Why Candy Canes Celebrate the Season...

Hello Everyone,

I am sorry I have been absent for so long. I have been in the process of moving to another state and it's been crazy. So finally, I have come back to post why we use the Candy Cane to celebrate the season. After all, Jesus is the reason for the season so we should know how some of the other traditions we have relate to this. Having candy canes at Christmas time is one of them.

There once was a German candy maker. He wanted to make a Christmas candy that reflected Christ Jesus.

1. He made it white, to reflect the purity of Christ Jesus.

2. He made it sweet, to show how sweet Jesus love is for us.

3. He made it hard, to show Jesus is the rock of our salvation.

4. He made it in the shape of a shepherds staff, because Jesus is our shepherd.

5. When you turn it up-side-down, it makes the letter "J" for Jesus.

6. The three red stripes, represent, the stripes Jesus bore for our infirmities.

7. The thick red stripe, represents the blood Jesus shed to pay for our sins.



Shared by Gisele...

So now...when you eat a candy cane you can understand how it came to be. You can also just love the yummy taste!

Christians

by Maya Angelou

"A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ
that a man should have to seek Him first to find her."

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'"
I'm whispering "I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say... "I am a Christian" I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I still feel the sting of pain..
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow!

Why Live By Faith?

Romans 1:17 The righteous will live by faith.

The gospel shows me that by trusting Christ my relationship is made right with God. God declares us to be righteous by faith and faith alone.

Faith is always active. Faith is all about our relationship with with God--do I trust God? I can't let my natural thinking get in the way. I have to get out of my own way so that I can see the light.

Psalm 18:28 You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.

Hebrews 11:1 Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (NIV) "The assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen." (KJV)

There are 2 words that describe faith: sure and certain. I began my faith believing in God's character. I believe He is who He says He is. My faith believes in God's promises...that He will do what He says He will do. When I believe in God's promises then, even though in the natural world when I cannot see it happening, I know it is...that is FAITH!

Do you ever wish you could see Jesus, touch Him, hear His Words? Are there times when you just want to be with Him and get His advice? That's what Thomas wanted. I'm sure you've heard of "doubting Thomas". He wanted to see Jesus' physical presence.

John 20:24-28 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord". But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to Him, "My Lord and my God". Then He was real to Thomas.

But, you see, God had a better plan. He did not want to limit himself to a physical body. He wanted to be with us at all times. Every Where, Any Where, Any Time, Every Moment!

John 29-31 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen me and yet have believed."

So now He walks with me in the form of the Holy Spirit. I can talk to Him. That's what prayer is. He can talk to me too. His words are in the pages of the Bible.

Then my faith grows! See? Faith is the absolute certainty of something even though I cannot see it.

Who Is Jesus? The Greatest Man in History

Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master.
Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher.
Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer.
He had no army, yet kings feared Him.
He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world.
He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.
He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.
I feel honored to serve such a Leader who loves us!

4 Statements About Faith

So I have been getting up early every day to have quiet time with God. I need it. It sets the whole backdrop for my entire day. Here's what I learned today...

1) You can live a nice, clean moral life without faith.

2) James 1:6&7 Apart from faith we can receive nothing from God

3) The heart of all sin is disbelief. Did you realize that the only thing that Jesus ever rebuked his disciples for was a lack of faith. How many times in the Bible did we read where Jesus said "oh ye, of little faith"?

4) Faith is the act of believing God's Word plus praying in faith. See? Faith is the act; it is active not passive. When you pray in faith you are submitting yourself to God and that is what brings forth God's promises. Without faith His promises are urealized. When God gives a promise it always comes true when you ask by faith.

An Email from A Friend and Sister in Christ

God's Word has in history been proven through countless testimonies of breakthrough, healing, prosperity, deliverance, restored relationships and an endless list of miracles. We as believers must take a stand to totally believe what He says in His Word and live accordingly.

2Chron 26:5 " He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper."

We see here that it is God who makes us to prosper, He gives us the power to create wealth. How? By your words & action through faith!!! Do you believe the Word? Do you believe that if you seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness that He will add all those things in your life that you desire?

The world is lookig at us for we are believers. What are they seeing? Anything that will attract them to God? Are they seeing poverty, sickness, disease, negativity, discouragement, failure and/or a lifestyle that resembles the one they already have? I put my witness on the stand, under the magnifying glass before I gave my life to God. I wanted to make sure that my life was going to get better if I decided to give up my own control to Him. I actually took two full months of cross-examination before I finally saw that this women was real, was totally happy & blessed in Christ.

It is an awesome priviledge to be called a Christ-ian. It is also totally awesome to be loved, to be blessed, to be restored, to be forgiven, to be.......the list is just too long to define!! My life has never been the same. I experienced major deliverances, total healing, miraculous events & endless moments of basking in His love and in His presence.

He loves you too much to let you go. His promises won't let go of you. His Word is cemented in your heart and you are bound for eternity!!! Seek Him to love & obey Him.....let Him take care of the rest because He is faithful to His Word and He will see that you will receive everything that you have ever prayed for, everything you have ever believed for, everything you have ever hoped for......just because He is Lord Jehovah Jireh.....!! Amen?


