Blue? Weak in Faith today?

Thank you Sister, AV, for allowing me to post this here. 
 

Hello Ladies, 
I got up this morning feeling the blues you knew the kind where you feel weak in faith and like less then nothing and seeing only everything that you have done wrong, and all the what if's !!!!!!!!!! 

 

In my life right now that is like a big dark cloud. The weather is even cold and dark, rainy just blaa this morning. I got everyone off to work and school and set down to read Spurgeon's morning and evening, and all I can say is GOD has been good one
more time to put his loving arms around me this morning and let me cry on his shoulder, HE let me know just one more time how much HE loves me !!!!
 

You maybe having a blaa day too, I have posted his devotion below I hope it helps you today, but if it was for no one else it was for me, and I am
Thankful for a Heavenly Father who loves me as small as I am!!!!

"Babes in Christ.”

1 Corinthians 3:1
 

Are you mourning, believer, because you are so weak in the divine life:because your faith is so little, your love so feeble? Cheer up, for you havecause for gratitude. Remember that in some things you are equal to thegreatest and most full-grown Christian. You are as much bought with blood ashe is. You are as much an adopted child of God as any other believer. Aninfant is as truly a child of its parents as is the full-grown man. You areas completely justified, for your justification is not a thing of degrees:your little faith has made you clean every whit. You have as much right to
the precious things of the covenant as the most advanced believers, for your right to covenant mercies lies not in your growth, but in the covenant itself; and your faith in Jesus is not the measure, but the token of your inheritance in him.                                                          You are as rich as the richest, if not in enjoyment, yet in real possession. The smallest star that gleams is set in heaven; the faintest ray of light has affinity with the great orb of day. In the family register of glory the small and the great are written with the same pen.  You
are as dear to your Father’s heart as the greatest in the family. Jesus is very tender over you. You are like the smoking flax; a rougher spirit would say, “put out that smoking flax, it fills the room with an offensive odour!” but the smoking flax he will not quench. You are like a bruised reed; and any less tender hand than that of the Chief Musician would tread upon you or throw you away, but he will never break the bruised reed. Instead of being downcast by reason of what you are, you should triumph in Christ. Am I but
little in Israel? Yet in Christ I am made to sit in heavenly places. Am I poor in faith? Still in Jesus I am heir of all things. Though “less than nothing I can boast, and vanity confess.” yet, if the root of the matter be in me I will rejoice in the Lord, and glory in the God of my salvation.

GOD bless
AV

The Most Dangerous Weapon in Satan's Arsenal by Paul Mershon

 "WILT THOU NOT REVIVE US AGAIN:  THAT THY PEOPLE MAY REJOICE IN THEE?"

 (Psalm 85:6)

Friday

February 15, 2002

San Diego, California

"America's Finest City!"

THOUGHT:  "THE MOST DANGEROUS WEAPON IN SATAN'S ARSENAL"

"There hath no temptation (testing - trial) taken you but such as is common to man:

 but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted (tested) above that ye are able;

but will with the temptation (testing - trial) also make a way of escape, that ye may be

able to bear it." (I Corinthians 10:13)

"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him . . . ."  (Job 13:15a)

When it comes to hindering and opposing the work of the ministry, the cause of the Gospel,

 the labor of the servants of the Lord, and the overall spiritual well-being of the children

of God, Satan's "weapon" of choice is often the "weapon" of discouragement.

As one Christian writer so succinctly put it, "In every life, at some time, a person finds

himself in that dark tunnel where no light is visible.  You weep and you cry out in frustration

 and you plead, 'Lord, I can't take any more!  I have no more patience and no more strength to

 hold out; I must hear from You today.  If You don't resolve the issue, I don't know what I am

 going to do.  Can't You see that I'm desperate? Why don't You help me?'  Most of us have been

there.  How about you?  It may have been because of a long, drawn-out sickness.  It may have

been a long-term financial problem.  It may have been a struggle with grief.  It may have been

an . . . . . unsaved loved one or a dysfunction in the family.  Or perhaps you suffered through

 a problem at work: a demanding, unreasonable boss or a jealous, spiteful fellow worker whom

you have to cope with every day, with no resolution in sight . . . . Before you know it, you

 find yourself in David's shoes and can understand his heartfelt words and emotions.  This

man is a . . . man of God - the favorite son and sweet singer of Israel.  He is a man after

 God's own heart, yet he is a man of anguish and suffering, one given to depths of depression

who cries out to God, 'How long?'"

Every one of us has experienced, at some point in his or her lifetime, a period of deep

 discouragement and disappointment.  Just about all of God's people have known the darkness

and painful abyss that accompanies a discouraged heart.  Many have experienced the crucible

 of pain and suffering that discouragement can bring.  There are times when we can even feel

 forsaken when going through a time of discouragement and deep disappointment.  Beloved,

we are human.  It is noteworthy that God recognized the weakness and frailty of our humanity.

 Even of His erring children it is said of Him that, " . . . he remembered that they were but

 flesh; a wind that passeth away . . . ."  (Psalm 78:39a)

All of us have known discouragement in one form or another. People fail us, and say ill-advised

 things that hurt and discourage us.  A word that is not fitly spoken can do much damage.

"Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!"  Satan uses the uncontrolled tongue of

saved and unsaved unlike as a weapon of discouragement.

Many have been discouraged by lingering sickness, the suffering of a loved one, financial

setbacks, accidents, the loss of employment, the loss of a loved one in death, opposition

from the world, opposition from other Christians, sin in the camp, failed church leadership,

and so many other things that are beyond numbering.  The hardness of life in general can be

discouraging.  Satan will surely use discouragement to bring about ultimate defeat.  Discouragement,

unchecked, will bring about neutralization in the Christian life, and inevitably complete ruin.

 The devil wants God's people to quit, and no other "weapon" will do so devastating a job as

discouragement.

The most discouraging thing ever to occur in my Christian life was to be further discouraged by

other brethren because I was discouraged.  My discouragement was compounded by the negative

criticism of a group of men from whom I would ordinarily think I could look for encouragement.

Like Job's three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, I felt the salt of their words being rubbed

into my wounds.  Like Job I thought of them as, " . . . miserable comforters are ye all" (Job 16:1b).

 The cruelty of their words did surely sting!   Have you been there too?  Most of us have, and

it is not pleasant.  Sadly, many of us have been on the other side of the equation, and have hurt

 those who needed our understanding and compassion rather than our criticism and disdain.  We

all-too-often forget that we have been in the pit of despair at times as well.  We forget that

we are all made of the same stuff, and fall prey to Satan's discouraging devices just like everyone else.

I was recently in attendance at a fellowship meeting here in California where a very well-known

pastor was preaching.  He pastors a large church with many fruitful ministries.  He shared with

those of us present that not too long ago he became very discouraged and depressed.  This led him

to feel worthless and unusable.  Not just unworthy, but totally worthless.  He told of how he

was out driving from a meeting one evening after dark, and had an overwhelming sense of hopelessness.

 At one point he thought of how easy it would be to steer his car into the path of an oncoming

semi-tractor trailer and end his life.  That is a miserable feeling!  Knowing that this was not

the answer he, of course, did not resort to so radical an act.  But Satan had planted the thought

in his mind, and he did it all through the "weapon" of discouragement.  This is not a novice preacher,

 but a man who has been saved for 45 years, and has been in the ministry all of his adult life.

Discouragement will come.  It is inevitable.  It happens to the godliest of men and women.

 Read your Bible, and see the account of men and women who have experienced the sting of discouragement.

  Yes, we will get discouraged, but what is most important is how we respond to it.  It can be conquered

if we will but apply the healing balm of the Word of God.

I do not remember any other time in my 28 years as  born-again Christian when there have been so many

reports of choice servants of God experiencing so much heartache and personal attack as I have heard

in recent years. Satan knows his time is very, very short, and he is stepping up his assault upon God's

 people with a vengeance. A missionary's daughter was severely beaten and raped by a group of men in the

country where she and her family were serving.  Rather than being bitter, this young woman took pity on

her attackers, praying for their salvation.  Two men, a pastor and an evangelist, drowned in very tragic,

 separate circumstances.  Missionaries have been taken hostage in the Philippines by Muslim extremists.

 Three missionary men were taken hostage several years ago by guerillas in South America, and have recent

ly been declared dead.  A dear pastor friend died recently at the age of 62 of a massive stroke.  A

pastor's wife shot and killed her own adult daughter before turning the gun upon herself, ending her

own life.  The pastor was left to sort out the agony of this as he is now without his precious companion

in life and one of his children. Another pastor struggles with pancreatic cancer, and has been given two

 years to live.  We hear of tragic traffic accidents that end the lives of servants of the Lord and/or

 their loved-ones.  A dear black evangelist I knew died in a traffic accident in which he was a passenger

.  His daughter was driving, and sustained only minor injuries.  But she watched her daddy die the result

 of a woman falling asleep at the wheel and hitting the passenger side of the car where he was sitting.

 College students from two or three Bible colleges have been killed or seriously injured in horrific

automobile accidents.  An evangelist was out on the streets of Philadelphia handing out Gospel tracts,

and was repeatedly stabbed by a deranged man. Pastors wives have been stricken with cancer and other

maladies. Satan has attacked the homes and families of some of the godliest servants of the Lord. We

hear of many Christian homes breaking apart, and children being lost to the world, or straying from the

God of their parents. Far too often I hear of preachers and church members alike falling into gross sin

and immorality. Churches have been broken into with thousands of dollars of equipment stolen. Satan wants

 desperately to bring about discouragement and disruption to the cause of Christ as we see all of these

things unfold before us. These are all saddening, heart-breaking things, but we must not lay down the

shield of faith, nor the sword of the Spirit in the face of the enemy.  We must, by God's grace and at

 all costs, put on the whole armor of God.  As we get closer and closer to the end of the age, these

things are naturally going to increase.  We need to realize this, and not grow "weary in well-doing."

 Now is not the time to faint, but the time to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and look to Him, the Author

 and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-3).  

Paul reminded the church at Thessalonica that when he would come to them,

 Satan hindered him (I Thessalonians 2:18).  He also reminded the church at Corinth that Satan had installed

many adversaries to the work God had called him to do.

"For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries."

