Time To Get Serious

"Now is the time", the Holy Spirit is saying, to all of humanity. 

Can your hear Him? 

Are you even listening?

Don't worry. I'm not condemning you for something I do as well.

My prayer is that we all have ears to hear what God is saying to us, in this hour.

The past few months have been consumed with reports from media and government officials concerning CO-VID 19, the Coronavirus. I'm sick to death of hearing about it yet, smart enough to realize that anything that affects the entire planet with this magnitude is worth paying attention to.

I won't bore you with repeating excerpts from sermons already told or prophetic words from other sources but will only share with you what God has put on my heart at this moment to share.

Beware of distractions.

I wonder what was going on in the world the few weeks most Americans were watching "Tiger King". I'm not judging those that watched, but so many of my dearest godliest friends were watching this twisted T.V. drama. America was distracted.

 When a great move of God is occurring, when a much needed change is coming, when the Lord Himself is making it so evident that He is changing the pieces on the board, daily, it is imperative we not be distracted. 

God is out in the open, holding the ball, ready to pass and the enemy is watching, waiting to blindside us. 

He will do anything to keep us from the wonderful plans God has for us in this hour and use the very thing God is changing and moving in to trip us up.

What is this "thing" God is using? Social Media.

Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, etc. are just a few of the mighty weapons in the Hands of the Lord. I heard someone say today that there is more video production coming from the church than from Hollywood. Why? Churches have no choice if they want to fulfill the mandate of spreading the gospel to the world. 

The church meetings have been shut down, the doors shut due to the virus. Facebook Live and other social media avenues of self-made church videos are flooding the internet. Praise God! It is time the people of God took back the ground that the enemy has been working on stealing for so many years. 

I LOVE the fact that we are alive and walking with the Lord right now. I LOVE to see a brand new world evolving from such tragedy. I LOVE to see the beauty God gives in exchange for the ashes the enemy leaves behind. 

My friends, focus on the mark. Listen for His voice and follow the Good Shepherd. He is going places and I don't want to be left behind.

Do you?

The Goodness of God in Your Memories

The Goodness of God in your memories

 Memories can be extremely fun and often exciting to remember but also can be very painful. Some wounds run so deep they never fully heal. In those times we cling to Jesus to pull us through with the hope that His word is true, that all the tears will be wiped away, and we will all be together forever with Him.

 In looking back we should also look forward as to what new memories we are in the process of making. What does God have in store for us? Often we ask, is there going to be a happy ending to my story?

 No matter where you are in your story the author waits and watches to see what you are going to do next. It isn't that He isn't aware of every possible outcome, He is omniscient after all. It isn't as if He doesn't know the ending for He is not bound by time. It is your ability to choose according to the freewill God gave you that shapes your future.

 How can we change the future and keep the past from repeating itself? How can we learn and grow and change into someone other than who we are now? Not that you or I are bad, but we know if we use wisdom, we all have issues, demons to conquer...pun intended.

 How do we conquer the demons from our past and have a better tomorrow than today? Today may have been a great day and you may be completely satisfied with who you are and have blessed where you have been and let it all go as they say but memories are tricky things. They creep up on you when least expect them.

 Today I saw a penny on the floor as I was sweeping and something tugged at me... Later, as I was getting something out of my pocket, I dropped a penny on the ground.... a wave of sadness hit me as I picked it up and I realized how much a small penny means to me right now. I thought of times when I had abundance and times like now, when scraping together copper and silver change has once again become a part of my weekly routine.

 Seasons change. I was telling my daughter, as I held my month old grandson, the same thing older women told me...cherish these moments Sara, they go by so fast. You may feel held down or trapped but these moments are precious. What I should have told her but I didn't want to start crying, was that I wished so very badly I could hold her in my arms like that one more time.

 We have had our ups and downs as she was growing up and going through the changes all young women go through but she is still that precious baby girl that I held in my arms.

 I have had the privilege of holding 5 of my own precious babies in my arms...one I will see when I get to heaven, my baby Rose, who must have been so precious that God kept her for Himself. Yet in this day and age I know I am above and beyond blessed to have had so much love in my life.

