SHALL WE TURN ON THE FURNACE OR NO
OR IS IT GLOBAL WARMING?
It is that time of the year when again we struggle about weather we should turn on the furnace or not. The nights are getting colder but it is still rather warm during the day so that with the curtains open the sun warms up the house sufficiently enough. But when it dips down into the 30s, the house starts getting a little too cool in the mornings, in the upper 60s. But the forecast still calls for warmer weather ahead. So we opt to not to turn on the furnace yet. Our furnace is not one that you can turn on and off as needed as it is a hot-water gas furnace. The water has to be heated up in the pipes that circulates throughout the house and gives off warmth to each room and it takes a while for the water to get heated up. So when we turn on the furnace we have to basically leave it on. Same way in the fall, when we turn it off, it should stay on. Although this last fall I did turn it on again after we had turned it off as I was getting cold. The forecast calls for warmer days again starting in two days so we are enduring the little too cool mornings. But that is better than too warm in the evenings. We can always put on jackets or turn on the little heater to be toasty warm.
It seems like colder weather is coming earlier than usual, it’s that global warming proving again to us that it doesn’t exist! Have you noticed since Al Gore started telling about global warming that things started happening that disproves his theory. We have had colder weather in places that don’t usually get that kind of weather. For example I don’t remember having colder weather this early in the fall, we usually get that around Halloween when the children are out trick or treating. We have even had snow at that time. I feel so sorry for them even though I don’t condone that practice any more. To help things along usually day light savings time starts or is already in force.
Al Gore said back in the 80s that we would be dead by 2000 because it would be too hot, the coast lands would be gone, hurricanes would be devastating, etc. Al Gore promotes carbon dioxide as the cause of global warming. He would like the government to control carbon emissions from industry. He also has a company that sells carbon credits. He flies around the country in his private jet. Ha, Ha, he’s good at saving energy! Just like the executives of the car companies that went to Washington in their private jets also to apply for a federal handout! Next time they went by other modes of transportation, Who do they think they are fooling?
A funny world that we live in! But none of these problems and others will ever be solved until Jesus Christ comes back and sets up his Kingdom on earth. He is the only one that can solve all our problems and have peace at the same time!
A Good Day to You from the Merry Heart.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
walking in good works
WALKING IN GOOD WORKS
In Ephesians 2:10 it says; For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. I like The Open Bible version which makes it even planner: For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Does good works mean taking a meal to a sick person, helping a person change a flat tire, visiting the sick, etc,? These are all good and well. But after hearing Pastor Carl speak on this subject last night my past life took on a whole new perspective, even much better than what I had been led to think by satan. To me my life had not amounted to much, again led to think that by satan.
When our son was born about 40 years ago, God had given me a revelation that my hubby would be completely healed and come back to the church. He did come back to the church 15 years later and we are still waiting on him to be healed. I have always stood on that prophecy as it was such a riveting event; I felt such a warmth from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet and I felt such love and well-being. Of course I couldn’t tell my hubby until he started back to church about this prophecy as he wouldn’t believe me, as it was he didn’t believe me then even! But gradually he started to believe as I did and we started to stand on that revelation whenever he had a health problem but it wasn’t God’s timing for him to be healed yet.
Last night at our round table discussion we had to tell about what one person in our lives that influenced us for good. My hubby told about how watching me in my christian growth lead to his coming back to the church. That and Pastor’s talk on how God created us for good works started me to thinking; “Hey, I have been walking in good works since God gave me that revelation and didn’t know it.” Satan had been telling me lies that I was no good, my life didn’t amount to anything, etc. But to the one person, my husband, it did make a difference. Don’t think that I have been a saint, far from it, but enough of a saint that it made a difference to my hubby!
My good works so far had been to be a light to my hubby. I am so happy and grateful to God that my life has amounted to something big so far! And we are looking forward to what God has for us down the line.
A Good Day to You from the Merry Heart.
In Ephesians 2:10 it says; For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. I like The Open Bible version which makes it even planner: For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Does good works mean taking a meal to a sick person, helping a person change a flat tire, visiting the sick, etc,? These are all good and well. But after hearing Pastor Carl speak on this subject last night my past life took on a whole new perspective, even much better than what I had been led to think by satan. To me my life had not amounted to much, again led to think that by satan.
When our son was born about 40 years ago, God had given me a revelation that my hubby would be completely healed and come back to the church. He did come back to the church 15 years later and we are still waiting on him to be healed. I have always stood on that prophecy as it was such a riveting event; I felt such a warmth from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet and I felt such love and well-being. Of course I couldn’t tell my hubby until he started back to church about this prophecy as he wouldn’t believe me, as it was he didn’t believe me then even! But gradually he started to believe as I did and we started to stand on that revelation whenever he had a health problem but it wasn’t God’s timing for him to be healed yet.
Last night at our round table discussion we had to tell about what one person in our lives that influenced us for good. My hubby told about how watching me in my christian growth lead to his coming back to the church. That and Pastor’s talk on how God created us for good works started me to thinking; “Hey, I have been walking in good works since God gave me that revelation and didn’t know it.” Satan had been telling me lies that I was no good, my life didn’t amount to anything, etc. But to the one person, my husband, it did make a difference. Don’t think that I have been a saint, far from it, but enough of a saint that it made a difference to my hubby!
My good works so far had been to be a light to my hubby. I am so happy and grateful to God that my life has amounted to something big so far! And we are looking forward to what God has for us down the line.
A Good Day to You from the Merry Heart.
Monday, September 7, 2009
replacement theology and the rapture
REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY AND THE RAPTURE
What does the replacement theology and the rapture have in common? It fairly debunks the replacement theology, I think. The Jews were the focus of God’s plans in the Old Testament, the Age of Law. God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses and they were to live by them. But that was impossible for them to do as we all know. The law only incites you to sin more, it is only to point out to you what sin is in your life.
Since the Jews did reject Jesus when he was crucified, God did replace them with the Gentiles temporarily. That started the Age of Grace which we are living under now which commenced on the Day of Pentecost. Jesus had told his disciples not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the Father and to be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now, Acts 1:4&5, KJV. They were all assembled together, all the disciples and others, 120 in all, in an upper room, on the day of Pentecost. Suddenly there came a sound from heaven like a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house. There appeared unto them cloven tongues as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance, Acts 1:15 and Acts 2:1-4. Everyone in the whole town, even people from other towns and nations, heard about this amazing phenomenon and talked about it. So they were there on the Day of Pentecost when Peter preached his first sermon filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking with other tongues so everyone could understand in his own tongue! See Acts 2:5-40. Verse 41 says 3000 were saved and baptized that day. These people fellowshipped together and shared as needed. In verse 47 it says “Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the CHURCH daily such as should be saved.”
The church is never mentioned in the Old Testament. The first mention of it is in Matthew 16:17 and 18 after Peter acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, “Jesus answered and said unto him, ‘Blessed art thou, Simon Peter, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it’”. Peter in both the Aramaic and the Greek means rock. Even his death on the cross would not prevent Jesus from building his church as that one event began the church. In Colossians 1:24 Paul speaks of the church, Christ’s body; “Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you (the Colossians), and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his BODY, which is the CHURCH.”
Everyone is included in the church, Jews also. But God had a special plan for doing it this way, Isaiah 55:8&9; “ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts”.
But God has not abandoned his chosen people, the Jews. In Genesis 13:15 the Lord made an everlasting covenant with Abraham; “All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.” Paul speaks a lot about God not abandoning his people in Romans 11. Verse 2 says, “God has not cast away his people whom he foreknew” . Then Paul gives an example of the prophet Elijah when he made intercession to God for Israel as he thought all the other prophets were killed and he was alone. God told him that he still had a remnant. So also at this time according to God’s election there is a remnant and the rest are blinded; given a spirit of slumber, eyes that don’t see and ears that don’t hear. God is sovereign by his election or plan and not man’s works. The Jews have stumbled over Christ by seeking to gain righteousness on the basis of works. Jesus made an end of the law by keeping it perfectly during his sinless life, Matthew 5:17, and then gave his life in payment for the penalty of sin and the broken Law, Ephesians 2:14-16; “ For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one (Jews and Gentiles) and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.”
