Are you a Sponge?

Phil. 2:12-13  Even as the Philippians were obeying in Paul's presence and even while he was away, they were growing.  They were learning, working and being followers of Christ by working out their salvation.  Let me be clear here.  Works will not save you!  Faith saves you and the works that flow out of that faith is what causes you to grow.  We could work all day, every day and no matter how good, how wonderful or how much of a blessing we are- without faith it doesn't matter.  All of those good deeds won't get you any where.  Faith in Christ.  Faith that believes He is who He says He is.  Faith that believes He can and will do what He says He will and can do.  AMAZING!  He loved you and me so very much that He was willing to go to the cross.  He would die a criminals death and be buried in a borrowed tomb and be raised again on the third day to ascend to the right hand of the Father.  Can you and I even come close to wrapping our tiny human minds around that?  Do you believe it? Do you understand it? If we have enough faith to believe that He did this for us- How can we not be busy about the Father's work.  How can we just sit by and act like a sponge. 
Let me explain.  A household sponge that soaks in all the water possible and is left to sit will start to smell and stink and eventually will get moldy and mildew.  On the other hand a sponge that is being used to fulfill it's purpose is filled with water, cleans and is rung out.  What comes out when it's squeezed is what it was filled with, cleaning water.
You and I are like this and we can be useful or we can be stale and stinky.  We can be the first sponge.  We can go to Bible Studies, Sunday School, Worship and we can soak it all in.  BUT we don't "do" anything with it.  We are just busy soaking.  After a while we are a  little hard hearted, a little bitter over someone or something and before long we are wallowing in our mold and mildew and we just reek.
OR we can be like the second.  We go- we listen- we pray and the we squeeze a little for service in the community or squeezed again for service within the church-squeezed again when finances are tight, kids are not obeying and what comes out is what we were just filled with at the last service or lesson.  Sweet, fragrant offerings.  The second sponge doesn't get stale and smell and stink. It's being used, poured out, cleaned and refilled.
My question-
Which sponge am I?
Which sponge are you?
For sure something to consider. Working out my salvation- Faith without works is dead.

Children

Today was a day that will never be forgotten by us. As I sat and watched today on the news, my heart felt like it was going to explode.  I cried and I cried.  I was so very overwhelmed.  The pictures and the scenes were just totally gut wrenching. 
Part of me wanted to get Kaleb out of school.  Go and get my youngest and hold him so tight and tell him how much I loved him. 
Part of me couldn't move. I was literally glued to the TV. Listening and watching.
Part of me was asking WHY!?
Part of me was just angry!
I gathered myself together and left in a hurry to go and get Kaleb on time.  Sitting in the car rider line, I thought it was NEVER going to move.  It finally happened....they called his name over the bullhorn and then it happened again..... 
This precious blessing came running toward the car with a huge smile and saying "Mommy, I got a green dot". To see his face started the river of tears.
I cried so hard and tried so hard for him not to see me.
We went to Bo's work for some Daddy loving.
Afterwards we came home. 
-Toys were in the front room.
-His room is not ready for tomorrows Christmas Party here at our house.
-Bread was not done for the gifts.
-Laundry wasn't completed.
-Ironing wasn't done.
I DIDN"T CARE!!!!!!  It just didn't seem to matter.  It was important. We are having Bo's department Christmas Party here tomorrow night and it just wasn't important.
When I pulled up at Kaleb's school, all I could do was pray for those parents.  The facts that were tearing my heart apart were
Their child's sweet smiling face won't come running to the car
Their child's voice won't be heard
Their child's toys won't be in the floor
Their child's clothes won't need to be washed. 
There are things that happen in this world that we will never understand this side of Glory!  This is one of those times. 
What is my response?
JESUS.  That was the only thing I kept saying today.  Praying through my tears. Shedding tears in His presence and unable to say a word. JESUS!  The pain that these families are facing and the days to come is incomprehensible.  I know that my children are not mine. They are HIS!!!! JESUS!  He has given me the blessing and honor of being their Mom. We, as a family will be praying for those affected by this tragedy from the first responders to the families.  JESUS!!!  He is my Comforter!

