Thought of the Day-June 30th, 2009

It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err.
Mahatma GandhiIndian political and spiritual leader (1869 - 1948)

Thought of the Day-June 29th, 2009

We walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians v. 7.

If we were to walk by sight, by what we see and base our lives

on our senses. What trouble we would be in to

base our life on a emotional feeling or

a sensation. A total reaction based living.

I think I will stick to living by Faith.

For I have come this far by Faith, leaning on the Lord

Trusting in his holy word...

Thought of the Day-June 26th, 2009

Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well.
Mahatma Gandhi

Indian political and spiritual leader (1869 - 1948)

A clean heart and pure thought is a desire of my heart.

If we have right thougts, we can't get into devilish thinking.

We have peace with ourselves and peace with others.

If you are looking for peace. Look to the Lord to complete you.

Aim to be a good person, with right choices, giving to others more

than you are seeking to receive.

Make a positive deposit into another life...

And watch the seeds grow.

I had many wonderful women teachers that saw beyond my

shyness and spoke life into my life.

Thank you Sondra Snyder, thank you Lynne Sims...

Thought of the Day-June 25th, 2009

Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase.
Martin Luther King Jr.

US black civil rights leader & clergyman (1929 - 1968)

In todays world, with all the violence, all the drama, all the good bad and the ugly

how can one not have Faith to hold onto.

If I did not have my Faith. I don't even want to think

about where I would be, what I would be.

Faith can move mountains. I never thought that we would have

a person of color as a president. I never thought that change would

come in my decade. But change has come, because

Rosa Parks took a stand, Martin Luther King used his voice

and many, many others have paved the way.

So whatever it is you want to do, with Faith take

that first step... Who knows the life you may change

it might just be your own...

Thought of the Day-June 24th, 2009

You must be the change you want to see in the world.
Mahatma Gandhi

Indian political and spiritual leader (1869 - 1948)

We all have a responsibility to give back, to pay forward,

just a portion of what has been given to us.

I have lived a blessed life, many have poured into my life.

I intend of giving back to the other generations, so

that they might live a blessed life too.

In todays society with all that goes on, we

must be the change we want to see in the world.

We can't wait for someone else to do it.

Thought of the Day-June 23rd, 2009

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.
Helen KellerUS blind & deaf educator (1880 - 1968)

Many people that I know have been growing in character.

To name a few: Aaron W, James K, Rhonda K,

Jacqua W, Diane B, and myself.

All of us have entered a stage of growing. Fortunately it

did not happen to us all at the same time. But what is

important is that we endure, that we grow and

that we are strengthened by the experience.

As some of us have begun to complete this process,

others are right in the midst of the middle of change,

and others are in the light of life.

Today is Terrific Tuesday and fitting title

to a terrific day.

Let God Create Character...

Thought of the Day-June 22nd, 2009

God is Cheering for You by Max Lucado
If your God is Mighty enough to ignite the sun, could it be that He is mighty enough to light your path?
God is for you. Not “may be,” not “has been,” not “was,” not “would be,” but “God is!” He is for you. Today. At this hour. At this minute. As you read this sentence. No need to wait in line or come back tomorrow. He is with you. He could not be closer than he is at this second. His loyalty won’t increase if you are better nor lessen if you are worse. He is for you.
God is for you. Turn to the sidelines; that’s God cheering your run. Look past the finish line; that’s God applauding your steps. Listen for him in the bleachers, shouting your name. Too tired to continue? He’ll carry you. Too discouraged to fight? He’s picking you up. God is for you.
God is for you. Had he a calendar, your birthday would be circled. If he drove a car, your name would be on his bumper. If there’s a tree in heaven, he’s carved your name in the bark. We know he has a tattoo, and we know what it says. “I have written your name on my hand,” he declares (Isa. 49:16).

Thought of the Day-June 19th, 2009

Stop Worrying

By Engblom

Read Philippians 4:13; 2 Corinthians 12:8-10

Worry is the beginning of discouragement, and discouragement spells failure.

