Monthly Archives: February 2011

Christian Living

A Reach?

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Let me just say Good Monday Morning (even though it is nearly 10 PM Sunday night)! 

The Eastern Shore Women’s Ministry Conference this year was the best yet … we say that every year — only because it is true! The theme this year was Wake Up — My People. And that is just what I want to  do — wake up and live!  Live like the return of JESUS is imminent — because it is!!

Pastor Aaron Fruh delivered a message that dropped my jaw — Jerry’s too.   I am posting a link here for you that will allow you to listen to the message. It will of course not be exactly what we were privileged to hear on Friday night but no doubt will give you a good taste. When the web page opens scroll down to selection number 8. It is titled 8 Harbingers. Let  me know what you think.

I had a really good time in Sunday School this morning. We finished up 2 Kings and next week we begin Philippians. I said, “Hallelujah”! Leading an Old Testament study is hard for me, particularly pronouncing those names. But as we were finishing the lesson which was to encourage us to hold on to our hope, I read to the class one of my favorite passages of Old Testament Holy Writ. Would you do me the honor of reading it with me?

Deuteronomy 30 (New American Standard Bible) 1“So it shall be when all of these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind in all nations where the LORD your God has banished you,  
2and you return to the LORD your God and obey Him with all your heart and soul according to all that I command you today, you and your sons,  
3then the LORD your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you.  
4“If your outcasts are at the ends of the earth, from there the LORD your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you back.  
5“The LORD your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers.  
6“Moreover the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.
7“The LORD your God will inflict all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate you, who persecuted you.
 8“And you shall again obey the LORD, and observe all His commandments which I command you today.  
9“Then the LORD your God will prosper you abundantly in all the work of your hand, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your cattle and in the produce of your ground, for the LORD will again rejoice over you for good, just as He rejoiced over your fathers;  
10if you obey the LORD your God to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law, if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and soul.
 11“For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach.

This command to live like JESUS is NOT too difficult for me.  It’s not too difficult for you today. It is not out of my reach. It is not out of your reach. Today.  Yes, today!

That’s good news to me!  You too? 

Praying for These

 Thank You, ABBA, for this good news. Thank You that in You all things are possible. Thank You that living holy lives is within our reach — all we have to do is yield when You speak. Thank You. I am grateful. You know the things on my mind and I am grateful and delighted that I can entrust them to You.  Thank You. I pray that each dear One who comes to this screen will take all those mind occupying things and entrust them to You this very day in JESUS Name.  Amen and amen.  

 Until then + + +
Kathie

Fascinating Facts of the Faith

Day 54

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CONFERENCE BEGINS TONIGHT

Fascinating Facts of the Faith

2008 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.
ISBN 978-1-60260-013-3
www.barbourbooks.com

Notable Books
With Christ in the School of Prayer
By Andrew Murray (1885)

     Readers today may not be aware that the book they hold in their hands, With Christ in the School of Prayer, debuted more than a hundred years ago. Still in print, Andrew Murray’s classic exposition continues to gather devoted readers with its message of hope and confidence in the power of prayer.
     Murray, a minister in the Dutch reformed Church in South Africa, found his congregations sadly lukewarm in regard to prayer. He realized that for most believers it was routine, ineffectual, and shallow. In With Christ in the School of Prayer, Murray aimed to light a fire in the prayer lives of believers by designing thirty-one lessons around the prayers of Jesus Christ recorded in the Gospels. He framed each study to bring readers to a fuller realization of God’s work in their lives. In the book, Murray invites believers to communicate with God not to gain favor with Him, but in order to joyfully surrender to His will and purpose. 
     Murray’s spiritual insights frequently ran afoul of orthodox Reformed theology. Nonetheless, he held to his conviction that each believer should expect and would receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
     While the language of the original appears dated to the modern reader, Murray’s short, concise chapters appeal to contemporary taste. His fervent passion for his subject comes across through real-life examples familiar to anyone who has grappled with what it means to pray. In Murray’s words, fellow believers hear and learn from the vibrant voice of passion, experience, wisdom, and faith.

FACT: Andrew Murray wrote, “If there is one thing I think the Church needs to learn, it is that God means prayer to have an answer, and that it hath not entered into the heart of man to conceive what God will do for His child who gives himself to believe that his prayer will be heard.”