Gisèle

Jesus Is The Son of God

How about your salvation? Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God? What if I told you that I was a saint? Remember, I asked, what if...And I only committed 3 small sins a day; not "big" sins; just 3 little ones and these just happened to be traffic violations. Nothing major and they were usually committed on the back roads where there was no other traffic around except for a policeman. So no one else was ever in harms way. Now everytime I commited these violations the policeman ticketed me, but it wasn't for a great offense. So, I'd stick the ticket in the glovebox and forget about it.

Finally, one day when I was old and grey (maybe 70 yrs. old) I got into an accident (through no fault of my own, of course) and when I went to court the judge just looked at me in amazement. You see, they had pulled a copy of my driving record and over a lifetime I had accumulated 70,000 tickets. Can you imagine the fines which were due? The fines were so big I couldn't pay them. I was doomed.

Well, our sins are that same way. The fine is so big that no one can pay them; so Jesus paid them for us. His last words were "It is finished". He meant "Paid In Full".

Isn't that remarkable? That He loved us so-o-o much that He gave His life for us to pay for our sins? That's why it is called the gift of salvation. He saved us from our sins. I would trust in someone who did that for me, wouldn't you? Will you accept His gift?

Ask Me What I Do?

If you ask me what I do, I'll tell you I am a part time minister disguised as a full time stay-at-home mom. At least that's what I'm working towards. Not a minister of a church, but a person who ministers to others...someone who listens to them, who cares about what they care about and someone who shares the gospel with them and tells them of God's Good News!

I want my walk in life to honor the Lord...not following mainstream Christians, but actually following the Lord. Trusting the Lord in all things and doing what I know is His clearly defined will for me.

I want to live a life of faith. All of my life. Because that's what I have decided to do.

You see, being a Christian isn't something you are born into. It's not like being a citizen of a country. It doesn't matter that my parents were Christians and I was raised in a Christian home. Sure, I went to Sunday School every week and was raised with Christian values, BUT that doesn't make me a Christian.

Being a Christian is being at a point in your life where you make a deliberate commitment and choice to trust the Lord.

See? That's where a lot of people get lost. They think because their parents are Christians that they are Christians. WRONG! Because of this they don't pursue being a Christian--they think they already are.

That just isn't the way it is.

Women of Love

Today we are going to talk about being Women of Love.

Here, through his teachings, Jesus tells us that it is God's commandment to "love one another as I have loved you!"

John 13:34&35 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so must you love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

Jesus says that his Christlike love will show that we are his disciples (followers). Do people see bitterness, jealousy, back-stabbing and gossip-spreading through your actions...or....do they know that you are a follower of Jesus because of your love, compassion, care and helpful nature?

Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Let's explore together a little bit of what this means.

Faith is the foundation and content of God's love.

Hope is the attitude and focus.

Love is the action.

You see,

God's is self-existent. His love has no beginning. He has always loved us. That's why he sent His Son to die on the cross for us, as payment for our sins, so that we may have everlasting life. How much more could you love someone than to give up your child to die in their place?

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

God is eternal. His love has no end. God has always loved us, is loving us now and will always love us. Forever and a day. Now that's a lot!


God is infinite. His love has no limit. Love spreads like wildfire...it is contagious.

God is holy. His love is spotless and pure. God loved and accepted all people; He just hated their sins.

God is immense. His love is larger than the seas. It reaches every corner of our life. His love reaches out to the whole world. God's love is immeasurable and inexhaustible.

The attributes of love are clearly spoken in God's Word.

I Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient; love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails, but endures all things.

Love is the greatest of all human qualities. Love involves unselfish service to others to show that you care.

When faith and hope are in line with one another, only then can you love completely because you understand how God loves.

Most of us have learned how to pretend to love others. We help them out, speak kindly towards them, avoid hurting their feelings and pretend to be interested in their life. We may even be able to pretend that we are moved with compassion when we learn of their trials and difficulties. Maybe we even become indignant when we hear they have been treated unfairly. But this isn't the kind of love that God is commanding of us.

God is teaching us about a love which is real and sincere. It goes beyond pretending and being polite.

Sincere love requires concentration and effort. It means helping others become better people. It may demand some of our money and much of our time. It always demands all of our personal involvement. Honor and love people because you have been created in God's image. Because we are brothers and sisters in Christ.

Put others first!

And then the Lord instructs us on how to express Love.

Romans 12: 9-18 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil and cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who prsecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in Harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Hospitality differs from entertainment. Entertainment focuses on the host. The house must be clean, the meal prepared just so and the host must seem relaxed and good-natured. But hospitality focuses on the guest. You are focusing on them and aware of catering to their needs--whether it be for a place to stay, nourishing food or just a listening ear. Refering to our passage yesterday, this makes me think that Martha was entertaining Jesus; Mary was showing Jesus hospitality. Don't hesitate to offer hospitality just because you are too busy, too tired or not wealthy enough to entertain. Hospitality has nothing to do with those things. Focus on your guests' circumstances, not your own!

