God Pleasers or People Pleasers

"Thus says the Lord: Cursed [with great evil] is the strong man who trusts in and relies on frail man, making weak [human] flesh his arm, and whose mind and heart turn aside from the Lord." Today is "fess up" day. For many years I was plagued with needing approval from people! I would love to say I no longer do this but, at times, I still find myself being overly "bugged" if I don't meet with everyone's approval! God has dealt with me a lot over the past few months about this (yes, I said months). You would think just once would be enough and I would say, "Thank you, Father for pointing that out to me and thank you for changing that in me!", but no, I had to learn the hard way. I have listened to Joyce Meyer teach on this over and over and over. I even bought the CD so I could listen to it a thousand times more! I mean repetition is what causes you to get it ingrained right? That is true with academics, but man's reasoning is foolishness to God. In other words, when it comes to true "life" changes only God and the Holy Spirit can bring you to a lasting epiphany! One word from God cannot begin to equal to a billion words from mere men and women! Why? Because God knows your heart and His words are filled with power and might. They literally pull down strongholds in your mind! A stronghold is literally anything that has a strong hold on your mind and thinking. "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds" 2 Corinthians 10:4 KJV. One day something particularly upsetting had happened to me and I was talking to my mother about it. I had heard this particular quote she used, but this day I really HEARD what she said! She said there is a saying "What we do for the world will pass, only what we do for God will last!" Stop and just think about that for a moment. How simple, yet how liberating that statement is! When she said that it reminded me of a book I had read a number of years ago. It was about a young man who had signed up for the armed forces. He was fresh out of college and wanted to be an Army doctor. The night before he was to catch his bus to deploy he began to run a fever and became very ill. He knew he had to be on that bus the next day, so he decided to go to bed and just let the army doctor look at him once he got to his destination. The next morning came and he was barely able to make it from his bed. He had gotten much worse in the night! He walked to the bus stop, almost in a delirium, his fever was so high. When he got there he collapsed. He said at that moment he literally had an out of body experience. Suddenly he was standing in front of God! God looked at him and asked him one question, "What did you do for Me while you were on the earth?" The young man thought. He had not lived to an old age, therefore he could come up with very little. In fact, the only major thing in his mind that was good was the fact he had been an Eagle Scout. When he thought of this he answered God and said, "I was an Eagle Scout!" What God said next shocked him. God said, "I asked you what did you do for ME. You did that for your own recognition and feeling of accomplishment. You never even thought about Me as you did what was required in becoming what you want Me to let you into heaven for." The young man was floored because he realized not only was he not saved, but he had done absolutely nothing of true worth in God's eyes. God gave him another chance and he did not waste it! He became a born again Christian and an army doctor and served in WW 2. He told everyone of the love of God and his experience, not caring what anyone thought! That is sobering, yet so important to remember!! You will be asked one question when you meet God face to face. It will not be what did you drive, live in, how many degrees did you possess or even what did everyone think of you! Do you think God will ask Sister Philemena if you are what she thinks you should be? NO! This is the day to prepare to answer that question. God has told us to go into the highways and byways and compel them to come in. He has told us to lay hands on the sick, to heal the brokenhearted and set the captive free through the authority of Jesus! If we are concerned about what others will think of us as we obey this command it will never happen. We will walk away intimidated and defeated! Thank God Jesus did not care what people thought of Him! He would never have done all the things He was sent to do. He did not chase down the seventy when He told them they would have to eat of His flesh and drink of His blood and say, "I am so sorry if that offended you! You misunderstood me!" Jesus was not worried about what they thought. He was there to do the works of His Father Who sent Him! Now I am not condoning you do anything that isn't full of the love of God! Let everything you do be filled with His love, and it will be as you follow the Holy Spirit, for God is LOVE!! God bless you as you walk, led and directed of God, not man. You will fulfill your destiny and many will be blessed beyond what you may ever know! Have a blessed day, all day!

