit tells you not to do. That was quite a revelation to me! So as I ponder what being filled with the Spirit, somthing stirs within me that I could have such a wonder! So I have been praying of late that this very thing would happen, not that I would just be filled to overflowing with His Spirit but that His Spirit would be poured upon me to speak boldly Jesus Christ gospel to a dieing world around me. For it is only in His power that I will stand with His Word flowing from me.
So I leave you with this question. How much do you want to know God? Draw near and He will draw near to YOU. Be careful or you just might be filled with His Spirit to overflow into other lives around you!
Thanks for reading these words and remember--Keep The Faith!

Who do You live for?

2008-07-10T04:20:00.000-07:00

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is not longer I who lives but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 3:20

Who do you live for?

I am reading in Acts where the church of Jerusalem is under persecution yet God's truth spreads and large number of people are coming to the LORD. How does your life affect those around you? Do you see God working and join Him with the passion of Christ? Do those around you see your life and know who you live for?

"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Hin of whom they have not heard?" Romans 10:14

We must pray that God will passion us to share our faith with others! Jesus said "You will be my witnesses" . . .

Who do you live for?

Would others believe your answer? How can we live for Christ each day?

It is only in absorbing God's Word and allowing His H. S. within you to lead you in living for Him that we can succeed. For apart from Christ we are nothing yet as we surrender our very lives to Him He will abide in us. Our desires will become the desires of Him who lives in us. God's truth will make you free!!!

If you desire to live for Christ yet find the road to be difficult just remember there are those who have gone before and call to us the way. Read God's Word and know He will meet you there for His Word is alive to any who seek Him!

Hey! Thanks for reading~

Keep the Faith

Opal

Who are you living for?

2008-06-14T12:10:00.000-07:00

What kind of question is that? Well as we reflect on Father's Day let's just remember to be a Father means someone is following in your footsteps. Who are you living for? The answer is so important because of those little footprints within yours. Do they see you or the One you follow? Do they see you fall down and then get back up? What do they know of your inner strength? Have they ever heard you pray? Would they believe that God is #1 in your life? I have heard it said that children believe love = time and yet I believe that may be partly true I must confess that love should at least point them towards their own personal relationship with God one day. God even gave us a good scripture to tell of the importance we should take for the little footprints within yours. So if you want to know God's perspective, stop and read Deut. 11:13, then skip to verses 18-20.

Oh, By the way--HAPPY FATHERS DAY to those who are . . .

Walk the Walk for it matters who you are living for!

This side of heaven

2008-06-05T15:41:00.000-07:00

God has given Bobby and myself a new ministry. It happened one day while I was surfing the internet for different gospel tracks. I came accross an address IBS.com and cliked on to it. Then I was looking at all the different ways they had to reach out to the lost. WOW! I came to a site that had 300 doorhangers in a box each with a gospel of John, an evangelistic track and a welcome sign. I called Bobby in to see it and his Spirit within jumped in a huge way! He immediately saw a vision of a map of FC and then saw a marked path just as you might find at the back of your Bible if you looked at a trail that Paul had traveled.
So we ordered our 1st 300 and began to bag all the 300 doorhangers each week; Then take them out, hanging them on the doors, praying ahead of time for the folks who might read their contents. We questioned what hanging doorhangers might do, but thanking God for allowing us the opportunity to serve Him. Afterall it is not what we do but what God can do with our little. So we hung those 1st 100 on that first Sunday. During the next week, Bobby spoke with a young lady who had rec'd one on her door. She was from CA and had never been in Church or heard that God loved her. She read everything in the bag and told Bobby that she was going to get a Bible and begin to read it. She thought everything in the bag spoke to her in a very special way So Bobby took a Bible to her. We don't know what is going on within the 600 houses we've already hung door hangers on, but God does.
This is what we wrote on a 4 X 6 card that we tape to the outside of the doorhangers. We believe God gave of each word:

(We put a sm picture of Jesus knocking at the door in the top left corner). These are the words written:

"We don't know you or what is going on in your life, but we know who holds the answers and He cares for you.
We believe we are hanging this on your door out of obedient hearts to God.
Won't you begin to read the contents of this bag allowing God to speak to you heart.
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever (that's you and anyone) believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
God is no respector of persons, He loves us one and all.
We have prayed for you.
Your friends in Christ, Adult 1 SS Class & Hometown Missions.
First Baptist Church, 507 N Rosser, FC
(Look at the picter, Jesus is knocking, who will let Him in?)