Paul tells in Romans 11:25 why the Jews were given this spiritual blindness; “ I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited. Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in”. Then the rapture will take place; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. In 2 Thessalonians 2:7 Paul speaks of the Holy Spirit as the one who holds back the power of lawlessness until he is taken out of the way. Since the Holy Spirit indwells all Christians (the CHURCH); they are removed at the rapture. Many people think of Revelation 4 where John is taken up into heaven as being the rapture, I do not. Verse 1 says:...... “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” John is talking about what must take place later. In the first 3 chapters of Revelation John talks about churches and their problems that were alive at that time which are representative of our problems now.. The church is never mentioned again. Then God is dealing with unrepentant people and the Jewish nation.
However, the Holy Spirit is still working here during the Tribulation, how else would unrepentant people come to the Lord. The nation of Israel will repent at the end of the Tribulation with great mourning, see Zechariah 12:10-14. Chapter 13:1 reveals that the nation will also be cleansed of their sins and impurity. Romans 11:26 says that all Israel will be saved.
God has not abandoned his people, the Jews. They were just set aside til the full number of Gentiles came to the Lord, then they will be saved. We Gentiles should be grateful for this very unusual plan of God to include we Gentiles in his Kingdom. But we must not become conceited and think that we have replaced Israel as the rejection of Israel was to make God’s salvation available to us. Then hopefully the Jews would be jealous and want it too, see Romans 11:11-24.
A Good Day to You from the Merry Heart
What does the replacement theology and the rapture have in common? It fairly debunks the replacement theology, I think. The Jews were the focus of God’s plans in the Old Testament, the Age of Law. God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses and they were to live by them. But that was impossible for them to do as we all know. The law only incites you to sin more, it is only to point out to you what sin is in your life.
Since the Jews did reject Jesus when he was crucified, God did replace them with the Gentiles temporarily. That started the Age of Grace which we are living under now which commenced on the Day of Pentecost. Jesus had told his disciples not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the Father and to be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now, Acts 1:4&5, KJV. They were all assembled together, all the disciples and others, 120 in all, in an upper room, on the day of Pentecost. Suddenly there came a sound from heaven like a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house. There appeared unto them cloven tongues as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance, Acts 1:15 and Acts 2:1-4. Everyone in the whole town, even people from other towns and nations, heard about this amazing phenomenon and talked about it. So they were there on the Day of Pentecost when Peter preached his first sermon filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking with other tongues so everyone could understand in his own tongue! See Acts 2:5-40. Verse 41 says 3000 were saved and baptized that day. These people fellowshipped together and shared as needed. In verse 47 it says “Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the CHURCH daily such as should be saved.”
The church is never mentioned in the Old Testament. The first mention of it is in Matthew 16:17 and 18 after Peter acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, “Jesus answered and said unto him, ‘Blessed art thou, Simon Peter, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it’”. Peter in both the Aramaic and the Greek means rock. Even his death on the cross would not prevent Jesus from building his church as that one event began the church. In Colossians 1:24 Paul speaks of the church, Christ’s body; “Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you (the Colossians), and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his BODY, which is the CHURCH.”
Everyone is included in the church, Jews also. But God had a special plan for doing it this way, Isaiah 55:8&9; “ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts”.
But God has not abandoned his chosen people, the Jews. In Genesis 13:15 the Lord made an everlasting covenant with Abraham; “All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.” Paul speaks a lot about God not abandoning his people in Romans 11. Verse 2 says, “God has not cast away his people whom he foreknew” . Then Paul gives an example of the prophet Elijah when he made intercession to God for Israel as he thought all the other prophets were killed and he was alone. God told him that he still had a remnant. So also at this time according to God’s election there is a remnant and the rest are blinded; given a spirit of slumber, eyes that don’t see and ears that don’t hear. God is sovereign by his election or plan and not man’s works. The Jews have stumbled over Christ by seeking to gain righteousness on the basis of works. Jesus made an end of the law by keeping it perfectly during his sinless life, Matthew 5:17, and then gave his life in payment for the penalty of sin and the broken Law, Ephesians 2:14-16; “ For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one (Jews and Gentiles) and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.”
Paul tells in Romans 11:25 why the Jews were given this spiritual blindness; “ I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited. Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in”. Then the rapture will take place; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. In 2 Thessalonians 2:7 Paul speaks of the Holy Spirit as the one who holds back the power of lawlessness until he is taken out of the way. Since the Holy Spirit indwells all Christians (the CHURCH); they are removed at the rapture. Many people think of Revelation 4 where John is taken up into heaven as being the rapture, I do not. Verse 1 says:...... “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” John is talking about what must take place later. In the first 3 chapters of Revelation John talks about churches and their problems that were alive at that time which are representative of our problems now.. The church is never mentioned again. Then God is dealing with unrepentant people and the Jewish nation.
However, the Holy Spirit is still working here during the Tribulation, how else would unrepentant people come to the Lord. The nation of Israel will repent at the end of the Tribulation with great mourning, see Zechariah 12:10-14. Chapter 13:1 reveals that the nation will also be cleansed of their sins and impurity. Romans 11:26 says that all Israel will be saved.
God has not abandoned his people, the Jews. They were just set aside til the full number of Gentiles came to the Lord, then they will be saved. We Gentiles should be grateful for this very unusual plan of God to include we Gentiles in his Kingdom. But we must not become conceited and think that we have replaced Israel as the rejection of Israel was to make God’s salvation available to us. Then hopefully the Jews would be jealous and want it too, see Romans 11:11-24.
A Good Day to You from the Merry Heart
Sunday, August 23, 2009
has god rejected his people the isralites?
Has God Rejected His People the Israelites?
Some people believe in Replacement Theology that the church has replaced the Jews as his chosen people. I don’t know what they base their theology on but I base my belief on the Holy Bible.. I am using the NIV version of the Bible as it is much easier to read and understand.
Romans 11:1 clearly says that God has not rejected His people, the Jews. Verse 2 also clearly says that “God did not reject his people whom he foreknew.” He foreknew them as God called Abraham out of his country, Ur of the Chaldeans which is southwest of Babylon, to go to a country that He would show him, Genesis 12:1. In Romans 4:1, Abraham is called “our forefather”, confirming that the Jews are his chosen people, as the whole Bible is about the Jews.
The “mystery” may be what confuses people as to why God did abandon the Jews for a season for his purpose in Romans 11. To my way of thinking God should have abandoned them as they are described as a stiff-necked people in many places in the Old Testament, and they have generally gone their own way of doing their own thing. You and I do the same thing, go our own way but they saw the miracles of them being delivered from the bondage of slavery in Egypt and the Red Sea parting on their journey to the promised land, etc. They were told not to mingle with the people of the surrounding nations when they entered Israel. What did they do? They mingled with them, inquired of their religion and took wives of them. They wanted a king which God allowed them to have. They were ok if the king was a good king. But if the king was a bad king, did not follow God’s laws, they did the same. The Book of Judges tells about these sad days when they came even worse each time a bad king came on the scene.
Back to Romans 11, verse 11 is the crux of his purpose: “Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.” Verse 12 says: “But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!” In order for the Jews to have greater riches, then they must surely have not been abandoned. Verse 29 says “For God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.” God called the Jews, people descended from Abraham to be his people. We Gentiles, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted into God’s family, so we do not have anything to boast about that we are God’s special people. Branches, the Jews, were broken off because of unbelief so we Gentiles could be grafted in. In verses 25 and 26 the “mystery” is further explained: “ . . . I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you nay not be conceited. Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob, and this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”
This is the scripture that no commentator mentions when talking about the last days known as “in that day” in the Bible. I think it is so important as it tells what the Jewish Nation will do right after Armageddon. It is from Zechariah 12:9-13:1; On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem. And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. The land will mourn, each clan by itself, with their wives by themselves; the clan of the house of David and their wives, the clan of the house of Nathan and their wives, the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of the house of Shimel and their wives, and all the rest of the clans and their wives. On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.”
The Lord will pour out on the nation of Israel grace {unmerited favor}, and supplication (a humble request, prayer, petition, etc.). And they will weep bitterly as they realize they put Him to death. But the Lord will provide a cleansing for their sin and impurity.
Hallelujah! God did not abandon His people, the Jews. In His Sovereign Plan He planned for the Jews’s transgression to bring about the salvation of we the Gentiles.
Good Day to you From the Merry Heart.
Some people believe in Replacement Theology that the church has replaced the Jews as his chosen people. I don’t know what they base their theology on but I base my belief on the Holy Bible.. I am using the NIV version of the Bible as it is much easier to read and understand.