"They Still Bear Fruit In Old Age"

"The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him." Psalm 92:12-15 I love this scripture! What a promise!! No matter our age, the Lord has a plan for us and a purpose! I used to listen to a minister on a regular basis. He was a wonderful person and good minister, don't get me wrong, but he always stayed focused on only what the youth were about to "explode" and do. Now, I believe with all of my heart our youth are an important age group and will play a phenmomenal role in winning souls to Christ in the last days, BUT those of us that are 50+ aren't dead yet!! In fact Titus 2 instructs that the younger women to give great attention to the older women because they have much wisdom to share. When I was a little girl I had an older cousin. He had children my age. I didn't know him well because he didn't attend church regularly like his wife so I knew her better than I knew him. When I was a young person it was very rude to call a person who was older than you by their first name. You had to preface it with Mr. or Mrs. if they weren't related to you, and if they were, they were automatically "Aunt" or "Uncle" so and so even if they were your third cousin. My cousin passed away over 30 years ago but his widow is still living. She attends the church my husband and I attend and is a very Godly woman! She has taught Sunday School for a number of years and has a very loving and gentle spirit about her. Not long ago she was diagnosed with a serious illness and had to undergo vigorous treatment for it. At one point they were not sure she was even going to survive. She was in the Intensive Care Unit of a local hospital, her conditon had become so grave. My pastors were having to leave town and my pastor's wife asked if I would go and pray for this precious lady. Of course, I wanted to go and I did. As I entered her room she reached her hand out to me. Her family was with her and I could see the heartwrenching pain on their faces. On her face, I saw peace and confidence in God! Just looking at her was a blessing for me that day and an unspoken lesson for me to hold onto in the years to come!! I took her hand and told her I wanted to pray for her and, even in that condition, she was ready to latch on in faith KNOWING God was going to move on her behalf!! Tonight, there she was at church. On the front pew, in her place with her husband. I looked at her and thought what a testimony she is to so many of God's goodness and His integrity! I went to hug her and she said to me, "You came to see me when I was in the hospital. I am still a little tired and I want you to pray for me again." We grasped hands and prayed and as we did the scripture came to me that says, " And when you are old and gray I will still be your God!" Just because we age does not change what God has said about us when we were young! We don't ever have to slow down in this race that has been set before us! You never retire from doing the work of God. I said, "You know, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if you aren't up and teaching your Sunday School class again soon!" Her eyes twinkled and she replied, "I can see myself there Sunday!!" What beautiful and glorious faith!! I can see it, too!! Even in her eighties she still bears the fruit of love, joy, peace and is still stirring up the gift within herself and others! What an example to follow! You are valuable to God, my friend, no matter what age you may be. God will never "shelve" you! There is always someone to touch with His love, His promises of fulfillment and blessing! We are ever blooming for Him and our youth is renewed like the eagles. Appreciate those around you, especially the more mature ones. From them there is so much to glean! God bless you richly and have a blessed day, all day!!

An "Off" Day

We all have them. Those days that don't make sense. When you have had a weekend that you rested, yet on Monday you awake with no energy and just can't explain it. Those times when something just feels "off" but you can't put a finger on why. These are the times I have to remind myself, God is my peace! He knows the beginning from the end and has me in the palm of His hand. Oh, what love that the most powerful and wonderful, larger than any dignitary that can be named on the earth, God Himself would take His entire day just to watch over me! Certainly there are more important people in this world that play a much larger role than I, yet He considers me just as valuable and lovable as they are! Amazing! There is a song we sing that says, "Amazing love, how can it be, that Jesus died for me? Amazing love, I know its true and its my joy to honor You, in all I do, I honor You!" This day I will rest in faith knowing that God has me, and remind myself He never fails me. I honor the Lord by simple trust today. I am of great worth to Him and I am guarded by angels unseen and by His love, and you are, too dear friend! Have a blessed day, all day!

I Love My Church Family!!