 Memories keep us warm on cold nights and cause fresh tears to wet our cheeks as if they had just occured. God is good. In all things God is good. Let me say that....for those that love the Lord...and we do....ALL THINGS work together for our good.

 From the time I was 14 years old I have memories of adventures of unbelivable Proportions. Some people say, " Did that really happen?" Yes it did.

 I was a teenage runaway and a 9th grade drop out...but God. I am now a Pastor and also Postmaster of Dublin Texas. Only a compassionate ever present God can take a broken little girl and make her into a strong productive woman of God. I was lost, unwanted, and unloved (so I thought) but now I am loved by a wonderful man who loves the Lord, using my gifts and talents for the kingdom of God and have restored relationships with family and friends, to which seemed impossible for the lost little 14 year old homeless girl so long ago. I am making new memories that are wild, great and full of HIM.

 For those of us that live according to God's word He is ever present in our memories. His word calls us to remembrance. He commands us to remember. If we don't we will repeat our past. I am thankful to live in a world where the past can be the past and the future can be amazing. I am thankful to be forgiven for past mistakes. I am thankful our times are in His hands.

 As the seasons change and old memories creep back in, bless them, let them go, and let God write your future. Let's

 keep our eyes on the prize, which is an eternity with Christ full of love and forgiveness. If you find yourself in a dark place, uncertain and afraid, call out to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. He is able to bring about newness of life, restoration and will begin to rewrite your story and give you that fairy tale ending you never thought possible. 

 It took a long time for me to believe in the goodness of God. Today I have found it in my memories.

Don't turn away your heart from me

HAVE YOU EVER IGNORED THE VOICE OF THE LORD? HAVE YOU EVER KNOWN THE LORD WAS REQUIRING YOUR PRESENCE AND YOUR TROUBLES WERE TOO HEAVY OR YOUR SORROW TOO GREAT FOR YOU TO PAY HIM ANY MIND?

DURING THE TIME THAT JESUS WAS WALKING THE EARTH , THERE WAS A FAMILY THAT HE LOVED DEARLY AND WAS VERY CLOSE TO . THE SCRIPTURES TELL US THERE WERE TWO SISTERS , MARY AND MARTHA, AND ONE BROTHER ,LAZARUS. YOU MAY ALREADY BE FAMILIAR WITH THE STORY OF MARY AND MARTHA . THEY WERE TWO SISTERS WHO HAD DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON HOW THEY SHOULD MINISTER TO JESUS. MARTHA , WHEN JESUS CAME TO HER HOME, BUSIED HERSELF WITH FOOD AND DISHES AND CLEANING AND SERVED HIM IN THE NATURAL WAY MOST WOMAN SERVE, THE COMPANY THEY RECEIVE INTO THEIR HOME. WHEREAS MARY, IGNORED ALL THAT BUSY-NESS TO SIT AT HIS FEET AND MINISTER TO HIM BY SHARING HER TIME WITH HIM, ABSORBING EVERY WORD, SITTING ALMOST FACE TO FACE , BREATHING THE SAME AIR SO TO SPEAK. ALL SHE WANTED WAS TO BE WITH HIM. MARY GAVE OF JESUS HER TIME AND ATTENTION OUT OF THE LOVE SHE HAD FOR HIM. MARTHA WAS UPSET AND COMPLAINED TO JESUS BUT HE SAID SHE CHOSE THE BEST PART AND HE WASN'T GOING TO TAKE IT FROM HER.

DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST LOVE OR YOUR DEEPEST LOVE I SHOULD SAY? ALL YOU WANTED TO DO IS BE WITH THEM . EVERYTHING THEY SAID WAS HILARIOUS AND GOSPEL. IRONIC I KNOW. THEY WERE PERFECT IN YOUR EYES AND YOU REARRANGED YOUR WHOLE LIFE TO BE WITH THEM. THIS IS WHAT MARY WAS DOING. SHE LOVED HIM AND SHE WAS NOT CONCERNED WITH THE DISHES. SHE HEARD HE WAS THERE AND SHE THREW OFF EVERY NATURAL INCLINATION TO BE PROPER AND WENT FOR THE GOOD STUFF. SHE WANTED HIM AND ALL HIS FRIENDS COULD SEE A MESSY KITCHEN SHE DIDN'T CARE BECAUSE SHE WANTED HIM! LOVE WAS IN THE AIR AND LIFE WAS GOOD!!!

WELL, THERE WAS A TIME FOR THIS FAMILY ,WHEN THINGS WERE NOT SO GOOD. LIFE IS FULL OF UPS AND DOWNS, HILLS AND VALLEYS, HAPPINESS AND SORROW, NOTHING STAYS THE SAME. THOUGH IF THINGS DIDN'T CHANGE , WE WOULD NEVER LEARN AND GROW.

IN JOHN CHAPTER 11 , JESUS HAS GONE OUT INTO THE WORLD TO MINISTER AND LAZARUS, THE WOMEN'S BROTHER HAS DIED. THE SADDEST PART IS THAT WORD WAS SENT TO JESUS THAT LAZARUS , WHOM HE LOVED, THE SCRIPTURES SAY, WAS SICK AND BY APPEARANCES SAKE HE DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE! HE SAID....AHH ITS NOT UNTO DEATH BUT UNTO THE GLORY OF GOD AND HE HUNG OUT 2 MORE DAYS, TILL HE DIED THEN HE DECIDED TO RETURN TO HIS HOME.

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU SEEN THINGS BEGIN TO TAKE PLACE IN YOUR LIFE AND YOU'RE LIKE...."WHAT ?" AND YOU ASK GOD THE MOST POPULAR QUESTION EVER ASKED OF HIM ... "WHY?" WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS , WHY DIDN'T YOU SAVE HIM? WHY DIDN'T YOU SHOW UP? WHY DIDN'T YOU ANSWER ME RIGHT AWAY?

I BELIEVE THE ANSWER IS IN THE TEXT : JESUS IS RETURNING TO THE FAMILY AND THIS IS WHAT TRANSPIRES:

John 11:20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

WHAT?????????? MY HOW THE TABLES HAVE TURNED. MARY , WHO ONCE FORSOOK ALL PRIDE TO SIT AND HANG ON EVERY WORD OF JESUS' . HEARS THAT HE'S COMING AND SITS THERE. CAN YOU SENSE THE TENSION . THERE IS A WALL BEING PUT UP, AGAINST JESUS!

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BEEN FACED WITH GREAT SORROW AND TURNED AWAY FROM GOD. IT'S O.K. TO ADMIT IT. WE GET MAD SOMETIMES TOO.
,
YET, WHEN YOU NEEDED THE ONE YOU LOVED THE MOST YOU IGNORED THE FACT THAT HE WAS COMING TO YOU. JESUS WAS COMING TO HER . THINK FOR A MOMENT WHAT THIS MEANT. IN HER SORROW SHE COULD HAVE FALLEN INTO HIS WILLING ARMS AND WEPT HERSELF EMPTY OF THAT PAIN. AND WHAT'S MORE SHE COULD'VE BEEN HEALED OF THAT PAIN. YES, SHE KNEW HE WAS A HEALER. WHY DO YOU THINK SHE CONTINUED TO SIT THERE? ANYONE THAT HAS EXPERIENCED THIS KIND OF PAIN CAN RELATE. DO YOU THINK PERHAPS SHE WAS MAD AT JESUS? I DO. THEY CALLED HIM, AFTER ALL, AND HE DIDN'T COME. SHE WAS , WHAT WE CALL, WALLOWING IN IT! THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE WAS COMING AND SHE COULD CARE LESS. HER PAIN WAS GREATER, FOR THE MOMENT......