Show kindness to strangers.

Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

Be an encourager and know that a soft word turns away anger.

Pray fervently. Like your life depends on it, because it does!

Psalm 32:6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise they will not reach him.

This concludes this study and what I learned at the retreat. But my learning does not stop there. I read my Bible everyday, go to church all the time so I can learn more from God's Word and fellowship with other Christians. I will always have more to share with you, if you are willing to listen.

Thanks, Pat, for taking me to the retreat! I loved it and the the time we spent together!!!!

Women of Freedom

Here is a continuance of the previous post. I want to talk with you and share with you what I learned that the Bible says about laying aside the hindrances and being able to run with freedom. The freedom that God provides for us.

First, let's just clarify what hindrances are. A hindrance is anything that gets in the way of our accomplishing something else. In this circumstance, hindrances are what block our way to having a meaningful relationship with Christ i.e. our sinful nature.

Hebrews 12:1&2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perserverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1) Lay aside your old self. Our old way of life before we knew Christ should be completely in the past. We should put it away, like old clothes we have outgrown or childish toys we do not need anymore. This is a decision that we make, once and for all, when we decide to accept Christ's gift of salvation.

Ephesians 4:22-24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

We cannot be driven by desire and impulse. We must put on the new role for our lives and head in a new direction. We need to have the new way of thinking that the Holy Spirit gives.

2) Let go of the past. Ask for God's forgiveness, receive it and let it go. We can come to the Lord and, like David, express our true feelings. Have you ever felt like no one cared what happened to you? David had a good reason to feel that way and yet he cried out to the Lord and prayed to Him because He knew He cared about him.

Psalm 142 I cry out to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy. I pour out out my complaint before Him; before Him I pour my trouble.
When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who knows my way. In the path where I walk men have hidden a snare for me. Look to my right and see; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life.
I cry to you, O Lord; I say, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of living."
Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.

Through prayer we can pull out of the tailspin in our life and be reminded that God cares for us deeply. Remember, if God can bring you to it; He can bring you through it!

3) Lay aside your pride. Pride centers on one's own self; there is no place for it in a life focused on God.

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proud people do not take into account their weaknesses and they don't anticipate stumbling blocks. They think they are above common problems. With this state of mind, a person is easily tripped. The ironic thing here is that the proud person seldom realizes that pride is their very undoing. They don't see that as their problem. Watch out for this! It is a trap waiting to ensnare you!

4) Lay aside the mindset of pleasing people. Don't fall prey to this way of thinking. Ask yourself am I living my life to please men or living my life to please Christ?

Galatians 1:10 Am I trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Do you spend your life trying to please everybody? Whose approval are you seeking? Pray for the courage to seek God's approval above anyone else's. Don't be an approval junkie! By doing that, you will be captured an enslaved through your own doing.

5) Let go of your bitterness. Bitterness in your life disrupts productivity. It causes worry, depression, anguish, and despair. Give it to God. He is prepare to handle it all, but you aren't...so why try?

1 Peter 5:6&7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He might lift you up in due time. Cast your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Carrying your worries stresses and daily struggles by yourself shows that you have not really trusted God with your life. It takes humility to recognize that God cares. Admit your need and accept help from others in God's family. Giving God all your cares and anxieties calls for action, not passivity. Don't just submit to your circumstances, but instead submit to the Lord who controls all circumstances. Realize God's greatness and care for you and humbly obey Him. Then regardless of the circumstances surrounding you, He will lift you up.

6) Lay aside your busy-ness! Are you so busy that if God tried to call you and talk to you that He'd have to leave a message on your answering machine? Sure...you might set time aside each day to read your Bible or pray, but what about the quality of the rest of your time? Do you only pay atttention to Him at the moment you have set aside for Him, but the rest of your time is for yourself?
Your work? Your money? Your possessions?

Luke 10:38-42 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself. Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her."

Mary and Martha both loved Jesus. In these verses of Scripture, we see that they were both serving him. Martha thought that Mary was doing nothing, however, Mary was serving Christ in the way that she felt best. Martha didn't realize that in her desire to serve, she was actually neglecting her guest. Don't let your busy-ness become self-serving.

7) Lay aside your anxiety. Imagine how wonderful the feeling of never being anxious about anything. It seems like it would be impossible to live a life like that, doesn't it?

Phillipians 4:6&7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Doesn't it seem like there are worries everywhere we turn? Worries about our jobs, worries about school, worries in our homes...if you want to worry less...pray more!!!! Whenever you start to worry, stop and pray!

So, we have talked about things in our lives which are obstacles to having a life in Christ. Now, let's explore the freedom that we are allowed to run with when we submit to Him.


1) Run in gladness of having a new self. We have been born again of Christ.

Romans 7:4-6 So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you may belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

When a person dies to their old life and their life belongs to God, a new life begins. The mindset for the unbeliever is one of only being concerned with their personal gratification. Those who have Christ as the center of their life have a new life. A life with God at the center. We find that their whole way of looking at things changes when we come to Christ.