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25

I LOVE MY CHURCH AND MY CHURCH FAMILY!! We go to an amazing church. It is truly built on love and you can feel it immediately! Now, my church is not perfect, because I go there, but it is awesome otherwise. I had a pastor one time that said, "You will never find a perfect church and if you do it won't be perfect anymore once you get there!" Now, this was not said to me individually, but to the entire congregation, but I will never forget it! Church is so important because people who are likeminded gather together. The word says, "When two or more are gathered in My name I will be in the midst of them." There is a corporate anointing when we gather together. That anointing is mighty in power, authority, and works because it is a gathering of FAITH! I didn't get to go to my precious church today. I had symptoms from something I ate last night. When my husband got home I couldn't wait to ask him how it all went. I knew happily, yet sadly for me because I was unable to attend, what his words would be. "It was great! The Spirit moved and there was everything you love....they danced without you." Wow, my husband is so kind...AS IF! Thank God, my tummy will be back to normal and I will get to celebrate with the rest of my family at church. What is sad is that few people go to church as they used to. I asked the Lord about this and this is what He said to me. There are two reasons. The main reason is offense. People take so personally what others have no idea what they have even done, therefore having done it innocently. But people, who usually carry a mighty anointing, are the ones the enemy targets for this spirit the most. He knows if he can get the "mighty" to fall they will never live satisfied and will never satisfy the call of God and purpose on their lives. The good news is nobody is irreplaceable. That is ego talking. "If I don't do, say, etc. that person may never come to God." Do you honestly believe only YOU can bring someone into the kingdom of God? If you say no to God, offend easily, God WILL find someone who will obey Him!! The only one that lost out, was you because you refused to obey God and instead listened to silly emotions the enemy was all too happy to accomodate you with! I remember Katherine Coolman saying the ministry she had was meant for a man. That man told God no and He knew she would say yes. How sad for that man. For whatever reason he said no to God he lost reward in heaven, yet all those millions of people still received their healings!! We are not irreplaceable, but you will never be satisfied, happy, and fully filled with the joy of your salvation until you do what God has destined you to do! That is why many are so grumpy all the time and are not sure why. The other reason God told me was because some people refuse to come under authority! There will always be authority over you no matter where you go! Go into a town you have never been to, see people you have never seen, and guess what! You are under an unseen authority! There are laws and ordinances in that town that dictate what you can and cannot do. If you break one, you will either be ticketed or calling someone to bail you out of jail! In Genesis it tells us that Hagar would no longer submit to Sara's authority because she had borne Abraham a son and Sara had not at this time. Because of this lack of respect for Sara's authority, Sara had Abraham banished Hagar from the camp. He sent her into the wilderness, along with Ishmael to die. Hagar began to cry when she could find no water or food for the baby and cried out to the Lord. He told her to go back to Sara and SUBMIT herself and he would make of her son a great nation. Submission carries power and blessing. How sad people resist great things God has stored up for them because they want to control and be in control which, ironically, they never really are! If you are no longer going to church run, don't walk, to a church in your town with solid foundational teaching (one that teaches Jesus is the only way to heaven), a spirit of love, and take your place. Blessing will abound as you submit to the authority of God and His word and blessings will abound to others because you are where you belong! Have a blessed day, all day my friend!

My Children, My Blessing!

Psalm 127: 3-5 says, "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward." I have two wonderful children. They, like all children, have their own personalities with their own special traits. Both of my children serve God with a great passion! God has dealt wondrously with me in this way. My husband and I saw someone in the grocery store not long ago and they inquired about the kids. We told them, "Well, our daughter is heading for medical school and our son is about to graduate from RHEMA Bible Institute with a certification in Pastoral Ministry." This person stared past us and in just a few seconds he asked, "How do you raise kids like that?" My husband and I said simultaneously "PRAYER!" This week my son read the blogs I have been posting. He texted me and really offered up encouragement and told me how much he was enjoying them. He is always exhorting others! I began to think about this text he sent and what a wonderful man he has turned out to be. He is very anointed and full of the Holy Ghost and fire!! As I thought on this the Lord reminded me of a saying I have. If it was right, it was God. If it was wrong, it was all me! How true that is. We are not to be credited with the successes or failures of our children. All the good that is stored in them, and all the good they go about doing for God is by God! When our children were small we prayed and then simply obeyed. When we didn't and got off into the flesh, that is when we had to go back and let our children know we were human and had messed up and had to ask for their forgiveness! Glory to God for what our children have grown up to be and do! It wasn't because we are exceptional parents who should be leading parenting classes! That truly makes me laugh out loud when I think about it. It is the glory of God shining through them. It isn't what we have done, it is what they allow God to do in them! I can see before my very eyes the promises God gave me about my son. Already, pastors are calling wanting meetings as soon as he graduates! Everytime I see him I see more and more the abiding love of God and the power of the anointing increasing on him. He is an inspiration to me, and yes, MY BLESSING!! Have a blessed day, all day my friend!