Romans 11:1 clearly says that God has not rejected His people, the Jews. Verse 2 also clearly says that “God did not reject his people whom he foreknew.” He foreknew them as God called Abraham out of his country, Ur of the Chaldeans which is southwest of Babylon, to go to a country that He would show him, Genesis 12:1. In Romans 4:1, Abraham is called “our forefather”, confirming that the Jews are his chosen people, as the whole Bible is about the Jews.
The “mystery” may be what confuses people as to why God did abandon the Jews for a season for his purpose in Romans 11. To my way of thinking God should have abandoned them as they are described as a stiff-necked people in many places in the Old Testament, and they have generally gone their own way of doing their own thing. You and I do the same thing, go our own way but they saw the miracles of them being delivered from the bondage of slavery in Egypt and the Red Sea parting on their journey to the promised land, etc. They were told not to mingle with the people of the surrounding nations when they entered Israel. What did they do? They mingled with them, inquired of their religion and took wives of them. They wanted a king which God allowed them to have. They were ok if the king was a good king. But if the king was a bad king, did not follow God’s laws, they did the same. The Book of Judges tells about these sad days when they came even worse each time a bad king came on the scene.
Back to Romans 11, verse 11 is the crux of his purpose: “Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.” Verse 12 says: “But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!” In order for the Jews to have greater riches, then they must surely have not been abandoned. Verse 29 says “For God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.” God called the Jews, people descended from Abraham to be his people. We Gentiles, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted into God’s family, so we do not have anything to boast about that we are God’s special people. Branches, the Jews, were broken off because of unbelief so we Gentiles could be grafted in. In verses 25 and 26 the “mystery” is further explained: “ . . . I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you nay not be conceited. Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob, and this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”
This is the scripture that no commentator mentions when talking about the last days known as “in that day” in the Bible. I think it is so important as it tells what the Jewish Nation will do right after Armageddon. It is from Zechariah 12:9-13:1; On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem. And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. The land will mourn, each clan by itself, with their wives by themselves; the clan of the house of David and their wives, the clan of the house of Nathan and their wives, the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of the house of Shimel and their wives, and all the rest of the clans and their wives. On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.”
The Lord will pour out on the nation of Israel grace {unmerited favor}, and supplication (a humble request, prayer, petition, etc.). And they will weep bitterly as they realize they put Him to death. But the Lord will provide a cleansing for their sin and impurity.
Hallelujah! God did not abandon His people, the Jews. In His Sovereign Plan He planned for the Jews’s transgression to bring about the salvation of we the Gentiles.
Good Day to you From the Merry Heart.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
peace that passes all understanding
PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING
Recently my hubby and I became aware of a situation in our family that really disturbed us. Usually my hubby will say it will turn out ok or he is not really concerned about it. But this time he was concerned so I knew it was really important and needed to be addressed. So we prayed about it and I felt like the Lord said it would turn out ok. That made me feel better but I still did not have peace about the situation. So that evening when I was up for my nightly quiet time with the Lord, I looked up some scriptures that address that situation and typed them up. Then I sat and read them and prayed to God. Since there is no way that I can change the situation, I had to turn it over to God completely and allow Him to work it out. Why should I think that I can change the situation? I am only human and do not know the best way to remedy it. God wants to change lives and get the glory for it.
Finding scriptures and praying gives me peace that I have never known before. Usually I stew about it and get myself in a dither and can’t think straight and have not energy. If I think about this situation, I would get myself in that place again but since I turned it over completely to God, I have peace. I only think about how God it working it out for good and not for bad like satan would like. I know people who proclaim victory at the beginning of a bad situation and I never could understand how they could do that. Now I know. They turned the problem over completely to God and allow Him to work on it. Then you have peace that passes all understanding, Philippians 4:7; And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your heart and minds, through Christ Jesus.
A good day to you from The Merry Heart
Recently my hubby and I became aware of a situation in our family that really disturbed us. Usually my hubby will say it will turn out ok or he is not really concerned about it. But this time he was concerned so I knew it was really important and needed to be addressed. So we prayed about it and I felt like the Lord said it would turn out ok. That made me feel better but I still did not have peace about the situation. So that evening when I was up for my nightly quiet time with the Lord, I looked up some scriptures that address that situation and typed them up. Then I sat and read them and prayed to God. Since there is no way that I can change the situation, I had to turn it over to God completely and allow Him to work it out. Why should I think that I can change the situation? I am only human and do not know the best way to remedy it. God wants to change lives and get the glory for it.
Finding scriptures and praying gives me peace that I have never known before. Usually I stew about it and get myself in a dither and can’t think straight and have not energy. If I think about this situation, I would get myself in that place again but since I turned it over completely to God, I have peace. I only think about how God it working it out for good and not for bad like satan would like. I know people who proclaim victory at the beginning of a bad situation and I never could understand how they could do that. Now I know. They turned the problem over completely to God and allow Him to work on it. Then you have peace that passes all understanding, Philippians 4:7; And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your heart and minds, through Christ Jesus.
A good day to you from The Merry Heart
my earth-shaking renewal
MY EARTH -- SHAKING RENEWAL!
“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind”, Romans 12-2. That is a very very important verse to me as God has really been renewing my mind this last year or two. But this “renewing” is the most important to me and shall always be classified as the most important as it involves someone who was and is still important to me; my twin sister. Of course we were very close growing up but we did argue a lot like most siblings. But our upbringing was not the best so we each developed bad habits of wrong thinking. She was the favorite one so I developed an inferiority complex and she thought she was something. She controlled me even after I was married. Even as a grade school girl, I began to have “stinky thinking”. Since she was getting all the attention I would not give her my attention by laughing at her cute antics, etc. That did me more harm than it did her which is always the case. This continued even into adulthood. We communicated a lot over the phone as we usually lived quite a ways apart. I know her so well that I can tell by the tone of her voice what she is thinking. She put me down a lot so when I got the chance I would jab back at her intentionally. But it was always me that would scream or hang up on her.
Things began to turn around in our relationship when I began to change toward her as is always the case. We cannot change another person, we can only change ourselves with God’s help. Things definitely began to change when I took the Cleansing Streams Seminar at our church and learned how to deal with forgiveness. It is not a feeling but an act of your will to forgive as sometimes you do not feel like forgiving. I began by releasing all those hurt feelings to God and letting Him heal me and asking forgiveness for the many times that I have offended her and she me. Then I began to notice that when talking to her over the phone that I was not so offended by what she said or when she put me down. She does have a problem sometimes with understanding things, or rather I would think, she is trying to get my goat. But I didn’t want to understand her problem, I wanted to take advantage of it and get back at her! This had been going on for years. But with God transforming me these last few months I have been able to talk to her without getting offended. I also sensed that she is changing also. Then the other night when I was giving her some technical information for something she wants to get, I was not the impatient person that I usually am with her. I could be patient and understanding with her! I did not jab her for not understanding something or taking so long to understand like I used to do. The Lord has really transformed me by the renewing of my mind!
A good day to you from the Merry Heart
“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind”, Romans 12-2. That is a very very important verse to me as God has really been renewing my mind this last year or two. But this “renewing” is the most important to me and shall always be classified as the most important as it involves someone who was and is still important to me; my twin sister. Of course we were very close growing up but we did argue a lot like most siblings. But our upbringing was not the best so we each developed bad habits of wrong thinking. She was the favorite one so I developed an inferiority complex and she thought she was something. She controlled me even after I was married. Even as a grade school girl, I began to have “stinky thinking”. Since she was getting all the attention I would not give her my attention by laughing at her cute antics, etc. That did me more harm than it did her which is always the case. This continued even into adulthood. We communicated a lot over the phone as we usually lived quite a ways apart. I know her so well that I can tell by the tone of her voice what she is thinking. She put me down a lot so when I got the chance I would jab back at her intentionally. But it was always me that would scream or hang up on her.
