Disease Alert

In our churches,there is a terrible disease going around. It is worse than the Legionnaires'disease, worse than the swine flu, worse than the Japanese flu. It is not tonsillitis, tendonitis, appendicitis, bursitis, meningitis, or Saint Vidas. It
is none of these. It has been diagnosed as DEVILITIS. It is an cancerous epidemic in our Churches. Isaiah said, the whole body is sick.

Here are the symptoms:
See if this applies to you:

1. DEVILITIS AFFECTS THE APPETITE

Do you say: "I am not hungry for preaching"?

You used to holler out, "Feed me, Preacher", but now you have DEVILITIS

You used to like to sing Amazing Grace, but now you got DEVILITIS

2. DEVILITIS AFFECTS THE THROAT

You can not testify or witness any more.

3. DEVILITIS AFFECTS THE EYES

You can not see the lost, or the needs of the Church

4. DEVILITIS AFFECTS THE FEET

You can not walk with God, or your fellow believers anymore

5. DEVILITIS AFFECTS THE BRAIN

It makes you buy an NIV Bible

It makes you think that Joel Osteen or Harold Camping are of GOD

It makes you think hyper Calvinism is true

6. DEVILITIS AFFECTS YOUR SENSE OF DIRECTION

You cannot find an Independent,Fundamental,Bible believing, Christ exalting, saint edifying, sinner repenting Church for the same reason a burglar cannot find a cop.

Do you have Devilitis? Maybe the symptoms are mild, but you better take heed, once afflicted if not cured you will have a full blown case of Devilitis!

Some other names for this disease are Apathy, Laziness, lukewarm Christianity, Compromise, or Rebellion.

1 Corinthians 15:58- "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."

Ephesians 4:14-24 and verse 27 "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness......Neither give place to the devil."

Beware of Devilitis!
(borrowed from a friend and modified)

Whispered Promises

We have embarked on a journey through some rough seas this past week. I don't know when the voyage will be over or how high the ocean swells will reach. The maelstrom seems daunting at times. I was praying last night wrestling with God and yet trying to just let Him take care of the situation. He spoke peace to me through Ron Hamilton's song "Oh Rejoice in the Lord" (He makes no mistakes)and from His Word -"Fear thou not, for I am with thee. Be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10. He sent me to sleep on those promises.
I awoke this morning to my favorite Hymn "It is well with my Soul" resounding on my cd player for my alarm. More whispered promises....
Today was busy and crazy, a bit more so as this situation added to the crashing waves around me. Tonight I sat here not wanting to go to bed and feeling the weight of the sea bearing down on me. I decided to click on my Bible link and see what my favorite online devotional said for today. More whispered promises... God in His Personal care for me had that devotional based on my favorite passage of Scripture - 2 Corinthians 4:7-9. I do not know why I didn't think of it before as that is what I have leaned on since high school.
I sit here in awe and wonder and near tears as I am so thankful that not only is God promising to be with me through this, but that I can see His Hand holding mine each step of the way. So many people go through life and all it's traumatic trials and never realize that God wants to walk with them through it and hold them when they can't do it on their own.
Each time I have needed something to raise me up to the crest of the wave instead of in the trough wallowing in the current, He has used various means to speak peace to my soul in the exact way that I would know it was Him and Him alone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
God never moves without purpose or plan
When trying His servant and molding a man.
Give thanks to the LORD though your testing seems long;
In darkness He giveth a song.

I could not see through the shadows ahead;
So I looked at the cross of my Savior instead.
I bowed to the will of the Master that day;
Then peace came and tears fled away.

Now I can see testing comes from above;
God strengthens His children and purges in love.
My Father knows best, and I trust in His care;
Through purging more fruit I will bear.

O Rejoice in the LORD
He makes no mistake,
He knoweth the end of each path that I take,
For when I am tried
And purified,
I shall come forth as gold.
-Ron Hamilton

It IS....