Simple Obedience Yields High Returns!

But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice?  Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.  1 Samuel 15:22

Today my husband and I were discussing something a lady said to me in a conversation.  It really struck me as odd, but I couldn't quite put my finger on what bothered me so about it.  She was talking about her approach to God in her prayer life.  She told me her prayers were made up mainly of "venting" to God and  crying (literally) her heart out.  She then feels better, but the next time she comes to God she does the exact same thing over the same situations.  So far, she has seen no results and  she has been doing this for years.  She told me some personal things she had been praying about, of which I cannot write due to the fact it was told in confidence.   I thought now why on earth would this dear lady pray so hard and see no results?   Not ever a result to her prayers!!  Through great teaching over the years, from wonderful pastors to solid foundational books, but mainly through the Holy Spirit I have learned some basic things.  Not that I know it all, by far, but thank God I know some!  I recognized that this lady had said, "I have always done it this way and I will always do it this way because it is just me!"  WOW!  That is huge!  When you do your OWN thing instead of obeying God and what He tells you in His word (Bible) and do things your way, including prayer,  it WILL be JUST YOU!  I don't know about you, but I NEVER want it to be just me!!  I have to have God in every step I take and in every decision I make!  The prayer of agreement, including you and God agreeing is mighty.  The Bible tells us if two agree touching any one thing I (God) will do it for you!  Who better to agree with than God?  You agree with God by praying and speaking and obeying His word!!  He says, "MY WORD WILL NOT RETURN VOID, BUT WILL ACCOMPLISH ALL I HAVE SET FORTH FOR IT TO DO!'  Now that is powerful my friend!  I remember a pastor I had many years ago.  He was in the army and was a sargeant. He and the platoon he was over would go through drills where they had to crawl on their bellies with their heads very, very low to the ground.  If they raised their head the least bit, the enemy would shoot it off.  He had one young man that no matter how much he told him, which was hundreds of times, he would always lift his head to look at where the shooting was coming from.  Many times my pastor would shout out to him, "Keep your head down!!!"  He would even have talks with this man about the consequences of him not following his orders to the letter, yet the young man did it his way.  Maybe this man thought, too "Well that is just not comfortable for me and I am going to do it my way!  I have to be me!"  One day they were scheduled for drills but this time they were using real bullets!  My pastor brought this young man aside and told him, yet again, whatever you do obey my orders.  This time it could be life or death!!"  Well, I am sure you can see where I am going with this.  They began to crawl on their bellies and soon the firing commenced.  My pastor kept this young man right by his side trying to insure his safety.  Suddenly, a fire rang out and the young man had his head a little too high and he suffered a fatal wound.  How very sad, when all he had to do was listen to his superior and would have lived to tell about it instead of being sent home with his life ended before his time!  It is the same with God.  He doesn't want us to say, "I'll do things my way and if it doesn't work out I'll just repent and that will be the end of that."  Yes, God is quick to forgive and slow to anger, BUT when we deliberately do things OUR way knowing it is the wrong way, there is a consequence to pay many times.  Paul called it "trying" God's grace.  I pray for this precious lady that she will heed the messengers that are being sent her way to tell her how to pray effectively which is by faith and praying the word of God.  Oh, what magnificent results and blessings come from doing things GOD'S way and not our own!  Thank you for taking your valuable time to read my blog!  Have a blessed day my friend, all day!!