Failure is just what Satan wants us to have, for then he soon gets advantage of us. So I say, "Stop Worrying, stop yourself. Do not say you can't, for you can do all things through Christ strengthening you!"

Lord, I admit it! Sometimes I find myself worrying: please help me to stop it, and cast all care upon You! In Jesus' name Amen.

I am encouraged today in my spirit. That this too shall pass.

My hut is no longer on fire.

And I sense a revival in the air...

Thank you Lord, I so appreciated the time to look up!

Thought of the Day-June 18th, 2009

Todays poem comes from a book titled

"Showers of Blessing" by Rice

This Is All I Ask

Lord, show me the way

I can somehow repay

The blessings You've given to me...

Lord, teach me to do

What you most want me to

And to be what you want me to be...

I'm unworthy I know

But I do love You so----

I beg You to answer my plea...

I've not got much to give

But as long as I live

May I give it completely to Thee!

Lord, this is my prayer today!!! Love, Angela

Showers of Blessing

Thank you Lord, thank you friends for provision and for Love.
I received various showers of blessings these last days, a call from my mother and father, a hug from Lucrecia and extra calls. A card from the Usher Board and the Branhams, a special call from Renetta, lots of love from Felecia. And last but not least emails from Kathy and phone love from Tooter.

I received Showers of Love and I am thankful for that. I am most thankful for my husband who has reminded me that he has vowed to be with me in sickness and in health, but that he prefer to have a lifetime of love with me then without me. He has really been a trooper through it all and deserves blessings and love for the character he has shown during great adversity. The severity of my illness was just something that my first husband could not endure. So I thank God for his provision for sending me the husband he intended instead of who I picked.

I must say that I did not choose Aaron, nor would have I chosen him for me, but God choose. God provided someone for me to share my days on this earth with and I am forever grateful for his grace and mercy. For thinking that I am so special to give me Aaron.

Anyway the doctor explained the seriousness of my illness and the chance of remission and what I could do to prevent a relapse. I have another 3 1/2 days of the strong antibiotic and 30 days of a probiotic that will help build my immune system and give me some good guys to fight the bad guys in my system. My diet has been restricted, no dairy, especially no milk or cheese products, no fried foods, barbecue, italian, or mexican. None of the favorite foods that I like. So a lifestyle change = longer life. I think I will be obedient.

Thought of the Day-June 17th, 2009

Sweet Comforts

By: Julia Bettencourt
"In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul." Proverbs 94:19

Recently I was reading in Psalm 94 after a very tiring day and I came upon verse 19. "In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul." I can't tell you how much that verse encouraged me. I began thinking about those comforts that the Lord gives us and it just blessed my soul.

Comforts are such wonderful things. The dictionary meaning in Webster defines comfort as "to give strength and hope to" or "to ease the grief or trouble of". When I think about comforts, I think about the comforts of home, like my children being around me, the smell of dinner in the oven, or even just sitting down with my family and enjoying time together. Those are some of the things that comfort me.

The comforts the Lord gives me are wonderful things. Here are some that I know He gives me. You may have some other ones that give you comfort.

The Comfort of God's Love.

Resting in the love of God is something that gives me such a relaxed feeling. I know it's real and won't change. It's kind of like cookies baking. The aroma of God's love just soothes the soul.

"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." Jeremiah 31:3

The Comfort of God's Protection.

What a sweet comfort to know that the Lord is looking out for me. It's like a strong house. God's protection will shelter us no matter what kind of weather we face. Of course that doesn't mean we won't have trials, but He will bring us through them.

"He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore." Psalm 55:17

The Comfort of God's Wisdom.

To know that God's thoughts are much better than mine is such a comforting thing. His planning and working for my life is perfect. Like the fixtures in our homes that comfort us just to know they are always there, so God's wisdom will always be there for us.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jeremiah 29:11"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8,9

The Comfort of God's Strength.

Oh what a comfort and joy to know that I can rest in God's strength and not my own. I always enjoy coming home after a long trip and seeing our house still standing strong. It's like it reaches out to me and gives me comfort. God's strength is like that.