 (I Corinthians 16:9)  The greatest "adversary" to the work of the Lord is discouragement!

David was a man acquainted with discouragement.  Reading the account of the events at Ziklag

(I Samuel 30:1-6), one can see just how discouraged he must have been.  Indeed, the Word of God

 tells us he was beyond discouragement.  He was distressed!

"And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all

the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David ENCOURAGED HIMSELF

IN THE LORD HIS GOD."  (I Samuel 30:6)

"David was greatly distressed, not only because he lost his loved ones, but because his men spoke

of stoning him.  Because David was the leader, they blamed him for leaving Ziklag and going with the

 Philistines.  David had made a blunder, a great blunder . . . David was very much a human being like

 the rest of us.  He made many blunders just like we do.  He made a mistake when he left Israel to

 live among the Philistines.  Now his men are ready to stone him 'because the soul of all the people

was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters.' . . . . David was between a rock and a

hard place.  He was between the devil and the deep blue sea.  He was in a bad spot.  He has lost his

loved ones.  His own followers, under this great emotional strain of having lost their love ones,

 want to stone him.  'But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.' This is one of the most

 wonderful statements ever made.

"Friend, there are times in our lives when the circumstances will not produce any joy or happiness.

  There are times when we find ourselves in dark places, like David.  We look about, and the situation

 looks hopeless.  What should we do?  Be discouraged?  Give up?  Say we are through?  Friend, if we are

children of God, we will encourage ourselves in the Lord.  We will turn to Him at times like this.

 Sometimes the Lord puts us in such a spot so we will turn to Him.  He wants to make Himself real to us.

 It was during times like these that David wrote some of his most helpful Psalms.  When troubles come,

 you can thumb your way through the Psalms and find where David is encouraging himself in the Lord.

 Several times he says, 'The LORD is good . . . Let the redeemed of the LORD say so.'  David found this

to be true."  (From, The History of Israel - First and Second Samuel, by J. Vernon McGee - bold italic

emphasis mine, Ed)

"It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes."  (Psalm 119:71)

"But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."  (Psalm 23:10)

Your Servant for Revival,

Evangelist Paul Mershon

Galatians 2:20

(858) 204-5079

 IMPORTANT NOTE:   With the help of some dear friends in the San Francisco area, the Lord has been

 gracious to allow us to begin construction of our new website.  Lord willing, it should be 

up-and-running within the next week or so. The address for the site is: www.revivalthoughts.org   Y

ou may visit the site at your leisure once it is completed.  It will include an archive of my articles,

 articles written by other evangelists and pastors, and other helpful materials.  We will also have an 

audio feature in the future.  Revival Thoughts will continue to be published in an e-mail format 

periodically.  New subscribers, or those not currently receiving Revival Thoughts, will be added 

to the mailing list by personal request by writing to us at PaulMershon@email.msn.com or 

LindaMershon@hotmail.com  Thank you for your interest in Revival Thoughts. 

My Legacy

Proverbs 17:6

"Children's children are the crown of old men; "and the glory of children are their fathers.

America, the Forgotten Mission Field

A "New" Heirloom?

This heirloom is new, in the sense that it has not been handed down through many generations (of our immediate family).


The story has been told, and retold, for hundreds of years. Religions are practiced, and Holy Days honored because of it.


The heirloom of which I speak is not my own. It is a labor of love. Not love for me, or my children, but for God, and Truth. It was born of love for the Scriptures, and the Bretheren, and to edify and encourage them in their personal walk with the Saviour-The Lord Jesus Christ.


The investment of 4-5 yrs of one's life seems a small thing in light of eternity. After much thought, and deliberation, we present for all to read for free, THE GOLDEN SCEPTRE

A Peek Into My Closet

(This was written to encourage the many wives out there who find themselves in this situation, who feel lost, or alone, misunderstood and misjudged. I am opening a "closet" in hopes of helping those on either side of the topic)  

I have been giving a great deal of thought to my husband in particular, and how he must feel.  Let me explain. For those who don't know, my husband is on permanent disability.

Before we got married, and for the first 2-4 yrs of our marriage, Bob worked 12-16 hrs. a day, not including the commute. When I say commute, I mean NYC subways and buses. At night fewer buses and trains are running, and you might have to wait as long as 20 min. if you miss the train (perhaps longer) and the bus is even slower, and doesn't/didn't have the same stops or routes. On a typical day, Bob was up and out the door by 5:30 am and would not return home until 11:30PM or later. This is how we lived for the first several years of marriage. He worked 2 jobs to keep us afloat. Rent was $650 plus utilities, and that was considered a low rent in 1986. Comparable apartments now rent for almost triple that. The summer we went to NYC to visit we were fully prepared for the LORD to lead us back, and we looked at rental prices.

One morning, David was only 3 months old, Bob woke up with a sore throat. A few days later, it was worse, he called off at work--both jobs. That week he saw the doctor who told him his throat wasn't even red, accused him of being "a goldbrick" and refused to write an excuse for him. But he was in agony. His throat hurt him so bad he was literally crying in bed for MONTHS,  except for running to doctors appointments or tests. He spent almost 3 months in bed, in pain. I remember sitting in one doctor's office wondering how I was going to manage caring for my KING size husband and infant son in NYC without any family or help. I thought at that point he was going to be an invalid for the rest of his life.

