Church

I have and foster sister that was a wonderful woman in so many ways but she was the kind who felt her church was the only church anyone should go to and if you did not go to that church or one just like it in every way, she felt you were going to hell. I attended a Methodist church many years and she felt that was wrong. I started going to a Baptist church and she felt that was wrong also.
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Going to church does not make one a christian any more then standing in a garage makes you a car. I go to church because there is something wonderful about having fellowship with a group of people who worship like I do. I feel comfortable with them and enjoy the Pastor's message. I am a sinner who goes to worship God just like all the other sinners in that church. I love the singing too. I have a horrible voice but I sing loud and strong. God gave me this voice and he must love it so I use it.

I do not go every Sunday because of work schedules but I go when I can.  I don't pretend that my church has all the answers.  I just know it is made up of a great group of people who made me feel welcome from the moment I walked through the door.  I thankGod I have my church family to pray for me and with me when I need it.

Great Poem..so true

BEST POEM IN THE WORLD

I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven's door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
Nor the lights or its decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp--
The thieves, the liars, the sinners,
The alcoholics and the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade
Who swiped my lunch money twice.
Next to him was my old neighbor
Who never said anything nice.

Herb, who I always thought
Was rotting away in hell,
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,
Looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal?
I would love to hear Your take.
How'd all these sinners get up here?
God must've made a mistake.

'And why is everyone so quiet,
So somber - give me a clue.'
'Hush, child,' He said, 'they're all in shock.
No one thought they'd be seeing you.'

JUDGE NOT!!

Remember...Just going to church doesn't make you a
Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.

Every saint has a PAST...
Every sinner has a FUTURE!
Now it's your turn... Share this poem.

As some of you may know, I have been in a bit of a funk because of some health issues and other things that are going on. I find it easy to pray when I am like this. Much easier then when things go smoothly. I have been doing alot of it lately and somehow god had to be listening. I opened this email that sent me a list of verses that help when things go bad and the first one was this one:
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

-Isaiah 40:31

Doncha just feel your spirits lift at the thought of doing that? Soaring with the eagles? It does mine.

But this is my favorite. He is my rock when times get rough. He is always there to lift my burden. My rock of ages...
My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—
from violent men you save me.

-2 Samuel 22:3

I am sorry...

Some how I deleted the reponses to my previous posting. I feel really awful about it but i I have decided to trudge on with this blog any way. Depression has hit me again since I am unable to get out and do the things I like. So I sit and write or read and ponder what is in some of my devotional readings.

It is also one of those times I think of all the things I should be grateful for. It is very hard for me to do at times then my husband walks in with a bouquet of flowers he has picked or my little grandbaby smiles at me and looks at me with love in her eyes and I start thinking that I am glad God has let me live so long and happily with a man who still picks me flowers and a grandbaby who loves me unconditionally.

I realize it is the little things like that that trip my trigger and make me smile.

Then I come on this blog or my other one and see the wonderful people who took the time to read my rants and respond and I feel I am lucky, very lucky, indeed. And I am sorry I accidently deleted those remarks. I would love you to post them again,please.

Where is God when Tragedy strikes

Years ago I had a friend whose mother happened to be one of the strongeast women I ever met. She was in her ninth month of pregnancy with her 9th child when she saw her husband get killed when his tractor over turned. She raised all nine of her kids by herself. She found one of her sons dead from a gunshot wound after he came home from the war. Another son killed himself a year later. Another son was a police man who was shot and paralyzed from the waist down while her one daughter had breast cancer. She had been through so much. After the second son killed himself in front of her and her daughter, she continued to cling to God and her faith even though her house burned down a few months later.Most people would have lost their minds but she did not. Her faith seemed to grow stonger and stronger. She often said that is what got her through those times.

Paul wrote of his troubles and all he had suffered while he was working for the Lord.

People of faith know that God is with the suffering and dying. He will always be with them. He never leaves them but it is hard for those who have no faith to understand that.

Life does not come to an end with physical death. We move on to our Heavenly father. It is like going home We go home to be with our Father and our loved one. If you an undetstand that, you will be able to accept that God is with you throught it all.

While I was in nurses training, I learned there are several steps in grief, which is what we feel when tragedy strikes us. Faith in God plays an important part in all of them and I feel those who lean on God during those times, fare better then those who try to do it on their own.

So the next time you hear of a tragedy, just remember God is with the ones who are suffering just as he has always been.

Lately I have been finding it difficult to offer words of encouragement as I know I should because of some circumstances here in my life. A friend sent me this and I wanted to pass it on.......

Relax your mind and humble your heart to focus on Christ. Allow God to be the only person on your mind while you read this prayer. If we can take the time to read long jokes, stories, etc.., we should give the same respect to this prayer. Friends, who pray together, stay together

Dear Lord, I thank you for this day. I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning.... I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness.



Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.



Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. Let me continue to see sin through God's eyes and acknowledge it as evil. And when I sin, let me repent, and confess with my mouth my wrongdoing, and receive the forgiveness of God.



And when this world closes in on me, let me remember Jesus' example -- to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will....



Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak.. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those who are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those who are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those who will delete this without sharing it with others.... I pray for those who don't believe. But I thank you that I believe.



I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.



I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God.. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees them and every mouth that confesses them willingly..



This is my prayer.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

my fortress...

For those of you who read my other blog, you know I am having problems with my eldest again. I spent many hours worrying about what I should do and how I should handle it last night. You also may remember that a friend gave me a box with bible verses in to read at different times in my life. I came across Ps. 31 verses 1-6
In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.

2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.

3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.

4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.

5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

6 I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.

I read that over a few times and thought about it then laid the bible down and fell fast alsleep. I have done all I can do and it is in God's hands now. I feel no guilt about thinking that way. I have not given up on her. I will continue to pray for her but I cannot be dragged down by her. I will not allow it. Sometimes you do all you can do and just have to say enough is enough.