So just allow God to work through you to touch others. After all He has given us all we need to do what He desires for us to do. Jesus said "Follow Me and I will make you Fishers of Men." Matthew 4:19

Isn't He Wonderful

2008-05-13T03:46:00.001-07:00

I have committed to memorizing scripture to always have a word in my mind when the occassion arises. Yesterday I wrote down a verse and today as I was saying it over and over I suddenly felt an wonderful awareness that Jesus was with me. I began to pray the verse back to Him and then began to understand what it was saying. Here is the verse:
1 Corintians 1:5 In Him in every respect you were enriched in full power and readieness of speech and complete knowledge and illumination.
So as I prayed acknowledging to our Father God that as I abide in Jesus Christ I will in every respect be enriched in His full power! I will be ready for speech with His full knowledge and will illuminate Him!
Wow! How Awsome is that! I am taking that as a promise! If I abide in HIM I will have His full power! His full knowledge and readiness to speak! Not to leave the best for last to say I will illuminate Christ!
Jesus said we would be His witnesses but He also said I will send you the Comforter. God's Holy Spirit abides in us! So why should we not illuminate Christ? It can only be that we choose to illuminate ourselves at times.

Let us not grow weary of the race but abide wholly in Christ who will enrich us with all that we need to be the very witness He has called us to be!
Keep the Faith,

In His service,
Opal

Many kinds of trials

2008-04-27T05:57:00.000-07:00

God is so great to meet us in His Word. Wow! I want to share something I realized this morning with you. As I went to the nursing home yesterday to visit a girl I have befriended who has had a stroke I listened to a preacher on 97.1 FM. I thought of two preacher friends. I called both but only one answered his phone. This young preacher (on radio)said the higher the calling the harder the trials but the closer the walk. There will be mountain top experiences and there will be valleys. God is God in the sunshine and in the darkest night. He is God of the mountain and He is God of the valley. I believe there is a song that goes something like that.

James 1:2-3 says ‘My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

I thought Patience, huh? But this morning as I was studying my Bible study, the reading the Word was the parable of seeds in Luke. As I finished reading the parable the last verse hit me hard! Luke 8 vs 15 says of the true believer: ‘But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the Word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. There was that word again. Patience. What can I understand from James and Jesus’ words?

I believe patience is many things such as perseverance in the long suffering of trials. Trying to keep the faith in the midst of turmoil. Waiting on God’s timing to understand His Will for our lives. Trusting God as we wait on answers for tomorrow.

I believe bearing fruit with patience means waiting on God for He is the only one who draws men to Himself through His Son. We can’t run ahead and pass up what it means to have patience. We have to live and breath through many trials to produce the understanding of patience. Waiting for God’s greatness. Watching for God’s greatness and joining Him even when it means the world will hate us. After all, the world hated our Lord, Jesus Christ.

When everyone around you hates you or when all fall down, will you stand for Christ?
He suffered for us so we might count it pure joy to know His suffering.

Jesus said “In this world you will have trouble but take heart for I have overcome the world.”

Keep the Faith. Stay on the path and don’t let anyone push you off!

Your friend in Christ,

Opal

Used by God

2008-03-24T17:09:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone have you ever heard my testimony? It changes each time I give it because I am growing in the knowledge and grace of GOD. If you want to listen to my testimony I gave on
Easter Sunday, 2008 you can go to the following site:

www.fbcfc.org

Then click on a word from the paster here

You will begin hearing the music man, Bro Alan Smith but if you forward to 8 minutes you will begin to hear my testimony. Try it then tell me what you think?

Glorify God

2008-02-11T04:06:00.000-08:00

Have you ever noticed the passion of someone who has been touched by the Glory of GOD? It is an awsome thing to witness. I heard a man last night who said he knew he was called to preach because he experienced his greatest joy when he could get in front of people and tell them God's truth. The Bible says lift up the Glory of God and God will lift you up. Christ Tomlin is a wonderful example of a life that is glorifying God. He sings of God's greatness and His amazing grace. Not too long ago we hadn't heard of this man. He was a front singer for Casting Crowns. He is short in statue but He has been lifted high by God whom He glorifies!
Someone who is passioned for God's glory is Spirit filled. For Spirit filled people are committed to glorifying God. I was so thrilled to sit in our car as our daughter in law prayed to accept Christ. It was a prayer unlike anyone I had ever heard. She wanted Him to come into her life and change her for His glory. She told Him she wanted to live a life to His glory!
Last night a man stood preaching way past the alotted time for the service. No one moved for we were on the edge of our seats hearing the Word of God that I pray has changed me forever! He spoke of glorifying God in our lives. Giving glory to God in all that we do and say.
He gave 3 ways a Christian can give God glory and then one way of the church .

