Holding a Grudge

Today a I friend said, "she's holding a grouch against me"

I love words.

You and I both realize that she meant grudge...but then again, I truly believe that holding a grudge WILL indeed turn you into a Grouch!

A Grouch is a habitually grumpy person, who grumbles in an ill tempered manner.


What right does a Believer have to be a grouch?
If that question irritates you perhaps you need to sit down and take a look at your heart/life.

Friend...we have NO right to be downcast, angry, depressed etc etc
Jesus has the Power to right every wrong.  He would like to change your heart and face.  Believe me people will notice!

Lord I pray You will change the countenance of Your church.  Make us contagious with JOY!! Let us spread the Good News with our whole being!  Forgive us for being grumpy, for holding grudges and for all round  being ill mannered.   Create in us a clean heart oh God and renew a right Spirit within us


Content

The Look of Grace

A while back I was working with my daughter in law in a public kitchen.  A friend who has been going thru a very difficult time  came walking through.  She was radiant.  As she left the room I said to Amy, "did you notice that woman?  That was the Grace of God just walking past!"

Now friends it probably goes without saying that that "look" of Grace does not normally come over night.  It comes from hunkering down with Jesus.  It is brought about by humbly coming before God over and over that He may be seen strong in our weakness.   It is birthed in the fire with God.

My favorite old hymn

1. He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
   He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
   To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
   To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.
2. When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
   When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
   When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
   Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
3. Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
   Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
   Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
   The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.
4. His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
   His power no boundary known unto men;
   For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
   He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_73Q6dVq_0g

GRACE. SWEET. GRACE
Free for the asking
But oh friend what a COSTLY gift!
What a price was paid so that we could live supernaturally in this life

It never runs out so beloved don't be afraid of using it up!  It's yours for the asking!!

Content

Harmony

"You must listen to each other if you're going to sing a chord".  This is a quote by the "would be " nun, W. Goldberg in the wonderful movie, Sister Act.

There is so much discord in the world.  Even as I write this, mom and I watch "The Bible" and she keeps mentioning what a harsh and bloody time that was in history.  
I'm sad to say there has never been a time on this earth that some people group somewhere were not experiencing bloodshed and cruelty of some kind.  It began in the Garden and has only gotten worse as the populace has increased.

But then...
Jesus came.
  
For 33 years He made His mark on our history and on the hearts of mankind.

He was killed on a cross and buried
He rose again and appeared to the "church"
He went to Heaven leaving Behind the Sweet Holy Spirit .

Today we live under a new law, we have been given Promises to aid us in this hard life.  Promises and the Power of the Holy Spirit that assure God's people a life of rest and peace** (for those that believe)
Hence the body of Christ should live in harmony.  
The absence of discord should be one of the very earmarks of Christ's Bride.  
Would you say that is your experience?

I'm sad to say it is not the norm, albeit no fault of God.

Friend it's time to start "singing" your part.  "You don't sing", you say?    

Start by humming.

Ask the Lord if there is anyone you do not harmonize with....Is there someone you need to listen to, forgive, ask forgiveness from?
People it's for the cause of Christ and His Church....it's the Father's heart that none should perish...

Think about it

content

** if it is not your experience as a Christian to live in His Peace and Rest  ~ friend it is your inheritance.   Call me and we can talk and pray about it!

It's interesting to me...

all of this "stuff", talk, discussion, (in this case about gun control) is ( in my humble opinion) SO OFF THE MARK that it tends to render me speechless...

I find myself only able to utter; "You're kidding, right?"
  
Men's minds have become so deranged and deluded that truly foolishness abounds.**  

The Lord counseled me a number of weeks ago to begin to "call forth the Davids" in prayer; those that up until now have been hidden.  They have been being trained in doing the Works of the Lord.  They are ready and able to take down the Goliaths; those people and ideals that are contrary to the very Works of God.

It will be the stones of God's wisdom that will hit the mark and in one swoop "it" will come crashing down.

Please join me in prayer.


This is something I wrote as a comment on face book today.   
It is still on my mind. 

Let's be reminded,one more time, that the Lord is in control, that He see and hears and is not taken off guard. 
He directs us in prayer.   

I find encouragement in this direction to pray.  

Will you join me?  

Father in Heaven

Lord, RELEASE THE DAVIDS!!!  

Call them from the field and valleys, 

from the cities and country.

Where ever they are ~ 

cause their ears to tingle with the 

Call of the Lord.  

Give them Your Grace

like Samuel to say 

"Here am I Lord"   

Open the doors before them 

that they may be able to walk forth untangled by life.

  

I thank You that You prepare those that You will use.  

I thank You that You show us how to pray.   

Wake your people up Lord 

and grant us a thirst outside of ourselves.

Let Your Wisdom, Discernment and Clarity 

go forth

through Your people Lord 

and give them favor with all that hear.

Grace us to obey and not grow weary

AMEN

** When I wrote this sentence I refer to human kind who are not necessarily mean, stupid etc etc but more to those that are ignorant of God's ways. They,be they Christian or not, are simply leaning to their own understanding.

content

NO one is Strong Enough

A young lady confidently walked around the room with a raised glass of water while explaining stress management to an audience. Everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, 'half empty or half full?'... She fooled them all .... "How heavy is this glass of water?" she inquired with a smile.

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. To 20 oz.

She replied , "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it.  If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.

If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." She continued, "and that's the way it is with stress. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on."

So remember what Jesus said: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

So lay all your burdens down at Jesus feet and take up His burden to love the Father with all that we are and to love one and other as He has loved us.

Thank you Becky for this illustration

content

Thrown Away People

Weslea has been home from Brazil since Christmas.  In a couple of weeks she will embark on the newest part of her journey and will fly to Haiti.  
She feels directed to build an orphanage there.   
Months ago she took her first trip there by going on a "building" missions trip.  She tells of how one day, sitting with the children on a break, she felt to start to gather the trash that was scattered everywhere around her..( water is provided in plastic pouches which are just thrown everywhere)  As she gathered the children quickly followed suit and the clean up began in earnest.  I believe it was then that the Lord spoke to her.

I would like to invite you to come to our home next Thursday the 14th at 11 Pumping Station Rd, Salem, NH to hear the rest of her story.  Wes will share past, present and future ....there will also be prayer ministry going on.
Come fellowship and be encouraged in seeing and hearing what the Lord has been doing in her life.

Last night as we prayed over her I felt the Lord say that "as she gathered the trash (the orphans...thrown away people) that many would come along side to help with the project"   

Might you possibly be one?

Many hands make light work.  You may never be able to leave your home but you can help send.

Thank you for your consideration.  
If you would like more information or would like to support Wes you can email me back and I will give you any information that you might want/need.

Thank you from this mother's heart

I'm Trading....

In a conversation this morning I told how my mom's friend had just turned a very healthy and sane 106.
A woman within hearing distance said, "well that won't be me..I won't live much past 70."  I asked her why and she replied that cancer ran in her family etc etc.   I reminded her that her future was different now that she is a believer. 

The words in this song are vital for our Walk to be All  God intends for us.

I'm saying Yes to the Joy of the Lord.

Its a choice each and every moment of each and every day.  Old things are passed away behold all things have become new.  The rules are different!   The Promises are OURS!!

We will never be the same!

So get on the "trading floor" this morning and give up all the "c--p" that life and the enemy has hurled at you and claim the "riches of Christ Jesus" 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KsfwvpcQhY


content