Monday, November 15, 2010

I hope you all have had a refreshing weekend. Jerry and I are a  bit puny with sinuses – scratchy throat, some coughing, all over yucky feeling. But the good news is we’ll get better! Like it or not our physical well being affects our spirits. It takes more effort to go the extra mile when you don’t ‘feel’ like going the first one. But we’ll leave that right there and move on.

Since I have few words of my own tonight … hard to believe I know; please enjoy with me a poem by Helen Steiner Rice, A Collection of Love Gifts (ISBN 978-1-59789-696-2)

Brighten the Corner Where You Are

We cannot all be famous or be listed in “Who’s Who,” But every person great or small has important work to do,

For seldom do we realize the importance of small deeds or to what degree of greatness unnoticed kindness leads–

For it’s not the big celebrity in a world of fame and praise, But it’s doing unpretentiously in undistinguished ways

The work that God assigned to us, unimportant as it seems, That makes our task outstanding and brings reality to dreams —

So do not sit and idly wish for wider, new dimensions where you can put in practice your many good intentions–

But at the spot God placed you begin at once to do little things to brighten up the lives surrounding you,

For if everybody brightened up the spot on which they’re standing by being more considerate and a little less demanding,

This dark old world would very soon eclipse the Evening Star if everybody brightened up the corner where they are!

Isaiah 58: (The Message) ^9-12“If you get rid of unfair practices, quit blaming victims, quit gossiping about other people’s sins, If you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out, Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight. I will always show you where to go. I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places— firm muscles, strong bones. You’ll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry. You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You’ll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again.

Physically thriving or striving to thrive, I am so grateful to be Yours. So grateful to call You, ABBA. So grateful for the work You are doing in Your Church. Grateful and looking forward to seeing what will happen next.  HOLY SPIRIT, I ask You to minister Your Word here to each heart.  And as Sula comes to mind, I pray for her, for You to comfort her and I pray You will prompt us who live close by to give her space and company as she needs. And I pray for Lenore. ABBA, You know the need there, You know the concern and I pray for some soon good news. And I am remembering our IDOK Troops for safety and protection, remembering too our Praying for These, and for Israel, and An Awakening for America and revival of Your saints — all this, ABBA, I bring in JESUS NAME. Amen and amen.

Holy hugs, kt

Post Script … a Reminder of our Second Give-Away. Click here to go to that post and make your comment for the drawing.  Drawing will be after 8:00 PM tonight (Monday).

Hebrews 13: (New King James Version)3 Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.

Pray for the Persecuted Nov. 14

Churches across the United States and around the world are preparing to “remember those in bonds” on Nov. 14, the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP). Begun in 1996, IDOP is a day of intercessory prayer and citizen action on behalf of persecuted Christian communities worldwide. Encourage your churches and prayer groups to intercede for persecuted believers around the world.

This information is from The Voice of the Martyrs. I hope you will visit the link and read more. Such as this one:

IRAQ — Muslims Attack Church in Baghdad — VOM Contacts / Compass Direct News

On Oct. 31, Islamic extremists attacked worshipers at the Syrian Catholic Church of Baghdad, killing 59 Christians and severely injuring more than 80 others, according to VOM sources. Several gunmen armed with automatic weapons and explosives entered the church during a worship service and opened fire on worshipers. Two priests were among those killed in the attack. “[This church was attacked] because they are very active, especially among the youth and community,” VOM contacts said. “This church works closely with the United Bible Society and VOM by distributing Bibles and Action Packs in Iraq. This is the second time this church has been targeted; in 2004 it was hit with a car bomb.” A militant organization called the Islamic State of Iraq, which has links to al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia, claimed responsibility for the attack, according to Compass Direct News. Following the attack, sources told VOM that churches throughout the city had received death-threat letters, warning them to stop their Christian activities or face similar consequences. The threats have caused many churches to cancel services. VOM contacts reported that on Nov. 2, 16 bombs exploded in Baghdad within an hour, killing 100 people and injuring 380. Pray for Iraqi Christians, especially for the families of those killed and injured in the Oct. 31 attack. Ask God to comfort and minister to them during this difficult time. Pray that in the aftermath of this brutal violence, Iraqi Christians will keep their eyes on Jesus, persevere in faith, and not grow weary or lose heart. Pray for peace and stability in Iraq.

Please take this information with you to your respective churches and share with your sisters and brothers and PRAY!

If there is not repentance in America we will one day be persecuted as these are.

Holy hugs, kt

A sister-friend was saying to me today that until one experiences JESUS for themselves they just don’t know. We try to describe experiencing Him but they just don’t know.

And then as I sat to think what can I share with you, I picked up my copy of Just Between God & Me (by Sandra Drescher) and November 12 reads like this:

Take A Closer Look

One day in a science class, we looked at flowers under a microscope. The beauty of each intricate part of what had previously been an ordinary looking flower was impossible to describe. Each person had to look himself to experience the joy. Since then I have recognized more beauty in each flower I see, because I know more of what’s there.

Jesus, in His glory, is that way too. Each person must take the time to discover for himself Jesus’ true beauty. No words can do justice to the real picture of what life with Him is like. Once His glory has been seen, the only regret is that it wasn’t known before.

The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 NIV).

Thank You, Jesus, for making Yourself available for everyone to see. Grant that I will help encourage others to discover Your true beauty also. Amen.

Amen and amen!

Psalm 27:(New American Standard Bible) ⁴One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple.

Praying for These.

Holy hugs and have a wonderful weekend, kt

November 12, 1961 was a special day — the birth date of Helen Louise Cason who became Helen Louise Cason Smith on October 19, 1984. I miss her.  Forty-Eight was a short time to be here but she now has eternity to celebrate and I’m sure she is!