Things began to turn around in our relationship when I began to change toward her as is always the case. We cannot change another person, we can only change ourselves with God’s help. Things definitely began to change when I took the Cleansing Streams Seminar at our church and learned how to deal with forgiveness. It is not a feeling but an act of your will to forgive as sometimes you do not feel like forgiving. I began by releasing all those hurt feelings to God and letting Him heal me and asking forgiveness for the many times that I have offended her and she me. Then I began to notice that when talking to her over the phone that I was not so offended by what she said or when she put me down. She does have a problem sometimes with understanding things, or rather I would think, she is trying to get my goat. But I didn’t want to understand her problem, I wanted to take advantage of it and get back at her! This had been going on for years. But with God transforming me these last few months I have been able to talk to her without getting offended. I also sensed that she is changing also. Then the other night when I was giving her some technical information for something she wants to get, I was not the impatient person that I usually am with her. I could be patient and understanding with her! I did not jab her for not understanding something or taking so long to understand like I used to do. The Lord has really transformed me by the renewing of my mind!
A good day to you from the Merry Heart
our lovingly heavenly father
OUR LOVINGLY HEAVENLY FATHER
I have read Psalm 139 many many times but tonight it has taken on a totally different meaning. Tonight my Heavenly Father revealed even more how much He loves me. The words took on a much deeper meaning of how much HE loves me! Because he is so awesome, He knows where I am at all times, even in the depth of the earth! He knows my thoughts and what I will say even before I say them! The knowledge that He knows all this, that He cares for me and is concerned about me all the time and what I will say and do is too awesome for me to grasp. I probably am not conveying the awesomeness of all this, as I feel the words that I use are not enough for me to express how I feel. The words that I can use are not high enough for me to express how I feel, only when I get to heaven can I find the words to express my thoughts.
God designed us fearfully and wonderfully in a loving way as His thoughts are only precious of us! Fear in the bible means to be in awe of so He designed us awesomely! Precious means of great value or costly, held in high esteem, beloved and dear.
God has a plan and a purpose for our lives, he wrote down every moment of our lives in His Book even before our birth. In Psalm 138:8 it says that He will fulfill His purpose for my life. Even at my old age He still has a purpose for my life and I know that He will fulfill it!
All this is too wonderful for me to grasp, how my Heavenly Father has such thoughts of me!
A Good Day to you from the Merry Heart
I have read Psalm 139 many many times but tonight it has taken on a totally different meaning. Tonight my Heavenly Father revealed even more how much He loves me. The words took on a much deeper meaning of how much HE loves me! Because he is so awesome, He knows where I am at all times, even in the depth of the earth! He knows my thoughts and what I will say even before I say them! The knowledge that He knows all this, that He cares for me and is concerned about me all the time and what I will say and do is too awesome for me to grasp. I probably am not conveying the awesomeness of all this, as I feel the words that I use are not enough for me to express how I feel. The words that I can use are not high enough for me to express how I feel, only when I get to heaven can I find the words to express my thoughts.
God designed us fearfully and wonderfully in a loving way as His thoughts are only precious of us! Fear in the bible means to be in awe of so He designed us awesomely! Precious means of great value or costly, held in high esteem, beloved and dear.
God has a plan and a purpose for our lives, he wrote down every moment of our lives in His Book even before our birth. In Psalm 138:8 it says that He will fulfill His purpose for my life. Even at my old age He still has a purpose for my life and I know that He will fulfill it!
All this is too wonderful for me to grasp, how my Heavenly Father has such thoughts of me!
A Good Day to you from the Merry Heart
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
blatant "sin city"
B L A T A N T “S I N C I T Y”
Recently we took a week long trip to Las Vegas, Nevada, otherwise known as “Sin City”. And are they proud of it!
We were walking through a hotel/casino one time and a female voice came over the loud speaker and said: “We are proud to be called ‘Sin City’. Leave all your inhibitions behind and participate in all that we have here”. That”s not the exact quote but essentially what she said.
I couldn’t believe I heard that, a city being proud to be called “Sin City”. And openly telling everyone that it was perfectly fine to do what your basser nature desires to do! Come on and sin! It is fun and perfectly normal to go against God’s laws. It seemed like she was mocking God.
Then out on the street a billboard truck was cruising around all the time that read “Hot Babes Direct to You “! Then to add insult to insult at several places on the street several men were trying to give coupons for that service to passerbys and even to my husband! It didn’t seem to matter to them if the man had a girl or not!
“Sin City” will be judged some day along with the rest of America. Galatians 6:7-8, Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap. For he that sows to the flesh shall of the flash reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life eternal.” Romans 6:23, “ For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
We did see one show, that of Donny and Marie Osmond. And were they good! No filth or sex and they served only sodas! So you can have fun without all that other trash!
A good day to you from The Merry Heart
Recently we took a week long trip to Las Vegas, Nevada, otherwise known as “Sin City”. And are they proud of it!
We were walking through a hotel/casino one time and a female voice came over the loud speaker and said: “We are proud to be called ‘Sin City’. Leave all your inhibitions behind and participate in all that we have here”. That”s not the exact quote but essentially what she said.
I couldn’t believe I heard that, a city being proud to be called “Sin City”. And openly telling everyone that it was perfectly fine to do what your basser nature desires to do! Come on and sin! It is fun and perfectly normal to go against God’s laws. It seemed like she was mocking God.
Then out on the street a billboard truck was cruising around all the time that read “Hot Babes Direct to You “! Then to add insult to insult at several places on the street several men were trying to give coupons for that service to passerbys and even to my husband! It didn’t seem to matter to them if the man had a girl or not!
“Sin City” will be judged some day along with the rest of America. Galatians 6:7-8, Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap. For he that sows to the flesh shall of the flash reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life eternal.” Romans 6:23, “ For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
We did see one show, that of Donny and Marie Osmond. And were they good! No filth or sex and they served only sodas! So you can have fun without all that other trash!
A good day to you from The Merry Heart
BEING TRANSFORMED
B E I N G T R A N S F O R M E D
How do we change? Do we go from bible study to bible study? Do we complain to anyone who will listen to us hoping secretly that they will somehow have the answer to our problem or pray for us and heal us instantly of all our problems? I realize that some people are going through such horrendous ordeals that it is impossible to imagine how they cope on a daily basis. But the only answer and has been and always will be is to get with God. What! Is it that simple! Yes, it is. But you see some people going to different churches or bible studies or complaining to people etc. and to no avail. These people apparently do not want to spend the time it takes to commune with God by reading his word, praying to Him and praising Him. But it is the only way you will be transformed into his image which is his purpose for us.
I don’t want to sound like I am a super “Christian” but I have always communed with God on a daily basis most of the time. But I didn’t know what good fellowship with God was til now when I repented of believing all those lies and He began transforming me. But I digest.
In Romans 15:4 it says; “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope” It is a process and we are not perfect until we got to heaven. I have to always plug a wonderful seminar that I have gone through called “Cleansing Streams”, which sets and keeps you on the path of transformation. Drawing close to God is the only way that we will find the answers, this I can’t emphasize enough.
A good day to you from The Merry Heart
How do we change? Do we go from bible study to bible study? Do we complain to anyone who will listen to us hoping secretly that they will somehow have the answer to our problem or pray for us and heal us instantly of all our problems? I realize that some people are going through such horrendous ordeals that it is impossible to imagine how they cope on a daily basis. But the only answer and has been and always will be is to get with God. What! Is it that simple! Yes, it is. But you see some people going to different churches or bible studies or complaining to people etc. and to no avail. These people apparently do not want to spend the time it takes to commune with God by reading his word, praying to Him and praising Him. But it is the only way you will be transformed into his image which is his purpose for us.
I don’t want to sound like I am a super “Christian” but I have always communed with God on a daily basis most of the time. But I didn’t know what good fellowship with God was til now when I repented of believing all those lies and He began transforming me. But I digest.
In Romans 15:4 it says; “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope” It is a process and we are not perfect until we got to heaven. I have to always plug a wonderful seminar that I have gone through called “Cleansing Streams”, which sets and keeps you on the path of transformation. Drawing close to God is the only way that we will find the answers, this I can’t emphasize enough.
A good day to you from The Merry Heart
Friday, May 15, 2009
God ordains our life from birth
God Ordains Our Live Before Birth!
We all have a purpose for our life, not matter what we are going through. Some people go through very hard trials and some not so hard. But God had a purpose in mind even before we were born. I am going to quote Psalm 139:16 from two different bible versions, first the short one from the NIV Version, (New International Version), and then the King James Version; “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” and “Your eyes did see my substance, yet being unformed: and in your book all my members were written, which in continuous were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them”. They essentially say the same thing, one short but the other says so much more, not because it is much longer but has more meat to it. In the King James Version God saw us being formed, actually He formed us, and wrote out our entire life story.