1. You glorify God when you live a life of faith. He brought up 4 ways Christians live the Christian life. 1-"feel it" 2- "figure it out" 3-"frustrated" 4"by faith"
2. We glorify God when the passion of our heart is to know God!
Do you really want to know God better? Do you want to believe God and stand on His promises?
3. Who ever offers praise glorifes God! Teach us how to praise you more, O God!

Then he spoke to the church--The church glorifies God when there is unity and love one to another for the body, not just for a select few.

A person who glorifies God is humble in His presence. A person who glorifies God is under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

I want to end by saying our prayers need to be to the glory of God. In everything we pray we must pray that the answer will bring glory to God.
This man wasn't raised in Christain home. His father was alcoholic. He was nineteen years old when he got saved. He prayed for four years that his Dad would get saved so his Mother would not live in hell. Yet he didn't get saved. He went to have supper with a godly man who had a 5th grade education. After supper he and this man went into lving room to talk. He asked them man to pray with him for his father. He began to pray that God would save his Dad for his Mom's sake and the older man touched his shoulder and told him God wouldn't save his Dad for his Mom's sake. He told him that he must pray that God would be glorified in his Father when God saved him regardless if his Mom ever lived in or out of hell on earth. This young man got on his knees before God asking Him to show him how to glorify Him. He is not in his 80's yet God is still using him to preach to His Glory!

Humble yourself before God to His glory and He will bless you with His riches blessings!

Belive God and stand on His promises!

To His Glory forever and ever!

Opal

Foundation of Encouragement

2008-02-03T17:44:00.000-08:00

Today, February 3, 2008 I had the priviledge to hear the Word spoken. I heard something that got my attention. I tried to take notes but couldn't write fast enough. I sat on the edge of my seat hungering for each word of truth! I want to share with you a story from the Bible about King David. He was living for himself, not inquiring of God. He was in battle against some tough folks and he went to the Philistines for support. The Philistines were the arch enemies of his people (he had slain their giant at the age of 15) yet he wanted their help in war. While he was busy cuddling up to them the Amalekites had come to his land and burned down the city, taking all children and wives captive. David and his fighting men come upon scene and the Bible says they wept until they could not weep anymore. The people were in state of hoplessness and they turned against David desiring to stone him. David was distressed. Now we come to the verse that got my attention. 1 Samuel 30:6 "But David stregthened himself in the Lord his God."

David was all alone. No one to encourage him. His loyal men wanted to stone him. Yet the Bible says he strengthened himself in the Lord his God. After he was encouraged by God he sought God's advice.
4 priniples to Encourgament for your soul:

1. Seek God first! Get alone with God. Cry out to God (He already knows your thoughts and heart)
2. Seek somebody who knows God--godly people living for God.
3. Claim promise of God from God's Word. Keep reading and studying God's Word every day.
4. Make the choice to praise God in everything.
Paul & Silas were two guys who were beaten to pulp, put in stocks and guarded heavily in prison. At midnight when their bodies were raked with pain they chose to pray and praise God.
Two more principles to live by and I am done:

1) Fight every battle in your Christian life on your knees.
2) Never make a major decision in your life without getting a promise from God.

God's Word is alive and breathing truth. Read it and believe God! There is not measure to His greatness.
Keep on the path,

Opal

Are you good enough?

2008-01-19T06:22:00.001-08:00

Let me just share a story of man who might have feared he wasn't good enough but had the courage to make his voice heard. It is a story back in the time of Jesus when Jesus and his disciples had been in Jericho and as they were departing being followed by a large multitude a blind man raises his voice. He crys out "Jesus, son of David have mercy on me"! There were those in the crowd that said "Be quiet!" There were those in the crowd who totally ignored him. But this man, named Bartimaeus, would not listen to others for he was desperate. He cried out even louder, "Son of David have mercy on me!"

Do you think Jesus heard this man? Do think Jesus thought he wasn't good enough. Afterall this was a blind man who couldn't even see whom he was calling. Yet, Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to him. Jesus asked Bartimaeus "what do you want me to do for you?" He answered "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight." Jesus said your faith has made you well. Then as Bartimaeus received his sight his life changed in that instance~he followed Jesus on the road!

There are many whom God puts in our paths that the crowd might say "Be quiet!" or just ignore but Jesus hears and through us Jesus tells them "Your beleif has made you well."

Are you good enough? The Bible tells us that God does not desire for anyone to perish and He showed His love sending Jesus to walk in obedience even to death to show that love. For Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

So to answer is God loves you, Jesus died for you and God raised him up to say Love never fails. Are you good enough? Jesus is waiting for you to cry out to him. Jesus stood still and commanded he be brought to him.