He finally got well enough to return to work, but it didn't take long for his symptoms to return. During that time, he was began working 2 jobs (again), and all the while continuing with the ministry in NYC too. He never ceased to pass out tracts or talk to people about Jesus, even on his worst day. That is one thing that didn't change. (Never has) His zeal, though not enough for some folks, has not wavered.  He got so ill again that he had to call in, and after a few more times of this they told him they would fire him if it happened again.

He lost his second job and finally had to quit his day job too. It was very hard on us. By this time we had 3 children, under 2 yrs. of age, and no real income. To get some help we moved to MD to be near my family, but things got worse for us. We moved to Jax. Fl, and that was even worse than MD. We knew leaving NYC was a mistake. We knew we had to return to NYC. Selling all but one small trailer full of our belongings, we returned to NYC.

After days of looking for work, and a place to live, the catch-22 of no job, no apartment-no apartment, no job,wasn't going to just go away. As a result, with 3 children under 3 yrs., we had to seek emergency housing. That's how we ended up living in a shelter for the homeless, for 3 months, before we got an apartment of our own. During this time Bob was sent to numerous doctors, took more tests, and was finally told to apply for disability. His problem wasn't/isn't an inability to work, but rather his inability to work, even a desk job, for 40 hours a week, week after week etc. Even now, he has good days and bad days, good weeks and bad weeks, good months and bad months. Stress brings on the pain, and headaches.

Then a few years ago he broke his leg (a long story). He had to have 2 surgeries to repair it, was ordered to be "non-weight bearing" for 12-18 weeks, and never had any physical therapy afterwards. As a result of this accident, and other health problems, he can't walk as good as he used to and uses a wheelchair at the mall and large stores.

The reason I said all this is because I am trying to see this from his point of view. It must be difficult for a man who wants to work and take care of his family, to be unable to do it. Talk about male ego being knocked down. There was a while when, looking back, I think Bob was depressed. But,  at the time I was so stressed and breaking in my own way I didn't even realize what was happening.

Your whole world, and life as a husband and wife is affected. Everything from the bank account to the marriage bed, to the ministry to family and relationships. People see a person who looks able-bodied and they just don't get it because they all know someone with serious, obvious illnesses who can't get disability. Any help is hard to get. People want to know alot of personal business, and they want to make sure that you don't have money hidden away that you could use, and if you do, they will force you to use it all up (by refusing to help until it's gone) before they will help you at all. You can't have money in the bank, or invest, they hold that against you too. Basically, you have to have nothing to get on disability.

Anyway, I wonder how my hubby dealt (deals) with this. I see the looks people give him, Pastors and bretheren included. More than once he's been assaulted with the verse about a man working and eating. Isn't it a shame that some Christians seem to enjoy kicking you when you're down. Maybe it makes them feel better about who or what they are.

A man, having to reliquish his role as provider, is a humbling, even humiliating, traumatic thing to come to terms with.

I read an article once about a woman who worked because her husband was unable to. In this article/testimony she explained how she would cash her paycheck and bring the money and all the bills to her husband, and left him to decide how to spend it. She felt that this really her keep her place as a submissive wife, and in turn it made it clear to him that even though he couldn't make the money, the responsibility for how it was spent was his.  I don't know if I could do that without feeling bad. But this was an inspiration to me because I have a HUGE tendency to want to know how we are going to spend any bit of unspoken for money, and I want to spend it MY way first. (Bob says Hi to everyone) If we have $25 extra, I want to put in a bid for what we'll do or get with it.   I want control. I want to be in charge of that money. I feel in a some way that it's owed to me, and I don't go out to work and earn it. Poor husband! So this lady's testimony really spoke volumes to me about my attitude about family finances. It's hard for me to just let my husband do what he thinks is necessary and trust the LORD.

The truth is that what it really comes down to...submission.  That it is trusting the LORD to work it all out for your good, using your husband, and his successes and failures, to do it. It's a matter of believing that God is in control and that's ok.

Back to my point...what was it?  Oh yes, when a God fearing man who wants to obey and provide for his family but can't do that, it is a transition for him, and it takes time for him to adjust.

Things I envisioned us doing together, will never be. Us being together, is what is important, not where we go or what we do.  There are times when I am so frustrated that I can't just walk through the mall hand-in-hand with my honey, or stroll along arm-in-arm or with around his waist...I actually get jealous of the women who can.  It's hard on him, and me. And the children...the typical afternoon of throwing a ball, or hiking, camping...none of that works for us...and I know that  all 6 of our children, but the boys in particular have had to deal with their own disappointments about that.  They love their father dearly, and deeply, but they have wishes that they too have had to let go of, and trust the LORD about.

Please keep praying for us.

Love,Terry

A Cup That's Been Cracked and Worn Out

You can live in this world full of flaws and mistakes yet still be content

with the things that you do.

For the perfection of God can flow through your

life till His glory keeps pressing you through.

You can face disappointment you never expected and

keep going when the sunrises again.

For the Lord God of heaven can grant you

new mercies for tomorrow before it

begins.

You can survive heartache that makes you cry a river

and causes you towonder how you'll ever go on.