LET'S CONTINUE READING: MARTHA , WAS THE "HEAVY" IN THIS SITUATION. SHE HAD QUESTIONS AND SHE WASN'T GONNA WAIT AROUND SHE WENT BOLDLY BEFORE HIM AND CONFRONTED HIM
VS.21
John 11:21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
John 11:22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
John 11:23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
John 11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
John 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
John 11:27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
John 11:28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.
John 11:29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.

WHAT AN AWESOME GOD WE SERVE. HE KNEW HER SORROW REQUIRED SPECIAL ATTENTION, SO HE REQUESTS HER BY NAME, AND WHAT DOES VS. 29 SAY, SHE AROSE QUICKLY AND CAME TO HIM. SHE TORE DOWN THE TEMPORARY WALL AND RAN TO HER JESUS. SHE RAN TO HIM . SHE RAN TO HEALING AND COMFORT . SHE RAN TO HER SALVATION. SHE RAN TO THE ONLY ONE WHO COULD SAVE HER. SHE WAS TEMPORARILY HANDICAPPED BUT CAME TO HER SENSES AND RAN TO HIM WHOM SHE LOVED.

PEOPLE THERE IS NO VALLEY SO DEEP OR PAIN SO GREAT THAT CAN NOT BE HEALED WHEN JESUS CALLS OUT TO US . IF WE RUN QUICKLY TO HIM, HE WILL HOLD US WILLINGLY AND EAGERLY WIPE OUR TEARS.

THE STORY CONTINUES WITH MARY COMING TO HIM AND FALLING AT HIS FEET. THEIR GRIEF MOVES HIM TO TEARS . JESUS WEPT, THE WORD SAYS. MY FRIENDS JESUS LOVES YOU AS MUCH AS HE DOES THIS FAMILY . WHEN YOU WEEP ,HE WEEPS. HE CAN'T KEEP HIS EYES OFF YOU EITHER, AND HE HANGS ON YOUR EVERY WORD. THE BIBLE SAYS HE IS CONTINUOUSLY INTERCEEDING ON OUR BEHALF BEFORE THE THRONE. TALKING TO HIS DADDY ABOUT HIS BEAUTIFUL BRIDE . WHOM HE ADORES.

THE END OF THE STORY IS THAT JESUS RESURRECTS LAZARUS, BRINGS HIM BACK TO LIFE. THE SISTERS GET THEIR BROTHER BACK. I KNOW WHAT SOME OF YOU MAY SAY.....WHEN WE GRIEVE THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE , AND WE CRY OUT TO GOD , THEY ARE NOT RETURNED TO US AS LAZARUS WAS, THAT STUFF ONLY HAPPENS IN FAIRY TALES AND THE BIBLE , WRONG BECAUSE THEIR ARE SOME THAT ARE, AND ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD, DO NOT CAMP OUT ON THE POINT OF WHO GETS TO STAY AND WHO GETS TO GO , THAT IS A SERMON FOR ANOTHER DAY ,BUT FOCUS ON WHAT IS TAKING PLACE HERE.

WE ARE NOT ALONE IN OUR GRIEF. JESUS COMES TO US IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH . HE HAS SENT A COMFORTER TO US . WE ARE NOT ALONE. IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN SUCH A PLACE DO NOT BUILD UP A WALL OR IGNORE THE CALL OF THE ONE THAT CAN BRING HEALING AND COMFORT. HE KNOWS YOUR PAIN, AND HE GRIEVES WITH YOU. HE LOVES YOU AND WANTS TO BE YOUR ALL IN ALL. HE WANTS TO BE THE ONE YOU COME TO. HE DOESN'T WANT YOU TO RUN TO ALCOHOL OR DRUGS OR FOOD OR PEOPLE FIRST. RUN TO HIM FIRST AND THEN HE WILL SEND PEOPLE TO HELP YOU THROUGH YOUR SORROW. HE MUST BE FIRST IN YOUR LIFE. NO ONE ELSE CAN SAVE YOU. HE IS YOUR HERO, YOUR KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR. DO NOT TURN AWAY FROM HIM.