If you know Jesus He is waiting for you to hear the crys of others and respond in His name.
Will YOU?

Do you carry a burden or two?

2008-01-15T04:35:00.000-08:00

We all have things in our lives that can bring us down. We all have times when life overwhelms us. Where can we go for relief? Where can we go for rest?
I'll tell you what works for me. There is power in prayer! There is a song that says there is power when I'm on my knees. When I focus on Jesus and what He does for me I find a song begins to form within. I begin to praise Him and thank Him that He walks beside me every day and all the way. I praise Him that God is in control. I look back to remember that God has proved faithful to watch over me thus far. Because I can see yesterday I can live in His grace today knowing, believing with full assurance that He will watch over me today. There has been times I was uncertain about tomorrow. I didn't know where the money would come from to pay bills or to buy grocerys. But just as my heart would become anxious if I focused on God's faithfulness thus far I would begin to trust Him for tomorrow and before you know it that song would rise within me as I praised Him. I have learned to watch for His greatness for He delights to manifest Himself to us as we pray believing Him, leaning on His promises from His Word. I have seen His greatness and read of His love and know He holds me each day.

Do you have that kind of exsistence? That kind of peace? Peace only comes from leaning on Jesus, believing and praising Him in the storms of life. Jesus said in this world you will have troubles but don't worry, I have overcome the world. Praise God I can look at Peter in the New Testament seeing him walking on the water towards Jesus. For as I look at Peter he taught me to look to Christ. For only in focusing on Jesus can we over come all that pulls us down.

Keep the faith!

In His Service
Opal

It Matters Who You Are

2008-01-05T14:39:00.000-08:00

God in His awsome love called us to be His people. Those who are called followers of Jesus Christ. God set us apart for Him. To be different from the world. To be His witnesses of His great love and mercy.
Why does it matter who we are? How we live? Did you know that Noah was the 10th generation from Seth who was the third son of Adam and Eve? Abraham was the 10th generation from Shem which was the son of Noah. Noah had three sons that were saved by the flood yet only one family, Shem's was written about in detail. Why? Because God set them apart to be His people and He was to be their God.
How did 10 generations to 10 generations live for God? Because they did not live as the world yet they lived in the world. They were different in what they pursued. In Deut. chapter 11 God's desire is that we love the LORD GOD and serve Him with all your heart and soul. He promises to be your God and to stay beside you forever. In this chapter God tells us to tell our children as they rise, as they lay down and as we go on our way about Him so that they will love and serve Him with their whole heart and soul.
So it matters who we are and how we live for those generations following us will only know God if we live and tell them how great He is! And He is Great! In every way.
If you want to know what would happen if you don't tell others of His greatness go to godtube.com and listen to the video "A letter from Hell".

Reach for the Prize

2007-12-31T10:20:00.000-08:00

As I reflect on this past year I must confess that I have discovered a wonderful truth. God is great! I have read and am re reading a book written by Andrew Murry on the subject of prayer. I discovered the truth that believing prayer is answered by our Father God even as we pray. I found my self in circumstances that I could not control yet God gave me a passage of scripture that jumped off the page to me. It was Phillipians 4:6-7 which says: 'Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.'
Wow! I re read those verses then picked them apart. Be anxious for nothing? How is that possible for there are times when fear rushes in to make our minds twist with anxious thoughts. But in everything by prayer and supplication w/thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Ok, I began with thanksgiving? How? Oh yes, to trust God with my requests. Trust God. Thank God for being trustworthy! As we trust God with thanksgiving laying every prayer and supplication at His throne He gives us a wonderful promise. Trusting will lead to peace, God's peace that surpasses all understanding. That is wonderful! Peace! Blessed Peace. Yet He goes even further to tell us that as we trust Him with the unknown answers of our deepest fears and greatest desires He will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. There is the price! Christ Jesus. For it is in the peace of God that we can rest while Christ Jesus guards our minds and our hearts. Praise God for His greatness that He so desires for each of us to experience.

Something to think about

2007-12-25T08:16:00.000-08:00

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:12-13
This is an amsome thought. If we receive Christ and believe on His name we have the right to become children of God. Not of blood, meaning we can't be born into God's family just because our parents were Christians. Nor of the will of flesh meaning not by our own works or our own wants. Nor of the will of men meaning just because someone cares for you and desires for you to become God's child they can not make it happen. But of God meaning it is only by the power of God drawing you to His Son by the pwer of the Holy Spirit that you may become a child of God. This should put to rest anyone's fear of losing salvation as it is by God's power that we become His child and not anything we can do or not do to have it. And once we have it by God's power we can not lose it by anything we might do. Praise God for His indescrible love for you and me.