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. " Psalm 91:1-4

The Comfort of God's Righteousness.

It's a real comfort to me to have a God who is good and upright. It makes everything in my life just fall into place. Others around me may fail but to know that God can do no wrong is so assuring.

"Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments. Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful. " Psalm 119:137, 138

Conclusion:I know I need to focus on God's comforts more. Sometimes life gets so hectic and we forget that we have such wonderful resources at our fingertips as Christians. We all have those "multitude of thoughts" that come rushing at us like the psalmist talks about in our opening verse (Psalm 94:19). Isn't it great that we don't have to get flustered and all stressed out by the world and what lies before us? We can take life one day at a time with a calm spirit because we have so many sweet comforts from the Lord that soothe us and give us strength and encouragement every day.

So, are you resting in God's comforts?

Copyright ©2001-2007 Julia BettencourtScripture

References are from the King James Version.

www.juliabettencourt.com

Thought of the Day-June 16th, 2009

Feelings and Emotions

I have been avoiding posting this information, but it seems unavoidable at this point. I truly believe that sometimes we have not because we ask not.

I am all in my feelings and emotions today and I know

not to make any decisions when I am in this place.

I feel isolated and alone. I am sick, some of my

illness has gotten better, and other parts have

seem to have gotten worse to me. I just feel so

physically ill that I don't want to do anything.

I have been fighting a UTI, Yeast Infection and Clostridium Difficile Colitus

Fortunately I believe that the first two have past and I still struggle with the last.

I so wanted to go to be with everyone at the skate party last night.

My husband thought it best that I not over-exert myself. So at

home with him as usual just resting.

I go back to see Dr. Pineda today the GI specialist. And I am

so excited that my husband will be going with me. Also my Father called me

for the first time on Sunday, he called me, I did not have to call him.

Just that alone brought tears to my eyes.

I have been feeling very needy here lately. I miss my friends and I

am not sure how many I really have, because I haven't seen them in

at least a week. I need some girl time, but I don't have the

energy to do much. I am doing everything I can to fake it

until I make it at the office.

I want my mom to come see me, but she has not come yet.

I am still waiting. It is my grandmothers birthday on Saturday

and I hope to be well enough to travel.

So today my friends, I ask that you continue to pray.

And a special thank you to the Feed the Community Team. What

an awesome job, one monkey does not stop any show, so

I praise god for you all.

Also a special shout out to the Usher Board who sent me a

beautiful card yesterday.

Continue to pray my strength in the Lord. I will praise the Lord

regardless of what aliment attacks my body. You can't take my mind, my spirit or my soul,

all belong to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Author and finisher of my Faith.

They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength,

They shall run and not get weary, walk and not faint....

Thought of the Day-June 15th, 2009

Todays thought comes from John North and Ambassadors for Christ International

Micah 6:6, 8
With what shall I come to the LORD and bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, with yearling calves? … He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
One of God’s great purposes for you is to live out His desire to help those who are helpless!
God wants you to be concerned, not only with evangelism, but also with justice, and kindness. James tells us that “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1:27).
God is the great Helper and if you are growing to be more and more like Him, you will naturally grow in your love to help people also. Don’t try to be just like someone else. Rather, think about how God has made you and consider how you can help people with your unique personality and gifts.
We must hold God’s great purposes for us in balance and constantly ask His Holy Spirit to guide us and show us what God is doing through us in this world. He’ll show you as you walk humbly with Him.

Thought of the Day-June 12th, 2009

Hope Restored Along the Way by Max Lucado

What would it take to restore your hope?
What would you need to reenergize your journey?
Though the answers are abundant, three come quickly to mind.

The first would be a person. Not just any person. You don’t need someone equally confused. You need someone who knows the way out.

And from him you need some vision. You need someone to lift your spirits. You need someone to look you in the face and say, “This isn’t the end. Don’t give up. There is a better place than this. And I’ll lead you there.”

And, perhaps most important, you need direction. If you have only a person but no renewed vision, all you have is company. If he has a vision but no direction, you have a dreamer for company. But if you have a person with direction?who can take you from this place to the right place?ah, then you have one who can restore your hope.