For God will let you rest in His infinite

Presence till your heart is more able and strong.

You can live through losses that send your life reeling

and change all ofyour hopes & dreams.

For the Lord can be your solace...and your

anchor of hope when life isn't the vision it seems.

You can battle one problem after another

but those problems won't damageyour soul.

For the King of all kings will whisper "peace" to you

to prove that He'sstill in control.

You can walk through a season of shaky uncertainty

where God's truth is the one thing you know.

For God can take a cup that's been cracked & worn out

and fill it until it overflows.

-Sheila Gosney

What Am I Doing?

A few things happened yesterday, and I really had to battle it out, mentally. It caused me to reexamine my motives, and recommit what I do to the LORD. It took me a few hours to make peace with God about.

Then this morning it all came back....the unrest, the uncertainty, the fear. And I had to do it all over again. And I have this mental picture of Rom. 8:28 in my mind.


That's when I got honest with God. I told Him flat out that I don't like.....and that I am afraid if.....that....would happen, and just poured my heart out like water before the Throne of Grace. Isn't it wonderful that we can approach that Throne, God's Throne, with boldness? We don't have to go slinking in, all sneaky-like.


Think about the contrast between us and Queen Esther. Esther was the queen, the King's wife, and he loved her, but she was fearful to approach him without being called, because it was not proper to go to the king without his requesting you to come. The consequences of going to him uninvited meant certain death, unless he held out his sceptre to you. Then you were welcomed into his presence breathing a sigh of relief. But as Born-again children of God, we are granted permission by the Blood of Jesus Christ to boldly approach the throne with our needs and wants, and maybe sometimes it would be nice if we just sat and "talked a spell" asking for nothing at all.


  "Let us therefore come BOLDLY unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16


 "So that we may BOLDLY say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." Hebrews 13:6


After some time before the throne the LORD reminded, "Terry, you need to trust Me. You might not see the good in this, but I do. Stop looking at your life and circumstances. With eyes of faith, look at Me. The storms will not last forever. The sun will shine again. I will give you rest, and send refreshing showers to you. Just hold on to Me." That is what I am trying to do.

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart, lean not unto thine own understanding, in all they ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path" Proverbs 3:5

If I Knew

If I knew it would be the last time

That I'd see you fall asleep,

I would tuck you in more tightly

and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time

that I see you walk out the door,

I would give you a hug and kiss

and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time

I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,

I would video tape each action and word,

so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,

I could spare an extra minute

to stop and say "I love you,"

instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time

I would be there to share your day,

Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,

so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow

to make up for an oversight,

and we always get a second chance

to make everything just right.

There will always be another day

to say "I love you,"

And certainly there's another chance

to say our "Anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong,

and today is all I get,

I'd like to say how much I love you

and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,

young or old alike,

And today may be the last chance

you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,

why not do it today?

For if tomorrow never comes,

you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time

for a smile, a hug, or a kiss

and you were too busy to grant someone,

what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,

and whisper in their ear,

Tell them how much you love them

and that you'll always hold them dear

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"

"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."

And if tomorrow never comes,

you'll have no regrets about today.

If I knew it would be the last time

That I'd see you fall asleep,

I would tuck you in more tightly

and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time

that I see you walk out the door,

I would give you a hug and kiss

and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time

I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,

I would video tape each action and word,

so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,

I could spare an extra minute

to stop and say "I love you,"

instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time

I would be there to share your day,

Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,

so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow

to make up for an oversight,

and we always get a second chance

to make everything just right.

There will always be another day

to say "I love you,"

And certainly there's another chance

to say our "Anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong,

and today is all I get,

I'd like to say how much I love you

and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,

young or old alike,

And today may be the last chance

you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,

why not do it today?

For if tomorrow never comes,

you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time

for a smile, a hug, or a kiss

and you were too busy to grant someone,

what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,

and whisper in their ear,

Tell them how much you love them

and that you'll always hold them dear

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"

"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."

And if tomorrow never comes,

you'll have no regrets about today.

Wishes

The longer I live, the more I realize that many of the things we "wish" or "wonder" which seem to crop up at inopportune moments, are planted by the enemy of our souls, to side track us from serving The Blessed Saviour.

Often when I get caught up in thinking about things that will, in this life, remain unanswered questions, I realize that it is nearly impossible to do much for The LORD.  We are weak and God pities us, "For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust." Psalms 103:14  He made us. He understands that, at times, in our human frailty, we can't help ourselves.

A few weeks ago is when I turned a corner. My pent up grief and anquish of heart and mind, along with the final scribbs of my broken and shattered dreams, were destroying my life. In the course of 4 years, which is about the time things began to spiral downward, I had to let go of relationships, dreams, hopes, wants and wishes. Crushed, broken, and bleeding, literally wanting to die, dying inside repeatedly, but burying that anquish and pain was needful for the good of the rest of my family who were experiencing the very same feelings as I.


