It is GOD who BLESSES and TRANSFORMS...

This is a blog for women (not just moms) who:

(1) Desire to be transformed by JESUS' LOVE, HOLINESS, AND GRACE;

(2) Believe that GOD'S WORD is the true Spirit food for HIS HOLY SPIRIT who lives within us;

(3) Submit to GOD and walk this journey of life with HIM transforming us more and more into HIS likeness.

It's a blog about the POWER OF TRANSFORMED LIVES. Let's begin with yours and mine and pass it on... 1 + 1 + 1...

Since GOD's HOLY SPIRIT lives inside a christian, let's choose to be nurtured and transformed by feasting daily on HOLY SPIRIT food - GOD's WORD - The Holy Bible..

My regular posts stopped in 2013, with a major move and the chronic illness and eventual death of our oldest daughter. Yes, we grieve daily, yet I am determined to continue to let the LIGHT of my LORD and SAVIOR shine through me. I have tried to start posting again, over the last few years, but have not been consistent. So, I think the biggest blessing for you and me both will be to intersperse some new posts while revisiting some of the former posts. Let's begin with "Oh, the JOY!" as we head into living through Fall 2019; meeting back here 1-2 days a week.

If you need daily encouragement, you will find plenty by clicky on past posts. When reading earlier posts, you will see that I often posted daily, following this format: ...Sunday in the SON, Meditation Monday, GratiTuesday, Women in the WORD Wednesday, Transforming Thursday, Family Fellowship Friday, Ketchup & Mustard Saturday.


There's a whole lot here! Take your time to browse.

Please come back and visit each week. Welcome!

Because of JESUS, we can be family,

Patti





TRANSFORMED MOMS:MOMS TRANSFORMED

Romans 12:1-2 "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

Saturday, July 31, 2010

WORD OF GOD SPEAK... GIGATTAATTGIG...



KETCHUP AND MUSTARD SATURDAY
Catch Up and Must Do
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July has been an exhausting month for me. As most people, when I get on overload, I return to some of my old ways instead of totally giving it to God. There have been times this month that I have been blindsided by satan's arrows and become very discouraged. It is in those times, that I must remind myself of His WORD... and trust in God and God alone... for He is good all the time!

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My husband begins every sermon by saying, "God Is Good All The Time", and the congregation responds: "And All The Time God Is Good." GIGATTAATTGIG. This week, on FB, I watched the link of a video clip of the GIGATTAATTGIG song via a friend's FB.. I can envision our church family singing this song with fervor - acappella style. Today, I encourage you to do several things, if you haven't already:

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  1. Catch up on the this week's posts here on this blog.
  2. Catch up on the 2010 CHALLENGE POSTS on one of my other blogs: http://GIGATTAATTGIG.blogspot.com
  3. Be encouraged by this video clip and let Jesus transform your heart with it's words..
    .



Friday, July 30, 2010

WORD OF GOD SPEAK: LIFE



Today's been a big day for a few "transformed moms"! God is weaving many blessings in the lives of Mandy and Cristi. They love Him! They desire to follow His Word. They know that He is the source of LIFE! In fact, they know that Jesus is who He claims to be when He says: "I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE and no one comes to the Father except by Me."
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  • This morning at 1:48 a.m. Mandy gave birth to baby "Libby". Although Libby was due next week, she came fast and surprised us all.

  • Cristi and her family left the DC area this morning for their new home in Little Rock. Their travels got them as far as Tennessee tonight.

Here is "Libby" today wearing a little cap that Cristi crocheted for Mandy's future daughter.


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God puts His children together just the way He wants to. He orchestrated eternal connections between the 3 of us in amazing ways. It's how our Heavenly Daddy does things.
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Here are Cristi and Mandy a year ago with Lauren, in Lauren's hospital bed, as she awaits (for the 7th month in a row) for a heart transplant.
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My niece, Vanessa, who was a good friend and neighbor of Cristi's in Virginia connected Cristi and I when Cristi came to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) with Lauren in January of 2009. I tried to make weekly or more than weekly visits to them over about an 8 month period. Our church family ministered in special ways to Lauren and her mama.
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As Cristi and her husband, Tim, and I would visit, we made many Oklahoma and military connections. Tim had grown up in Oklahoma. They both had gone to college at Oklahoma Christian. My husband, Steve had grown up in Oklahoma not too far from where Tim had. Steve's brother had been the youth minister where Tim went to church. We knew people who they had gone to college with.... small world.
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Then, one day I brought Mandy with me to visit. Immediate connection: Paragould, Arkansas! Tim's parents had moved to that area where Mandy had grown up... small world.