Or, to use David’s words, “He restores my soul.” Our Shepherd majors in restoring hope to the soul. Whether you are a lamb lost on a craggy ledge or a city slicker alone in a deep jungle, everything changes when your rescuer appears.

Your loneliness diminishes, because you have fellowship.
Your despair decreases, because you have vision.
Your confusion begins to lift, because you have direction.

Please note: You haven’t left the jungle. The trees still eclipse the sky, and the thorns still cut the skin. Animals lurk and rodents scurry. The jungle is still a jungle. It hasn’t changed, but you have. You have changed because you have hope. And you have hope because you have met someone who can lead you out.

Your Shepherd knows that you were not made for this place. He knows you are not equipped for this place. So he has come to guide you out.

Thought of the Day-June 11th, 2009

What happens in Heaven

this was sent to me by a dear friend..

I dreamt that I went to Heaven and an angel was showing me around. We walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels.

My angel guide stopped in front of the first section and said, 'This is the Receiving Section.

Here, all petitions to God said in prayer are received.'I looked around in this area, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets and scraps from people all over the world.

Then we moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section..

The angel then said to me, 'This is the Packaging and Delivery Section.

Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them.. 'I noticed again how busy it was there. There were many angels working hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested and were being packaged for delivery to Earth.

Finally at the farthest end of the long corridor we stopped at the door of a very small station. To my great surprise, only one angel was seated there, idly do ing nothing. 'This is the Acknowledgment Section,' my angel friend quietly admitted to me. He seemed embarrassed 'How is it that there is no work going on here?' I asked.'So sad,' the angel sighed. 'After people receive the blessings that they asked for, very few send back acknowledgments .

''How does one acknowledge God's blessings?' I asked.'Simple,' the angel answered. Just say, 'Thank you, Lord.''What blessings should they acknowledge?' I asked.'If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over head and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy .'

'And if you get this on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity.

''If you woke up this morning with more health than illness .. you are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day .

''If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation .... you are ahead of 700 million people in the world.

''If you can attend a church without the fear of harassment, arrest,torture or death you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people in the world.

''If your parents are still alive and still married ..you are very rare

'If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you're unique to all those in doubt and despair.

'Ok, what now? How can I start? If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you as very special and you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.

Have a good day, count your blessings, and if you want, pass this along to remind everyone else how blessed we all are.

ATTN: Acknowledge Dept.:'Thank you Lord, for giving me the ability to share this message and for giving me so many wonderful people to share it with.'

As a christian, I am not perfect. I am just loved by a God who is!

What Shackled are holding you captive

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer…For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin… In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. — Romans 6:1-2, 6, 11

Am I sinning when my faith wavers? Am I sinning when I can't speak life to myself?

Am I sinning when I am stubborn? Am I sinning?

I think of the statement or saying, O ye of little Faith.

I am amazed I had Great Faith and Great Peace as I was going through

my procedure that everything would be fine.

The Dr. told me that everything looked good, but

that there would be a follow up next week.

I get a phone call yesterday from the Dr. that everything is not fine

and that I have an infection in my body.

An infection that is treatable, but I did not listen to

or Thank God for that news, I decided

to jump ship and become hysterical.

I returned ever so quickly to ye of little faith. I did not want to be encouraged.

I wanted to sit in pity that once again I have received a diagnosis

that was attacking my body. I allowed it to attack my mind.

I sinned by allowing the devil to talk to me and temporarily believing

the lie.

I am sorry Lord, I am sorry my friends for jumping in that pothole

and pulling the lid on my Faith.

So I am out of the darkness today and walking in the light.

Dwelling in the presence of the Lord and continuing to walk in

Grace and Mercy.

I will endure the medication and treatment with my head held high.

I will speak life to my self and seek the Lord for myself.

I will walk and not stumble, I will run and not get weary.

I will call upon the Lord.

His GRACE IS SUFFICIENT!

I am no longer held captive by my mind, by my circumstances.

HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT!