Most nights I would lie awake, waiting, until I knew everyone else was asleep, into the wee hours of the morning crying and praying. I got a very real, too real, feel for what David must have felt when he said:


 "Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed." Psalms 6:2


 "I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears." Psalms 6:6


 "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels."  Psalms 22:14

 "I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me." Psalms 22:17

 "For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed." Psalms 31:10 

"When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long." Psalms 32:3

 But I HAD TO BE the strong one. I HAD TO BE the one who drew upon strength that I didn't even know I had, strength from God, and what He put in us that enables us in this body of clay to exceed human reasoning in difficult situations. To say I don't know how I did it, is a huge understatement, because with all that went on, honestly, it's a miracle we are alive to tell about, and that we are still a family. Yes, it was that raw, and destructive.

Back to a few weeks ago. It was more-or-less an ordinary day. Later there was a bit of conflict and suddenly the dam of broke. Imagine the Grand Canyon dammed up and filled with water just cracking wide open....that was me. My guts hurt I cried so hard. I strained muscles in my face and eyes, and still have a minor twitch in my left eye from that moment. The sounds that came from my throat were unlike any I ever made before. It was more like an animal crying in anquish and pain. For a bit I thought I would never stop. Then I realized I had to stop or  I would lose it. I think I would have lost my mind, or had a "nervous breakdown." It was THAT bad. Only The LORD knows how I stopped. It wasn't me.

 "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."Isaiah 26:3 

Since that time I've been in a battle. A battle of keeping my mind stayed on Christ  and the things of God, and of trusting Him, believing that though things look impossible to me, and though I can not see how "all things work together for the good...." in this or that situation, somehow the LORD is enabling me to do it.

Matthew 19:26   But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Luke 1:37   For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Luke 18:27   And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

Romans 8:28   And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

All this has drawn me into a different place with The LORD. That is the only way I can say it. New peace is mine, but the battles are not finished, and I know that.

Another help it has been, (Look! Romans 8:28 is coming true just in that statement which I didn't even realize until I wrote it) is that it's helping me to trust my husband more, and trust The LORD with it working out for our best. That's been harder than it sounds.

"Wives, SUBMIT yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord." Ephesians 5:22

"Wives, SUBMIT yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord." Colossians 3:18

For instance, when I have knowledge or experience about a certain product, but he doesn't, and he wants to buy it anyway, stating my concerns once or not at all depending on the clues I MUST pick up on, is tough. Lately I am really trying not to say anything unless he asks. I am learning to keep quiet and let him do as he wishes, pleases, or wants, regardless of the outcome, and keeping my attitude and spirit right, whether the endeavor is a success or failure. ( I fail at this many times.)

"And when he would not be persuaded , we ceased , saying , The will of the Lord be done." Acts 21:14

"And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." Romans 8:27

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:2

"Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come , who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God." 1 Corinthians 4:5

One particular day years ago,  when I was really struggling with submitting to my husband, the skies parted and I heard a voice say, "Submission to your husband is not about trusting your husband, it is about trusting Me".

Ok, the skies really didn't part, and that voice was still and small, none-the-less, that statement is true.

Submission to your husband (or any God ordained authority**) is not about you trusting them. It is about you putting and keeping your faith and trust in the LORD, acknowledging that He is in control, working for your good, even when it seems impossible. With Him it is possible and TRUE.


If we allow ourselves to be consumed with our trials without seeking The LORD's help, without wanting His will even when it deeply pains us to the very core of our soul, we give place to the devil*.


That's why I said, "The longer I live, the more I realize that many of the things we "wish" or "wonder" which seem to crop up at inopportune moments, are planted by the enemy of our souls, to side track us in serving The Blessed Saviour."

*Ephesians 4:22, 23, 24,27  "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man,...  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness....Neither give place to the devil."


**Hebrews 13:17 "OBEY THEM THAT HAVE THE RULE OVER YOU, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you."

1 Samuel 15:22 "And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."


(Disclaimer: Scriptures sited here may not be dispensationally correct, but have been used to present principles,  stated or implied. The purpose is to glorify God, and to encourage and edify to the saints.)

Esteem

It's easy to get caught up in thinking about yourself. There are times when, especially if you are a wife or a mother, that you wish someone would think about you for a change. Go ahead and admit it. 

Many of the choices I make each day are based on "what will I get from this".  I do things that I don't want to do, to "keep peace", or because it pleases me, makes me happy etc.  Selfish sums it up.

Even when it comes to interacting with people, or maybe especially when it comes to interpersonal relationships, this is true.

Within the small circle of my life, it is staggering --the number of people who have never had a true friend, ever. Aside from the LORD JESUS.

What is commonplace is people associating with people who have similar interests, or from whom they might gain prestige, or be noticed. They look at others as stepping stones to the next level on the social ladder. Yes, even in Christian, and church circles, it is typical to meet people who could care less WHAT you know, but WHO you know. This is the way of the world.

I will admit that I have fallen into that myself. You have people whose writing you've read or messages you've listened to, and they have been a tremendous help to you, and so, it is in our nature to want to meet them. Isn't that what groupies do?  There are christian groupies doing the same thing.

"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." Philippians 2:3,

If we all tried to do this, there would be no lonely Christians, none that felt as outcast among us.

This saying was on plaque:

In the whole world you might be one person ,

but to one person you might be the whole world .

The unanswered email, forgotten return call, overdue thank you.... seemingly insignificant in the big picture, but to the one waiting on the other end, it might be everything. 