It was a year ago this past Wedneday, July 28, that Lauren received her new strong heart. Recently, she returned to Philadelphia for her almost one year check-up. Afterwards, there was a reunion at Don Pablo's when Lauren and Maggie (Libby's big sister) enjoyed each others company while their moms and dads did, too..
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Below is a picture of Lauren and mommy not too long after that special day a year ago. This week, Cristi has updated her blog with thoughts about that time and the past year. Inspirational!

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Thursday, July 29, 2010

WORD OF GOD SPEAK... HEALTHY? HAPPY? HUMMINGBIRD?

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY

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Our memory verses for the month tell us that God's word is many things. Yesterday's post was an activity in putting the verses and their powerful words to memory. Today, let's look at the value of God's Word in our life for HEALTH and HAPPINESS. It is transforming!

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  1. Living - The Bible has been referred to as God's manual for life. For christians who have God's Spirit living inside of us... it is Spirit food... it is The Bread of Life... it is Living Bread.... I understand the concept of bread a little better now by the kind of bread our family now eats. We have learned that eating too much bread is not good for us unless we eat "living bread" or "sprouted bread". That is why we eat Ezekiel bread which is made from sprouts. It makes us feel so much better than if we're eating that other stuff. It's definitely kinder to our bodies. In a similar way the true and living bread, God's Word, brings Life to us!

  2. Active - Ezekiel bread is the nourishment or fuel that my body needs to keep me going. The Word of God fulfills that same role within our souls and spirits.

  3. Penetrates - Ezekiel bread gets down into the cell level of our bodies to bring nourishment. The Word of God is designed to work on us down in our spiritual DNA.

  4. Divides - Much like a skilled surgeon who goes into the body to cut for the purpose of healing, the Word of God seperates the good from the bad inside of us as it works on healing our souls and spirits.

  5. Judges - We see that the Word of God feeds and nourishes us as well as doing spiritual surgery on us. Yet, that is not all it does. It is able to determine WHAT ARE THE THOUGHTS AND ATTITUDES OF OUR HEARTS? The Word of God discerns whether we are having "heart trouble" or not. How's our post surgery regime coming? Have we followed doctors orders to lead our lives the way He planned? His Word can help make that determination.

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As we look at these 5 words from Hebrews 4:12, let's stop and look a little more at the phrase:

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  • "...it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart..."

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The Word of God is to our souls and spirits like the mirror we look in every morning is to our physical bodies. The mirror helps us see if we get our hair straight. It makes sure we don't have tootpaste on our face. It aids us in checking out that new outfit and if it is going to work for today.

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The Word of God checks our spiritual hearts. It gives us a reality check of how well we've been following the manual for a healthy and happy spiritual life. Oh, and that brings me back to the Sermon on the Mount and the Be-attitudes. The Word of God (The Bible) records the words of the Word of God (Jesus) on how we are to live this healthy and happy christian life in Matthew 5, 6, and 7. We've been discussing them over the past two weeks. Here are all nine:

  • Happy is the one who is poor in spirit...
  • Happy is the one who mourns...
  • Happy is the one who is meek...
  • Happy is the one who hungers and thirsts for righteousness...
  • Happy is the one who is merciful...
  • Happy is the one who is pure in heart...
  • Happy is the one who is a peacemanker...
  • Happy is the one who is persecuted for righteousness sake...
  • Happy is the one who rejoices no matter what...

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Be careful!!! Don't look at this as another list of to do's! Another job! The thoughts and attitudes of your heart, even about scripture are so important. You've now looked in the mirror. Now ask God to help you fix it!

