Monday, May 18, 2009

HAVE YOU CALLED

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” 

Romans 10: 13, King James Version


By: Joanne Lowe

May 17, 2009

joannelowe8@cox.net

www.hesetmefreeforever.blogspot.com

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Loving God

Loving God should be of the uttermost importance to all. He loves us during all aspects of our lives and everything that we do. In fact he loved us so much that he sent his son for us. He loves us even when we are sinning against him. That should say something to each and everyone one of us. He loves us unconditionally. Even when we are at our lowest lows and we feel like there is no one around us that could possible understand us or the things that we are dealing with. GOD DOES!! That should provide great solace knowing that we are never alone. I certainly understand that sometimes it does feel like we are in a situation in our lives and are all alone. We are not!!! Isn't that just amazing!! God is always with us and he loves us irregardless of the sins that we commit. Now I am not saying that this gives us warrant to go out and sin. However, for those who are in the lowest of times in their lives, it should give hope. Hope that things will get better even though they certainly do not feel that way at that point in time.

Are you someone who is at your lowest low? Do you know someone who is at theirs? Pray for them. Talk to them about God and his amazing love and forgiveness. It might just change a life!

Monday, May 4, 2009

Its time to Refocus.

I just wanted to share with you that I am taking this time in my life to refocus things on God. I have been slack in doing what I desire. That desire is His work.

I think that from time to time that we as Christians have a tenancy to become slack in our responsibility of Gods ministry. I think that we become so wrapped up in other aspects of our lives that we take the focus of God and what His divine will is for us. We in turn need to spend some serious time in prayer and make the needed adjustments in our lives to live for Him. Those times that your heart is telling you that you need to be spending more time with Him.. not just a thought. I believe that its truly God calling to you to be more vigilant in His amazing word.

I challenge all of you to spend more time with Him.

We all use the excuse that we are too busy. Its all nonsense. Do you find time to eat? Find time to pray and read his word. Do you commute to work? The drive in the car or on the bus would be a great time to spend some time with him. Spend some time with Him, it will bring favor to your life!

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Passion week part 2

Passover began at sundown last night. As we are preparing ourselves for the events to come in the next few days lets take time to put ourselves into the heart of God. Tonight marks the day in which we remember the last supper. The last time that Jesus and the disciples would be together and rejoicing. Can you imagine how Jesus felt going to dinner with his friends, knowing that it would be his last? Yet, he rejoiced with them. He knew that the next day would be the day that he would be beaten, bludgeoned, stabbed and had a crown of thorns jammed onto his head. After this he would be made to carry a cross through the city to the place that he would then be nailed to the cross. I think that we forget the size of the actual cross. We see the crosses in our churches that are hung as a remembrance. That cross weighed a couple of hundred pounds. Jesus carried that after being brutally beaten. ALL for US. All for me. All for my sins. Take this day and remember the emotion that Jesus was feeling during this time. All knowing what was about to happen. We truly worship an amazing God!

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Passion Week part 1

As we prepare for the coming of the Lord this week, there are several things that we should be thinking about. At this time on the week before Jesus took to the cross there were several things happening to those around him. Jesus was burdened to pray. The disciples that were around him were completely oblivious to what was about to happen. Imagine the emotion that Jesus was feeling knowing that he was going to be taking to the cross in just a few days. He was surrounding himself with those who loved him most and praying to his Heavenly Father. I can't even fathom what was going through Jesus' mind.

As we prepare for the events to come this week as we approach Good Friday, lets take the time to think about how Jesus was feeling. He was getting ready to offer his life a living sacrifice to God to pay the debt of those sinners who loved him. That was the people in the past as well as the people who have yet to come. I feel completely unworthy to be in that group of people. I am a sinner and I know that I do not deserve heaven. However, Jesus paid that debt for me and for you so that we could rejoice forever in eternity with Him.