Although there is much happening right now, and I often feel like a hamster on a whirling dervish, I will only post this resounding refrain.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

The Mad Dash

So many days I really feel as if life is rushing right past me, and I am hanging on for dear life. I keep wanting to say " Let me off this wild ride, I can barely hang on". My schedule is full of work, school, housework, bus ministry, church, grabbing precious memories with Ted, and getting ready for the big graduation event of the decade. Often I just want to slow down, find some time to daydream, stare out the window at God's beautiful creation, pore over Scripture, listen to music as it transports me to a closer fellowship with My Lord, and the list goes on. I don't think I would trade my life or my daily activities for anything because I believe I am doing exactly what God wants me to with the time He gives me. Learning to balance the idea of staying busy, and yet being still without feeling like I am foolishly idle is an ongoing dilemma.

We had a wonderful Mother's Day with many delightful moments. My deep love and appreciation to Ted and the boys for making me feel loved and special and also allowing us to open our home to extended family and have a real time of joy with Ronn and Gayle, Ken and Tammy and the girls, and Ken's parents who came in for the weekend from Colorado.

I do not have much memory of last Mother's Day, and I know I was probably just numb and full of sorrow and longing to see Momma. This year was harder for me although it was our second year of Momma being in Heaven for Mother's Day. God tenderly cares for us even as we yearn to see Him and Momma soon. We are so thankful to have Gayle in our lives, she has been an added help and blessing and her wisdom and care for us has been a soothing balm in time of need.

James took his SAT's, his senior pictures are Wednesday, next week is his senior class trip, he has 9 days of school left, his graduation gown and cap are hanging in his room, his graduation invitations are about to be printed, and boy, do I have alot of papers to grade and school administration stuff to get done. I remember praying for the rapture to take place before he was to enter kindergarten. God in His wisdom gave us more years to make memories and to live for Him. I do not know when the rapture will take place, I just know that I want us all to be there in that big graduation ceremony in the sky.

Mother's Day

To All the Mothers in our lives past and present we say "Thank You, and we love you all". My mother, Momma in Heaven, Momma Jo, Annette, Gayle, you have blessed us and loved us and cared for us and we thank God for you.
Happy Mothers Day!

Perseverance of the Saints

(Someone mentioned that I wrote this, I do not recall using these words, I can only think that it was from my devotions and I forgot to post the author.
This devotional is taken from Charles Haddon Spurgeon. I apologize for not posting the source earlier.)
"I pray not that Thou shouldst take them out of the world." — John 17:15

It is a sweet and blessed event which will occur to all believers in God's own time—the going home to be with Jesus. In a few more years the Lord's soldiers, who are now fighting "the good fight of faith" will have done with conflict, and have entered into the joy of their Lord. But although Christ prays that His people may eventually be with Him where He is, He does not ask that they may be taken at once away from this world to heaven. He wishes them to stay here. Yet how frequently does the wearied pilgrim put up the prayer, "O that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away and be at rest"; but Christ does not pray like that, He leaves us in His Father's hands, until, like shocks of corn fully ripe, we shall each be gathered into our Master's garner. Jesus does not plead for our instant removal by death, for to abide in the flesh is needful for others if not profitable for ourselves. He asks that we may be kept from evil, but He never asks for us to be admitted to the inheritance in glory till we are of full age. Christians often want to die when they have any trouble. Ask them why, and they tell you, "Because we would be with the Lord." We fear it is not so much because they are longing to be with the Lord, as because they desire to get rid of their troubles; else they would feel the same wish to die at other times when not under the pressure of trial. They want to go home, not so much for the Saviour's company, as to be at rest. Now it is quite right to desire to depart if we can do it in the same spirit that Paul did, because to be with Christ is far better, but the wish to escape from trouble is a selfish one. Rather let your care and wish be to glorify God by your life here as long as He pleases, even though it be in the midst of toil, and conflict, and suffering, and leave Him to say when "it is enough."