2) Run with freedom. Freedom to realize that you can do all things through Him. The freedom of knowing that every spiritual blessing in Christ is given to our new self. We have an inheritance in Heaven that is more glorious than anything we could imagine.

Phillipians 4:13 I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

The power we receive through Christ is more than enough to do anything that is in His will. He does not grant us some superhuman strength to accomplish things without regard to His interests. Still in our lives, we will face troubles, trials and pressures, but as they come, if we ask Christ to strengthen us He will give us the ability to face the challenges and rise above them.

3) Run with an eternal perspective. Come out of denial, turn over a new leaf and start a new life. Realize that you are a child of God and an amazing inheritance is awaiting you in Heaven.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.

Christians are brand new people on the inside. The Holy Spirit lives within us. We are not just reformed, re-educated or rehabilitated or recovered...we are re-created. We are brand new creations!!!! We are beginning a new life under a new master. Rejoice and be glad in it!!!!

4) Run with the joy of fellowship. I know I do! I can't thank my friend, Pat Collins, enough for inviting me to spend the day with her at the retreat. Enjoying the day and the time we had together plus getting to spend time with other ladies from the church was so enriching. I just had an incredible, extraordinary day!!!!

Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing; but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

When we neglect Christian meetings we are giving up the encouragement and help of other Christians. We should gather together to share our faith and to strengthen one another in the Lord. As we get closer to the "Day" that Christ will return we will face even more spiritual difficulties...struggles and persecution. Anti-Christian forces will grow in strength. We need to support each other and give each other comfort and love during these struggles. When the going gets tough; the tough go to church!!!!!


5) Run with forgiveness in your heart. Forgiveness means that you are agreeing to live with the consequences of another person's sin. Forgiveness is costly because we are paying for the other's sin. It is only made easier in the fact that God forgave us and sent His only Son to die for us in payment for our sin.

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave us.

All people are sinners by nature and by practice. When we accept Christ as our Savior, all sins are forgiven--past, present and future. God doesn't expect us to be perfect and never sin again. We will still sin. BUT if we confess our sins to God and ask for His forgiveness, he will not turn against us no matter what we have done. He loves us and forgives us. We should confess so that we may enjoy the very most joy and fellowship with Him that is possible. Acknowledge your hurts and feelings to the Lord and forgive others...that's the key to having an enriching relationship with Him.

6) Run with rest. Doing God's work or doing something in service to Him (being of character to glorify His name) is very important. BUT even Jesus recognized that to do it effectively we need rest and renewal.

Mark 6:31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them,"Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."

God rested on the seventh day, not because He was tired but to illustrate the completion of all that He created. His rest is also a symbol of what it will be like after His return. When the world will be made perfect again; every sin will be removed, none of us will hurt or struggle ever again....all we will do is REST, FELLOWSHIP with God and PRAISE HIM!!!!!

7) Run with peace. Throughout history God has revealed His strength and greatness to us. Through mighty miracles over nature He has displayed to us His glory and awesomeness. He can deal with anything on our behalf, and we are blessed to know that...it gives us peace.

Psalm 29:11 The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.

Remember that God can give you strength enough for anything. The power that controls creation and raises the dead is available to you....just accept His gift!!!!

DO YOU JUST TALK THE TALK OR DO YOU ALSO WALK THE WALK?????????

Continued in the next post...the final session...

Being The Woman God Wants You To Be

I went to a ladies' retreat this past weekend and had an awesome time!!!! I enjoyed a wonderful day surrounded by phenomenal women in an atmosphere of gorgeous sunshine and clear, blue skies on a peaceful Saturday afternoon. I am so very lucky that my friend, Pat Collins, invited me to go with her. The views around Traber Center are breathtaking; I loved just getting to enjoy walking around the grounds or sitting in the gazebo spending time with Pat as I discovered even more of God's creations which were also enjoying the lovely weather. It was a was a superb experience! (Yes, even the bees! LOL)

Hazel called this topic, Women of God, because it was a womens' retreat, but when you read through the post you will see that it is really information for all of God's people and could just as easily been called People of God.

Anyway, back to my topic at hand...the speaker, Hazel Sensenig, shared with us the Biblical scriptures for being a woman of God's heart. I want to share these things with you, my wonderful readers. Since all the information I gleaned from the speaker were covered in 3 sessions, then I will at least have to do that also.
So on this blog, I will cover the first session now, with each of the other two sessions following on subsequent days.

First we must realize God's purpose:

1. He wants you to be a person who will reflect His glory and will be His own.

Revelation 4:11 You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.

Do you understand this? God created you, he chose you and custom made you. He planned everything about you from birth until the day you die.

2. He wants to conform us to Christ.

Romans 8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

God brings us to Himself and then He makes us like Himself. Get it?

3. He wants us to love His people as He does.

I John 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are!

How about that? No greater love could be known than this...that He lavishes His love on us...how wonderful and amazing!

4. He wants us to accomplish His plan for good.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

God works all things for good in our lives. Faith is believing in advance and knowing that though He disciplines us and will not spare us; He loves us so-o-o much!

What is our purpose for God?