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Start today with new thoughts and attitudes about letting the Word of God speak to you. As you head into your day, think about it this way... you have two choices... you can be like the vulture or you can be like a hummingbird... they both live in the same desert... yet they go about their lives totally opposite...

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  • Vultures see decaying and rotting meat because that is what they are looking for
  • Hummingbirds ignore the putrid flesh of dead animals and look for sweet nectar in the flowers of cacti
  • Vultures live on what was
  • Hummingbirds live on what is
  • Both birds find what they seek.

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Are you HEALTHY?

Are you HAPPY?

Are you a HUMMINGBIRD?

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Wednesday, July 28, 2010

WORD OF GOD SPEAK... LIVE... ACT... PENETRATE... DIVIDE... JUDGE... SEE...

WOMEN IN THE WORD WEDNESDAY
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Hebrews 4:12-13 .
"For the word of God is

  • living and
  • active . Sharper than any double-edged sword, it
  • penetrates even to
  • dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it
  • judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
  • Nothing in all of creation is hidden from God's sight.
  • Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account."
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The end of the month is close at hand. We have not spent a lot of time practicing our monthly memory verses. Join me now, on this post, in doing that. Then, in the next few days we can come back here to practice.

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4 the Word of God is...
.
.
L
.
A
.
P
.
.
.
.
Living
.
Active
.
Penetrates
.
I pray that when you are on your LAPtop that you are spending time in God's Word as you let it be Living, Active, and Penetrating in and to your spiritual heart.


. "For the word of God is

L _____________and

.

A _________. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it

.

P __________ even to...

.

.

Hebrews 4:12-13
.
"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to ...

.

.

.

D ividing...

Hebrews 4:12-13
.
"For the word of God is

L __________ and

.

A __________. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it

.

P __________ even to

.

D __________ soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it

.

.

J udges...


Hebrews 4:12-13
.
"For the word of God is

L _______ and

.

A ________ . Sharper than any double-edged sword, it

.

P _________ even to

.

D___________ soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it

.

J ___________ the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. .

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Nothing in all of creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is
uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account."

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N othing...

.

Hebrews 4:12-13
.
Nothing in all of creation is hidden from God's sight...


.

N _________ in all of creation is hidden from God's _______.

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N __________________

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Hebrews 4:12-13
.

Nothing in all of creation is hidden from God's sight.
Everything is
uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account."

.

.

E verything...

.

.
E___________ is uncovered and laid bare before the ______ ___ _____ to whom we must give an account."

.

.

E _______________!!!!

.

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Hebrews 4:12-13
.
"For the word of God is
living and active.

Sharper than any double-edged sword,

it penetrates even to
dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow;

it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. .
Nothing in all of creation is hidden from God's sight.

Everything isuncovered and laid bare

before the eyes of Him

to whom we must give an account."


Tuesday, July 27, 2010

WORD OF GOD SPEAK - GOD'S PERSPECTIVE

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It's basic! Steve talked about it in his sermon on Sunday. I shared about in on my post yesterday. When I get in the Word so that it can become alive and active in my life, I gain God's perspective on things. The perspective I have in life makes a huge difference. I choose God's glasses! Thank You, God!
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It is dangerous when a person
begins to look at God
through the glasses (lens) of life.
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We must look at life
through the glasses (lens) of God.
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Monday, July 26, 2010

WORD OF GOD SPEAK...GOD CHASER...

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MEDITATION MONDAY


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Yesterday was a little different after our morning services. People stood around and talked about the sermon. There were tears... there were words like "I have never thought of this before"...
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As our congregation reads through the Bible in a year, Steve's lesson was steeped in where some of the reading had been this past week: Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes and it's talk about the meaninglessness of life was a difficult read for him. Our family has been through some very tough roads over the years and last week was one of those. Yet, God took Steve on a journey that would be right where he needed to be... to use it to meet the needs of our church family yesterday.
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God does that! He meets needs! He challenges and convicts! His Word is alive and active. When we read it, stand in it, soak it up, and let it work, we are forever changed.
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Although I cannot do Steve's lesson justice, here is my summary:
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Ecclesiastes 1:14 -

  • "All things are meaningless and a chasing after the wind..."