26 Names

26 Names for My Jesus

Almighty

Beautiful

Creator

Deliverer

Eternal

Father

Great

Holy

Immanuel

Jesus

Kinsman Redeemer

Life

Majestic

Name

Omnipotent

Peace

Quiet-er of my heart

Redeemer

Savior

Trinity

Unconditional

Victor

Wonderful

eXalted

Yahweh

Zealous

 

What would your list look like????

 

Election- Nothing Profound!

I found this last night during the election and it was posted from the Proverbs 31 Ministry.  Very true and very powerful. 

 

Tonight, after the election is over, we can predict (and guarantee) the following results:

1. God will still be on His throne
2. Jesus will still be King of kings and Lord of lords.
3. The Bible will still have all the answers to every problem.
4. The tomb will still be empty.
5. Jesus will still be the only way to heaven.
6. Prayer will still work - it will still make a difference and God will s...

till answer prayer.
7. The cross, not the government, will still be our salvation.
8. There will still be room at the cross.

10. God will still be with us always - He will never leave us or forsake us.

 

We can ponder and think on this today and everyday!  It's true EVERY DAY, not just today!

 

What do you KNOW!?

The other day I made mention of this writing from my other blog that I had.  Well, I thought I would share it here.  We have actually talked about it for 2 weeks in my Bible Study from the words of Philippians.  It's just exciting!!!!!!  If you have read it before, read it again and see if you find something new. 

OK, so I was thinking....(OH NO!!!! RIGHT???) Anyway, I keep running across this word and I hear people use it and I wonder sometimes if they know what they are saying or maybe they mean one thing and it is coming out wrong. We use words like hope, worship, know and a million others that I wonder if people really use them right. Please understand that I don't use them right either. Please don't think that I do. I am so far but I have found that I am choosing my words a bit more carefully and thinking through them before they come out of my mouth.
So, let's take this word "KNOW" and run with it.
Know- according to Websters means to perceive directly : have direct cognition of (2) : to have understanding of (3) : to recognize the nature of : discern to recognize as being the same as something previously known (2) : to be acquainted or familiar with
So we use this particular word all of the time.
I know how to do that.
I know what her/his name is.
I know who that is.
I know my children.
I know the Lord.
I know the Word.
I know what the Word says.
Now, if you were to look at the meaning behind the word "know" in the context of scripture. At times there is the same know as above. You have knowledge of someone. You know what their name is. You have met them. You may even know their spouse and their children. You have "head-knowledge" of that person. You know them. Does that make sense? You can even know the Lord. You can know the Word. You can even know what the Word says. Now let's look at the word in a different light. Know in scripture can be used in a different way. Looking at the Lexical Aids in my Bible takes it to a whole new level.
KNOW- YADA- to know (Qal) to know 1a to know, learn to know 1a to perceive 1a to perceive and see, find out and discern 1a to discriminate, distinguish 1a to know by experience 1a to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess 1a to consider to know, be acquainted with to know (a person carnally) to know how, be skillful in to have knowledge, be wise (Niphal) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed to make oneself known to be perceived to be instructed (Piel) to cause to know (Poal) to cause to know (Pual) to be known known, one known, acquaintance (participle) (Hiphil) to make known, declare (Hophal) to be made known (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself know for certain4, know with certainty1, know assuredly1, (*This is the Old Testament Word. If you look in the New Testament it would be Ginosko and the meanings are almost identical)
I realize that was a lot but let's look at it. Stick with me on this one. To know means to know someone or something by experience. As in the way a husband and wife would know one another. You know by a real experience and not just casual, on the surface, it is intimate.
Let's go back to that list again.
I know how to do that (because I have done it in the past and good at it)
I know what her/his name is. (He is my husbands best friend and has been in our home)
I know who that is. (We have been to dinner together before and she is a wonderful person.)
I know my children.(I gave birth to them and they live with me.)
I know the Lord. (I have seen Him work in my life in big and small ways)
I know the Word. ( I read the word and it is alive and active in my life.)
I know what the Word says. (I read the Word and it is being written on my heart and in my head.)
I so hope that I have not totally lost you. Stick with me. I promise it will all make sense. When we know (yada) someone or something we know (yada) by experience. So this is the way that I look at it and it speaks so loudly at me.
I know, by personal experience, that the Lord loves me.
I know, by personal experience, that He has a perfect plan for me.
I know, by personal experience, that He is my Savior and my Lord.
I know, by personal experience, that His Word is alive and active in my life.
Does that make sense now?
We can have all the head knowledge in the world but if we don't have that personal experience, yada, of Him, we are missing so very much.
Do you know, by personal experience, yada, the Lord?