1. We should love God and others. The fruit of the Spirit is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

These are by-products of Christ's control--we can't obtain them through our own works; these are character traits found in the nature of Christ. If we want the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us then we must join our lives to His. We must know Him, love Him, remember Him and imitate Him.

2. We should wait on God with hope.

Isaiah 40:31 But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

We should wait with hope. The definition for wait is stay in place. We should be expectant with joy, just like so many before us, like David, Abraham, Sarah & Jeremiah, and Zechariah & Elizabeth.

3. We must trust God even through our suffering. You must surrender yourself and your loved ones to God.

Psalm 130 Psalm 121:2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and Earth.

Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.

If we love God and obey His laws, we will have "great peace". Trust in God who stands above all the pressures and suffering of the world. God always has a purpose and a plan even during your affliction--these things here on earth will pass and we will move into eternal glory!

4. We must serve God with reverent fear.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

This does not mean to be afraid of the Lord. Instead it means to live in reverence with respect to the Lord.

God's purpose for us is to live with the assurance that He is purposely involved in our lives. Remember, if it matters to you; it matters to Him.

So, the characteristics of a Godly woman can best be summarized by the passage in

Romans 12:9-21
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

These verses summarize the core of Christian living. When we have experienced God's grace, we will want to pass it on to others. Grace is an undeserved favor, so when someone is different from us or hurts us, we should recognize that and love him in spite of his sins--just like Christ did for us!

Continued in the next post...

Another Lesson I've Learned That God Has Taught Me Well

While I was separated my family this last week, I had time to read each day. I'm reading two books right this moment, Secrets Of The Vine, and Contagious Joy. I read a chapter from each one every night before going to bed and am enjoying them both immensely.

It also gave me some time to be alone and talk to the Lord about whatever crossed my mind at the moment.

My cousin, Ron, remarked to me on the second morning of my visit, "Do you always have that smile on every morning?" "Yes, I do!" I laughed. I thought to myself, what a wonderful way to be thought of.

It's a gift I get from God...being so happy for another day to share with those I care about.

I can smile because I know I'm never alone. I am a child of the King. I am constantly reminded of all my blessings. I should never take for granted this gift He has given me called life.

I remember someone once telling me, (I think it was my sister), "Your life is a gift to you from God...what you do with it is a gift from you to Him."

Now that's something to smile about!

Psalm 126:2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter. And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them."

Receive His Blessing!

"Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty." Job 5:17

Sometimes when we do something wrong God corrects us and makes us see the error of our ways. Many blessings are found through God's corrections. There are no coincidences. There are no accidents. I learned this in church last Sunday.

Coincidences are God's way of doing things anonymously.

Accidents are really incidents.

God always has a plan. Sure, you might not be able to see it and you wonder, "how could this happen to me?" But Remember that God works all good for those who love Him and it is better to receive His correction now than His judgement later.

When God corrects you then He is saying, "I love you too much to see you continue on the path you are choosing".

God's correction gets your attention. It focuses you on what He knows is really important for your life.

God's correction strengthens you and brings glory to His name.

When God says "NO" He is really only saying "YES" to something better for you on down the road. Maybe you can't see it yet, but it is in God's plan.

This is why we should receive His correction thankfully. With the adversities that can come into our everyday lives, we should be joyfully praising God for how He is working in our lives.

Remember, He will only do that which is best for you!!!!!!

You Can Live Without Fear

It is so wonderful to be one of God's children. He takes care of us. He watches over us and protects us. He knows our needs and provides for them. Everything we are, everything we think and everything we feel is under His control.

When something matters to us we can be comforted and know that it matters to Him.

My cousin keeps telling me, LET GO...LET GOD!!!! There is freedom for us in knowing that God is our refuge. We will never be without His help and His strength.

We don't need good luck; we have something better than that. We have God's promise that He will always be with Us and never abandon us.

When God is present; fear is absent!

Psalm 46:1-2 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in our times of trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed and the mountains are carried into the midst of the sea...

Be Like Jesus....GIVE!!!!!

Jesus is the greatest giver we could ever know. He gives everything beyond what we could ever think or ask for. He gives us joy, passion, love, grace and most importantly, everlasting life.

Can you imagine loving others the way He first loved us?

He gave His son, His one and only son, to die on the cross for us as the payment for our sins so we can live freely and abundantly in Him.

His spirit lives in us. And because of that, we are given the greatest gifts that we can receive. We are given eternal life, forgiveness, and a relationship of love and grace with God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ.

The blessings that we receive, the wonderful majesty of His promises are given to us so that we can also give these things to others.

Matthew 10:8 "..freely ye have received, freely give."

When You Know Jesus, You Know Peace!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Phillipians 4: 6-7

Imagine never having to be anxious about anything. Seems impossible, doesn't it? We all have so many worries in our everday life.

What will I make for dinner? When will I ever get all this work done? How can I afford that?

But, as we learn from this passage, Paul's advice is to turn over our worries to God through our prayers.

Want to worry less? PRAY MORE!

Whenever you start to worry about something, STOP. Give it to God. Pray about it.