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ARE YOU A WIND CHASER? (A wind chaser is someone who trusts in anything other than God).

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  1. Do you chase after pleasure? Eccl. 2:1


  2. Do you chase after laughter? Eccl. 2:2


  3. Do you chase after wine or any addictive substance? Eccl. 2:3


  4. Do you chase after work, projects, or things you can make with your hands? Eccl. 2:4-6


  5. Do you chase after possessions... (ownership)? Eccl. 2:7


  6. Do you chase after music, money, or sex? Eccl. 2:8


  7. Do you chase after accomplishments or personal gain? Eccl. 2:9


  8. Do you chase after relationships? 1 Kings 11:1-10

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RESULT: Solomon hated life because wind chasing does not satisfy!

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LIFE CHANGING CONCEPTS:

It is dangerous when a person

begins to look at God

through the glasses (lens) of life.

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We must look at life

through the glasses (lens) of God.


  • ARE YOU A GOD CHASER? (A God chaser is someone who wants to know God more... intimately... and trust in Him and only Him).
    .
    1. Do you actively seek God? Matthew 6:33-34
    2. Do you find God? Acts 17:24-31
    3. Do you fear God? (fearing God includes pursuing holiness)
    4. Do you obey God? Eccl. 12:13
    5. Do you love God? Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Mark 12:30-31
    6. Do you pant for God? Psalms 42:1-2
    7. Do you intimately pursue God? Psalms 42:1-2

    .
    LIFE CHANGING CONCEPTS:
    .
    Blessed are those who
    hunger and thirst for righteousness
    for they will be satisfied.
    Matthew 5:6

    But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness,
    and all these things
    will be given to you as well.
    Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,
    for tomorrow will worry about itself.
    Each day has enough trouble of its own.
    Matthew 6: 33-34
    .
    Chase God!
    Chase The Word!
    .

    Saturday, July 24, 2010

    WORD OF GOD SPEAK

    SUNDAY IN THE SON
    .
    ‎1...2...3...4...
    1. I take myself off the throne as I recognize that is where God is... BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT...
    2. I call sin, sin and have sorrow and compassion for myself / others who are in it's grip... BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN....
    3. I begin to understand that I can't do this on my own, I need to submit to someone who can get me to my destination... I give God the reins... BLESSED ARE THE MEEK...
    4. I'm hungry / thirsty to learn more... BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTOUSNESS, FOR THEY SHALL BE SATISFIED!!!

    There are a whole lot of 1,2,3,4's in this life!!!!

    That one's really important!!!

    .
    .
    .
    "Word Of God Speak"
    as sung by Mercy Me
    .
    1
    I'm finding myself at a loss for words
    And the funny thing is it's okay
    The last thing I need is to be heard
    But to hear what You would say
    .
    [CHORUS]
    Word of God speak
    Would You pour down like rain
    Washing my eyes to see
    Your majesty
    To be still and know
    That You're in this place
    Please let me stay and rest
    In Your holiness
    Word of God speak
    .
    2
    I'm finding myself in the midst of You
    Beyond the music,
    beyond the noise
    All that I need is to be with You
    And in the quiet
    hear Your voice
    .
    [REPEAT CHORUS 2x]
    .
    I'm finding myself at a loss for words
    And the funny thing is it's okay
    .
    .
    .
    You may want to pause the Playlist above before viewing this video:



    WHAT FAITH IN JESUS CAN DO...HUNGRY????



    KETCHUP AND MUSTARD SATURDAY

    Catch Up and Must Do


    CATCH UP:

    .

    Want to be happy? Want to be blessed? Then, put Jesus' words from His sermon on the mount in your heart and seek to live them daily! We began discussing them a few days ago and have now discussed the first 3 Be-attitudes:



    MUST DO 1:
    .
    Want to be happy? Want to be blessed? Do you crave it? The fourth Be-attitude reminds us how important it is to be hungry for God's word / precepts in a desire to live within His righteousness.
    • Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.

    .