25 Reasons Why I Love My Man

Yesterday we celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary.  To reach this milestone, is nothing short of miraculous.  The LORD has blessed us so much.  For some this will be a repeat (sorry), but I think it belongs here, as part of the legacy of my life, and possibly to encourage other wives to do the same thing for their love.

25 Reasons Why I love MY Man!

1. The LORD brought us together

2. He puts up with me

3.He's cute

4.He loves the LORD, and has a burden for the Lost.

5. He loves our children

6. He loves me

7. He wants to do right

8. He gives up his time for others

9. He thinks I'm beautiful

10. He likes to surprise me

11. He enjoys talking to me

12. He loves God's Word

13. He preaches the truth

14. He cares about people

15. He's cute

16. He makes me laugh

17. He makes me crazy    

18. He always forgives me

19. Even when I am a mess, he can't take his eyes off me

20. His kisses are sweet

21. His hugs are comforting

22. Holding his hand is like falling in love again

23. He's the cat's meow

24. He's Mr. Wonderful

25. He is my WORLD.

Beautiful

Beautiful?
There was a lawyer and he was just waking up from anesthesia after
surgery, and his wife was sitting by his side. His eyes fluttered
open and he said, "You're beautiful!" and then he fell asleep again.
His wife had never heard him say that so she stayed by his side. A
couple minutes later his eyes fluttered open and he said "You're
cute!" Well, the wife was dissapointed because instead of "beautiful"
it was "cute." She said "What happened to 'beautiful'? His reply was
"The drugs are wearing off!"  

Honoring Heritage

The following testimony took place on the date indicated below.

February 13, 2011, Sunday

Last week I spent some time reminiscing over faded photographs of beloved friends from the youth group and academy of Heritage Baptist Church. Combined with my sentimental nature, and the flood of memories they evoked, I wound up doing a good bit of crying. But, it wasn't all for me. I look at the faces of people, who other than my parents and sisters, meant more to me than words can say. They were my family. They were my closest, dearest friends. Our daily lives were intertwined, and though we had spats here and there, in the end we all got along. It was hard to look at those beautiful faces and not wonder if their lives have turned out as they'd dreamed they would.

When you're a teen in a church with hard preaching, there are lots of sermons that move you to make decisions and promises to God and man. Whether it was just the emotions of the moment, or God's calling is not mine to know.

As a child, then a teen, I was sheltered from any problems behind the scenes in the church. We were blessed to have Pastor Hummel, and Mr. Griff, then Mr. Reid, as youth directors, who truly cared for us individually. They loved the LORD Jesus enough to sacrifice their money, and time, and a portion of their lives to us on a regular basis.

What I remember about Heritage, are happy times, some of the happiest of my life.

25 years later, I see things differently. And, it all started with a photographic trip down memory lane with old friends on facebook .

When Mr. Griff told me that the the owners of the property, formerly Heritage, intend to tear down the old building, I cried. Oh! If those wall could talk, the stories they would tell: cries to God for help, mercy and courage; soul stirring singing, heart changing preaching, lives eternally altered at the altar there.They'd chuckle while telling about the joyful noise of children shout-singing "Father Abraham", giggling through "O Once There Was A King," and competing, screaming, "Hal-le-luh, Hal-le-luh, Hal-le-luh, Hal-le-lu-jah! Praise ye the LORD!" My! My, how those old walls would laugh describing the hilarious games of our youth activities, and our after church basketball games!

I wonder how many souls are in heaven now, how many people know they are going there, because of that old church building. It really wasn't the building, or course, but what it stood for, and God's people and God's Word.

It will really be something when we get to Glory. God will pull back the veil, to reveal to the full, the far reach of a little baptist church with a heart for souls, that loved His word, and that didn't compromise to have big numbers.

Special, and monumental moments in the history of Heritage Baptist church, and it's people, took place in that old building, and how those walls must now heave and grieve, knowing it's glory has left, and it's fate is sure.

Well,after a week of reliving the past, I was listening to the Haines Family. (A few years ago, my husband converted all our cassettes to mp3.) Whew! More memories! More tears! It was like being back in the auditorium listening to them singing their hearts out to the LORD. It's hard to believe the words to those songs just came back to me like it was yesterday. Every time I listen to them singing those songs, the LORD ministers to me.

While I was listening, I just started to cry. Suddenly, a wave of grief swept over me. I had to confess to the LORD how sorry I was that I didn't appreciate what He'd given to me, and where He'd put me, all those years ago. Without a doubt we had the best church around as far as preaching and teaching goes, and it breaks my heart that I took it all for granted. I never considered that one day it would all be gone.

Then I started thinking about the old building being torn down. That building was the foundation of Heritage when it began as Warfieldsburg Bible Church. With the Haines family singing in my ears, it occurred to me that the devil hated Heritage so much that he had to destroy it. He couldn't bust it up with new "bibles" or loose standards of music and dress, so he did it another way. He split it! And even that wasn't good enough! Now the last bastion of Heritage is being torn asunder, and he thinks he has won. He is tearing it down to the very foundation. He keeps thinking he can one-up God.