Thought of the Day-June 8th, 2009

Isaiah 40:31

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

The scripture on my heart today... I am waiting patiently.

Many of us today are waiting for one reason or another.

For example, my mother is waiting for my brother to cross over to responsible adulthood.

She has prepared him in some ways and in somethings you just have to learn

from trial and error. We all had to do it and he will to.

People are waiting for life changing news each and every moment.

People are wanting answers to the plane that crashed in the Atlantic.

I am waiting on the Lord, I trust him to be my strength. I trust him

to direct the doctors.

I trust him to sustain me,

to help me to endure with great courage this next

step in my journey.

I have had many health trials and tribulations in my lifetime, through them I have been provided great peace in knowing that god will hold me.

My Father holds me in life and in death, so

whether I be here to serve him,

or by his side serving

I am in great peace.

I am confident that I am not alone. I will call upon the Lord,

and I shall wait upon the Lord.

Much Love and Happiness

Thought of the Day-June 5th, 2009

Proverbs 3:5 (New International Version)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

In everything and through everything, I will trust in the Lord. I know that this

experience that I am having right now is nothing but a test of my Faith.

Know that I am standing strong on the promises of the Lord.

All my friends and prayer warriors, please pray that God be glorified

through my test on Tuesday. It begins at 8:15, so please

mention a prayer at that time...

Allie will be guest writing on Tuesday, so I look forward to seeing

what saith the Lord through her.

Much Love and Happiness...

Thought of the Day-June 4th, 2009

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

Coming into repentance, involves a change of mind and a change of heart

concerning what you are doing.

Once you have that change of mindset, change of heart,

it requires action, one must turn from the behavior

and move in a new direction.

A new walk, new life with Christ.

Our Father does not want us to perish, but to have everlasting life

with him. A new walk, a new life in Christ.

Thought of the Day-June 3rd, 2009

Psalm 121:2 (New International Version)
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

As I am sitting at my desk this morning. My mind is stayed on this verse that my help comes from the Lord. I am not feeling well at all today, so I am clearly intentionally focused on the Father.

I wanted to go to choir last night, but was unable to. I wanted to share with the group my pennies. Yes, I said pennies. I was looking at my bucket of pennies yesterday morning as I was getting ready for work. If you look at the pennie just above the head, it says In God We Trust. Just above the head, that spoke to me yesterday telling me that my mindset, my focus is to be "In God We Trust" Not in man, woman or child, but "In God We Trust"

Where does your help come from? Where is your trust?

My help comes from the Lord... My mind has been regulated to trust in God.

Thought of the Day-June 2nd, 2009

Do you want to save your family money? Need to have some extra money in your pocket for a few things you might want? Well, I think I have some tips and tools that can save you money on the things you buy each month.

The process is couponing. Yes, I said couponing, for a small sacrifice of time and spending a little time with me, you too can stock pile items and save money to be used elsewhere in your budget.

There are things that I have a year supply of, there are items that I have shared with others to help pay the blessings forward, then there are items I just wanted to try and used coupons to try those items.

So you ask how do I get started. Here is the list of what you can do to get started. After you have worked on your list, your assignment is to contact me and I will walk you through several trips to the store. I will even go to the store and hold your hand to help smooth the transition.


1. Get your local paper-Tribune, only on Sundays

2. Go to the following websites and load coupons onto your Gerbes Card-
cellfire.com
pgsaver.com
shortcuts.com

The cellfire one will ask you to wait for the text message on your phone to log in. I never got one, because I block texts, so just log out and then log back in with your phone number and the year of birth.


3. Get a St. Louis Sunday Post and/or Kansas City Star.

4. Watch for coupons in the stores....

You must become familiar with the grocery stores or chains in your town, if you can look up the names of them and email them to me I can provide you with more localized information to get you started on your journey of saving.

Happy Shopping, get ready for savings...

Thought of the Day-June 1st, 2009

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Today is my mothers birthday, another year, another day for her. I rejoice today for many reasons, first in celebration that we all have risen to another day, second because I still have my mother to celebrate her life. Treasure what you have, value the quality of time that you share with the one's you love.

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.