    MUST DO #2:

    Little Lauren is having a very hard time taking off her shirt at night. It would really make her happy if she could do it! She would be blessed and so would her mommy and daddy! I told her daddy and mommy that Ms. Patti would post something here for her to watch. She needs to know that it will still take a lot of practice just like living the Be-attitudes will take us a lot of practice!



    Friday, July 23, 2010

    WHAT FAITH IN JESUS CAN DO - BE LED -



    This month, our memory verse tells us that God's Word can be alive and active in our lives. It is God's Word and how it feeds His Spirit within me that makes me a better wife and mother. So, I am in the midst of sharing (over the course of 11 days) some verses that have continually been a huge source of teaching, correcting, convicting, encouraging, and guiding me. These verses are from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and today we are at the 3rd Be-attitude.

    .

    • GOD'S WORD FOR TODAY: "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."

    .

    When I think of God's family and the fellowship that we have, the only way that I know we can live together in harmony here on this earth is for God to be in control. That makes me think of horses!

    .

    I am by nature a strong-willed, opinionated, driven, and high energy person. God's Word has tempered me over the years, so that I gently allow Him to lead and guide me. It makes me think of a horse and a rider. In fact, my mind goes back to a former post that I wrote on this topic. I believe it will give you some powerful food for thought - about the verse above. Be blessed!

    .

    http://momstransformed.blogspot.com/2008/07/how-about-them-horses.html


    .


    .

    Thursday, July 22, 2010

    WHAT FAITH IN JESUS CAN DO... MOURN...

    TRANSFORMING THURSDAY

    .
    Happy are those who mourn...
    .
    for they shall be comforted!
    .
    • are you sorry over your own sin?
    • are you disappointed over sinful condition of the world?
    • are you saddened when God doesn't seem to have a voice?
    • do you cry out to God in your struggles / despair as you rely on Him?

    .

    This is what Jesus is talking about when He says in the Sermon on the Mount that you are blessed and/or happy when you mourn. It is the transforming power of the struggle... of begging forgiveness... of crying out for mercy... that we are changed...

    .

    Be blessed! Be transformed!

    .

    That's What Faith Can Do
    Lyrics - as sung by Kutless
    .

    Everybody falls sometime

    Gotta find the strength to rise

    From the ashes

    and make a new beginning

    Anyone can feel the ache
    You think it's more than you can take
    But you are stronger, stronger than you know
    Don't you give up now
    The sun will soon be shining
    You gotta face the clouds
    To find the silver lining
    .
    I've seen dreams that move the mountains
    Hope that doesn't ever end
    Even when the sky is falling
    And I've seen miracles just happen
    Silent prayers get answered
    Broken hearts become brand new
    That's what faith can do
    .
    It doesn't matter what you've heard
    Impossible is not a word
    It's just a reason for someone not to try
    Everybody's scared to death
    When they decide to take that step
    Out on the water
    .
    It'll be alright
    Life is so much more
    Than what your eyes are seeing
    You will find your way
    If you keep believing

    .
    I've seen dreams that move the mountains
    Hope that doesn't ever end
    Even when the sky is falling
    And I've seen miracles just happen
    Silent prayers get answered
    Broken hearts become brand new
    That's what faith can do
    .
    Overcome the odds
    You don't have a chance
    (That's what faith can do)
    When the world says you can't
    It'll tell you that you can!

    .
    I've seen dreams that move the mountains
    Hope that doesn't ever end
    Even when the sky is falling
    And I've seen miracles just happen
    Silent prayers get answered
    Broken hearts become brand new
    That's what faith can do
    That's what faith can do!
    Even if you fall sometimes
    You will have the strength to rise ...
    .

    Wednesday, July 21, 2010

    WHAT FAITH IN JESUS CAN DO - IN THE WORD -


    If you come to this blog very often, you may have noticed that recently my posts have been few. Yes, I have been traveling. Steve stayed home with Jessica so I could go see the new grand baby, Perry, and Chloe. I got to see my other 3 kids and 2 daughters-in-love. And, yes, upon my return home I hit the ground running... c0-teaching a two week geometry course (and I am not a mathematician!) Should I also add that I began my first day of traveling weeks ago exhausted? Stress is cumulative and the past two weeks I have felt like I am just putting one foot in front of the other. When that happens, I tend to talk to God more but be in His Word less. The last few days, I've chosen to soak in His WORD. It's interesting, since our memory verse begins like this:

    .