I pray that this is something for you to think on today. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Community Bible Study Ends.......

Well, this morning was a little hard.  It was exciting and yet at the same time I am not sure what is next.  This morning was the last Tuesday for the Community Bible Study that I have been in.  It has just been WONDERFUL!!!  I knew it was exactly where I needed to be.  I met some amazing women and was taught, and encouraged and inspired.  It was just perfect.  Of course we studied the book of Philippians.  It was kind of hard because there is so much in just a few verses that you can sit and chew on for a week but we did a chapter a week.  IT WAS GREAT!!!!!!

Of course, we should get back to the Bible Study here if you have been following along.  Now that I am not in CBS, we will have to have Internet/blog based Bible Study.  How much fun that could be!!!!!!  Let's get going and do some digging into this WORD!!!!!


A while back I had written a post about the word "Know".  It is probably one of my favorite words.  Its is over on my other blog that I closed.  I may bring it here and share with you if you missed that.  All of that being said, when we read in Philippians 4: 4-8 and we have a tendency to read it though and think to ourselves....."Ah, yes I know that verse." or we can complete it out loud or in our head as someone else is quoting during a Sunday School lesson or during the sermon even.  But let's take a look at it.  Really look at it and discuss it a bit.

"Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Those are some very familiar words. They have really hit home with me as of late. 

Rejoice in the Lord always. 
It doesn't say
Rejoice when I get what I want.
Rejoice when life is good.
Rejoice when our child behaves
Rejoice when things are going our way.
IT SAYS REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS!!!!!
Rejoice when the paycheck is short.
Rejoice when you get the pink slip at work
Rejoice when your child disobeys
Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS ( no matter the circumstances!) and if you didn't get it, he says it again.  REJOICE!!!!

This has been a lesson learned for me.  Am I finished learning it....NO but I have sure learned it over the years.  In the last 4-6 weeks for sure. 

Rejoice in the Lord when...
Your child says he wants to go home to NC
You go to church and don't know a soul.
You go to a grocery store and don't know where anything is.
You have been transplanted to a new state that you have never lived in.
Then you spend time with Him and He changes you!!!!!!!
Rejoice in the Lord when.....
Your child wants to go to the duck/fish pond that you can walk to because you moved.
Your child wants to go outside because he can play in the back yard.
You have found a church home.
Your husband is HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY at his new job
You have found everything you NEED in the tiny town you have been placed in.
You have met more people than you can remember their name.
Your parents come to visit and LOVE this place!!!!!!  So excited for us.
You have a group of women at a Bible Study that just love on you every time you set foot in the door.
Again I say.....REJOICE!!!!!!

I can sit and write and type this morning and REJOICE in the Lord!!!!  It's amazing to "know" that we are where we are suppose to be.  We are doing what He sent us to do.  Yes, there are days and times when I cry and  miss all my dear friends in NC.  I miss my oldest 2 and my grandbaby that is growing up so very fast. BUT I can rejoice because the Lord provides the wonderful thing called Facebook, cell phones, Instagrams, Messenger and Skype. 

Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS! I will say it again...REJOICE!!

God Answers Prayers!

My Mom left to go to Spain on a Mission Trip.  She had a wonderful time and really enjoyed it from what I hear.  I haven't had a chance to talk to her yet because she just got home yesterday.  She was exhausted I am sure.  Many a mission trip I have been on and when you get home, your body is a little confused as whether you are suppose to be asleep or awake.  Hopefully will get to talk to her sometime today.  I can't wait to hear!!!!!  God Answers Prayers!!!!!