Some people may say, “Hey, what is new? I already knew that” Well, to me, even though I have read that verse many many times, it finally hit me tonight what it truly was saying! I looked up the word “ordained” in my dictionary which I do a lot of now just to make sure that I am getting the right definition of it. One definition is to appoint or admit to the Christian ministry which our son went through at an ordination ceremony to become a full fledged minister some time back. Another definition is to set in order, to arrange, to prepare which is the definition that all we ordinary people have. Oh, yes, our son fits that definition also. God set in order our life, He arranged it and He prepared us for it. He set in motion the events from birth that would shape the type of ministry that He is preparing for us! If we would look at our situations that we have gone through or are going through as designed for us by God, our outlook on our situation would have an entirely different outlook. We should think about what is the purpose that God has for this hardship, trial, sickness or whatever we are going through? What does God want us to learn from this? Usually, everything that occurs is for our benefit or to help others who are going through the same thing.
Things do not happen accidently, NO, God has a purpose for them if we take the time to get with God and find out what that purpose is. Then our life will take on an entirely different meaning than just to exist til we die. It is a purpose that will be fulfilling and very rewarding, not necessarily money wise but will really bring true happiness to us. For in Christ will you find true happiness.
A good day to you from The Merry Heart
We all have a purpose for our life, not matter what we are going through. Some people go through very hard trials and some not so hard. But God had a purpose in mind even before we were born. I am going to quote Psalm 139:16 from two different bible versions, first the short one from the NIV Version, (New International Version), and then the King James Version; “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” and “Your eyes did see my substance, yet being unformed: and in your book all my members were written, which in continuous were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them”. They essentially say the same thing, one short but the other says so much more, not because it is much longer but has more meat to it. In the King James Version God saw us being formed, actually He formed us, and wrote out our entire life story.
Some people may say, “Hey, what is new? I already knew that” Well, to me, even though I have read that verse many many times, it finally hit me tonight what it truly was saying! I looked up the word “ordained” in my dictionary which I do a lot of now just to make sure that I am getting the right definition of it. One definition is to appoint or admit to the Christian ministry which our son went through at an ordination ceremony to become a full fledged minister some time back. Another definition is to set in order, to arrange, to prepare which is the definition that all we ordinary people have. Oh, yes, our son fits that definition also. God set in order our life, He arranged it and He prepared us for it. He set in motion the events from birth that would shape the type of ministry that He is preparing for us! If we would look at our situations that we have gone through or are going through as designed for us by God, our outlook on our situation would have an entirely different outlook. We should think about what is the purpose that God has for this hardship, trial, sickness or whatever we are going through? What does God want us to learn from this? Usually, everything that occurs is for our benefit or to help others who are going through the same thing.
Things do not happen accidently, NO, God has a purpose for them if we take the time to get with God and find out what that purpose is. Then our life will take on an entirely different meaning than just to exist til we die. It is a purpose that will be fulfilling and very rewarding, not necessarily money wise but will really bring true happiness to us. For in Christ will you find true happiness.
A good day to you from The Merry Heart
Sunday, May 10, 2009
musical tables
M U S I C A L T A B L E S A N Y O N E ?
You have heard of musical chairs but have you heard of musical tables? I hadn’t either til we did it! When we lived out in the country for twenty years, we have been in the city for ten years now, I had a ping pong table for my sewing table. Out children played ping pong while living at home but have been gone around twenty years now. When we moved to the city, the ping pong table did not fit in my sewing room so we gave it away. My hubby made me a sewing table out of a door with two legs attached to it. But it was not as satisfactory as the old ping pong table, I really missed it. And I had bought a cheap table for the kitchenette.. Then we inherited an antique but nice table from his mother that we decided to put in the kitchen and put that table in his den for his use.
Recently I was thinking of how I could get a table as big as the ping pong table without it overwhelming the room. Then I thought of the antique but nice table that we had inherited from my hubby’s mother that we use in the kitchenette. I measured it and it was big enough for the sewing projects that I do now. But how to replace the kitchen table. I did not want to waste my time going to garage sales or pay an exorbitant price. So my hubby suggested we put his table back in the kitchen, the antique table in my sewing room and the old sewing table in the garage to use for garage sales and he would use the two card tables that we have rarely used. Ta da! Problem solved! Thus musical tables!
A good day to you from The Merry Heart
You have heard of musical chairs but have you heard of musical tables? I hadn’t either til we did it! When we lived out in the country for twenty years, we have been in the city for ten years now, I had a ping pong table for my sewing table. Out children played ping pong while living at home but have been gone around twenty years now. When we moved to the city, the ping pong table did not fit in my sewing room so we gave it away. My hubby made me a sewing table out of a door with two legs attached to it. But it was not as satisfactory as the old ping pong table, I really missed it. And I had bought a cheap table for the kitchenette.. Then we inherited an antique but nice table from his mother that we decided to put in the kitchen and put that table in his den for his use.
Recently I was thinking of how I could get a table as big as the ping pong table without it overwhelming the room. Then I thought of the antique but nice table that we had inherited from my hubby’s mother that we use in the kitchenette. I measured it and it was big enough for the sewing projects that I do now. But how to replace the kitchen table. I did not want to waste my time going to garage sales or pay an exorbitant price. So my hubby suggested we put his table back in the kitchen, the antique table in my sewing room and the old sewing table in the garage to use for garage sales and he would use the two card tables that we have rarely used. Ta da! Problem solved! Thus musical tables!
A good day to you from The Merry Heart
stinky thinking remover
STINKY THINKING REMOVER
Do you think stinky thoughts?
Do you want to get revenge?
Are your thoughts of Me, Me, Me?
Stinky Thinking Remover can help!
Satisfied Results!
Highly Recommended!
A satisfied customer can testify to the satisfying results of Stink Thinking Remover, Jesus Christ. He can remove those thoughts when they enter your mind. He is the only one capable of doing that. When He does the job, the results are satisfying! When you come to Jesus Christ, you do not have to clean up your act to come, He will clean you up!
I am that satisfied customer. I tried to clean up my act for many many years with no satisfied results. The thoughts would always come back. I can’t guarantee that they will not because satan will always come back and tell you his lies about you that you are no good, no one loves you, you said that wrong, etc. But we have an advocate, Jesus Christ, who will help us. He loves you with an everlasting love and is always for your good. In John 10:10, it says: “Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”, John 10:10.
I highly recommend Him!
A good day to you from The Merry Heart.
Do you think stinky thoughts?
Do you want to get revenge?
Are your thoughts of Me, Me, Me?
Stinky Thinking Remover can help!
Satisfied Results!
Highly Recommended!
A satisfied customer can testify to the satisfying results of Stink Thinking Remover, Jesus Christ. He can remove those thoughts when they enter your mind. He is the only one capable of doing that. When He does the job, the results are satisfying! When you come to Jesus Christ, you do not have to clean up your act to come, He will clean you up!
I am that satisfied customer. I tried to clean up my act for many many years with no satisfied results. The thoughts would always come back. I can’t guarantee that they will not because satan will always come back and tell you his lies about you that you are no good, no one loves you, you said that wrong, etc. But we have an advocate, Jesus Christ, who will help us. He loves you with an everlasting love and is always for your good. In John 10:10, it says: “Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”, John 10:10.
I highly recommend Him!
A good day to you from The Merry Heart.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
H E A V E N L Y L O V E !
H E A V E N L Y L O V E !
For years I had been trying to find a feeling of love from my Heavenly Father because I never did feel love from my earthly father or anybody for that matter. Although I knew that my father and mother loved me, they were not the kind of people that showed love so I grew up not showing love to others. Then it is only when we know the love of our Heavenly Father that we can truly show love to others. I spent many years reading the book of Palms in the Bible but never could find that sense of love that I needed. Palms is a good book to read when you feel down or depressed as it gives you such inspiration.
A prophecy was given me in the year of 1996 that I have been working through. I didn’t know that I was working through it til some months back when some sentence really made sense to me. Since then every so often another sentence is clarified as to what it truly means. This morning in my quiet time I was doing a lesson in a workbook for a bible class and it mentioned that God will envelope you with His perfect heavenly love. Another sentence clarified! In this prophecy it says; “I will show you more of me and I will envelope you with my love and myself.” He has enveloped me so much with His love in the last few months! It is so wonderful to be enveloped with His love! His heavenly love has started a healing in my heart so that I can start loving others!
