Monthly Archives: June 2011

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A Quick Read

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Even if you are a slow reader like me, you can read this in less than 30 minutes.  And it is my recommendation that at your first opportunity, you do.

Click the picture to be connected with a web link to learn more.

You matter. What you do matters more than you have imagined.

And if the Butterfly Effect does not convince you, perhaps an even more reliable source will —

Psalm 103 21st Century King James Version (KJ21)
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits–
3 who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases,
4 who redeemeth thy life from destruction, who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
7 He made known His ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide, neither will He keep His anger for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear Him.
14For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children’s children,
18 to such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember His commandments to do them.
19 The LORD hath prepared His throne in the heavens, and His Kingdom ruleth over all.
20 Bless the LORD, ye His angels that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word.
21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye His hosts, ye ministers of His, that do His pleasure.
22 Bless the LORD, all His works, in all places of His dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!
via Psalm 103 – Passage Lookup – 21st Century King James Version – BibleGateway.com

The more we bless the LORD the more we KNOW we matter!!

Honored to be one of the LORD’s handmaidens,
Kathie

A YouTube from Verse 12 – click HERE

Assurance - Promise, Christian Living, Forgiveness, Repentance

Big and Bad or New Beginnings

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Oh this is hard.

Got the GRANDS settled in again; they had waited so patiently to do something fun as I worked to complete  this devotion. It was all but finished; only needed to tweak it for presentation.  I clicked all the right buttons for it to be saved, both in Word and on-line. But perhaps the thunderstorm had its way instead of mine – no words survived. Not one. Anywhere.  Other than my mind and what’s there, well that is questionable. So I am here to begin again, getting to practice what I “preached” so well just a little bit ago. :)

Isaiah 59: New International Version (NIV)
10 Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like people without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead.
via Is 59:10 – Passage Lookup – New International Version – BibleGateway.com.

I wrote earlier that this is a graphic picture for me this morning, depicting life lived by FEELINGS and not FAITH.  Or something like that – I need not insist that this new one be like the old one. Romans 8:28.

And right now I have feelings galore. Feelings vying for top position, and all of them detrimental to FAITH – so I prayed for help. And I’m still here; albeit jumpy.  The greater struggle in this moment is a desperate want to recreate what was. How many of you know that is not going to happen? Romans 8:28. So forgetting what is done, we press on. :)

Hebrews 10: 21st Century King James Version (KJ21)
38 Now the just shall live by faith; but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him.”
via Hebrews 10:38 – Passage Lookup – 21st Century King James Version – BibleGateway.com.

Blind groping a wall, trying to get somewhere; trying to journey this life with all its decisions and responses and defenses that bumping up against others demands. Feelings scream to rule. FAITH waits quietly to empower.

At midday we stumble as if it were twilight. Feelings do that. They ignore the Ever Present, Voluminous, Abounding (redundant, I know – but you get it) LIGHT we have at our finger tips, as close as breath, that we could call upon by FAITH. But feelings don’t want to, so we don’t.

Even in this land, Strength and Might surround us; but feelings refuse to receive and we are paralyzed. We are like dead men moving about in chains as we push and shove to get to where we think we should be or else we just despair and roll over and play dead.

That’s Feeling Life – it keeps us blind and weak, stumbling, falling, crabby, complaining, negative, pessimistic, and moody.  Trust me, I know whereof I speak.

Just this morning as I sat to write (the first time), feelings came – big and bad.  Big and bad would have won and the first devotional message would not have been written (much less this second one in process now) had not Faith Life rescued me.  More than just breathe out a prayer, I had to write it.  It’s a legacy thing.

“I cannot do this – I cannot let this happen. I am praying now for help to release these adverse emotions that have come upon me to drive me to sin and frustration.”

And so Faith Life prevailed. Faith Life won’t always prevail. Not because it’s too feeble. No it is well able to succeed every time; yet Feeling Life will in all probability deceive us again, catch us off guard and we will plunge in again. But even so we have hope.

Let me share a picture in closing.  We had a gardenia bush (more like a tree) in our side yard. It was diseased to near death.  Black soot disease was choking out the sun, preventing photosynthesis; and you know that is certain death for vegetation. Yes. Had we not waited so long other treatment might have spared drastic measures; but we didn’t. (You are getting the analogy here, aren’t you?) I finally prayed over it.  And the clear word that came was prune to nubs and burn.

Yes. Deep, deep pruning and fire. Is the picture worth a thousand words? Shall we refuse Feeling Life to embrace Faith Life so that deep, deep pruning and fire (refining) be not necessary?

Even so – New Beginnings are possible.

Just one of the LORD’s handmaidens,
Kathie

Please pray. PFT Click HERE for names.

ABBA, I see with this piece there are many avenues You could highlight, many messages You could give to Readers as they come here; even so, ABBA, as You will in JESUS Name.  Amen and amen.

Assurance - Promise, Christian Living, Prayer Requests

Is it Friday??

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This is Friday, isn’t it?

I so enjoy the weekends. It’s a time to do those projects that are ‘play’ even though they may involve some strenuous labor.

Recreation. I think they call it. :)

Our Savior said this:

Mark 6: New American Standard Bible (NASB)
31 And He *said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)
via Mark 6:31 – Passage Lookup – New American Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com.

He also said this:

Matthew 11: New American Standard Bible (NASB)
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.
via Matthew 11:29 – Passage Lookup – New American Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com.

And this:

Matthew 11:New American Standard Bible (NASB)
28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. via Matthew 11:28 – Passage Lookup – New American Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com.

A footnote said 28 could read: “Come to Me, all who are worked to exhaustion,”

I see two points there.

One.
Come all ye who have tried everything else to SAVE yourself and nothing has worked and you are exhausted trying – come and know only JESUS SAVES and gives the assurance of Eternal Life in Heaven.