Thank you Jesus!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

If God were to ask you what you want Him to do for you, what would you ask Him? Well, if you were hungry, you might ask for food. If you were sick, you might ask for help. If you were an egotist, you might ask for wealth and power.


God came to Solomon and asked him that question. And how did Solomon respond? He didn’t ask for health or wealth. He did not ask for power over his enemies or honor from his country. Instead, he asked for wisdom.


There is nothing greater that you could ask for than wisdom because so many other things are included in wisdom. As a matter of fact, Proverbs 8:11 says, “For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.” Now, that’s a pretty big statement. Everything that is to be desired is not to be compared with wisdom.


Pastor Adrian Rogers
Love Worth Finding Ministries

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Psalm 23

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, [a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Further Instructions

Colossians 4:2-6

2Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

I think that this sums up many aspects of prayer. I know that since I have devoted myself to prayer that I am more aware of what God is wanting me to do with my life. Pray for the ministries of God. He wants us to pray that we can proclaim the word of God. God is commanding us to proclaim the word of God!! Ok I will!!!

Verse 5 is what really caught me. Be wise in the way that you act towards outsiders. We need to be aware of all of our actions all of the time. People should be able to see Jesus in us without even speaking to us. We should be "dripping" with Jesus. We are to make the most of every opportunity that we have with everyone to make sure that we show Jesus. In our conversations with non-believers!! Verse 6 tells us to make sure that our conversations should always be clean and appropriate. I know many Christians who live a "double life." Cool and worldly with their worldly friends and prim and proper with their Jesus friends. God is watching always. He knows your heart and your actions. We should make ALL of our conversations and actions to his Glory.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Prayers of a Babe

I had the most wonderful experience on Sunday morning. I was on my way to Sunday School and church with my children when my 8 year old daughter asked me about "that thing." Now I worship my Savior in a Baptist church and we share communion once a month. I explained to her in that communion was for people who have Jesus in their hearts. She looks at me and says " I want Jesus in my heart." ( I think that the tears started here!) I asked her why she wanted Jesus in her heart. She told me because he died on the cross for her sins and she wants to be able to see him in Heaven. We took a few minutes and went over a little bit more. I asked her if she still wanted Jesus in her heart. She told me that she was certain that she did! I told her that the next step was to confess to Jesus that she is a sinner and ask him to forgive her sins and to come into her heart. She informed me that she didnt really know "how to pray." I told her that she can do what I do. I have an open dialect with God all day. I talk to him like I am talking to you know. I was hold her little hand with tears running down my face ( please know that I was driving at the time!) I asked her if she wanted me to help her pray. She thought that she did. I led her in a few moments of prayer.

I tell you, leading your own child to the Lord is a powerful experience. I have led other children to Him as a camp counselor in the summers of my teenage years. This was so much more amazing than I could ever have imagined. I will thank God every day that my daughter will join me in Heaven one day. The Angels are rejoicing!

Thursday, February 12, 2009

New additions to My ePray

First of all, thank you for choosing My ePray as your place of prayers. This community has grown by 25% in the past 3 months and is continuing to flourish.

We've listened and new capabilities to the MyePray website to help you with your prayers and get more and more people to communicate and pray together. Here are some of the new things you can do in My ePray:

Prayer Wall: The payer wall is a place you can share rich content with other such as words of wisdom, devotions, videos and pictures.
































Public profile: This is the page where others see with your prayers and the prayers you have joined. Your prayer wall is also available on this page where you or anyone can post videos, links, text, or pictures.


Private profile: Your private profile is your own page where you can control your own My ePray and get easy access to all of it's features.


Friends in Prayer: Now you can request a friendship in My ePray, connect with others and track their prayers and their friends.



















Discussions: A discussion forum where you can post any topic and have the community respond back to you.


Chat: A chat room where you can connect and chat live with other people in the My ePray community.














Bottom Bar: Now you can navigate the My ePray website easier with all of the important links at the bottom of each screen.