    • For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

      .

    What powerful words! As I've meditated, I've thought about the many words in THE WORD that have convicted me over the years. I've thought about the ones that have sustained me. I've pondered the words that have helped me live life. For those who know me well, they know how intricately Matthew chapter 5 helps me in my day to day walk. I'd like to spend the rest of July sharing that with you (as I have shared on this blog in previous posts}.

    .


    Years ago, I learned that Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, 6, and 7 is one of the keys to life. Each time He says "Blessed..." that means "Happy are those who...". The 9 Beattitudes are the first part of His sermon on the mount. Want to BE HAPPY? The answers to this question are in THE WORD.
    .
    These are the attitudes to be ... AND they make no sense to most people. In fact, when I'm unhappy, it's because I've quit living by these principles. The first Be-attitude says,
    .
    • " Happy are those who are poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
    .
    Those are the people who don't think the world is all about them. Those are the people who understand that they must pour themselves out to be filled up with His Spirit...
    .
    Come back tomorrow and we'll let THE WORD continue to penetrate our hearts as we look at more of the Be-Attitudes on Transforming Thursday... Love you!
    .

    Tuesday, July 20, 2010

    WHAT FAITH IN JESUS CAN DO... IT'S AMAZING...


    Today, I am GRATEFUL FOR GRACE.... HIS AMAZING GRACE...
    .
    I have found that the more I walk in FAITH and GRATITUDE, the more that I get a glimpse of that AMAZING GRACE. I was profoundly touched on the last Sunday of June, which was the last day our church family assembled in our building on Holly Drive. Dan and Steve both shared thoughts. Dan read a letter from Phyllis about the history of our congregation to that day. That history included Phyllis and Cornelius being the first black couple to marry in that building over 40 years ago. She wrote of the struggles, the isolation, and the misunderstandings that were happening in our world at that time - yet not in our church family. She penned about her parents' perseverence to bring the gospel to the black people of South Jersey. Then, there was her decision with Corny to begin attending this white church to reach out in the spirit of unity of God's family. She emphasized the part that the Pitman church of Christ had in opening doors for blacks in the area. Phyllis painted a picture with words to let us see the change from white to black & white to a tapestry or rainbow of colors.
    .
    I thought of Phyllis and Corny and others when I watched this video for the first time today. I thought of the deep abiding faith of my LORD and SAVIOR. I thought of my black brothers and sisters in Christ who have clung by faith to the grace and mercy of their LORD and "MASTER". He extended a hand to them when no one else would. When everything seemed hopeless... they knew what faith could do. They knew what His faith could do. It is these same people who have given me a vision for what faith, grace and mercy can do.
    .
    Come visit our church family and you'll get a a good look at a group of loving, transparent, grace and mercy driven people who want to make a difference for their LORD. Oh, we don't even have a church building right now... we're meeting in our local high school on Sunday mornings. We're working on building a building... not just the physical structure that should be ready by March... but the spiritual structure... the house of God... we're building by faith!!! Thank you, Jesus!
    .
    .

    .
    .

    .
    .
    Do you suppose Sir Newton was convicted of his past trespasses by THE WORD before writing the song AMAZING GRACE?
    .
    Romans 5:20-21
    20 The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

    Sunday, July 11, 2010

    WHAT FAITH IN JESUS CAN DO...