I so enjoy my blog.  I always said that it didn't matter if anyone ever read it or not.  It was a place for me to journal and to share and someday make it into a book to share with my children or my grandchildren at some point in my life.  He lead me to do a makeover and change things for the blog and for that I am very grateful.  God Answers Prayers!!!!

Why do I do what I do?  Why do I sit and pick pictures to put on this blog. Why do I think that I have something to share with the world?  To be honest, I had that really pressing on me the last couple of days.  I wrote a series last week on studying The Word.  Something that I am truly passionate about.  My Savior is my passion!  I had allowed my brain to overtake me.  "Why are you doing this?", "What do you have to say that a million others have not already said?", "Why bother?".  Obviously my brain was over working my heart.  I was just really thinking and rethinking about what I was suppose to be doing.  I was just really frustrated.  THEN>>>>>>God answers my head and assures my heart.  I received a message on Facebook.  It was from a friend.  Someone I know very well.  This is what she wrote in her message.....

I know you are posting on your blog how to study his word and I am so thankful that you are doing it. I still have the cards you made me before...:-)
I really wish though that I had taken the time while you were here to take a couple days to really spend some quality hours with you doing this one on one!!!! Please don't stop trying to help us that really need it!!! Your work is not going unnoticed!!!! Thank you :-)......God Answers Prayers!!!!!!

I was amazed!!!!!  I was over joyed and couldn't even respond to her message because of being so very blessed.  And then just to make sure I heard it clear, I get a text message last night to update me on a situation I had been praying for and her text comes back....."I love what you are doing on your blog"  ONCE AGAIN----GOD ANSWERS PRAYER!!!!

He hears our prayers. 
He longs to answer them. 
Pour your heart out!!!! 
WATCH for Him TO ANSWER!!!!!!

Bible Study

You have had a glimpse into what my time looks like. You have a list of instruments. You have a copy of His Word. So let's get started.

This is really simple and yet so very powerful.  I'll give you the outline of what you can use.  Then I'll give you an example of how to do it.  It's amazing to watch and see how something so simple can just simply change how you look at scripture and your time with Him.  This is not a time where I am worried about the red pen of the English Teacher.  I don't use complete sentences.  I write in abbreviations and fragments.  This is for me and my time. 

Let's get started.....

#1 What does it say? 
This is the easy part.  Do Not Make This Hard.  Literally list out on a piece of exactly what it says.  Don't change the words.  Write it just as it is written

#2 What does it mean? 
This is still easy and straight forward.  Main goal is to NOT ADD to His Word.  Write down what it means.  This does not require a Master of Theology Degree.  

#3 What does it say to me?
This is the the powerful part.  It's amazing to see how something so simple as these 3 questions could be.  Go  back and read over the sections that you just completed in question #2.  This is where it comes to life and the rubber meets the road.  This is application in the simplest form and it is just amazing.  Make it in the form of a question and then use it as a time of journaling.


Here is your sample..........

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whosoever believes in Him would have eternal life. 
John 3:16

#1- What does it say?
 God loved us so much.  He gave His One and Only Son.  Whosoever believes in Him=Eternal life.

#2-What does it mean?
 GOD LOVES ME!  He gave His Son. His One and Only. I believe=eternal life.

#3 What does it say to me? 
Can my mind comprehend that the God of this world loves me?
Do I understand He loves me so much that He was willing to send His Only Son?
Do I understand the sacrifice that He made for me?
Because of my belief of Him, I have eternal life.  Have I thanked Him for His love of me? 

Now I can take those questions from #3 and start journaling and answering the questions.  Praying while writing and really listen to what is flowing out of you pen and your heart.  The Lord can use it!!!  It's so simple but yet so very powerful. 

If you are looking for where to start.  Start in John, Luke or even Matthew.  Otherwise you can use the scripture that you are studying for a Bible Study or even Sunday School.

I would love for you to share.  Please share what you use.  Share if this is helpful!  I really want to hear from you.