[Jesus said,] “This, then, is how you should pray:
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.'”
Matthew 6:9

What would Andrew Murray say about the Church as a whole today? To be sure across this world there are pockets of Believers who are fervent prayers — we need more.

Praying for These

Reports on Jenny are very good — she is out of PICU and will soon be going home to continue her recovery.  Thank You, JESUS!! 
Last I heard Iris was coming along well.
I’m waiting for current word on Rosemary and Perry — but I am expecting good reports from each.  Keep praying.

ABBA, thank You for the privilege of prayer. Thank You for saints long ago as to our time who are now with You.  Thank You for the promise of fellowship and perhaps comparing notes in the eternity. Thank You for the glorious future You are preparing  for us.  Thank You for Jenny’s recovery. Thank You for recoveries for Iris, Rosemary and Perry too. Thank You for Your tending and interventions with all who are listed at Praying for These. Thank You for our IDOK Troops and we continue to pray for safety, protection and safe returns home for each of them. And as You have brought her to mind I pray for Elaine, thank You for blog friendships and I ask that You continue to minister to her and through her. Thank You for the conference this weekend — I only ask that You be there in Your Glory and heal and restore Your Daughters in JESUS name. Amen and amen.

Until then + + +
Kathie

Be sure to spend some time in corporate worship with other believers this weekend.  And, and — it is not too late to get that ticket and get to the Conference. Click HERE for more information.

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Little Foxes

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I have a new theme song lately which would explain my limited postings recently. Click here to hear it. Although the lyrics are there for you to read as you listen to the Youtube I have pasted the lyrics here along with some personal comments — hope you enjoy and perhaps we’ll find some strength too.

 Lyrics to This Is The Stuff :

I lost my keys in the great unknown
And call me please ‘Cuz I can’t find my phone

(My beloved would say not so — she always knows where her phone is!!) 

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that’s getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I’m blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You’re doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use 

45 in a 35               
(Again he would say not so — she drives 25 in a 25 — drives him crazy!!)
Sirens and fines while I’m running behind         
(running behind … oh yeah! But we are working on it. And making progress.)
Whoa

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that’s getting to me lately,
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I’m blessed                              
(This, oh yes, this is the kink in the armor! This is a nasty little fox that spoils the vine. Forgetting how blessed we are — spells Trouble with a capital T.  Anybody going there with me?)
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You’re doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

So break me of impatience        
(Yes, JESUS, please!)
Conquer my frustrations           
(Yes yes, JESUS, this too! But the impatience breaking will go a looooong way on cutting down on those frustrations, huh?  HE said YES!)
I’ve got a new appreciation
It’s not the end of the world
Oh Oh Oh

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff
Someone save me
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I’m blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
And I’ve gotta trust You know exactly what You’re doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

Oh Oh Oh Oh
This is the stuff You use

Do I hear an amen out there?

James 1:3-5 (Amplified Bible)
3Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.    
4But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing. 
5If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.

Praying for These

ABBA. how well you know little foxes have been running wild in my vineyard recently and I am way impatient with them and me, but this is the stuff that You use. I would rather I didn’t give You so much to work with :) but what is done is done — time to move on, right? Thank You, ABBA. You are AWESOME. And, HOLY SPIRIT, I pray now for every precious sister (and brother) out there that perhaps have had some foxes running wild too that You will assure them it’s time to move on and we can. Let it be so.
You know my thoughts about the conference this weekend. You know who You have encouraged, even commanded to be there — I pray every one of them will refuse to disobey You. I pray not one of them will stay home.  I pray You will make sure that no obstacle will be big enough to keep them from coming. I pray they will refuse to give into flesh or the Evil One by staying away from this conference. And, HOLY SPIRIT, I shall be so bold to pray that any soul You have not ordained to be there, You will ensure they are not. We pray for willing and seeking souls to be there. I ask that dishonesty be banished. I ask that nothing be allowed to stand that will hinder each one of us from hearing You oh so clearly.
And Jenny. Thank You for the obvious and the not yet obvious that You are doing for her and her family and friends. Iris too. And Perry. These are two precious sisters and I desire that they be well and vibrant to continue to minister in Your Name.
And there’s our Praying For These charges; You know their names, their faces and their needs. I am counting on You work Your perfect loving, just will for each of them. And our IDOK Troops as well. This and more I am bringing to You and I am confident of amens out there. So in agreement and in one accord we bring these petitions in JESUS name. Amen and amen.

Until Then + + +
Kathie