    SUNDAY IN THE SON
    .
    Since I have been away from blogging a lot in the last two weeks, I'm all for keeping the same theme song as last week and spending some time this week connecting to it and our new memory verse. Before we do that, join me today on reflecting on THE SON:
    .
    John 1:1-181:1
    In the beginning was the Word,
    and the Word was with God,
    and the Word was God.
    2 He was with God in the beginning.
    .
    3 Through Him all things were made;
    without Him nothing was made that has been made.
    4 In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.
    5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
    .
    6 There came a man who was sent from God;
    his name was John.
    7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light,
    so that through him all men might believe.
    8 He himself was not the light;
    he came only as a witness to the light.
    9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
    10 He was in the world,
    and though the world was made through Him,
    the world did not recognize Him.
    11 He came to that which was His own,
    but His own did not receive Him.
    12 Yet to all who received Him,
    to those who believed in His name,
    He gave the right to become children of God-
    13 children born not of natural descent,
    nor of human decision or a husband's will,
    but born of God.
    14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.
    We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,
    who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
    .
    15 John testifies concerning Him.
    He cries out, saying,
    "This was He of whom I said,
    'He who comes after me has surpassed me
    because He was before me.'"
    16 From the fullness of His grace
    we have all received one blessing after another.
    17 For the law was given through Moses;
    grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
    18 No one has ever seen God,
    but God the One and Only,
    who is at the Father's side,
    has made Him known.

    Monday, July 5, 2010

    WHAT FAITH (IN JESUS) CAN DO...

    MEDITATION MONDAY
    .
    There are a whole lot of things that I have read or heard over the years that I have "bought into". They people seem to know what they're talking about or in my limited understanding, I get excited at the possibilities at what they are saying. Yet, it doesn't take long for me to know that I have been duped!
    .
    On my trip to see my kids and grandkids this past week, I listened to the C.D. by Kutless "It is Well With My Soul" over and over again. The theme songs from last week and this week, on this blog, are both on that album: Taken by Love and That's What Faith Can Do. As I have meditated on the words to this week's theme song over and over, I am reminded that it is faith in Jesus and Jesus alone that can really do the things that this song is talking about. The Bible is the inspired word of God... but bottom line is that Jesus is the living and breathing WORD OF GOD. I want to learn to trust my big brother... I want to grow up to be like my big brother...
    .
    This morning I am at Jordan and Jacqueline's and will be headed out soon (after Chloe wakes up from her morning nap) to the Sikes' family reunion. This is a family whose members have many differences in personality, life experiences, and likes/preferences. Not much in this family is perfect. In fact, sometimes it can be very chaotic. Bottom line is that this is a family who has been taken by the love of Jesus and know that it is our faith in Him and ultimately His faith in the Father who will change our lives...
    .

    Sunday, July 4, 2010

    WHAT FAITH CAN DO

    SUNDAY IN THE SON
    .
    That's What Faith Can Do
    Lyrics - as sung by Kutless
    ...

    Everybody falls sometimes
    Gotta find the strength to rise
    From the ashes and make a new beginning
    Anyone can feel the ache
    You think it's more than you can take
    But you are stronger, stronger than you know
    Don't you give up now
    The sun will soon be shining
    You gotta face the clouds
    To find the silver lining

    I've seen dreams that move the mountains
    Hope that doesn't ever end
    Even when the sky is falling
    And I've seen miracles just happen
    Silent prayers get answered
    Broken hearts become brand new
    That's what faith can do

    It doesn't matter what you've heard
    Impossible is not a word
    It's just a reason for someone not to try
    Everybody's scared to death
    When they decide to take that step
    Out on the water
    It'll be alright
    Life is so much more
    Than what your eyes are seeing
    You will find your way
    If you keep believing

    I've seen dreams that move the mountains
    Hope that doesn't ever end
    Even when the sky is falling
    And I've seen miracles just happen
    Silent prayers get answered
    Broken hearts become brand new
    That's what faith can do

    Overcome the odds
    You don't have a chance
    (That's what faith can do)
    When the world says you can't
    It'll tell you that you can!

    I've seen dreams that move the mountains
    Hope that doesn't ever end
    Even when the sky is falling
    And I've seen miracles just happen
    Silent prayers get answered
    Broken hearts become brand new
    That's what faith can do
    That's what faith can do!
    Even if you fall sometimes
    You will have the strength to rise

    TRANSFORMED MOM, LISA, REQUESTED PRAYERS FOR HER HUBBY: FULLY RESTORED! FULLY HEALED!