The main reason that I feel so much love for God is because He sent His Son to die for me on the cross so that I do not have to go to hell for my sins. You too can feel his love by accepting Him as your Savior.
A good day to you from The Merry Heart
For years I had been trying to find a feeling of love from my Heavenly Father because I never did feel love from my earthly father or anybody for that matter. Although I knew that my father and mother loved me, they were not the kind of people that showed love so I grew up not showing love to others. Then it is only when we know the love of our Heavenly Father that we can truly show love to others. I spent many years reading the book of Palms in the Bible but never could find that sense of love that I needed. Palms is a good book to read when you feel down or depressed as it gives you such inspiration.
A prophecy was given me in the year of 1996 that I have been working through. I didn’t know that I was working through it til some months back when some sentence really made sense to me. Since then every so often another sentence is clarified as to what it truly means. This morning in my quiet time I was doing a lesson in a workbook for a bible class and it mentioned that God will envelope you with His perfect heavenly love. Another sentence clarified! In this prophecy it says; “I will show you more of me and I will envelope you with my love and myself.” He has enveloped me so much with His love in the last few months! It is so wonderful to be enveloped with His love! His heavenly love has started a healing in my heart so that I can start loving others!
The main reason that I feel so much love for God is because He sent His Son to die for me on the cross so that I do not have to go to hell for my sins. You too can feel his love by accepting Him as your Savior.
A good day to you from The Merry Heart
Thursday, April 30, 2009
I AM A TRANSFORMED PERSON
I AM A TRANSFORMED PERSON!
Yes, I am a transformed person! There is a verse in the bible from Romans 12:2 that says “Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”. God is the one that does the transforming! We do not have to work at it. I have tried for years to transform myself but failed miserably. I took a seminar called “Cleansing Streams” at my local church which is the greatest tool for anyone who struggles with low esteem issues especially. I don’t say that you have to do “no work” but God does the transforming! The “work” that I did was to do the home work in the workbook, read the Bible, and praise the Lord! Before I took this seminar when reading the Bible, I read it mainly as if it was a novel. Things that I should have taken to heart and do, I didn’t think pertain to me. I really thought they were for unbelievers, but the Bible is for believers! The Bible was written to believers and for believers! And when reading the Bible years ago when I needed help, I would read for an hour in the early morning when I couldn’t sleep and some scripture would give me hope and I could go back to bed and sleep.
Last night at a class of Cleansing Streams, I felt such boldness and yes, love, that I could speak out and not feel afraid that if someone didn’t like me, I would feel unlovely. But because I know that I am a child of God and that He loves me unconditionally, I can be bold! I don’t have to worry about whether this person or that person likes me which has been a big problem in my life. Because I did not have love for myself, I could not love other people, ....”You shall love your neighbor as yourself”, Galatians 5:14.
Does this mean that I have finally arrived at being perfect! No, it definitely does not! And will satan quit harassing me? No, it definitely does not! As long as we live on earth where satan is the prince of this air, we will always be harassed by satan. But I know that I will always have the victory over any problem with God’s help.
Knowing who you are in Christ is really the key to being transformed. Without that knowledge you can not progress in anything that you do. But first you have to know God by confessing your sins and receiving Him as your Savior. It is the most wonderful thing that you can do.
A good day to you from The Merry Heart
Yes, I am a transformed person! There is a verse in the bible from Romans 12:2 that says “Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”. God is the one that does the transforming! We do not have to work at it. I have tried for years to transform myself but failed miserably. I took a seminar called “Cleansing Streams” at my local church which is the greatest tool for anyone who struggles with low esteem issues especially. I don’t say that you have to do “no work” but God does the transforming! The “work” that I did was to do the home work in the workbook, read the Bible, and praise the Lord! Before I took this seminar when reading the Bible, I read it mainly as if it was a novel. Things that I should have taken to heart and do, I didn’t think pertain to me. I really thought they were for unbelievers, but the Bible is for believers! The Bible was written to believers and for believers! And when reading the Bible years ago when I needed help, I would read for an hour in the early morning when I couldn’t sleep and some scripture would give me hope and I could go back to bed and sleep.
Last night at a class of Cleansing Streams, I felt such boldness and yes, love, that I could speak out and not feel afraid that if someone didn’t like me, I would feel unlovely. But because I know that I am a child of God and that He loves me unconditionally, I can be bold! I don’t have to worry about whether this person or that person likes me which has been a big problem in my life. Because I did not have love for myself, I could not love other people, ....”You shall love your neighbor as yourself”, Galatians 5:14.
Does this mean that I have finally arrived at being perfect! No, it definitely does not! And will satan quit harassing me? No, it definitely does not! As long as we live on earth where satan is the prince of this air, we will always be harassed by satan. But I know that I will always have the victory over any problem with God’s help.
Knowing who you are in Christ is really the key to being transformed. Without that knowledge you can not progress in anything that you do. But first you have to know God by confessing your sins and receiving Him as your Savior. It is the most wonderful thing that you can do.
A good day to you from The Merry Heart
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
What we all truly want
Tonight when I woke up early in the morning and couldn’t go back to sleep and satan was tormenting with thoughts that I was not loved, I went out to seek the Lord. And as always He gave me comfort. When I have these thoughts of feeling unloved, I read my prophecy that I got in Dec. 96. Each time I read it, I get a much deeper meaning of some portion of the prophecy. Tonight the phrases “I love you, I love you” and “You are mine, You are mine” repeated several times, and the phrases “You have done nothing to offend me” and “There is nothing you will ever do to offend me for I am your Father and I love you”, really spoke to me. I don’t ever remember hearing “I love you” said to me. One time I remember standing by my Father’s chair talking to him and he affirmed me , the only time anyone ever affirmed me! It made me feel so good but once does not ever make you feel secure or loved. Tonight with the repeating of God’s Words to me in his prophecy to me, His very own letter to me, makes me feel affirmed. It made me feel ever so much better because He affirmed that He loves me because whatever I have done and whatever I will do, will not offend Him! What a revelation! I know that I am His Child and that I am forgiven of anything ever and that He still loves me!
Then I saw some pictures of my Chinese granddaughter, Abby, being reared by my son, Billy and his wife, Linda, when she was only one years old and looking so happy. These two people are the best parents in the world; they have showered love on this girl so much that you can tell that she is loved by the expressions on her face and in her eyes. They have accepted her for who she is and allowed her to be who she is. They have adopted another Chinese girl and she is totally different but they have allowed her to be who she is also and accepted her for who she is. That is all anyone wants from anyone and that is what I have always wanted also.
In writing this blog I just realized that God does accept me for who I am. That is such a comforting and wonderful thought! I am loved for who I am, I am His Child and He is my Father!
If you have a problem with believing that anyone loves you, the only way you can ever feel loved is to know God. You too can know God by accepting Him as your savior and confessing your sins.
The Merry Heart
Then I saw some pictures of my Chinese granddaughter, Abby, being reared by my son, Billy and his wife, Linda, when she was only one years old and looking so happy. These two people are the best parents in the world; they have showered love on this girl so much that you can tell that she is loved by the expressions on her face and in her eyes. They have accepted her for who she is and allowed her to be who she is. They have adopted another Chinese girl and she is totally different but they have allowed her to be who she is also and accepted her for who she is. That is all anyone wants from anyone and that is what I have always wanted also.
In writing this blog I just realized that God does accept me for who I am. That is such a comforting and wonderful thought! I am loved for who I am, I am His Child and He is my Father!
If you have a problem with believing that anyone loves you, the only way you can ever feel loved is to know God. You too can know God by accepting Him as your savior and confessing your sins.
The Merry Heart
Monday, April 27, 2009
Perseverance of Winter Analogous to Christians Victory
Perseverance of winter being squashed by spring time is analogous to a believer of God seeking relieve from a problem and finding the truth of that situation. This past week we have had cold weather and snow and rain mixture, now today the forecast for this week is temperatures in the 70s. What a change! Finally the demise of winter is overtaken by spring.
It is the same in our walk with the Lord. I have been battling a personal problem in my relationship with people and have been seeking the Lord what to do. Should I confront that person and explain that believing the lies of satan have lead to me behaving this way and ask for her forgiveness? Should I ask God to forgive me and change my behavior? Should I try and change on my own? Finally after battling for a few weeks with the issue and seeking God, I got my answer which was right before me all the time! Sometimes that does happen. I had read this book sometime back and this thought hit me like a bolt of lightning so I knew I had to write it down and put it on my bulletin board. At the time it didn’t mean as much to me as it does now.