Two.
Saints who keep trying to act saintly in your own strength – give it up! It’s exhausting! Come to JESUS, learn of Him.  He knows the ropes. He knows how to live gently, humbly and still save the world!

And in conclusion and back to the top, Be sure to ‘Come away’ from the grind of the world and gather with others of like Christian Faith and worship this weekend.  Absent the Rapture or near death, I’ll be at First Baptist-Satsuma.  If you are not plugged in somewhere else and you are in the area, join us. (Hey, Jerry, does this count as a contact??  :)  )

Please find your way to PFT (click HERE) and pray for those who have honored and entrusted their prayer needs to us.

I am so late giving this to you – in all my doings, I thought I had. Forgive me, please. Melinda said Thursday morning:

Just spoke with Misty.  They ran bp meds thru the night and just now she is “fairly” stable.  If there are any spikes, Dr. Hartline will do C-section immediately…up until five o’clock.  If things stay the same and she can hold on, he will be back Saturday.  PRAY she and Willow will stay steady and Willow will strengthen each moment.  Misty would prefer Dr. Hartline to deliver, as would I, after seeing him all this time.  He is a Godly, faith-filled, man.  He prays with his patients and for his patients.  So, we are praying that Willow wants him to deliver her!  The steroid shots will help her lungs and help prevent brain bleeds, which unfortunately is a risk.  Knowing what happened with Jackson (Dr. Hartline delivered him.), praying for a healthy brain, too.  I told her we all were praying and she said that she could feel them and believes that is what has kept her stable.  She has been trying to pray but says she can only cry and cry out to God.  I told her that the Holy Spirit will keep God informed!  That’s one of the things the Spirit does–translates our tears and moanings to our Father.  Hope to see her after my doctor’s app’t.   Hoping to see Betty and her!  Thank you so much for praying and for all those who are concerned and praying from the IDOK’s site.  There is no way I can express my thankfulness for you all, and the concern and prayers for the ones I care about and request your prayers for.  You are God’s gift to me.  Love and prayers,  Melinda

ABBA, thank You for brothers and sisters who come here and pray; and, ABBA, I pray for more to come and pray; not just to read what I say but to hear from You and to intercede for the world and specific needs of dear and precious souls. We are mindful this morning of Misty, Willow Grace, Kerri, Dawn, Ken and Della, Kathy and Joe, Elaine, Lance, Nichole, Betty, Melinda and there are others.  Thank You for the privilege of praying for them. Thank You for tending and ministering to each One.  Thank You that You are privy to as no one else to our specific unspokens – we entrust them to You in JESUS name. Amen and amen.

Grateful to be a handmaiden of the LORD,
Kathie

Assurance - Promise, Christian Living, Forgiveness, Repentance, Salvation

Jeremiahs, Will You Please Step Forward?

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The sources are varied, as well as the stringing together of the words; but the messages I am hearing are the same ­– hear the Word of the LORD and get serious about your sins – repenting of them, that is.

Jeremiah 7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Message at the Temple Gate

1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
2 “Stand in the gate of the LORD’S house and proclaim there this word and say, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah, who enter by these gates to worship the LORD!’”
3 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place.
4 Do not trust in deceptive words, saying, ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’
5 For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly practice justice between a man and his neighbor,
6 if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, nor walk after other gods to your own ruin,
7 then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.
via Jer 7 – Passage Lookup – New American Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com.

Don’t you know Jeremiah was ‘uncomfortable’ giving this message? Don’t know he had a rolling in his stomach as he made his way to the Temple gate? Can’t you imagine his knees knocked together as he stood to proclaim this Word from the LORD?

Did you notice Jeremiah was standing at the gate of the ‘Church’ proclaiming this Word? He was out there where everyone could hear him.  Hmmm. What are we told over and over these days? Keep your faith and your JESUS to yourself; be quiet about Him.  Well, who are we going to obey? Them or HIM?

Luke 14: 21st Century King James Version (KJ21)
23 And the lord said unto the servant, `Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
via Luke 14:23 – Passage Lookup – 21st Century King James Version – BibleGateway.com.

Is there anything that makes us more unpopular than naming sin? I mean think about it. Say it these days and what do folks say to you and in anger no less?

You have no right to judge me!

And what would my response be? Hopefully, in love and humility, I would say: “You’re right I don’t and I’m not, your deeds have already condemned you; see it’s right here. This is what God says: Your sin He hates because it will destroy you; you He loves and He will rescue you and deliver you if you will allow Him. Will you?”

Do I dare?
Jeremiah dared.
Would you say we could use some Jeremiahs around here now?
Where are they?
Jeremiahs, will you please step forward?

Again I am asking you to remember Specific Unspokens, Salvation lists, Israel, Revival, all listed at PFT.  I am still remembering Misty and Willow Grace, Nichole, Lance, Ann and her family (Barnes) and others. Please do so as well.  Click HERE to see the list.

A handmaiden to the KING of kings,
Kathie

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Willow Grace and Misty

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Latest Word from Melinda — Hope many of you will receive and pray — soon.   Kathie


June 15, 2011  (4:35 PM)
Dear Frister, Doctor is putting Misty in the hospital as I type this.  All her function tests except one are in and they are all borderline or bad..liver function especially.  She will not go home without delivery this time, he told her…Sooo, probably tonight or tomorrow before five.  He’s leaving for a weekend in Memphis @ five o’clock tomorrow so it will be between now and then.  Pray hard for their health and safety.   Willow Grace, in all her 4 lb. 2 oz. glory will be here soon.

I go to pulmonary doctor tomorrow and if he allows me, I get to see my sister.  Betty is improving.  Thank you sweet LORD for Your handiwork!
Thanks for all your support and prayers.
Love ya!
Melinda