Humility Will Get You Exalted!

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”   Luke 14:11

Humility is not the most fun thing to ponder BUT, it is one of the most important!  I have been humbled before for my own good, but it was a very humiliating experience!  The Lord reminds me of these times when I begin to think more of myself than I should!   I went to school with someone, who I will just call Joe (not the real name).  I woke up this morning and this person's name popped into my mind before I ever got out of bed. The Lord reminded me of a tremendous gift and ability He had given to Joe.  This person is truly gifted academically beyond anything I have ever seen.  From time to time this person puts brain teasers on FB for others to figure out, all the while he knows the answer and will tell you the answer at the end of the day.  Usually it is fun and the comments enjoyable to read.  Though I am NOT a math person, it thrills me to see just how intricately his brain works and how it never sounds arrogant.  What was so odd about it today was arrogance was there.  Not full out in your face, but the hint of an arrogant undertone.  At first it just sort of peeved me.  How dare anyone exalt themselves I thought!  We only know and can do what we do because God has given us the talent.  It is to be used to glorify Him!  As I began to think on this I remembered God awakening me with this man on my mind.  That is always a call to pray for someone!  Sin is so sneaky.  It begins to birth itself in our minds and it seems everyone can see our downfall before we do. It is truly a trap set for us so that we do not rise to spiritual and physical heights God has planned for us.  It is so important to pray that those traps be exposed so that the one we are praying for can see it, avoid it, and be promoted instead of demoted!    As I thought about Joe today, I am sure he does not even recognize how he sounded or how it made him look.  Nobody is wrong on purpose.  Today, I pray for Joe and ask God to remit this sin that is trying to creep into his life.  As I do so, I feel the love of God beginning to flow back into my own life!   I, too ate of pride in taking what Joe was doing personally and judging him.   We are called to judge the fruit, not the person!!   One of my favorite movies is a Christmas movie called "Silent Night" with Linda Hamilton.  It is a true story of some German and American soldiers calling a truce to honor and celebrate Christmas together.  There is a line in the movie that says, "A little humility is a good thing."  A little does go a long way!!  Thank God for promotion, but thank God also for humility that will take you "a long way."   Have a blessed day, all day my friend!  :)

Clean the Cup!

You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too.  Matthew 23:26

I have a coffeecup I love.  It says " Aggie Mom".  It is a rather large cup so I get the amount of coffee in one cup which actually it is  probably equal to two!   I am a proud Aggie mom and an Aggie wife! I love the way it looks and the amount it holds.  I proudly display this cup!   I had drunk from the cup the night before and rinsed it out before I went to bed.  This morning when I got up and began my morning routine, which includes the coffee, I looked inside the cup and, much to my chagrin,  I noticed I had not thoroughly cleaned it!  I had not gotten out all of the coffee and cream I had put in the day before.  I am a clean freak!!  I ran hot water that steamed, poured about a half a bottle of DAWN in it and began to vigorously clean the inside of the cup as well as the outside.  What was funny is the outside of my cup looked clean with its perfect design and shape.  From the outside nothing looked wrong with it.  But, the inside of the cup made it totally unusable!  This is what Jesus was telling the scribes and Pharisees in this passage.  He was basically telling them that they said all the right things, followed over 600 laws a day, which they were very proud of, but their hearts were full of anger, hate, and malice!  They were literally good for nothing and unusable!  His advice to them was to clean the inside of their hearts (motives) and it would flow out to the outward man!  You cannot "save" yourself.  We had to have a Saviour for that.  He did not mean clean yourself up and come to Me, but instead He meant examine your hearts and motives and be sure you are doing what God would have you to do to please Him and not to look impressive to others and please yourselves! You won't have to spin your wheels looking impressive by what you drive, live in, etc.. God on the inside flowing to the outside will cause people to stop and say, "I want that!" That, my friend, is really what it is all about!! God asks such simple things of us.  He doesn't ask us to do complicated, harsh, or burdensome duties to be usable and pleasing to Him.  He is simply looking for a pure heart with pure motives who wants to hear "Well done, My good and faithful servant!"  Sometimes a good "spring cleaning" of the soul makes a tremendous difference!  We see things differently, react differently, and look for opportunities to bless others instead of just seeking what is "good" for us! What peace and joy comes from something so simple as saying, "Thank you Father for showing me my heart and applying your forgiveness, grace and mercy to my life!"   Watch doors of opportunity open and people be blessed just by coming into contact with that increased anointing in your life!  Have a blessed day, all day my friend!  :)

Unlock Your World With One Simple Key!