You see, true peace comes from knowing that God is in control. Let God protect you and you don't need to be anxious about anything.

STOP and PRAY !!!!!

Live The Way God Intended

Making the beds, doing the laundry, cooking all the meals...not to mention having to clean-up the kitchen and do all the dishes. So many jobs that we have to do everyday . Jobs that seem like as soon as we get them done then it's time to start all over and do them again. I can't even begin to tell you how many times my kids say to me, "Why should I make my bed; I'm just going to climb into again in a few hours?" Still, it must be done.

Much of everything we do in life is a routine (especially if you are a mom like me); it's really easy to become stagnant if you're not careful...I think what you have to do is renew your supply of God everyday...that's another reason why starting the day in prayer and Bible reading time is so worthwhile! We are just like the Israelites who wandered in the wilderness and had to gather God's manna each day. They weren't supposed to save it from one day to the next. Gathering anew each day was what commanded God of them. And it's the same for us. We can't survive or be productive on yesterday's supply. Each day is a new day. We have to gather our strengths from His Word with every brand new day. Listen to the Word and be inspired and excited! It's worth getting excited about! Grow your own enthusiasm!

Yesterday I was talking to my daughter, America, and she was telling me how she just quit her job and was going to stay home and take care of the house and kids. She didn't feel that was a very significant contribution. Bologna!!!! A mother's work is one of the most important jobs in the world!!!! You have to realize that because there's not going to be anyone handing you a paycheck at the end of the week or patting you on the back for a job well done. You have to realize your own worth! In the midst of the ordinary, everday household chores that must be done, we have to choose to have that extraordinary attitude that God expects us to have. His Word tells us to do the job in the very best way we can. Be an example. Be enthusiastic. Have the attitude God wants you to have and He will Bless your socks off!!!!!

Thank You, God!

I am not even sure if this is where I should post somethng like this, but I figure since I am thanking God then it should go here.

I have gotten involved with a super company and a Christian based TEAM which is a God-send for me. I love it here! I get to work for myself, but NOT by myself. Our whole team helps each other along the way. With plenty of support (both in training and in prayer) Even each team meeting is opened in prayer. How awesome is that?

Now I see that succeeding from home is truly possible...more than it ever has been. Day-to-day rubbing shoulders with a TEAM of BELIEVERS! It just can't get any better than this.

I thank Him for this God given opportunity!!!!!

Carole

"God Is My CEO"

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Lots of times, both in life and business, a decision must be made by a leap of faith only. The secret to discovering the correct one is to trust in the Lord, God, read His Word and believe in His principles. This should be enough to to overcome any obstacle or pressure from an all too-demanding world.

I learned in my network marketing experiences that we are all affected by the same wind; it blows the same on all of us. What makes the difference is in how a person sets their sail. If you set your sail to follow God's principles, you can't go wrong. The more you trust the Lord, the better the wind will blow on you so that you will be more effective and less a slave to the pressures of the world.

Follow the Lord and you will experience His best. He promises us that. He always lives up to His end of the deal; now will you live up to yours?

Don't You Want More?

You should always want MORE. That's what my mom taught me. Want MORE. More out of life. More out of yourself. Don't ever just settle. Don't just accept what is given to you; make MORE.

More wisdom. More time with God. More time in prayer.

Don't you want MORE?

God has always taught me the most about life when I'm not expecting it. It kind of creeps up on you like the cold chill of air between Fall and Winter.

Don't be apathetic; be excited! Apply His truth in your life and be amazed at the simplicity of it. God gives us His best; why degrade that by giving Him less than that?

After all, think about it,

He's ALIVE and I'm forgiven; Heaven's gates are open wide. He's ALIVE!

Is That Your Character I See?

Proverbs 20: 11 Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right.

Character...tough to develop; easy to escape; even quicker to ruin. Remember your behavior must be in sync with what Jesus has taught you. You must act with honor and integrity, be truthful in all circumstances...take the little steps and they will guide your long strides in the bigger issues.

Read the Book. It's all in there! God tells us: you don't cheat on exams, or taxes or your spouse. You don't lie...not to your boss, your friends or your kids. You follow the Golden Rule; treat others as you want to be treated.

Be kind to one another. Respectful of all life and, especially, courteous of your elders.

I have learned that you can tell a lot more about a person's character by the way he acts when he thinks no one is watching. Of course, when you are a believer then you know that God is watching over you all the time. Act accordingly. You should behave in a manner that would make God proud. Be pleasing to him in all ways.

Take note: The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them. Proverbs 11:3

And then God told me....

I haven't gotten to blog in so many days. I have been so busy with family events. Graduations, packing up our house, mostly sewing projects for the grandchildren and just taking care of my family. I have ten kids so that in itself is quite an undertaking at times...especially during the transition between school and summer. Anyways, God told me to write in my blog; even if it's only two lines...he said you need it as an inspiration for your journey. So here goes...