Geographical Affiliation: Let's you find out who is nearby that you can connect to.
Daily Inspiration: A daily inspiration quote or devotion from My ePray.
Community Updates: Community updates lets you find out what's new with the people you are connected to, which prayers they have asked for and which prayers they have joined.

Prayer Warriors: You can now track your status on MyePray to see how you have contributed to the community. Are you a prayer warrior? This is the place for you.
Thanks again for using My ePray and we hope that you continue to trust your prayers to the Lord and share them with this community. As always, you can either contact us through the "contact us" link on the website or use the survey to send us your requests.
God Bless you,
James
My ePray

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Temple

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
"Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your body."

WOW my body is the temple of God. God chooses to live in my body with me. He consumes my heart and my mind and my soul. He would chose to take on a body such as this to spread his word.

I think of this and realize that I need to take better care of Gods temple. We live in a world of excess. I think that we really need to reconsider what we are doing to and for our bodies. Is it really for the Glory of God. Would you walk into a church and defile it? Throw trash all around it? I wouldnt think of it!! Why would we do those things to our bodies that are the temple of God?

I challenge each of you that read this to think about what you are putting in or on your bodies. Are you honoring the Temple of God?

Monday, February 2, 2009

When you are..

Matthew 5:3-10 is typically known as the "Beatitudes." I have learned them a little different recently. I am going to call them the "When you are's"

The beatitudes are found at Matthew 5: 3-12

Blessed (When you are) are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed (When you are) are they who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.

Blessed (When you are) are the meek,
for they shall possess the earth.

Blessed (When you are) are they who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed (When you are) are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed (When you are)are the pure of heart,
for they shall see God.

Blessed (When you are)are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed (When you are)are they who suffer persecution for justice sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

When you are these different things, you will be rewarded. God will reward you when you take on these characteristics. Imagine knowing that you will receive mercy from God on the Day of Judgment just for being merciful to others!! WOW! I think that I am going to give it my all to show mercy to others!

Friday, January 30, 2009

Walking in the Light

1 John 1:5-10
5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.

8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

What does it mean to walk in God's Light? Walking in God's light means to follow the way that he has planned for us. Walking in His light also means to walk the way that is good and just. We know that there is a right and wrong. Right=light, wrong=darkness. This passage of the Bible tells us that if we walk in the light we can find fellowship with other Christians. Fellowship with other Christians is an intricate part of growing in God. He wants us to do what is right and what he commands us to do so that we can continue to grow in him.

Verse 8 tells us, truly, we can lie to ourselves and convince ourselves that we haven't done anything wrong. However, deep down inside, we know that we have sinned. There is no sense in hiding it. GOD SEE IT ALL!

Verse 9 also tells us that if we confess our sins he will forgive us. This means that we can come back to walking favorably in his light. I know that I have sinned, I also know that because I have confessed my sins, He has forgiven me and I am walking in his light.

I dont know about you, But to know that I can tell God that I have sinned and acknowledge that what I am doing is wrong, and I change it, I can be back in His favor. Thank GOD!! Walking in his light is far better than walking in the darkness of the world!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

God commands me to.......

Three times in the book of John does God command us to love one another.

John 13:34 | A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
John 15:12 | This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you.
John 15:17 | These things I command you, that ye may love one another.

I am starting to think that this is a commandment that we should not take lightly. God is passing down a commandment just as he did with the 10 Commandments. I dont know about you but if my Heavenly Father commands me to hold loving one another as high as do not kill, I think that I might listen.

I say all of this because I have started to see changes in my life surrounding this command. I have been trying to make an effort to be kind and to love everyone that I come into contact with. I am human, therefor this is a little tricky! I am trying to find peace with everyone.

I will say that I think that its harder with those who surround me daily. However, God is commanding me to love everyone! With NO exception.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Scripture Promises

There are many things in the Bible that means more and more to each of us! In my Sunday School class we are going through a study with Jim Cymbala. For those of you who do not know who Jim is, he is the Pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle. That church has been founded on Prayer. It just amazes me all that God has done for them through prayer. At the end of our class on Sunday our leader handed out a paper with a bunch of Promises that God has given us. I thought that I would share.