There I was, finally mouring the demise of my beloved church, when my husband asks me, "Do you know who this is?" He was listening to a preacher on the radio over the internet. The voice was so familiar, but I didn't answer. I couldn't answer, I was overcome with emotion. My tears were more than 2O years overdue! He kept on listening. Between my cries of indignation over the revelation that Satan had set out to destroy Heritage and he'd succeeded, and sorrowful tears over what was lost on a very personal level, I kept listening. When he asked me, "Your pastor was Hummel, right?" Then I knew who it was. It was Pastor Hummel! What comfort! How amazing.

As cliche' as this sounds, words cannot express what I felt at that moment. God had given back to me a brief glimpse of my beloved church. It was like getting to be at Heritage again, for just a few minutes, (sort of like Scrooge in the" Christmas Carol" without all the eeriness). God had pulled me up on His lap, laid my head on His gentle breast, and soothed me with sweet music and preaching from"my preacher." How could I not be comforted! It was like being handed a gift so precious that you are almost afraid to believe that you really have it in your hands.

My husband didn't know until a few hours later that I had just finished listening the the Haines family, and was grieving for Heritage, when he got my attention about Pastor Hummel. Wasn't that the LORD? Glory to God!

I'm sure that looking through the eyes of a child to a young woman of 20, my vision was clouded by my youth, and that love for my church, my pastor, and my friends, covered a multitude of sins, but I will always be thankful to the blessed LORD JESUS CHRIST for making me a part of the best church in town, under the best Bible preaching and teaching in town, with the best people in town, who loved the LORD JESUS, and served Him with their hearts, from their hearts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PS: Pastor Hummel was preaching a wonderful sermon on Christians who cannot get victory over doubting their salvation and they cannot rest in the eternal security that is ours in Christ.

Boys_Sons

Mothers of sons and daughters have crossed my path lately, all asking the same question: Why does my son  __________?

Allow me to explain, briefly, their dilemna. They have several children, a mix of boys and girls. These mothers are frustrated by the rowdiness of their sons, and their inability to sit still. They are upset with their natural aggressiveness, especially when it is acted upon a younger sibling. They need to know a way to settle them down.

And, when it comes to school, they simply don't know how to get him to do his lessons. He is destructive, he fights, he wrestles, he shouts, he takes things apart, he wants to play, etc.  These are just the tip of the iceberg of complaints from moms who just don't know what to do. That little adorable boy is fast becoming  a mean bully that they don't like very much. "Where did I go wrong?" they wonder. http://www.brainy-child.com/article/boys-behavior.shtml" target="_blank">Why do boys behave the way they do?

Ladies, Moms, sit down, take a deep breath, relax...I'm going to let you in on a secret about boys. Are you prepared for this. It is simple. So simple, in fact, that it will knock your socks off and make your hair curl. Ready?

Moms, Ladies, they are B-O-Y-S, boys! You changed his diapers, you should know.

Yep, them boys, let me tell ya, sister, are not like those girls. Oh yes, they have many common flaws and wonderful features, and some girls just naturally act like boys, but boys will be boys is a tired, old, but true, cliche'. 

There's been a big mix-up in our world since Adam knew Eve. During the 20th century great strides were made to do away with gender differences, to prove that men and women were exactly alike except for biology and anatomy. Unfortunately, scietific research has proven, conclusively, that that is not true. We are different on many levels. But I want to get back to my mom friends.

Boys will be boys! It's true. They have an instinctive need to be in charge, to fight, to make things happen, to be busy doing, to fix -which mean break things to find out how they work so they can fix them. They don't like to sit still, be quiet, or be confined--it's in their nature. They can be trained to do all this, in short spurts, when it is necessary, but otherwise they want to be out exploring new territory, hunting a bear, building a fort, being a cowboy, making a fire, fixing a car,... you get the idea.

If males did not have this inner, God-given instinct, the human race would have died out long ago. Man, woman, and child, would have died of starvation, exposure to the elements, or been eaten by some wild creature. Yes, ladies, we need them. But they need us too.

So, what's a mom to do? Mom has to learn to let them be boys. They need to wrestle and venture and within reason, do what boys do.

There is a big complaint today of men not being manly. How do you think they got that way? Between personal observation, brainstorming with other parents with sons, and reading articles on this topic, the conclusion is this: boys and men are no longer permitted to act like men and boys. Common thinking says: aggression is bad, no-one should be the boss-certainly not a man, "anything you can do I can do better" thinking has taken over, and the results are upside-down thinking about what a normal, healthy male should be like.

Mothers of boys need to find the line between molly-coddling their sons and sissifying them, and not letting them go so wild that they have no self-control and wind up in the state penitentiary.

Let them be rough, play rough, wrestle, jump, climb trees, play football, seek adventure, do things that scare you to death and make you fear for their safety. Yes, they will get hurt, and break things, and take years off your life, and add grey hairs to your lovely locks, but they will love you all the more for it. They will thank you for letting them be boys and not making them into "girlie-men." Their future in-laws, and wives with thank you for it too.

Mrs. Bob (Terry)

Joyful, Blessed mother of 4 sons and 2 daughters & living proof that you will survive--our sons are 23, 21, 18, and 12. daughters are 21 and almost 15.

http://www.brainy-child.com/article/boys-behavior.shtml Why Boys Behave the way they