Be anxious for nothing, but 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.
Phillipians 4: 6-7

A short note to God:

Dear God,

Thank you for all you have taught me. For how your sustaining grace and lessons have brought me so far in this life. I don't know how I'd make it without you! Thinking about it, I realize that you have shown me that what life gives me day to day is not the indication of how things will always be, but instead the indication is determined by my attitude for handling those things. Psalm 126:2 tells us, Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them."

You have taught me to start the day with a smile, find the humor in the adversities and enjoy the anticipation of knowing you love me and will care for me through anything. The adversities will always be there. My car will eventually fall apart, the kitchen sink drip is getting worse and, I can't believe the tremendous piles of laundry when all my boys bring their stockpiled heaps of dirty clothes into the laundry room at the same time. I have to smile (though sometimes it's only on the inside). You are teaching me so that I am prepared to handle these things effectively. Your Word shares with me that the secret is really in my attitude! YOU have nurtured me and given me the attitude as a gift to handle all things. Now it's my responsibility to nurture the attitude you expect from me. Thank you so much!

Love, Carole

So...there we go. Now I am ready to start my day correctly. I With the right attitude and God's unending love!

Why God Made Mothers...to Connie!

I thought a lot about this and decided to write something about mothers, partially because I am on the rebound from a great Mother's Day and also because I've been thinking about why God made mothers. He knew what we would be like and that's why he said "Let her children rise up and called her blessed".

In all of our lives, our first teacher is our mother. Really doesn't matter what type of mother she is...the cookie baking homemaker type like my friend, Cindy, the always on-the-go volunteer, like Karen, the helping others all the time in any way type, like Katy, the super-organized so she's always involved type, like Annette, or any combination of any of these. The one thing they all have in common is that deep down and foremost, they are mothers!

Mothers are what make sense of it all for us! From them we learn wisdom. From them and what they have learned from God. They teach us how to interact with others. We learn it all from them. Sure we learn from what they say, but most importantly, and most ingrained, is that we learn from their activities. Watching them interact with the world is our greatest teacher, I guess. We learn about kindness, gentleness, patience and perserverance. We learn what hard work really is and how any job worth doing is worth doing well.

We learn that love isn't something that you read about in a card or a book. Love is a choice. Love is also not really gotten until it is given away. Did you understand that part? Same thing with friendship. If you want to have a friend, first you have to be a friend.

They make sure we know that laughter really is the best medicine.

Our mothers teach us that what is really important is not so much what we say when others are around, but what we do when no one is around. We learn from them that most of the time, attitude is really the only difference between failure and success. They teach us that making mistakes is okay; what's important is that we learn from our mistakes so we don't keep making the same ones over and over again.

Mothers teach us that worry should be our last option and forgiveness should be our first.

They never give us written exams to make sure we're learning all this stuff. In a mother's own words, "the proof is in the pudding"....it often times only becomes evident of what we've learned by our relationships with others or what we value to pass on to our own children.

Take time to reflect on these lessons our mothers have taught us. I have. I want to express my gratitude and appreciation for preparing me for my life. I want to say thank you to that special woman for all she has taught me...so I'll say it now...thank you, Connie. I Love You!

Don't Limit God

Don't even think about it. This would be the worst mistake you could possibly make. Believe me, His arms are a lot longer than yours and He'll crush you everytime.

God uses ordinary people, like you and me, to do extraordinary things. He knows the talents and gifts that He has given each of us and He can move us into a situation so that we have to use them. A couple of my favorite things to tell my kids are, God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called and I may not know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future. Don't you just love it!?!

He's looking for people who love Him and trust Him with all of their being. People who won't try and limit Him, but instead they realize how much He is capable of.

God tells us in His word that He knows the plans He has for us. Now get out of His way and let Him execute the plan.

How To Get Into Debt

I am so excited about the message I heard last Sunday in church that I decided I would devote this post to it.

The debt I am talking about is the debt you owe to friends and family. You owe them to share God's Grace with them.
You see, hell is a real place. We know that because the Bible tells us there is a lake of fire. But anyone who accepts and believes in the Lord Jesus Christ is saved.

Don't ever be ashamed of the gospel. The debt you owe is not to Jesus Christ, but to the unsaved.

Grace pays debts, it doesn't make them! You should want to share God's message because you are so overwhelmed by the sacrifice that He made for us.

Share God's grace with anyone at any opportunity. Don't be afraid of how you look...a few will want what you have; some won't, but so what..that is their choice.

Some may think your words are foolish; a stumbling block to those who don't want to make any sacrifices and are thinking mostly only of themselves.

Be obedient to God's Word. Hebrews 12:15 says, "See to it that no one misses the grace of God."

How will they know unless we tell them? Be amazed and share the gospel today!

Live The Life God Intended For You

If you're like most people, you are so busy everyday with the routine tasks in life that you don't have the time to really live your life. This isn't how it's supposed to be. If you are ever really going to change your life then the change needs to begin with you. You and your thinking.

Maybe you have taken your focus off of God. You need to return there. I have to constantly be reminding myself of something I learned once. Something someone once told me. "Making God first is the key to experiencing His best."