Jeremiah 29:11-12
"For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, I will listen to you"

Isaiah 54:10
"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Matthew 7:7-8
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Psalm 55:22
Cast your on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

Psalm 34:18
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

1 Peter 5:4
When the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

2 Thessalonians 3:3
Be the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

Psalm 91:4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 84:11
for the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

2 Timothy 1:7
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

I Pledge....

While watching the local news this morning I was delighted to find out that my step-sons high school officially changed school policy to include the Pledge of Allegiance. I am very adamant that the children in our countries schools learn what it is to have pride in our country. I also believe that the sudden decline in respect and loyalty to our countries president. I was also very happy to find out that my daughters classroom recites the Pledge every day. I also have a very open relationship and am teaching my children to respect our nations leader. You may not like the decisions that they make, however, you must respect the position.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands: ONE NATION UNDER GOD, indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for all.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Kindness

kindness : (1) the state or quality of being kind; (2) an act of kindness. It's the noun form of kind (adj.) : of a friendly or generous nature; showing sympathy, mercy, empathy, or understanding; beneficial to something's function.

Do acts of kindness for people. Give them little tastes of God's love. People actually like being treated kindly, as if they are valued. They can lay down at least some of their defenses, relax more, and feel comfortable. Most non-Christians have an expectation of being treated a bit more kindly by Christians, and are disappointed and sometimes even angry when they're not treated that way. While it's wrong to live according to others' expectations, it is a challenge we need to take to heart. Many practicing Orthodox Jews today do good deeds (mitzvot) as the opportunities present themselves in their daily lives, mainly because it is what God wants them to do. To them, doing good for others is more than a duty, it's also a prayer and a devotion.

Being vicious can be fun. There's a visceral kick one gets from throwing knives at one's chosen enemies. Radio talk show hosts, including some supposedly "Christian" ones, live on it, and their fans feed off of it. Gossip circles spread the ugly words far and wide. Put-downs become an every-day part of life. But cruelty doesn't make you important, it just makes you cruel.

Credits:
www.spririthome.com

Friday, January 9, 2009

I am trading my Sorrows, I am trading my shame, I am laying them down for the Lord.
I am trading my sickness, I am trading my pain, I am laying them down for the Lord.

Yes Lord Yes Lord Yes Yes Yes Lord, AMEN!

I think that this chorus says it all to those who are in need. The Lord tells us to give it all to HIM. He wants it all. I know that I am personally guilty for not giving everything to Him. WOW, I had to admit that!! I personally suffer from daily pain. Both Physical and emotional. I am learning to stop trying to fix it all myself and just give it up to God. Its His greatest joy for us to give it all to him. He wants us to be the best that we can be for HIM.

Trust me I know that when you suffer from chronic pain that its not that easy to just say "take it Lord." Ok well I would like to give it to Him.. at least in theory. I just struggle with letting go of that "I am always in pain.. and thats just how its going to be" mentality. I need to learn to trade it all in to Him. For HIS joy, not mine.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Prayer of Faith

James 5:13-16

Is anyone of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is anyone of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefor confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

IF we have faith that God will answer our prayers He will. I think that this passage tells us that we can bring anything to God in prayer. And we should!! We as Christians should always surround ourselves with other believers. We need to confess our sins. We need to go to God when we are in trouble. We need to praise His name when things are good in our lives. I think that this is the one that I struggle with the most. I think that we as humans have a tendency to focus on the bad stuff. Why dont we take some time and focus on the things that are going good in our lives. Even in the darkest of days there is light somewhere. If you are sick, tell other believers and they will lay their hands on you and pray for you. I know that some people think that this practice of laying hands is silly. Gods word commands it!

I think that we should remember to go to God in all aspects of our lives. Good and bad. Lets Praise God for the good things in our lives.