When we fail at doing something doesn’t make us a failure, hence the moto: if at first you don’t succeed, try again. But when we do it on our own without God’s help and fail, then it can be considered a failure in God’s economy. God wants us to be dependent on Him as He knows best the way we should overcome a problem. I have had this problem, I think, most of my life and have tried to overcome it on my own, obviously since I still have the problem, I didn’t succeed. I have been seeking God for the answer the last few weeks and finally last night I got my answer. After praying and reading, finally I looked up and there was the answer on my bulletin board! The fact that I am a child of God, I can behave in a way that is consistent with the fact that God loves me and I do not have to act like I am unworthy and unloved and don’t deserve that person’s respect or friendship. But I first had to realize that God really does love me. It took me a long time for me to believe that and truly know that I am really a child of God. Now I can act according to that fact. I do not have to be timid or unfriendly but I can be bold with God’s help.
You can also know that God loves you by repenting of your sins and accepting Him as your savior and began reading the Bible and worshiping Him. Then you will know joy.
The Merry Heart
It is the same in our walk with the Lord. I have been battling a personal problem in my relationship with people and have been seeking the Lord what to do. Should I confront that person and explain that believing the lies of satan have lead to me behaving this way and ask for her forgiveness? Should I ask God to forgive me and change my behavior? Should I try and change on my own? Finally after battling for a few weeks with the issue and seeking God, I got my answer which was right before me all the time! Sometimes that does happen. I had read this book sometime back and this thought hit me like a bolt of lightning so I knew I had to write it down and put it on my bulletin board. At the time it didn’t mean as much to me as it does now.
When we fail at doing something doesn’t make us a failure, hence the moto: if at first you don’t succeed, try again. But when we do it on our own without God’s help and fail, then it can be considered a failure in God’s economy. God wants us to be dependent on Him as He knows best the way we should overcome a problem. I have had this problem, I think, most of my life and have tried to overcome it on my own, obviously since I still have the problem, I didn’t succeed. I have been seeking God for the answer the last few weeks and finally last night I got my answer. After praying and reading, finally I looked up and there was the answer on my bulletin board! The fact that I am a child of God, I can behave in a way that is consistent with the fact that God loves me and I do not have to act like I am unworthy and unloved and don’t deserve that person’s respect or friendship. But I first had to realize that God really does love me. It took me a long time for me to believe that and truly know that I am really a child of God. Now I can act according to that fact. I do not have to be timid or unfriendly but I can be bold with God’s help.
You can also know that God loves you by repenting of your sins and accepting Him as your savior and began reading the Bible and worshiping Him. Then you will know joy.
The Merry Heart
God's Promises are ever faithful
God Promises Are Ever Faithful
In this world when everything seems to be falling apart, who can we trust? Banks and many businesses are failing. Many people are losing their jobs. Prices of everything are going up and up. People are losing their homes. Couples are divorcing. Crime is on the uprise.
There is a source of help that we can trust. He is ever faithful. He is our best friend. He has our best interest at heart. God can always be depended upon to help us, even when we are unfaithful. In years past especially when I would wake up in the middle of the night and couldn’t go back to sleep, I would go out and read my Bible. I needed some help for the next day. So I would start reading and after an hour, a scripture would jump out at me that would give me hope and then I could go back to bed and sleep. God was ever faithful to give me a scripture to help me just as He does now.
Tonight in my quiet time with the Lord, I began to realize that all the scriptures in the Bible are promises that when we believe them, He is ever faithful to fulfill. I have always heard that but until it gets down into your spirit and you realize that it is true, you don’t really believe it is true. What a awesome thought! There are so many promises in the Bible! I can’t fathom how many promises there are! But the secret to these promises is to believe them! You can’t begin to claim all the promises, only the ones that pertain to your situation and what God impresses upon you to claim as your own. When God impresses upon me a scripture, I write it down and start memorizing it. I takes me a while to memorize as I am 71. But while memorizing, I am meditating upon it and it gets down into my spirit and it becomes alive! I really truly know what it means. Then I keep saying it and it finally becomes a part of me, usually some aspect of my walk with the Lord that needs to be cleaned up.
You too can begin to claim God’s promises if you accept Him as your Savior and Lord and confess your sins. We as Christians are not guaranteed a life free from troubles but He is ever faithful to His promise that He will help us.
The Merry Heart
In this world when everything seems to be falling apart, who can we trust? Banks and many businesses are failing. Many people are losing their jobs. Prices of everything are going up and up. People are losing their homes. Couples are divorcing. Crime is on the uprise.
There is a source of help that we can trust. He is ever faithful. He is our best friend. He has our best interest at heart. God can always be depended upon to help us, even when we are unfaithful. In years past especially when I would wake up in the middle of the night and couldn’t go back to sleep, I would go out and read my Bible. I needed some help for the next day. So I would start reading and after an hour, a scripture would jump out at me that would give me hope and then I could go back to bed and sleep. God was ever faithful to give me a scripture to help me just as He does now.
Tonight in my quiet time with the Lord, I began to realize that all the scriptures in the Bible are promises that when we believe them, He is ever faithful to fulfill. I have always heard that but until it gets down into your spirit and you realize that it is true, you don’t really believe it is true. What a awesome thought! There are so many promises in the Bible! I can’t fathom how many promises there are! But the secret to these promises is to believe them! You can’t begin to claim all the promises, only the ones that pertain to your situation and what God impresses upon you to claim as your own. When God impresses upon me a scripture, I write it down and start memorizing it. I takes me a while to memorize as I am 71. But while memorizing, I am meditating upon it and it gets down into my spirit and it becomes alive! I really truly know what it means. Then I keep saying it and it finally becomes a part of me, usually some aspect of my walk with the Lord that needs to be cleaned up.
You too can begin to claim God’s promises if you accept Him as your Savior and Lord and confess your sins. We as Christians are not guaranteed a life free from troubles but He is ever faithful to His promise that He will help us.
The Merry Heart
God is ever faithful
GOD IS EVER FAITHFUL
This morning when I finally got up at 3:30, after failing to go back to sleep to sleep in 30 minutes, I was having a struggle with some worry in my life and satan was attacking me about the situation. So I went out to my best and only source that is able to always help me. I remember the many times many years ago when my children were still home when I had a problem or worry and I would go out and read the bible. I would always read for exactly an hour and something would be in the Word that would help me or give me hope. Reading the bible for an hour may not be the prescription for everyone but for some reason it was for me. I would go back to bed and sleep and the next morning I could fact the day with hope and, yes, joy! I remember my daughter telling her cousin once when they were talking about their mothers that I laughed a lot. I had never thought of myself as a person that laughed a lot but I do, I like to laugh and make a joke and try to find the funny side of things. She is now a person who likes to find the funny side of situations and has she gone through some rough times.
Nowadays, when I go out and read the bible or some good Christian book for help, I find that I spend more time not just reading but also praising and worshiping Him. I so enjoy His Presence and worshiping Him, I enjoy our “quiet time” together! He has been so faithful and He has done so much for me!
You too can have this joy by knowing the Lord by accepting Him as your savior and repenting of your sins.
The Merry Heart
This morning when I finally got up at 3:30, after failing to go back to sleep to sleep in 30 minutes, I was having a struggle with some worry in my life and satan was attacking me about the situation. So I went out to my best and only source that is able to always help me. I remember the many times many years ago when my children were still home when I had a problem or worry and I would go out and read the bible. I would always read for exactly an hour and something would be in the Word that would help me or give me hope. Reading the bible for an hour may not be the prescription for everyone but for some reason it was for me. I would go back to bed and sleep and the next morning I could fact the day with hope and, yes, joy! I remember my daughter telling her cousin once when they were talking about their mothers that I laughed a lot. I had never thought of myself as a person that laughed a lot but I do, I like to laugh and make a joke and try to find the funny side of things. She is now a person who likes to find the funny side of situations and has she gone through some rough times.
Nowadays, when I go out and read the bible or some good Christian book for help, I find that I spend more time not just reading but also praising and worshiping Him. I so enjoy His Presence and worshiping Him, I enjoy our “quiet time” together! He has been so faithful and He has done so much for me!