Realize that God knows you deserve more. He made you to prosper and flourish, not to be withered by the mundane and trivial. You should know you deserve more and expect more. The Bible tells us, "Set your mind on higher things". Are you holding yourself back from really achieving the good things you deserve? Anticipate the results of knowing that you are in exactly the right place at the right time.

Do you really have faith in God and what He can deliver to your life? If you do then your life will be a reflection of that. Wake up each day with the anticipation of knowing you're a child of God...an heir to the King. You will be blessed beyond your expectations because you have the faith to know that it will happen.

In the Bible God tells us, "As a man thinketh..." That is how you are. What a man thinks he is, he is. If you think you'll lose, then you've already lost.

When you awaken you should be thanking the Lord for another day. Start out placing yourself in a position to receive favor from God. Just think, "This is the day the Lord as made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Expect to step out of bed on the right foot. Expect circumstances to change in your favor.

Remember this above all, the Lord has told you, "I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you..." So how can you fail? You can't, if you believe these things in your heart.

How many times have you repeated what the psalmist has told you, "...goodness and mercy will follow me all of my days"? Have you ever really thought about that? Consider the words. Goodness and mercy....each of us deserves godness and mercy. Do you really believe it or is it just some rote thing you learned in Sunday school?

You must live with the constant expectation of all the good things that are going to happen for you.

There are miracles happening around us all the time. Some people call it "luck", some call it "coincidence"...I call it "God at work". Let God work in your life. This might be the day that you get your miracle.

The Good Old Days Continue Even Now

Oh the good old days. When my mom and Aunt Sissy made me dresses with narrow collars and big ruffledy skirts. I had to wear one of those 5 layer tulle (that net-like material) petticoats underneath so the skirt would stand out and show the designs. Those were what I wore to school. And they all had sashes that tied into big bows in the back. Intricate decorative stitches covered the body of the garment, so a lot of work went into the making of those.

Mom was a stay-at-home mom. She stayed at home with us. That was her job! She pretty much raised my sister and I. My dad traveled a lot; he was in the Air Force. She made a home for us. When I say "made a home", I almost mean literally.

She re-upholstered the sectional in the living room, made curtains for the house, repaired absolutely everything and also sewed all the time... doing things like mending clothes to making the clothing itself.

One of my fondest memories is of this crayon apron she made when I was in Kindergarten . It was a small apron, made just for me, and it had an individual pocket on the front for each crayon I had. I think that's where I got my love of color from, from wearing that apron.

Aunt Sissy (my mom's sister) made more dresses for my Barbie doll than "Carter has liver pills" as she used to say. I'm sure my doll was the best dressed Barbie on the block!
Nowadays, most families consist of 2 working parents...enough income to buy ready-made everything but not enough time to make home-made anything.

Now we live in a fast paced era where most households have at least 2 cars and a microwave. A generation of instant gratification, so that a lot of people just don't have the desire for the needle and thread journeys of sewing anymore. It would never be quick enough to make something...just go to the mall instead and pick up whatever you want.


Luckily, my mom taught me to sew when I was 10 or 11. Now I have taught my daughters. I would have taught my sons too, but they have always been too anxious to sit down in front of anything. Except for their Playstation and X-Box. Sit at a sewing machine? Are you kidding me ?, they'd say.

Thinking back to only yesterday my daughter, Chastity, said to me, "Remember Mom... when we were around 7 yrs. old and you used to let us practice sewing with a big needle and thread on a paper towel? Donald and I made so many of those sheets of running stitch pictures. That was when I could get my boys' to sew! Now they are too old for that stuff.

It's funny how I never appreciated those things mama made when I was the recipient, but now I have such fond memories of them because I enjoy sewing so much. I should say, "thank You, Jesus, for bringing me to the realization of what I've got." I have nothing from all the things that Mom and Aunt Sissy made...nothing, nada, zilch! No re-upholstered furniture, though I did re-cover that sectional and use it in my first apartment in 1972, no outfits or gifts, no doll clothes either. But the one thing I do have is the information and skill to make all those things over again.

I made my kids stuff as they were growing up and I made clothes for the girls' dolls too. Now that the kids are pretty much grown up, some with families of their own, I am mostly into home decor.

I still get to make childrens' things...it's just now those things are for my grandchildren. God is good! I love that too! Thank you, Jesus, for my granddaughter, Savannah.

Now I get to enjoy a cup of hot tea and the laid back, creative calm of making something! Thanks, Mom! What a legacy you have given me!

"Teach a child to sew--it's the gift that keeps on giving"

So....... I am sitting here sipping on my cup of hot tea....... it better be hot; baby...it's cold outside!

I decided to update my blog and show you all the teapot pincushion that I made for my site. Don't you love it?

Since having a cup of tea is what I'm doing when I am sewing or blogging, I thought, how appropo!

Today I have gotten a new vitality that is left by feeling God-led to sew myself up, self-heal and share about the great things going on in this Christian based life of mine.

Last night on television I watched some kind of special about Jesus across America. It was so cool! Jesus is awesome ! Sewing is something that I love, He knows it and gives me the talents to enjoy it. Lucky me! Gotta go make dinner. Something else I do regularly but not with the same enthusiasm! Cya.