This is my first blog.  I really don't know what I am doing, but here it goes anyhow.  Recently my mother went through open heart surgery to repair a valve and to stop atrial fiberlation.  I would stay with her twelve hours during the night and my dad would stay with her during twelve hours during the day at the hospital because she could do very little for herself and was very sick.  After the surgery, which was successful to repair the valve but failed to get rid of the atrial fiberlation, my mother had many sleepness nights.  On one of those sleepless nights my mother began to talk about "God" things.  She has not only been my natural mother, but my spirtual mother as well.  This particular evening as we were in Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas she began to talk about her favorite scriptures and began to tell me what was really the most important thing in life.  When you are lying on a death bed I guess many people begin to look at their lives retrospectively.  They think about what was truly important, which seems to get so little attention in our day to day lives, and think on what was so unimportant which, for some reason, seems to take almost all of our  focus.  She began to tell me when anything arises in life go to the word (Bible).  All of our answers can be found there.  She then began to talk about how our love walk brings about how well we use and see results from the authority Jesus has given us (faith works by love).  When she said this it reminded me of a time when the Lord taught me a valuable, yet very simple lesson .  I had been running errrands on this particular day.  I had turned into my driveway, shut off my car and began to fumble for my house key.  As I did the Lord reminded me of two scriptures.  One was "The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost."  He then spoke a second scripture to me.  "I have given YOU the keys to the kingdom."  I have heard these scriptures all of my life, but never fully understood them until that day.  He asked me, "What do you think you would look like to your neighbors if you walked up to the door of your house and began to scream at your door NOW DOOR I COMMAND YOU TO OPEN RIGHT NOW!  I OWN THIS HOUSE AND EVERYTHING IN IT.  YOU OPEN NOW AND SO I CAN WALK THROUGH AND HAVE ACCESS TO MY HOUSE AND THE BLESSINGS THAT ARE WAITING FOR ME INSIDE!  He then asked me, "What if  you cried and wailed and rolled on the ground begging Me or for Me to send someone else to open it for you?"'  Of course, you and I know the door is not going to magically open.   I told the Lord, "Well Father nothing would happen!  It would remain closed and I would remained locked out.  I would also look pretty silly since I have the key in my hand and could simply unlock it, turn the knob and walk right in and enjoy all the blessings (air conditioning, refrigerator, TV, computer, personal library, etc.) of my home!"  What He spoke to me next shook me!  He said, "My children do this all the time!  They cry and beg and get angry at Me for not giving them instantaneously what I gave to them through Jesus My Son over 2000 years ago.  They want someone else to get them free, bless them, heal them, give them peace, take away every stronghold and anhialate them when all the while the key to all of this is in their hand!"  You cannot receive what you already have!! You have to UTILIZE what you have!   At that moment I recognized myself from years past.  The times I questioned God with all kinds of whys and why nots.  My answer was I had not used my key!  Today if you are going throught difficulties whether it be your health, the health of a loved one, financial need, hurts, woundedness I encourage you, precious friend, to use your key of authority!!  Don't be confused and angry with God.  He has already given you the victory through Christ Jesus and YOU hold your key to the way in or the way out!  My mother was discharged from the hospital the next day and is living in better health and getting better everyday!  Thank God for the reminder of that valuable lesson because the outcome could have been much different!!!  God is faithful to all and you are no different!  God loves you as much as everyone else and don't let that silly devil tell you otherwise!  Have a blessed day, all day!