You too can have this joy by knowing the Lord by accepting Him as your savior and repenting of your sins.
The Merry Heart
Thursday, April 16, 2009
stinking thinking
“Stinky Thinking” is a phrase that is said a lot to convey that what we think when we do not have the Word of God in our thinking. Even Christians are not immune to this as I can testify to this. I grew up in a Baptist Church from a little child, learned scripture, and even as an adult, I studied the bible very intently as I went to many bible studies. But until you apply those scriptures to yourself, thinking as I did, “hey, these scriptures do not apply to me, they are for non-Christians.”
The bible was written to Christians, not to non-Christians so they do apply to Christians.
Another facet of this equation is that at some point in our lives, when we allow satan to enter into our minds and we believe his lies, we can get “stinky thinking”. I became a basket case until I learned to apply the truth from God’s Word. I used to just read the scripture without thinking that it applied to me and that I should pay attention and meditate on it. Now when I find a scripture that speaks to me, jumps out at me you might say, I write it down on an index card, sometimes several cards and put them throughout the house. I memorize the scripture and think about it and let it get down into my spirit. That is when it can correct your thinking as God will work on you to straighten out your “stinky thinking”. It is marvelous how God works in you to straighten out your “stinky thinking”. If we just let Him work in us instead of us trying to fix things, He does a much better job of it. I tried for years to fix things: my relationships, my self-esteem, etc. I cannot stress how God has been changing my “stinky thinking”. I just praise Him most nights when I go out and have my quiet time with Him. Most of all I praise Him for dying in my place on the cross so I do not have to die and go to hell. You can too by accepting Him as your savior and repenting of your sins. This will be the first day of your life headed to heaven instead of hell. Who wants to go there! There is only brime stone and fire everlasting! But the Christian life is not a bed of roses, you will still be attacked by satan because he hates you and wants you to be miserable and be an ineffective witness for Christ. But you are going to heaven where there is joy eternal! Hallelujah!
The Merry Heart
The bible was written to Christians, not to non-Christians so they do apply to Christians.
Another facet of this equation is that at some point in our lives, when we allow satan to enter into our minds and we believe his lies, we can get “stinky thinking”. I became a basket case until I learned to apply the truth from God’s Word. I used to just read the scripture without thinking that it applied to me and that I should pay attention and meditate on it. Now when I find a scripture that speaks to me, jumps out at me you might say, I write it down on an index card, sometimes several cards and put them throughout the house. I memorize the scripture and think about it and let it get down into my spirit. That is when it can correct your thinking as God will work on you to straighten out your “stinky thinking”. It is marvelous how God works in you to straighten out your “stinky thinking”. If we just let Him work in us instead of us trying to fix things, He does a much better job of it. I tried for years to fix things: my relationships, my self-esteem, etc. I cannot stress how God has been changing my “stinky thinking”. I just praise Him most nights when I go out and have my quiet time with Him. Most of all I praise Him for dying in my place on the cross so I do not have to die and go to hell. You can too by accepting Him as your savior and repenting of your sins. This will be the first day of your life headed to heaven instead of hell. Who wants to go there! There is only brime stone and fire everlasting! But the Christian life is not a bed of roses, you will still be attacked by satan because he hates you and wants you to be miserable and be an ineffective witness for Christ. But you are going to heaven where there is joy eternal! Hallelujah!
The Merry Heart
God will help
From The Merry Heart to whomever wishes to read this, may you be blessed and uplifted in your spirit as I have been. The Lord has been transforming me by the renewing of my mind and did it need to be renewed! I am past 70 year old now and this all started as a young girl of about 12, the age of accountability, where you are accountable to God and whether you will accept him or not at a certain time in your life. We think of 12 as generally the age of accountability, and I thought the rest sounded like good philosophy!
At 12 where I and my parents and my 5 siblings were attending a revival at our little brimstone-hell-fire Baptist Church, a turning point occurred in my life for the worse. After the evening service I was putting away the songbooks as the church building also was our school and that seems to be my pattern; I’m always busy or too busy. The evangelist asked my twin sister to come forward the next night to be saved and to tell me as he couldn’t get to talk to me as I was busy. When she told me later that night in bed, I was offended that he did not talk to me personally so I determined that I was not going to go forward. And so the next night my twin, Delores, went forward and had a glorious experience; I should have gone forward as the Holy Spirit was dealing with me but I was stubborn and determined not to as I was offended. I went forward some time later but I didn’t have the same experience that Delores had so I always felt I wasn’t saved. Because of that offense and not feeling saved I have been tormented by Satan since then.
Yes, I grew up in a Baptist Church where you are “saved”. That means that usually at the end of his sermon, the pastor asks people to come forward to be “saved”. That means that you are ready to ask forgiveness for your sins and receive Jesus into your heart and save you from hell. Jesus died on the cross for our sins so that we do not have to die and go to hell for eternity. We do not have to pay for our sins as Jesus died in our place. God required a sacrifice for sin and He sent his only Begotten Son to do that. Jesus was the only one who could do that as He led a perfect life while here on earth.
Satan has told me so many lies which is his profession: he is the father of lies, he started it! I grew up not feeling loved, unworthy, shameful, you name it, I felt unworthy. I was a basket case and didn’t like myself or other people. Luckily I married a wonderful man who was kind and patient with me although I married him for the wrong reasons. I married him so I wouldn’t be an old maid. I know now that I couldn’t love my husband as I didn’t even have love for myself.
I joined a small group called “Cleansing Streams”, a wonderful class where you learn to overcome obstacles in your life with the help of God. Even before I started the class I told my husband I was being offended about every day. At the first class the teacher was telling about the book “The Bait of Satan” by John Bevere, that tells how satan makes us be offended. I thought, “What! Offences are little things, how can that be?” To my surprise when I read it, I was amazed how satan causes offenses to grow and get bigger. This is the story of how my life has been completely turned around with God’s help, I can’t emphasize “with God’s help” enough as that is the only way that my life has been turned around. I could not change myself on my own, I tried and tried for years to change myself but never could. Only God can do that. More next time. The Merry Heart
At 12 where I and my parents and my 5 siblings were attending a revival at our little brimstone-hell-fire Baptist Church, a turning point occurred in my life for the worse. After the evening service I was putting away the songbooks as the church building also was our school and that seems to be my pattern; I’m always busy or too busy. The evangelist asked my twin sister to come forward the next night to be saved and to tell me as he couldn’t get to talk to me as I was busy. When she told me later that night in bed, I was offended that he did not talk to me personally so I determined that I was not going to go forward. And so the next night my twin, Delores, went forward and had a glorious experience; I should have gone forward as the Holy Spirit was dealing with me but I was stubborn and determined not to as I was offended. I went forward some time later but I didn’t have the same experience that Delores had so I always felt I wasn’t saved. Because of that offense and not feeling saved I have been tormented by Satan since then.
Yes, I grew up in a Baptist Church where you are “saved”. That means that usually at the end of his sermon, the pastor asks people to come forward to be “saved”. That means that you are ready to ask forgiveness for your sins and receive Jesus into your heart and save you from hell. Jesus died on the cross for our sins so that we do not have to die and go to hell for eternity. We do not have to pay for our sins as Jesus died in our place. God required a sacrifice for sin and He sent his only Begotten Son to do that. Jesus was the only one who could do that as He led a perfect life while here on earth.
Satan has told me so many lies which is his profession: he is the father of lies, he started it! I grew up not feeling loved, unworthy, shameful, you name it, I felt unworthy. I was a basket case and didn’t like myself or other people. Luckily I married a wonderful man who was kind and patient with me although I married him for the wrong reasons. I married him so I wouldn’t be an old maid. I know now that I couldn’t love my husband as I didn’t even have love for myself.
I joined a small group called “Cleansing Streams”, a wonderful class where you learn to overcome obstacles in your life with the help of God. Even before I started the class I told my husband I was being offended about every day. At the first class the teacher was telling about the book “The Bait of Satan” by John Bevere, that tells how satan makes us be offended. I thought, “What! Offences are little things, how can that be?” To my surprise when I read it, I was amazed how satan causes offenses to grow and get bigger. This is the story of how my life has been completely turned around with God’s help, I can’t emphasize “with God’s help” enough as that is the only way that my life has been turned around. I could not change myself on my own, I tried and tried for years to change myself but never could. Only God can do that. More next time. The Merry Heart
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