I PROMISE , HE WILL RESCUE YOU IN A WAY YOU LEAST EXPECT. HE IS THE PERFECT GENTLEMEN AND WON'T LEAVE YOU COMFORTLESS. HE IS LOVESICK FOR YOU AND ALSO VERY HUMAN . HE IS NO STRANGER TO THE PAINS AND DESIRES OF OUR HEART. TURN TO HIM AND LIKE A PERFECT GENTLEMEN HE WILL MEET YOU WHERE YOU YOU ARE.

The Loss that Saves

Happy Easter/ Passover/ Resurrection Day , however you prefer to term it, it's Spring , guys , and Jesus is Lord! Hallelujah!

I just wanted to take a few minutes and ask what Easter means to you? What do you think of , when you think about this day? Do you think about everything you have to get done and all the people you have to please or do you really think about Jesus and his death and resurrection?

Admittedly, it's all of that and more for me. The running around is done for now and all that's left is finishing the meal so now is the perfect time to share with you a few things that are on my heart. A great part of this holiday celebrates loss. Yes, I said 'celebrate' and will explain.

I have a difficult time wrapping my mind around loss, but there is a great element of loss associated with this time of year. The snow is gone and the quiet stillness of Winter is over. There's no more time to spend inside because the ground is waking from a long sleep and the yard and gardens now require attention. The results of that time spent in the garden will prove as great gifts , in the forms of vegetables and fruits.

Jesus giving His life so that we may be saved is the greatest gift anyone could give . Yet, I couldn't imagine the sorrow his closest friends felt when he was crucified and died. I have only had a glimpse of the pain his mother must have felt during the whole process , and I must say, I don't want to feel that kind of excruciating pain.

Fortunately God doesn't look at death the same way we do. If He did, Jesus would've rushed to Lazarus and prevented his friend's death by healing him. He did not and he allowed him to die only to raise him from the dead later on. Which proved to everyone in the area , that resurrection , in Christ was very possible. They had proof because they had witnessed with their eyes , the death and resurrection of Lazarus. Jesus too experienced the loss associated with death for it is written ,"Jesus wept". You can find the whole story written in John Chapter 11.

Yet, God calls death precious.

Psa. 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

It too is a gift . Without the death of Jesus , he would not have overcome the grave , and then stand in the presence of God so, therefore it would not be possible for us to overcome death and stand in the presence of God as well.

2Cor. 5:1 ¶ For we know that if the earthly house of our tent is dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.
2Cor. 5:2 For most assuredly in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven;
2Cor. 5:3 if so be that being clothed we will not be found naked.
2Cor. 5:4 For indeed we who are in this tent do groan, being burdened; not that we desire to be unclothed, but that we desire to be clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
2Cor. 5:5 Now he who made us for this very thing is God, who also gave to us the down payment of the Spirit.
2Cor. 5:6 ¶ Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord;
2Cor. 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.
2Cor. 5:8 We are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.


Still, the loss of someone is very difficult to bear when someone has gone to be with the Lord and you are left behind.

The Lord knows this loss and has felt it too, but Easter has a happy ending! He who was dead , is now risen from the grave to life everlasting. The coldness of winter is left behind and a new life has begun. The whole world proves with the coming of spring the process of life, then death, then life. For every year you have been alive you have seen this process take place: Summer, Fall , Winter, and Spring. All creation cries out there is a God, we have only to choose whether we will believe it or not.

Rom. 1:20 For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse.

I know it is true, that Jesus came ,as an innocent lamb, and was led , willingly , to the slaughter. I know he gave up riches and glory and power to be my kinsman redeemer and rescue us all from death and hell. I know He now sits on the throne at the right hand of the Father and intercedes on my behalf. I know He is coming again for His bride the church. I know I will be ready , will you?

******Thank you Father for the loss of those that have gone on to be with you . We thank you that they are now present with You. Thank you for dying on the cross for our sins . Thank you for taking all the blame and punishment , so we may be with you when we leave this earthly tabernacle. Most of all, thank you for overcoming death and the grave. We celebrate Your Resurrection with joy and praise . Hallelujah ! Glory to the Lamb that was slain! ********